I hit it big... I'm rich!
Don't get too excited... this is just what the government tells me. It seems as though every time I turn around I'm given new information... this time the government is telling me how well off I am.
If you remember back about a year ago you will recall that I started receiving SSDI benefits which totaled a little over $1,400 each month.
Around that same time I had been denied MediCal benefits and then without cause began to receive those same benefits just a short time later. I was very happy because MediCal not only covered medical costs (with some exceptions) but also provided me with much needed dental coverage.
So far 2009 has been a good year in regards to finances for me; I'm finally at a place where I'm not needing to ask anyone for money to pay my rent or bills. I've even begun (a little bit at a time) repaying those to whom I owe money, whether they be individuals or corporations, at least I've been able to start repaying my debt. Regardless this is the first year that I haven't gone further into debt just to survive.
At the beginning of the year those of us who receive SSI (Social Security) or SSDI (Social Security Disability Insurance) received an increase in our monthly checks. I was so excited as I was going to start receiving $1,525 each month instead of the $1,440 that I was currently receiving. My first thought was Praise The Lord, I can actually start paying back what I owe everyone and everything at a quicker rate.
And then it came, a letter from my case worker... after reading it the first time I had to sit down and read it again, and then re-read just one more time. The letter was to inform me that I was no longer qualified to receive MediCal. It continued stating that after reviewing my case it was determined that I receive too much money to continue receiving benefits. The letter did provide some reassurance though... because I'm disabled I still qualify for the opportunity to receive the much needed Medicare benefits; that is as long as I was willing to pay the premiums of $100 monthly.
Bottom line, I'm beginning to be okay losing MediCal and paying for Medicare. I'm learning that it won't be long before MediCal is eliminated all together as a part of reconstructing California's State Budget. All this means is that I would have lost it eventually; I just lost it sooner then others will.
I discovered that I should have never been granted MediCal benefits in the first place. In all reality even the $1,440 each month that I had been making was above the maximum amount that one can make in order to qualify for benefits. My case worker continued telling me that the only reason that I had been able to keep those benefits over the past year was because my case hadn't been reviewed since my first applying for it; if it had been reviewed the benefits would have ended immediately. My only thought after reading this letter was to thank my Lord for allowing me to have the benefits as long as I did.
After reviewing several insurance options I have selected a new secondary insurance. I choose SCAN as it best meets my needs and the best part - there are no monthly premiums.
Okay, now for something to laugh at... In 2008 I was making $1,440 / month and was paying prescription co-pays; but that was about it.
As of January 1st 2009 I began making $1,525 / month (yippee). Because I no longer qualify for MediCal I now have co-pays for everything and after paying the $100 monthly premium for Medicare; I'm left with a grand total of $1,425 each month.
In case you've lost track I'm now making less then I was before receiving my big raise in January 2009!
Regardless of all that you have just read, I really am rich! You see I'm a Child of the King and I know that one day I will go to my 'Heavenly Home' where the streets are paved with gold.
Following is what the Bible says heaven will be like – it's kinda long – but certainly worth the read.
Revelation 21
1 Now I saw a new heaven and a new earth, for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away. Also there was no more sea.
2 Then I, John, saw the holy city, New Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband.
3 And I heard a loud voice from heaven saying, “Behold, the tabernacle of God is with men, and He will dwell with them, and they shall be His people. God Himself will be with them and be their God.
4 And God will wipe away every tear from their eyes; there shall be no more death, nor sorrow, nor crying. There shall be no more pain, for the former things have passed away.”
5 Then He who sat on the throne said, “Behold, I make all things new.” And He said to me, “Write, for these words are true and faithful.”
6 And He said to me, “It is done! I am the Alpha and the Omega, the Beginning and the End. I will give of the fountain of the water of life freely to him who thirsts.
7 He who overcomes shall inherit all things, and I will be his God and he shall be My son.
8 But the cowardly, unbelieving, abominable, murderers, sexually immoral, sorcerers, idolaters, and all liars shall have their part in the lake which burns with fire and brimstone, which is the second death.”
9 Then one of the seven angels who had the seven bowls filled with the seven last plagues came to me and talked with me, saying, “Come, I will show you the bride, the Lamb’s wife.”
10 And he carried me away in the Spirit to a great and high mountain, and showed me the great city, the holy Jerusalem, descending out of heaven from God,
11 having the glory of God. Her light was like a most precious stone, like a jasper stone, clear as crystal.
12 Also she had a great and high wall with twelve gates, and twelve angels at the gates, and names written on them, which are the names of the twelve tribes of the children of Israel:
13 three gates on the east, three gates on the north, three gates on the south, and three gates on the west.
14 Now the wall of the city had twelve foundations, and on them were the names of the twelve apostles of the Lamb.
15 And he who talked with me had a gold reed to measure the city, its gates, and its wall.
16 The city is laid out as a square; its length is as great as its breadth. And he measured the city with the reed: twelve thousand furlongs. Its length, breadth, and height are equal.
17 Then he measured its wall: one hundred and forty-four cubits, according to the measure of a man, that is, of an angel.
18 The construction of its wall was of jasper; and the city was pure gold, like clear glass.
19 The foundations of the wall of the city were adorned with all kinds of precious stones: the first foundation was jasper, the second sapphire, the third chalcedony, the fourth emerald,
20 the fifth sardonyx, the sixth sardius, the seventh chrysolite, the eighth beryl, the ninth topaz, the tenth chrysoprase, the eleventh jacinth, and the twelfth amethyst.
21 The twelve gates were twelve pearls: each individual gate was of one pearl. And the street of the city was pure gold, like transparent glass.
22 But I saw no temple in it, for the Lord God Almighty and the Lamb are its temple.
23 The city had no need of the sun or of the moon to shine in it, for the glory of God illuminated it. The Lamb is its light.
24 And the nations of those who are saved shall walk in its light, and the kings of the earth bring their glory and honor into it.
25 Its gates shall not be shut at all by day (there shall be no night there).
26 And they shall bring the glory and the honor of the nations into it.
27 But there shall by no means enter it anything that defiles, or causes an abomination or a lie, but only those who are written in the Lamb’s Book of Life.
If you know my God, my Lord Jesus Christ then how can you be anything but excited about getting to heaven. Just knowing that we will forever dwell in the glory of the Lord is enough, let alone no more sorrow, no more pain, and then add in the beauty of it all. If you know the Lord as I do then there is no fear of death; instead an anticipation of spending eternity worshiping the Lord God Almighty.
Meanwhile, I am still here on earth and my Heavenly Father continues to watch over me... He continues to provide all of my needs and even some of my desires.
If I were to put my monthly expenses on paper for you then you would see that it doesn't make sense as to how anything gets paid. My rent alone far exceeds the $1,500 I was making just a month ago; that doesn't include utilities, food, or medical. Not to mention anything else that one might need or even wish for.
My children continue to contribute to my monthly income; this is something that no parent wants especially when the children are young adults (Jen 26, Rick 23). Even with the money they contribute it doesn't add up; all that I know is that my Lord continues to provide.
He knows my every thought, He knows every tear I cry, and He even knows when to drop little blessing into my lap that will keep me going thru the deserts and valleys of life.
During these past couple weeks God spoke to some of you asking that you start praying for me and you did just that. For reasons that having nothing to do with finances the past couple of weeks have been difficult ones for me. There are decisions that I need to make and some realities that I need to face... to be honest, I don't want to make any decisions and I don't want to face any new realities.
As I look back over the past couple weeks I see how amazing God is and how much He cares about how I feel. My Lord and Savior knows me intimately, He knows how to guide me thru until the next day, and the next, and so on... There are decisions still needed to be made and reality still needs to be faced but God dropped two little reasons into my lap that has given me a desire to face the reality of life.
Those two little reasons came when Jennie and Alex's little boy, Nathaniel Alexander and Melissa's little girl, Gianna Faith (pronounced G Anna) were born. Each of these babies arrived two weeks early; just five days apart from each other and both in perfect health.
Only God knows how much I needed those two little angels to come into my life at the exact moment they did. I sit in awe at how my Lord organizes every detail of the lives of His children. He knows at what exact moment to provide for our every need - emotionally, physically, lovingly, and tenderly.
With Love,
Diana
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