Saturday night, March 2, 2019, 8:30 p.m., I was about to get in bed and looked at my phone. I saw this WhatsApp, “I need to talk, call me.” Although I was tired and sleepy, I called. Jean needed to talk and I listened. Then she said, “Before we hang-up… I read your message (God Told Me To Write A New Message) and I really want to share my testimony with you.” She did! I was in awe and thanked her for sharing her testimony.

Well, the following morning I was in bed talking with God and He told me to share her testimony. I got up right away and sent her an e-mail saying, “This morning God told me that He wants me to share your testimony because it is a powerful testimony about God’s greatness and what He is doing for His people.” She replied, “I’m more than happy to share my testimony.” 

Jean’s $102,328.11 Debt Forgiven! Say What?

Here we go! In Jean’s own words…

STOP working IMMEDIATELY!

I retired from the school district August 2010 and started substituting as a school administrative assistant March 2012. In January 2018 I received a call, while working as a substitute, that I needed to stop working immediately because I had exceeded the 960 hours limit for two years. As a result, I would have to be reinstated as an active employee and my retirement date would be changed to January 2018. Also, I would have to repay all retirement benefits received for five years.

One day while in a religious bookstore looking for a poster with the Lord’s Prayer for my grandkids I ran across a little book, “Break the Chain of Worry” by Kenneth Copeland. I purchased the little book and read it; the words resonated with what I was going through.  I read it every day, especially at night and excerpted a prayer and words for my situation, “Father you’ve given me Your word that if I cast all my cares on You and resist the devil, You will exalt me over every care and adverse situation.” I typed it, made copies and posted them on the mirror in the bathroom, on the refrigerator, and in my bedroom.

Repay $102, 328.11?  I was scared, cried… almost lost it!

I was scared and cried myself to sleep many nights, beating myself up for getting into this situation. Then I received “the” letter, in 2018, informing me of the amount I would have to repay – $102,328.11. I almost lost it and I felt so alone because I never shared it with anyone, except for my daughter on a minimal basis. How am I going to get out of this?  Then the following words came to me as if  straight from God, “Be still and know that I am God.”  It became my mantra every time I started to feel overwhelmed and helpless. Needless to say, there were moments of doubts that would creep in ever so often, and the whisper, “this is too big for God.”

I could not afford an attorney

In previous correspondence I was informed that there would be a hearing and that I could also appeal, with the recommendation that I get an attorney, which I could not afford. In talking with a representative, she pointed out the seriousness of the case and what I was up against, and strongly suggested that I try and find a pro-bono attorney to help prepare me for the hearing and the appeal. I was unable to find a pro-bono attorney so I decided that I was on my own and needed to start preparing myself. I went online and researched how to write an appeal and that I would represent myself. I had a deadline for the appeal, so I reviewed all the correspondence regarding the case, along with samples of appeal letters, and prepared my appeal.

I continued to receive correspondence, letters regarding the hearing process and my role, and with options for repayment. Then in November 2018, I received another letter that I did not open immediately because I had become tired of the correspondence and was not in the mood.

Jean’s $102,328.11 Debt Forgiven! Say What?

I opened the letter the following evening and in bold letters it read, “Settlement Agreement and Withdrawal of Appeal” and I started reading and when I got to “…agrees to forgive the overpayment of $102,328.11, reinstate the original retirement date, and you will repay the amount of $1,293.96.” At first I did not react because I thought my eyes were playing a game on me, so I reread the paragraph again and it still did not sink in. No this cannot be true what I’m reading, then I read it again and I got it. My debt was forgiven! Say What?

There’s a God! He is Real!

I live by myself and I started shouting, “There’s a God, He is real – Thank You Jesus!” Couldn’t keep it to myself, I had to tell someone, so I called my daughter and started shouting the good news. I persevered, I focused on His Word and promise, and believed! Till today I still cannot believe the outcome. In everything I turn to Him for guidance.

Our Sin Debt Paid in Full and Forgiven

Jean’s debt had a value, $102,328.11, and although forgiven, she still had to pay $1,293.96. There is a debt we can’t put a value on because it’s priceless. I’m talking about the debt God sent His Son Jesus to pay for you and me. Jesus died on the cross to pay for our sin debt so we can live. Jesus paid our debt in full! God forgave all our sins!

Bible Reflection

“Be still, and know that I am God; I will be exalted among nations, I will be exalted in the earth.” Psalm 46:10 NIV

“For God loved the world so much that he gave his one and only Son, so that everyone who believes in him will not perish but have eternal life.” John 3:16 NLT

“…Then God made you alive with Christ, for he forgave all our sins, He canceled the record of the charges against us and took it away by nailing it to the cross.” Colossians 3:13-14 NLT

From Deb’s  to yours…

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