Last Friday evening, my bank account went overdrawn by a couple of dollars. Since I hadn’t used my debit card in a few days, and had no outstanding checks; this was a definite red flag alert. I found an unsolicited $93 charge from Oxyfresh Cleansers. I called the phone number associated with the charge on my bank statement, but my call immediately went to this recording. “You have reached customer service. Someone will be with you in 34 minutes.”
You’ve. Got. To. Be. Kidding. Not only had I not ordered anything from Oxyfresh, but I was supposed to wait 34 minutes before, maybe, I would be able to speak to someone, who may or may not, be able or willing to help me. I wasn’t going to go there! I had been scammed.
I went to my bank Monday morning, and cancelled that debit card. I was told I had to dispute the transaction. It would take several days for the bank to complete the paperwork, then my account would be credited the $93, plus any overdraft fees. When I was filling out the paper work, the bank teller asked for a picture I.D.
“Did you know your driver’s license has expired?” She said.
“Actually, no, I didn’t.” I looked at the renewal date. Sure enough, it expired my last birthday.
The teller hesitated. “I have to have an up-to-date I.D. I will have to okay this with a supervisor.”
Thank goodness it was approved. I never look at my driver’s license. I have a good driving record and have received automatic renewals by mail whenever the time came. I didn’t received one this year. My bank printed me a new debit card right there in the branch. I then called the DMV.
“Hi! I just found out I’ve been driving with an expired license. What do I do?”
“You’ll have to come down to our office for a vision test and to have your picture taken. Oh, and there is a charge of $30.”
It was quite a Monday! I found out I had been scammed, and that I had been driving illegally. I actually liked my driver’s license picture on that expired license, for once. Oh, well.
The invention of the internet gives us many incredible blessings. We can do research, order products, download books, music and movies, and manage our bank and credit card accounts. We can pay bills, send letters and notes at top speed. We can store files, conduct regular and legal business, send pictures and even see and talk to family and friends, far and near, via Skype.
We can have a cyberspace community of friends through Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, Google+ and even through blogs such as this one. It is practically magical.
As with anything else, along with the good stuff, there comes the bad stuff. We can lose connection in the midst of a business dealing, or heaven forbid, lose that connection while placing an on-line order or filling out an on-line form. We can be spammed and scammed. Even our very identity can be stolen! There’s plenty of much worse stuff, as you all know.
I am so thankful for the security God offers me as His child. I don’t ever have to worry about being placed on hold. God always hears my prayers immediately, though the answers may be placed on hold for very good reasons. There are no worries my connection with God will ever go off-line, either.
Because God is the God of His Word, the Father of Truth, I don’t have to worry about being scammed in the afterlife. No one can ever steal my heavenly identity. God has my name written in His Book of Life. Once we come to Jesus, we are His forever, though the devil would have us think otherwise. I don’t ever have to worry about renewing my salvation or paying any fees. And the best part, eternity in Heaven is available to anyone and everyone on earth, just for the asking! I already have a joyful community of family and friends waiting for me there. I am looking forward to the day I see Jesus. Next, I want to see my son! What a day of rejoicing that will be!
Romans 8:38-39 For I am persuaded, that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come, Nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.
By ~ Elizabeth Yalian ©2013
HIS EYE IS ON THIS SPARROW TOO Still Learning to Lean on God 
Don’t like that you got scammed and you had to go through all of that to find out you needed to renew your driver’s license, BUT I loved your post. Knowing that we’re never on hold with the Lord and that He’s always there to listen, to rescue, to give us reassurance and peace, now that’s priceless.
He is a precious God. The more I study scripture, the more amazed I am at how much God, the creator of the Universe, loves us! That assurance you speak of is what has gotten me through much of life, and what got me through the death of my son.
I suppose being told about my license by a teller is much better than getting the news from a police officer. I truly do enjoy your blog. 🙂
And the bad stuff always seems to gravitate to a Monday, doesnt it?
Yes it does! I believe it fits in there somewhere with Murphy’s Law. In my case, it usually starts Friday evening, causing the suspense to build up to Monday!
Oh Elizabeth how true, sorry for your troubles but blessed by your testimony.
Thank you! I am so glad you stop by to visit! 🙂