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When I quit my position as a traveling merchandising supervisor for Home Depot to take care of my wife full time, we had a plan for our income but yet knew that it would take some time for it to be fully implemented.  I already had jobs scheduled for my yard care business and as Piper was still mobile and mostly self-functioning, she could accompany me as I worked on my client’s properties.

In the months following, I also researched the various county, state and federal benefit programs that Piper might be eligible to apply for.  I spent countless hours reviewing government websites, speaking to representatives from the various agencies and collecting the required paperwork, documents and medical statements that we would need when applying for each set of benefits.  Once the specific time requirements were met for the diagnosis and she was legally declared fully disabled by a federal benefit approved doctor, we started with SSI and followed afterwards with additional state and county programs.

In the year that it took for the benefit funds to start flowing in our direction, Piper’s condition worsened, and I was not as free to work outside of the home as I had hoped and therefore, our financial reserves were rapidly dwindling.  But on the positive side… once the various benefits were approved and the checks were cut… they would be retroactive to the day that we had applied for each program.

So as the multitude of checks finally began arriving in the mail (for some reason, the agencies had to cut a separate check for each of the monthly or bi-monthly retroactive pay periods), I was quickly able to catch up on any finances that we had gotten behind on.  In knowing that this was going to occur… I had previously arranged with the owners of the cluster home in which we were living, to pay a reduced monthly rent with the understanding that we would pay off the outstanding balance when the checks manifested. 

We were very blessed as they worked with us during this time and the wife of the couple was a retired nurse and offered her services to Piper for anything we might need!  (Piper had this effect on many people when she got sick… most people just sort of fell in love with her!)

Well, within only a few weeks we were totally caught on all our expenditures, were out of debt and had a fair amount left over.  We found ourselves in a position that we had never been in before in our marriage!  Besides her monthly SSI benefit, I had applied for and taken a certification class for another program financed by the state, where the Sonoma County Agency on Aging would pay me to take care of Piper.  And as it turns out, even though the hourly amount wasn’t that terrific, because of the severity of Piper’s physical condition and the number of things that I needed to do for her, I was eligible for the maximum hours available and received a pretty decent bi-monthly paycheck.

This is where the unique situation arose.  All of the benefit programs were based on our monthly income and we were strictly limited to a specific balance in our bank accounts at the end of each month.  Any balance over the stipulated amount at the end of the month meant that we had to forfeit the previous month’s SSI payment.  Once everything was paid off or up-to-date, we really didn’t have many expenses except for rent, co-payments on prescriptions and daily living expenses for us and the dog!  Suddenly we had extra income with a “use it or lose it” connotation to it! 

So… what did I do?  Well… I got creative and among other things bought the laptop I’d always wanted, treated myself to a digital SLR camera, got a fancy new vacuum (also for myself since Piper was unable to do anything around the house… or for herself at the time), purchased some nice new clothing items for Piper and put myself on the Nutrisystem diet plan where they supply all the meals! 

With all the physical, mental and emotional upheavals that were going on with the attack on Piper’s health… it was actually kind of pleasure to not have to concern myself with financial needs including some of the ridiculously high co-pays for a couple of her meds.  It was nice to have the luxury to purchase some opulent items that were usually more in the dream stage of our lives rather than in reality!

…Now, I told you all of this to inform you of a similar trend that I’ve noticed as I read my Bible, and in particular within the writings of the New Testament authors… which would include Jesus Himself!  To put it bluntly, I would boldly set forth my observation that most Christians don’t expect enough of God!

Users of the various social media platforms will talk about what is “currently trending” online and when we take a detailed looked at our Bibles, it is also easy to note that THE GOODNESS OF GOD is also a “trending” subject throughout the platform of His written Word.  The more I delve into my Bible and look into the deeper, more explanative words used in the original languages, the more I am convinced that the peace of heart and mind that I felt when our physical needs were abundantly met during Piper’s time of critical need… is something that God clearly promises us for our daily lives and not just in times of need.

And while the Apostle Paul is well known for his use of multiple adjectives in describing the “exceeding, abundantly, above all” (Ephesians 3:20 KJV) of God, that same train of thought comes out with almost every writer in both the Old and New Testaments.  Many times, though, we lose the full detail of the picture that’s being painted due to the limitations of our English words. 

A good and simple example of this would be in Peter’s reference to Psalm 34:8 in his first letter that was directed to young believers, who had come from a non-Jewish background and were going through some tough times.  In I Peter 2:3 he encouraged his readers by declaring,

“Certainly you have tasted that the Lord is GOOD”  (God’s Word ©)

As we read this today, we’d probably all shake our heads up and down in agreement and say… maybe even with a little exuberance, “Yes… Amen!  God is good!”

But a deeper look into a good Greek and Hebrew dictionary will inform us that the word translated “Good” implies a whole lot more than just a positive feeling.  In its original usage in Psalm 34:8 the word implies the ideas of,

“beautiful, best, better, bountiful, cheerful, at ease, favor, loving, gladness, merriment, most pleasant, precious, sweet, wealth, welfare (including the health, happiness and fortune of those involved), well favored, rich, valuable in estimation, appropriate, becoming, and having good understanding.”

And that is just one word in one scripture!  I could fill up many pages of additional words and scriptures that connotate the same or similar adjectives that vividly describe the Goodness of God.

So… let me ask you… Are these adjectives of the GOODNESS of GOD the things that you picture when you read your Bibles… or when you go to our heavenly Father in prayer… or when you wake up with a cold… or when that unexpected bill shows up… or when a loved one needs help… or even when you wake up feeling bright, cheery and at peace?  According to what’s “currently trending” in the Word of God… It should be!

So… with all that in mind… How much MORE are you going to EXPECT from God?

I hope that you are having a fantastic week… and continue to EXPECT God’s best in your life!  …and stay tuned in for there’s more to come!