Kingdom Currency

 Where are we … ? 

We are in Tandur, not far from Gympie. Our new friends allowed us to spend two weeks on their property where they only spend weekends. Parked up among the tall Eucalyptus trees, surrounded by beautiful bird sounds, we have been able to heal and chat with our Father for two whole weeks.

New Beginnings

Image by Tom from Pixabay

The day after I completed our last blog post, we entered a new phase in our journey as nomads and permanent expats. AJ’s work contract was terminated. It had in fact reached its completion two months earlier. Misguidedly, he reckoned he could count on his Training Department managers’ promises that ‘all is well, the renewed contract will arrive soon. They’re working on it’. So, he continued to work as required by their schedule.

Unfortunately, he had not emailed an official query, but he had begun asking in August already regarding the renewal of the contract. This was usually via WhatsApp, or when he was actually speaking to someone face to face on Teams. Always the same answer, “Don’t worry. It will come.” Little did they know themselves, that HR was in no way planning to renew his contract. The same HR department must have known that he was still working when they received his 13^th invoice. Yet, they did not step in to stop it. When the invoice was not settled within 2 weeks as per usual, AJ began to ask why. Only then, did the Training Manager discover that he needed to request from the CEO to allow AJ to continue. This procedure took a further 10 days. A tense wait for us. Initial feedback after the meeting was that he would continue, with no problems. We breathed a sigh of relief. The next day, however, he was sent a curt email by the Training Manager, “It’s not over yet, but you will be paid!”.

As he completed one Type course, he was due to begin another. He let them know that unless he had a definitive response to the issue of the contract, he could not continue with the next course. Seems someone had had a comprehension problem, as in the end, it was a firm NO. However, they waited until he had completed the month-long Type course to deliver a one-liner (after 14 years of loyal service) saying he was no longer needed. No mention of payment was forthcoming. The next day his name was removed from the training programme where it had appeared until January 2024. The following day, all access to training materials and email accounts was denied. He penned three requests to honour the now 2 unpaid invoices – one to his training manager, one to the HR manager, and one to the CEO of the company. Not one person has responded. It’s as if he never existed. And to date, he has not received payment. Had he not challenged them for a decision, yet another week would’ve been squeezed out of him for no pay. (Please see my update on this below.)

You could ask why he continued to work when his contract had expired. Well, as mentioned, it was because he was promised verbally that he would continue, and believing the best of everyone, he trusted the leaders in the Training Dept. And they continued to use him. In his last month he worked up to 12 hours a day instead of the required 8, prepping for the class and writing revision questions for the students for each day’s training. Because he was busy 5 days a week on the Type course, they requested he work on a Saturday for pilot training. He complied, always loyal to the company.

What is justice?

Photo by Sora Shimazaki from Pexels.com

According to most dictionaries, 'justice' can be defined as conforming to truth, fact or reason. Doing what is equitable, being morally correct, or fair. These concepts clearly do not ring true to whoever runs the company. They have not stated why they ignore his payment request. However, AJ says he suspects that unless you have a contract, you do not get paid. Bollocks! (Please note the update to this post below.)

Completely taken aback at first at their treatment of him, AJ has let it go. Admirably, and in silence, he blames himself. Before the emails were cut off he emailed the entire company to wish them all well and he blessed them. I bet that was one email that was not shared with the company’s employees.  

Until a few days ago I was angry. Not because of the pennies lost, but because of the injustice of it. I watched my hubby slog for the last month especially, under pressure to complete the course successfully, while suffering with poor technology that the company refused to upgrade on their end. He went the extra mile for that class, daily. Without payment. they have stolen from him. Justice is conforming to truth, fact or reason. Doing what is equitable, morally correct, or fair. True justice belongs to the Lord God of Heaven’s Armies. Especially when it comes to His children. Paul reminds us that the Lord said, “Vengeance is mine, I will repay.” (Hebrews 10).

Cast ... throw off, hurl!

My all-consuming anger festered to the point of planning all kinds of actions to right the wrong. It kept me awake at night. Waking up exhausted on yet another morning where my first thoughts were of vengeance, I was reminded in a devotional on Psalm 55, that David had written, “Cast your burdens on the Lord and He will sustain you”. ‘Cast’ in the original translation, the speaker pointed out, means to throw off, hurl, with gusto. Onto Him, the one Who knows the end from the beginning. Your path, your story, was written long before you were born. (If you read Psalm 139 you’ll know that is true.) The famous verse came to me, “And we know that God causes everything to work together for the good of those who love God and are called according to his purpose for them.” (Romans 8:28) That day, using Psalm 57 v 2, I went to the Lord and cried out for justice. All alone in the forest, with no one around that could possibly hear, I cried out to God. “It’s the principle of it all! Don’t you see?”

“Give it to me,” I heard in my spirit.

“I can’t do that … I just can’t!. I would not be able to walk away and leave this with you.” I retorted.

Alone, open and honest with my struggle, I felt God’s gentle urging. He kept on … “Give it to me. Give it to me.” Finally, after a spiritual battle like no other I have experienced, knowing it would set me free, I caved in. Verbally I CAST the whole matter onto the Lord, aloud. And because not a soul could see me, I also physically CAST it onto the Lord, going through the motions like it was a parasite that I was throwing off … and it felt liberating. But suddenly, the injustices of this world flooded in on me… of Jews slaughtered. Of Palestinians lied to by ideological hate cultists. Of people losing all in deliberately-lit fires in Australia. Of the agenda of far-left ideologists who pass laws allowing full-term, live, aborted babies to die a slow death on a cold hard table, forbidding the medical world to care for them because they were ‘aborted’. Of ordinary salt-of-the-earth folk and their family being made homeless by greedy governments, corporates, and landlords. SO MUCH INJUSTICE! Does that make God unjust? No, because He is always a good, good God. Holy. Loving and kind. Just and righteous. Not a dictator, He leaves us to choose to submit to Him or not. Because He is God, His plans prevail, for the good or the bad, according to His purposes. Who can question Him? Who can know the end from the beginning? Who can question His ways?

“Who are you, a mere human being, to argue with God?” Rom. 9 v 20.

Shall we accept prosperity and not adversity from the Lord? No, He has a reason for everything that is written into our life’s walk, and in the end, His name will be glorified. Even if that be in the next life, in eternity, He will get the glory. Unpaid wages are the least important in a world gone mad. God owns the proverbial ‘cattle on a thousand hills’. We are His children. Has he not repeatedly promised us … “I will be with you, I will help you”? Has he not repeatedly told us to ‘not be alarmed’? ‘Don’t be dismayed’! Over and over again, those promises, in different verses from the Word, have been coming at us through people, through sermons, through devotionals. 

I walked back to the caravan, a mess, but freed from the feelings of anger and vengeance.

An Uncertain Future

The future is uncertain. What we now seek is for God to be glorified through this. We both feel that AJ should take until the New Year to think, pray, and heal. To wait on God's leading. He went through an appalling time over the last 2 months. At the last, being eaten alive by midges, reacting to each bite, and having to work 9 am to 9 pm throughout. 

Training online

Then he was delivered a harsh blow. He has let it go, but he needs to work through the reality of a 45-year career having come to an end. Can it continue here in Aus? Not sure yet. In this country there are different requirements to be able to train adults.

By God’s grace, we have enough to carry us financially into the New Year. Thereafter, both of us will need to earn an income to be self-sufficient as our visa requires. We pray that we will not become reliant on help from our loved ones here, who are also battling to make ends meet.  The day after AJ was let go, we received our Tax return for the last year. Let me put it this way, while we had saved for the Tax man, it was in no way sufficient. Our advisor had not warned us of the true scope. International earnings are taxed differently, I think. 

Image by Perlinator from Pixabay

Had we not have had the major accident and been paid out fully for the loss of that vehicle a year ago, we would not have been able to pay the Taxman. But now we can. God knows the end from the beginning. It leaves us with a very small crutch … but, we are reminded that God our Father is our Mainstay. Our Keeper. Our Provider. Our Protector. A good, good Father. And a righteous Judge! 

His eyes travel to and fro across the face of the earth seeking to strengthen those whose hearts are turned toward Him (2 Chron. 16 v 9).   

Kingdom Currency

A few days ago, we were sent a voice note … a devotional talk before school … the person entitled her talk, “What is your Kingdom Currency?” Using the Old Testament story of Elijah and the widow in the famine (1 Kings 17), and of Peter and Paul and the lame beggar (Acts 3), she painted a perfect canvas with words, illustrating how each one of the characters had a choice – a choice to react to what they SAW before them, or to employ their Kingdom Currency of FAITH, OBEDIENCE and GOD-GIVEN ABILITY in exchange for something else – help from above for God’s glory.

Thank you, Kirsten! We resolve to employ our Kingdom Currency. 

Image by Perlinator from Pixabay

Thanks for stopping by. We are scheduled to house-sit in and around Gympie until mid-January. The next blog post should be more fun … be sure to watch for it. We will be looking after 4 very cute creatures … I won’t let on just yet. 🤭 Watch this space, it’ll put a smile on your dial. 😆

Until next time. Be blessed. 🌼

A later update to the above post....

In the Eye of the Storm ... the proverbial storm ... we found peace. To God be the glory. 💜

In mid-November we left the property in Tandur to park in a small caravan park in Gympie, closer to town and our children. We had a long list of to-dos to work through. Tax needed to be paid. The caravan's water pump gave in and needed a warranty claim. We needed to sort through banking issues and AJ's GP issues. (In this country, even if you are well, they keep nagging for you to visit the doctor so that they can check you out to see what could possibly be wrong with you. 😑🙄) We have decided to change to a different GP practice, hoping to get rid of the nagging doc.
We have had a heat wave – up to 38 degrees on 2 consecutive days. No fun. We put the AC on in the van and left to spend most of those days at our children’s home.

Ten things we learned over the past month.

1. We can live on a ¼ of the income we thought we needed. 😅
2. We are feeling better with two meals a day. 😁
3. After ‘casting our burdens (truly) on the Lord’, we found that there is, in fact, peace in the eye of the storm! 🤗
4. While we want to say a lot to God, it’s best to just listen to what He says for a change. His promises keep coming at us. We feel His love, like never before. 🥰
5. Having a chance to relax and decompress after a shocking couple of months, is good for the mind, body and soul, 😌 but …
6. Daily exercise is important for mind clarity after all! (Trying to keep it going.) 😅
7. Paying a huge tax bill is blood-curdling. 🤑
8. Ideas galore are hitting us thick and fast, but sorting them into short-, medium-, and long-term objectives is not THAT easy. 🤯😧
9. Prayer has a way of calming hyper-ventilation. 😊
10. Friends and family are amazing. 😘😘

And a bonus ... 11. God hears our prayers ... some He answers, some He doesn't.
Yesterday evening, I happened to look at our bank balance as we had spent a bit of money during the day on things we needed, and there it was – full payment from Gulf Helicopters! We were both gobsmacked. AJ couldn’t believe it, as he had written it off. I was amazed at how God had answered prayer. Even though I had left it with Him, I had kept on at God (like the nagging widow in the Bible story) saying that I could not believe that He would let AJ go unpaid. With continued expectation, I felt that He would motivate them to pay what was due. He did! We are eternally grateful.Our new favourite verse:

"As for me, I look to the Lord for help. I wait confidently for God to save me, and my God will certainly hear me." Micah 7 v 7.

In the last week ... AJ downloaded a program on his laptop, which will allow him to do quality screen recordings. We are hoping to get a training channel up on YouTube so that he can share his knowledge with those who need it. So much expertise shouldn’t go to waste. And, who knows, it may just take off and be popular in the industry. As God wills.Our church is having a fun event over Christmas to reach out to the community, so I volunteered to help design signs and posters. That kept me busy in a fun way for a few days. The church will be on the Gympie Christmas Lights Tour for families. We hope to make it a special experience for all.
In two days we are off to our next house-sitting. Will chat again soon, along with images of who for and where. 😃😆
Thank you to all who have offered us prayers and support. We value you. Thank you for being part of our journey.
Blessings. 🌼

Adjusting along this Journey

 

Where are we now …?

We are still in Esk. Enjoying our walks along the Brisbane Valley Rail Trail more than anything else. Getting out into nature along the trail is the highlight of every second morning.

We have 6 weeks to go before the owners return from their trip, and before we head back to Gympie for a month-long housesit there.

After 8 weeks in Esk, we’ve experienced all four seasons in rapid succession. Currently, we’re in spring conditions, but it’s technically still only autumn. At the start of this house sitting, in March, we had such hot days that we closed up the house, drew the curtains against the outside heat and put all the fans on to try and cool the house down. We sweltered, showering twice a day to wash off the sticky sweat. 

That changed after a few weeks as cooler temps arrived. Ah, we thought, relief! It was short-lived. We endured (apparently) uncharacteristically low temps for this time of year, shivering in our boots.  The flimsy clothing we misguidedly brought along (thinking they would be warm enough) was simply not sufficient. We rushed off to the op-shops (second-hand shops garnering funds for charities) and searched for (and found, gratefully!) some warmer items we could put on at a quarter of the cost of new ones. After a few days of low temps, Black Frost came calling. Overnight, all that was green around us turned to yellow, then brown.

And then the rain came. For 3 days and nights on and off, a soft persistent rain has been falling. With warmer temps, the grass is beginning to turn green again. I noticed the lemon tree shooting new growth. All of nature is thoroughly confused.

Adjusting, adjusting ... 

Our emotions have been much like the weather … up and down, warm, happy and fuzzy one day, confused the next. We sink into the cold fear of anxiety and restlessness at the slightest bad/sad/adverse news. Besides constantly hearing promises from our Father – lately, it has been Isaiah 41 v 10 – we have allowed the unseen fingers of insecurity and fear to grip our throats.

‘Do not fear [anything], for I am with you;
Do not be afraid, for I am your God.
I will strengthen you, be assured I will help you;
I will certainly take hold of you with My righteous right hand [a hand of justice, of power, of victory, of salvation].’  Isaiah 41 v10 AMP Bible

We did not stand firm. Consequently, the fingers began to squeeze after a few weeks of individually battling depression, fear, restless uncertainty, and  recrimination, sometimes at ourselves and at each other. Mentally confused, with a straining relationship, desperate because our thinking tended towards doom and gloom, we needed help. The Bible verses within devotional after devotional were crying for us to take note. And still, I was caving, and AJ was questioning more and more. We stopped having a devotional time together. We began to avoid each other, easily accomplished in a large house.

One morning, hiding in the warmth of the van, I was listening to a local Christian radio station. Out of the blue, there was a discussion on depression and anxiety. It was as if that person was talking straight at me, as I was reminded quite pointedly that I should request prayer for us from someone. Not wanting to alert friends and family to our struggles – we can all be so proud in low moments, can’t we? – I approached only one dear person, rock-solid in her faith, who has the very ear of our God, to pray for us.

Within 24 hours there was a significant change. Without going into detail, let me just say that suddenly (and not due to our efforts) we were able to have a civil conversation which we had not had for a few weeks without descending into a quarrel; I recall thinking, wow, that was different. We didn't argue. We began to have a more positive outlook; hope began to creep in. With each passing day our spirits were more lifted, and the Word of God finally came alive again in our hearts and minds. Even the sun seemed brighter and the clouds didn’t matter.

Getting back in the van

AJ had a week of no training commitment, so we took the van and fled off-grid for two days to a beautiful spot 40 mins away, next to a lake. 

It was soul-refreshing and healing. No internet. No mobile signal. No power. Our water only just lasted for the two days, but then, we didn’t go sparingly on the tanks as we knew we were there for only a short time.

We could only watch nature…

... or chat … or sit in silence ... and contemplate. The sunrises were awe-inspiring.

We had taken our devotional Bible to read, and the readings we were on delivered a poignant reminder.

Based on Chapter 2 verses 17 and 18 of Hebrews: "Therefore, it was necessary for Him to be made in every respect like us, his brothers and sisters, so that He could be our merciful and faithful High Priest before God. Then He could offer a sacrifice that would take away the sins of the people. Since He himself has gone through suffering and testing, He is able to help us when we are being tested."

 ""What do you know about it? Persons in great pain and misery sometimes throw this question in the face of those who are trying to console them. The rejection is especially acute if the one offering solace has never been through similar misery [them]self. "How can you tell me 'Everything is going to be all right' or 'It's not really as bad as it seems'? You don't know anything about this!"

"On the other hand, someone who has actually experienced the situation the sufferer is presently enduring innately senses what needs to be done or said – or left unsaid. That is exactly what kind of person, what kind of comforter, Jesus is. He was made "in every respect like us" (2v17). He himself suffered, just as we do; He Himself was tempted, just as we are. This is why He is able to help us so effectively – He has been through and understands whatever painful, dreadful situation we may face. He is able to minister as "our merciful and faithful High Priest" (2v17) precisely because He went through suffering and temptation and therefore understands both those afflictions and us. So, says the writer, He is able to help us when we are being tempted, and He offers a perfect sacrifice that obliterates sin when we fall."  (from The Travellers Devotional Bible.)

Coincidence? I think not. As believers, we know there is no such thing as coincidence. 

We returned refreshed and renewed. Being in the van for two days had also reminded us of how much we enjoy living that lifestyle. We have decided to limit house sitting after our current commitments end in January ‘24. Thereafter, we will house-sit only when we feel it is necessary. There is a constant insatiable demand for house sitters. We're trusting God on that decision because it will cost us more and increase our towing times as we travel from location to location. Not only that, but we also trust that, at the right time, God will provide a house sitting for us as the need arises.

House sitting is a privilege and a saving. However, it comes with huge responsibilities. On a few occasions, we’ve had to spring clean a home before we felt comfortable about unpacking our bags. And truth be told, I am no longer partial to cleaning a large home on an ongoing basis. And when you hand it back to the owners it needs to be better than you found it. Owners are forgetful.

Likewise, AJ is no longer partial to maintaining a large expanse of lawn. Water is always scarce. Gardens need water. Most homes depend on rainwater tanks for a water supply. Each time you use water you feel stressed … will it rain to replace what we have used? At one home the water ran out while we house-sat. It was not a pleasant feeling. Luckily there was water in the van’s tanks, which we turned to. The owner had not kept track of the water tank’s level as it was underground. There was an insinuation that we had used too much water. We knew we hadn’t. It had only been a week, after all, with no garden requiring water. The current house we are in uses town and rainwater tanks. But even in using town water, you are constantly aware that it costs the owner. After a long stay, we leave an amount for the water bill. 

The house we are in is large and while it is full of furniture and packed bookshelves, display cabinets and rugs, it manages to still feel hollow. Designed to be optimally cool in summer heat, its open plan is cold and its tinted windows make it dark on cloudy days. It is constructed, as many are in Australia, raised from the ground with an open space beneath the floor of the house and the ground below. Consequently, it seeps cold from below. Most houses here are  built from wood, or composite material of some sort, and they creak, groan and whistle as the weather conditions change.

Being in a large home, one is more easily inclined to live separate lives. In the van, we are constantly engaged and dependent upon one another to make each day a success. No, give me my small happy van any day. AJ feels the same.  

“Why”, I hear you say, “are you depressed, anxious?”

“You’re in a good place. In a safe place.”

“You have your heart’s desire”, one person said to me.

“You're living the dream, which few people can!” said another.

“You aren’t going through what we are going through. You’re lucky you aren’t enduring what we have to endure.”

Well, please allow a reply … you too, aren’t enduring what we are. You aren’t in the circumstances that we are in. None of us really know what the other is ‘enduring’. None of us have perfect security. None have total safety. We have all made choices and decisions that affect our lives whether for the good or the bad. And we must live with those choices or the consequences of those choices/decisions. Some were made a long, long time ago, such is the effect of each decision upon life’s journey. (Young people take note.)

Personally, we have had to adjust to a new lifestyle, in a new country. In doing so, we face struggles that no one knows of. AJ has had his fluctuating work hours reduced. I’m working hard at getting a side hustle off the ground. We are presently on a temporary visa, with our permanent visa currently being processed. Our children here, as our sponsors, have just had their interviews with the immigration dept. We were all reminded that, for the next ten years, we are expected to be self-sufficient … if we aren’t, our children will need to carry the responsibility; regardless of whether or not we are accepted as citizens after 4 years, should we apply. Daily we wait for the next step, which is not an automatic ‘yes you can stay’.

Allow me to say, never judge, never compare. Never point … three fingers are pointing back at you.

So many clichés are thrown about by those who are supposedly managing their lives – “When the going gets tough, the tough get going”, etc. We all know the struggles: the economic mess causing an endless rise in the cost of living; political upheaval; gender ideology confusing so many; social and community struggles, with lack of support from those that govern; poor infrastructure, deteriorating further day by day; broken individuals that get themselves into endless trouble; a rise in youth crime; a rise in hopelessness. There are wars. Rumours of wars. Apart from all this, we all have struggles with income and expenditure. Dire needs within our closest families. Medical needs and health fears.

And then, worst of all, there is the relentlessness of social media, drawing us down the proverbial rabbit hole of an algorithm-fed diet of covetousness, anxiety, doom, delusions, and false fads. A diet that is designed to tap every bit of strength from your bones, reduce your brain cells, and deplete your system of life-sustaining hope.

We have learned ...

We have learned one thing in this last month … take your eyes off the One who provides all hope, and you begin to drown in the mess around you. Focus more on the news (or social media) and your heart begins to shrink. Focus more on the Word of God and the glimmer of hope springs alive. Read more of His Word than the news, and faith is fanned into flame. Praise Him for what you have, and your heart responds by beating stronger. Find a way to assist/encourage someone else and your bones begin to heal. A dry spirit begins to produce living streams that allow you to pass on hope to a hopeless world.

The purpose of this blog post? 

Firstly, of course, to answer the question so many are asking … where are you now?  😀

Secondly, to encourage you, wherever you are, to keep your eyes on the One who gives all life. Read His Word. If you don’t know where to start, John 1 verse 1 is a good beginning. Play the book of Psalms while driving in your car. You do know, don’t you, that there are many Bible apps free to use.  We love the YouVersion Bible App.

For every hour of TV propaganda you watch, resolve to read/listen to one hour of God’s word or a Christian Radio Station. If you don’t have one that you know of, and you have a smartphone, why not download the TuneIn Radio App, which has an option for free use. There, you can find radio stations from around the world. Search for the Vision Christian Radio Station in Australia. Pure Soul Food.

On the above screen capture of my TuneIn app, you can see Vision Christian Radio from Australia, Radio Sonder Grense from South Africa, FM Pretoria, Coast Radio from New Zealand (when I need to dance 😄) and Smooth Jazz Global from California when we need a calm atmosphere. (Another of our favourites, Classic 1027 from Johannesburg, is not on offer on TuneIn.)  

I’m not saying you mustn’t remain abreast of the news. Of course, you must. Know what the contemporary world is touting. Be aware. But ensure that you are reading from/listening to a wide variety of sources, not only one. Remember that algorithm diet … ?

Until the next catch-up, thanks for stopping by.

Thank you for your support. We love and appreciate you.

Blessings.🌼

Social media graphic by Image by 巻（Maki） from Pixabay.

Newspaper image by Gerd Altmann from Pixabay.