Keepin' My Chin Up

"Then Jesus told his disciples a parable to teach them that they should always pray and never become discouraged." (Luc 18:1)

Yesterday and today I've been a bit discouraged. Ok, more than a bit. But who's measuring? Kevin and I love to misquote one of the funniest movies of all times, Dumb and Dumber. "We got no food, we got no jobs, our pets heads are falling off...You are one pathetic loser! No offense. None taken..." (actually, we do have food, plenty, and Kevin has a job, thank you Mr. Frank's Tire Factory, and our one pet lives at my mom's and, to my knowledge, still has her head firmly attached). We relieve stress and crack ourselves up saying that phrase, adding a list of other things that 'we don't got.'

In my daily reading of the Word, the very first verse that I read was Luc 18:1. Pray always. Never become discouraged. That hit me between the eyes and right in the heart zone. I decided to work on that today - praying always and not becoming discouraged.

Running errands was my main job du jour. After the first stop, I turned the radio on to K-love, a local Christian broadcasting station. A song was playing, and once the words came clear, they were -

Still wondering why I'm here

Still wrestling with my fear

But oh, He's up to something

And the farther on I go

I've seen enough to know

That I'm, not here for nothing

He's up to something

(Brandon Heath, Wait and See, BEC Recordings)

Pretty excellent lyrics. I thought, man, that sounds just like me.

Next stop, got back into the car and turned the radio on. No kidding, the next song was just for me, too.

How could this be from Your hand

When every little thing that I have dreamed would be

Just slips away like water through my hand...

Like they're all made of sand

I won't let go of You now, because I know You're not shaken

I'm trembling in the darkness of my own fear

All the questions with no answers still grip me while I'm here

And I may never know why I may not understand

But I will lift up my eyes

And trust this is Your plan ...

You're right here beside me and You have never left

You're not shaken,

You're not shaken

(Phil Stacey, You're Not Shaken, Renuion Records)

Hearing the words and the thoughts in those songs reminded me that He's still got a plan for me, even if my world is topsy turvy during this season in my life. Regardless of how the world is spinning, He's not shaken, He's the Solid Rock and the True Foundation of Strength. Nope. Nothing can move Him from my side.

"Now, will God not judge in favour of his own people who cry to him day and night for help? Will he be slow to help them? I tell you, he will judge in their favour and do it quickly. But will the Son of Man find faith on earth when he comes?" (Luc 18:7-8)

Be still. Rest in peace. He's right beside me.

The Rollinator

OCD is good. Meet Mr. Frank's Tire Man. Doesn't he look great in his special duds? For now, Mr. Tire Man has a job to organize and maintain the tires behind the scenes (and move them and put them into storage and move the inventory). He was doing such a great job, his co-workers came up with a nickname for him - The Rolodex - for being organized. So Mr. Frank's Tire Store Man became The Rolodex, and then became The Rollinator. I think it's pretty funny. The roll-inator - get it? Tires roll. haha [Flashback: The tooth fairy in The Santa Clause 2 wants to change his name to "The Mol-anator", as in molar tooth. Cracks me up.]

So, if you have OCD tendencies, good things are coming for you! Maybe, one day, you too can earn a nickname just as cool as The Rollinator. And while you're waiting, just keep practicing being organized...

Welcome to my quest!

A quip (kwp) n. =

1. A clever, witty remark often prompted by the occasion.
2. A clever, often sarcastic remark; a gibe.
3. A petty distinction or objection; a quibble.
4. Something curious or odd.

A quest (kwest) n. =
a search for something, especially a long or difficult one
a journey in search of something, especially one made by knights in medieval tales

Quantrell here. Just in case you didn't know the definition of a quip or a quest...I suggest that LIFE is a long and/or difficult/and exciting quest. I have the knight in shining armor (thank you, dear) and some of my past days and events suggest tales (as in tall or unbelievable tales), which are stories. In short, welcome to a blog about life, filled with stories. Along the way, new finds and discoveries, questions, troubles, trials, and victories will emerge from the pen and paper (ok, computer and keyboard). Let it be known that we may encounter monsters of one kind or another along the path. Most assuredly, or the tale would be incomplete. But in the end, this princess of the High King will live in the Castle of Eternity. Oooh, that sounds exciting! Join me.