Jesus, Take the Wheel

I believe God uses a variety of different ways to speak to people. Even non-musicians are moved by music, both words, melody, and the marriage of the two can truly speak to someone.

It's no secret to anyone who knows me that I've been dealing with some depression this year. After a year of disappointments, losses, and unexpected things that have come up in our life, it's really no surprise either.

When I left the last church job I had, I left feeling that I really didn't understand Christianity anymore. I'd experienced so many things that didn't make sense, and that left me feeling angry, hurt, and kept me out of church for a couple of years.

How do these two events relate?

In the course of being completely broke this past year, I decided to take a job at a church playing the organ on Sunday mornings. Working for a church is something I said I would never do again after what happened, but I had a skill, and here was a place to use it. It was just a job.

6 months later, and I am way more involved in this church than I thought I would be! I have a new group of people who love and pray for me, something that makes me smile again (and these days, it hasn't been a whole lot), and this job may turn into a little something more than we originally thought. In the course of figuring some things out with said job, I realized that prayer was no longer an occasional option, but seriously, I needed to have a chat with God.

As my prayer life has once again increased, I'm finding God talking back to me. And in the one thing that truly touches me, He's talking to me in music. Several songs have been brought in front of me or brought to my mind this week that have really helped to comfort me this last week. One, Carrie Underwood's Jesus Take the Wheel - this one came to my mind when I was upset, driving, and just feeling at a complete loss. The song became a prayer and I began to get a little more control.

The second was one I hadn't heard for years. There was a CD in '99 called Exodus that my best friend Jenn and I listened to non-stop. I've since lost that CD, but one of the songs came to mind last week, then today, it came back in front of me when I friend posted it on her blog. Sixpence None The Richer's Brighten My Heart in itself is a prayer, asking God to let her clear her head, mind, etc. and focus back on God.

In this crap-tastic year, there have been only a few good things. So for you, my loyal readers, here's my suggested playlist on the GOOD things that've happened this year:

Brighten My Heart - (Sixpence None the Richer) Me, back in church, where I need to be.

Jesus, Take the Wheel - (Carrie Underwood) Me, learning to talk to God again.

God Bless the Broken Road - (Rascal Flatts) This would be me and my hubby. We had this song sung at our wedding (thanks Eric!) and through this year, we've grown closer and remembered that we do really love each other. :)

Gravity - (Sarah Bareilles) Ok, so this one might sound like a downer, but it's about setting yourself free from the past and moving forward. Something I'm still learning to do, but it's a good thing.

Red High Heels - (Kelly Pickler) I earned my Mary Kay car this year, and if you'll notice in my car picture, I have on my red high heels. :)

There's a short playlist for you. I hope you enjoy the musical journey that I have.