I broke the cardinal rule (as the seasons go) and blared some Christmas music in my car yesterday! Woo! I apologize, but I had to. It seems I start listening to it earlier every year. I wonder why. Anyway, Christmas music is just one of those little joys that comes with the changing seasons. It's like when the coffee shops bring out their Christmas blends and Christmas cups. I guess I've been struggling to find some good little thing each day. It's been really hard for me, especially recently. But I think continuing to pray that the Lord provides just what I need to get through one day before the next, will help me. I know it's helped so far. I went and got fitted for my skating dress for the show yesterday, and just thinking about the performances in December was enough to make me smile, because skating makes me happy. It was enough to listen to awesome praise and worship music and fellowship with friends last night, too. We talked about vulnerability and what it means to release those burdens we carry around. Isn't a relief to know that there are people out there going through the SAME things we are? Yes! Lamentations 3:22 reads, "Because of the Lord's great love we are not consumed, for His compassions never fail." Amen. I need that Scripture everyday! And Philippians 4:6 says, "In everything you do, by prayer and petition, make your requests known to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus." Mm. SO GOOD. This just tells of the Lord's heart and what He wants for us. He loves us too much to watch us suffer from things of this world. As Christians, we're supposed to bear each other's burdens. We're supposed to be the hands and feet of Jesus, reaching out to those we see around us who need help. We're blessed to be blessings!

Smiles Are the Best Medicine

It's been an emotionally charged weekend to say the least. Saturday night I watched To Save a Life. I remember wanting to see it when it came out last winter, and never had the chance to. The synopsis: "Jake is the most popular kid in school and has a promising future, but his world is rocked when tragedy strikes his childhood best friend. Now Jake is forced to ask, 'Could I have saved him?' With help from a few new friends, he embarks on a journey to live a life of purpose, knocking down the sacred social barriers of high school life and befriending a loner, Jonny Garcia. But when Jonny's life spirals out of control, will Jake have what it takes to stop him from the same tragic end? Can one person really make a difference?"

I know, it sounds like your typical "Save me" story, right? But it's not. And considering that the issues this film covers are up close and personal to me, I really think it's a call to Christians and non-Christians alike. For Christians, it's a call to step up our game; to be intentional; to recognize and ultimately love each and every person around us. Smiles are the best medicine, aren't they? They can conceal almost anything going on in life, which are normally the things that bring our lives swirling and twirling down to the ground. But for non-Christians, it's a call to recognize a need for Christ that we all have. Sometimes we just need to hit rock bottom before we recognize that the only one who can solve our problems, love us for who we are, and heal us in every way, is Jesus. This life of following Christ has nothing to do with being perfect, but everything to do with being broken and admitting the need to fall on your knees for Jesus. It really is about asking, "What can I do?" Let me tell you-- it's so easy to feel like one measly little person in the midst of nearly seven billion-- but we're capable of so much more than we are aware of. I used to tell myself, "You're going to travel the world someday and make a difference." I mean, I defined difference as living in some foreign country and, oh, bringing medical care to people or something. I never thought that smiling at someone or asking them about their day-- asking, "How are you REALLY doing?" would be making a difference. My eyes were once again opened this weekend and I found the source of this passion-- serving those who are in opposition without a voice, the depressed, the hopeless-- that only comes from Jesus. I praise Him that I overcame because of Him, and that I am able to look back at my experiences and fall to my knees in surrender.