Megan's prayer: Jump5's "Throw Your Hands Up"

Being the first Wednesday of the month, I was blessed to have the chance to attend Encounter this evening. As always, it was awesome to be in the presence of Jesus while listening and singing to some wonderful music, but I was struggling to stay focused. I was unable to produce any original prayers or thoughts... instead my mind was more focused on "Why can't I focus?" I watched others singing and praising, freely giving themselves to God, and wondered "Why can't I be at that stage?"

Maybe I should have listened more to what today's song was saying, and what Adam echoed right before the night started.

Doesn't matter what place you are in

It didn't matter if I was feeling a deep connection with God, or if my faith at that point seemed very shallow. It didn't matter if I had been to Encounter a couple dozen times, or if it was my first night. It didn't matter where I was in my faith life, all that mattered was that I had come to Encounter to share in that experience.

I didn't realize this until Encounter was over.

The next Encounter is 28 days away. Luckily, I don't have to wait that long to talk to God. I don't have to wait for Mass, or a Holy Hour, or anything of that sort. I am blessed that at any second of the day, I can call on God and I know He is there. No matter what place I am in.

Marie's Prayer: Jump5's "Throw Your Hands Up"

Never stop, we'll keep on moving

This world is a go, go, go place and we never stop moving. That is one of the things I want to work on, making time to just sit and think. Everything is fast pace and people want to move faster and before you know it, you've moved past someone that might mean a lot to you. I just don't want that person to be God. We should never be in such a hurry that we lose sight of the important things.

Erinnicole's Prayer: Jump5's "Throw Your Hands Up"

Then we're singing it all as one

I'm glad that I truly don't have to go at life alone. I could never do it. Whether it's just a few friends, or a whole support system, I rarely have to be alone if I don't want to be. I know that God is always there for me; I am talking about tangible people who can play with my hair when I am sad. and I love that this example is singing because I truly love singing and it is so powerful! It is a universal thing!

Chris' prayer: Jump5's "Throw Your Hands Up"

Do you know when the time has come?

This question is ubiquitous in Christian culture when referring to Christ's second coming. For example, the Left Behind book series has sold millions upon millions of copies telling the story of the last days of Earth, as Christ returns to rapture those who truly follow Him.

Behind the query above and behind the book series, is the underlying question, "Are you ready?" And while I can appreciate the sentiment behind the question and the idea of being ready for Christ's return, I can't help but always feel like answering the question negatively.

The way I view my spirituality, I try to live my life bringing Heaven to Earth, instead of living my life to get into Heaven, in any way that I can. It is a job that is never done. There is so much more that I can do to spread God's Love further, and deeper, to those around me. With God's Grace and strength, it will be something I continue to do until I die, regardless of whether or not I am raptured.


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Catie's prayer: Jump5's "Throw Your Hands Up"

There are few things that make my heart happier than singing praise and worship especially with other people. Whether it's just two of us in a car or 2000 people at a Steubenville Conference, I absolutely love it.

Can u hear it getting louder
The sound of noise increasing
A little piece of heaven now

For me, praise and worship is a little piece of heaven. When everyone is just there, praising God with all that they have, there is nothing more beautiful.