Megan's prayer: Matt Maher's "Everything You've Done"

Most weeks I have the joy of attending two masses at some point during the week. I always make it to the noon mass at Cletus, where there is singing and dancing, and I am surrounded by teens, and the mass is full of energy. I also normally have the chance to attend a weekday mass in the chapel on campus. These Thursday afternoon masses are much more reverent, without any music, without much energy. Different, but still wonderful.

Today's song spoke to me about the joy that I feel during the Sunday masses at Cletus. I love getting the song sheet before mass starts and having a chance to see what songs we will be singing. I enjoy the songs the slow songs, the songs with feeling, the songs sang during times of reflection. Even more than that, I like the songs that give me the feeling that no matter what, I couldn't sing it loud enough. Songs that fill the whole church. The songs that I love the most are the songs that encourage dancing. Although that may sound hypocritical because I don't typically dance, I enjoy them more for the chance to see others dance, to see others express their faith in such a pure form of joy. The songs that are even able to get teenage boys to dance. While some may find this irreverent, all I can think during these times is "Jesus, we dance for you."

Marie's Prayer: Matt Maher's "Everything You've Done"

Celebrate everything you're doing

I don't celebrate myself enough. I realized this yesterday as I celebrated the successful start of my collaborative vlog. Actually, I don't think I've ever actually celebrated anything I've ever done. And that's kind of sad when you think about it. I've celebrated things others have done, but never me. So I'm going to try and do that more often. Because if I can't celebrate me, what can I celebrate? I need to learn to appreciate me because God made me in His image and I should celebrate that. Yay God!

Erinnicole's Prayer: Matt Maher's "Everything You've Done"

We dance for you!

this song made me want to dance...i haven't stopped "bopping" along since I clicked play! That is how i think life should be; it is just a great thing so why not dance?! sometimes we hit hard times, yes...but we still wake up in the morning. and that's reason enough for me to dance. i have little to no rhythm but that doesn't really take away from my love of dance. i wish that instead of blogging my love for God today, I could dance it! The words aren't coming so easily today but if you all could see me dancing, it would look something like this :

~* ~* ~* ~* ~* ~*~~* ~^^^^^ *~*~~**~*~* ~* ~* ~*~ *~ *~ *~ *~ *~*~ LA LA LA LA ~*~*~*~*~*~**~*~*~*~*~*~**~ ^^^
with the "^"s indicating jumps

because when I get into my faith with my whole body, it's an overwhelming, passion-filled mess.

this point of this whole mess of emotion, is that I think we should use the love and joy that God fills us with to express our gratitude in the most vibrant way that we can which, today, happens to be dancing for me!

Dance for the Lord!

Catie's prayer: Matt Maher's "Everything You've Done"

Celebrate in joyful hope
Celebrate your love
Celebrate what you are doing,
And everything you've done

I met someone a few weeks ago who I really look up to. She is always so joyful, always has a positive attitude, always has a smile on her face and always ready to greet everyone she meets with a warm welcome. She is probably one of the nicest and most genuine people I have met thus far. The reason I look up to her so much is because she is able to celebrate, celebrate life, celebrate love, celebrate God in everything that she does. I want to be like that. I want that joy that God gives us to celebrate the good and the bad, the triumphs and the trials. It's easy to celebrate when things are going well, if one can celebrate and triumph in the midst of hardship though, that is the true test of character.

Chris' prayer: Andy Cloninger's "Ascribe to the Lord"

I'll be honest. I had to look up ascribe. It isn't a word that I hear every day, or, actually, every year, so I wanted to check and make sure I get the definition right. Ascribe means to attribute something to something or someone. Basically, today's prayer is calling me to give to God what is His.

What have I ascribed to Him today? What have I taken credit for? What have I withheld from Him? Where is He calling me to open myself up to Him?

These are questions that I really need to be asking myself everyday. I need to be more consistent about turning things over to God, giving Him all of my problems, my sin, my failures...and all of the successes that are attributed to me. For He is the reason I am successful, and He can carry all of my burdens.


iTunes

Megan's prayer: Andy Cloninger's "Ascribe to the Lord"

Ascribe to the Lord the glory due His name.

All glory is due His name. Not just some glory, not just the glory I don’t want to take… All glory. Sometimes this is hard to remember. Sometimes it is hard to not want to take all the glory. Sometimes it is hard to accept that fact that I didn’t do it on my own. God was always there helping me.

I find it to be a humbling challenge to constantly give glory where it is due. A challenge that I am excited to be part of. I want other’s to know that I don’t take credit for all of the amazing things about my life, all that credit is given to God. All of the glory is given to God.

Erinnicole's Prayer: Andy Cloninger's "Ascribe to the Lord"

the voice of the lord is a powerful thing

"a" powerful thing is quite the understatement...more like the powerful thing. What is more powerful than God or His words to us? I feel foolish that I am so accepting and know for certain that nothing is more powerful than God's voice, yet it is most likely the voice I listen to least. I think it's most likely due to the fact that while it is the most powerful and rewarding to listen to, it is almost the most difficult to hear at times. But this past week, I've been trying really hard. I know I need to continue making life changes and so I've been focusing extra on listening to His Words for guidance. Nothing earth shattering, but that isn't what I really need. I just need a small word here and there. That is enough, too, because it is the most powerful thing. Just think of what the world could be if we all harnessed the strength to hear and listen to it.

Marie's Prayer: Andy Colininger's "Ascribe to the Lord"

To redeem the lost

I have been lost so many Times that I have Lost count. Ha ha, yeah I know How weird that sounds. But no joke, Whether it be Lost in person Or lost in mind or Spirit, I can't keep track. How nice Would it be to one Of those Times Just have someone there to say,"oh yeah, go That Way,"? I would much appreciate that. I realize That God is there to do this, so Maybe I should Look To Him when I'm lost. And I will. I know that If I lose my way I can look To Him and He will save me.

Catie's prayer: Andy Cloninger's "Ascribe to the Lord"

The voice of the Lord is a powerful thing

Yesterday while in weight training, I got thinking about this camp called Totus Tuus. It's held within different diocese within the country and is run by young adults (I think mostly college students). They go to different parishes throughout the diocese that they work for working camp for kids 1st-12th grade. It's broken up between teaching, skits, games, all of that. It's something that has crossed my mind before but just kept going. But yesterday during weight training I'm like I should do that, I would absolutely love that. So I talked to some people about it and now I'm in the process of applying for it for the summer. In thinking about it last night, when God puts things on my heart that He knows I might be skeptical about, he puts it on my heart hard, throws it at me no real warning becasue He knows that's the only way He has a chance of me running with it. There can be no subtle clues that maybe I should do this- that doesn't work for me. I'll overthink it and then will end up probably not doing it. God's voice was loud and clear yesterday, although it isn't always. We all have to keep our eyes and ears open to the voice of God.

Chris' prayer: MercyMe's "In the Blink of an Eye"

And though I'm living a good life
Can my life be something great?

What are you scared of? Are you scared of spiders, or mice, or bugs? Are you scared of failing, of being alone, of the unknown? We all have certain things that scare us. While I might receive a small fright from an unexpected spider or mouse, I wouldn't say that I'm scared of them. And while I'd rather not fail, or end up alone, I wouldn't say that I'm particularly scared of those, either.

My greatest fear, if I'm truly being honest with myself, is greatness. I'm not exactly sure why, but I'm sure that the fear is real. As a result, I tend to settle into things and get comfortable in my mediocrity. For instance, I've said countless times that I'm going to get my portfolio together and look for a new job, one I really feel I'm ready for. But I don't take the steps to achieve that goal. I'm far too comfortable with how things are. I am crippled by this fear of what I could achieve if I put my mind to it, if I invested myself fully, if I just trusted God!

And I know it. I know that I could be great. Not just with work, but with everything that I do. I could be so much more. But instead of doing it, I'm stuck asking...

What am I waiting for?

YouTube | iTunes | Lyrics

Megan's prayer: MercyMe's "In the Blink of an Eye"

Dane Cook is a silly guy. I love listening to his routines or watching youtube clips of him. Part of today’s song stood out and reminded me of one of his routines, and actually got me thinking.

Dane Cook talks about how he wants to leave behind a legacy. One way that he is going to do this is by shoving ice cream in a little kid’s face. The child will probably remember that for a long time, and Dane Cook will have successfully left behind a legacy. An odd one, but a legacy nonetheless.

I also would like to leave behind a legacy. I don’t want it to be a bad memory, but rather a great memory. I want to make a difference in someone’s life… in many people’s lives. I think that is one reason I’m getting a degree in education. I want to do everything that I can to help children meet and exceed their full potential. I want them to have the chance to leave behind a legacy.

I didn’t know if teaching would be a good enough way to leave a legacy, but today’s song reassured me.

If I give the very best of me
That becomes my legacy

Erinnicole's Prayer: MercyMe's "In The Blink of an Eye"

There's a reason I'm alive for a blink of an eye

Today we had a chastity talk at school, given by Mr. Jason Everett (probably spelled incorrectly...my apologies). It was incredible and I saw hearts change. A guy in my class, who I am relatively friends with was wearing a disrespectful shirt proclaiming profanity and when the talk was over, he approached the speaker and took it off and handed it to him. It was an intense hour that brought up an unbelievable amount of viewpoints for things I've never thought of. I made the choice to live chastity already when I was in 8th grade officially, but even when I was young I would look in the mirror and know that I was special and worth the world. Still, his talk hit me and reinforced that I'm making the right decision.

Before the talk, I doubted that it would have an extreme impact. No matter how good the delivery is, it is difficult to talk about God and His love, even in my school, and a lot of people close their minds and tend to shut down. So my thought was, the majority of us have made the choice we will make. Most likely, he will spark the desire for a new lifestyle in maybe a few people and if some kids already have that desire but don't know where to start, he can help keep their ball rolling. But that isn't what happened; people talked about it all day and I heart guys saying to their girlfriends "that really inspired me". It was awesome! At lunch, I talked to my friend about my previous thoughts on how much of a difference a stranger, no matter how cool, could truly make but that I was wrong. And he said, 'erin...you give chastity talks...how can you not think that they make a difference?'

well, that sort of got me thinking and we actually were having this conversation as this song was playing in the background for the first time when I clicked it. And it occurs to me, that I don't think I can make a huge difference. I can offer good points and give a few laughs (in life, not just in talks), but since the lifestyle choice is ultimately other people's, how much of a difference can I really make in the world? It makes complete sense to me. Perhaps it is the stubborn attitude of the teenage years [I wouldn't know yet, I haven't muddled through them all], but to me, whenever I give advice, no matter how badly the person wants it, they almost never listen.

I stopped texting my friend and really focused on the song and the other words, while beautiful, faded away, just leaving "There's a reason I'm alive for a blink of an eye". It hit me, much like the talk today but more and in a different way. Even if life is truly just a blink of God's eye, virtually no time at all...He still placed me here. And if He took the time to create me as I am, and as He wants me, there must be a reason I am here. There has to be! So even if it isn't a big difference, I am affecting the world around me...or there wouldn't be a world around me. I believe everything happens for a reason and so it only makes sense that there is a reason I'm alive for a blink of an eye.

Catie's prayer: MercyMe's "In the Blink of an Eye"

You put me here for a reason
You have a mission for me

I heard somewhere recently about how when God created us, he created each person in their own little mold (figuratively speaking of course) and once we had been created, he broke that mold. There's no one on earth that has the exact same mission on earth that I have, you have- each person has their own. Are we living out that mission? How well are we living out God's will for our lives. I know for me I can always do better at that. One thing I've especially been working on lately is taking the time to stop and actually listen when somene is talking to me. Christ is in every single person and in that moment that is the Christ in me having a chace to encounter the Christ in them. We shouldn't miss out on that opportunity to encounter Christ in those around us or show Christ to those around us becasue something else is seemlingly more important. Christ didn't ask people to take a raincheck. He didn't say to come back at a time that was more convenient for him. He loved people where they were at, even it was with him when he could have been doing something else. And we should do that too. There is not better way to
embrace that moment that we've been given.

Chris' prayer: Mary Mary's "Shackles (Praise You)"

Take the shackles off my feet so I can dance
I just wanna praise you

This song, and specifically these lines, describe perfectly my last adoration experience. I wanted to praise God, to sing to Him and worship Him, but I felt bound by my thoughts, my wandering mind, and never really did get to do what I was so looking forward to doing. I felt so handicapped by my own brain, my heart aching to cry out to my Maker, locked up. I just kept waiting for those next lines to come:

You broke the chains now I can lift my hands
And I'm gonna praise you

I'm still waiting...


YouTube | iTunes | Lyrics

Megan's prayer: Mary Mary's "Shackles (Praise You)"

But I need you to lift this load
Cause I can't take it anymore

Sometimes the load does get heavy. Sometimes I feel like it is too much to handle, but at the same time, I end up feeling that it is too insignificant to take it to others, to take it to God. It *should* be something that I can handle myself.

It's hard to do, but many times it is necessary to just let go and let God take care of it. To finally realize that this load is not my load to carry. It's hard to do, but each time I am able to do it, I am left with such a sense of peace, and I wonder why I didn't just take it to God from the beginning.

Erinnicole's Prayer: Mary-Mary's "Shackles: Praise You"

Take the shackles off my feet so I can dance

How often do i ask God to take the "shackles" off of my feet so that I can start over running the wrong direction once more? I think the answer, sadly, is too often. The moment I am free from one problem, I let God go back to doing His thing and get right back to running the wrong way. But this is an excellent solution to that problem! When He takes the shackles off, praise Him! Dance! Thank God that we have the ability and the freedom to ask for His help in the first place and more so the fact that He openly gives it!

Catie's prayer: Mary Mary's "Shackles (Praise You)"

In the majority of this school year for bible study we have been talking about how we can make ourselves better women of God and just over all better people in general. We've been talking about this and how we can help the people around us become better people as well. My bible study leader gave us this quote last night, "Father, make of me a crisis man. Bring those I contact to decision. Let me not be a milepost on a single road; make me a fork, that men must turn one way or another on facing Christ in me. " This is saying that when people come to us, they are going to have to make a choice of whether or not to follow Christ because we are living out how he wants us to live that well. When we do this, as we ourselves grow into the people God want us to be and help the others around us as well, I think think that is no better way of saying to God-

I just wanna praise you

What better way to praise God than through our very lives, our very being. When we do God's will for us and live as he wants us to, there are few things that honor and praise him more.

Megan's prayer: Charlie Hall's "All We Need"

God I want You more
Than anything that glitters in this world

I struggle with this everyday. What my heart needs, and wants, is different than what my mind things I need sometimes.

This idea has been presented to me plenty of times - that I don't need material things to be happy. In fact, I have probably even been a advocate for this idea, and yet I find myself struggling with it.

How exactly do we break away from that feeling of needing materialistic things? How do I wrap my mind around the fact that God is all I need?

Just some questions I am wondering.

Chris' prayer: Charlie Hall's "All We Need"

I remember struggling through my financial accounting class in college. No matter how much time I spent on the homework, no matter how long we went over the homework in class, I just couldn't wrap my head around it. It simply didn't make sense to me. All semester long I struggled, keeping my grade afloat merely with completion and participation points, and doing "just well enough" on the tests and quizzes.

The class final was quickly approaching, and needless to say, I was quite nervous, as it would have a large effect on my grade. Shortly before the test, something miraculous happened. But repeating my assignments over and over again, the basic principles started to make sense. And once I got the basic principles down, the rest of it started to come to me, too. All this just a day or so before the test.

I ended up acing the final exam and walking out of the class with an A.

Today's song is similar to that experience for me. I am being reminded, over and over, one simple thing: that all I need is Him. And once I'm able to grasp that simple concept, I'll be able to experience my faith more fully, just as I was able to tackle the more difficult concepts in accounting once I accepted the simple ones.


YouTube | iTunes | Lyrics

Erinnicole's Prayer: Charlie Hall's "All We Need"

All we need is You

This is so true!! All we need to survive is simply God because what do we have, even as Earthly possessions, that God didn't give us anyway?? God is the source of all life, all happiness, all comfort, all joy. What more could we need? Even better, what more could we want? Isn't that why we own possessions at all? To make us happy or fill a gap that is there. But with God, there are no gaps. No empty spaces, nothing missing...because He is everything. He fills all spots that need to be and fills us with love and joy and everything we need and want. perhaps this was a little redundant but I am so filled with joy at realizing that all I will ever need...is something I already have. God, unlike so many things in the world, will never let me down. He is something I will always need and something I can always have. Should I choose to listen and accept Him. My prayer today is to do just that!

Marie's Prayer: Charlie Hall's "All We Need"

You can have all my hands can hold
My heart, mind, strength and soul

I am constantly trying to strengthen my mind, I read almost constantly. I recently finished an amazing novel by John Greene called Paper Towns. This book was funny, but also got me thinking about the way I see things. Anywho, I give up so much of my time widening the capacity of my brain by reading, but I should also start widening the capacity of my soul and heart by praying. I have trouble with this because I like being able to read off things or write them down myself, but praying for me is just saying what's on my mind. I find it hard to read or write down precisely what I want from prayer and that really bugs me. I need to just set time aside and talk, and then listen. I like listening because it is hard for me to voice my opinion. It is easier for me to listen, but I have to remember to ask to, for help when I really need it.

Catie's prayer: Charlie Hall's "All We Need"

We have all we need in You
And all we need is You
All we need is You

I love how this line repeats so many times in this song. Many times I try to go my own way, do my own thing, and forget that God's plan is so much better than anything I could ever think of. I forget that all I need is him, he knows the desires of my heart and what makes me happy and that if I follow his plan for my life my life will be that much better.

Chris' prayer: Tim Hughes' "Oh, Happy Day"

I think I'll always remember the first time I heard this song. It was at Encounter, a praise and worship/adoration session that I go to every month. It was so memorable because it was the culmination of such a wonderful, wonderful adoration experience. But what I remember most was how this song was prayed by a young woman seated near me.

It was clear that she already knew all the words to the song, and even knew some motions that, presumably, her youth group had learned. But what set her apart from all of the others doing the same motions and singing the same lyrics was the incredible authenticity with which she prayed. I could tell that, no matter how great my adoration experience had been, hers had easily been 10 times as powerful. The way she sang, the way she danced, the way she prayed exuded the lyrics that Hughes sings. She was experiencing endless joy, perfect peace, the ceasing of earthly pain, and she was celebrating, truly celebrating Jesus' presence in her life and in our world.

Every time I hear this song, I think of that young woman, and I try to match the enthusiasm and authenticity with which she prayed that night.


YouTube | iTunes | Lyrics

Megan's prayer: Tim Hughes' "Oh Happy Day"

I am Yours Jesus You are mine.

I absolutely love this line of the song. There is something so intimate, so personal.

The first part of the line is not "I am your friend" or "I am your follower" or "I am your servant".

The second part of the line is not "I am your savior" or "I am your king" or "I am your God".

I am Yours Jesus You are mine.

There are no descriptors. It's simple, it's easy, it's perfect.

Erinnicole's Prayer: Tim Hughes' "Oh Happy Day"

Forever I am changed

the word "changed" has always had a negative connotation in my life. especially this past weekend. ive had three people i care about tell me i have changed. it is hurting me but I'm not sure how to change "back". i don't want to move backward but i know that i definitely need to move forward. so while, unlike the song, it was most certainly not a happy day for me today (well it was until about an hour ago anyway) it does bring me some comfort and joy to know that Jesus can and will change me if i let Him...and He will change me for the better. which i need. and i definitely need forgiveness and it will be a magnificently happy day when i can be the person God intended me to be. i just need help to get there. and Jesus can give that. amen.

Marie's Prayer: Tim Hughes' "Oh Happy Day"

I'll never be the same

Thinking about this lyric reminds me of how many times I change my mind at the last minute and I never have the same opinion on the things I thought I was so sure of. Lately I have begun to wonder if I am Bipolar. I have reason too because my grandma's nephew is Bipolar and I have to admit I have wild mood swings. I don't usually have the same outlook on things one moment to the next and I am never the same. This really affects my spiritual life because one moment I can be "Alright, prayer! Yes!" and the next thing I know, I am doubting everything I believe. I have to realize that I probably will never be the same. And sometimes, that's okay.

Catie's prayer: Tim Hughes' "Oh Happy Day"

Oh happy day, happy day
I'll never be the same
Forever I am changed

Lately I've been trying to make a better effort about being in a good mood. I'm starting to make a conscious effort remembering throughout my day that God loves me and all those around me and also HOW MUCH he loves us. Christ thinks we are worth dying for. I think that's a good enough reason to be happy, to live our lives in a way that reflects that love. Everyday could be a happy day, it's all a matter of how we look at it.

Megan's prayer: Jars of Clay's "Dig"

While normally it is the lyrics of a song that move me and guide me in my prayer, today it was the melody of the song. It was beautifully peaceful and calming. It allowed me to relax.

Feel it coming in
Feel it going out

While breathing to the tune of this song, I just felt all the tension and worries disappear. Things melted away, which is exactly what I needed.

To be honest, I’m not sure that I understood the song. But at the same time, it fit perfectly with tonight.

Chris' prayer: Jars of Clay's "Dig"

So I begin again
Again, the healing bow

This is my faith, and has been since I really took ownership of it in high school. I've always considered myself to be a pretty religious person, even on my not-so-good days, but still, this line sums up what my faith has been through over the past 15 years. Starting over, time and time again, on my spiritual journey. I can't tell you how many times it has happened, how many times I've faltered. How many times I've sinned, and not just that, but chosen to sin.

But each and every time, my gracious Savior is there awaiting me, accepting my bow, my willingness to begin again, and He offers me healing. And hope. Hope that this time it will be different.


iTunes | Lyrics

Marie's Prayer: Jars of Clay's "Dig"

there was a time when i might have surrendered
but not now

I have made a decision about myself very recently. I have decided that I will stick to things even if people look at me funny for doing it. Or if the task becomes difficult, I will stick to it. I used to surrender so easily thinking that it was easier to be passive and not get into the middle of things. But now I realize how many things I've missed out on because I let others win or take control. The only person that can control my life besides me is God. No one can take my freedom from me and I have to speak up for myself. Just because people whisper or get upset doesn't mean I should miss out.

Catie's prayer: Jars of Clay's "Dig"

so i begin again

I feel like I begin again a lot with God. There are so many times when I'm like, I trust you completely, and then don't and then have to recommit myself to that trust, or to living for him alone, whatever. And I feel like I am constantly doing this. I often forget though, that that's exactly what God wants me to do.It's not that God wants me to fall away, it's that he wants me to know that I can begin again an endless number of times. He would rather me fall away 1000 times and come back to begin again over falling away and staying away. And who would want to stay away from such a perfect, wonderful God?

Megan's prayer: Falling Up's "Symmetry"

I typically take the “follow your heart” approach when it comes to making decisions. I let emotions, both my own and others, dictate my choices. Maybe this is good, maybe it’s bad. Sometimes what I think is right, what feels right to me, could be the wrong choice. I’m only human… I make mistakes.

But what if instead of listening to my own heart, and struggling with whether to follow that or my mind, I just followed God’s heart? I may not know what is always best for me or for others, but surely God would know. It’s scary to give up making my own decisions based on my own needs and trust God, but I want to try. I want to be moving to your heart this time.

Chris' prayer: Falling Up's "Symmetry"

Cause you know that your heart is so close to beating

Today, I had an stress echocardiogram. I've been having trouble catching my breath lately and my nurse practitioner wanted to "put me through the ringer," running all kinds of tests to find the problem as soon as they could. This was the last of the tests. It basically involves taking a video of my heart when I'm resting, making me exercise, and then taking another video right afterward.

And as I lay there before the exercise portion, I was watching my heart rate, as it sat in the 40s. I'm not sure if that's my resting heart rate, or if it was just depressed because I felt like I was going to faint. I couldn't help but remember the last time I'd seen a heart rate monitor with 40 on it. I snuck into room 206 in the ICU at St. Joseph's Hospital, and saw my dad lying there, sleeping. His heart rate was exactly 40. As I stood there fighting back the tears, I calculated in my head just how often 40 bpm is. My 40-something bpm might be good, but his definitely wasn't. His heart was dying.

I am so nervous to find out the results of all the tests. I want to find out that I'm mostly okay...that there is just a small thing wrong that can be easily fixed. I want to resume my normal life and be able to breathe. I just want to be normal.


YouTube | iTunes | Lyrics

Erinnicole's Prayer: Falling Up's "Symmetry"

feel His voice

I was thinking today about how God communicates with me and how to explain it to others. I know with my whole heart that He speaks to me, but I cannot explain His voice. This song says it perfectly. His voice isn't something you hear, per say...it's something that you feel. It is the rush of peace that washes down on me when I am praying. It is the silence in my heart when I know He is working in my life. It is in the smiles and hugs of people that He gives me that truly care. I feel it in the breeze of each day and the darkness falling each night. It is wonderful to me that His voice is everywhere, the loudest of all things in my life...yet it isn't something I can hear and so easy to miss if I'm not "listening".

Marie's Prayer: Falling Up's "Symmetry"

When you complicate, you are left behind

I have a friend that is straight to the point. He hates when people aren't up front about things and hide their feelings. I find that when I say something, but mean something else, he doesn't catch on because he's so up front that he expects everyone to be that way. I like this because there's no hiding, no complication. When you complicate things, you leave the reality behind waiting to be uncovered. And it sometimes is never uncovered, left to rot in the hole that you buried it in. Then one day you realize that this hole is inside you and it's eating you up. Nothing is ever left behind when you really think about it. So when you choose to complicate things you might think you're leaving it behind, but you aren't. Everything you felt or did has some impact on your life no matter how small the situation seems, so don't complicate it. Be right to the point with what you feel, even if it's hard.

Catie's prayer: Falling Up's "Symmetry"

And we're moving to your heart this time
Release

It took me listening to the song a few times before I realized what was meant by "release". And after realizing what it means, I realized that it is the hardest part. To release our hearts to God. Whenever someone moves in on our hearts we have to make a choice. We have to decide whether we are going to let them in, let them know who we really are, be vulnerable with them, etc. Whether we recognize it or not, we do that with every single person we meet. God wants us to release our hearts to him. Not so he can play with it or break it, but so that he can hold it and care for it because he cares for us. Even when we are amists the storms of our life God is there, wanting to take our burdens from us, wanting us to release our hearts to him. All we have to do is be willing to release it.

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.


YouTube | iTunes | Lyrics

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.

Megan's prayer: Salvador's "Shine"

During senior year of high school, I spent every study hall in the campus ministry office. They had wonderfully comfortable chairs and blankets in case I wanted to fall asleep. Most days I would just hang out, talk with my friend, listen to music, and act like we were doing homework. No one ever bothered us or came to check on us. It was fabulous.

I remember one day that was a little different. As we were minding our own business, Fr. Gahan sat down just to check to see how we were doing. I had known him for years through my home parish, but had never really sat down and talked with him.

That day, he was a man of few words. He had stopped to tell us "thank-you" for being leaders for our school. He then got more personal, and thanked us each individually for a specific thing we brought into the world.

He told my friend that she had a beautiful singing voice. She had recently sung at an all-school mass and surprised everyone because not many people knew that behind her shyness she had a powerful voice.

He then told me that every time he sees me I brighten his day just because I smile at him. Something that I never really thought consciously about doing was brightening his day. From that point on, I couldn't help but smile every time I saw him in the hall. In reality, I tend to smile at most everyone I pass.

Thank you, God, for allowing me to spread your love, to brighten people's day, through something as simple as a passing smile.

Marie's Prayer: Salvador's "Shine"

I’m not the man I was before

Everybody changes more than they can possibly imagine. I never thought that I'd have written a novel or be started on one that is basically my emotions on paper. I never thought of myself as a writer before highschool. I'm not the same person I was even last year. Life experience change people's views on a daily basis. Oddly enough, I wouldn't go back to who I was. Why would you want to undo anything, even bad things, when they have the possibility of making you a better person? Obviously those things happened for a reason. Even if I don't know the reason right now, I know that it was what God meant for me. I just have to remember this on days when I'm particularly down in the dumps, like when my depression acts up. Because if it's meant to be, it's going to happen according to God's will.

Erinnicole's Prayer: Salvador's "Shine"

Another day to celebrate!

This is exactly how I feel about God! This song is so beautiful and captures the feelings of my heart. I just want to praise God! Especially when it is good. I want to be able to show God through myself to others. I am so passionate about God and who He is to me and I so badly want to be able to let that shine through me. The King of Kings is alive in me?? How honoring! Of all of the people that God could use to exhibit His Wonder...He could easily choose people with power, people with influence on a big group as opposed to the few people I see each day; but instead He chooses to use anyone who is willing to let Him!

Lord, Let me be a light for Your Truth!

Chris' prayer: Salvador's "Shine"

Dust, soil, and broken rock. These comprise regolith, which covers the entire surface of the Moon, creating an imperfect, uneven surface. Not exactly the first materials that I would think of when creating a mirror. But nearly every night, we are able to see the Sun's rays reflected in the Moon's surface, bathing the darkness of our world with a soft glow.

Today's song, today's prayer, calls me to be like that Moon. I am reminded that I do not need to be perfect. I do not need to be unbroken. I am still called to reflect God's Love. I am called to bathe the darkness of my world with radiance of God's Love and compassion, to reflect His very nature in everything that I do.

Lord let me shine, shine like the moon
A reflection of You in all that I do

YouTube | iTunes | Lyrics

Catie's prayer: Salvador's "Shine"

A reflection of You in all that I do

This has more or less been my prayer for a while now. I'm tired of things being about me. I want my life to reflect the love God has for all of us, not so I can say oh look how amazing I am, but because that is what each of us is called to. To imitate the love of Christ to each and every person we encounter every day.

I wanna be used to shine for You

I honestly has no idea what God has planned for my life. All I know is that he wants all of me, and everyone else for that matter, to shine for him, so that people make know about God because of us, because of what we say and do.

Megan's prayer: Cheer Up Charlie's "Fly"

I'm beginning to feel a meltdown...

Seems to be something that has plagued my life - meltdowns. Sometimes for valid reasons, sometimes for not so valid reasons. But they seem to happen regardless.

But what if I were to just step back, look at my life, and realize that...

...faith heals

All I need is a little faith. Faith in myself.

Chris' prayer: Cheer Up Charlie's "Fly"

This is everything I feel, this is everything that seems real

But is it? This is something that I seem to be currently struggling with, or, at the very least, contemplating. Is what I feel actually reality, or are my feelings leading me away from reality? Are my thoughts, my beliefs, real? Are they truth? Are they rooted in something bigger than myself? A friend of mine asked me this question in an email today. His question (below) was made in response to a posting I made on my personal blog.

Is your belief your "opinion" - or is it based on something bigger than yourself - like the Church or God?

It's a good question. It's a very important question. And one that I'm not sure I have the answer to, yet. I have to hope that my questions are leading me closer to truth, closer to what God wants. But I have be weary about being mislead, about buying into a truth that is anything but. Fortunately, as the comments and emails about my posting show, I'm very blessed to have some people there who care about where my questions are leading me.


iTunes | Lyrics

Marie's Prayer: Cheer Up Charlie's "Fly"

This is everything I feel, this is everything that seems real

Right now I am extremely sleep deprived. I haven't slept a good sleep in over a week. So everything I feel right now is right on the surface. I have found that this can be both a good and bad thing. If I feel happy, I tell someone, but if someone's not being nice, I get mad. Oh yes, this has only happened once, but I know I should probably calm down. I find myself in some kind of a dream like state at the present and I am only half aware of what I do. And let me tell you, I don't like it. So now I realize I don't want to be this way when it comes to prayer. I need to be aware of God and what he might be trying to say to me at any time. I also know I cannot go by what seems real if I don't know the whole story. I do not appreciate when others do this and that is why I vow to only act when I know for sure what's going on. This probably won't occur for a while though, because I am not aware right now. But I need to wake up, both physically and spiritually.

Erinnicole's Prayer: Cheer Up Charlie's "Fly"

I'm inviting you to Fly

Not only does God want my success, but He is actually inviting me to fly with Him and be successful. There is fine line between wanting someone to do well and actually assisting them into getting to that point. And for one of the first times ever, I am thrilled to have the help! Flying is everything I want to do. I want to fly above my problems and have the freedom that I am so looking forward to for school next year!! No pun intended, this song was uplifting.

Catie's prayer: Cheer Up Charlie's "Fly"

Gods word will never fail

So many times I forget this. So many times I forget that God will never go back on his word, never go back on his promise, never fail to be there for us. Because so many times I feel like...

I'm beginning to feel a melt down, and the walls are caving in now

It's during these times when I feel like my life is a mess that I forget that God isn't going to let me down and that everything is going to be okay in the end.

So why don't try to open your eyes, and take a look around?

I often remember this during adoration, that I need to open my eyes to see God's love revealed to me, because I'm not going to see it if I'm busy drowning in my own self pity. God's love is all around us, all day, everyday whether we see it or not. So why not open our eyes and our hearts to the amazing, unconditional love God has for us?

Marie's Prayer: Jars of Clay's "Truce"

and i stand here wondering.
and i am waiting

This is precisely what I am doing now. I am waiting for the truth to come out and wondering if everything will be okay in the end. One of my friends has made a decision and now all I have to do is wait and see if the other person will be okay. So I stand and wait. I have to tell you that I hate waiting just like Inigo Montoya from the Princess Bride. Waiting makes me anxious and it is never good. Waiting always means that something bad might be about to happen. I just have to give this to God and hope He'll make a choice that is good for not only me, but this other person as well.

Erinnicole's Prayer: Jars of Clay's "Truce"

always almost

this is really how i feel a lot of the time. that i am so close to something...and then it doesn't happen. I feel like so many things are dangled in front of me but never given. in actuality, that isn't so because God has graced me with so many blessings, but for some reason my focus, optimist that i usually am, falls on the things i didn't get. my prayer is for sight, to see the things I have and not the things i don't.

Chris' prayer: Jars of Clay's "Truce"

Faultless in the eyes that I could never open wide enough to see me through.

Sometimes I wonder how distorted my view of self is. I wonder if I'm seeing the same things that others see in me, or just how different their view is. Would I rate myself better or worse of a person than others would? Where would the discrepancy lie? Would it lie in my thoughts? My actions? My attitude? How does God see me? How could I better reflect the image of Him?


YouTube | iTunes | Lyrics

Megan's prayer: Jars of Clay's "Truce"

Sometimes I find myself getting so tangled up in schoolwork, not being able to see the end, that I stress myself out. Suddenly going to school isn’t about the learning anymore, it’s about the grades, and what those grades mean to my future. I get worked up about a two page paper, thinking that if I don’t do this right, I might screw up my chances of getting a good grade in the class. I forget about the pure joy of learning something new, of using my creativity, of expanding my mind into places I’ve never gone.

I’m “unsatisfied with simple things”

I find myself sometimes having trouble with the simple things in my faith. I worry about whether I am praying right, or if I am making a difference in any of the teens in lifeteen, or if I am truly doing what God wants me to do with my life.

An assignment for one of my classes this semester is to read a handful of children’s books each week and reflect on them. I thought it was a silly assignment to begin with, but I have ended up loving it. It allows me to step back into my childhood and remember the days when things seemed simple, when there was no stress about school, but only excitement in learning new things.

Reading these books has helped me find a new joy in simplicity. Learning shouldn’t be about memorization of theories, it should be about the adventure and excitement of discovering something new. My faith shouldn’t be about stressing over whether I’m doing everything right, it should be about the joy I feel when I am praying to God, singing to God, just sitting there and being with God.

I hope that this sense of joy, excitement, and wonder continues.

Catie's prayer: Jars of Clay's "Truce"

waiting around for some kind of peace.
hoping you'll find me in my needs

I feel like I spend much of my life doing this. I spend so much of my life just expecting God to come down and fix my restless heart, solve all my problems. But God doesn't work like that. God is always willing to help us with our problems but we have to be the ones to go to him.

Megan's prayer: Mary Mary's "What a Friend"

What a privilege to carry
Everything to God in prayer

Everything. God doesn't care, God doesn't judge. I can take it all to him. No matter how silly or insignificant it may be, God is there. I am so lucky, so privileged to have that in my life. Although I have amazing family and friends, it's not always easy to carry everything to them, but with God, I have no worries.

Chris' prayer: Mary Mary's "What a Friend"

My favorite professor in college once told me, "You could be giving away gold bricks, but unless people know you're giving them away, you'll be stuck with them." The lesson was on the importance of letting others know what you're offering, in this case, via advertising. I think that same lesson applies to a line in this song.

What a privilege to carry
Everything to God in prayer

According to my dictionary, a privilege is "a special right, advantage, or immunity granted or available only to a particular person or group of people." God has offered no rights, advantages, or immunity that are available only to me. All of His promises, His entire covenant, are offered to every single person. The only privilege is that I know what is being offered. I have been advertised to. I know about the gold bars.

And much like the gold bars, there is immense value in knowing that I can come to God, carrying the weight of my world, and He will take every bit of it away from me.


YouTube | iTunes | Lyrics

Marie's Prayer: Mary Mary's "What a Friend"

True friendship's hard to come by

I totally agree with this statement. I only have a few good friendships, and even those are hard to maintain. Sometimes things come up that are unpredictable and suddenly you know if your friend is a real friend or not. I have to say that my true friends are amazing and listen to me rant as many times as I need to. Sometimes though, I struggle with being a good friend and I have to have a reality check. I ask God today to help me with my friendships and keeping them intact no matter what the circumstance.

Erinnicole's Prayer: Mary Mary's "What a Friend"

Until You I never knew a lifetime guaranteed
Friend could really be my reality

I am very confident in myself and in all of my abilities, with the exception of one or two. One of my insecurities is that I am completely a people-pleaser. I just love seeing people happy and hate to see them upset, especially at me. I know that it is a nice thought but it definitely ends up almost tearing me apart because I am trying so hard to give everyone different things. Along with the territory of people pleaser, comes "friend-pleaser". If my friends aren't happy with me, I'm not happy at all. My other insecurity is reading into things. These two make a truly terrible combination in that reasoning that, I love talking and when my friends aren't talking for whatever reason, I immediately assume I've done something wrong. I've been too clingy, pushed too hard, talked too much, done something, anything to upset them. So I am in a constant battle between my mind, where I am always losing someone, and reality where my friends and I are just fine. I am surrounded by friends, people that care about me, that is. But I somehow always manage to feel lonely when my two closest friends are busy. It really takes a toll on my energy feeling like I have no friends or that I am on the verge of such a thing. More energy convincing myself that I'm not.

When I remember Jesus as a friend, it truly comforts me. Jesus is my Everything - My Redeemer, My Strength, My Courage, My Life. He is so powerful!! So how could He possibly be something as simple as my friend? He has lots of things to do and likes hearing my prayers, no doubt. But how my day was? What boy I like? What dress I want to wear to winter formal? It takes a lot for me to, not realize, but understand how He could care about things like that when I seem to so easily blow Him off. But He does...for whatever the reason, He does. And it's a wonderful thing for me to be able to say, "my best friend is Jesus!...and He always will be."

Catie's prayer: Mary Mary's "What a Friend"

What a privilege to carry
Everything to God in prayer

I never thought of prayer as a privilege before- it's always been something that I've taken for granted. I never think about how there are so many people that have never heard of the name of Jesus- that is so hard for me even fathom because I grew up with parents who had faith that went to Church. For it to be any other way is just so weird for me to think about.

Friends with limited warranties, yea-oh
Until You I never knew a lifetime guaranteed
Friend could really be my reality, oh

I never thought of God as a "lifetime guaranteed" but it's true. God doesn't put our salvation to chance. How awesome is that?

Chris' prayer: Kutless' "We Fall Down"

We lay our crowns at the feet of Jesus

Which crown am I laying at Jesus' feet tonight? Is it the same crown of thorns that He wore on the road to His crucifixion, representing all of the struggle, all of the pain, all of the suffering in my life? Or is it the crown of royalty, representing all of the bountiful gifts I've been given in my life, both physical and nonphysical? Am I not called to lay them both down? Which crown do I hold onto longer? Which crown do I freely give away?

Do I place everything that I have, all of my struggles, my fears, my failures, my pain, as well as my blessings, my successes, my gifts, at His feet? Do you?


YouTube | iTunes | Lyrics

Erinnicole's Prayer: Kutless' "We Fall Down"

We fall down
We lay our crowns

Isn't it funny that even with the crowns that we apparently have, we still have to not just bow down but fall down in front of Jesus? I love that this song acknowledges that all of the things that God bestows upon us, makes us "princes and princesses", but still does not put us above Him. He will always be number One. I feel like it is easy to get carried away when an abundance of blessings happen, and often forget where, or Who, it came from. I know that I am "Daddy's little princess", since God is my father, but I still need to humble myself to ask for help. I love that.

Megan's prayer: Kutless' "We Fall Down"

Unlike most other girls, I don’t cry during movies. Neither The Notebook or Marley & Me moved me to the point of tears. Sure, they were sad and full of emotion, but they weren’t real. Ryan Gosling and Rachel McAdams didn’t fall in love in real life, only to be broken apart by Rachel’s parents. Owen Wilson and Jennifer Aniston don’t own a dog together that causes them trouble. They were produced for my enjoyment, not to see if I would cry.

On the other hand, I tend to be rather emotional when it comes to real life situations. Extreme Makeover: Home Edition gets me almost every time. It’s about real people helping others in need. I also cry when I get hurt – either physically or emotionally. That hurting is real, it is in my life, I can feel it.

Today’s song draws upon that same emotion. The words of the song are powerful, are real.

We cry holy, holy, holy

This line is repeated over 10 times in the song. It is the main focus. We are not just saying “holy, holy, holy.” We aren’t whispering it, or shouting it. We are crying it. The holiness of the Jesus stirs emotions deep within us.

Marie's Prayer: Kutless' "We Fall Down"

To thee all the follies of sin I resent
My gracious redeemer

Lately I have been looking over the many things I do day to day and I realize how much sin is actually there. With my resolution to do the right thing I notice these things immediately and try not to get swept away by the familiarity of sin. I find myself crying out to God to help me with this because it is so hard to change routine. I just realized this, but look at the word follies. It makes it seem so silly, almost stupid. And isn't it? Isn't choosing to go against God silly and stupid? He's a GRACIOUS redeemer! He won't look at you and say "Oh well she did that before and said she was sorry, I don't know if I believe her this time." He doesn't do that. He ACTUALLY forgives you when you say you are sorry. How many people do you know do that? I don't know many, if I even know one, who truly forgives me each and every time I mess up. Truth be told, I mess up a whole lot. And I'm sorry about it. And God forgives and redeems. He frees me from it. It feels good to be free.

Catie's prayer: Kutless' "We Fall Down"

We fall down
We lay our crowns
At the feet of Jesus
The greatness of
Mercy and love
At the feet of Jesus

I think these few lines tell us so much about Christ and his love for us. So many times I forget that all the strength, courage, mercy I need, I can get at the foot of the cross. So many times I want to hide myself from God, hide what I've been doing from God but all God wants is for me to come to him so that he can pour down his mercy and love on me. He doesn't want to make us feel guilty, he wants us to feel loved and to know that we can start over again. God wants us to know that is love and mercy is always there, even when we might think othewise. Everything we could ever need we can get at the foot of the cross but we have to be the ones to go there and get it.

Erinnicole's Prayer: Big Daddy Weave's "Set Me Free"

You are the author and the finisher of the faith in me

The finisher, I understand. How could I ever dream to finish my faith without God? My earthly faith will never be finished; I will always learn how to be stronger because of His grace. But the "author" of my faith. I suppose it makes enough sense because God helps me and guides me, writes my story, so to speak. I can clearly see where God plays a hand in my faith. All the time! When I believe and trust in Him, wonderful things happen! He is completely the author of my faith....when it's good.

But what about the struggles? Does He write those too? Does He write the moments when I can't find Him, or when I feel so alone? When I first read that, I immediately disagreed. There is no way God would write Himself out of my life for certain parts. For the times when I can't seem to keep a handle on my faith. But maybe, there is logic to it. Perhaps, God writes in the struggles to teach me. Or maybe, so that when He writes the good things, I am more aware of them and can praise Him to the fullest of my ability. I don't know the reason, but I am thankful for the chance to be able to recognize a real difference from times in my life when I am hurting and times when I can see God, so I pray in thanksgiving that God is the one who gives me even those moments. The moments that bring my closer to God.

Chris' prayer: Big Daddy Weave's "Set Me Free"

The fruitful labor of my sin

I love Fuji apples. They are, far and away, my favorite apple, and most likely my favorite fruit. I love the texture, the crunchiness, the gradient of color from a very light green to pink, the perfect small-but-not-too-small size, and most of all, how sweet they are. I also love how they can be found at a restaurant I frequent- St. Louis Bread Co. They are the perfect side to the sandwiches of which I'm fond.

Once in awhile, though, Bread Co. just doesn't have good Fuji apples. They might be mushy, or a bit too sour for my taste. Something is just not right about them. They are just not good.

Today, God reminds me that my sin can be as fruitful as my works. If I'm not careful about the decisions I make, or how much attention I pay them, or if the reason I'm making those decisions is not pure, the results of my actions won't always be positive. I can end up producing bad apples. Each bad apple has a consequence. Each bad apple inhibits the growth of love and encourages death and decay. I must be careful that the fruitful labor of my sin does not bring me to my own death and destruction.


iTunes | Lyrics

Marie's Prayer: Big Daddy Weave's "Set Me Free"

You gave your life for me that day
So freedom I could know

It's awe-inspiring to think that someone would sacrifice so much for me. I still grapple with the idea of not being worth it. I don't know why I always come back to that one thing. I find it hard to think that anyone would do something that big for me. But God is always there, giving Himself for me. The other part of this is freedom. We hear about our freedom all the time, but we usually find ourselves trapped. This is coincidentally because of the choices we make. I find myself choosing the wrong thing in my attempts at freedom and am trapped by the choice. I am trying this new thing now, inspired by my friend, to always try to do the right thing no matter what. It's going to be hard for me, not going to lie, but right now I'm just handling it day by day.

Megan's prayer: Big Daddy Weave's "Set Me Free"

Most of the time when I sing along with songs it is with what I assume are the lyrics. Normally I am pretty close, but occasionally people will call me out on it. But even that embarrassment doesn’t inspire me to actually look up lyrics or stop singing my own version – I just hope that people stop listening so intently to the words I am saying.

Today’s song, and the assumed lyrics I sang, made an impact on my life over the summer. Shortly after having this song suggested by a friend, I found myself listening to it more and more often.

The “lyrics” that stuck with me were

Set me free
From this LIE that I’ve been living (Actual: From this LIFE that I've been living)

At the time, I did feel like I was living a lie in my life. I was still enrolled at the University of Dayton, but I was not truly happy there. I had done everything possible to convince my family and friends that I enjoyed it, but was still unable to convince myself. My assumed lyrics were a constant prayer – I wanted God’s help in finding a way to set me free from the unhappiness, from the lies I had been trying to pass as reality.

I finally realized it was okay to admit that I wasn’t happy at UD, and admitting that to myself and to my family was a huge relief. I was able to transfer back home and finally attend a college where I can truly say I am happy.

I’m reminded today that it’s okay to show others your true feelings, your vulnerability. It’s only in finally admitting them that we can change.

Catie's prayer: Big Daddy Weave's "Set Me Free"

Set me free
From the chains that bound me to my sin

When I hear this line about chains I think of Jacob Marley from A Christmas Carol. In the movie, Jacob is forced to wander the earth after he dies wearing the chains that he had linked together with all the bad things he had done in his life. Sometimes I feel weighed down in my sin like that, like my sin is holding me back from being better, doing better, loving better.

I know I can trust in You to come and set me free

This is the part I know, but I don't always remember. I forget that God's love is bigger than my sin, that he has already set me free and that sin has already been conquered. We can all be set free from our sin, all we have to do is ask for forgiveness and trust that God will take the chains away.

Erinnicole's Prayer: Pillar's "Frontline"

It's not like I'm walking alone
Into the valley of shadow of death

Even being in a Catholic school, I often feel so alone in my faith. I love being places like life teen and retreats, especially huge ones like Stuebenville Conference because I know I'm not alone. I have a bunch of people who truly just get it. When I am there, I become selfish, though. I don't want to leave because I love belonging and being understood. But I know that the whole point of being a tool of God's hand is to let Him use me for people that don't know Him. But it so much easier to help people who already get it - to just remind them! I, like pretty much everyone, just don't deal with rejection well and rarely do I find people that fully embrace Jesus on the first try. More often, people don't give faith a try at all. But this kind of thing, this song, reminds me that I am not doing this alone. There are a lot of Christians out there and they understand and the real idea is for all of us to come together and save the world as one. I don't know where I got this idea that it is me versus the world, but I never honestly considered until just this moment that this idea I have is so the opposite of what God meant when He gave me fellow believers. He wasn't really saying, "take notes"...more-or-less, He was saying, "ALL of you, help Me out!" I feel like I truly am understanding something for the first time.

you forgot what this is for

I guess I couldn't really forget if I never really understood...but my prayer is that I remember. This is for Him.

Marie's Prayer: Pillar's "Frontline"

'cause it's only begun

I love this line because, as a writer, I begin things all the time. I'm constantly finding new ways to start things. But it's really hard for me to finish them. I must've started at least twenty stories and have only finished one. That's something I need to work on. I need to finish things I start and not give up on them. As you may have noticed I'm not the best at posting every day and this really struck me. I am going to try really super hard from now on to keep up and finish what I start. Because not everything is easy at first, but it's only the beginning.

Chris' prayer: Pillar's "Frontline"

When it's over, we can say, "Well done"
But not yet, 'cause it's only begun

I must confess. I do not understand the question "Are you saved?" I have been asked numerous times in my life if I'm saved, and I really don't know how to answer that question. I know what the asker wants to hear, and I know what he or she is actually asking me, but I still don't know how to answer the question.

For me, salvation seems to be something more of a work in progress. I can accept Jesus Christ into my life one day, only to deny Him the next. And I have. The question "Are you saved?" seems to imply to me the end of the journey. Rob Beckley sings here that it is anything but. Instead, it is the beginning of the spiritual journey, one that will include many battles, many successes, and many failures. Hopefully, one day, I'll be able to hear Christ tell me, "Well done."


YouTube | iTunes | Lyrics

Catie's prayer: Pillar's "Frontline"

We've got to lead the way!
We've got to lead the way!

Leading. I think leading is one of those things people either love doing or hate doing. When it comes to faith it can be very difficult to be a leader just because it's hard when everyone is looking to you to see where to go, what they need to be doing, etc. The thing is, if we aren't the ones to step up to lead the way, who is? We can't expect that someone else will just lead so we can just sit back and not do anything. If we want change, we have to be the ones to change it. No one is going to do it for us. We have to be willing to step up, even when we are on the frontlines, even if we're scared. With God on our side we don't have to be afraid to be on the frontlines because he is always with us. What more could we ask for from our God?

Megan's prayer: Pillar's "Frontline"

In yesterday’s gospel, we saw Jesus going out and gathering some of his apostles. He drew them away from their boats, away from their families, to come and follow him. Jesus didn’t just want people to passively sit there and watch him… he wanted people to get up, to follow him, to spread the Good News. He wanted people to actively live for him, not just be bystanders.

Today’s song seems to convey a similar feeling to me.

We live our lives on the frontlines

Just as Jesus wanted active followers in his time, God is calling us to do the same now. We cannot just sit around, hoping others find Christ, we need to be out there sharing his love and leading others to him.

At last night’s lifenight, we only had a dozen teens show up, which is far from being considered a “great” turnout. This is not the first time we have seen numbers low, and in fact we have talked about ways to bring more teens in, but so far it has all seemed to be talk. Maybe something like today’s song will serve as a much needed reminder: we have to live our lives on the frontlines… we have to actively go out and find teens to come share in the lifenights, and not just hope that by some miracle they start showing up more often.

Megan's prayer: Jars of Clay's "Redemption"

I've very stubborn. I like being right, I like to do things my way. I have a hard time putting aside my pride and letting someone else lead, letting someone else be right. I tend to break away from that, and still choose to go my way. Not the most attractive of qualities, but I'm just hard headed.

We're way gone, be gone, looking for our own way

Sometimes I get lucky, and taking my own way leads me to new adventures, leads me closer to God or to others. Sometimes my own way ends up being the perfect choice for me.

And sometimes it ends up being a horrible and lonely choice. Others don't follow because they don't understand my reason for choosing that path. They think I'm wrong and have chosen instead the seemingly "right" way. Instead of choosing a path that would lead me closer to others and to God, I have chosen to go in the wrong direction.

Couldn't find a common ending

I hate that second scenario. I pray that someday, and someday soon, I can swallow my pride. I pray that instead of choosing the way that seems right to me, I can instead focus on what path is right for others. The path that will lead me closer to my friends, to my family, to my God.

Erinnicole's Prayer: Jars of Clay's "Redemption"

It was hidden in the landscape
Of loss and love and fire and rain

The part of these words that truly spoke to me was more a "revisit" of something that already spoke to me. I heard a friend of mine giving a talk one time to a group of Confirmandi and she said, "People always say they 'Found Jesus', but I have news for you guys...Jesus isn't hiding. He isn't some hidden treasure; He is always there." That was really powerful because it told me that I don't have to find Him, I just have to see Him, to accept Him.
The other part was that I would miss something that was hidden. I am very aware of details around me but sometimes I miss the most obvious things and I often feel like a lot of things are tricks. I guess thats a form of paranoia, but I'm not certain. I never feel that something can be easy and correct at the same time. If something comes easily, I must not be doing it right. So I think I would most often avoid the road that looks easy to get to Jesus. The one that says, "Just come, Erinnicole, it's this way." My prayer is to see the hidden.

Chris' prayer: Jars of Clay's "Redemption"

Like any story retold
Couldn't find a common ending
We're way gone, be gone, looking for our own way

These lines seem to mirror, for me, the divisions we have among different denominations of Christianity. Across cyberspace you will find all kinds of mud slung at and about Catholicism, taking my denomination for instance. This has ceased to surprise me. What will never cease to surprise me is who is sometimes doing the mudslinging- other Christians.

It would seem to me that Christianity in general has enough mud slung at it. We have enough enemies. Why do we feel the need to fight with each other, calling each other names and damning each other to hell?

Why do we spend all of our time looking for our own way instead of seeking out redemption?


YouTube | iTunes | Lyrics

Megan's prayer: Audio Adrenaline's "Get Down"

Being sick is not fun. Especially when it’s throwing up sick. Or when you have such an intense pain in your stomach that it hurts to both stand up and lay down. Even the joy of missing school to stay at home sick has been lost because now it is just a hassle to try to make up everything that is missed. Being sick is just not fun.

But when you are surrounded by people who care, suddenly being sick isn’t quite as bad. Whether it’s someone who sits with you all day, or brings you soup or Sprite, or even just an extra phone call or text message, it is nice to feel that extra love. Almost makes being sick enjoyable.

God is always there for us. He is there during our happy times and during our “alright” times. Most importantly he is there for us when we most need him. When we need his strength, his comfort.

In your weakness, he is stronger.

Erinnicole's Prayer: Audio Adrenaline's "Get Down"

I get down and he lifts me up

There are so many things connected with getting up. Rising above, overcoming (virtually the same thing), a literal falling and getting back up, persevering, etc. I am extremely uncoordinated, so I am really used to the idea of falling and getting back up. More-or-less, I am like toodlers, in the way that when they fall, they either look around in a confused manner or just get up and keep going like nothing happened. I never stay down for long simply because I have things to do. In the same way, when I get down emotionally, I know that I have more things to live for than whatever is upsetting me. God has given me the grace and the helping hand to get back up and rise again. And we all know that Jesus is quite an expert on rising!

Marie's Prayer: Audio Adrenaline's "Get Down"

You cant live your life to please yourself

Living life to please myself is something I struggle with. I don't go down the path of others and try to please others by acting like someone I'm not, but in the same way I act to make me, and only me happy. I need to think more of how things I say and do can affect other people. I need to realize that what I do needs to be to please God and not myself because it is only important what God wants of me.

Chris' prayer: Audio Adrenaline's "Get Down"

A couple of days ago, in honor of our first six months together, or perhaps just because she is wacky, my girlfriend baked me a cake. Not just any cake, mind you (that wouldn't be too wacky), but a yin yang cake. Half of the cake was white cake with white icing, the other half of the cake was chocolate cake with chocolate icing. The second layer of the cake was reversed exactly, so that each piece contained the same amount of white cake, white icing, chocolate cake, and chocolate icing. She even took the time out to cut the circle in the middle of each half of the yin yang and reverse them, so as to be completely accurate.

This song reminds me of that dessert.

Part of the song is a menagerie of paradoxes. To win, you've got to come in last place. To live your life, you've got to lose it. The other part of the song is a cluster of carefully balanced lines. In your weakness, He is stronger. In your darkness, He shines through. I get down; He lifts me up. All of it is great advice for a successful relationship with Jesus, and bearing an amazing resemblance to the cake sitting on my counter: perfectly balanced, with both parts working together, complimenting each other, and delicious!


YouTube | iTunes | Lyrics

Chris' prayer: Plus One's "Soul Tattoo"

I've thought, on and off for the past few years, about getting a tattoo. I've looked up tattoos on the internet, and thought about what I would like to ink myself with. Once or twice, I've even mocked something up, either on the computer or on a sheet of paper, before throwing it away unfinished. I can't always decide what I want to be emblazoned on my body permanently, or when I'm fairly confident about that, I can't figure out how I want to represent that thing or idea in a way that is beautiful enough to feel comfortable with its permanence.

Despite, or perhaps because of, that indecision, I love today's song. I love that, long before I was born, my God tattooed me. I love that His love is so true, so real, so permanent, so unchanging, so inescapable, so unconditional, that He chose to ink my very being with signs of that love. He has written on heart proof of that love so that, no matter what I may go through on this earth, I know of that love. It is a very real part of me, just as anyone who has been tattooed with earthly ink will tell you their tattoos are a part of who they are.

Etched on my soul
Your love is so true

iTunes | Lyrics

Marie's Prayer: Plus One's "Soul Tattoo"

'Cause you're the answer
To the questions

There are too many questions! Sometimes I get wrapped up in all the what-ifs and I find that I'm not listening for the answers. I have to realize that praying, like talking, is a two-sided thing. I can't ask a question and expect immediate gratification. If I do this I find myself walking circuital and not straight for an answer. I need to leave time for God to do what is right for me and not just let myself keep asking and asking like a child asking the same question so fervently that the parent has no time to answer because at that second another question is being asked.

Megan's prayer: Plus One's "Soul Tattoo"

It took awhile for me to actually believe this, but I finally know in my heart that God loves us no matter what. Today’s song served as a reminded to me:

I'd be some kind of fool
To think I could lose your love

It is so wonderful to have this type of constant in my life. No matter what I do – God is there. Even if I make a horrible mistake, God is still there with me, loving me. Even when I believe that I am unlovable, God shows me just how wrong I am. His love is something I can’t run away from, even if I wanted to.

Erinnicole's Prayer: Plus One's "Soul Tattoo"

Etched on my soul
Your love is so true
Stamped forever
Here in my soul

the ideas of having God as a tattoo on my soul is really powerful. I mean, the permanence of tattoos and the meaning behind them is something fantastic. Tattoos are so out of the realm of the "norm" to relate God to. I just love knowing that God will always be with me; and the things He has done for me will always be. Even when we go through hard times and I forget that it is there, it still is. And a grand majority of people don't just get a tattoo on a whim, and even when they do, it almost always has a meaning. Tattoos are a permanent dedication to something and a public statement telling the world "this means something to me".

my dad is a really great guy and very original. and he loves playing jokes on people; weird jokes. he went to a video game convention and came home with a bandage on his arm and said "i got a tattoo". my dad is known to go through really elaborate steps to make us believe a prank, so I didn't believe him and for days, my sister and I would check his arm to see if it was still there. Turns out - it's real. I can relate it to my relationship with God because there are still times when I am waiting for my dad's tattoo to wash off, times when I am not sure how real or strong it is - like times when I can't tell how real or strong my relationship with God is. And sometimes, I even forget that it is there because I am so used to it. But then, there is that really cool excitement when my dad shows it to a friend who hasn't seen it yet (it's relatively new) or someone notices it. My prayer is for me to be able to show off my relationship with God with the same enthusiasm that my father shows off his tattoo.
[for those of you wondering, it is a pinball]

Megan's prayer: Cheer Up Charlie's "We Cry Out"

…to be whole again…

I’m not sure where this idea originally came from, but I remember learning that there is a hole in our hearts that only God can fill. I simply love this idea. It is one area in our lives in which we are all on a level playing field. Money won’t buy us something to fill this hole. Our looks and our achievements aren’t the solution to filling the hole. The answer is God. He is waiting for us, waiting to fill that hole in our hearts. He wants to help us to be whole again.

Lord, help me to be whole again.

Marie's Prayer: Cheer Up Charlie's "We Cry Out"

We cry out for your grace and love again
We cry out

When I am praying at night before I go to sleep, I cry out. Not just for me and the things I feel are unjust in my life, but for everyone I know who are worse off than I. As some of you may know I am not very graceful...but I ask God every night for His grace so I can go one more day. I cry out for Gods love because there's this weird feeling in me that I don't have it. I am ashamed to admit that I doubt even though I know I shouldn't. I feel like I need to fit in somewhere and I sometimes feel like I don't belong anywhere. Like I'm putting on an act in front of everyone, even myself, telling people I'm fine or even when I tell them I'm not fine I feel like I'm making a big show of my suffering. I hate feeling like I'm too focused on me and I don't say anything. I let myself fall back into that place of complacency. That is when I cry out to God like I do now. To help me, no matter what.

Erinnicole's Prayer: Cheer Up Charlie's "We Cry Out"

I was trying to truly listen to this song with an open heart and really focus on the words today. Each day, I try to do this, but today it seemed especially important. The message that I found was nothing earth-shattering - quite the contrary. As I logged on to get the song 'o the day, I was thinking to myself, I have a tendency of relating my faith life to how God works in my life through my struggles. Which I have noticed many people tend to do - which is great because it is only praising the triumphs of our Lord, of course!! But I have so many blessings that were merely bestowed upon me because God loves me, not as a result of something hard I needed to overcome.

from dark to light

I think I too often focus on the dark and how to escape it...and even though I typically do that through God, I should pray for the sight to see the light! Not with my typical viewpoint of light to dark...it isn't that God gives me good things, and then sends a hardship. It is that He gives me both but when the struggles get to be too much, He pulls me back into the light to remind me it is there - because I so often forget. My prayer is one that I am reiterating from a retreat a few weeks ago, that God may introduce me to the darkness, so I learn how to rejoice in the light! He has given so much and there is so much for me to return. I cry out of this darkness and INTO the Light.

Chris' prayer: Cheer Up Charlie's "We Cry Out"

There are many times in my life where I find myself complacent. I don't like how something is going or how something ended up, but I'm too apathetic to bother changing it. Instead, I tell myself that I'll get to it later, or that it will change itself eventually. I'm actually pretty good at convincing myself that it will.

The problem is, of course, it rarely does. Things change only when they are forced to change, myself included. I can only stop this cycle of complacency and apathy, whether it be at work, in my social circle, or in my prayer life, when I am forced to change.

Fortunately, today God reminds me that I am always able to find a way to change in Him. He is there waiting for me, urging me, and, at times, forcing me to cry out to Him. He is waiting to help me grow, to become a more loving and gracious person. I just feel like I need that push in my life right now.

There’s no changing tide
That will shake our lives
So in Him we’ll find a way

iTunes | Lyrics

Megan's prayer: Chris Tomlin's "King of Glory"

Love is a great thing. Really, I love it. And I am fortunate to be surrounded by it constantly. I feel the love that others have for me, and I know of the love I have for others. I feel God’s love pouring down on me. I am even aware of the love that I, and others, have for inanimate objects. It’s true, I "love" pizza.

And yet, with all of this love surrounding me, sometimes I think I forget to share it. I’m just so happy with the love that I am feeling, I forget to show others how much I love them, how much God loves them. It’s not like the love is going to run out, it will only keep growing; yet sometimes I just want to be selfish and keep it to myself.

Today’s song suggests a different approach:

Tell everyone
How great the love

Obviously, this makes the most sense. I should be shouting out on the streets how much I am loved, and sharing with others how much God loves them. It is something to rejoice in, to share with everyone.

Chris' prayer: Chris Tomlin's "King of Glory"

Sometimes when I'm asked to pray in front of others, I get nervous. When asked for volunteers to lead spontaneous prayer, I often shy away. I can do great with a piece of paper, a pen, and some time, but I often feel like the prayers that I make up on the spot aren't "good enough." Or, at least they aren't to the quality that I've heard of some of my friends, family, and mentors. My prayer-leading abilities pale in comparison to theirs, or so I sometimes think.

God is here today to tell me, through this song, that that is simply not true. A magnificent prayer sung by Tomlin, this song contains two three-syllable words. Every word in this song is one that most are able to read before second grade. This song, this prayer, contains no magical or difficult words, no overly scholarly poetic phrases...just words. The power in those words lies with the One we are singing about. He is what makes these words, and everything He touches, strong and mighty.

My words, no matter how small or elementary, are plenty good enough.


YouTube | iTunes | Lyrics

Erinnicole's Prayer: Chris Tomlin's "King of Glory"

The Lord, strong and mighty

The word "mighty" is one that I have heard at least once a week since I was born. It is really abundant in the Bible and in any description of the Lord. But it never meant anything to me, that is to say I have never stopped to consider what the word "mighty" truly means. How much power it actually holds - or that fact that it is almost never used to describe any human thing, because it holds so much weight that we cannot comprehend. a few things pop into mind, some are exaggerations from the media and some are things that could be "mighty" in an Earthly way. But none are MIGHTY in the truest sense of the word.

Last weekend, there was a REAP retreat for members of the REAP team (as opposed to us giving one). It was presented by Oddwalk Ministries (I recommend checking them out, they are very talented) and it was basically just a day of fun and light prayer. A lot of praising God for all that He has blessed us with. But at the end, they closed with what was to be the Gospel the next day, which was Jesus being baptized by John. They projected the words up onto the screen and instructed us to hold onto a word. "ONLY one word, not a phrase or sentence....just one word that speaks to you."
When we began the prayer, nothing jumped out at me, but i stared a the screen and prayed for an open heart. The word 'Mighty' sprung out from the first few lines of the passage and stuck with me. Toward the end, the word 'voice' became evident too. I could very easily tell that I had chosen the word 'voice' and God had chosen for me the word 'mighty'. So that is the one I stuck with. But I didn't know why. Next instruction was to illustrate it, so I pictured a broken heart (my heart) so broken that only a hand as mighty as God's could fix it, and He did.
Here again, in this song, I am reminded that many people can be strong, many people can be incredible, or amazing, but solely God is 100% Mighty, and only He can take on all of the triumphs and trials of the world - He is Mighty to save.

Megan's prayer: MercyMe "Word of God Speak"

With the freezing temperatures outside, one of my favorite things to do is snuggle with a blanket and just relax. I don’t need the TV or movies or a book to keep me occupied; I just enjoy the stillness, and the chance to just “be.”

Tonight I am giving myself that opportunity. I am going to bed relatively early for a Friday night, I’m going to wrap up in some warm blankets, and just be in God presence. It is during these times that I feel the most loved, and it is my chance to catch up with God, and just talk to him about my life. This song was the perfect way to end a wonderful day, and start, what I hope to be, an amazing night.

To be still and know
That You're in this place
Please let me stay and rest
In Your holiness