Chris' prayer: Kutless' "Draw Me Close"

I tend to convince myself that I always need the "next big thing," particularly if that thing is technology related. I feel like I have to be on the cusp of tech goodness, and have been what marketers like to call an "early adopter" on several, several occasions. I'll admit, it is fun. But the thing about technology, and trying to keep up with it, is that it is a losing battle. There is always something else coming out a month or two later that is faster, has more storage, combines more gadgets, integrates more things, or is just plain shinier. My techno-lust will never be satisfied.

Tonight, I sing about something that will satisfy me, if I trust it. The love that my creator has for me will fill me spiritually, emotionally, mentally, physically. I just need to say those words:

Draw me close to You

YouTube | iTunes | Lyrics

Megan's prayer: Barlow Girl's "Harder than the First Time"

I'll take Your hand.

What a comforting thought to go to bed with - taking God's hand. He is there for me, he will lead me through my struggles. All I have to do is be open to holding his hand.

Chris' prayer: BarlowGirl's "Harder than the First Time"

I didn't see You
But God I want to

The other night, after both the conference and the wrap-up day we had just attend were over, I had a teen ask me if we could talk. He confessed to me that he felt like he had missed something during the weekend, that he had hoped the weekend would be more clear, that he wanted it to be that way. Instead, he now felt completely lost, unsure of what lay ahead for him short term as well as long.

It is a feeling that was not unfamiliar to me. In fact, the first time I attended this particular conference, I felt the same way. I told this particular teen that it was awesome that the feeling of loss bothered him as much as it did. It showed spiritual growth and a reluctance to be satisfied in his faith. Indeed, I have seen much growth from him in the time I've known him. I have no trouble believing that the f0llowing line will soon apply to him, just as it did for me many years ago:

You've come alive
And I think I've fallen harder than the first time

YouTube | iTunes | Lyrics

Megan's prayer: Jars of Clay's "No One Loves Me Like You"

Honestly, it's been a rough weekend for me. Even as I sit here, praying, I'm having a hard time. For the past few days, I have felt (for lack of a better word) disposable. Unnecessary. Easily replaced. Like Woody from Toy Story.

Obviously, I don't like this feeling. I've tried being positive about it, but it isn't going too well. I don't even know who to talk to.

The one thing that has helped me tonight is a story from the Bible that randomly popped into my head driving home from work. It's the story of the shepherd who loses a sheep. Instead of just cutting his loses, he leaves his flock to go in search of the lost sheep. To him, it is not okay to only have 99% of his sheep. That one sheep is irreplaceable. That one lost sheep is important enough for the shepherd to go looking for.

I hope hope hope that God really is like that shepherd. I don't want him to just give up on that one lost sheep and rejoice about the other 99% that he still has. I want to be, like that sheep, wanted. I want to be needed, irreplaceable.

I don't think I have anything to worry about. Tonight's song reminded me that "no one loves me like you, no one loves me the way you do." Even if everyone else abandons me and just stays with the rest of the flock, I know God won't. I know his love is so intense and powerful, and that he won't just leave me wandering alone for long.

I really hope he finds me tonight.

Chris' prayer: Jars of Clay's "No One Loves Me Like You"

Yet nothing unforgiven lies

I'll be the first to admit that I find going to confession uncomfortable. I think that part of it has to do with actually admitting and saying aloud the things that I'm not too proud of, the areas in my life in which I have failed to make the loving decision. But another part of it is that while I intellectually understand that, in the eyes of my Father, nothing unforgiven lies after confession, I'm not sure I am always emotionally able to grasp that. It's like, how could He just wipe that clean? Surely it can't be that easy for Him.

But it is. It always is. No matter what I've done, He is willing and able to forgive me. All I have to do is come to Him, call to Him, ask Him for forgiveness. Surely, no one loves me like [Him].


YouTube | iTunes | Lyrics

Chris' prayer: Tree63's "Joy (Shining Light)"

Let me be a joy to You always

We touched on this tonight at the conference I am on, and I'm glad God has chosen to emphasize the point tonight via the daily song. God is always happy to hear from us, to talk to us, to see us. Every time we come to Him, we bring him joy. He, in that way, is like a puppy who waits and waits for his owner to come home and upon finally seeing her is overcome with joy. Except God doesn't piddle all over the place. (:

Megan's prayer: Tree63's "Joy"

I read an article today about nightly prayer, and one suggested way to approach it. This article suggested praying about the past 24 hours. There were 5 steps, each of which you were supposed to try out while reading the article, but I only made it through the first step.

It called for you to go back through your day, hour by hour, and tell God everything you were thankful for during the day. It said to give thanks for the big things that were unique to that day, but also the minor details that we so often take for granted.

The article even said that if you fall asleep during this part of the prayer at night, that it's okay. Giving God thanks is important, and falling asleep while in the midst of praising God was a great way to end your night.

Falling asleep is exactly what happened to me. I wasn't even that tired going into prayer, but I apparently got very detailed in my thankfulness. I remember making it to about 2pm in my thankfulness, then I guess I feel asleep.

Luckily, my roommate coming home, and my dog growling at him, woke me up, and reminded me I had forgotten to finish my nightly prayer.

Now, as I head back to sleep, I have even more things to be thankful for today.

So thankful Lord

Katie's prayer: Tree63's "Joy"

I wanna be a joy to You always. 

I have a phone date with my mother every Sunday afternoon. We discuss life, what's going on her side of the state, what's going on my side of the state, anything really. My mom is one of my best friends, so these discussions are usually a very enjoyable experience. Usually. There have been times we've discussed things that we disagree on. When that happens, the conversation usually ends soon and we agree to disagree. But, by the time for our next conversation (either the next week or a random call during the week) we've both put it behind us. Conversation continues normally. 

I feel like the same thing can happen with God. (although it's more often than a weekly date with Him) Conversation goes great. When we reach a subject we disagree on, sometimes the conversation might end there. Sometimes it will go on forever with me pleading my side. But in the end, that one disgreement from that one conversation does not affect my relationship with God. At least not on my end. I can only pray the same is true for God. 

In both cases, I never like the disagreement part. (Who really does?) I just wanna be a joy to them all the time which means not disagreeing with them. But that would mean giving up my will, my wants. I don't wanna do that. (: so I'm stuck. But I think God's joy is more imporant than me getting my way, or trying to get my way.   

Katie's prayer: Jars of Clay's "Five Candles (You Were There)

I would jump if I'd knew you'd catch me

Also at this bible study I went to, we were discussing believing. The leader, Chris, stood by a chair and explained, that by looking at the chair he believes it could hold him up. He could have one of the guys come over and jump on it. And he'd still believe it would hold him up. But he wasn't really believing, becauce he never sat on the chair to test his belief. True belief invovles trust. 

I heard this lyric near the beginning and thought well wait a second, shouldn't you be jumping anyway regardless of whether or not you knew you'd be caught? Sometimes trust and belief meants you don't know. 

But then it does kinda make sense because I do find myself not wanting to jump at times because I'm afraid I won't be caught at the bottom. My fear needs to get out of the way so my belief can rule my life.  

Katie's prayer: Jars of Clay's "Sinking"

(my Internet crashed and I had no other way of posting these. But I still wrote them and thus still wanted to post them)

 Tonight I was at a bible study. Near the end, the guy leading it was talking about a retreat he was a leader on. The one night they would discuss their sins and downfalls. The next night, they would discuss Jesus and the cross and how Jesus died for our sins. He was talking abou how after that night, he asked one of the kids his thoughts. The kid replied, "I didn't ask him to do that for me."

I feel like this song kinda touches on that. How sometimes we don't ask God for things, but we get them anyway. God knows what we need and gives it to us. And as I was thinking about that, I realized God gave me a lot today that I never asked for. I got help with planning dates for youth events. I heard words of kindness from the people in the bible study. They prayed over me at the end, and so many of the things they said just seemed to resonate in my life right now. At one point I almost wanted to cry because the dude talking had no idea how much what he was saying was true for my life rigth now. And right as I was thinking that, he said something like 'and not many people know it.' freaky God moment. But anyways... Point of prayer: God is willing and able to give you whatever you need, you just have to be willing to accept it. 

Megan's prayer: Jars of Clay's "Five Candles (You Were There)"

I would jump if I knew you'd catch me.

I remember in sixth grade going to camp with my class. On the first day, my small group participated in a team building obstacle course. The final task was the trust fall. Although I had gone to school with all of these people for the past 6 years, I was in a group with other kids I didn't know all that well. Being the shy and very awkward/self-conscious girl, I really didn't want to do the trust fall. I didn't want to have to rely on these people I didn't know to catch me from falling.

My camp counselor made me do it. She made everyone participate. Somehow, I ended up going first. As I stood on the ledge, I was scared out of my mind. As I fell back, to my surprise, I landed in a sea of arms of my classmates - unharmed. They had caught me. I instantly felt closer to them all. I instantly trusted them all. I even did the trust fall again.

Why is it that I have such a hard time trusting God sometimes? I know him much better than I did my classmates on the trust fall. He's been watching out for me for the past 21 years. He has always been there to catch me when I fall.

Why is it that even though he has caught me so many times previously, that I can't jump confidently, 100%, into my faith?

Chris' prayer: Jars of Clay's "Five Candles (You Were There)"

Things I never asked you for

Yesterday, I was going through my closet, pulling out some clothes for a trip down to a youth conference this weekend. In looking at some of my t-shirts, I noticed that some of my favorite ones, both present and past, are ones that I didn't pick out myself. One was a Christmas present from my parents, another a just-because present from a former girlfriend, yet another a birthday present from my sister. None of them were asked for; all are my favorites.

Some of my favorite moments in my spiritual life have been the same way: it hasn't been the things I've asked for that have had the most impact, it has been the things I never asked God for, and the things I never even thought to ask for, that have impacted me the most.

My family and friends have picked out gifts that I would never have asked for that I just love, and God has given me gifts that are just perfect for me, without me even having to ask for them. He must know me pretty well. (:

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

So you can stop "caring" as you call it
And I'll be fine right here.

Wow. I'm not proud to admit it, but these words could be verbatim of past fights with boyfriends/friends. I sometimes take this weird defensive side and act like I don't care about what happens - that I don't need that person in my life.

Obviously, it's a silly thing to do. I don't just go around fighting strangers. I am fighting cause something is wrong and I *do* care about it. I'm fighting to make things better, but I take this weird approach where I act like I'm fine, like I don't care.

I wouldn't like to be on the other side of a fight with me. I tend to get irrational.

Luckily God doesn't stop caring. Luckily he over looks my silliness and knows that I won't be "fine right here." I'm so glad he is smarter than that, and knows what I truly need.

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

You can't hear what I'm not saying
And I can hold out long enough

I've been learning over the course of the past couple years just how important it is to apologize. Even when I don't think I'm the one in the wrong, or that the other person should be the first to apologize, I've been slowly learning the power of setting aside my pride and offering that olive branch.

A lot of times, it is a very tough thing to do. It's tough to do when I know I'm the one who needs to apologize, and it's even tougher when I believe I'm not. But each and every time I'm able to do that, I've grown as a person. Each of us has a need to forgive AND a need to be forgiven. The more we practice one, the easier the other becomes as well.


YouTube | iTunes | Lyrics

Megan's prayer: Marcy Priest's "My Drink"

Being the typical Tuesday evening, I found myself in the corner chair of the St. Cletus Adoration Chapel. My wonderful weekly Holy Hour spent with God.

While I normally spend the first and last few minutes talking to God, today, as I knelt in front of Jesus, all I could do was stare. I just got so caught up in everything that I forgot all my prayers.

As I head to bed tonight, and say my prayers, I plan to revisit my day.

Jesus,

on you I meditate.

Katie's prayer: Marcy Priest's "My Drink"

You are my love.

I've heard it said many times that your faith life isn't just your religion, it is a relationship with God. And to maintain that relationship, you need to keep in constant contact. I mean you wouldn't be very good friends with someone you only hear from occasionally. The same is true with God. That's why I try hard to keep constant contact with God. From more structured prayer like liturgy of the hous, mass, and so on to more free prayer like this blog, my prayer walks, my conversation with God right before bed, adoration, etc. As much as I love the structured prayer, I think I love the more free prayer better because it allows me to express my exact feelings. For me, it's this type of prayer that makes it feel more like a relationship. But when life gets busy and things in my schedule have to be moved around or even deleted, I find it's always the more free prayer that gets pushed aside. I can't tell you the last time I went to adoration that wasn't XLT. I can't tell you the last time I went on a prayer walk. And lately, I haven't even wanted to do my conversation with God before bed. I find myself saying 'I just did night prayer, that should be ok. Besides I'm really tired, I'd really rather be asleep.' I'm really lucky God isn't like us stupid humans. Otherwise we'd totally no longer be friends.

I think it's time to start making more of an effort on that relationship. But as I'm sitting here thinking that, I'm also thinking but not this week. It's just too busy. God understands my schedule, He's ok with it. But that's not how it should be! I'm going to try! Really, I am! Cause if I really am in love with God, then I need to start acting like it.

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

All the promises of faith
Come alive when you see home

Although I currently call many places "home", my faith "home" is St. Cletus, without a doubt. Whether it's been a couple of months since I've been there, or only a few hours, I'm always excited to be there.

It is always filled with love. My faith just thrives when I am inside, surrounded by those who care about me and share in my faith.

My faith really does come alive when I am at "home".

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

Let your hand melt into mine

After going four years without a seriously relationship, and now finding myself on the cusp of one whole year with my girlfriend, one of the things that I absolutely love about being in a relationship is holding hands. I love wrapping my fingers around Megan's, and feeling hers wrap around mine. I love the tightness when we both squeeze, and I love the comfortableness when we aren't. I love, more than anything, how well our two hands fit together. Hands seem made to be held.

I also love how everything just drips away when my hand is being held by hers. All of my worries, my fears, my anxiety, just melt when her hand wraps around mine. Most of the time, I feel the same about my faith. I know that I have expressed shortcomings and areas which need improvement on here, but tonight I rejoice in the ways my faith and spirituality relieve me of my fears and anxiety. It is wonderfully comforting to know that I have a Maker who is always looking out for me, always cradling me in the palm of His hand.


YouTube | iTunes | Lyrics

Katie's prayer: Jars of Clay's "Fly"

This week is going to be one hectic week. Besides sleep, the only real free time I have until Sunday is right now. And even now, I shouldn't be free, I should be doing one of the million things I've got to do. I'm moving on Friday, so there's like a billion and one things to do to get that in order. I'm going to be putting in about 21 hours this week at the diocese, 10-15 at Holy Trinity. I've this young adult thing to go to tomorrow night, a Bible study the next night, the next night my parents are coming into town and I have to entertain them, or rather, have them help me finish packing and buying stuff before moving the next day! Then on Saturday I'm helping my roommate move. There's just so much already going on this week, and now I'm adding moving on top of that, which means packing. It's just so stressful!

I was actually thinking earlier today, how in the WORLD am I going to have any time for prayanewsong? How am I going to blog after I pack up my computer tonight (cause tonight's the only time I have to do so)? Which is just really adding to the stress of this week. Then I turned on today's song...

be still
let your hand melt into mine

Like God's ALWAYS telling me. Be still, don't worry. Everything will be fine. You'll find time to blog, you'll find a way to blog, things will be done on time, everything will be fine, just don't worry. Take a deep breath, hold my hand and let me guide you. And suddenly I'm fine again.

Megan's prayer: Big Daddy Weave's "Give Up, Let Go"

I'm pretty sure I take my free will for granted. I forget just how amazing it is that God gave me the ability to choose how I spend my time. This freedom to choose is great. But, at the same time, I often think that my own choices are the best - that I know what will make me happy.

I try to hold my own life in my own hands.

What I need is God's help to guide me in my choices. I need to look to God before making decisions. I need to work on praying more for his help in difficult situation.... He's just waiting for permission.

Chris' prayer: Big Daddy Weave's "Give Up, Let Go"

A couple weeks ago, the air conditioning in my car started going in and out. When this happened, the car would start to overheat. It would be okay for awhile, and then it would start to do it again. For whatever reason, having car issues at that time was totally freaking me out. I just knew that it would be a $1500 repair, if not more, and then, at that point, it would probably be better to just get a new car, but then how could I possibly afford that?

I laid across two chairs, in the fetal position, with my head on my girlfriend's lap, just completely and utterly consumed with the fear of my car dying. Intellectually, I knew that, in the worst case scenario, I would have to buy a car just to get me by, something I didn't really love, but would be "good enough." That was the worst case scenario, something I knew I could survive, but emotionally, it was overwhelming.

It turned out that the part of the A/C that was going bad was just a $15 part, and that my car cost less than $100 to fix, total. All that freaking out for absolutely nothing. I told my small group later on that the next step for me in my faith was to give up control and concern over my car. I know it seems fairly straightforward, but for me it is a huge struggle. And it's easy to not worry about now, when my car is working, and hopefully I won't be tested again for awhile, but I know what the test is: I need to give up, let go.


iTunes | Lyrics

Katie's prayer: Big Daddy Weave's "Give up, Let go"

And oh, sometimes the old me creeps back in
And oh, the only thing I know to do is give it all to You again

I have the hardest time picking a favorite song. It changes pretty much weekly, sometimes even daily. It all depends on how my life is going, and what song speaks to me. Today's song is one that has been my favorite many times. Since I acquired this song in 2007 (thanks Chris!) it's been in the top five of my most played songs. Most of the time it has spent in the number 1 spot.

I think the reason this song has been in the top so often is because I so often relate to it. I try and I try and I try to give it all to God. But like the song states, the old me just creeps back in, without me even realizing it! And suddenly, I'm making all the plans in my life without consulting God. Then something happens, I realize it, and try to give it all back up again. That's exactly what happened after I heard today's song. After finding out I got the job, I slowly began to take back the control. It's time to give it all to God again!

Help me give up, yeah, help me let go.

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

Today over lunch, Chris and I discussed what we each thought were the best ways to plan LifeTeen events. Personally, I like being organized. I like have the night planned out well in advance and only have a few minor details to iron out at the end. Last minute changes cause all of the previous planning to be pointless.

Chris had a different view. Although he is willing to put in the time planning the life nights in advance, if last minute changes are called for, he is able to go with the flow. In the end, it doesn't matter how well the night was planned or how well the talk was executed. What does matter is that the teens felt love during the night.

I guess now, after listening to this song and reading the lyrics, I can start to see his point.

The time has come to put away all our differences
And unify through the Lord

.
I should not be upset when last minute changes occur. There shouldn't be any disagreement amongst the Core team. If we could all step back from our own personal views and look at the bigger picture - God's ideas - we would see what is really important. We need to unify, through the Lord, and only then will we make a difference.

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

Sometimes a simple smile can be more than something simple. From the right person, a smile can mean everything. It can mean comfort. Happiness. Relief. Safety. Forgiveness. Enjoyment. Hope. Protection. Love. It can mean the world and it can bring about an eternity.


iTunes | Lyrics

Katie's prayer: Cheer Up Charlie's "Favor"

Where you gonna be? In eternity?

Death has always intrigued me. It's the one thing you can't get advice on. If I want to know what to expect as a youth minister, I can read books, talk to people who are youth ministers. If I want to know what it'll be like to live alone, I can talk to friends who have done it (two of whom also blog on here) (: really anything that will happen in the near or distant future, there's always people I can talk to, books I can read, and all sorts of things to find out exactly what I'm going to experiencing is like. Not true for death. People don't really come back from the dead to describe the experience and what to expect. I guess that's why so many people are afraid of death. The only thing that tells us for sure what death, and life after death, is like is the Bible. According to that, my death marks the beginning of life in heaven with God. So really, there's nothing really to be afraid of.

Megan's prayer: Matt Maher's "Sophia"

I attended my great great aunt's funeral today. I didn't know her all that well, so I expected the funeral to be somewhat emotionless for me. I was wrong.

While I was sad to have lost a family member, today I felt mostly joyful. The priest at the funeral had an amazing homily, and I left feeling so excited for my great great aunt - knowing she was hanging out with Jesus.

What's even better is to know that we don't have to wait for death to be able to be with Jesus. We can be with him through the Eucharist. We are able to have that heavenly experience - we are able to be with Jesus.

I dwell with you.

Katie's prayer: Matt Maher's "Sophia"

Where all my burdens float like angel feathers

I'm currently experiencing information overload. Even though I got off work like 7 hours ago, my mind is still spinning with everything I learned today, and all the things I'll be expected to do, and all the programs already in effect that I'm now going to take over, and the fact that I can work from home which is so cool! And beginning to come to the realization that my free time just significantly lessened. But I'm still somehow (according to the book I'm reading) supposed to continue to have a social life, and friends outside of ministry to keep me sane.

Today was one of the more exciting days of my life. And while I took everything in with excitement, and still am taking it in with excitement. The fact is there are a lot more things on my plate, more activities, more things to do, more responsibility, and I'm going to need a lot of heavenly help learning how to juggle it all, especially now when everything is so new.

Help me make it through the night.

Chris' prayer: Matt Maher's "Sophia"

I know that I say this about a lot of Maher's music, but I love this song! I love its sneakiness. I always thought it out of place for a Matt Maher song to be a love song about a woman. While you can still tell it is spiritual, it seemed too secular to me compared to the rest of his music.

Then I learned that Sophia is another name for wisdom, and in Christianity, specifically the holy wisdom of God, and is also described as a spirit which emanates from Him- a Holy Spirit. Knowing this completely changed the song for me. Maher is singing a love song about the spirit that makes him want to be holy. He burns for wisdom, for truth; is exposed to wisdom; becomes committed to wisdom.

What a beautiful song!


Lyrics

Jen's prayer: Cheer Up Charlie's "Favor"

Where you gonna be??? In eternity???

I know that usually my prayers are for myself, but this time I really want to pray for all those who are truly at a loss because of the death of Michael Jackson. Watching his memorial (not by choice, it was on at work) and hearing so many people say how Michael Jackson is "up there" or "looking down on us" or in heaven...whatever they said, it made me wonder. Many people mentioned God or Jesus' love, but do they really know God's love? Are they true believers that will make it to heaven? I'd love for it to be true, but I'm not so sure. So I'm praying that this death - which has become unbelievably blown out of proportion - will do some good and really make people stretch out to God, wondering where they're going in eternity.

Megan's prayer: Matt Maher's "Here and Now"

Here and now...

...is what I need to start paying more attention to. While the past is important and shouldn't be forgotten - and the future should also be thought about - what I need to work on is living in the moment. Focusing on the wonderful things that God has surrounded me with.

If I were able to live in the moment. If I were able to not worry so much about the future, and not have regrets about the past - I think I would be happier - live a much fuller life - and be able to experience God's love more completely.

Chris' prayer: Matt Maher's "Here and Now"

The first time I heard this song, I fell in love with it. More than anything, I love the energy that the song has. Every workout mix, or pre-game mix, or drive fast mix I make has to have this song on it. It just gets me so amped. It's a tough song to listen to right before I go to bed.

Listening to it tonight, I can't help but imagine that the coming kingdom Maher sings about will feel exactly like this song. The anticipation building and building and building until we are just overcome by an explosion of love and mercy, turning everything we know upside down, and breaking all the rules. I can picture this song being played when all of this happens...and it sounds amazing.


iTunes

Katie's prayer: Matt Maher's "Here and Now"

Here and Now

We are beginning.

I am beginning my job tomorrow. The time for my ministry to start has started, Here and Now! In preparation for this new job, my boss at the diocese practically forced me to check out three books from our resource library. I started reading Your First Two Years in Youth Ministry. It's all about how to start a program right. It's been giving me more ideas, and more things to think about. Things that make people burn out easily, things people do to make their programs excell, things I should be doing on a daily basis.

I got to one chapter that I just really felt like skipping. I decided I'd read the into and then move on to the next chapter. That was until I read this sentence in the intro "If the typical youth worker were to choose one chapter in this book to skip, it would be this on." This chapter was on your own spiritual growth, and how you need to foster that relationship with God. I wanted to skip it not because I don't think it's important, but because I had it set in my mind that I had that all down! I pray the Liturgy of the Hours, I do this blog 5 times a week, I have my prayer walks with God when I can, I make it to adoration when I can. I didn't need to waste my time by reading a chapter on something I've already got down. But as I read the chapter, I realized that there were warning signs for the quality of spiritual life that I was experiencing. There were some things in that chapter that I have struggled with and continue to struggle with. It was then I realized that my prayer life isn't as perfect as I delude myself to believe. I'm not perfect. The sooner I realize that, the better, especially if I want to have any hope of relating to these teens I will be serving.

Jen's prayer: Matt Maher's "Sophia"

I think this song is precious.

She's so, you know, makes me want to be like Jesus // I am / Your
hands / tell me what Your plan for this is.

I want to make a man want to be like Jesus. I want a man who specifically asks God how to handle a relationship with me because that man understands how he is God's hands.

I guess tonight's prayer is for my future husband - whoever he is, wherever he is, I'm praying that he seeks God's plan in our relationship, instead of his own selfish desires.

Megan's prayer: Oliver James' "Long Time Comin"

I am in some of the best relationships right now. My relationship with God, my relationship with Chris, my relationships with my friends and family - they are all filled with love.

It hasn't always been this way. There are many times I struggle in my relationship with God. And my past relationships with boys haven't always been loving. There has been some hardship on the road that has lead me to where I am today.

Now I know
What I've been waiting for.

It has finally become clear what I've been waiting for all my life. I've been blessed with so many amazing relationships filled with love.

I pray tonight for those who aren't feeling loved. For those who aren't experiencing the joy of being in a relationship with God.

Chris' prayer: Oliver James' "Long Time Comin'"

Everybody wants to be loved

Just last night at Life Night we were talking about why people get into bad relationships. The above was one of the answers my small group gave. And it's so right, isn't it? Our need to be loved causes us to do some crazy things, sometimes setting aside what is good for us in pursuit of what we think will be better– to be loved. But like James goes onto sing, "I didn't know I was lost until you found me," often times I think we believe that we want love, but aren't really ready for it. We are so lost searching for love, that when the truest love finds us, it is only then that we realize how lost and how fruitless our search really was.


iTunes | Lyrics

Jen's prayer: Oliver James' "Long Time Comin'"

then you look in my eyes
and i have it all
once again

I like how this song is all about searching for love. I feel like at this age, if you're single, you're constantly searching for someone to fill that gap...to find someone to hold and to love. The thing is, because I have this relationship with Jesus Chris, I can "have it all." Even though I'm single, I have a love far superior than anything I can find on earth. The hard part is remembering that sometimes.

Katie's prayer: Oliver James' "Long Time Comin'"

It's been a long time coming
Down this road

Last year my cousin's sister-in-law gave birth to a baby boy with some heart problems. They began a blog shortly after to track his progress. When I came home from camp, I got on facebook and started a group called "Prayers for Oliver." I invited everyone I knew and made myself the one in charge of updating the news on the group page anytime news on the blog was added. I became obsessed with this adorable little boy who seemed to have no chance at all.

He spent the first few months of his life in the hospital, hooked up to machines to help him breathe, being fed from a tube instead of orally. For a while he was on the top of a heart transplant list. I'd read that blog often (at the beginning, practically every day). I'd be super happy when anything good would happen. I'd be brought to tears when something bad would happen. I've never met him, I met his parents once or twice. But I'm obsessed.

It's been a long time since Oliver was a completely helpless, near death baby. He turned one year on Friday. He really is a miracle. He never got the heart transplant, his heart began to cure itself on it's own. He still has trouble, and is still not quite where he needs to be, but he's alive, and he's getting better everyday. Here's a little bit of the post the day after his birthday:

There were two sheet cakes, one chocolate and one strawberry. Grandpa painstakingly inscribed the white cake with “Celebrating the Joy and Blessing of Having Oliver” and the chocolate cake with “Believe in Miracles"..."It was a memorable celebration and of course we knew that it was so much more than just a regular one year birthday party. There was such a feeling of gratitude and love, I think everyone there was counting their own blessings. Yes miracles really do happen and we have all been given the privilege of witnessing one. Thank you for that, Oliver!"

I really couldn't say it any better. Miracles still do happen.

If you want to follow this amazing boy: http://oliver.planetpayne.com/

Megan's prayer: Big Daddy Weave's "His Name is Jesus"

So many choices
So much confusion
No sense of direction
Don't know which way to turn

I feel this way a lot of times. So lost and confused.

But today was the opposite. Today I felt calm, certain of my decisions. I feel like their is direction in my life - and it is leading me to God.

I am so thankful for the wonderful day I had today.

Chris' prayer: Big Daddy Weave's "His Name is Jesus"

Constantly searching
Searching for truth

I can confidently say that the last five years have been my best in terms of spiritual growth. (I hope that I am always able to make that statement, that each five years surpasses the previous five years.) My faith has changed, and deepened, in so many ways over this period, and I am happy to see the upward trend.

I feel like I am constantly searching for truth, and this is a situation where I am very much enjoying the journey, and not worrying too much about the destination. I am loving learning the little things- a little bit more about how Love works, or about how grace works, or about finding peace in Christ. Those little revelations and discoveries make me so happy and so grateful. I believe that that constant searching, the constant learning, at least for me, is a good thing, and not a negative thing, as it is presented in this song. I don't anticipate being done searching while I'm alive. I'll be learning new things until I'm dead. And that, I'm okay with.


iTunes | Lyrics

Jen's prayer: Big Daddy Weave's "His Name is Jesus"

So many choices
So much confusion
No sense of direction
Don't know which way to turn

I get the sense this song is more for unbelievers. You know, like it begins by talking about all the people in a world full of darkness constantly searching for truth. But the thing is, when I read those lyrics that are above, I know that even Christians experience that. I know I am right now. Along with several other strong believers. We know Jesus and we know He gave His life for us. We know He has set a plan for our lives. And that can be the most frustrating...knowing that God has a plan, but not being able to see it. And I'm just praying that the more I cry out to Jesus, the clearer the plan will get.

Katie's prayer: Big Daddy Weave's "His Name is Jesus"

So many choices
So much confusion
No sense of direction
Don't know which way to turn

That verse basically explains my life from last August until last night. I went from not knowing what I wanted to do with my life to knowing I wanted to become a youth minister to not knowing where I should fulfill that to questioning if I'd actually be able to fulfill that to FINALLY knowing. Last night I found out I am going to be the new youth minister at Holy Trinity Catholic Church in Weston, MO and it's soooooooooooooooo exciting!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

The only way I was able to get from not knowing anything to becoming hired was with the help of Jesus. It's strange, I think I knew all along that out of the places I applied, Holy Trinity was where I was going to end up. It was the only one I bothered actually attending church one time. Or even saw outside of a picture or their website. But my intuitive knowing was nothing compared to my worries and stress. I forgot that God was in charge and He wouldn't let me fail. The second I let those worries and fears go and completely forget about the job is when I got the phone call offering it to me.

If you listen you can hear Him call your name

I just need to continue to listen to that voice and not let my worries and stress get in the way. God's timing is perfect and I need to remind myself of that.

Dear God,
Thank you for not giving up on me, even when I think I had. Thank you for the awesome opportunity of this job. Help me to do the best I can. Help me to reach the teens I will be working with. Help me to look for and listen to those signs you send me.
Love,
Katie

Megan's prayer: Chris Tomlin's "We Fall Down"

My Jesus, I love you
I know thou are mine
To thee all the follies of sin I resent
My gracious redeemer
My savior, art thou
If ever I'll love you
My Jesus, tis now

I loved this last part of the song. It sounds like a lullaby. It is so wonderfully peaceful.

The line that most stuck out what "If ever I'll love you my Jesus, tis now." This is definitely true right now. I hope that it remains true forever.

Chris' prayer: Chris Tomlin's "We Fall Down"

For the last few weeks, I've had a really hard time doing spontaneous prayer. When I go to pray, I just can't seem to string the words together. It's like a case of writer's block...for prayer. In this spot in my life, feeling as I do, I am very appreciative of a song like tonight's. It is such a simple song, with very few words and a simple, understated melody, that, even when I'm having trouble praying, is easy to sing along with, easy to pray.

It's funny that I didn't even mean to have this song be a part of the journal. We've already prayed this song before (Kutless' version), but because I had this one incorrectly labeled, it made it into the rotation. And it is just what I need. Maybe God knows better than I do just what music I need to be listening to.


YouTube | iTunes | Lyrics

Jen's prayer: Chris Tomlin's "We Fall Down"

My first thought when I saw I had to blog about this song was: that's such a good worship song, but what can I actually write about? The song speaks for itself, right? We cry holy, holy, holy. Singing those lyrics out are amazing. But after that, what is there to say? What can God teach through such a simple song?

Then I decided there was more to it than the chorus. I needed to go back and re-read the lyrics at the beginning.

We fall down, we lay our crowns
At the feet of Jesus

Hmmm. There's something there. What makes this a good worship, may indeed be the fact that first we acknowledge to God that we need to fall down and remove our crowns. Once we do this, we can truly worship and proclaim God holy.

Every morning this week I've been tuning into a Christian radio station to listen to this program called Back to the Bible. Today the discussion of pride was brought up and how that can hinder so much the life God has planned for us. I think the crown that we're removing in this song, for me at least, deals a lot with the crown of pride. I can get pretty puffed up on myself sometimes and it's good for me to realize I need to just step aside, fall down at Jesus' feet and remove my pride, remove myself and my desires and realize it's all about Him. He's holy. He's the true King who deserves a crown. Not me.

Katie's prayer: Chris Tomlin's "We Fall Down"

My prayer today actually isn't going to be on the song itself, but instead the last time I heard the song. It was actually three weeks ago today. I was sitting in mass helping with Totus Tuus at St. Gabe's. It's kinda like Vacation Bible School only cooler cause it's Catholic to the core, and they do stuff for high schoolers too. So it's way cool. But anyways, onto the story. I was sitting in mass and this was our communion song. Near the end, the musicains had to go up and recieve Jesus, but the song continued with 120+ 1st-5th graders singing "we cry holy, holy, holy" over and over again.

The kids got mass points everyday for how loudly they sang, spoke, if they kept mass hands and avoided lazy butt. And if they got 10 mass points by the end of the week, they would get to "sundae" one of the teachers. Basically put sundae topings all over them. So myabe their motivation for singing loudly was a tad different than, lets say, my motivation for singing loudly. Regardless of their reasoning, the singing was absolutely beautiful. Half of them were no where near being in key, some were singing slower than others, some louder, and it was a complete mess. But in that complete mess was complete beauty. Those kids were singing from their hearts. They didn't care that they were out of tune, they didn't care that they were off beat, they didn't care what the person next to them was thinking or doing, all they cared about at that moment was singing at the top of their lungs. We cry HOLY HOLY HOLY!

You know, kids have a lot to learn from adults. But I would also argue we have a lot to learn from them.

We cry holy holy holy
We cry holy holy holy
We cry holy holy holy
We cry holy holy holy
We cry holy holy holy
We cry holy holy holy
We cry holy holy holy
We cry holy holy holy
We cry holy holy holy
We cry holy holy holy
We cry holy holy holy
We cry holy holy holy
We cry holy holy holy is the Lamb

Megan's prayer: Cheer Up Charlie's "Let it Ride"

I've just returned from Encounter. Although it was wonderful to be there, in God's presence, there was nothing particular about my experience tonight that moved me. Similarly, as I listened to this song, and followed along with the lyrics found on Cheer Up Charlie's website, I wasn't really moved by anything. It's a nice song, but it wasn't at all what my heart was needing tonight.

What I most needed tonight was to feel God's love. I longed to feel that at Encounter. I longed to experience it while listening to tonight's song. All I wanted to know what that God was there, looking out for me, loving me.
As I went to exit from the lyrics web page, settling on the fact that I had found nothing spectacular in the lyrics to pray about, a line at the bottom of the web page caught my eye.


Honestly, I'm not sure why it is there. It isn't a lyric to a song or anything. Regardless, it was there. And it was there the entire time that I was reading the lyrics to the song. It was there the entire time I was trying to figure out what to pray about tonight. This little reminder that I was loved was just waiting there for me to finally slow down and read it.

I think this is exactly how my life is. God's love is constantly surrounding me, but I have such a hard time seeing it. It's always there, waiting for me, but I never take the time to slow down and really see it.

Luckily, God knows exactly what I need. He knows that I need these constant reminders that I am surrounded by his love. He isn't giving up on me. He isn't frustrated that I forget - he just keeps telling me, in as many ways as he can think of, just how much he loves me.

Maybe this time I will be able to pay better attention.

Chris' prayer: Cheer Up Charlie's "Let it Ride"

Gonna wanna throw a fit? Go the other way

A little more than a year ago, I stopped by a retreat that was going on up at church. I didn't have an official role in this retreat, so instead, I just kind of walked around and said hi to everyone and asked how things were going and enjoyed some of the festivities. It seemed like everyone was in good spirits and having a good time, except for one of the teens helping to put on the retreat. Despite being one of the happiest, cheeriest people I've ever met, she was the one who was in a bad mood, and just generally not enjoying what was going on.

When I got a chance, I pulled her aside and told her how important her joy was to the weekend. The way she shares her happiness has the potential to draw so many people to Christ, and I wanted her to know how important she was, even just her smile was, to the success of the retreat. The bad mood and sadness could wait until later- she was needed NOW!

It may seem like a minor thing, and perhaps we may even feel entitled to our moods, but I think it is important to understand how our moods affect other people. If our happiness is what is spreading the love of Christ to others, don't we have the responsibility to do everything we can to be happy? I think so.

And the teen thinks so, too. She reminds me of such anytime she sees me in less than a stellar mood. The reasons we both were upset were far less important than the task at hand- spreading the Gospel.


iTunes | Lyrics

Jen's prayer: Cheer Up Charlie's "Let it ride"

So I was pretty confused about what "let it ride" meant till Katie enlightened me in her post. Then all of a sudden the light bulb over my head lit up and I was like, "Ooooh..." To me, this just reinforces what God has been telling me to do: wait. Just like Katie was saying in her post that there's so much stress and decisions and such to make...I've got a lot of things on my heart lately that I feel like needing acted upon instantly, but God feels differently. Every time I talk to God he tells me one word: wait. Or, as Cheer Up Charlie would say: let it ride.

Katie's prayer: Cheer up Charlie's "Let it Ride"

I think I have felt more stress in the past 2-3 weeks than I did all 4 years of college combined! I mean there's the job situation. If I don't find one before the 31st of July, then I'm moving back home with my parents. I love my parents, but I like living on my own. And I know they will tell me I need to find a job, any job that uses my degree, even if it's not the job I want, the job I feel God's calling me to. There's the stress over moving, but I'm not sure where, cause I don't know if I have a job anywhere yet. Stress over this weekend coming up, for really no good reason at all. Stress over a boy I like that became stupid and randomly stopped talking to me, and all of a sudden has randomly decided to start again. I'm just so confused right now. I don't know what to do about anything. And then I listen to today's song:

Let it ride, just let it ride. Turn away and let it ride.
Let it ride, just let it ride. Turn away and let it ride.

For those of you who, like me, aren't 100% sure what the phrase "let it ride" means, I looked it up for you. When you tell someone to let something ride, it means that you want the person to let that something remain as it is. In other words, you are telling the person not to do anything about a particular situation. God's sorta telling me not to do anything. That includes worrying. That includes stress. That includes fretting over things I don't have control over.

Dear God,
Help me to just let it ride.

Megan's prayer: Newsboys' "Love Liberty Disco"

Instead of just listening to the song today, I watched the video on Youtube. It was spectacular. The part I loved the most was all of the people dancing on the street - doing the disco. They all looked so happy.

One of the comments someone left about the video said "Disco and Jesus - I couldn't think of a better combination."

I just love the excitement in the people dancing. I love the beat of the song. I love that faith is intertwined everywhere, including the dance floor.

I hope to carry on similar joy while I dance and sing about Jesus. I hope that others can see God's love through me.

Chris' prayer: Newsboys' "Love Liberty Disco"

I've owned this song for many, many years, but I have never made it past the opening synthesized part. Makes me hit the next track button every single time. I found out tonight, however, that the song isn't nearly as bad as I expected, and is actually kind of catchy. It seems like a song that would be good to cut loose to, and do the kind of dancing you do where you know you look silly, but do it anyway. In fact, it is sticking itself in my head as I type this, and I know that I'm going to fall asleep repeating the chorus to myself. I have judged this book by its cover.

I hope that I don't do that with people, but I'm not sure why they would be any different. I'm sure that I make judgments about them, failing to look past the opening bars, seeing what lies inside. My prayer for tonight is that I may get better about getting to know those around me and breaking down the first impressions/stereotypes/prejudices that I have.


YouTube | iTunes | Lyrics

Jen's prayer: Newsboys' "Love Liberty Disco"

Last night I felt this crazy sense of peace. I was alone in my room, just sitting there at my desk as the breeze flew through my open windows and I just felt...content. I felt loved. I felt like dancing. I was joyful. I knew it was of God. Every fear had turned around and I just knew it was okay. It was all in God's hands and I was thankful for everything that was happening in my life. It was crazy. I feel like that's the essence of this song. When we step into the light of our maker, our lover, all our fears are gone, we're no longer lonely, we're just happy with other believers, content and at peace.
I'm not sure why I don't feel like this more often, because as the song says, "so come on in, ... what are you waiting for?" I was asking for that joy and all I had to do was simply let go and come into God's presence.

Katie's prayer: Newsboys' "Love Liberty Disco"

Fall down, and meet your maker
where our true selves will be found.

I'm not sure if I've shared this yet, but one of my favorite ways to pray is adoration. And one of my favorite positions to pray during adoration is face down, hands up. Complete surrendering. It is in that position of falling down in front of Jesus where I really find Jesus, and find myself. It's where my best prayers have happened. My biggest realizations about myself and my life. My biggest realizations of the love God has for me. My biggest realizations of the love I have for God. I need to go to adoration.

Katie's prayer: Jars of Clay's "Revolution"

so if you know the words, then try to sing along
and when you get the beat, grab your hammer, bang a gong

This might only make sense to me, but that's ok, cause it's my prayer.

I feel like in the song that is my life, I'm trying to sing along. Key word: trying. I still haven't heard back from Holy Trinity. I know they said I'd hear back by the end of the month, and the month doesn't really end until tomorrow, the lack of hearing anything is making me start to lose hope. And with that hope goes my trust in God's plan for my life. I'm trying to sing along, but I don't think I've got that beat down yet. And at the moment, there's nothing I want more than to just figure out where I'm supposed to be so I can be there and do it and live it.

Dear God, I want to sing along. I want to pick up that hammer and bang the stupid gong. I want to do what you want me to do, but I need You to tell me what exactly that is. Please help me.

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

You got to begin with who you know you are
To be a revolution

This song, and this lyric in particular, echoes a song I've loved since childhood. And, with the very recent death of its creator, the song is one I've heard several times over the past few days. Man in the Mirror has always been one of my favorite Michael Jackson songs, and one of my favorite songs regardless of artist, genre, or time. I'm not sure what it is about that song, whether it is the pace, the lyrics, the melody, or what, but it has always resonated with me.

The message of Man in the Mirror and Revolution are so simple, echoing Ghandi's famous quote, "Be the change you wish to see in the world." Every revolution, every societal change, starts with one small event. And it is upto an individual person to become that change, to force that event. Nothing starts off as a huge, organized movement. It starts off with something so small, that each one of us can do it. Each one of us are called to look in the mirror and see us as the revolution, to see us as the one who will bring change to the world.


YouTube | iTunes | Lyrics

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

You got to begin with who you know you are.

Sometimes I feel like I know who I am, I know what God wants me to do in my life, I know what paths to choose. And other times I am so confused. I can't figure out what God is calling me to do.

I can't begin to do God's will, to show God's love, when I don't even know who I really am, or what I'm supposed to do with my life.

Lord, continue to show me who I really am inside. Help me to become the loving human being you made me - created in your image.

Jen's prayer: Jars of Clay's "Revolution"

'cause you don't got to fight or make yourself belong
to be a revolution, yeah

I feel like lately God has been pressing on my heart the importance of loving and serving others. The focus needs to be off me and more on sharing Jesus with others. I am reading in Acts how Peter and John were part of a revolution of saving thousands of people after Jesus was resurrected. I think a lot of times people like myself think that was something that happened in the Bible and won't happen again. But that's wrong! We can be a revolution. We don't have to fight or make ourselves belong...we just have to love others to make a difference.

Jen's prayer: The Elms' "Speaking in Tongues"

I always think it's amazing when God ties together what I'm reading in the Bible to other stuff in my life. I'm currently reading the book of Acts and my Daily Bible Verse I get sent to me at work is focusing on Acts this week. Then I get this song, which talks of speaking in tongues, which is the focus of the first few chapters of Acts. Sweet deal. It all ties together. At first, I got caught up in Acts with deciding how people decide whether speaking in tongues is something only the Apostles were gifted with, or if everyone can receive the spirit in that way. But then I got to thinking instead of arguing that out in my head, maybe right now I'm supposed to be focusing on something else that Acts is showing in those chapters:

we gotta speak in love!

It's amazing how in the story in Acts 2, so many people were touched by others speaking in their language. They were "cut to the heart" by what Paul taught them and immediately became followers of Christ. Awesome! I want to show others God's love and mercy and to do it, I think God is telling me I have to speak in love.

Chris' prayer: The Elms' "Speaking in Tongues"

<blockquote>People got a thing for the dangerous.
You'll find it inside the best of us.</blockquote>I'm currently
reading Michael Yaconelli's <i>Dangerous Wonder</i> with a few of the
teens at church in a small group setting. We read a chapter or two a
week, and then discuss what we've read, how our lives are going, what
we are struggling with, and how we feel. So far it has been a great
experience, and one I'm hoping they are enjoying as well.

Anyway, the point of the book thus far is that Christianity, as it is
often lived, has become boring and monotonous. This monotony exists
<b>despite</b> what Christianity calls us to. Christianity seeks to,
as Yaconelli says, completely change our lives, not to just enhance
them. Living a truly Christian life, and fully relying on the
redemptive power of Christ's sacrifice, is dangerous stuff, but
something that must happen if we are going to truly live. This means
asking all the "wrong" questions, breaking all the "rules," and
stepping outside the current paradigm.

This song echoes that sentiment. We are instilled, deep within us,
with a call to live a dangerous life. My hope is that, after listening
to this song, and reading this book, that I will afford myself the
opportunity to take more chances with my faith, to trust in God a
little more.

<a href="http://itunes.apple.com/WebObjects/MZStore.woa/wa/viewAlbum?i=50305850&id=50306182&s=143441">iTunes</a>
| <a href="http://www.sing365.com/music/lyric.nsf/Speaking-In-Tongues-lyrics-The-Elms/47206917F84B82DD48256E9D000A82A7">Lyrics</a>

Megan's prayer: The Elms' "Speaking in Tongues"

Some of us do the best we can.

I took a class this past semester called "Assessing Classroom Performance." Basically, it was how to grade students. One of the big topics we discussed was whether you should give credit for effort. One one hand, if a student tries really hard, but just isn't grasping the concept, do you really give a bad grade cause they just aren't smart enough? Or do you reward kids just for trying, having them get passing grades even in subjects they don't understand?
Although I'm still unsure as to what my philosophy is on grading, I think I need to be a little more aware of the effort people put into their faith life, especially the teens in lifeteen.

When I look at my own faith, I think that I'm normally on the right track. Granted, I'm not anywhere near Mother Teresa, but I do the best I can. I think I might be too quick to judge others, thinking they aren't serious about their faith, when in fact, they are doing the best they can. We are all made differently, we all express our faith differently. In the end, I think it is the effort that really counts.

Katie's prayer: The Elms' "Speaking in Tongues"

Some of us do the best we can.

I was thinking about this. I once heard we should all be striving for sainthood, that should be our one goal in life. Even though I'm trying hard, I'm DEFINITELY not a saint. But am I trying hard enough? Am I really doing the "best I can" to strive for sainthood? If I'm really honest with myself, the answer would be 'no'. I need to try harder to achieve that goal of 'Saint Katie'.

Jen's prayer: Cheer Up Charlie's "Save Me"

Show me
Your grace and how to share it

A lot of times I get so caught up in trying to listen to God and follow God and pray to God that I forget something even more important: SHARE GOD. How can I truly be following God if I'm not thinking about sharing Him with unbelievers? Because the true heart of a follower of God is so ecstatic about what God is doing that they just want to shout it to the world. So God, I pray that you show me your grace and light me on fire to share it with others.

Megan's prayer: Cheer Up Charlie's "Save Me"

Teach me
The love you hold for all

Not just those people who agree with me. Not just my friends. Not just people I want to love.

Teach me, Lord, how you love everyone. Help me to show compassion to those people that I often push to the side. Help me to love those most in need of your love.

Chris' prayer: Cheer Up Charlie's "Save Me"

Teach me the love You hold for all

A pretty easy statement to understand, at least intellectually. It is grammatically correct. The longest word is five letters. Only one syllable in each of the words. Most have learned each of these words by the time we begin Kindergarten. I imagine that, if asked what the most important words in the sentence are, they might choose teach, love, possibly You. I would argue, though, that the most important words are for all.

For it is those two words that seems to trip up a lot of Christians, myself often included. We forget that the Love that God has extends to every single person. And, since it does extend to every single person, we are called to treat that person with the same Love that God gives them. That is, an unlimited, unbound, unending, overflowing Love.

Lord, help me to share your love for all.

Katie's prayer: Cheer up Charlie's "Save Me"

I'm ready to commend my life
I'll follow through the darkest night

Commend. It's a word I say four times every day during night prayer. "Into your hands, Lord, I commend my spirit. Into your hands, Lord, I commend my spirit. You have redeemed us, Lord God of truth. I commend my spirit. Glory to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit. Into your hands, Lord, I commend my spirit." And even though I say that word 28 times a week, I never gave the meaning of that word a second thought until I heard it in today's song, "I'm ready to commend my life. I'll follow through the darkest night." I thought, "commend? What's that word even really mean anyway?" So I looked it up!

Commend: to entrust; give in charge; deliver with confidence. Feudal Law. to place (oneself or one's land) under another's protection so as to become his vassal.

What I didn't realize before is that every night what I'm saying is that I'm entrusting my spirit with God. I'm giving myself totally to God and asking for His protection throughout the night. And when I sing along to the song, I'm saying I'm ready to give my life totally to God, even when the night is dark, and it's really hard to see, and really hard to follow Him, I'm still going to do it.

Dear God,
I'm ready to commend my life. It's getting kinda dark and hard to see you. But I'm here. I'm here trying to follow you through this very dark night. Please lead me.

Megan's prayer: By the Tree's "Invade my Soul"

It's time for me to speak aloud.

I was at dinner tonight with some friends. They were all discussing a friend that they knew who was recently engaged. Although I didn't know the friend, I tried to follow the conversation anyways. At one point, they all stated that they didn't like the fiance. As one of my friends put it, "He is conservative. And too Catholic." Wow.

Now, I realize these friends aren't practicing Catholics, but they were all raised Catholic. And they know that I still have a very strong faith. It seemed like a bit of a harsh comment.

In order to redeem their comment, and try to make them seem like they didn't hate all Catholics, I was told "Oh, he's an extreme Catholic.. not like you Megan. He's always trying to tell people what they should believe."

I guess for a minute this made me feel better. I'm not one to get in people's business and tell them exactly how they should live their life.... But then I got home, and listened to this song.

It's time for me to speak aloud.

I feel, now, like I should have stood up for this guy more. I should have stood up for my faith more, for myself. It's something I feel strongly about, and if these people who say they are my friends truly are my friends, they will accept me - "extreme Catholic" and all.

I pray that next time I have the courage to speak aloud.

Chris' prayer: By The Tree's "Invade My Soul"

I was just talking this evening with my small group about how I'm afraid to give up control, and that, when I don't have any control over a situation, it makes me nervous and anxious. And so here is this song tonight, proclaiming "Lord, take control." And that is such a prayer that I wish I could pray and every point in my life, and especially now. There are things that I just wish that I could get rid of, but for some reason always feel the need to hold onto.

So, like my church's music minister always says, "If you don't want to be with God right now, then maybe pray about how you want to want to be with Him." My prayer for tonight is this:

Lord, while I can't give up control of everything right now, I pray that you will take from me the desire to control everything. Open my mind just that little bit.

iTunes | Lyrics

Jen's prayer: By the Tree's "Invade my soul"

Give Him your burdens, cast your cares
He died for you, He'll always be there

I'm realizing I have a lot of burdens and cares that are not of the Lord's. As I was talking to my mom tonight I realized I have these confidence issues that are definitely not from the Lord. I need to release this to God and let Him invade my soul and help me start fresh and anew. Praise the Lord He is always there for me.

Katie's prayer: By the Tree's "Invade my Soul"

So the one thing I noticed about this song was how it so easily changed sounds. It starts off slow, speeds up, gets louder, and there's a random quiet really slow no drum very little guitar almost total a cappella part. As I noticed this, I realized that my faith life is kinda like that, at times more vibrant, more noticeable, and at other times - like that random quiet bit - my faith life almost disappears.

Recently, I hit that quiet bit. Maybe 1.5-2 weeks ago I stopped feeling God around me. I don't know why it stopped, but it did. I still prayed, and still did everything; hoping that feeling would come back. It didn't. It still hasn't. Last Thursday or Friday though, I almost totally gave up. I began to think: without that feeling that God's there, why bother praying? Why bother trying? It won't matter, I won't feel Him. I didn't want to blog on Thursday, I didn't blog at all on Friday, mainly cause I had no time to, but also because I didn't want to. Today was the first day since last Wednesday that I did morning prayer. In the past week, I've done night prayer maybe once or twice.

But today is a new day. And today is where that quiet part suddenly becomes the loud part again. Because today, I made up my mind to continue with the praying. Continue even though I don't feel God, continue even when I don't want to or feel pressure not to. That feeling of 'God is with me' is not important. The fact that I feel it or not feel it does not change the fact that God is there.

I'm coming back, coming back to You!

Megan's prayer: Chris Tomlin's "Rejoice"

I was reading the book "The Year of Living Biblically" by A.J. Jacobs today. In this book, he attempts to follow all of the rules or guidelines of the Bible literally for an entire year. It's quite interesting, and sometimes humorous, to hear of the things that he ends up doing.

One of the little rituals that Jacobs finds himself doing during the day is to constantly be saying "Thank you." Whether it's to the people around him, or giving thanks to God for the things happening in his life. He claims that saying "thank you" almost becomes an obsession of his.

While I was reading this, I was trying to decide if this is a bad thing. While it may get a bit tiresome to hear someone *constantly* saying "thank you" throughout the day, I feel like it would help remind me of just how blessed I am. Too often I forget to say "thank you" for the little things I take for granted.

Similarly tonight, Tomlin says "again I say rejoice." Rejoicing weekly at Mass isn't enough. Rejoicing should be a constant thing, something that we find our self doing constantly, not just when someone reminds us to say it again.

Chris' prayer: Chris Tomlin's "Rejoice"

Today was not a good day for me. Just coming off of a wonderful trip, I was happy to have zero stress. But that didn't last at all. My car is acting up, and I feel lucky just to make it home tonight without it overheating and being stranded on the side of the highway. I spent the better part of my evening absolutely consumed by stress, worrying about how I was going to get to work, or pay for the repairs, or pay for an entirely new (at least to me) car. A day removed from the trip, and my stress level is higher than ever.

In the midst of this, though, I discovered exactly what I have to do to take the next step in my relationship with God. If I want to deepen that, to more fully rely on Him, the ultimate act would be to surrender this over to Him. To run the risk of not being able to get to work, or not be able to afford the repair bills or the cost of a new car, and just trust Him with that. If I was able to do that, I feel like I could turn [my] sorrow into singing.


YouTube | iTunes | Lyrics

Jen's prayer: Chris Tomlin's "Rejoice"

Only You can satisfy

So often I think "If only I could do this..." or "If only I had this..." and THEN I would be satisfied. But that isn't true. It's a downfall of humans to think we'll be satisfied when we get more money or when we get married or when we're done with school...the list goes on. The only time I feel satisfied, though, is when I'm close to the Lord and following Him. And I just pray that I can continue to realize that is how I will be satisfied and the only way.

Katie's prayer: Chris Tomlin's "Rejoice"

See the morning, see it rising
Over the mountains high
See the mercy in the mighty hand of God

For some reason, the past few days it's been really hard to wake up. I've been wanting a little more sleep. 'Just a little more!' I tell myself as I hit that snooze button again and again and again. Instead of telling myself it's another beautiful day that God made just for me, I've been telling myself it's another day, another day I have to get up out of bed and do stuff when I'd rather be sleeping. Maybe it's cause I haven't said morning prayer since Wednesday! ahh! It's been almost a week! I pray that God might help me tomorrow to:

Turn [my] sorrow into singing
The song of life
Rejoice, Rejoice

Megan's prayer: Newsboys' "It is You"

Sometimes, at the end of a song at church, the pianist will stop playing, and just let the congregation finish out the song without any musical accompaniment. This is one of the best moments. I love hearing the voices of those around me, joining me in praising God. I love that, even if I'm singing as loud as possible, others around me drown me out.

As much as I love singing, it is just as wonderful to listen to the church during this time. Normally, first and foremost, I'm able to hear the person next to me singing loudly. But once I listen a little closer, I can hear distinct, recognizable voices of the teens who sit around me. It's wonderful to all praise God together.

What I loved most about this song wasn't necessarily the music, but the fact that it was a whole group singing together. Yes, the main singer was more noticable at first, but I was slowly able to hear the others in the background. It was all of them, together, that made the song beautiful.

I can't get through life all on my own. I rely on others to help me, to build me up. It is by joining together with others that I am able to praise God with all my heart.

Chris' prayer: Newsboys' "It is You"

Wow, it has been forever since I have heard this song. And, similarly, it has been seemingly forever since I've been able to blog. But just like an old friend who returns without anything changing, this song, and my blogging, return, bringing the promise of growth and comfort.

It is good to be back, to praise Him again.


YouTube | iTunes | Lyrics

Jen's prayer: Newsboys' "It is You"

When I was 16 I had the opportunity to be a "reporter" at a Christian music festival. I had been interning at a small Christian paper and when the owner heard I was going to be attending this festival, she gave me special media passes for certain shows, which included a Newsboys show one night. This song reminds me of that time. When the song goes, "will you meet us here?" the answer is YES. As I stood there, at first it was all about seeing the lead singer's bald head up close or the guitarist and his long dreads, but as I lifted up my hands and really sang my guts out, it was about Jesus. And when I reached out to Him, He met me there. And that is such a good feeling to know that Jesus IS real and He WILL meet us where we are when we truly try. Every day I want to remember this and fall more in love with Him.

Katie's prayer: Newsboys' "It is You"

As we lift up our hands
Will You meet us here?
As we call on Your name
Will You meet us here?

One thing that struck out to me about this song was the question: 'Will You meet us here?' Not believing God will be there, but instead questioning, 'Will You be there?' I think I go through that sometimes in my own life. Asking in a somewhat desperate voice, 'God, will you be there?' 'God, I'm here trying to worship You, are you here?' 'God I'm going to adoration tomorrow, will you be there?' 'I'm here God, where are you?' Instead of just trusting in the fact that God is everywhere, I question.

Megan's prayer: Third Day's "These Thousand Hills"

I knew this week was going to be busy, so I made a plan to keep myself organized. I wanted to spend my free time studying for my midterm I had today, and I wanted to catch up on some sleep.

I thought this would be easier accomplished if I stayed at home, instead of my apartment, so I could save driving time.

But those precious hours I had set aside to sleep and study didn't happen. Instead, I found myself hanging out in my dad's office while he worked, petting my dog. Or talking to my mom while she got ready for work in the morning. Or staying up until 2am with my siblings, talking about how work had been that night.

It was great to be home. It was great to have that quality time with my family that I feel like I miss out on cause of school and work sometimes.

I feel like my love for my home here on earth will be exceeded by my love for my home in heaven. Tonight's song made me feel so peaceful, so excited to spend every day with God.

When heaven's hills at last I roam
Forever settle in my home

Katie's prayer: Newsong's "All Around the World"

When I was in middle school, there was a girl in our class we thought was the next Mary. She got all A's, was really quiet so we never really got to know her. We thought she was perfect, sinless, going to give birth to the next Jesus. After middle school, I got to know her a little better, realized she isn't perfect, she isn't sinless, and most likely isn't going to give birth to the next Jesus.

But the possibility is still there. Jesus could really come back to earth anytime He wants! Or He could take me from this earth anytime he wants! I had a teacher that once said "America is the only country that believes death is avoidable." It's true. It's stupid, but it's true.

I've been reading recently about Charles Untz, a young man who died a few years back, who many to believe a saint. Here's a quote from one of the things I read from his website:

Speaking about usual teenage issues and events that seem to tire and drain one spiritually, he states, "Don't let yourself get caught up in that never ending cycle. Keep in mind that Heaven is the ultimate goal of life, all other goals and things should be directed in attaining it." Charles loved life, but he understood his goal! He once said, "I'd rather be in heaven than spend one more day on this earth."

So here's the point of all my random musings:
The end of the world could come at anytime. Death is not avoidable at all, but that isn't a bad thing. Death = life in Heaven with God. But until that time when death comes (and it will come) we should (I mean I should) be treating everyday as if it were the last.

All around the world
Can't you hear creation calling
Make way the Savior's coming

Jen's prayer: Newsong's "All around the world"

I was gonna try to not copy the same line as Megan, but it's a good one. So too bad.

So let us not becoming entangled by the trappings of this world

The Bible tells us to always be ready for Jesus to return. You never know when you might die, or when Jesus will decide, "Hey, let's just take all my pals up to heaven now." (Apparently Jesus is talking to children or something.) But anyways, it is hard to always be ready, anxiously awaiting for Jesus' return if you're entangled with the world.

I think right now I'm trying to learn what that balance is between being IN the world and not OF the world. How do you connect with people and show them Christ's love without being so much like them...but you can't be such a nun that people don't want to be around you either, ya know? It's something I think I need to pray about more.

And that line is also a good reminder that this worldly stuff that bothers me is simply that: worldly. I should be more concerned about becoming more like Jesus.

Megan's prayer: NewSong's "All Around the World"

So let us not becoming entangled by the trappings of this world

I get so hung-up on things that shouldn't matter all that much. These things cause me to struggle in my faith sometimes.

Dear Lord, help me to not get caught up in the pointless things of my life. Help me stay focused.

Megan's prayer: Steve Angrisano's "Sweet Redeemer"

I'm not very good at living out the phrase "Offer it up". I tend to complain, wanting others to feel sorry for me. It's not really an attractive quality - I would like it to be differ, I am trying for that to be different.

Tonight I could sit here, praying, and complain to God about my day, a day that didn't really turn out great. Instead, I'm going to do what the lyrics say.

I surrender all I am to you.

All of my stress, all of my bad day, all of the things that are preoccupying my mind right now - I surrender them all to my God.

I pray that tomorrow I can continue to surrender it all to God. I also pray that I'll be able to surrender all the good along with surrendering the bad.

Jen's prayer: Steve Angrisano's "Sweed Redeemer"

The word that stuck out to me in this song was "ALL."

I surrender all I am to you

How often do I give Jesus parts of my life and not ALL of them? Jesus, you can have my job and my family, but I'd like to choose which friends I have and the fun stuff. Don't get into that area, okay? But Jesus gave ALL of him for me, so why wouldn't I give up all to Him?

It's so simple to say. So hard to live.

Katie's prayer: Steve Angrisano's "Sweet Redeemer"

I had my first official interview for a Youth Minister position last night. As I was lying in bed, all I could think about were the places I messed up. The times when I should have said something different, where I could have added more, where I didn't show my personality or knowledge as much as I should have. I kept replaying the interview in my mind, but with all these changes I feel I should have made. After a while of all this thinking and role playing, I realized it was all pointless. It doesn't matter that I might dream it went another way. It doesn't matter what I would change now. The past is the past and there is nothing about that interview I can change. Nothing I can do to make them like me any more or any less. Nothing more I can do to have a better chance of getting that job. I guess there's nothing more left to do then, but surrender it all to Jesus. Leave all my worries, fears, and hopes in His hands.

Sweet Redeemer, I surrender all I am to you.

Katie's prayer: Sean McConnell's "Madly in Love with You"

So I'm actually writing this blog on Wednesday morning. I'm a failure I know. But it's not my fault. My internet was completely down the whole day! But I think it's a good thing that I wasn't able to write until today because of the end of morning prayer this morning.

Lord, as daylight fills the sky, fill us with your holy light. May our lives mirror our love for you whose wisdom has brought us into being, and whose care guides us on our way.

It just reminded me so much of the lyrics for this song

Every morning sunrise says I'm madly in love with you.

Sunrise marks the beginning of a new day. How awesome is it that God sends us a new day. A time to start again. Another chance to be better. Another chance to be more like him. Another chance for us to realize just how much he loves us and wants to be with us!

Megan's prayer: Sean McConnell's "Madly in Love with You"

Someday you'll understand

I feel like I was told this a lot as a kid. During those times, I just had to trust in the person saying it to me. I had to trust that they knew better, and that even though I didn't know the reason behind things, they wouldn't lead me astray.

I feel like my relationship with God is constantly like this. I'm having to trust in him, without knowing the full meaning or reason behind what I'm doing.

I have a hard time with this trust sometime. I have a hard time not knowing the reasoning behind what I'm being asked to do.

I think with a little more trust in God, and knowing that he knows what's best for me, I'd be able to serve him better instead of always questioning him.

Jen's prayer: Sean McConnell's "Madly in Love with You"

I know you wish you could see me
That’s the way it has to be
Someday you’ll understand,
Don’t you lose your faith in me

I know you wish you could hear me
Sometimes it’s so hard to do
But every morning sunrise it says
I’m madly in love with you

I love songs like this...where it's like I'm hearing what Jesus is saying down to us. I'm pretty sure Jesus has been saying similar things to me today as the verses above. He's telling me what to do and saying, "Jen, don't lose faith in me. I've got this. I know it's hard because you can't see Me, but I'm here and I'm showing you the signs that I love you." I just have to open up my heart to see it and believe. Tonight I pray that I would open my heart to feel the Lord's love.

Megan's prayer: Veggie Tales' "My Day"

Your love was with me all throughout the day.

Today was the first day since the start of our relationship 11 months ago that I did not have the opportunity to talk to Chris. I knew, going into this week where he would be gone on vacation, that we wouldn't have the chance to talk, but that didn't make it any easier. A dozen times through the day I wanted to text him to see how he was doing, to tell him about my day, but I knew it wouldn't matter - he wasn't bringing his cell phone with him.

Even though I didn't have the chance to tell him how much I care about him today, or to hear from him that he loved me, it didn't change how I feel. I was still able to know how much he loves me. I was able to think about all the things in our relationship that clearly lead to the fact that he loves me. Just because I didn't hear those specific words, doesn't change the reality that I am loved. His love was really with me all throughout the day.

I feel like this same thought can be applied to God's love for me. So often I wish that I could hear it directly from God, or experience it in some obvious way - in a way that leaves me with no doubt that I am truly loved... but this isn't the daily routine. I don't hear God's booming voice every day say "I LOVE YOU". It is those times that I need to work on looking around me, looking at all the blessings in my life, and coming to my own realization that God loves me. He is always there, always thinking about how much he loves me. His love is truly with me all throughout the day.

Jen's prayer: Veggie Tales' "My Day"

You know, it makes a big difference in my day if I pray right when I wake up. While on vacation I woke up tired and cranky. I realized I was snapping off to my parents so after I got out of the shower I said to my mom, "I'm done being cranky." And she was like, "You must have been praying in the shower." And I had. I had been telling God my issues and realizing it wasn't a big deal.
It's true that you understand that God's love is with you all throughout the day, if you begin it with a friendly hello to our Father up above. That way, no matter what happens I know that God is there and he loves me. And the silly things, like singing out of tune, no longer matter.

Katie's prayer: Veggie Tales' "My Day"

Junior Asparagus and I are quite a bit alike. Right before bed, we both sit in our beds and tell God about our days. The good parts, the bad parts, all of it, I let God know about my day and how I think it went.

But lately, I think I've been doing more complaining. Ignoring the good parts of my day, and telling God only about the bad. Or really, telling God about the things that did not go the way I wanted them to. So in my mind, the bad. But as I have to keep reminding myself: God's plan is much better than anything I could have planned, because he loves me a whole bunch. But instead of being like Junior and "rest in knowing: God loves me" I become restless from all the things "wrong" with my life. Maybe if I focused more on God's love for me and God's all-loving plan for me, I might get better sleep.

Katie's prayer: Big Daddy Weave's "Just the way I am"

Not when I’m good enough
Not when I clean my act up
Not when I cross that line the thousandth time
And become a better man
Your grace is more than enough
To cover all my sins You washed them away
So right here today
You love me just the way I am

I feel like sometimes I focus too much on on how unworthy I am, on my sinfulness, and on my need to somehow figure something out about myself or put myself in a better situation before I meet God in my life. And this is what's holding me back from him so much. Today's song reminds me that I don't need to fix myself to come before God. God loves me just the way I am! He wants me to come to him, no matter what. He doesn't want me to sin, but he still loves me even when I do.

Chris' prayer: Big Daddy Weave's "Just the Way I Am"

You love me, You love me
You love me just the way I am

I'm not sure I could every possibly hear this message enough. In a culture where we learn that love has to be earned, and that we are only worth what we have done for people, the repetition in the refrain drills into my head that I am loved. I am loved not for what I've done, and, in fact, often times in spite of what I've done.

I need the constant reminder that there is nothing I could possibly do to make my Father love me any less. And, despite how I act other times, there is nothing I could possibly do to make Him love me more. He is holy, and His love is perfect.


iTunes | Lyrics

Megan's prayer: Big Daddy Weave's "Just the Way I Am"

You love in spite of everything I do.

I try. I really do try to live a life that my God would be proud of. I try to show his love to every person I meet, but sometimes I make mistakes. Yet, in the end, God still loves me. No matter what happens, he loves me.

Knowing of this perfect love, this constant forgiveness, sometimes makes it harder to constantly choose the right path. Sometimes I fall and follow the "act now, ask for forgiveness later" style.

I pray that God will help me to choose the right path, the road that continues to lead me to Him.