Jen's prayer: Audio Adrenaline's "Jesus Movement"

I went down to Mexico
Mi amigo
And I found Jesus living outside the USA

I've never heard this Audio A song, so it was a nice surprise. I like it. It's also appropriate because one of my close friends is a missionary in Mexico and recently came back for the month to raise more funds and see people. I got to talk to her yesterday about all that Jesus is doing down in Mexico. It's so good to hear Jesus is living outside the USA!

Megan's prayer: Switchfoot's "New Way to be Human"

We're still incomplete

Sometimes I think that I fall into the trap, thinking that material things will make me happy. Thinking that I can buy everything to make me happy, make me complete. It's what the media tells me - I need these things to be complete.

I'm not complete without God. My "new way to be human" is to realize that I'll always be incomplete until I give myself up to God.

Catie's prayer: Switchfoot's "New Way to be Human"

A new way to be human

I'm not quite sure I understand what this line means. I mean it could mean a whole world of things. A new way to be human. Does it mean living by God's laws? Does it mean living the Gospels? I don't know what this "new way to be human is". But I want it. Whatever it is a want a new way for living for Christ. I want God to be the center of everything I do, everything I say, everything I am. However, right now I am so far from that, I need to figure out a new way to be human.

Chris' prayer: Switchfoot's "New Way to Be Human"

We're still incomplete

In looking for a line, or a word, or a verse that grabbed me, this is the one that stuck out, but not in the context of the song. It stuck out to me, standing all by itself. I think a lot of times, I get caught up in where I am today, and how I'm doing now. And while it is important to evaluate those things, and understand what is going on now, I think I place enough emphasis on my incompleteness. I don't often remember, or acknowledge, that I am a work in progress, and that I'm going to mess up. I'm going falter. I'm going to fail. I could spend all day worrying about how poorly I'm doing, or how much better I could be doing, or I can recognize that my life is a process.


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Jen's prayer: Switchfoot's "New way to be human"

Everyday it's the same thing
Another trend has begun

There's a new way to be human

A lot of times it is easy for me to get sucked into the "trends" around me. There are the fashion trends or the "you should get coffee at Starbucks like all the cool kid" trends. These "trends" can also be mindsets. It's trendy when you're young to not care about your future and just wing it. It's trendy to rebel against the parents because you're independent and don't need to. It is when I get into these every day mindsets and trends that my faith weakens. No longer am I allowing God to surprise me with His plans. I'm doing things my way, day to day, without opening my eyes to bigger possibilities. Switchfoot (I spelled it Switchfood on accident and it made me giggle. Anyways.) is saying that there's a new way to be human where we don't act like everyone else and get into this worldly mindset, and that's where true life begins.

Katie's prayer: Switchfoot's "New Way to be Human"

With all of our fashions
We're still incomplete
The God of redemption
Could break our routine

It is time for a break in my routine. Lately I feel like I've just been going through the motions. I've been making lists of things that need to get done, and I go through the list and the things get done, but my heart just isn't in it. This blog is one of the things on my list. I remember when I first started writing, I was listening to the song over and over and over again for at least a half hour, then and only then would I sit down to write anything. That half hour of listening has slowly become listen to the song twice, read the lyrics a dozen times and pick something out. This blog that was supposed to be my time of prayer with God has slowly become just another thing on my list, another thing to fill my day. I don't like that. It's time for a break in my routine. It's time to get back to listening to the song all day, praying the song all day, talking to God all day, not making a list and checking things off

Chris' prayer: Jeremy Camp's "What it Means"

The signs of all creation that you breathed

Exactly a month from now, I will be canoeing and portaging my way across Minnesota's Boundary Waters Canoe Area. Much of this land is virtually untouched (or at least unaffected) by human hand. It is, for all intents, creation just as He breathed. I'll be enjoying the beauty of this land for seven long days, and as it gets closer and closer to that date, I am becoming more and more excited. I cannot wait to reconnect with my Creator in a way that only happens when surrounded by the fullness of His creation.

Megan's prayer: Jeremy Camp's "What It Means"

Words can't even state how much you mean to me.

I don't think I'm quite able to accurately describe how much God means to me, how much my faith means to me. I've tried to tell others, but I just don't think I'm able to put this feeling into words. Many times when I pray, I'm not able to put it into words - I feel like my prayers are shallow, and it's only through my actions that I'm able to show God my love.

Katie's prayer: Jeremy Camp's "What it Means"

Written all over this place
The signs of all creation that You breathed
Words can't even state how much You mean to me

I was driving back to Kansas City this afternoon. As I was nearing home, the sun started to set, and driving the direction I was, I was lucky enough to see it. Sunsets (and when I get the energy to wake up that early, Sunrises) always, always, ALWAYS amaze me. They are soooooo beautiful, and just so amazing! I love them! Every time I see a sunset or sunrise, I think of how God made it just for me! And that makes it seem that much more beautiful and amazing. But you know, I don't always see God in all of creation, in the beautiful flowers on the side of the road, in the rain storm, in the people around me. But He's there too, I just need to look harder or pay more attention.

Catie's prayer: Jeremy Camp's "What it Means"

If only I would realize how much it took to pay the price
I know I'd always give, everything to You

I wish I understood the cross more than I do. I wish I could even begin to grasp the beautiful sacrifice that Christ made for each of us on the cross. Maybe then my life would better reflect the life of Christ. To die the most horrible death known to man out of love, that is huge. And yet there are people that don't care. There are people that don't want to hear about it, don't want to accept that love that Christ so willingly and openly offers. If we even could understand that tinyest bit how much we were loved, it would change our lives. It would change our lives so dirastically that people would notice. And then maybe, just maybe, the world might begin to see the message of love, the good that could come from giving it all up, for the one who gave it all.

Jen's prayer: Jeremy Camp's "What it means"

I want to face my very crime
Of not giving all of mine

This week I'm learning that no matter how much I read my Bible and talk to God, it doesn't matter if I'm still not giving him my ALL. There's been a constant tug of war between my flesh and my spirit and I'm starting to realize that I just have to give it all up to God.

Jesus, show me what it means to be a sacrifice. I want to sacrifice ALL of me, like you did for me. Because if I truly understood what it meant for Jesus to give all of Him, then I would easily give all of my life back to Him.

PS. I'm really sorry I forgot to post yesterday. It's been quite a week.

Catie's prayer: Steve Angrisano's "My Soul is Thirsting"

Lately I've been feeling like I've been going through the motions in my prayer life. While it is better to go through the motions then to do nothing at all, it is still bad because motions is not a relationship. My job this summer is going to require me to be doing more than just going through the motions if I am going to thrive in it (teaching Catechisist to 1st-12th grades). My soul is thirsty. My soul is need of my Lord.

My soul is thirsting for you, O Lord,
thirsting for you, my God.

Megan's prayer: Steve Angrisano's "My Soul is Thirsting"

While I'm sure my family would hate to know this, one of the things I miss the most about not living at home is my dog. Although she may not love me most of the time, during those few minutes where she shows me attention when I'm home, it's perfect. If I'm the only one home, she will follow me around anywhere I go. And on good nights that I sleep at home, she will jump up on my bed and snuggle with me while I sleep.

Through the day you walk with me;
All the night your love surrounds me.

While I'm not trying to compare God to my dog, the feelings are similar. It's such a wonderful feeling to have someone there by your side the whole day, and someone to love me at night. And unlike my dog, God will always follow me during the day, and will always be there to surround me with his love at night.

Chris' prayer: Steve Angrisano's "My Soul is Thirsting"

The other morning, I was sitting at my desk at work, feeling the dryness in my mouth. This wasn't just a the-tip-of-my-tongue-would-like-some-wetness thirst, this was a my-entire-mouth-is-screaming-for-a-Dr.-Pepper thirst. As I am wont to do while at work, I called out, "I am SOOO thirsty." My coworkers, knowing how often this occurs, didn't even blink, continuing with their work, not even acknowledging my plight.

As all encompassing as that thirst was, and as precisely as I knew what would quench it, there is a thirst that is even deeper than the tip-of-the-tongue thirst, than the entire-mouth thirst. There is a thirst way down deep inside of me, at the very heart of who I am as a person. My soul thirsts. And just like my mouth clues me in to what will satisfy it, my soul knows the same thing. My soul knows the One alone that will satisfy it, that will fill me with life, that will make me whole:

My soul is thirsting for you, O Lord,
thirsting for you, my God.

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Katie's prayer: Steve Angrisano's "My Soul is Thirsting"

I decided to surprise my parents and come home for a few days. I got in Monday night and I'm leaving tomorrow afternoon. It's great, they totally had no idea what was going on. Amazing! I love my family, and I love my friends here in St. Chuck. There's only one downside, every time I come home, my entire schedule gets messed up! I don't know why, but it always happens. Maybe cause I'm in town so little, when I do come there's always one more person wanting to spend time with me, so I go hang out instead of whatever I'd normally be doing in KC.
Fellowship is great, it's amazing, I love it. But all this fellowship puts off my whole routine, including my routine with God, my prayer time. I almost forgot to even blog yesterday. I was about to fall asleep when I realized I hadn't listened to the song for the day, I hadn't prayed it, I hadn't even prayed AT ALL in any way! After about a day, day and a half without God, I'm kinda lost. I miss God, a lot. The refrain totally speaks to my feelings right now.

My soul is thirsting for you, O Lord,
thirsting for you, my God.
My soul is thirsting for you, O Lord,
thirsting for you, my God,
thirsting for you, my God.

Megan's prayer: Kutless' "Sea of Faces"

Ten million people each with their problems
Why should anyone care

I heard statements similar to this while working in the public city school this semester. Teachers had classes full of students, each with their own "problem". Some teachers got to the point where they just gave up - they didn't care anymore.

I was given the chance to work with these students, showing them that someone does care, and that someone is there to help them work through their problems - they were able to see a future, to find some worth in themselves.

I feel like everyone has problems, but God still cares about each and every one of us. Regardless of our problems, regardless of our attitudes, regardless of anything - he loves and cares for each of us. And that is truly amazing.

Catie's prayer: Kutless' "Sea of Faces"

To willingly offer your life

Christ did this. When He died on the cross, he willingly gave up His life so that we might have a chance at eternal life with Him. While Christ gave up His life, we are all called to do the same day in and day out. We are each called to offer our very beings up to God so that he might work through us. It is through doing that that our lives become much more than being lost in a sea of faces

Katie's prayer: Kutless' "Sea of Faces"

I was sitting in a talk one time when I heard the speaker explain how she thought when she was little (and still does think) that everyone is on this earth for a purpose. Your purpose on this earth might be as big as curing cancer or as small as smiling at somone. She knew a lady who came back to the church after 30 years because while working as a waitress, she noticed a guy praying before their meal. That guy's purpose, maybe or maybe not his only purpose, was to help that lady to go back to church, whether he knew it or not.

Often I wonder about what my purpose in life is. Why am I here? Sometimes I worry that my purpose is being forgotten about. God is kinda forgetting about my life and the purpose for my life. There are other lives and other purposes more important than mine. Today's song reminds me that's not true.

I am not just a man, vastly lost in this world, lost in a Sea of Faces.

God's not forgetting about me. Maybe it's just not my time for anything big yet. Or maybe I've made an impact and I just don't even realize it yet. Maybe my purpose is smaller than I think.

Chris' prayer: Kutless' "Sea of Faces"

I used to love Where's Waldo books when I was younger. I would spend hours first finding Waldo on every page, and then going back and finding the wizard and Wendy (is that her name?) and the dog and all sorts of stuff. I wouldn't turn the page until I had found just who or what it was I was looking for.

Sometimes, it was easy. Either Waldo would be in a relatively obvious spot, or perhaps I just happened to start at the right place, finding him in a short time. Other times, I swear it would take me hours to find him. I remember one page where everything was red and white stripes, making it nearly impossible to find him. But patiently I would search, canvassing every square inch of the page until I found him.

This song shows that my God is just like that, too. No matter where I am, whether I am lost in a sea of faces, or found standing all alone, He seeks me out, revealing Himself and His Love to me everywhere He can. He won't stop looking, and won't turn the page until He's sure that I've been found, and won't leave me ever. That thought makes me happier than finding Waldo ever did.


YouTube | iTunes | Lyrics

Jen's prayer: Kutless' "Sea of Faces"

If only my one heart
Was all you'd gain from all it cost
Well I know you would have still been a man
With a reason to willing offer your life

One of the most mind boggling parts of being a follower of Christ is trying to wrap my mind around the concept that Jesus died for ME. Jesus died for me as well as a million faces. What's crazy is that even if I was the only one on earth, Jesus still would have died just.for.me. I think that's something I forget. I often think, "Well, Jesus is out there for those other lost souls. It's not so much about me." But in a way it IS about me. I wish I could better understand how God thought of every single one of us when he let his Son die on the cross that we may all be forgiven and receive eternal life.