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

The phrase that caught my eye is one that I've heard oh so many times lately.

Isn't that a shame?

This phrase has been said to me so many times I'm beginning to think it's the thesis of my life. So I want to ask God to maybe keep people from this shame. When you hear someone telling you that something bad or sad has happened to them maybe try not to say "That's a shame" or even "I understand". I just want to know that God is there, I don't really care if He understands, just having Him there is enough.

Erinnicole's Prayer: Cheer Up Charlie "Rockstar"

this is the cutest, most upbeat song i've heard in a while. i love it. i'm really drawn to times and things with numbers, so again i have to comment on the timing of this song. the song is one minute and 44 seconds long, which holds personal meaning for me. long story short, 44 is what i call a "God Number" which is God speaking to me through that number and basically reminding me that He is always there - because i see it in random miscellaneous places like bus number 44 will pass me on the highway or the tax on my taco will come out to 44 cents. [[ill tell the story in its entirety to anyone who would like to hear it later, its just kind of lengthy and i dont want to digress from this topic]] so that idea of God being there and reminding me of that ties into the part of the song that stuck out most to me:

"I forgot your name in my 3 minutes of fame"

This kind of makes me a little sad because it made me think of how i so easily and more often than i like, forget God doing simple day to day things. Obviously, He is always here with me but i just forget the littlest things like that while i'm walking from class to class by myself, He is by my side. As well as me usually forgetting Him in the times that really count - any time i have the floor on an issue or anything i could use His help in [my "3 minutes of fame"], i often forget and get too caught up in my own thoughts and ideas. this is something i would like to work on, i truly would...but in all irony, i tend to forget i have the problem until its brought to my attention. but this is a nice reminder and ill keep working on it!

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

When I picture CUC's "Rockstar" I see this animation of two hand-drawn lines, slowly approaching each other. One of the lines is straight, constant, and easy to define. It is the first verse, where the dominant word is "you." This line I like to call, "God."

The other line, however, looks a lot like a stock market ticker. I can see that it moves closer to the first line over time, but very erratically. There are times where the second line is moving away from the first, times where it is moving parallel to the first, and others where it, ever so slightly, turns toward the first line. In the second verse, the dominant word is "I." This verse is all about me.

God and I have something in common. Both of us are largely consumed with chris. God's dominant word, you, shows who He is concerned with. So does mine. He is so focused on pursuing me that his hand-drawn line is constantly heading in my direction, constantly attempting to come closer to me.

My line, however, is all over the place. Consumed with anything and everything...except that line. It is only when I'm able to put aside those things and focus on God that I'm able to deepen my relationship with Him. It is only then that I can hear Him saying

I wanna be where you are.

iTunes | Lyrics

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

At 2:30am this morning, I printed off my final paper for the semester. I had made it. I had finished all the papers, projects, observations, and exams. For three minutes, I had this wonderful feeling of “It’s done!” and then I laid down in my bed, and instantly my mind started racing, reminding me of just how much I still have left to do before Christmas.

As soon as I woke up this morning, I turned on my computer and started to listen to “Rockstar” in an attempt to prepare me for the day. It’s a catchy tune, one that will most likely be in my head all day. The words that I keep singing over and over are…

“We’ve got a ways to go, we’ve got a ways to go. A ways to go, we’ve got a ways to go.”

I appreciate this little reminder from God. I thought that since exams were over I would have this time to just rest, but in reality, we are in the last push of Advent – the time for me to prepare myself for the coming of Christ – and I still have a ways to go before I am ready for that.

Thank you, God, for helping me get a better perspective of what is important in my life. And thank you for sending it in such a catchy tune. I’ll be singing it, and thinking about you, all day.

Marie's Prayer: Bebo Norman's "How You Love Me"

The thing that hits me in this song is the line,

"and fear has run the other way."

One of my biggest issues is that I'm afraid. I'm afraid of living, I'm afraid of losing, but the thing that scares me most is loving. I find it hard to believe in unconditional love that can never go away no matter what. I always have a feeling in the pit of my stomach that something will go wrong because that's the way it's been for me most of my life.

I pray that fear might run away. That there's some love out there that's big enough to scare away our biggest fears. Hope is all we have and even though we may not see it, we have to trust that it's there. Don't let fear keep you from living life and make you miss out on love that is all around, even if you don't think it is.

Erinnicole's Prayer: Bebo Norman's "How You Love Me"

the first thing that caught my attention with this song was hey i actually know this one! but then i was like...hm...i don't recognize these words. which is because ive never actually listened to the words before. i listened to it a few times and two things came to me. The first was immediate: it is awesome to me that Norman was able to capture all of these emotions and truths into a such a short and simple song. There is no hesitation or "what-if"s, just plain and simple that God loves us.

The other part didn't hit me so immediately. the line that says:

"words are weak, i don't know what to say."

was powerful to me because even though i am a writer and words are my main outlet of expression, i often can't find the words to pray with. I know what i want in life at this moment in time and i know what i should want and i sort of know what i need and putting them all into some sort of verbal order is almost impossible for me. I was just praying last night, after the end of a pretty bad week, "Jesus, i know i need you, but honestly i don't know where to begin or how to say it." so i just remained in His Presence and it was calming. so the song today was good because i realized two things. One, i'm not the only one with this problem - always a comforting thought, and two, words aren't the only form of prayer. somewhere in my mind, i knew that. but i completely forgot until today.

:)

Megan's prayer: Bebo Norman's "How You Love Me"

One of my biggest pet peeves in life is when things are unorganized. I love having things planned out ahead of time, making “to-do” lists, and knowing what is going to happen next.

As much as I try to keep my life in order, plenty of times things go wrong. Last night, for example, I planned to spend the whole night finishing up some papers for school and not going to bed until they were done so that today could be a day of relaxation. But instead, I found myself with a severe case of writer’s block and went to bed early without finishing what I had planned on finishing.

I was so frustrated that things didn’t go how they were planned, but today’s song really put it in perspective.

“And should my dreams fall through, I will be safe with you.”

This isn’t just referring to one night when things don’t go my way, it’s talking about entire dreams not working out as planned. And still, we don't need to worry. God doesn’t want us to stress out over the big stuff, and especially not the little stuff. No matter what, God will be there in the end, and everything will be perfect.

What a wonderful message to start my day with!

Chris' prayer: Bebo Norman's "How You Love Me"

I've had a little while to think about this song, the first song in my journey. The playlist I'll be going by was created about two weeks ago, so I've known that this will be the first song for about 14 days...far longer than I'll get for any other song.

I've spent that time thinking of what I was going to say about this one, one of my favorite songs right now. I've thought of about 20 different directions I could take this prayer in, and decided on one this morning on my way to work.

Then I began the prayer and everything changed.

The word that caught me, the word that changed everything for me, is there in the first line, repeated to make sure that I caught it.

Hope came home, home to me today...

Hope belongs in every one of us. It is a part of us. It is in our nature. As Norman says in the song, hope is at home when it resides inside of our very being. And when it finally returns home, no matter how long it has been gone nor where it has gone, it replaces the troubles that have been on our heart. Whether that be impending finals, wondering if you're going to have a job next month, issues between you and a family member or friend, or, in my case, an all encompassing, possibly irrational fear that my car is going to break down and not knowing how I'm going to be afford to fix it. None of these fears, none of these troubles, is at home in our hearts.

Only hope.

iTunes | Lyrics

Archive

June 2009
24. By The Tree's "Invade My Soul"
23. Chris Tomlin's "Rejoice"
22. Newsboys' "It is You"
19. Third Day's "These Thousand Hills"
18. Newsong's "All Around the World"
17. Steve Angrisano's "Sweet Redeemer"
16. Sean McConnell's "Madly in Love with You"
15. Veggie Tales' "My Day"
12. Big Daddy Weave's "Just the Way I Am"
11. Matt Maher's "You are the Lord"
10. MercyMe's "Homesick"
9. John David Webster's "Miracle"
8. Jill Phillips' "I Am"
5. Jars of Clay's "I'm Alright"
4. Falling Up's "New Hope Generation
3. Jars of Clay's "Weighed Down"
2. Andy Cloninger's "Great is the Lord in Zion"
1. Plumb's "Stranded"

May 2009
29. Chris Rice's "Clumsy"
28. Stacie Orrico's "(There's Gotta Be) More to Life"
27. Jackie François' "Your Will"
26. Audio Adrenaline's "I'm Alive"
25. Tree63's "Blessed Be Your Name"
22. Kutless' "This time"
21. MercyMe's "On My Way to You"
20. Kutless' "Promise of a Lifetime"
19. Relient K's "Getting into You"
18. Audio Adrenaline's "Jesus Movement"
15. Switchfoot's "New Way to be Human"
14. Jeremy Camp's "What it Means"
13. Steve Angrisano's "My Soul is Thirsting"
12. Kutless' "Sea of Faces"
11. Jars of Clay's "Hand"
8. Matt Maher's "Void"
7. Big Daddy Weave's "Never Goin' Back"
6. Chris Rice's "Cartoons"
5. Jump5's "When I Say Your Name"
4. Plus One's "My Life"
1. MercyMe's "I Know"


April 2009
30. Third Day's "You are Mine"
29. Steven Curtis Chapman's "God is God"
28. Kara's "Sunshine"
27. David Crowder Band's "Come Awake"
24. Steven Curtis Chapman's "Only Natural"
23. Jars of Clay's "Can't Erase It"
22. Overflow's "Cry on My Shoulder"
21. Mary Mary's "Somebody"
20. Jars of Clay's "Crazy Times"
17. Kutless' "Perspectives"
16. Kutless' "I Lift My Eyes Up"
15. Jars of Clay's "Fade to Grey"
14. Falling Up's "Ambience"
13. Cheer Up Charlie's "Only One"
10. Michelle Tumes' "For the Glory of Your Name"
9. Andy Cloninger's "Walk on"
8. Raze's "Always and Forever"
7. Point of Grace's "Saving Grace"
6. Selah's "Be Thou Near to Me"
3. Out of Eden's "River"
2. Jars of Clay's "Liquid"
1. Jars of Clay's "Flood"

March 2009
31. Jars of Clay's "Boy on a String"
30. Jars of Clay's "I Need You"
27. Matt Maher's "Just Like You"
26. Matt Maher's "Welcome to Life"
25. Steven Curtis Chapman's "Facts Are Facts"
24. David Crowder Band's "Undignified"
23. Big Daddy Weave's "Exalted Forever"
20. Big Daddy Weave's "Being in Love with You"
19. Matt Maher's "Resurrection Day"
18. Kutless' "Treason"
17. Casting Crowns' "What if His People Prayed"
16. Jars of Clay's "Famous Last Words"
13. Big Daddy Weave's "Fields of Grace"
12. Jennifer Knapp's "A Little More"
11. Mary Mary's "Thankful"
10. Mark Harris' "For the First Time"
9. Jason Sweet's "Where Will I Go"
6. Building 429's "Glory Defined"
5. Plus One's "I Run to You"
4. Jars of Clay's "Unforgetful You"
3. Big Daddy Weave's "For Who You Are"
2. Big Daddy Weave's "Completely Free"

February 2009
27. Matthew West's "Next Thing You Know"
26. Pillar's "Let it Out"
25. Delirious?'s "Gravity"
24. Jump5's "Wonderful"
23. Casting Crowns' "Life of Praise"
20. Michael W. Smith's "I Will Be Your Friend"
19. Kutless' "Let You In"
18. LaRue's "Waiting Room"
17. Falling Up's "Divinity"
16. Matt Maher's "Everything You've Done"
13. Andy Cloninger's "Ascribe to the Lord"
12. MercyMe's "In the Blink of an Eye"
11. Mary Mary's "Shackles (Praise You)"
10. Charlie Hall's "All We Need"
9. Tim Hughes' "Oh Happy Day"
6. Jars of Clay's "Dig"
5. Falling Up's "Symmetry"
4. Jump5's "Throw Your Hands Up"
3. Salvador's "Shine"
2. Cheer Up Charlie's "Fly"

January 2009
30. Jars of Clay's "Truce"
29. Mary Mary's "What a Friend"
28. Kutless' "We Fall Down"
27. Big Daddy Weave's "Set Me Free"
26. Pillar's "Frontline"
23. Jars of Clay's "Redemption"
22. Audio Adrenaline's "Get Down"
21. Plus One's "Soul Tattoo"
20. Cheer Up Charlie's "We Cry Out"
19. Chris Tomlin's "King of Glory"
16. MercyMe's "Word of God Speak"
15. Kutless' "Passion"
14. Falling Up's "Broken Heart"
13. Jeremy Camp's "Take My Life"
12. Rich Mullins' "Hold me, Jesus"
09. Rich Mullins' "Awesome God"
08. SONICFLOOd's "Lord, I Lift Your Name on High"
07. Kutless' "Not What You See"
06. Big Daddy Weave's "What I was Made For"
05. Jars of Clay's "Overjoyed"
02. Jars of Clay's "Goodbye, Goodnight"
01. Kutless' "Down"

December 2008
31. SONICFLOOd's "I Want to Know You (In the Secret)"
30. Matt Maher's "All Glory to God"
29. Rich Mullins' "That Where I Am, There You..."
26. Shane and Shane's "Lord, I Give You My Heart"
25. Falling Up's "Escalates"
24. Jars of Clay's "Needful Hands"
23. Superchick's "I Belong to You"
22. Falling Up's "Places"
19. Jars of Clay's "Crazy Love"
18. Steven Curtis Chapman's "Miracle of Mercy"
17. Jason Upton's "Poverty"
16. Cheer Up Charlie's "Rockstar"
15. Bebo Norman's "How You Love Me"

about

about this blog
This blog was born in response to three different things: my (chris') love for Christian music and the effect that it has on my prayer life; a collection of Christian music to which I haven't fully listened; and most of all, my desire and need to pray more often/deeply. Prayanewsong is an opportunity, first and foremost, for God to speak to me through each of the songs in my collection, and also to share what I have felt.

I am so excited to not begin this project alone. I have "recruited" some my friends to join this project at its inception, and provide a wider range of views on each song.

Each weekday, my friends and I will reflect on a different song from one of our collections. The insight might be big and powerful or it might be small and simple. It will likely be different for each of us. Each day, we will have the opportunity to pray a new song.


about the songs
As noted above, the songs all come from my (chris') collection, or from the collection of one of the other contributors. I have tried to make sure that all of my tags are correct, but I may have a song or two that are mis-tagged. In addition, I do not necessarily have the original artist's version of each song. The song will be listed as from the artist I do have, and not from the artist who wrote the song. Sometimes the song will sound identical to the original version, other times it will not.


about our authors
catie
Catie is a sophomore in college working towards degrees in psychology and theology and, no, she doesn't know what she wants to do with it. All she knows is that she wants to help people in some way. Catie loves growing deeper in her faith and will do pretty much whatever it takes to get to that next level in her faith. She hopes that through this project she will be able to dive into a deeper relationship with God.

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chris
chris is a graphic designer and a member of his church's youth ministry team. he is very passionate about understanding youth ministry on a spiritual as well as intellectual level and enjoys reading and learning more about his faith and work with the teens of his church. chris' faith has deepened significantly in the past few years, even more so in the past few months, and he hopes that this project will continue to fuel that growth.

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jen
Jen is a recent college graduate working at a weekly newspaper. She loves to write, read and dance in her car or bedroom. However, she has noticed that the music she dances to sometimes hinders her walk with Christ. Finding it a challenge to not listen to the convenient mainstream music on the radio all the time, Jen found blogging on Pray A New Song a great way to focus her mind and heart back to God. She looks forward to the excuse to focus on God daily through music and see how He uses her through it.

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katie
katie is a senior in college working towards a degree in psychology. while she is not positive on what is going to happen after graduation this may, she feels God might be leading her to become a youth minister. one of her favorite ways to pray is through song, both in listening and singing along. she is excited for the opportunity to officially join in this project and hopes it will help her grow closer to God.

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megan
Megan is currently a student working towards a degree in elementary education. She is also an active member of her parish's youth group where she helps minister to local high school teens. Over the past few months, Megan has been looking for ways to deepen her faith and is excited to be part of this project. She is hoping it will help her grow in her prayer life and allow her to be more open to sharing her faith with others.

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former authors
erinnicole
erinnicole is a writer dabbling in a bit of everything, including poetry, prayers, short stories, essays, and journaling. Her goal is to have a published influential novel some time in her life. Faith and knowledge are two of erinnicole's greatest passions, but she loves to learn about anything and everything. She also enjoys learning about God on a personal and theological level. erinnicole is still only in the first chapters of her life and faith so right now in this moment she is trying to figure out who she is supposed to be.

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Marie

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