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

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

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

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


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

Ascribe to the Lord the glory due His name.

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

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

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

the voice of the lord is a powerful thing

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

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

To redeem the lost

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

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

The voice of the Lord is a powerful thing

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

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

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

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

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

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

What am I waiting for?

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

I'm still waiting...


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

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

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

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

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

Take the shackles off my feet so I can dance

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

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

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

I just wanna praise you

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

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

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

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

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

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

Just some questions I am wondering.

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

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

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

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

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


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

All we need is You

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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


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

I am Yours Jesus You are mine.

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

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

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

I am Yours Jesus You are mine.

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