Pray (CD)

A Parable.com Exclusive Interview with Rebecca St. James

"Before we start, can we pray?" Rebecca St. James asked as our Parable.com exclusive interview began. With that one simple question, Rebecca showed that for her, the name of her newest album, "Pray" is more than just a title, it's a way of life.

Living such a life hands-on is the heart of Rebecca St. James. Her message is bold. Her message is simple. "Live radically for God. Read the Bible. Pray. Stand up for what you believe in and make a difference in your world."These words have clearly caught on for thousands of teens and young people, as her fan base has grown around the world.

Let's talk about when you first started in music. Were you always a singer? Did you have plans to make music your career?

Rebecca: Not really. I never really had a big dream to be a singer. My dad was a concert promoter, so I was always around the stage and performing. I realized that it doesn't mean anything, it's just another way to communicate a message. But God definitely had a plan for me and I feel that he definitely meant me to be in music.

Rebecca: I don't know if I ever really think about it. I just take it all one day at a time and don't really take it too seriously. My dad always told me "Don't believe your own publicity." You just have to know that you're called to be a servant of God.

Tell me a little about the new album, are there any new influences? Any new styles?

Rebecca: I really feel it is a quite a different album for me. We've taken the real 80s kind of programmed sounds and mixed it with the real 90s sounding live drums and guitar. I grew up listening to Petra, White Heart and Stryper, so there are still some of those influences. But also, hopefully my music is becoming more and more affected by the Bible. As I go I hope the lyrics and the songs get deeper into His Word.

Why the title Pray?

Rebecca: Prayer is such an important thing to me. It's something I just can't go without. Part of it, I think, is that I started performing so young. My first tour was when I was 13 years old and it was really kind of scary. I remember falling on my face in prayer before I went on stage asking God for strength to carry me through. I've also seen miracles in my life. We've gone through a real living by faith experience in my family. There was a time when my father had lost his job and we had no food, no car and seven kids. We had to rely wholly on God and really saw miracles happen. [That experience] really rocked my world because it made God so real to me.

What is your favorite song on the album?

Rebecca: "OK" is one of my favorites because I really feel my generation is looking for hope. So much is shaky out there. I wan to deliver hope, Jesus' hope, to them.

"Omega" is another favorite. I really love it because it is so biblical. I speak a lot of it. The chorus is a blessing to people. We've started to perform it in concert, and it is quite powerful. Every time I hear it I get chills.

Rebecca: I'm not really nervous. My life is completely in God's hands. I know I don't really have to worry about whether people will like it or not and that's very freeing. I've already seen his spirit move through [the album] and I trust that he will use it for his glory.

Rebecca: Live for God, live God's way and don't even mess with any other way. That's really what I'm trying to tell people. I have a close friend who just got pregnant. We were very close and she went away to college and really went her own way. She had all these dreams of being a doctor and now... I looked in her eyes and I really saw a change there. Something was different. I really want to say to people that "His way is the only way that works." In my life I've seen the joy of living for God. This is real life, this is true joy. I also want to tell people how important having daily time with God is. We must make the time to spend daily with God.

You also talk about purity quite a bit.

Rebecca: Yes, I've always felt a real calling to encourage my peers in purity. Especially today, the decision to have sex before marriage can be a life or death decision. People are dying. It can be so easy to gloss over the consequences of sin.

But for those who may have already made the mistake and had sex before marriage, I really try to communicate that they can find hope and forgiveness in Christ.

I feel like part of my calling is to bring the hope of God to people. But above all I want to please God. As long as I'm seeking to be faithful to Him He will take care of the rest. I want to be beautiful to Him, not beautiful to the world.

A big part of being a performer and creating an image with photo shoots and interviews how do you feel about that?

Rebecca: It's really kind of strange because you've got all these people fussing over you. I tend to feel uncomfortable with it. I really approach it in that I know that the image thing is a part of it, but I try not to take too seriously. I'm just going to be myself and not feel like I have to buy into all that because it can really steal who you are.

Tell me a little about you as a person, how would one of your close friends describe you?

Rebecca: That's a good question. I think I'm pretty bubbly and happy. My friends would probably describe me as encouraging spiritually. It's hard having friendships from the road but I have some really great friends.

I think I'm also reasonably fun. I like just doing silly kids stuff. Just a few weeks ago my friends and I went to a park and we had wheelbarrow races, and just had fun being totally kids.

Your family plays an incredible role in your life and your career, how have you managed to keep those relationships so strong?

Rebecca: One of the greatest things my parents have instigated, and I hope to do someday if I have a family, is they've encourage a "no secrets" policy. That means everything is out in the open. There's nothing you can't talk about, which is wonderful.

[My music] is very much a family ministry, which is great because it really keeps you grounded. There's a real comfort in that. I would count my family as some of my best friends.

Your role as a leader for your peers carries a lot of responsibility, how do you deal with the weight of that?

Rebecca: I don't feel a huge burden. I'm the oldest of seven in my family and it does sort of feel like a big sister role, which I am very used to.

How do you stay grounded in your faith in the whirlwind of concerts, promotions and recordings?

Rebecca: The core is being daily committed to having time with God. To spend time saying, "God speak to my heart, convict me, challenge me, change me." I also spend a lot of time in prayer, before interviews, before going on stage, before recording, before doing anything I pray. That way, when anything good comes out of it, I know it is from God.

Also, on the road we have devotions as a team. Plus, the whole concert is a worship experience.

Going is church is a major priority. A couple weeks ago we drove 10 hours through the night just so we could get home to go to church the next morning. It's a huge priority for us to be in fellowship.

You're also a spokesperson of sorts for Keith Green's re-releases, why? What do you want to tell the world about him

Rebecca: I really believe in his love for God. You really saw God's raw passion in him. I seek to be a passionate person like that. He was really a man after God's own heart and he is a little bit of a hero for me. He really took a stand for God, no matter what.

Is there anything else you would like to tell us about?

Rebecca: I just want to say that the whole theme of the album is around 2 Chronicles 7:14, which says, "If my people, who are called by name will humble themselves and pray... then I will heal their land." That to me is just such a huge promise. It is such a call for all of us to get down on our knees and pray.

Our generation has such a hard time admitting our need. But it is only when you are truly humble that God moves. As a nation we need to be called to humility.

Copyright & copy; 1998 The Parable Group. All rights reserved.

REBECCA ST. JAMES

BIOGRAPHY

For 21-year old Christian music sensation Rebecca St. James, Pray is more than just the title of her new album, it is a way of life and something she wants to share with the world. "I love to pray, I cannot live without it," she said. "I truly hope that through this album people will be encouraged to pray - to worship God and to ever focus their eyes on him."

The New Album

Pray, the fourth studio album from Rebecca St. James is perhaps her most anticipated project to date. The title is based on 2 Chronicles 7:14 which reads, in paraphrase, If my people, who are called by my name will humble themselves and pray...then I will heal their land.'

Built around decidedly European musical influences, many of the songs on Pray were written by Rebecca and steadfast producer Tedd T. "I think one of the main differences on this album is that we've experimented with mixing some programmed sounds and drum loops into the live concert dynamics we've developed over the past couple of years," says Rebecca.

Pray also features unique yet reverent covers of Rich Mullins' "Hold Me Jesus" and Keith Green's "Lord, You're Beautiful." "I have loved both of these songs for years," says Rebecca. "I truly identify with Rich's words, 'Hold me Jesus, 'cause I'm shaking like a leaf.' I remember once listening to that song five times in a row. I know what it is to be 'held.' 'Lord, You're Beautiful' is a song I've known since childhood. It's a fabulous worship song."

Where it All Began

Born in Sydney, Australia, Rebecca got her first taste of Christian music early on from her dad, who was a Christian concert promoter. She performed by invitation with Carman on his Australian tour when she was only 13. After her family moved to the U.S., she began recording at the age of 16 with ForeFront Records. Her first album, a self-titled pop release, earned Rebecca a Gospel Music Association's Dove Award nomination for New Artist of the Year.

Her second album, simply titled GOD, thrust Rebecca full-force to the top of Christian alternative-pop (having currently sold over 350,000 copies), earned her a Grammy Award nomination, two consecutive Dove Award nominations for Female Vocalist of the Year, and a string of radio and video hits. Readers of Campus Life, CCM, and Release magazines named her Favorite Female Recording Artist in their respective polls.

All In The Family

Today, Rebecca St. James stays true to the elements of her inspiration. The oldest of seven children, she continues to lean on her family for support, taking them along with her on close to 200 concert dates per year where her father acts as manager and her five brothers respectively manage the stage, lights, back-up vocals, merchandising, and Compassion International charity booth. This love and reliance on family ties is not lost in Rebecca's message to audiences. "We've all go to work on our family relationships, especially parents to teens and teens to parents," she says. "If young people really work at finding love and acceptance in the home and in their relationship with God, then they won't be looking elsewhere."

The Message

Another strong stance and ongoing admonition Rebecca gives from the stage deals with her own commitment to remain a virgin until marriage. "A lot of teens thank me for talking about this issue because they felt like they were alone in their decision to remain pure. And those who may have already made a mistake have to know that they can be made new again through God's grace. People have told me this message really gives hope."

Indeed, hope can be found all over the Pray album. It is the treasure sought in such songs as "Pray," "I'll Carry You," and "Come Quickly." And the fulfillment of this hope prompts Rebecca to in turn praise God repeatedly in songs like "Give Myself Away," "Peace," and "Love To Love You." Bringing the album to a beautiful close is the original composition "Omega" which prays "May the grace of our Lord be with you. Now and always may you stay blameless till He comes."

"I love to pray and cannot live without it," says Rebecca. "We have covered this album in prayer from the first time we began to think about song ideas. I truly hope that through this album people will be encouraged to pray - to worship God and to ever focus their eyes on Him."

Copyright & copy; 1998 The Parable Group. All rights reserved.

"Prayer is such an essential for me, my life blood. It give me strength in my weakness and centers my focus on God, away from myself.' ~ Rebecca St. James

Jesus I am broken now
Before You I fall I lay me down
All I want is you, my all

I cry out from the ashes
Burned with sin and shame
I ask You Lord to make me whole again

For You say if I will come and will
Pray to You
There forgiveness when I
Turn from me and pray
For You say if I will come and will
Pray to you
You hear me and heal me when I pray

Your ways are not my own
But I long for them to be
So this is what I pray
One with You You'll make me

Melt me away, 'til only You remain

For You say if I will come and will
Pray to you
There's forgiveness when I
Turn to You and pray
For You say if I will come and will
Pray to you
You hear me and heal me when I pray

Jesus I am broken now before you
Take me I am yours

For You say if I will come and will
Pray to you
There's forgiveness when I
Turn from me and pray
For You say if I will come and will
Pray to you
You hear me and heal me when I pray

When I pray (5 times)

"Originally written by a couple of Aussie friends, this is a song that has encouraged me many times, summed up in one word, this song says to me "hope." ~ Rebecca St. James

Inwardly I
See Your smile

And I reach for, I reach for it
'Cause I know its all gonna be O.K.
That is why I always say
Its all gonna be O.K.

I want to Cover You with presents
But my love is all I have
So take me, take me now
'Cause I know you'll not abandon me
You will complete what's begun in me.

It's all gonna be okay, okay, okay
That I why I always say
Its all gonna be okay now
Its all gonna be okay

As I some closer now
Hold me and wipe away my tears
Hold me...Oh

It's all gonna be okay, okay, okay
That I why I always say
It's all gonna be okay, okay, okay
That I why I always say
It's O.K.

I can't stay here anymore
There's no time for me to hide away
Waste another day
But You oh Lord I can't ignore
Or the chance to know that I can change
Before it's too late

Here and now I lay it all down
I take the road that leads to You
I won't look back, I won't turn around
I give myself away to You
Here and now I lay it all down
I give myself away to You today

It's a mystery to me
How I'm tempted by the lies that shine
Make me blind, I try to run try to flee
From the sin that's had me hypnotized
I've realized

Here and now I lay it all down
I take the road that leads to You
I won't look back, I won't turn around
I give myself away to You
Here and now I lay it all down
I give myself away to You today

I can't stay here anymore
There's no time for me to hide away

Here and now I lay it all down
I take the road that leads to You
I won't look back, I won't turn around
I give myself away to You
Here and now I lay it all down
I give myself away to You today (repeat)

I give myself away, I give myself away, I give myself away

"I remember once sitting in my living room, listening to Rich Mullions' version of this song and realizing each word was the cry of my heart too." ~ Rebecca St. James

Sometimes my life just don't make sense at all
When the mountains look so big and my faith
Just seems so small
And I wake up in the night and feel the dark
It's so hot inside my soul
There must be blisters on my heart

Hold me Jesus
I'm shaking like a leaf
You have been King of my glory
Won't you be my Prince of Peace
Hold me Jesus
Cause I'm shaking like a leaf
You have been King of my glory
Won't you be my Prince of Peace

(repeat the first verse)

Surrender don't come naturally to me
I'd rather fight you for something
I don't really want, than
Take what you give that I need
Surrender don't come naturally to me
I'd rather fight you for something
I don't really want, than
Take what you give that I need
Surrender don't come naturally to me
And I beat my head against so many walls
Now I'm falling down, falling on my knees

Saying hold me Jesus
Please hold me Jesus

Hold me Jesus
I'm shaking like a leaf
You have been King of my glory
Won't you be my Prince of Peace
Hold me Jesus
Cause I'm shaking like a leaf
You have been King of my glory
Won't you be my Prince of Peace

My Prince of Peace (3 times)
Hold Me Jesus (4 times)

"Not long ago I watched on video an Australian Adventure Race. A female in one of the teams was told to quit because of an injury to her ankle. Instead of giving in, the other teammates carried her the rest of the way...it was so powerful, I cried." ~ Rebecca St. James

I know that look in your eyes
I see the pain behind your smile
Please don't hold it all inside
Together we can run to the finish line
And when you are tired I'll carry you

I can't walk this road without you
You cannot go it alone
We were never meant to make it on our own
When the load becomes too heavy
And your feet too tired to walk
I will carry you and we'll be carried on

Share your burden now, I will listen
And when I'm weak will you hold me to the truth
That we can go on, for we are carried
Three strands of chord cannot be easily torn...

I can't walk this road without you
You cannot go it alone
We were never meant to make it on our own
When the load becomes too heavy
And your feet too tired to walk
I will carry you and we'll be carried on

God will carry us (4 times)

Before I say one more word
Hear me say I love you
My loves comes from a heart that overflows
With love who fills me, comforts me, comforts you,
With arms stretched out He said, "I'll carry you"

I can't walk this road without you
You cannot go it alone
We were never meant to make it on our own
When the load becomes too heavy
And your feet too tired to walk
I will carry you and we'll be carried on
(Repeat)

"This is the first song my brother Daniel and I have ever written together. Inspiration came one day on our tour bus, out of a simple longing for Jesus to come."~Rebecca St. James

You're close, very close
But Lord, I miss you
Here's where I find hope
You're coming soon

And I long so much to see You-that I cry
Everywhere are the signs that the end is near I say

Come quickly , Lord
When the sun grows dark
And the moon will shine no more
Quickly Lord
When the stars fall out of the sky above
Won't You come, dear Lord

Be ready-is what I want to be
When you come for me no sitting on my hands
I won't be caught sleeping
And I long so much to see You
That I reach for the sky and I lift up my hands
And I hold them high...high

Come quickly, Lord
When the sun grows dark
And the moon will shine no more
Quickly Lord
When the stars fall out of the sky above
Won't You come, dear Lord
Come dear Lord, dear Lord

Come quickly Lord Jesus - please come for me
Come quickly Lord Jesus - please come for me

Come take us away to be with you come take us away

Come quickly, Lord
When the sun grows dark
And the moon will shine no more
Quickly Lord
When the stars fall out of the sky above
(Repeat)

Come take us away to be with You
Come take us away (2 times)

"This song is all the more meaningful to me in that it was birthed through my own tears and knowing God's comfort in the midst of the storm."~Rebecca St. James

Alone in the valley I cry for You
To fill me with Your peace
So when the lighting strikes
Thunder roars around me
Still I live in peace you ask that I

Be still and know You are God
Be still and know You are God

When the fires rage
When the storms surround me
Still I live in peace
Though the mountains fall

Crashing to the ocean
Still I live in peace, You ask that I

Be still and know You are God
Be still and know You are God
Be still and know You are God
Be still and know You are God

Lead me through the valley
Lead me by the streams
Restore me and draw me to you, God
To You I lift my soul
To You who makes me whole
Gently You hold me close to You, close to You

Be still and know You are God
Be still and know You are God
Be still and know You are God
Be still and know You are God

You're near me, You love me
You hold me, You reach me
You still me, You move me
You draw me to You, God
(Repeat)

You are God!

"I was sitting on the floor in the studio praying when God gave me the first few lines of this song. In a society that so often focuses on how we look on the outside, 'Mirror' challenges me to seek beauty of the heart."~Rebecca St. James

May the words of my mouth please you dear God
May the thoughts of my heart say to You
That all that I desire is to be with You forever
Lord I pray-I pray that you

Take me-Make
Beautiful to You
Create me so I mirror You
Take me-Make me
An image of You
'Cause Lord I want to mirror You

Let the words of my mouth please You dear God
May the thoughts of my heart be as Yours
Cause all that I desire is to be here with You forever
Lord I pray-I pray that you

Take me-Make
Beautiful to You
Create me so I mirror You
Take me-Make me
An image of You
'Cause Lord I want to mirror You

Break me out of my complacency
Breathe your breath of life into my soul, into my soul

May the words of my mouth please You

Take me-Make
Beautiful to You
Create me so I mirror You
Take me-Make me
An image of You
'Cause Lord I want to mirror You

"I truly admire the passion Keith Green had for God and his 'worshippers heart,' which you can hear in the lyrics to this song."~Rebecca St. James</p>

Lord You're beautiful
Your face is all I seek
For when Your eyes are on this child
Your grace abounds in me

Lord You're beautiful
Your face is all I seek
For when Your eyes are on this child
Your grace abounds in me

I want to take your word and shine it all around
First help me just to live it Lord
And when I'm doing well
Help me to never seek a crown
For my reward is giving glory to You

Lord please light the fire
That once burned bright and clear
Replace the lamp of my first love
That burns with holy fear

I want to take Your word
And shine it all around
first help me just to live it Lord
And when I'm doing well
Help me to never seek a crown
For my reward is giving glory to You

Lord You're beautiful
Your face is all I seek
For when Your eyes are on this child
Your grace abounds in me

I can see your face now
I can feel your grace now
(Repeat)

It's all I seek
It's all I seek

"Often I will look up at a moonlit sky or simply be in awe of God over something He has done and my heart will be so full that I cannot speak except to say, 'I love you!'"~Rebecca St. James

So many things I wish to say to you
Hard as I try - words cannot explain
So I lift my eyes and lift my hands
In awe of you, adoring you...

Oh how I love to love you
Oh how I Love to love you
I love to love you...

So many things I wish to thank you for
Hard as I try, words cannot express my gratitude
So I, lift my heart and lift my soul
In awe of you, I worship you
And I want to say that I love you
I want to say that I need you...

Oh how I love to love you
Oh how I Love to love you
Cause I love, I love you Lord
I reach, I wait, I run, I praise, I love you

I am the willow living by streams
I drink of your river I praise you for your love
I praise you for this peace
My Lord, my love, my life-giver

Oh how I love to love you
Oh how I Love to love you

I wait ( I love to love you)
I wait for you (I love to love you)
I reach, I reach for you (I love to love you)
Cause I love, I love you Lord
I reach, I wait, I run, I praise, I love you
I love to love you (4 times)

"This song was originally titled 'Benediction' to me, it is a fitting end to the album and sums up my prayers for those who listen...P.S. My sister sounds pretty cute on this song, don't you think?"~Rebecca St. James

The amazing grace of the Master, Jesus Christ
The extravagant love of God
The intimate friendship of the Holy Spirit, be with you

May the grace of our Lord be with you
Now and always may you stay blameless til He comes
May the love of our Lord be with you
Now and always may you stay blameless til he comes

May our Lord, Jesus Christ himself
Encourage and strengthen you
In every good thing you do and say, God loved us
And through His grace He gave us shining hope
And encouragement that continues forever

May the grace of our Lord be with you
Now and always may you stay blameless til He comes
May the love of our Lord be with you
Now and always may you stay blameless til he comes

Love mixed with faith be yours
From God the Father and from the Master, Jesus Christ
And now unto Him who is able to you from falling
And present you faultless before
The presence of His glory with exceeding joy
To the only wise God, our Savior
Be glory and majesty, dominion and power
Both now and forever, amen…
(chorus repeated)