Top 10 Favorite Songs by the Band Casting Crowns

The band Casting Crowns is relatively new to the contemporary Christian scene. The band has only 3 albums to its credit, but its music is worthwhile and urges us the listeners to lean closer to God as we deal with real-life situations. The band's music is captivating and goes straight to the heart. Here are the 10 songs that I would consider to be in my top ten by the Casting Crowns.

1. Voice of Truth ~ This song is from the band's first album. The album is self-titled and came out in 2003. This song urges us all to keep going no matter what we are going through. It also encourages us to lean on God, the voice of truth. It is uplifting and will give you encouragement to get through the difficulties in your life. This song spoke to me in a time of my life when things were really difficult. I needed to hear a voice other than my own and Casting Crowns provided that through this song by reminding to look for my "voice of truth."

2. Stained Glass Masquerade ~ From the band's second album, Lifesong, released in 2005. I bought this CD when it first came out and from the first moment I heard this song I fell in love with it. When Casting Crowns sings the lines "Is there anyone that falls Am I the only one in church today feelin' so small" I remembered thinking "Wow, I feel like that so much of the time." The song brings up the point that none of us are perfect and that if we truly look around and see the people around us for what they are, we see that everyone is living in a masquerade.

3. While You Were Sleeping ~ Also from the band's second album, Lifesong. I heard an interview with the band in which one of the members mentions that the song is a take off of "Oh Little Town of Bethlehem". It reminds me that life will pass by while I am sleeping if I do not keep a room in my heart for Jesus. I love the simpleness of this song and often find myself humming the melody through out my day to day life.

4. Praise You In The Storm ~ From the self-titled debut album. I have been privileged to go to Mississippi twice in the wake of Hurricane Katrina. After the first trip I put together a CD of pictures from the trip and used this song as the background for it. It was a perfect backdrop considering all of the people we met were praising God despite the storm that they had gone through. It reminds me that even in the midst of all of our "storms" we should always be praising our heavenly Father.

5. Who Am I ~ Also from the self-titled debut album. This song provides a lot of significance to my everyday life. It reminds that we are only here for a minute and I need to remember that God sent His Son to die for my sins. To forgive me. He is always present and will live forever. The chorus in particular is extremely powerful. "Not because of who I am. But because of what you've done. Not because of what I've done. But because of who you are." It is always because of what He has done, it has nothing to do with me.

6. American Dreams ~ From the self-titled debut album. This song tells the story of a man who is so busy chasing the "American dream" that he forgets to spend time with his family and with God. When I first heard this song, I did not feel that it had anything to teach me. I just liked the fast pace of it. It has a contagious melody and great lyrics. But I have since realized that if I spend too much time chasing the wrong dreams, I will miss the ones that have come true right in front of me.

7. What If His People Prayed ~ This song is from Casting Crowns debut album. It reminds that if we prayed, if we all prayed the light we could bring to this world. "And what would happen if we prayed For those raised up to lead the way Then maybe kids in school could pray And unborn children see light of day" These lines are so significant for me as I am a teacher and that I adore children and it breaks my heart when I hear of children being aborted. Every time I hear this song I say a prayer for those who have not been given a chance to live.

8. East to West ~ From the band's recent 3rd album, entitled The Altar and the Door. This album was released in 2007. This is a song about seeking forgiveness and looking for a way out of the messy life we have been leading. This song is a great reminder to all of us that we are always sinners and we always need to be seeking ways back to the Lord.

9. Does Anybody Hear Her ~ "She is running, a 1,000 miles a hour in the wrong direction." How many times has that been me? When I first heard this song, I wanted to ask the author if he or she was writing about me. There are many days when I feel that people cannot hear me or see me. That I was invisible. But when I listen to this song, I realize that all those people I feel ignored by or sometimes judged by will not be the ones who ultimately judge me. God is the only one who can do that. This is a very significant song and I feel it could be used as a tool to get teenagers, in particular, to talk about the loneliness they feel.

10. Love Them Like Jesus ~ What a sweet poignant song off of the band's 2nd album, this song captures the questions that are tough to answer. It seems to be talking about a Pastor's search for answers in the face of difficult questions. Such as the wife who is facing a divorce and the unborn baby that passes away and does not get to go home to the fresh room made ready for him. The song tells us to just love them. Love people even when you do not know the answers to their questions. That is particularly significant to me as their are many times when I do nor know how to answer some questions and all I can do is love them and sit with them and be with them.

I really love this band. I cannot wait to see what they come up with next. I hope they stay around for a long time and that more people will become acquainted with their music. It really is a phenomenon that is quite amazing.