A few days go, I was taking care of my wonderful nephew Gideon (he is almost six months now-ay!) He is the youngest of three, and is such a joy to be around. No matter what though- I still find babies to be so incredible! I put Gideon in his Johnny jump up (I feel like a preschooler typing that) so I could do a little housework for my sister. I even put on some kid show so he could listen to something while I was cleaning. (He's very sensitive to loneliness.) But the kid is so smart! As real as the television sounded, as vivid as the pictures would seem, Gideon knew there were no real humans in the room. (Insert baby bawling here.)

I've been thinking alot about my relationship with God (as most of us do.) "Passion for Jesus" by Mike Bickle is really stirring me up. I want to have MORE experiences with Christ. Think about it. If we had more awesome times of worship, more full blown amazing times of prayer- we would be drawn more to His spirit (and thus changed.) How could we want to have time with Jesus when there are a million action movies to choose from, and thousands of pop songs to dance to? Why would we want the genuine joy of God when we can survive (just fine) off of our imitations?

The enemy knows this. Distractions are vital. (Depression is a great addition too.) The less memories with the Almighty- the easier we will just drift off into mediocrity. But Christ wants to make real contact with us! (The mother ship is waiting.) We cannot receive His grace, we cannot live in complete purity (a.k.a holiness)-if we do not open ourselves (our minds and our time) to Him. I want to make memories with God cause it's time for Him to change me. I cannot make myself change, but I can choose to spend more time with Him and try to know this holy God that died for me.

Life is "made with natural and artificial flavoring." Will we be like Gideon? Or will we settle for the artificial decoys the enemy so happily offers? Can we even determine what is "natural" and "artificial" anymore? When Gideon was born (his senses not even in tact yet,) he knew exactly when his mother was holding him. He knew her voice, he knew her touch, and he would only fall asleep in her arms. I want that instinct! Oh to know "our Father" so well! No one can be forced to love anyone- we know this. It is our option to love and be loved. Yet that's where the best of life lives. Zeal only goes so far; self-made passion will die. But a beautiful memory makes a beautiful bond (which builds trust.). And from that natural friendship- we can be transformed. To me, that is heaven on earth... moments upon moments with the best friend we'll ever have. Now the question is-what are we waiting for?

"A Butterfly Measures Not In Minutes, But In Moments."

-Author Unknown

GospelMusicChannel.com selected Tal & Acacia as one of the Top 10 Artists To Watch in 2010. Check out the article on GospelMusicChannel.com.

As I was driving back from beautiful Vermont, I was listening to good ol' NPR. (National Public Radio.) It was December 30 at that point, and NPR was bringing in the New Year while talking about the memorable quotes from 2009. Mr. Fred Shapiro (who keeps up on "The Yale Book of Quotations," a very important job, mind you) shared the top four of the year. They prepared my palate as they reminisced about the great quotes born though terrible wars and economic devastation. (Lincoln, Churchill, FDR, etc.) Needless to say, I was ready to be uplifted and inspired as I was driving through (the everlasting roads of) Virginia.

The one I went away remembering (can you believe it?) was the third quote going in "The Yale Book of Quotations" for 2009. "There's an app for that," the infamous Apple advertising slogan for their iphone. Wow. Out of all the turmoil-out of all the mess in this world- I'm going to go away with "there's an app for that?" I felt like Amy Poehler and Seth Myers on their weekend updates sketches. "Really? Really?" That's it! That's seriously the third most memorable quote for American history in 2009?!

I was despondent for a bit (a whole 3 minutes,) then I got over it. However, that radio segment made me want to take the leap of integrity-and try to say better things. (Boy, that's bold.) That app quote represents (something?) of 2009. What do you want to be remembered saying? As you can probably imagine-I talk a lot. Yes I do. I try to memorize those verses about shutting up (to help solve my lack of self control.) Proverbs 10:19, 1 Peter 4:11, Ephesians 4:29- but sadly, I'm still chatting it up like Joan Rivers.

But imagine if Yale wrote a book of your most memorable quotes. What would they say? What would you want them to say? As we unfold another year, let's come out with something deeper than technology. (As brilliant as that is these days.) Let's be remembered for our love. Let's be remembered for words of wisdom and humility and not perverse jokes and proud sarcasm. Small steps can make big strides. Small words of encouragement can produce smiles. I want my words to heal more than hurt. Well what do you know? I just found my New Years Resolution.

;)

Happy 2010 to you friends, and (got to leave a real one for the books-ha) "always bear in mind that your own resolution to succeed is more important than any other." -Abraham Lincoln

Catch Tal & Acacia perform on Total Axxess Acoustic Christmas Monday at 6pm ET/5pm CT on TotalAxxess.com. Tenth Avenue North will also be in the studio that day.

Expectations. What do you expect from your life?

I just watched the movie "Marley and Me" and one of the characters was so organized she had a "list" of everything she expected to have in her life. I am amused by that kind of person- simply because I'm pretty satisfied when I make a good cup of coffee. (Nothing like a strong, perfectly creamed up cup of joe.) Yes...I also find it amusing because my life couldn't be further from my predictions.

I have so many thoughts on this matter, but the one statement that still sticks (it comes from my dear mother) is "all you can expect is the cross." It was confirmed again this morning after I just finished a biography of Hannah Whitall Smith. (Awesome speaker back in the day.) Hannah wrote, "when everything in our lives and experience is shaken that can be shaken, and only that which cannot be shaken remains, we are brought to see that God only is our rock and our foundation. Then we learn to have our expectation from Him alone." She goes on to say "no soul can be really at rest until it has given up all dependence on everything else and has been forced to depend on the Lord alone. As long as our expectation is from other things, nothing but disappointment awaits us."

I think of the popular jack-o'-lantern. Now granted, I am not a big fan of them (unless they are smiling) but I think it proves a good analogy. To make one, you must first cut off the top of the pumpkin. (You can put the cap back on of course, but then the height of your flame is limited.) You must scoop out all the flesh (all the gooey seedy pulp) because it hinders any handiwork from proceeding forward. The pumpkin must be completely emptied and completely cleared for anyone to see the light inside.

This is for all of us. We must be willing to trust Him, and empty ourselves of our pride, our "goals," our ideas of what WE think is true relationship with Christ. This is no easy call- because it means you may lose the things/people you love- but remember- the more we are empty, the more room there is for HIM to FILL us! I know the pruning process is scary...there were days I was kneeling on the floor, wanting to die right then and there. I felt so depressed, so overwhelmed...and I felt like my life was a huge waste of God's energy. My flesh was being scooped out, and it was painful.

I still have hard days (I am constantly battling my selfishness,) but His flame is still there! And seeing His light in my life- is the life in my life. My faith has become genuine- because He has helped me realize that all fullness comes from Him. We've got to cut off the roof- destroy the ceilings of our "faith." If we don't let Jesus be Lord of our lives, the flame will still burn up what is not eternal. He will crush our assumptions about what we think He is gonna do for you, for me, (blah blah blah.) Don't put YHWH in a box! Please! Don't try to keep the cap on of your life- because you are hindering His spirit from being an even stronger, brighter fire in your heart. Be encouraged, He will not leave you unfinished! But the sooner we let Him be our Surgeon- the sooner we can be healed and shine truly for all to see His glory.

Indeed, we must be hollow to follow...so happy "hollow"een.

Acacia

Just wanted to let you guys know that "Drifting Away" is going to be featured in this week's episode of Private Practice. It airs on ABC Thursday night, October 15, at 10/9c. Click here for more info about the show and tune in if you can!

You can listen to the song in the music player above.

"Drifting Away"
Written by Tal & Acacia

Is it the sun that gives us heat
Is it the moon that moves the sea, that spreads its mystery
Is it the flower that shares its bloom
Is it the tree that gives us fruit to eat, that gives us shade to sleep

His love is the thing that made it begin for the first time
And His love set it right to keep us going on
But we keep drifting away from the love that makes life
We keep drifting away from His side

Is it the thunder that brings fear
Is it the sparrow that brings music to my ear
And is it the rain that cleans the land
Is it the dust of earth that formed the frame of a man, so delicately planned

He sees, he cries
His world, his life
He sees, he cries
His world, his life