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All

The song “All” was one of the last songs we recorded for this album. It’s a reflection on the message of surrender. There are so many times as Christians that we still try to keep parts of our lives because we think we can do a better job controlling it or maybe we’re not happy with some things God has or hasn’t done. But God wants every single part of our lives. Giving over our life to God isn’t just a one-time commitment, it’s a daily surrender of our hurts, our dreams, disappointments, desires, relationships, job, career—everything, minute by minute, hour by hour, that constant surrender.  It’s one of my favorites on the record. —Janna

Far Away From Here

This song is just talking about the hope of heaven. Paradise. When we were listening to it around the conference table, we said, ‘You know we talk about heaven, we dream about it, but do we really believe it’s real?’ And the answer was ‘Yes, we believe it is real. There really is a place where there is no sorrow and sadness and fear. We have hope of glory!  It’s a song of hope and truth, and we felt it would be a real encouragement. —Greg

Abundantly

Ephesians 3:20 explains to us that Christ is “able to do immeasurably more than all we could ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us.” This ballad is a musical picture of life in Christ, where “amazing is so ordinary, and mercy overflows,” where peace exists despite the chaos in the world. – Janna

You Were There

When we heard the demo, we were in tears. The second verse, especially, where it talks about Abraham sacrificing Isaac, the lyric says, ‘just in time He brought a lamb.’ And I thought, ‘Isn’t that our lives!” Everyday we keep walking in faith; even when we don’t understand what He is doing. And at the last second, He always comes through. That’s the whole basis of Christianity, and that’s the most difficult thing for us to do. …I look back at the past 9 years Avalon has been together, and it’s so blatantly obvious that God has been there every step of the way…”You Were There” is very vertical and worshipful. We didn’t intend for this to be a worship record, per se, but it did develop that way on its own. —Jody


I Wanna Be With You

“I Wanna Be With You” is simply a really cool, artistic way of saying we want to be intimate with Christ. I think sometimes we Christians only want to know Him from a distance because the closer we get to Him, the more of ourselves we have to lay down. We want His blessing, and we want Him to do this and do that, but really we should love Him because He first loved us. We should want to know Him intimately because of who He is. This is a love song to Christ, and the bottom-line message is: ‘I want to know Christ. I want Him to be a part of my life, and I want to be grafted into Him.’ It’s the most rock ‘n’ roll song on the album. —Greg

Overjoyed

Jody actually came to the table with the idea of us remaking this song. I had done it on my solo record, and we needed a more up-tempo song. “Overjoyed” has a lot of energy, and it was fun to sing as a group.  There’s not a huge spiritual message here; it’s just about finding joy in the presence of the Lord, joy that lasts regardless of our circumstances. It’s a simple message, but an important one. —Janna

The Creed

“The Creed” is basically proclaiming what the Bible has been saying for thousands of years. Way before we ever came and long after we’re gone. “WE believe that God is our Father, that Jesus Christ is his Son, living and breathing in me…” This message is bigger than Avalon. This message is for all time, about a God who was, who is and who is to come. And at the end of a concert, when Jody shares with the audience that asking Jesus to come into your life is the most important decision we can make, to see people raising their hands, asking for prayer, that’s why we do this. Night after night, seeing people moved by God. are not just lyrics to another song.  That’s what we believe, and we have doubts like everybody else, but we see the proof of it every night after night. —Greg

I Bring It To You

This is a beautiful song about how all the hurts, the broken dreams, if we bring them to Him, He’ll turn them into gold. When we’re tested, He refines us into something beautiful. That’s the heart of this song. —Melissa

Good Way

This song is an answer to prayer. Literally. Several years ago, I wrote in my prayer journal that one day, I’d love to meet and write a song with Cindy Morgan, who is one of my all-time favorite writers. During one of the writer’s retreats that we hosted in preparation for this album, that’s exactly what happened. “Good Way,” is a funky, groove-infused song about what it means to follow Jesus.  It was the song that I got to collaborate on with Cindy Morgan! ---Melissa

Renew Me

I actually sang on the demo, and I knew immediately that we’d need to put it on the album. We’ve all been at a point in our lives where we’ve felt dead within, and it’s very difficult to keep moving when we feel that way. This song just communicates the truth that God can renew us and give us new life again. He’s the source of life. The message of the song resonated strongly in each one of us. —Jody