As the release of my album draws closer I was asked the question,

“What is the goal for your album?” 

To be honest it kind of caught me off guard and I was not sure how to answer. I should have been prepared to answer a question like this. I wasn’t then, but I am now.

The goal for B L I N K  T W I C E.

I’ve pondered this question for awhile. Even before the idea of “Blink Twice” was even created.

As a little girl with a dream, I always remember making outlines for what my cd would look like when I made it and would write out my signature and what my name would be, etc. All I did in my spare time was write and dream.

As a part of my story, you will see, that along with this dream came many failures and milestones along the way, as I kept pursuing different avenues to achieve what I had yearned for so long. As I was given many different types of opportunities like auditioning for American Idol twice, leading worship for youth, children, athletes, church congregations, etc.; I still felt an emptiness. Why was I not happy? I was doing everything I loved, singing and leading different groups of people in a time of worship!

Then I began to realize my selfish intent had come to the surface, and I did not learn this the easy way. In order to humble myself I had to be emotionally and spiritually wrecked! I was asked the personal question, “Tara, if you were not to do anything else, if you were not to make it anywhere else, would you be content with the platform you already have in music? Simply, leading worship at your church?”

This question wrecked my spirit.

The goal.

I had been looking at it all wrong, and I was more concerned about “Tara Branstetter” than I was proclaiming the name of the Lord. When people looked at me they only saw me, not the Father through me. I began to understand that the reason for my emptiness and the feeling that I “wasn’t making it” was because I was more concerned about my name at the time.

But now I get it.

The goal. 

All this to say, I know what the goal is.

As much as it would be nice to earn a profit for the hard work that went into this album. That is not the goal.

As much as it would be amazing to get to the top of the charts next to artists like Chris Tomlin and Kari Jobe. That is not the goal.

The goal is to lead people to Christ through my music.

For people to encounter Him. Some for the very first time and some who encounter Him daily.

The goal is to allow people to experience the Word of God through the inspiration of Scripture that was breathed into these songs.

I want people to find Him when they are so sad that they are barely pushing to go another day and when they are filled with such joy that nothing can stand in their way.

The goal is to allow people to relate to my story and testimony and rest assured that no matter what they are going through that the Lord is in control and will see us through.

The goal is all Him. John 3:30. “He must become greater; I must become less.”

And lastly, the goal is to always use whatever platform God gives me to the fullness of His glory, not taking for granted any second of it. Whether its leading worship for a group of 10 or a group of 1,000, on a stage or in a classroom, that I would always view it as another opportunity to lead someone to find and encounter Jesus!

This is my heart. This is my goal. B L I N K  T W I C E.

I hope that God uses this album to change lives, including yours!

Yours Truly,

Tara Branstetter