Heather posted the words to this song in another thread and I copied them here.
I Can Only Imagine
I can only imagine
What it will be like
when I walk by your side
I can only imagine
What my eyes will see
when your face is before me
I can only imagine
Surrounded by your glory
what will my heart feel?
will I dance for you Jesus?
or in awe of you be still?
Will I stand in your presence?
To my knees will I fall?
Will I sing halleujah?
Will I be able to speak at all?
I can only imagine
I can only imagine
when that day comes
when I find myself standing in the sun
I can only imagine
when all I will do
is forever, forever worship you
I can only imagine.
Surrounded by your glory
what will my heart feel?
will I dance for you Jesus?
or in awe of you be still?
Will I stand in your presence?
To my knees will I fall?
Will I sing halleujah?
Will I be able to speak at all?
I can only imagine
This song is very, very, very, very dear to me. In December of 2001, I heard it on the radio and thought to myself, "That is one awesome song." On January 3, 2002, my father passed away, and while making funeral arrangements, my sister asked if bernard could sing it at the funeral. He did. So, we all know what happens when we hear the songs after the funeral. :'( even though they are special.
8 days after daddy passed on, Travis was born. By now, Mercy Me had "climbed to the top" with this song, and it was being played almost every hour on the radio station here. It was that popular. I'm at home, suffering from a bit of post partum depression (a big bit), and this song would send me wailing every time I heard it. So, I started singing it to Travis, and it became "our song."
Not long ago, a Dallas radio station called Bart Miller (the songwriter and lead singer from Mercy Me) and asked him about it. Seems that they ( a SECULAR) station was getting request after request for it. It became one of their most requested songs. The last I heard, several major stations were playing it. Secular stations. Not one word of the message was changed, but apparently it gave hope in a world that has little hope.
Another thing about Mercy Me. I think in today's world, very few of the artists are truly annointed adn sold out to God. this band is the real thing. Every interview I have ever read with them, every thing I have heard about htem, everything they do echoes their desire to point people to Christ. If you do not have their CD, it is worth the cost to buy it. If you cannot afford it, let me know, and bernard adn I will send you one. We feel that strongly about these guys.
Thanks again, Heather for posting this song!
As I said in the previous thread, this song was a tunring pint in my life, a stepping stone back to where I knew that I should be. There isn't much of their music (Mercy Me) that I don't like, but this song touched a nerve. I just don't know how to describe it. Now being here in Canada, very few of the secular radio stations actually play something that glorifies God. I think that is sad, because it is more than just Christians that need to hear this song. I am thrilled that they are playing it on secular radio down there in the US.
DC Talk, another band that a few years ago did an interview and told the world that they were sold out to God, tried to put a song on secular radio. This was about 7 years ago. I remember that clearly because my husband introduced me to the band, (in music) and I was so excited to hear them on the only radio station that we could get at the time in Rural Northern Ontario.
This is part of the reason why I go out of my way to find out about the band memebers, and what their personal faith statement is. You know, there are alot of "Christian" bands out there that I won't listen to. Simply because their lifestyle, doesn't match up with the message that they try to put out there. and God isn't a part time thing. God isn't something that you can try to tell the world about, and then live in a way that doesn't glorify Him. Not only will you get yourself in a world of trouble with trying to live a double standard, I am sure that I am not the only one that does this, and I think that even people who don't know Jesus look at the way that music artists live, to see if they are sincere about what they are singing.
To be sincere about what you sing, you have to know the person that you are singing about.
But I think that is likely for another thread again.... :D
Take care everyone....
Heather
wow, very nice. I like that.
It is one of my favorites songs as well.
Karma, thanks for sharing your story.
What will I do when I see the Lord? Will I dance or will I stand in awe of Him, or will I fall on my knees and weep from happiness?
I had never heard of this song until now. The words aevery powerful. I'd love to hear the music.
Would most Christian book stores sell it do you think?
Judy, I would imagine you could get this anywhere. Mercy Me sells really well, so most Christian music distributers would have it. The music is wonderful too. For me......this is one of those "stop everything, sit down and listen" songs.
It is one of my favourites as well. I always turn the radio up a bit at work when I hear it play.
This song is a favorite of my family also. We got a call in Petsmart while we were having our cat get shots that my grandfather had passed away. When we went out to the car, this was playing. 8) How cool is that.
CheckSix, these kinds of experiences and happenings are always remembered. What lovely words to greet you after finding out this terrible news. I'm sorry about your loss.
That song has had an amazing effect on the music industry. Not only was it a big hit on Christian radio, but it's also been getting a ton of airplay on secular stations - even country stations! It's amazing how one simple song can do so much :)
It's definitely a "wow" song that touches the soul.  It was the song played last at the concert I went to a few weeks ago, and along with Michael W. Smith, they did an amazing job.  Have you ever watched him sing it? (Bart Millard?) I remember watching his performance of the song on the Dove Awards and thinking that even though he was in front of thousands of people there, and even more via television - it seemed he was certainly singing to only one person - the Lord.Â
Downloaded it a week ago and it's become one of my favorites--can't help but to sing along everytime. ;D
I purchased the I can olny Imagine CD from time life. I really love that song.
I have heard this song on a Christian Radio station sometime ago, I really like it!
Wow, I was meant to hear this today. I popped my CD of Amy Grant "Legacy..Hymns & Faith" and this song is on it! What powerful words!
Cool, Sue. Don't you love it when God does things like that.....at just the right time? :)
Yes, I sure do. :) :)