You know the song, "I can only imagine."  It talks about imaging what it's going to be like to walk beside our Creator.  It talks about being surrounded by His glory and finding yourself standing in front of the Son of God.

These are wonderful thoughts, but I think our feeble minds just scratch the surface of imagining living with Christ.

The deeper your relationship and daily walk with God, the closer you become to God.  God is everlasting. He is the beginning and the end.  Maintaining that close relationship with God allows us to imagine what it would be like forever in eternity.

It's good to imagine these things, but are we really living with a view of eternity?  Are we living as though Christ could come today?

And since Christ suffered and gave his life for us, we must also be willing to suffer for Him.

Imagine an eternity with Jesus today!

Titus 3:5-7 – " He saved us, not because of works done by us in righteousness, but according to his own mercy, by the washing of regeneration and renewal of the Holy Spirit, 6 whom he poured out on us richly through Jesus Christ our Savior, 7 so that being justified by his grace we might become heirs according to the hope of eternal life."

Trusting in God is what we do because of our faith, which is God's gift to us.  Trusting in God means believing in the promises of God in EVERYTHING.  Even when things seem out of control and the future looks bleak, trust God.

God's word (Bible) can be trusted.  Your faith may be knocked or you may stumble in your walk with God or fall into sin, but a follower and believer of Christ will never fall, for God upholds him with His hands.

That's what 'trust without borders' means.  When all the odds are against me, I release all control to God and step into His sovereignty. 

Keep the faith.  Keep trusting in God.  It will all be worth it when we're living in eternity with our Creator.

Proverbs 3:5 – "Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding."

There's a popular song out now by Casting Crowns called "Only Jesus."

When I first heard it, I immediately thought about the mission field.  I'm leaving in 2 weeks to go back to Peru to a remote village in southern Peru.  Our mission individually and as a team is to tell others about Jesus, and just like the song says, "I don't want to leave a legacy, I don't care if they remember me, only Jesus."

When we are serving the people of Peru, I hope they see Jesus in our walk, in our talk, in our character.  I want them to see the love that we have for them, just as Jesus does.

I want our mission to be about Jesus and only Jesus. 

God can use each one of us to bring Him glory and honor.  This doesn't have to be on the mission fields.  It can be in our own neighborhoods.

Tell others of Jesus today.  Finish the race.  Leave a legacy that counts.

2 Timothy 4:7 – "I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith."

We all need grace. But, do we really expect to receive grace?

You may have met someone in your life who dabbles in sin and tries to rationalize their actions. In the book of James, he tells us that friendship with the world isn’t an option for a follower of Christ. This is where grace from God steps in.

God gives grace to the humble. For those who acknowledge their sin and ask God for forgiveness, God shows up. Even when we don’t deserve it, God gives the humble favor.

God detests arrogance, and pride always leads to destruction.

Stay in peace with others, submit to God and receive His amazing grace!

James 4:6 - “But He gives more grace. Therefore it says, “God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble.”

Have you ever found yourself anxious about a situation where you became physically ill?  Or, you’re anxious and worried about something that might happen?

I know I have, and have felt the stress of worry and anxiety.  But, I have found, through my walk with God, that I don’t have to feel this way.  I can give all of this worry and these anxious feelings to God to handle.  I can trust that God knows how to handle this situation far better than I do.

Jesus tells us in Matthew 6:25 to “not be anxious about your life, what you will eat or what you will drink,”…..  He goes on to tell us to “Look at the birds of the air: they neither sow nor reep nor gather into barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them.  Are you not of more value than they?”

When your thoughts go astray and you’re feeling down or upset, give your anxieties to God. 

Most of our stress and worry is unnecessary.  After all, does worry add one more day to your life?  Does the stress of a situation resolve anything?

Give it to God.  Putting God first in your thoughts and in your life is a cure for anxiety.

1 Peter 5:7 - “casting all your anxieties on Him, because He cares for you.”

Have you ever watched a baby sleep?  It's a beautiful and soothing sight. 

Peace is something most everyone wants.  Yet, you will find many people in this world who are far from being at peace with life, or even with themselves. 

Ultimate peace comes from God, and for those of us who have found it, enjoy! 

On the other hand, there is so much counterfeit peace that is offered by the world.  Be aware, my friends, of false teachers, those who will make you promises that they don't intend to keep.

As a Christian, you have a choice to trust God's promises and stay in peace.  Peace is one of the 'fruits of the spirit.' 

Let peace rule in your heart today.  Slow down and take the time to say a kind word to a stranger.  Take the opportunity to serve the needy.

Show love and receive the peace from God that passes all human understanding!

 John 14:27 - “Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you. Not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your hearts be troubled, neither let them be afraid.”

God is always doing something bigger than we can imagine.  There is a purpose in your journey.  You may not see it yet, or you may not be open to accept it, but God knew the plans for you before you were born.

Be able to see God at work in your life.  We may have our head so far in the sand, or so deep in our pity party that we miss the opportunities God has before us.

There are no coincidences in God's plans for our life.  God may be working in someone else's life, someone that's close to you, so that He can accomplish His purpose for you through them.

Even in the times of waiting, God is at work.  Trust His plan for your life and thank Him for the breakthrough even though it hasn't come yet.  God loves a diligent, persevering person who believes what God says is true.

Psalm 55:22 – "Cast your burden on the Lord, and He will sustain you; he will never permit the righteous to be moved."

Words can lift you up, and words can also bring you down.  Words are powerful.  Words can show love and they can reveal Christ in us.

Words can spread encouragement, or they can separate relationships.  Typically, if you don't have anything positive to say, then it would be best to stay silent.

How do others see you when you speak?  Do they see the love of God in your speech?

We can't do this on our own.  When you feel vulnerable and weak in the flesh, ask God to give you the words to say or to help you hold your tongue.

James 3:8 - “ but no human being can tame the tongue. It is a restless evil, full of deadly poison.”