Click here to view the embedded video.

Water You turned into wine
Open the eyes of the blind
There’s no one like You
None like You
Into the darkness You shine
Out of the ashes we rise
There’s no one like You
None like You

CHORUS
Our God is greater, our God is stronger
God You are higher than any other
Our God is Healer, awesome in power
Our God, Our God…

Into the darkness you shining
Out of the ashes we Rise
There’s no One like You
None like You.

Our God is greater, our God is stronger
God You are higher than any other
Our God is Healer, awesome in power
Our God, Our God…
Our God is greater, our God is stronger
God You are higher than any other
Our God is Healer, awesome in power
Our God, Our God…

BRIDGE
And if Our God is for us, then who could ever stop us
And if our God is with us, then what can stand against?
And if Our God is for us, then who could ever stop us
And if our God is with us, then what can stand against?
What can stand against?

Our God is greater, our God is stronger
God You are higher than any other
Our God is Healer, awesome in power
Our God, Our God…
Our God is greater, our God is stronger
God You are higher than any other
Our God is Healer, awesome in power
Our God, Our God…

And if Our God is for us, then who could ever stop us
And if our God is with us, then what can stand against?
And if Our God is for us, then who can ever stop us
And if our God is with us, then what can stand against?
Then what can stand against?
Then what can stand against?

Our God is greater, our God is stronger
God You are higher than any other
Our God is Healer, awesome in power
Our God, Our God…
Our God is greater, our God is stronger
God You are higher than any other
Our God is Healer, awesome in power
Our God, Our God…

Let us now fear the LORD our God, who gives rain in its season, both the autumn rain and the spring rain, who keeps for us the appointed weeks of the harvest.”

I recently came across a verse which has really fascinated me. I have probably read this verse many times before but it has only recently dawned on me that it goes deeper than what I had initially thought. I thought this verse was just conveying that God is the Creator of the universe, therefore, deserves our reverence/fear and that it is God who in His eternal power and divine nature has the ability to control the forces of nature, which reveals His glory. While this is absolutely true, I have discovered another layer that I wanted to share with everyone.

I have always dreamed of being a farmer. And I hope to become one someday. Anyhow, what I discovered was that farmers and people who work the land wait for two seasons of rain, the autumn rain and the spring rain. Both rains come to usher in a new season of harvest and fruitfulness. Both rains bring a time of refreshing and promise of healing. Both rains bring new life! When the land is dried and cracked from of the scorching summer heat, the autumn rain brings healing and refreshment to that fractured ground. When the land is hard and frozen from the chilling winter frost, the spring rain brings healing and refreshment.

Maybe some of us feel that our faith has grown cold or that our heart has grown hardened. Or maybe others of us feel that we are walking in the desert or that we have been burned before. If so…a time of refreshing is coming! The promise of healing is on the horizon! A new season of harvest and fruitfulness is close at hand! The autumn rain and the spring rain is coming! Let us wait…

As we all know, the DFW commute/traffic is not something that we look forward to. DFW is one of the top 10 worst traffic cities in America. But even when the roads are clear, it still takes quite some time to go from point A to point B.

Many of us travel during the week for business, spending numerous hours at airports, in the air, or on the roads.

Or maybe we just can’t find the time to sit down and crack open a good book.

Well…maybe I can offer assistance to alleviate some of the difficulties associate with these things. I cannot control the traffic, your travel plans, or your lack of time to read a good book.

Every month, christianaudio.com gives away FREE downloadable audiobooks! Did I mention that they are FREE? The audiobooks are downloaded in three formats: WMA, MP3, or M4B.

Check it out!

Have you ever wondered where your place is in the grand story of the Bible? Are you seeking to find some answers about God, Jesus, the Bible, or Christianity? Or have you just begun a relationship with Jesus Christ? Or maybe you have some church experience, but have been away for a while? Then, maybe Starting Point is the place for you.

Starting Point is a conversational environment where people can explore faith and experience community. It is a safe place for people with questions about faith, as well as those who want to learn about the Bible and Christianity. The goal of Starting Point is to help participants find their place in the story. It is for seeker (those who are curious about God, Jesus, the Bible, or Christianity), starters (those who have just begun a relationship with Jesus Christ), and returners (those who have some church experience, but have been away for a while).

Starting Point groups will meet on Sunday mornings and afternoons for 10 weeks for 75 minutes to explore the grand story of the Bible. We will be offering Starting Point orientations on April 11, where you can hear all about Starting Point, be able to ask questions, have an opportunity to sign up for a group, and get materials. There is no commitment when you come to the orientation, just show up to find out more. Orientations last typically 20-30 minutes. For more info, please visit us at www.binnerriem.org/startingpoint.

I am so excited to see what God is going to do through this new ministry! Would you like to join me on this journey?

Now…Jesus “got up from supper, laid aside His garments; taking a towel, He girded Himself. Poured water into the basin, and began washing the disciples’ feet” (John 13:4-5). Jesus performed the role of a servant by washing the disciples’ feet, one at a time. Some were embarrassed, Peter so much so that he resisted. It was inconceivable to Peter that one in Jesus’ position, “the Christ, the Son of the living God” (Matt 16:16), would be willing to act as a servant. Even today, two thousand years later, it is still astounding.

Click here to view the embedded video.

-adapted from Andrew Seidel, “Servant Leadership and Spiritual Formation.”

Gary Thomas in Sacred Marriage, invites the reader to see that marriage is more than a sacred covenant with another person. He poses the question, “What if God designed marriage to make us holy more than to make us happy?” The goal of marriage goes beyond the pursuit of personal happiness to being a “spiritual discipline designed to help us know God better, trust him more fully, and love him more dearly.” God has given us our special spouse in order that we might reflect more of the character of his Son, Jesus Christ. God wants us to be happy, but expects us to be holy.

So, with it being Valentine’s Day Weekend, I want you to share your stories of how God has used your husband/wife to help make you more holy this week or weekend! Please take this opportunity to lift up your spouse of how he/she lifts you up closer to God.

Me first…

It isn’t easy having to live with someone whose time is all consumed by studies, work and looking at the latest gadgets. On top of that, I was sick for the last 10 days, which meant that she had to take care of me and our 6-week-old baby practically by herself. Throughout all this, she has not once complained or gotten upset. She has been ever so patient with me. So, you ask, “How did that make you holier?” Well, I was once again reminded of how much more Jesus is patient with me. When my mind, body, and heart is consumed by other things of the world, Jesus patiently waits. He doesn’t complain or get upset. He is ever so patient while taking care of His precious children, me and my wife.

By chance, did you miss the message last Sunday? How about 8 weeks ago? Do you remember what the 4C’s from the “Gripped” message are? Do you need a refresher on what the 3 “Vital” relationships (Part 1, 2, or 3) which we believe is the measure of a believer’s spiritual health? Are you in a season of your life where you are “Waiting…?” Or maybe you have questions about what it means to be “Consumed” (Part 1, 2, or 3) by a life of worship? What does “Standing in the Gap” means? Does PK want us to go the mall and stand in The Gap so that we can share the gospel with shoppers? Or have you ever wondered if you have a “Faith that Works” or curious about how you can “Ignite” your faith? How about “God and Country?” (Part 1 or 2) How are the two related? Do you like fishing? Did you know that Jesus asked us to “Go Fish?” (Part 1, 2, or 3) Or maybe you are trying to “Discover God’s Will” (Part 1, 2, 3, or 4) for your life? Whether you want to hear last weeks message or a message from 2 years ago, we want to help you to grow into devoted followers of Jesus Christ. So you can either come visit us on our website or subscribe to our podcast in iTunes.

LifeGroup is our small group environment and the heartbeat of our ministry. Our goal is to “provide a predictable small group environment where participants experience authentic community and spiritual growth and do life together.” We believe that life change happens best in the context of community. We want people to celebrate the joys of life together and navigate through the storms of life together, as well. We desire for LifeGroups to be a means by which people grow into devoted followers of Jesus Christ.

There are currently 15 LifeGroups: 5 single mens, 5 single womens, and 5 married couples. Within these groups, there are approximately 90-100 people who are currently involved. They meet all across the DFW area on various days of the week.

We will be launching new LifeGroups this Sunday, January 24th. If you have been thinking about getting into a small group, this is a great opportunity for you to join. If you are interested in joining a LifeGroup, please email us at lifegroups@binnerriem.org. For more information or questions, please visit us on our website.