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Rachel W. Rains
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Rachel W. Rains

finding meaning in the journey

[A Holy Marker… ] My Mama’s Cancer Journey
A Meaningful Journey | Blog | Christian Blog | Faith Blog

[A Holy Marker… ] My Mama’s Cancer Journey

“Falling leaves are summer’s way of telling us goodbye.” – unknown Three incredibly difficult seasons have come and gone since I last posted to the A Meaningful Journey blog site. All I can say is… God and cancer can move at lightning speed!? I can’t say as to why God chose to move me across…

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If We Make It Through December…
A Meaningful Journey | Christian Blog | Faith Blog

If We Make It Through December…

The second half of 2019 brought a flurry of rollercoaster twists and turns for our family… and in God’s amazing grace, all for the good! God works like this ya’ know… not on our schedule… and not at all as we would think!? Or could even imagine. But always for our good! Spending most of 2015…

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The Secret [Lesson] of Life…
A Meaningful Journey | Christian Blog | Faith Blog | Worldview

The Secret [Lesson] of Life…

Humility isn’t exactly a characteristic we value much less elevate nowadays… “Humility has a dank and shameful smell to the worldly, the scent of failure, lowliness and obscurity.”* But Jesus came into this world humble in birth and he died on the cross equally in stature. He set the finest example in humility for all…

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How to Love Others… {Mr. Roger’s Style}
A Meaningful Journey | Christian Blog | Worldview

How to Love Others… {Mr. Roger’s Style}

This past summer as I was leaving church one Sunday morning, out of nowhere, I had the thought “I wonder if Mr. Rogers knew what he was doing when he wrote the song “Won’t You Be My Neighbor?” My suspicion told me the answer was a resounding, yes! So, when I began investigating, a few…

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Promise for the Journey…
A Meaningful Journey | Blog | Christian Blog

Promise for the Journey…

At the age of eighteen, God gave me a promise. A dream – if you will. A dream for my life’s purpose and a promise for my future. Thirty-two years have come and gone and, finally, the ‘big reveal’ has arrived. The proverbial unveiling. Ta-dah! Here it is… Thirty-two years of waiting, friends!?  But I was…

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The story of Habakkuk wrestling with the question, The story of Habakkuk wrestling with the question, “Why do bad things happen?” reminds us, though the storms of life rage, God is still present. God is still good–and faithful!

“Let us hold unswervingly to the hope we profess for He who promised is faithful” (Hebrews 10:23).

I so desperately wanted to return from my 40 days of Lent and social vacay with clarity on my current life circumstances, yet I still dwell in the land of Habakkuk. So, I wait. And I trust. The great theologian and Victorian preacher, Charles Spurgeon, explains hope like this, “Hope itself is like a star, not to be seen in the sunshine, but to be discovered in the night of adversity.”

Adversity is often a tool of correction or refinement. The promise of a future hope reminds us, our suffering is never wasted. And always worth the journey.

“For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future” (Jeremiah 29:11).

Hope is still alive–and working for our good. Even in seasons of adversity. 💕

#messagesofhope #hope #hopeinthedarkness #trustGod #Godsfaithfulness #sufferingisneverfornothing #scriptureoftheday #bibleverses #faithbloggersofinstagram #christianwritersofig #hopewriters #spurgeonquotes
We are called as believers to a great HOPE, friend We are called as believers to a great HOPE, friend. 🙌🏻 And our “hope does not put us to shame, because God’s love has been poured out into our hearts through the Holy Spirit who has been given to us” (Romans 5:5). 🙏🏻💕

#mondaymantra #hope #hopeinGod #faith #Jesus #lovescripture #scriptureoftheday #faithblogger #christianencouragement #christianwriters #hopewriters #victorhugoquote
Did you know bluebirds are considered MESSENGERS O Did you know bluebirds are considered MESSENGERS OF HOPE symbolizing personal growth, renewal, and new beginnings. 

Over Lent, a bluebird caught my breath fluttering about outside my kitchen window. I hadn’t seen a bluebird since relocating to Hometown, OK. So, its presence felt like a divine message from God. 

As believers, we have a glorious, redemptive hope that the unbelieving world does not share. And our audacious hope in the unseen reality of Jesus’ return is our calling card to a watching world. 

We are called to a great hope, friend! And “hope does not put us to shame, because God’s love has been poured out into our hearts through the Holy Spirit who has been given to us” (Romans 5:5). 💕

#messagesofhope #hope #bluebirds #renewal #woty #lovescripture #scriptureoftheday #bibleverseoftheday #faithbloggersofinstagram #christianwritersofig #hopewriters #hopeinthedarkness
If theologians were spirit animals, Henri Nouwen w If theologians were spirit animals, Henri Nouwen would be mine. He speaks my heart language. 

“In our wounded-ness, we can become a source of LIFE for others.” - Henri Nouwen

The starting point of our MISSION is to recognize the suffering of the world. Wounded-ness is to be human. The world doesn’t need more shiny people. The world needs wounded healers shining love in the darkness. 

Our life’s mission is to be so full of God’s love, we are a tangible, undeniable source of the life-giving power of Jesus Christ. Love heals, y’all! 

The Wounded Healer was the one book I wanted to read in 2025. Imagine my delight when I found it in the most unexpected place @halfpricebooks. 

Reading the introduction was such a holy moment, the one-ish page felt like a whole sermon in how to love—one challenging circumstance at a time. 💕

#suffering #shinelove #loveheals #woundedhealers #loveothers #henrinouwen #bealightinthedarkness #acceptthelovechallenge #thelovechallenge #faithbloggersofinstagram #christianwritersofig #amreading #bookstagram
Jesus will restore all that is broken, friend. And Jesus will restore all that is broken, friend. And He alone will set our broken world straight. 

Our INFINITE HOPE is found in Jesus and His redeeming work on the Cross. 💕

#mondaymantra #hope #hopeinGod #faith #Jesus #faithbloggers #christianwritersofinstagram #hopewriters #christianencouragement #mlkquote
Undoubtedly, the world disappoints. Christ followe Undoubtedly, the world disappoints. Christ followers too will falter leaving us disillusioned at times. But our hope as maturing believers doesn’t rest on what is seen in this world, but rather on an unseen reality. No matter the circumstances in this fallen, not-so-perfect world, our hope rests in Jesus. 

“A better hope is introduced, by which we draw near to God” (Hebrews 7:19).

Jesus will restore all that is broken, friend. And He alone will set our broken world straight. Martin Luther King brilliantly stated, “We must accept finite disappointment [in this world], but never lose infinite hope.”

Our INFINITE HOPE is found in Jesus and His redeeming work on the Cross.

Jesus is our only hope, friend. The world is finicky and temporary, but Jesus is eternal. And the hope He gives is everlasting. 💕

#hope #hopeinGod #biblicaltruths #lovescripture #scriptureoftheday #womenintheword #bibleverseoftheday #Jesus #faithblogger #christianwriters #hopewriters #christianencouragement #mlkquote
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