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Rachel W. Rains
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Rachel W. Rains

Gift from the Sea

Returning Home… [and gift(s) from the sea]
A Meaningful Journey | Christian Blog | Faith Blog | Uncategorized

Returning Home… [and gift(s) from the sea]

Recently, I spent a glorious three days with the fam on the beaches of Alabama. And although we weren’t able to make it all the way to our beloved 30-A, just being in Alabama and Mississippi rendered a strange sense of being back home!? Although, we’ve never lived in those places… Even stranger, as we…

Read More Returning Home… [and gift(s) from the sea]Continue

The Love Challenge

Join the quest and Accept the Love Challenge! 

Fill out the information below and receive The Love Challenge acceptance card, next steps for your #tlcjourney, and my monthly-ish AMJ Field Notes newsletter! 



Accepting #thelovechallenge often feels more like Accepting #thelovechallenge often feels more like a personal indictment than a banner I carry. I fail miserably [all the time], but my mission remains the same.

“To be so full of God’s love, I no longer fathom speaking an unkind word or committing an unkind deed.” 

We need only to look to the story of the adulteress in John 8:1-11 to realize that we are to apply mercy. And apply it generously. More importantly, all of us are equal in need of God’s mercy. For no one is blameless. We all fall short.

“And what does the Lord require of you? To act justly, love mercy, and walk humbly.” - Micah 6:8

We can’t hope to change the world, without first changing ourselves. And we change ourselves through learning to love as God does—one challenging circumstance at a time. 

Are you facing a particular challenge that requires prayer? 🙏🏻 Let me know how I can pray for you this week. And remember, if we bring our challenges to Him in prayer, He promises to answer. 💕 

#acceptthelovechallenge #tlcjourney #mercy #devotional #biblestudy #bibleverse #DailyDevo #hopewriters #Christianwriters #faithblogger #prayer
Throughout America’s history, Micah’s words ha Throughout America’s history, Micah’s words have been displayed in high esteem in the form of public monuments and buildings. The dutiful words laid open as a capstone for newly elected presidents to swear upon. Micah’s mandate, as it was eventually dubbed, presumed the singular hope that our nation and it’s emerging culture would devote itself to defending human obligations.*

In other words, to do WHAT LOVE REQUIRES of us.

Refusing to guard itself against corruption or care for the widowed and fatherless, Israel became “captive to the world’s culture.”* God dealt strongly with Israel’s injustice by allowing the nation to fall to Assyrian rule. But God also had mercy on Israel by keeping His promise to its future generations; the Messiah would, indeed, ascend from the descendants of David. 

At the epicenter of all injustice in this world, is greed [or selfish desire]. Greed demands what is “mine”. Whatever mine might be?! Sadly, due to our fallen nature, greed is innate in all of us. But real, unadulterated justice seekers will stamp out injustice whenever and wherever possible. Even when it’s embers burn within our own hearts. 

Seeking justice requires a great deal of spiritual maturity; a maturity that comprehends grace and mercy. We need only to look to the story of the adulteress in John 8:1-11 to realize that we are to apply MERCY—and apply it generously. More importantly, all of us are equal in need of God’s mercy. For no one is blameless. We all fall short.

💞 The Challenge:  Identify situations when it is challenging for you to show God’s love. Spend time in prayer asking God to help you display acts of mercy, grace, and love to those who look, think, or act differently than you this week.

💞 Prayer for the Journey:  Lord, guide me in the words of Micah 6:8. Where there is hate, injustice, and brokenness in the world, let me bring extraordinary grace and unfathomable love. Help me love an unlovable world—one challenge at a time. 

#acceptthelovechallenge #thelovechallenge #justice #mercy #bibleverse #biblestudy #dailydevotion #hopewriters #Christianwriters #faithblogger 

The Micah Mandate; George Grant, p. 97
Welcoming Justice; John Perkins p. 56
Love challenges are simply opportunities to grow i Love challenges are simply opportunities to grow in spiritual maturity while participating in the building of God’s Kingdom. When we fail to accept the challenge to love, opportunity is lost. Opportunities to forgive, root out our own bitterness, and extend God’s amazing grace. But when we choose to accept, love wins—this side of heaven! And Heaven rejoices. 

“To be so full of God’s love, I no longer fathom speaking unkind words or committing unkind deeds.” This is my quest, join me?! 

Difficult people and challenging circumstances are “who” and “what” makes accepting The Love Challenge—so challenging, y’all! But the call to love a broken, unlovable world is God’s invitation for us to GROW in His unfathomable love. 

“To you who are ready for the truth, I say this: LOVE your enemies. Let them bring out the best in you, not the worst. When someone gives you a hard time, respond with the supple moves of prayer… No more payback. Live generously.” Luke 6:27-30

💞 The Challenge: Consider how God might be calling you to accept the challenge to love a fallen, imperfect world full of messy, broken people this week? What will your answer be? 

Download your free mini-devotional, The Love Challenge: How to Love a Broken, Unlovable World One Challenge at a Time, at the link in profile. 

#acceptthelovechallenge #thelovechallenge #lovewins #loveyourenemies #kingdombuilding #bibleverseoftheday #scripture #womenintheWord #hopewriters #Christianwriters #faithblogger
As believers, we recognize the command to love. Bu As believers, we recognize the command to love. But when we are actually put to the test through messy, painful, real-life experiences, we struggle. Loving the lovable is easy. But loving the unlovable is incredibly difficult. Only through the power of God’s LOVE and Christ’s example can we ever hope to meet the challenge with extraordinary grace and unfathomable love. 
⠀
“To you who are ready for the truth, I say this: Love your enemies. Let them bring out the best in you, not the worst. When someone gives you a hard time, respond with the energies of prayer for that person. If someone slaps you in the face, stand there and take it. If someone grabs your shirt, giftwrap your best coat and make a present of it. If someone takes unfair advantage of you, use the occasion to practice the servant life. No more tit-for-tat stuff. Live generously.” (Luke‬ ‭6:27-30‬).⠀

Lord, help me to respond with love, kindness, and gentleness when confronted with challenging circumstances and difficult people. Help me bridle my emotions and instead overflow with the fullness of Your love and mercy. Help me learn to see past the annoying behaviors and see only the hurting, Lord. Thank you for blessing me with the opportunity to become more Christlike by loving a broken, unlovable world one CHALLENGE at a time.

“To be so full of God’s love, I no longer fathom speaking an unkind word or commit an unkind deed.” This is my quest, join me?! 

The #tlccommunity is launching right around a month from now… ‘Til then, check back every Tuesday for a love-focused scripture study.

So, the question remains, “What if love was our immediate response?” Let me hear from you in the comments below. 💕 xo

#acceptthelovechallenge2023 #lovingtheunlovable #loveyourenemy #lovewins #biblestudy #womenintheword #Christiancommunity #hopewriters #faithblogger #Christianwriters
“In the same way, let your light SHINE before ot “In the same way, let your light SHINE before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven.” - Matthew 5:16 

Seeing is believing, y’all… And our LOVE in action is what a broken, unlovable world needs to see—to believe. 

How will you pierce the darkness with your loving words and deeds this #MartinLutherKingDay and every day in 2023? 

“Not only to be so full of God’s love for all the world to see, but to shine so bright.” This is my quest, join me? 💕

Do you long to walk in God’s love in the midst of an adversarial world? Are you ready to accept the greatest challenge ever issued to mankind—loving a broken, unlovable world with the heart of its Creator? 

If so, meet me in the comments and say “I’m in” 🙋🏼‍♀️ And then head over to the link in bio to download your #TLCacceptancecard and free mini-devo, The Love Challenge: How to Love a Broken, Unlovable World One Challenge at a Time.

Stay tuned for a special announcement… til then, spread God’s love.

#newyeargoals #resolution2023 #acceptthelovechallenge #thelovechallenge #shinelove #lovingtheunlovable #lovewins #spreadlove #loveinaction #devotional #womenintheword #bibleverseoftheday #martinlutherkingquotes
To be honest, my word of the year scares me! It fe To be honest, my word of the year scares me! It feels way too large, untidy, and full of the unknown. I’m not sure where its going. And maybe that is exactly the point!? I’m not supposed to know. 

I caught a nasty cold the Sunday after thanksgiving—and it never went away! While still sickly and with a fresh booty shot of prednisone, I caught covid 5 days before Christmas. Other known health issues reared their ugly heads in the following days--and now a new health concern has surfaced?! I tell you all of this to say, I have no choice but to SURRENDER all of my expectations of what the start of this year should look like to the reality of what it actually is... my lack of control over things out of my control. Maybe this is the lesson God had in mind all along? 

Surrender certainly wasn’t my choice for a word of the year. My personal choice was wrapped up neatly in a bow by mid-November. It had tangible implications that suited me. 

The last time God put me flat on my back to ponder was 2018. I had big “life decisions” looming large and I desperately needed God’s guidance. But true to His ever-present, faithful nature, God delivered His perfect peace and His perfect plan—in His perfect timing, of course! So, I’m gently reminded this go ‘round. He’ll deliver again. 

Surrendering, in a biblical sense, is to let go of our plans, expectations, and “need” to drive the bus. Surrendering is our willingness to submit to God’s sovereignty and trust He will deliver us to our final destination. 

“Trust the Lord with all of your heart and lean not into your own understanding. In all your ways submit to Him and He will make your paths straight.” - Proverbs 3:5-6

Lord, help me surrender my expectations, my fears, my plans, and my hope for a weary, love-challenged world to You. Help me wait patiently, work diligently, and watch expectantly for you to move. Help me to be Spirit-led. For you alone, drive this bus called “my life and story.” Help me surrender it all—once and for all! Set my eyes upwards. So, I no longer thwart Your master plan for my life’s story. Help me “Be still” and know, You are God.

#woty2023 #surrender #Godsplan #peace #hope #hopewriters #lettinggo
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