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Rachel W. Rains
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Rachel W. Rains

Naming hard things

Breaking Down… and Trusting Him in the Journey.
A Meaningful Journey | Blog | Christian Blog | Faith Blog

Breaking Down… and Trusting Him in the Journey.

One year ago, hubby and I drove through Cairo, Illinois on our way to pick up Cousin Carl for Thanksgiving. Hubby pulled into the historic district for what would be our very last time. Although, unbeknownst to us at the time—we may have suspected it!? And I’m so glad we did. Because we captured this…

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This is real, perfecting love, y’all! As 2024 wi This is real, perfecting love, y’all! As 2024 winds down with all of its monumental challenges to love in a fallen, imperfect world, my hope and prayer is that all of us can love one another—and in all of life’s hardest places. I love this exchange from the film, The Best Christmas Pageant Ever.🌟 “What if the Herdmans ruin it for you?” asks Beth. “We’ll be missing the whole point if we turn them away now” replied Grace. “Jesus was born for the Herdmans as much as He was for you and me.” All of us are part Herdmans in light✨of the cross. I love the film’s divine message. And how accepting God’s challenge to love “the unlovable” in a not-so-lovable world changes the meaning of Christmas for all of us. Read my reaction and review of this heart-stirring, holiday film at the AMJ blog link in my profile. 💕 #spreadlove #loveinthehardplaces #lovetheunlovable #howtolovetheworld #thebestchristmaspageantever #themeaningofChristmas #holidaymoviereview #lovescripture #scriptureoftheday #womenintheword #faithbloggersofinstagram #christianwritersofig #acceptthelovechallenge #loved #woty
I had no idea what to expect when I walked into an I had no idea what to expect when I walked into an early screening of @bestchristmaspageantevermovie 🌟 last Saturday. Since I hadn’t read the book or seen the stage production, I guess I expected something of a Junie B. Jones, elementary reader nature. But instead, I encountered a wondrous story of God’s love. As I watched the film, I was reminded of Angel Rachel [a nickname bestowed on me in the church where I first heard the story of God’s love]. And the pureness of heart in giving that little black heart to Jesus at the tender age of 5-ish. With gratitude, I thanked the Lord for the recent opportunity to pray, all these years later, for my friend, Jeni Jo. A friend whom I made as we listened together to the wondrous tale. I was further reminded of my own Angel Mother directing me in a church production of “The Little Christmas Angel.” And how my youngest brother rescued that breathtaking piece of my childhood from the attic as we prepared our childhood home for sale after her passing. Again, immense gratitude ensued. But “ugly crying” best describes my reaction as the film’s divine message revealed itself. The message of how accepting God’s challenge to love “the unlovable” in a not-so-lovable world changes the meaning of Christmas for all of us. And I’m wrecked by God’s story of extraordinary grace and unfathomable love, all over again. Because in the light of the cross, all of us are part Herdmans. I love this line from the film’s trailer, “What if the Herdmans ruin it for you?” asks Beth. “We’ll be missing the whole point if we turn them away now” replied Grace. “Jesus was born for the Herdmans as much as He was for you and me.” This is REAL LOVE, y’all. “Not that we loved God, but that he loved us and sent his Son as a sacrifice to take away our sins.” - 1 John 4:10 I hope you’ll see this beautiful, heart-stirring film this holiday season. You’ll be blessed—beyond measure! 💕 #thebestchristmaspageantever #reallove #holidaymovies #howtolovetheunlovable #acceptthelovechallenge #thelovechallenge #Godsloveneverfails #theChristmasstory #lovescripture #scriptureoftheday #loved #faithbloggers #christianwritersofinstagram
It’s a great day to remember who LOVED us most—and act accordingly! I know I’ll be trying to remember as I wait for results. Spread love, y’all! 💕🇺🇸 Happy Election Day! #election2024 #vote #lovelikeJesus #spreadlove #lovewins #lovescripture #acceptthelovechallenge #thelovechallenge #loved #woty #scriptureoftheday #faithbloggers #christianwritersofinstagram
Loving in the hard places is worth the suffering. Loving in the hard places is worth the suffering. And PERFECTING God’s love is our life-giving gift to a world in desperate need of a Savior. Chase after a life of LOVE, y’all. You can read Perfecting Love in its entirety by visiting the AMJ blog [link in profile]. 💕 #mondaymood #scriptureoftheday #bibleverseoftheday #Christianencouragement #lovescripture #scripturereels #womenintheword #lovewins #loveGodlovepeople #acceptthelovechallenge #faithbloggersofinstagram #christianwritersofig
Brokenness became our human-ness when sin entered Brokenness became our human-ness when sin entered the world. Our perfectly axised world suddenly set un-straight was forever imperfectly tilted towards disobedience, enmity, and darkness. We’re called, as Christ followers, to peel back the darkness and live in the Light; becoming increasingly more like Him. We’re called to love like Jesus loved. And from glory-to-glory. Or in simpler terms, one challenging circumstance at a time. God’s desire for His children is that we love a fallen, imperfect world with a perfect[ing] love. A love that overlooks offense and sees the hurting. A love that forgives as one who is forgiven. A love that is pure—and genuine. A love that perfects the giver; and blesses the receiver. To LOVE and be fully loved is the desire of every human heart. And the perfecting LOVE of the Father expresses itself, most perfectly, through loving those the world deems “unlovable.” Loving perfectly is often costly. But isn’t it great to know, our suffering is never wasted. Co-laborers in the suffering of Christ is our highest privilege as believers. And practicing supernatural, unfathomable LOVE is our highest aim as believers. Loving in the hard places is worth the suffering. And perfecting God’s love is our life-giving gift to a world in desperate need of a Savior. Chase after A LIFE OF LOVE, friends. And “Let love be your greatest aim.” - 1 Corinthians 14:1 Is God calling you to perfect His love in you through challenging circumstances? As always, I’d love to hear. Meet me in the comments. 💕 #midweekmantra #lovelikeJesus #perfectinglove #suffering #loveinthehardplaces #annvoskampquote #brokenness #scriptureoftheday #bibledevotion #Christianencouragement #faithbloggersofinstagram #christianwritersofig
Today, would have been my sweet mama’s 85th birt Today, would have been my sweet mama’s 85th birthday! I spoke to my mama every day for 15+years. Because when your mama becomes cancer-free, that, in itself, isn’t a good enough reason to stop calling her on a daily basis. In a year of the seismically hard stuff that we humans trudge through, unwillingly, I have felt her loss more deeply in 2024 than in previous years. The gaping wound of her absence is almost too hard to bear in this year of hard and brought me to tears on more than one occasion. PRAYERS and check-ins from wonderful friends and relatives lifted my weary spirit keeping me afloat on many a day. Such a friend who checked-in when I needed it most, penned these words. “God’s plan doesn’t break even when we do. He sits with us in the waiting, the fear, and the unknown . And in the midst of it all, He’s rebuilding us stronger, bigger, and more beautiful than before.” - Dawn M. Sanders “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 He is always working for our good. His love never waivers. In Him, I’ll place my trust, again and again, because He has been so good to me. Lord, thank you for sheltering us in the storms of life. Thank you for Your patience when we are slow learners of Your ways—and grace. Thank you for “ambassadors” of your love when I need a tangible reminder You are near. Thank you for loving me with an everlasting love. “Give thanks to the Lord, for He is good; His LOVE ENDURES forever.” 1 Chronicles 16:34 How has God sheltered you in the storms of life? As always, I’d love to hear [share in comments]. 💕 I love these sweet pics of my mama on the beach. I knew one day, they’d become oh so precious to me. Also, my fried @dawnmannsanders recently published her first book, When Your World Ends. If you’re wondering how to rebuild your life after having it fall apart, this book is for you! #grief #loss #suffering #hope #mamas #daughters #Godsplan#loveendures #womenintheword #bibleversestoliveby #scriptureoftheday #faithbloggersofinstagram #christianwritersofinstagram #Christianencouragement
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