Rachel Holmes

The Truth

What’s different now? About that old truth That ancient word? Let me tell you.

The present presence

His presence is always there. “I will take you journey through, I will never forsake you." His presence is always there. The present is always there When burdens abound, In the now we are found. The present is always there His presence is always there. The calm in the storm,

On quiet warfare

Friend, joy comes in the morning. As far off as the dawn feels In the dead of night, So joy feels far the Longer the fight. But fight we do, Not with sword we live But with the grace He gives. It looks like one more. One more gray morning

The older brother too

God forgives the older brother too, Though they that take it are but few. Rich in truth and so much more, It’s hard to enter through the door. That door is narrow just because It’s just so easy to follow laws. Do this, say that, you must not

Love is a Landscape

We've had a wedding in the family. It has me thinking about our own love, almost 13 years on. We're just getting started compared to many, and in many ways I feel like we're just setting out. This is part of a larger piece for my Joel. May your day

What's new for 2023?

Happy New Year friends! After a couple of weeks off (I almost wrote restful. I have 4 kids -- when is a vacation restful with 4 littles?) I am looking forward getting back to my keyboard! I write to encourage you in your walk with the Lord. I want to

Christmas

Rugged Wood

Rugged wood, Little body laid. Soft the skin And rough the place. Rugged wood, His hand on lathe. Satin finish from splinters pain. Rugged wood, His pierced form. Soft the sigh But strong the cry. Rugged wood, The table spread. Soft the gasp, The stranger gone. Rugged wood, Crackled warm.

Christmas

He once

He once in rugged manger laid, God so quiet and so still. He once stepped in the world He’d made. God, a baby, manager filled. He once soft sighed and snuggled close, God with us, our Immanuel. He once was carried, who we need most God with us once

Christmas

It was for me

It was for me. This child born, This dear Son given, Immanuel called. It was for me. The Counselor, The King, The Mighty God came. It was for me. The Eternal Father, The Prince, my peace, The prophecy filled. It was for me. Wondrous He’s called, The kingdom placed

Christmas Update 2022

Dear Friends and Family, We had too much to say and too little postage, so welcome to our Christmas letter to one and all! This November 2022, we (Joel and Rachel) went over to England for Nathaniel’s (Rachel’s brother’s) wedding. While we were there, we had a

Christmas

Immanuel, God with us

To world of hopeless horror filled A baby calm, and still. In darkness deep the Light did shine The year’s awaited sign. Tis God incarnate lies here sweet, In simple hay and feed. Immanuel, God with us, meet The answer to our need. But we’ve seen this quiet

Lord plant me here

Lord, plant me here, Where hope star of Bethlehem Soaks the dark all year round. Lord, plant me here, In the light of Your courts In love of a different sort. Lord, plant me here, Let me live all my days Fully know your ways. Lord, plant me here, Beside

Let me tell you about children

Let me tell you about children. They are loud noises from small bodies. “Sooo big” but still so small. They are busy and clumsy and silly and serious. They are working and trying and growing and failing and struggling and falling and getting up again. They are exploring and questioning

Don't pity the plant

Pity not the plant As Jonah did that day In wake of fearful judgment stayed Thousands repent And honor now his name Oh pity not the plant. When your shade removed When the sun beats down Don’t pity then the plant. Think instead of enemies Made friends And the

The path to Heaven

If I could show you How He longs to know you And be known still in return, If I could tell you He would only compel you To the solid hope of Him. You’d set aside “ought,” For your heart would be caught Up in the brilliance Of all

Savor your Blessings

Savor your blessings Take them one by one Savor your blessings See what God has done. Let the gratitude wash And the full cup slosh Savor your blessings Do tell, what God has done! Did he free you And never leave you? Did he name you And never shame you?

Simple Steps

Simple steps, not mighty leaps. Simple steps, my path he keeps. Simple steps, round Jericho’s wall. Simple steps, answering the call. Simple steps, contentment blooms Simple steps to Satan’s doom. Simple steps with simple faith, Simple steps for stunning pace. Simple steps saw millions reached Simple steps the

Being

The ache of not being Of no one caring Of taking up space And no one noticing Has a way of hollowing out Who are you are deep inside It echos It bakes It stings And it stays. It tremors in love It tremors in joy It tremors in failure

Taxes

Have you ever tried to pay your dad taxes? I have. After Jesus and his disciples arrived in Capernaum, the collectors of the two-drachma temple tax came to Peter and asked, “Doesn’t your teacher pay the temple tax?" “Yes, he does,” he replied. When Peter came into the house,

Love hunting

Did you set out to look for love, friend? Did you step out your front door and start love hunting as a young woman? In safe places, of course. (Or maybe not.) Maybe a boyfriend, or a mom-figure, or a best friend would help? But you never questioned exactly what

A green bean for His glory

I used to sit in my grandma’s living room and just watch her knit. I know, I know. That sounds frightfully boring. But I truly loved it. I hardly understood why, but the quiet click-click of her needles, the resonant tick-tick of the grandfather clock, the soft sounds of

I stand at the Jordan

I stand at the Jordan. Shoes sinking in mud Heart sinking in fear As I watch passing flood. 40 years doesn't seem All that long to wander Away from a dream, And those giants I ponder. The moment to chose From safety remove, With so much to lose. Good spies

Pain is a gift

Pain is a gift Though heavy to lift Left unfelt It won’t roll away. It gathers. It cakes. It starts to decay. It’s carried around Pound upon pound. So let's set it down now give it a name, And take a good look Soft courage in hand. Suffer

Bottled up brilliance

If I could bottle up the brilliance Of this stunning fall day Dear friend I would. You’d crack open the top And smell deep the draught Of sunshine and chill Of the color of still The breeze would caress Your face and your soul The sun would soften The

Here's the rub

What about sin? Reality is, things are better and worse off than we thought. Hear me out. I hate calling sin, sin. I hate calling it out. Even with my kids. Because I deeply long for my girls and all the people I know to know they are loved, valuable,