Rachel Holmes

worship

A House in the Country

I pictured a house in the country. A place I called home. A home where I would raise my children. I pictured carving their names in a large old tree outside and notch their heights in the trim inside. I pictured them growing up, watching myself and my husband age.

worship

Two Mites and a Little Frankincense

“Jesus looked up and saw the rich putting their gifts into the offering box, and he saw a poor widow put in two small copper coins. And he said, ‘Truly, I tell you, this poor widow has put in more than all of them. For they all contributed out of

worship

Feels Like Home

When I was little and the days grew short and cool, I had to come in when it got dark. I hated coming in early. Still gritty with dirt and sticky from pine sap in the woods, I would plop on the stairs and wriggle my tennis shoes off and

life

A Suitcase Full of Dresses

It was a suitcase full of dresses. Dresses that I wore to accept awards in high school. Dresses I wore to my first date and bridal showers. My going away outfit. I didn’t know if I would need them, but I knew that I couldn’t leave them. My

life

Dusty Feet

“And if the house is worthy, let your peace come upon it, but if it is not worthy, let your peace return to you. And if anyone will not receive you or listen to your words, shake off the dust from your feet when you leave that house or town.

worship

Slow Simmer Glory

“Beloved, do not be surprised at the fiery trial when it comes upon you to test you, as though something strange were happening to you. But rejoice insofar as you share Christ’s sufferings, that you may also rejoice and be glad when his glory is revealed” (1 Peter 4:

worship

After God's Own Heart

David was barefoot on the rough mountainside. His head was covered with his cloak and his face was filled with his grief (2 Sam 15:30). His own son Absalom had turned the hearts of the people away from him and cleverly usurped the throne (2 Sam 15:6). Surrounded

worship

Holy Hope

When we consecrate ourselves to God, we think we are making a great sacrifice, and doing lots for Him, when really we are only letting go some little, bitsie trinkets we have been grabbing, and when our hands are empty, He fills them full of His treasures. — Betty Stam, missionary

worship

Words of Water

“For as the rain and the snow come down from heaven and do not return there but water the earth, making it bring forth and sprout, giving seed to the sower and bread to the eater, so shall my word be that goes out from my mouth; it shall not

worship

His Mercy is New

“How lonely sits the city that was full of people!” (Lamentations 1:1).   My heart is quieted by the cries of this ancient, heartbroken man. The prophet laments and my heart, oddly, responds. Never before have his words felt so near, so frightening, so empty of hope and pregnant with

life

Waiting

Photo by Georgia de Lotz on Unsplash “But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law” (Galatians 5:22–23). Waiting is hard. We wait and we wonder and we watch and we pray. When I

worship

Glory for the Road

“The Lord is my light and my salvation. Whom shall I fear? The Lord is the strength of my life; Of whom shall I be afraid?” (Psalm 27:1 ESV). “Mommy, does God know the last number? And does God know where space ends?” This was the sudden burning question

poetry

Immanuel

The people who walked in darkness have seen a great light; those who dwelt in a land of deep darkness, on them has light shone. ~ Isaiah 9:2 To the tune: O Little Town of Bethlehem To world of hopeless horror filled A baby calm, and still. In darkness deep

worship

Who is He?

Dear Sisters, who is God? I mean, who is God in our everyday lives, when the sink is full of dishes, we’ve had too little sleep, with our work obligations and our health troubles? Who is He then? As lovely as it is for Him to comfort and sustain

worship

Run the Race

The following is a post that I wrote for Livinglovedtoday.com: A black screen. All I could hear was my own breathing and the slap-slap-slap of my shoes on the pavement. I groaned inwardly and willed my feet forward. I have small children but this was not the silence I

worship

Metamorphosis

It was a normal evening. I was hot and tired. Exhausted. The AC was broken and the unusually cool June had suddenly become hot and oppressive just in time. Making matters worse, we had to keep the windows closed to keep the pollen out of the house because of Joel’

poetry

Lord, then I don't need to be redeemed

I want a good life, beautiful and bright. I don’t want the suffering, awful night. I want You to give light I don’t want You out of sight. I want it all perfect, all my need so neatly met. I want it to be just as I dreamed.

poetry

This baby's voice

O Lord, our Lord,     how majestic is your name in all the earth! You have set your glory above the heavens. Out of the mouth of babies and infants, you have established strength because of your foes,     to still the enemy and the avenger. Psalm 8:1-2 …and they said

motherhood

Four kids

Four kids. What have I done to myself? I’ve sentenced myself to a life of quiet pleasures and ridiculous frustration. Of cuddly stretching and cooing and sleepy smiles. Of intellectual conversations about the size of various breeds of dogs and whether or not a lions are, in fact, the

life

A Little Pot of Infinite

The kids were sleeping in. I heard the baby stirring, but I had a few minutes to finish loading the dishes from the night before. I had been up, reading and eating — feeding body and soul. I was continuing to “pour my heart out before Him” in the morning stillness.

worship

The Scent of Worship

And she had a sister called Mary, who sat at the Lord’s feet and listened to his teaching. – Luke 10:39 So when Martha heard that Jesus was coming, she went and met him, but Mary remained seated in the house. – John 11:20 Now when Mary came to

life

These are the days... (family update)

I know I’ll be a hopeless sentimental grandma if the Lord gives me grandchildren — I leave my small children for a few hours and I find myself showing my husband pictures of them on my phone. Just in case he forgot, you know. But oh how these little people

worship

This was because...

Photo by Sarah Shaffer on Unsplash ‘…so they said to one another, “Let us not tear it, but cast lots for it to see whose it shall be.” This was to fulfill the Scripture which says, “They divided my garments among them, and for my clothing they cast lots.” So

worship

Freedom

Freedom is not found in being whatever we want to be. It is being exactly what we were called to be. Have you ever seen something… or someone doing exactly what they were called to do — and doing it excellently? Have you been on a sailboat skimming the waves, caught

Psalm 145:17

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