an example of patience & suffering...James 5

whether or not i ever have or ever will meet these people doesn't seem to matter one bit tonight.  as i pray for these two families, all that matters is that we were created by and serve the same God, and He has called us to pray for our fellow saints as they endure suffering.

matt chandler, the lead pastor at The Village Church in Dallas was recently diagnosed with a brain tumor and is currently undergoing intensive treatment with chemo and radiation.  his testimony is one of the glory of suffering and claiming Christ as all regardless of the hardship and uncertainty of what he and his family are facing. being honest about the fears and sadness they have experienced, he and his wife are boldly living out the truth he has preached to thousands. 

in the midst of his own journey with brain cancer, he is petitioning people to intercede for a 6 year old little girl named kate mcrae.  her story, and the journey she and her family are traveling, is one that will cut deeply, but push you so far into the truth of Christ.

my heart is heavy, but full of Christ's hope.  please pray with me for both of these families.  their loyalty to the gospel in the midst of such heartache is something that is surely impacting lives daily. at the very least, i pray the arms of the Body of Christ will be far reaching in prayer as long as their journeys endure.  

it's beginning to look a lot like...

a pretty non-traditional Christmas in some ways.  Advent Conspiracy has yet again made me painfully aware of how quickly i lose sight of what's real, true, and good.  the older i get the more i hear Solomon's words ringing true: "everything is meaningless...." 

what's real is the fact that while we were still sinners, God demonstrated His own love for us through the life, death, burial, and resurrection of His own son, Jesus Christ.  

what's true is that God made it possible to have a relationship with Him through Jesus and we literally have the opportunity to interact with Him, communicate with Him, call upon Him in desperation, and abide in Him.  that changes every thing about every day.

what's good is everything about Him.  He has always acted on our behalf and He always will.  it may not be the way we want or expect, but He always acts. 

why is it so dang easy to forget that the birth of Christ is the center of all of the craziness of the holiday season?  when i remember that simple, yet profound truth, everything is different...   

i see things differently. 

i respond differently. 

i  even walk a little slower.

i focus on things that are full of meaning. 

i think about things that matter. 

our pastor has compiled some readings for Advent and even the act of daily reading has helped keep Jesus in the forefront of my brain and heart.  but the internalization of Truth is only a part of it.  the action that follows has been what's challenged me the most this year.  it's really easy for me to know, believe, and hold fast to the truth about God.  and being in vocational ministry, i have a billion opportunities every week to walk them out.  and i treasure those opportunities.  but when Advent rolls around, i am just like everyone else... trying to arrange my life to fit in the things that really matter.  and sometimes i do a terrible job at that. 

i'm so thankful for the events we've done so far, and very thankful for that slightly uncomfortable twinge that tells me i need to be doing this stuff way more than i currently am.

3.75 years since my last post... seriously

yes... it's really been that long. kinda ridiculous. but here's a glimpse of me: i tried to get into my account to write one day, and it wouldn't work. i tried again a few weeks later, it wouldn't work again. then i literally just forgot i had a blog. that's often what happens in the mind of megan kelly.

however, since facebook has taken over the planet, i've been able to connect with many people who have greatly influenced my life over the years. and it has made me realize that blogging would be a more efficient way to keep people updated on what God's doing down here in baton rouge. who knew?! [insert eye roll emoticon here]

since this is my first post back, i figured it would be nice to pick up where i left off. if you've read the previous post, you've met my youngest niece, "little science project finley." i praise God for creating and sustaining life. little finorita is a great reminder of both. here she is 3.75 years later. in the 80th percentile in height, smart as a whip, sassy as all get out, and 100% healthy.