Craving God's Word Like...

1 Peter 2:2 says, "Like newborn babies, long for the pure milk of the word, so that by it you may grow in respect to salvation."

I have always known that this verse is a powerful reminder of what my attitude SHOULD be towards God's Word, but it has really come alive since having children.  Our second daughter, Madelyn, exemplifies this truth perfectly.  She is like clockwork.  Every three hours she CRAVES milk.  I'm not talking about "can I have milk please" crave.  I'm talking about "If you don't give me some milk I will eat my left arm" crave.  It's so funny watching her try to bite the air in her attempts to communicate her desire.  

This all makes me think of my desire to be fed by the Word.  Do I CRAVE the Word as much as Madelyn craves milk?  Do I get unsettled in my spirit when I don't get my daily dosage?  

Questions for you: What can you do TODAY that will spark that spiritual longing once again?  

Living Grace Church...here we come!

First of all, I want to thank each and every one of you for earnestly praying for Frances and me these last few months.  Although stepping out in faith is an exhilarating feeling, it also is a terrifying experience!  

Let me give you a rundown of the events that occurred these past few months...

 - In May I communicated with the leadership team of Bannockburn Baptist Church in Austin, TX that God had laid it on my heart to return to being a senior pastor.  They graciously gave me until the end of September to pursue that calling and then step out in faith as God gave me the grace to do it.  

 - We put our house on the market and ventured out into the realm of the unknown - while being pregnant (of course)!  

 - Although several "good" opportunities presented themselves from really "good" churches and / organizations, nothing really gripped our hearts.  Trust me, it was the most difficult thing in the world to say "no" to the good in order to hold out for God's best.  

 - The very day that I said "no" to an opportunity to be the senior pastor of a church on the east coast, I received a phone call from Living Grace Church in Campbellsville, KY.  (www.livinggracechurch.com)  

 - Living Grace is a church plant that is only 6 years old.  It began with only 17 people and today averages over 700 each week.  

 - After speaking with them for over a month, Frances and I made our way to Campbellsville, KY the weekend of December 5-7 for an extended time of interviewing (with Staff Search Team and Leadership Team).  We met and ate - and ate and met, etc, etc, etc... 

 - A few weeks ago, just three days after Maddy was born, I flew out again to preach at Living Grace. 

 - Just last week I received a phone call from Living Grace saying that both the Search Team and Leadership Team unanimously voted to bring me as their next Senior Pastor!  Oh, how humbling and exciting!

 - I fly out again (for the 3rd time) this Saturday - Monday to officially go before the church, share my story and vision for Living Grace.  

Here are some pictures to give you an idea of what Living Grace is all about... (In case you're wondering, the building used to be a Coca-Cola Bottling Company factory - cool, huh?)

Oh to be a dad...again!

December 31, 2008 started out like every other New Year's Eve - giving my beautiful bride a good morning kiss to celebrate her birthday.  She was turning 31 this year and looking forward to spending it with some friends here in Jacksonville (watch a movie, go to the spa - you know, girly stuff).  I had planned to watch some college football and chill.  

Our plans quickly changed!  

After going to the doctor that morning, Frances was told that she was 3 centimeters dilated and was going to deliver Madelyn Kate today!  And sure enough, at 1:24 p.m. at the Family Birth Place in Jacksonville, FL Madelyn Kate Kelley arrived!   Although she was 4 weeks early (leave it up to a Kelley girl to come early) she was 7.2 lbs and 19 1/2 inches long!  Whew.  

As I write this, she is still in the NICU because her lungs need to develop a bit more.   We are just thankful that she is a healthy baby girl.  She has a big sister who is dying to hold her and take good care of her.  It is so cute to see Caroline pray for baby Maddy every night.  

Well, off to sleep.  You know it's a commodity these days :)