Crystal McVea's Blog

abico leo semper veniam nunc refero interdum. foras oppeto dis quis dignissim blandit elementum facilisis. esca regula rhoncus bis fere ludus. dictumst verto tortor suscipere huic accumsan. capto iusto gravida at dapibus opes singularis hac. tempus venenatis ludus purus tortor mauris.

probo multo a refero sino tamen quibus. pretium brevitas pertineo ultrices antehabeo. etiam commodo non sociis iaculis usitas. imputo vero conubia refero eleifend elit ideo exputo. etiam dolor ipsum nec pecus libero rhoncus pharetra quam. maecenas quis id aliquet malesuada pagus a magna.

bene aliquip est ea ideo acsi melior. capio ullamcorper abbas immitto venenatis eros jus demoveo. fatua regula cum melior iaculis sodales. hos natu imperdiet vulputate delenit facilisi amet ingenium. ut a diam inhibeo iusto tristique cras. lacus ullamcorper singularis populus pala meus felis condimentum. nibh adsum vicis defui valetudo roto refero ulciscor. iriure venenatis gravida natu opto gilvus. ratis lacinia causa malesuada scisco ligula inceptos.

It was around this time of year, a little over 2 years ago, that my life was forever changed by a single book.

An Invisible Thread tells the story of a busy ad executive in New York City. Laura Schroff passed by the homeless on the streets each day. She would often offer spare change or hot beverages on a cold blistering day. One day she was in a hurry and busily passed by a young boy on the streets who asked her for money. She shook her head “no” and kept walking until something told her to go back.

Her book chronicles her meeting of this young man, Maurice, and tells the beautiful story of how that day changed both of their lives forever. Maurice shares how he felt as Laura would pack him lunches in a brown paper bag just like all of the kids at his school. It was more than just food in a bag to him. It was the fact that someone…SOMEONE loved him and cared enough about him to pack his lunch. One small act of kindness that is now rippling through the world.

Laura wrote the introduction to my book, Waking Up in Heaven, and in it she shares the story of how her small act of kindness ended up changing my life too. I love this woman and all that she signifies and I love the story that unfolds in this book. But what I love the most is how Laura and Maurice are now using their story to help so many others..and thus, living out 1 John 4:19.

Laura and Maurice travel to various venues speaking about how one small act of kindness towards your fellow man can

and does change lives. Laura shares how Maurice has changed her life for the better, a gift that she would never have known had she not turned around that day.

They have partnered with an amazing organization, No Kid Hungry, whose mission is to end childhood hunger.

No Kid Hungry shows us some sobering statistics. 16 million (thats right, MILLION) live in a household that struggles to put food on the table. That is 1 out of every 5 kids. 22% of kids under the age of 18 live in poverty. That is right here in America.

No Kid Hungry works every day to end childhood hunger in America through several important steps.

1.Access-We’re ending childhood hunger by connecting kids to effective nutrition programs like school breakfast and

summer meals. This work is accomplished through the No Kid Hungry network, made up of private citizens,

government officials,nonprofit organizations, business leaders, and others providing innovative hunger solutions in

their communities. These partners work together, implementing solutions that break down the barriers that keep kids from healthy food.

2. Education- Through its Cooking Matters program, the No Kid Hungry campaign educates and empowers low-income families to stretch their food budgets so their kids get healthy meals at home. Cooking Matters participants learn to shop strategically, use nutrition information to make healthier food choices, and cook delicious, affordable meals.

3. Awareness- The No Kid Hungry campaign works to shine a national spotlight on the crisis of childhood hunger in America, creating a powerful movement of individuals committed to bold action. We build partnerships that enlist influential individuals in the cause and advocate policy changes needed to achieve our goals.

The organization states that the solution must be a collaboration. Since summer 2011, No Kid Hungry efforts have helped bring more than 34 million additional meals to kids who need them.

Helping to end hunger…one simple act of kindness at a time.

For more information on An Invisible Thread by Laura Schroff visit www.aninvisiblethread.com

To help partner with or to obtain more information on the No Kid Hungry program, visit www.nokidhungry.org

It all started with 96,000 cookies….

Upon 2-year-old Liam Witt’s diagnosis with neuroblastoma in 2007, his parents were shocked to learn of the lack of effective treatments for pediatric cancers due to lack of funding. They pledged to support the development of research for safer, more effective treatments. With the help of  250 volunteers, his mom Gretchen baked and sold 96,000 cookies, raising more than $400,000 for research. Word quickly spread, and people nationwide began asking, “What can I do to help?”

Tragically, Liam came to the end of his courageous 4-year fight with cancer on  January 24, 2011 at the age of 6. Though devastated by his loss, the Witts remain more determined than ever to continue the fight against pediatric cancer. Gretchen Witt accepts speaking engagements with 100% of her speaker’s fees going directly to Cookies for Kid’s Cancer.

Liam’s courageous spirit inspired her to raise money for a promising new treatment in need of funding. Though Liam tragically lost his battle, Gretchen continues to inspire people across the country with the message that every person can do their part to impact change.

Cookies for Kid’s Cancer is a national 501(c) non-profit organization dedicated to raising funds for pediatric cancer research. They provide the support and resources for individuals and businesses to host local fundraising events, as well as other simple ways for anyone to get involved.

Cookies for Kid’s Cancer encourages people to be “a good cookie”

There are many ways to be a good cookie and get involved. Hosting a fundraising event is just one idea. Order their cookies as gifts, shop their online gift shop, make a donation, create a fundraising page-every bit counts! Good cookies host events of all shapes and sizes!

Cookies for Kid’s Cancer also helps to educate people on the facts of childhood cancer.

* 1 in 300 children will be diagnosed with cancer by the time they are 20 years old.

* There are 12 major types of pediatric cancer, each as unique as the child fighting it.

* Less than 4% of the National Cancer Institute’s budget goes towards pediatric cancers.

* 2/3 of survivors develop long-term effects, including secondary cancers, a result of treatments that first cured them.

·

·     Each cookie sold through Cookies for Kid’s Cancer helps to take a bite out of pediatric cancer! For more information please visit their website and become a good cookie!

https://www.cookiesforkidscancer.org

When I died in that hospital room in 2009 and spent those precious moments with God, something amazing happened to me. I was FILLED with His love. Upon my return to my life all I wanted to do was be able to pour out the love that He had given me to the rest of the world. Before long, I realized that I wasn’t the only one who felt this way and I became determined to showcase the stories of ordinary people living out an extraordinary love…God’s love. And thus, Project 4:19 was born.

Project 4:19 is based on the scripture of John 4:19 which says “we love because He first loved us”. All love that we exhibit to others in this world is derived from the great well of love that God first bestowed upon us. Project 4:19 was founded to showcase stories, individuals, charities and organizations that are actively living out the scripture of John 4:19 and pouring Gods love back into the world.

When my editor told me about the story of an American team crossing the borders in Iraq and performing life saving heart surgeries on children, I knew that Preemptive Love would be my first feature for Project 4:19.

So friends, meet Jeremy Courtney, the executive director of the Preemptive Love Coalition, a development organization that works across Iraq providing lifesaving heart surgeries for children.



Preemptive Love invites you to walk along the front lines of the struggle for peace with Jeremy Courtney in a firsthand account of his team’s quest to mend hearts and save lives in the world’s most notorious war-torn country.

In the middle of the Iraq war, Jeremy and his wife Jessica found themselves with their two children caught up in the turmoil, just hoping to make a difference. After an encounter with a father whose little girl was dying from a heart defect, they began to investigate options for helping and learned that untold thousands of children across Iraq were in similar need, waiting in line for heart surgery in a country without a qualified heart surgeon.

With the help of their closest friends, they dived in to save the lives of as many as they could, but sending children abroad proved to be expensive and cumbersome, and it failed to make an impact on the systemic needs of Iraqi hospitals—the places where these children really should be saved. Despite death threats, bombings, imprisonments, and intense living conditions, Jeremy and his team persevered to overcome years of hostilities and distrust in an effort to eradicate the backlog of thousands upon thousands of Iraqi children waiting in line for much needed heart surgery.

In his book, Preemptive Love, Jeremy writes a firsthand account of lifesaving and peacemaking in the world’s most notorious war-torn country.

This story reminded me of the scripture of the Good Samaritan in Luke 10: 25-27

An expert in the law tried to test Jesus by asking what he must do to inherit eternal life. Jesus asked the man what was written in the law. The man recites to Jesus that we are to love God with everything we have and to love our neighbor as ourselves. Jesus agrees but the man asks Jesus who exactly is his neighbor.

Luke 30: In reply Jesus said: “A man was going down from Jerusalem to Jericho, when he was attacked by robbers. They stripped him of his clothes, beat him and went away, leaving him half dead. 31 A priest happened to be going down the same road, and when he saw the man, he passed by on the other side. 32 So too, a Levite, when he came to the place and saw him, passed by on the other side. 33 But a Samaritan, as he traveled, came where the man was; and when he saw him, he took pity on him. 34 He went to him and bandaged his wounds, pouring on oil and wine. Then he put the man on his own donkey, brought him to an inn and took care of him. 35 The next day he took out two denarii  and gave them to the innkeeper. ‘Look after him,’ he said, ‘and when I return, I will reimburse you for any extra expense you may have.’

36 “Which of these three do you think was a neighbor to the man who fell into the hands of robbers?”

37 The expert in the law replied, “The one who had mercy on him.”

Jesus told him, “Go and do likewise.”

Preemptive love is the story of the ones who went into the world and did just that and in doing so began to change nations. Because, in the heart of conflict, there is only one kind of love big enough to change a nation: a love that strikes first.

To find out how you can partner with this amazing cause or to get your own copy of Preemptive Love, visit their website or find them on Facebook.

PreemptiveLove.JeremyCourtney.com

PreemptiveLove.org