Have you ever broken a record before? Seriously a legitimate record? I break silly records all the time: most hours spent on the couch, number of tweets in a fifteen minute period, times using the word “hilarious” in a conversation. (I annoy myself with how much I use the word “hilarious” but I just can’t seem to stop.) But I don’t know if I have ever broken a legitimate record. Until this weekend.

This weekend at the Women of Faith conference in Dallas, Texas, I was a part of something pretty amazing. I helped break a record. And not just some stupid record, but one that I can be proud of.

We (that is me and the other 15,999 attendees of the conference) broke the record for the for the most WorldVision children sponsored at a Women of Faith Conference EVER. Over 1,500 kids were sponsored. Over 1,500 lives were changed.

I sponsored a little girl named Workezeb from Ethiopia. (more…)

Have you ever sat in church and felt like your pastor, priest, or minister is speaking directly to you? Or actually that God is screaming at the top of His lungs at you through your pastor, priest, or minister? And instantly a gut-wrenching conviction bombards your soul. Unfortunately, I know this feeling all too well. Selfishly I so wish I could sit through just one message and think, “I am so on top of this, God. I’ve already got this one covered.” But somehow I doubt I will ever get there.

Last Sunday at Cross Point, Pete encouraged us to take a moment and ask God if there was something, anything, He was asking us to do that we were neglecting. Painful question, right? Because of course, several things came to mind. Several things that I knew God was calling me to take care of and I was avoiding. Or maybe I wasn’t completely avoiding them, but I wasn’t quite doing them either. Several things God was asking me to change, but candidly I was still trying to negotiate the deal with God (But I guess that is not really how it works?) (more…)

Last week, before the Compassion Bloggers were even in flight to Kolkata, I sponsored a little Indian boy named Deva. Deva is 3 years old. Deva is 3 years old and adorable. Devi is 3, adorable, and he needs ME. (I am not going to lie, it feel great to feel needed.) He needs me to help provide his most basic of needs.

It will not cost me a lot of money, only $32 a month, $384 a year. But my sponsorship will allow the staff of UTTHAN Child Development Center to provide Deva with medical care, nutritious food, health and hygiene education, schooling, field trips, cultural programs, and Biblical teaching. Also, UTTHAN CDC will train Deva’s parents so they can generate more income to support the family. That is right $32 a month provides Deva with not only food, medicine, and education, but also with hope and faith. (more…)

On Saturday, I completed the Country Music Half Marathon. I wish I could say, “On Saturday, I ran the Country Music Half Marathon,” but really there was no running. There was some walking, some trotting, but mostly walking. With about a 10-minute bathroom break, my “chip” time was 3:22.

I ran (for lack of a better verb) with the Powered by Hope Team to raise scholarship money for kids to attend New Hope Academy. I can personally attest that this is a great cause. New Hope Academy is an incredible school with an audacious vision, to transform culture by creating a new generation of Christ-like leaders. I raised $670 dollars, of my $1,000 goal, and money is still trickling in. (You can donate here, by the way.) (more…)