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It's all in a Name

I began to reflect, as I got off the phone with the club in which we will begin our outreach starting tonight-My name is Bambi.  My whole life people have either gotten it wrong and called me other names. It is like their brain would not allow Bambi to be a real name, so here comes all the responses Sandy? Brandi? Barbie? etc.....  I always say no Bambi and then have to often times spell it before they get it right.  That's another funny part where people want to add an "ie" and sometimes people who know me well do it.  Bambie?----- no its just Bambi.

Once they get it right then comes all the Disney jokes about "where is Thumper" or "were you sad when your mom was shot" etc.... All in clean fun right?  Or even the classic comment, "is that your real name?"  Yes it is my real name. No I do not believe my mom and dad had some weird love of the movie.  What I was told my whole life was that since I was the last child born I was the "last deer."  I accepted that as the truth and moved on not knowing what all would happen over the last 40+ years of questions about my name.

Then there are the people who look at me like my past had to include some sort of dancing or stripping because that is definitely a stripper name or some type of sexually oriented name.  Especially the ones who ask is it my real name.  Well the truth is -no I have not! I have never been into a strip club, well not yet.

So then today I was reading an article about how pornography is linked to the epidemic of human trafficking.  In the article (which is very good) CLICK HERE it hit me for the first time I am married to a man named John.  Well I mean I know I am married to John, but his name is John.  The men who control women who are being exploited in porn, clubs, are are being trafficked are called Johns.  Honestly I always pictured me marrying a man with an awesome, cool, different name and then I fell madly in love with a John.  It is the most common name of all names.  We call the unknowns John Doe.

So today I stand with a deeper understanding and realization of what God is doing.  Another confirmation into what he has called John and I into.  That His plan has been in play for a long, long time even though He is just making known to John and I.  We have both been drawn to rescuing people from bad situations and loving people who are less fortunate.  Every event we go to we always love, and want more information on, how we can help organizations who are involved in stopping human trafficking.  John and Bambi.  John and Bambi. God you are so good!

Today is the day Velvet Hearts outreach beings.  The "GO" Team is headed out tonight about 6 pm to at least 1 club.  We have some wonderful gifts ready for the women who are working in the club.  Our mission is to show them the unconditional love of Christ and to renew and reaffirm a hope and a future to them.  We will begin developing friendships tonight.  I could have been her. I am partnering with a girl who was her.  We are reaching out to women who are her.  His love is not conditional.  His love is not selective. He goes after the one who is lost every time.  Tonight we are going after the ones who are lost.  The ones without hope.  The ones trapped in this industry.  We are going to be LOVE!!!!

My name means innocent and John's name is Strength of God! Watch out world.  Here comes the innocent Strength of God.

Psalm 51:10 Create in me a clean heart, O God, and renew a steadfast spirit within me.

Being Chosen

The Word is so clear about how all God's children have been chosen.  The truth is it feels so good to be chosen.  I think about one instance when I was in 3rd grade.  I tried out for cheerleader and did not make the team.  It crushed me to see some of my friends make it and I didn't.  They got to stay after school together and I didn't.  They got recognition and great uniforms and I didn't.  I focused on everything I didn't get out of this and honestly it built a wall in my heart to not try new things for fear of failure. I said things like I will never try out again for something because they won't pick me, I will never be good enough, I will always be rejected. 

In high school I was in band and was a member of the flags for marching season. I loved it and was good at making routines and encouraging others.  Often times when the end of the year rolled around and everyone was getting ready to tryout I would help others on the team with their routines.  I felt like a natural leader.  When it came time for picking captains I remember being confident I would get it.  But it didn't happen.  Once again, I was not chosen and because of that I chose to leave band, something I had participated in since 5th  grade.  It wasn't until just a few years ago that I realized I had carried around this hurt and bitterness.  When I realized it I chose to forgive people and my heart is now fully healed from those hurt places.

I am now able to walk in the confidence of John 15:16  "You did not choose Me but I chose you, and appointed you that you would go and bear fruit, and that your fruit would remain, so that whatever you ask of the Father in My name He may give to you"

Being chosen feels great, it exalts you, it promotes you, it requires more of you, it honors the work you have put into something, it reveals why things happened in your past that God is using now, and so much more.

I have been chosen and because of that I have now been asked to choose.  I get the privilege to choose who is a part of this ministry.  I get to choose a board of directors,  I get to choose who is part of the GO team. 

My dear friend Heath Jackson teaches a class of graphic design at Western Hills.  He assigned creating my logo to his class and they all did such an amazing job.  It was hard, but I chose one.  I chose Trusten's and he was so excited.  I took my picture with him and he asked if I would send it to him because he wanted to show his Dad.  It was so humbling to know that all he wanted was to be chosen and because he was he wanted to share it with his Dad.  

I also choose my right hand for this ministry.  Her name is Lyndsey Ware.  God kept putting her name into my mind and I had no idea why, but He did.  I finally met with her and she is going to be perfect to help me get this ministry where it needs to be.  We are a team and she compliments me so well.

It feels so great to be chosen, but it feels even better to get to choose others.  Thank you Father for trusting me with much and for allowing me the opportunity to hear your voice and be obedient to you.  I am asking for you to continue to speak to me about all the small to large parts of this ministry!  I give you all the glory! 

Thanks for reading and please feel free to leave a comment! :)

I am so excited to announce what God is doing in and through me.  I have always loved being able to be a part of missions whether local or international.  Whether by going or donating so others can go.

When God gave me the word solidarity in December 2015, I had no idea what he was going to do with it this year.  I had lots of guess, my first I thought was "solo"darity - meaning being alone.  John was headed off to the DPS academy to be a counselor and so I knew a lot of alone time was going to happen.  Then I looked up the meaning of the word and BIG surprise.  Solidarity means "A bond of unity between individuals, united around a common goal or against a common enemy." It also means "Willingness to give psychological and/or material support when another person is in a difficult position or needs affection."   Y'all I cannot even believe what the God of the universe has called me to do.  I get to participate in a mighty bold plan with Him and I am so humbled and honored He has asked me. 

God has called me to launch a local mission for the Fort Worth and Benbrook area.  Velvet Hearts has been birthed and is now in its infancy stage.  Velvet Hearts exists to show the unconditional love of Christ to women in the sex industry and to renew and reaffirm a hope and a future to them.

YES I am being called to reach out to dancers in strip clubs and beyond.  I am excited to begin to encourage, equip and empower these women.  God has called me to love them, meet their needs, and to be consistent.  This outreach will visit clubs on a weekly basis and our mission is simple-we will be Love to a broken world.  We will not correct wrong behavior or condemn these women for their choices, but rather love them right where they are.  The truth is we will be vessels of Jesus and His perfect love.  Only He knows what they need and how to minister, so we are going to remain open to Him and all that He wants to do in and through us.

I truly believe this is more than just a ministry to the dancers, but a ministry to each person who chooses to be a part.  You can pray, you can contribute financially, and you can be a part of the GO team.  Please consider being a part from the ground up because I know God's got some BIG things in store......

EXCITED IS PUTTING IT LIGHTLY.

More to come. Connect with my Facebook page too !!! https://www.facebook.com/velvethearts5110/

Beautiful Feet

Last night I had the amazing opportunity to serve with some friends from my church at Beautiful Feet in downtown Fort Worth. They serve food and have a service on Wednesday nights to the homeless in downtown. I was able to meet several different people who shared some of their stories with me. Upon arriving to the shelter I was greeted by man and a woman. The woman had three roses and said that a vendor had given them to her. And then she immediately handed me the white one. She said, "Here have this one." Of course I said no no you keep it and she insisted that I have it. Here i intended to serve the homeless and I was already being given a precious flower. That set the tone for the night.

As a group, we had planned the worship and planned the word that was going to be given and realize when we got there than another church was also serving with us. So while I went out on the bus to go to different shelters to bring people for dinner the team graciously worked with the other church to share in the service. It was amazing to see people step out of their comfort zone and lead worship and preach for the first time. I am honored to serve the Lord who redeems. I am honored to serve the Lord who pushes us outside of our comfort zone. And today I want to give him all the glory for last night.

I pray as the team or reflects what happened last night that you Father continue Lord to reveal to them new things about themselves. Father I pray for the couples that I met Father I pray for their spirits to be lifted today. I pray for joy to come into their hearts today in a new way. I pray for the hopelessness to be gone. I thank you Father for the salvation last night and pray that you protect that man and guide Him. Thank you that you comfort us in our time of need. 

Luke 4:18 "The Spirit of the Lord is on me, because he has anointed me to proclaim good news to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim freedom for the prisoners and recovery of sight for the blind, to set the oppressed free. 

Fasting and feeding

At the beginning of the year many churches encourage their members to join in a corporate fast. And as I began to pray about if and how I am to be invoiced I begin to think about the opposite ... what am I supposed to be feeding/seeking?

Although I do agree that fasting is a huge importance I also think that feeding/seeking is equally! What is it that you are seeking? What is it that you want to know, replace, purge, etc...? Fasting is not always about food therefore feeding/seeking is not always about food either.

Fasting needs to be done in a manner of humility and secrecy in Matthew 6:16–18  “When you fast, do not look somber as the hypocrites do, for they disfigure their faces to show others they are fasting. Truly I tell you, they have received their reward in full. ¹⁷ But when you fast, put oil on your head and wash your face, ¹⁸ so that it will not be obvious to others that you are fasting, but only to your Father, who is unseen; and your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you. If you fast and tell everybody what you're doing then you're fasting is for nothing.

Fasting also is closely related to prayer, weeping, and reading of the Word.  In Joel 2:12 Scripture says even to me with all your heart, and with fasting, and with weeping, and with morning. If you fast without praying, weeping, and reading then you're fasting is for nothing.

So, as I am praying about what it is that I'm supposed to be fasting from I am also praying equally about what it is that I'm supposed to be feeding and seeking. What am I supposed to be doing instead of what it is that I'm fasting from?

Fasting in itself is of no spiritual value. And John 3:6 Scripture says it is the attitude of the heart sincerely seeking him to which God responds with blessing. Only fasting done with the right heart will glorify God. There are many reasons to participate in a fast. I'm going to enter into this fast because I'm seeking the Lord and His ways. 

I thank you in advance Father, for showing me what it is that I will be fasting from and what it is that I'm feeding and seeking. During this time of Revelation I am going to be feeding myself with your word, your people, and Your ways! Show me Father what you have for me to learn through this. In Jesus name!  Amen. 

New year means new beginnings

I'm choosing today to begin to write again as I look outside it's pouring down rain and it reminds me how all things can be washed clean. My God is BIG enough to wash all things clean.

As I think and reflect on last year and then look forward to this new year I begin to think of resolutions. I've never really been a fan of resolutions because they're just something that I continuously don't meet up to. A few years ago I decided to do something different. I decided to pray and ask God to reveal his plans for me for that year.

Remembering that His ways are better than my ways. And I have enjoyed the last few years much better than the previous. So this year as I enter in to asking the Lord to reveal what he has for me this year I've had some friends tell me what they're praying for me this year. It is so encouraging to have friends that pray Scripture over you.

I am blessed to walk with some amazing people. But this did not come easy. I searched and I searched for friends and mentors and leaders who not only encourage me and challenge me but who also call me out of my box. And the Lord has been so good to give me exactly who I needed.  One of the Scriptures is Psalm 37:4: Take delight in the Lord, and He will give you the desires of your heart.

I acknowledge these people have not always been who I've asked for and it is not always been fun but I would rather live in His will. 

I claim 2015 to be a new year with new beginnings and a new season. The old things have died and the new things are being birthed.

Isaiah 43:16-21   This is what God says, the God who builds the road right through the ocean, who carves a path through pounding waves, the God who summons horses and chariots and armies -they lie down and then can't get up; their snuffed out like so many candles: 

"Forget about what has happened; don't keep going over old history. Be alert, be present. I'm about to do something Brand-New. It's bursting out! Don't you see it? There it is! I'm making a road through the desert, rivers in the badlands. Wild animals will say "Thank you!" -the coyotes and the buzzards- because I provided water in the desert, rivers through the sun-baked earth, drinking water for people I chose, the people I made especially for myself, a people custom-made to praise me.

I have definitely been through a season that I would call a desert and the Lord has always been faithful to provide me water to drink, food to eat, and a shelter   I have never lacked any necessity.

Thank you Father for all that you have done and all that you are doing and all that you will do.