I AM in for Berlin

Sending Flores has chosen to partner with European Initiative.  You can visit EI’s WEBSITE for more information about their organization.  There are many reasons we made the decision to go to Berlin for our first ever Sending Flores mission trip.  “Europe is in a spiritual crisis. It is one of the spiritually darkest continents of our time and one of the least evangelized in the world. Currently, less than 2.5% of Europeans are evangelical Christian source: Operation World. Atheism, agnosticism, secularism, and Islam are on the rise.      Within Europe there are villages without a single life-giving church. Thousands have never even seen or held a Bible. Millions will spend eternity apart from God unless the Gospel reaches them. While many want nothing to do with “religion”, they are open to having a personal relationship with Jesus Christ. We have great hope for Europe. Jesus is alive and is relentless and passionate in His pursuit of Europeans. EI teams partner with a small, but mighty remnant of European believers who are bravely contending for revival in their cities and nations. As more laborers go into these unreached but ripened fields, we believe Europe will be saved. Founded in 2007, EI has established its first base in Germany’s capital, Berlin, reaching its inhabitants through Creative Arts Street Evangelism. Since then, the ministry has spread to about a dozen other cities all over Germany, and established flourishing partnerships to many churches and Christian organizations all over the country to bring the Good News to the spiritually impoverished of this seemingly rich nation.” -taken from EL’s website

“Contemporary Europe has become the most godless civilization the world has ever known.”

– New York Times

 

There is a Red Light District that encourages prostitution which is legal in Berlin.  The women take clients into abandon garages, cars, or behind dumpsters to complete the acts requested.  I found these images on google and then followed a Facebook trail to this woman who is in Berlin.  Alyssa is one of 1,000’s who need to hear about our Jesus, our redemption, and our love.  We will go into this area to minister to the women and men.  

 

There will be other parts of the trip including ministry to drug addicts, homeless, and “normal” people on the city squares.  We will do a flash mob and this will draw a crowd.  The skit we do will point to a savior and then we will disperse into the crowd to share our testimony and the gospel.

 

We are so excited about this opportunity and hope you will consider joining us.  Here is a video put together by EI.  Click Here Please let me know if you want to be put on the our I AM Interested List by emailing  sendingflores@gmail.com with the subject line I AM in for Berlin.

 

 

Who is Sending Flores?

It has been a few months since I have written and I have missed it.  Lots of planning and execution, board meetings and prayer.  I wanted to take this opportunity to explain a few things and provide clarification for any of you who may have questions.  Because Sending Flores is growing.

Sending Flores was dreamed in 2012 and began with this simple blog.  It satisfied my hunger and thirst for all thing’s missions.  Local, global, and all in-between.  It was a way to communicate with an audience my desire to help those less fortunate than me and ask for support and prayers for those led to give. It also allowed me to write my innermost thoughts and feelings much like a journal.
The blog started off slow with just a few entries the first few years   I was not sure what to share or how to share it, plus kids and work got in the way.  It grew and evolved over the years and I always knew God has a plan for the name and how He was going to use my family.

One of Mackinsey's (my daughter) favorite songs is The Great I AM, and shortly after the launch of Sending Flores I begin to dream and hear Him speaking to me about the words I AM.  God began to speak to me about who I am and who the great I AM is.  I began serving on an incredible team where I regularly taught others about His word and their true identity in Him.  Teaching and learning God's word about healing, freedom, and deliverance I quickly saw ground being claimed back from an enemy who was created to kill, steal, and destroy.

Sending Flores Inc. exists to show the unconditional love of Christ to the world. We serve locally and globally and have a calling to be HIS hands and feet. Sending Flores was established in 2016 with the state as an official 501c3.  There are several branches of Sending Flores. The most well-known, at this time, is Velvet Hearts. Velvet Hearts is a dba of Sending Flores.

Velvet Hearts exists to show the unconditional love of Christ to women and men who work in the sex industry and to renew and reaffirm hope and a future to them. It has been the most amazing 3 years of building and growing this ministry.  We have visited 15 different clubs over west Fort Worth, been a partner of the Strip Church Network, and developed hundreds of relationships with men and women because of Velvet Hearts.  Our verse for the ministry is Psalm 51:10 "Create in me a clean heart and renew a steadfast spirit within me, O God." I know I have cultivated a cleaner heart and have a more steadfast spirit as a result of diligently pursuing this particular group of people. We continue to love, to be consistent and to meet needs of those we encounter.  All in a humanly attempt to show the love of Christ. I have had the pleasure of meeting and training 30 or so GO Team members over the years. Introducing them to a new way of meeting and loving, evangelizing and comforting, and being present when others have condemned. We have experienced tragedy and saw death inside the clubs.  We have offered prayers and been a part of Holy Spirit speaking, healing, delivering, and changing lives.

Sending Flores is also doing missions on a global scale.  The intent is to grow to a place to organize and lead trips globally and build a program that offers genuine love and teaching families how to parent, meet needs, and live productive lives for the Kingdom of God. This could be developing homes where mothers and children can come and learn until they can sustain on their own.  In 2017 Sending Flores went on two trips.  One to Kisumu, Africa and the other to Israel.  Going to the world is truly music to my heart.  Right now, in the establishing time, we are partnering with organizations which can provide training and also allow us to serve. Our next trip is to Grenada West Indies. We will serve locally and learn more about hosting missions’ trips and making lasting relationships with communities.

Sending Flores has also been able to be a part of spiritually cleaning homes.  We do not battle against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places. And as a result, many times this darkness consumes people and homes and causes demonic oppression.  We have a team that goes into the homes and teaches the home owners how to get rid of all demonic activity.  We have testimonies I will provide in a future blog because they are extremely powerful.  We serve a mighty and powerful God who is ready and willing to terminate demonic influence.  

Sending Flores also provides discipleship and mentorship.  I love to meet with individuals and talk with them from a Biblical perspective about their circumstances.  I have seen radical life change because of being discipled and believe it is very important to crucifying the flesh and sanctification. Scripture reminds us to seek relationships that are iron sharpening iron.  The latest project we have completed is a written curriculum for marriage.  God breathed 10 topics related to marriage and we developed a curriculum out of these topics.  14 men and women went through the curriculum with us and all agreed they grew closer to their spouse, children, and even other relationships.  

With all this said when your support Sending Flores your money, time, and resources are going to a variety of missions.  We felt like it was important for each of our supporters to know exactly what we are up to! So, when you write a check to Velvet Hearts it goes to Sending Flores.  When you donate for BAM Sauce, t-shirts, or caps it supports Sending Flores.  From local to global we are called to serve.  You can always give to a specific branch of Sending Flores if you want to designate your gift, but you must make that clear on the donation.  

We have some new things coming too.  God is always up to something and I am committed to saying yes to Him the rest of my life.  In the comfortable and in the uncomfortable I will GO!!!!

Thank you for praying, contributing, and encouraging. 

 Bambi

Death is LIFE

As I look back on 2018, I am in such awe at the hand of the Father in and around the whole thing.  I am amazed at His

love and power

through 2018.  His spirit led me on a path I honestly did not want to take.  During 2017 the most unimaginable things happened in my life, the lives of my friends, and to my family.  It seemed as if total destruction was winning and everything was crumbling around me.  I took it all very personally and my fighter instinct came out to try and make wrongs right and walk people through freedom so they would make healthier choices and not fall apart.  Well that was not working like it had in the past and I was becoming defeated and angry.  I carried around a lot of pain in my heart. For myself, but mainly for the people I saw spiraling out of control.  So much brokenness and so much trauma.   And there was literally nothing I could do.  Believe me I tried.  I had an

encounter with God

that changed everything.  He showed me how I had been carrying this thing and show me how I was never meant to carry it.  He showed me how He had allowed me to see things, but that did not mean I was to try and fix it, mend it, “freedom” it, or anything.  He spoke so clearly and softly as He said “let me have this back.  I am doing something here and I do not need your help.”  It corrected me, convicted me, and lifted from me the heaviest weight I have ever carried.  The elephant got up off me and moved out of my zip code.  I surrendered and repented so much during the next few months as God took things away from me.  Not all of the things were “Bad” things some were really great things, but they were no longer mine.  I opened my doors and He came in and rearranged the furniture.  I was not happy or joyful at this honestly, and threw some fits along the way.  Regardless, I was allowing Him to do it.  I opened the door.  I listened to His voice and (after some complaining I surrendered.)  Shama aqui was my word for the year and it means to hear here.  (See BLOG to learn more) I was learning to pause and listen to the Father right now about the right now.  He became a present Father to me and literally walked with me each day.  I had to have Him to get out of bed.  I had to have Him to lead a ministry.  I had to have Him to search for a new church home.  I had to have Him to be a wife.  I had to have Him to be a mom.  I had to have Him to be a friend.  I just had to have Him for everything, even cooking dinner.  He became my source for everything because I gave up my way.   I gave up. I said I’m done.

If you were close to me this looked very ugly and maybe even like I was in a very bad place.  It probably looked like death and you might have been tempted to run, separate, and move on past me.  That is okay.  I honestly might have done the same thing. The truth is that things on the outside are often times not what they appear.  Sometimes people seem totally fine and then you hear about then killing themselves or killing others. You hear it all the time, they seemed totally fine, I can’t believe they did this or that.  Well the same goes in the opposite direction too.  I only know this because it is where I have been and it is so true.  People who seem like they are withdrawn and sad or angry and bitter may actually be becoming the freest people you will know.  You may look back on some of my blogs and see the innermost feelings of pain as I dealt with things.  You may be able to actually feel the hurt as I released it.  The truth is the moments where it all seemed fine were my hardest days.  The times where I was releasing the pain was my most freeing days.  Needless to say, God was doing a work in me where He was killing off things.  Death is not pretty and it does not smell good.  Death appears for all purposes. like death.  But when God is in charge, death becomes the most beautiful thing after 3 days.  Or 3 months. Or 3 years.  Whatever the season of winter is, just wait.  When it looks like you have been buried and died there will be a spring.  You are buried and growing actually.  The seed has to be buried to grow. There will be growth and there will be a harvest.  It is the natural course for ALL things when God is involved. 

I spoke to one of my mentors along the way and asked her, “why?” about somethings that happened and she said, “Bambi you are changed and the old people do not know what to do or how to respond to this change.”  Was that ever true.  I do not look the same as before my death.  I am different.  I am changed.  I have new places of freedom and new levels of authority.  It comes from a quiet place of security that I have not figured out how to explain yet. 

During 2018 I also walked through some extreme highs which have been so incredible.  My daughter was married, my son began a career, my husband and I moved into a fifth wheel, I found a church home, I made new friends, and my ministry is growing.  This growth is because of the death.  I look back on the death days and they were some of my worst visually but best internally.  They involved great sacrifice and involved me giving up everything I once treasured.  I walk away feeling refreshed and complete.  I was protected and I am secure.  I was comforted on my worst days and lifted high on my best.  My cup truly does overflow now.  It is seeping out and is not containable. 

Thank you, God, for teaching me to surrender. 

Thank you, God, for delivering me. 

Thank you, God, for teaching me. 

You have been so good to me in 2018. 

Psalm 23 A psalm of David

1 The LORD is my shepherd, I lack nothing.

2 He makes me lie down in green pastures, he leads me beside quiet waters,

3 he refreshes my soul. He guides me along the right paths for his name’s sake.

4 Even though I walk through the darkest valley, I will fear no evil, for you are with me; your rod and your staff, they comfort me.

5 You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies. You anoint my head with oil; my cup overflows.

6 Surely your goodness and love will follow me all the days of my life, and I will dwell in the house of the LORD forever.

Take Courage

I know it has been a minute since I posted.  This is short, but I wanted to document a few thoughts before they are gone.

2017 was a dark year for me.  A time when many things were stripped from me and when I took a breath it was yet another thing or another person leaving. So much was gone. Some through my obedience and some through the enemy stealing and killing. I said goodbye to my church home for the past 9 years. I said goodbye to my physical home for the past 13 years. I said goodbye to many relationships completely and some changed drastically. I spoke to a precious mentor of mine early in 2018 reflecting on all the change and she reminded me because of all the change I am different and I react different. And because of that people who were used to me one way does not know how to take me this new way. Because of that some will walk away and I needed to be okay with that. It is hard but I agreed. I trust those who have held the place of mentor and I know they love and seek Holy Spirit on my behalf. 

2018 has been a year of rebuilding and growth. Most of it has been silent and in a spirit of reflecting. Knowing not a thing lost will not be restored to a better and healthier version of the past. Knowing that God is in charge of my life and a lot of dying to self. My word for the year was Shama which is to hear. I have been listening more than talking. I have allowed things to occur and seen the best and worst in people. I have been more of an observer than ever before. I have set silent on many things and just waiting on the Lord to move and shift things. I have been pleading my case in the courtroom of justice and I know the Lord hears my cries. I have been in a winter season where things have been changing in me under the surface. Shifts have happened in the deep places where God has shaved even more pride and arrogance away. Even more fear is gone and birthed is a trust in Him no matter what happens. I know if I am standing alone, I'm ok. I do not need the praises of men, or the crowds of people to know who I am. I do not have idols in friendships or recognition any longer. If no one sees that is ok because I am obedient to HIM alone. I understand the sadness Jesus felt as he was betrayed and beaten so much more.

I have more courage than I even realized. I am shaking off the dust and becoming a new creation. I do not look the same as the old tree I once was. Some will not recognize me. The truth is my spirit is full and ready. I'm like a racehorse at the start line and I am going to run my race. The work in the soil is complete and he is calling me to shake off the darkness of the changing process and the winter months, when nothing grows or blossoms. I am rising up and embracing HIS springtime so that I might flourish in HIS presence. I am responding to Jesus. Just like a new plant I am fragile but strong. There's a YES in my heart and it carries through eternity. Simple obedience ~~~~ it changes history. Take courage the harvest is ripe.

Take Courage