Sincere and inquiring minds in my sphere of discipleship ministries are very cognizant of my numerous foreign mission travels abroad. And recently, a few of them were requesting hands-on information of how I coped on some of my first assignments.

So, I decided to re-visit a few of my early diary pages and blog about the very first international mission trip I took with the company I signed up with, Buckner International. (*)

(*) NOTE: Buckner Internationalhttps://www.buckner. Buckner transforms the lives of vulnerable children, enriches the lives of senior adults, and builds strong families through Christ-centered values.

Date:  December 8, 2007

Dear Diary:

     My limo driver to take me to DFW Airport (Dallas, Tx)  was 20 minutes late.  As I sat in my garage awaiting him, I silently anticipated just how marvelous and eventful the next 8 days would be.  You see, I'm packed and ready to embark upon my first mission trip with Buckner to Lima, Peru.  But altogether there will be approximately 28 volunteers converging to DFW from 4 USA states to be joined together to fly to Lima to visit several children orphanages and to hand out Christmas gifts, new shoes, VBS materials and a few medical supplies.
     Well, I'm finally at the airport and the limo driver conveniently dropped me off directly in front of Continental Airlines.  The skycap assisted me with 3 bags and even took my passport and checked me in.  Two of my luggages were filled with Christmas gifts for the children.

EVENT #1.

     As soon as I stepped inside the airport lobby, I was stopped by airport security as I attempted to pass through security.  I could not imagine I possessed any unauthorized object which I had packed on me that would not pass inspection.  What did security find...2 bottles of Elmer's glue.  YES!  And because of Elmer, I had to get out of line, put my shoes back on and return to the ticket counter.
     I did not want to throw out the glue but my only other alternative was to recall my checked 2 bags and insert the glue in one of them. I decided to do the latter.  The wait was turning into 15 minutes and my patience was wearing thin.  Just then the Good Lord stepped in.  A young couple (Amy and Casey) toting a black duffle bag with bright green Buckner tags attached got in the check in line.  Not thinking of the consequences, I rushed up to them and inquired if they would pack my 2 bottles of glue in one of their carry-on bags.  Amy's eyes got real big and she looked at her husband and said; "Are we supposed to do that?"  Her facial expression looked like she was about to yell for security!
     Right then, it downed on me that I had mentally identified the couple as being a part of my Buckner group by their green luggage tags, but they didn't even know me because my luggage was on its way back to me.  In haste, I identified myself and explained my predicament.  We all laughed and sighed with relief and allowed the Holy Spirit to say..."catcha"!  "And I'll be with you guys on your mission trip."

Event #2.

     When I finally reached the boarding waiting lounge, the first person to introduce herself to me was a pleasant young lady named Mary.  We did not know at the time we were assigned roommates.  But our conversation mirrored each others.  How much we loved the Lord, our passion for missions, how we both found and joined Buckner International, our growing relationship with the Holy Spirit and our growing opportunities to witness, support and see the scriptures come alive before our eyes.  (And you know Who arranged this time for us to become sisters in Christ before our union as room mates.  Praise God.) 

Event #3.

     During one of our first trips to an orphanage in Lima where the majority of the children were handicapped, a small boy approached me while I sat in the open court yard.  At first he just stared at me.  Then he came closer and took his finger and ran it along my cheek twice.  'No, it does not come off,' I remember thinking.  He did it again and we just look intently at one another.  I smiled and he almost did, too.  My corn roll hair braids were also a big hit with the young girls, the staff and the instructors, as well.  How I so enjoyed and felt blessed to be instrumental in uniting God's earthly human species into a loving, caring and inquisitive family of His. 

(A free pixel image of Peruvian children being taught with braids being taught by volunteers.)

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(*) NOTE: This blog is a reprint. I first wrote and published it on January 22, 2021. I truly believe that it is applicable for such a time as this. Please, prayerfully read it and sincerely continue to pray for our nation. I have faithfully posted a weekly blog in conversation with my Savior since May 2018. (Feel free to post your comments below.)

At Your request, Lord, I come unto thee…heavy laden and burden.

The type of question asked in the title of this week’s blog was asked by Joshua in the Old Testament of the Bible:

In Joshua’s case, he realized that God was in the mix of the battle the Israelites was pursuing with a Canaanite stronghold, but he wasn’t sure whose side God was on and who he was going to allow to win the battle. In my predicament, I indeed needed to poise a more poignant question to God concerning the state of affairs our nation found itself in at the nation’s capitol (Washington, D.C.) on January 6, 2021, when it was overrun by a riotous mob of insurrectionist.

So, in a prayerful posture of humility, and with a contrite heart and meek spirit, I approached the throne of grace this week and submitted myself to the Lord’s abundant mercy and compassion. Relying on the meekness and gentleness of Christ, I appealed to Him on bended knee, to converse with me. And He did.

Early one morning this week, after I had finished my daily 6:00 a.m. prayer time on the telephone with about 35 other early riser prayer partners, I felt the comfort of the Holy Spirit still lingering in my bedroom. I closed my eyes and submitted my spirit to the welcoming angelic atmosphere. Speak, my Lord, I whispered, speak.

“Neither,” I heard a still small voice say, “For I am the commander over all political parties of the Lord whether they know it or not. Don’t you know, my child, that looking at conditions and affiliations from your political perspective is not a prerequisite necessary for admission into the Kingdom. If only all political entities would submit themselves to deep soul searching and look at their own agendas and motives for carrying out their actions and couple them with examples given by my Son, Jesus Christ, they would experience far more victories, accomplishments and successes from God than from their own understanding.

“It is for this reason that I have come to tell you to rest easy and to allow your emotions to be comforted with the knowledge that God’s outreached arm has you securely embedded in his care. He wants to remind you of his undying love for you and his love for his people. Put your hope in Jesus Christ. He is your Rock of salvation. Trust Him and see what the end will be. And know with assurance, if you continue to stand strong in Him, He will make your righteousness shine like the North Star and the breaking of dawn of a new day. So rise, shine, and give God the glory.” Amen!

Scripture Lesson: “So then, just as you received Christ Jesus as Lord, continue to live your lives in him, rooted and built up in him, strengthened in the faith as you were taught, and overflowing with thankfulness.” Colossians 2:6-7

Click http://www.tgifmasterminds.wordpress.com every Friday for a new post from The Master’s servant manager…Me!

I’m just saying…”As God’s ambassador, how do you accept and/or extend compliments?” Gracefully, I hope!

My Tribute To God Be the Glory With Lyrics |How can I say …

(Click “My Tribute” to listen to the song.)

Godly methods and interventions of getting our attention comes in many ways. According to scripture, the Holy Spirit uses many avenues to reach, empower and encourage His people. As for me, more so than with human beings, God uses nature and creatures to deliver my ‘report card’. So get ready, get ready, get ready! God is doing a new thing. He wants to bless you coming in and going out!

It has been suspected that every time you receive a compliment for a good deed or service you have performed for the Kingdom of God an Angel was dispatched from on High to deliver it. However, many times the recipient of the message fails to recognize Who authorized the message and its method of delivery. In Psalm 91:11-12 we read where Angels are looking out for us. And also in Deuteronomy 28:8 there is a very interesting promise: “The LORD will command the blessing on you in your storehouses and in all to which you set your hand, and He will bless you in the land which the LORD your God is giving you.” 

About 25 years ago, I relocated from the state of Maryland, USA to Texas, USA. This relocation required that I unite with a new church. I began to pray earnestly that the Holy Spirit would direct me to a church with a thriving international missionary outreach program. Not long after I arrived in Texas, one Saturday morning I was listening to a Christian radio station that happened to mention an announcement concerning an all day picnic which was being sponsored by a local non profit organization called Buckner International(*). This organization was extending an opportunity for listeners to volunteer to participate in a short-term international mission trip to Acapulco, Mexico. And boy of boy, was I interested.

In the ensuing years, I volunteered to travel on several international mission trips with Buckner to their children’s orphan homes in various countries: Zambia, Zimbabwe; The Bahamas; Republica Dominicana; Republica Nicaragua; Bucharest, Romania; Lima, Peru; San Miguel De Allende, Mexico; Hanoi, North Viet Nam; St. Petersburg, Russia; Ammon, Jordan; Addis Abba, Ethiopia.

What a biblical first hand education I have received from the Master Holy Ghost Teacher. And all I can say is…to God be the Glory!!!

How can I say thanks when God made a way out of no way. When I grumbled and complained when there was no black boards or chalk boards in the small make-shift class rooms for my teaching assignments for the children. How I had to rely on the children to show me how to turn a child’s chair into a desk by sitting on the floor and using the chair seat as their desk. How the Holy Ghost told me to stop whining and use a stack of small brown 4-sided sandwich bags to draw on each side to depict the characters in the Bible story I was teaching to the children. (Now the little ones can turn their lunch bag into a hand puppet and take it back to their villages and recite the bible story to their friends who could not attend the mission conference. That chalk board would not have been portable. And yes, every child receives a new pair of shoes from the Buckner foundation.

Yes, I grew up in the Lord on the mission field! I came to know just how the Son of God provides the blessed assurances of His mighty works when there are seemingly no necessary resources available. God also imputed nightly dreams in my sleep to fortify me to always remember to display blessed assurances in humility and integrity when on assignment to feed and fortify His people. A hearty “Praise God from Whom all blessings flow” is all He loves to hear.

Are you an Ambassador for the Lord? Or are you just a ‘wanna-be’? God made it happen for me and so many biblical scriptures have come to life for me. I have seen the face of God in so many hopeful little faces. The children’s expressions of love, appreciation, hope, joy, expectation for a better way of life, and last but not least, the realization that there truly is a living God and he knows where I am.

My prayer for you………….

Dear Heavenly Father, thank you from the bottom of my heart and for helping me to mature in my service and walk with You. I receive Your forgiveness to the utmost and for nurturing me until I learned to leave the unnecessary baggage of the past behind me. My prayer is not only for myself but for others who need to step out on faith. To live this year with a commitment and enthusiasm and to exert ourselves in our service for You so that Your heavenly prizes will be ours until traveling days are done. Amen and Amen.

(*) NOTE: Buckner Internationalhttps://www.buckner. Buckner transforms the lives of vulnerable children, enriches the lives of senior adults, and builds strong families through Christ-centered values.

Click http://www.tgifmasterminds.com every Friday for a new post from The Master’s servant manager…Me!

Did you know that just as God sent his Son, Jesus Christ, into the world to proclaim the Good News Gospel, he has also appointed you and me to do likewise.

I have been on the battle field for the Lord for decades, and I haven’t looked back. One spiritual exercise that I frequently engage in is praying for our nation. Especially now during the 2024 Presidential Election time. Initially, the prayer I’m sharing with you below was recited by me on February 22, 1996. Feel free to compose your own prayer for healing of our Nation and a renewal of our souls.

A CITIZEN'S PRAYER FOR HER COUNTRY

Return, oh nations of the world, and more particularly the cities of the USA.  Return.  For you have stumbled in your evil courses.  Come with your prayers ready.  Come back to the Lord.

Say to Him, "Father, You don't like to hold on to iniquity, so accept our plea, and we will pay our vows with our total being.

For our possessions will not save us, nor will we seek strength from false gods.  What we have acquired with our hands we will never again call gods.

We know now that in Thee and Thee alone the fatherless find a Father's love.

And perhaps one day soon we shall hear the Father's response.

Yes, I will heal their iniquities; of my own treasurers will I love them.  For my anger is turned away.  I will be as dew to my people so that they may blossom like lilies; grow roots deep into the soil like the poplar tree, and grow fresh limbs that they may be as fair a the Olive tree; and as fragrant as the Trees of Lebanon.

And my cities throughout shall again dwell in my shadow and not in the shadow of death.  My people shall prosper and live in abundance:  they shall flourish like a vine and be famous as the Wine of Lebanon.

What has the sinner man anymore to do with self-righteousness?  God says, "I'll remind you once more!  I am the pine tree that shelters you when you walk through the valley of the shadow of death; and it is to Me that your fruits or works are owed.

Let the wise consider these things and let him who considers take note:  for the Lord's ways are straight and the righteous walk in them, while the sinners stumble.

Let the redeemed of the Lord say so.  Amen

(*) NOTE: A person who shuns sin and who endeavors to keep God’s commandments.

ONE LAST REQUEST…BE SURE TO INCLUDE THE BIBLE IN YOUR REQUIRED READING MATERIALS.

The B-I-B-L-E song for kids (and also high school and college graduates) (Click here.)

YouTube·Trueway Kids·May 19, 2021

Click http://www.tgifmasterminds.com every Friday for a new post from the Master’s servant manager…ME!

Do you solemnly believe that title? Because if you do, you must believe and embrace the teachings of the Old and the New Testaments. Namely, the Three Persons are: God the Father, God the Son (Jesus) and God the Holy Ghost! Also known as The Trinity! Nevertheless, none is greater or lessor or before or after the other. The Trinity is the author of the Holy Bible (Old and New Testaments).

So, I have a confession to make and I desire to make it publicly in the annuals of this blog post. I’M NOT PERFECT. AND I MAKE MISTAKES!!! AND I’M SORRY.

There, I said it! Now keep reading.

Like some of you, as a young adult, I lived an extremely self condemning life. I had an older sister (the first born) who was smarter in school than me. She was our parents favorite. She also was afforded the position of “warden” over the remaining 4 siblings because both our parents worked long hours. Our older sister lauded her position over us and she would report misdeeds us kids did to our parents that often resulted in us getting spanked or otherwise punished.

So naturally, my self and most of my younger siblings wandered around in life doing their own thing. Or listening to and following bad advice. Mostly going from one misguided decision to another. Confused. Wasting time, money, resources, strength and health. I contributed my share of rebellion, too.

But there was a ‘staple’ in our growing up years that help me to escape my rebellious life style. Our parents made us all attend church services every Sunday. Over the years, one Bible scripture struck in my spirit: “Blessed are the poor in spirit for they shall see God.” But wait! I thought. Will a person actually ‘see God’?

As I grew older, I began to process that verse and came to realize that yes, because in all of thy getting, one day a person will surrender to God. That will be their day of reckoning. That day is when they will be receptive to the Word of God. So far, I have been in the wilderness of life. Now, I am ready to come out of that wilderness or thought pattern.

LESSONS LEARNED...

But first, a person must realize just Who was always in the wilderness with them anonymously.  God was always with that person, but God did not show himself.  However, now that the person is ready (has come to him or herself), God will show himself.  For God blesses the meek by attending his ear towards them.

Now the question is will God show himself!  God will surely show himself within a Burning Bush.  The burning bush represents all the troubles and riotous living and bad mistakes that person has endured.  The Fire within the bush is the Mighty God.  Burning brightly...but not consuming it.

God is going to require the sinner man to approach him, but first the person must take off their shoes.  Take off Satan.  Get off following the path of error.

WHY?

Because now they are standing before God...standing on his path called Holy Ground.  God instantly changes the person's name to Moses which means he has been drawn out of the waters of confusion.  (In scripture, water represents trouble.  Jesus conquered water by walking on it...putting it under His feet.)

God is in that wilderness that we all go through, but we just don't see him.  We cannot see him as long as we allow ourselves to be slaves to the devil (darkness).  We must come to realize that when the scales fall from our eyes and we see God, we become somebody.  We can say, "I AM somebody in/with Christ Jesus!"

So now that the sinner man is barefooted (has put off error) and standing on holy ground (God) before a bush (his troubles) that is on fire (the 3rd Person of the Trinity), but not being destroyed (the bush is not consumed because trouble will always be with us), now the sinner man who has been brought into the Light is ready to receive his assignment and to begin to work for God/Jesus/Holy spirit (instead of Satan).  AMEN! and AMEN!

Click http://www.tgifmasterminds.com every Friday for a new post from the Master’s servant manager…ME!