MyDivineJourney

1 Corinthians 2:14 (GW)   A person who isn't spiritual doesn't accept the teachings of God's Spirit. He thinks they're nonsense. He can't understand them because a person must be spiritual to evaluate them. I’ve had the honor and great privilege of meeting many amazing people on Twitter over the last couple of years. On my Twitter account, @BlancaV, (as well as on FaceBook), I write about my love for Christ and how having a personal relationship with him late in my life changed me. I often kick back and imagine what I would be talking about if God hadn’t changed the course of my life because I have passionate opinions about culture, politics, international relations, communications, literature and many other topics. I'll never know because I am supposed to share Christ.  J Whenever I desire to engage in conversation that isn’t positive, I am not able to peddle my own agenda! I want to make snarky replies to people who demean others just to feel better...

Psalm 65:8 (GW) Those who live at the ends of the earth are in awe of your miraculous signs. The lands of the morning sunrise and evening sunset sing joyfully. My most inspired, productive time is usually late in the evening, so I’m typically focused on my work. But one evening, I looked up and this is what I saw … God's personal delivery just for me! a beautiful sunset that God delivered just for me not to miss – and I didn’t! I shouted for joy at any coworkers who might still be around, “Come look at the sunset that God put outside for me!” Several people walked over and smiled at me. They know I love Jesus. My life changed when God awakened me spiritually – when the Holy Spirit took over my life. I see the things that God does for me and for others; I can’t help but live in great awe each day. Call me naïve or whatever, but I attribute the beauty of the earth to the great things that God does for us. I marveled at the beauty of that sunset peeking ...

11-11-11 Psalm 119:59 I pondered the direction of my life, and I turned to follow your laws. Today is Veteran’s Day in the United States. We remember, we celebrate and also thank those who are serving or who have served in the military and support organizations. It’s the perfect day to write this note that’s been developing in my spirit. People frequently ask me why I love God and have such a positive outlook. Surely I haven’t experienced tragedies or trials that make me wonder about the faithfulness of God? They think my life is perfect and that God is constantly waving his wand of blessings over me. Some of the questions I’ve been asked include: How can I be sure that God is there? Why is this happening to the one I love? God won’t forgive me for blaming him for whatever tragedy, etc. Why is this tragedy happening to me/to those I love, etc.? I’ve fallen away from God and cannot find the road back to him. God can never forgive me for the bad things I’ve done or think about d...

Proverbs 24:3 It takes wisdom to have a good family, and it takes understanding to make it strong. The longer I live; I realize that only God and His word will stand forever. We can live our lives criticizing others and seeing their faults, or we can decide to love and move on. Many people refuse to go to church or be part of a faith community (in whatever shape that might be) because they don’t like “hypocrites” aka – people who go to “church” on Sundays (or whatever day), and then live like the devil the rest of the week. God knows I was one of those. But it’s interesting that those same people, who like to criticize, also live like the devil, but they are blinded by their own sins. The truly scary people (to me) are those who do go to “church” but criticize pastors, teachers, staff and programs as if they were supposed to be perfect. Instead of realizing that the church (or body of believers) exists to honor God, we make it about ourselves. These people leave the "church...

October 16, 2011 Matthew 22:37-39 (GW) 37 Jesus answered him, “‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind.' 38 This is the greatest and most important commandment. 39 The second is like it: ‘Love your neighbor as you love yourself.' Thinking of how much I love my Mom as she hangs on to life. Life is such a gift from God. We come to realize the brevity of life when someone we love is hanging on. But all too soon, it’s easy to forget that we’re not going to live this earthly life forever. Many people I know don’t have the experience of having a loved one die while they are young. I have had that experience. It seems like people who have been near and dear to me have passed away in every decade of my life. I’ve had to make adjustments without them. It hasn’t always been easy because I haven’t always been close to God – that makes a huge difference. Through my journey, I’ve come to realize how life is really about honoring t...

Psalm 36:5-7 5 Your unfailing love, O L ord , is as vast as the heavens; your faithfulness reaches beyond the clouds. 6 Your righteousness is like the mighty mountains, your justice like the ocean depths. You care for people and animals alike, O L ord . 7 How precious is your unfailing love, O God! All humanity finds shelter in the shadow of your wings. Last night a longtime friend went to bed with a sad heart. His family’s beloved pet dog died. Death catches us unexpectedly at times and it makes us consider the things that are really important in our lives. This morning I woke up thinking about that sweet little dog and it brought to mind my own loss.  Almost 10 years ago, a big white cat who owned my heart for 15 years died. My heart was sad for many years after Jack’s physical presence left my life. As I sit here this morning thinking about how animals make a difference in our lives, it’s hard not to consider the tie that binds us all. That tie is powerful. ...

Sept. 17, 2011 Nehemiah 8:10 (AMP) …be not grieved and depressed, for the joy of the Lord is your strength and stronghold. Joy in the pits of life exists even though the intellectual mind and heart say it cannot be. Yes – it is possible for Christians to experience joy in middle of trials. There is something very empowering about exposing our souls before God. Transparency before and dependence on God renews the intimate bonds we already share with Him. Until I became a child of God, my feelings, emotions and thoughts took over and amplified my circumstances in very unhealthy ways. Now that I know a powerful and compassionate God, I know that I can hang on to His arms when I am facing the battles of my life. Oh, believe me, I face incredible battles – but I will not let go of God’s loving hand! This is how I keep joy in my heart while I’m in the battlefield: ·         I realize that it’s easy to fall back into my old ways of thinking,...

July 23, 2011 Matthew 6:33 (NCV) Seek first God's kingdom and what God wants. Then all your other needs will be met as well. Since I started my intimate journey with God more than five years ago, I’ve learned that he meets my needs over and above anything I can imagine. Those needs include: emotional, relational, financial, professional – all my needs. When I surrendered my heart to Christ, my heart and life changed. My priorities changed. I changed. Something special happened when I clicked with God: I fell in love for the only time in my life. I believe that my desire to know the heart of God has given me favor with the right people – at the right time – and in His divine timing. I also choose to give God the glory in all my circumstances – both good and not so good. It’s hard being real about my personal mess. But sharing what God has done for me helps others know that he is powerful. God is there when you are ready to know him. I publicly acknowledge that I cannot thr...

July 9, 2011 Proverbs 23:29-35 (GW) 29 Who has trouble? Who has misery? Who has quarrels? Who has a complaint? Who has wounds for no reason? Who has bloodshot eyes? 30 Those who drink glass after glass of wine and mix it with everything. 31 Do not look at wine because it is red, because it sparkles in the cup, because it goes down smoothly. 32 Later it bites like a snake and strikes like a poisonous snake. 33 Your eyes will see strange sights, and your mouth will say embarrassing things. 34 You will be like someone lying down in the middle of the sea or like someone lying down on top of a ship's mast, saying, 35 “They strike me, but I feel no pain. They beat me, but I'm not aware of it. Whenever I wake up, I'm going to look for another drink.” I cannot imagine drinking a giant alcoholic beverage and then stumbling out of a restaurant - aided by a walker. I witnessed an elderly person do that recently and it got me to thinking of my experience. If you’ve ever ha...

August 21, 2011 I’m sharing notes that I took from a sermon on what God cannot do by the late Pastor Adrian Rogers. I recently discovered his teachings on the radio and his preaching penetrates my brain cells in amazing ways. Visit his Love Worth Finding Ministries for the complete sermon outline. I simply can’t comprehend that God cannot do anything. That isn’t possible. But as explained by Pastor Rogers, it made sense. Here are my notes. God can’t:           Fail - Ephesians 1:11 (GW) 11 God also decided ahead of time to choose us through Christ according to his plan, which makes everything work the way he intends. God can’t:           Lie - Titus 1:2 (GW) 2 My message is based on the confidence of eternal life. God, who never lies, promised this eternal life before the world began. God can’t:           Be tempted with evil ...

August 11, 2011 1 Kings 11:10-13  (New International Version, ©2010) 10 Although he had forbidden Solomon to follow other gods, Solomon did not keep the LORD’s command. 11 So the LORD said to Solomon, “Since this is your attitude and you have not kept my covenant and my decrees, which I commanded you, I will most certainly tear the kingdom away from you and give it to one of your subordinates. 12 Nevertheless, for the sake of David your father, I will not do it during your lifetime. I will tear it out of the hand of your son. 13 Yet I will not tear the whole kingdom from him, but will give him one tribe for the sake of David my servant and for the sake of Jerusalem, which I have chosen.” I love it when the tenderness of God touches my heart while I’m reading the Bible. God’s faithfulness to David extended to the undeserving Solomon. While Solomon was spared, the consequences were severe. But as much as we disobey and disappoint God, he still loves us enough to keep his promise...

August 6, 2011 Psalm 46:10 (GW) Let go {of your concerns}! Then you will know that I am God. I rule the nations. I rule the earth. God has a way of getting us to take a break when we are in middle of a crisis or busy time in our lives. I recently realized that I wasn’t focusing on God because I was racing ahead to what I was planning to do with my day.    I must make time for God. It really is that simple. My relationship with him is the most important thing in my life, but I tend to forget it as I go about doing things for him. The Lord appreciates all the things I do as I fulfill his purpose for me, but … God wants my heart. He’s interested in having my undivided devotion – he wants a full, unconditional surrender and worship.   Surrender is difficult anyway. But surrender while I am in a storm – well – that seems impossible. It’s not. Surrender is a beautiful thing. That’s when our heart is open and receptive to changes in thinking, being and doing. ...

June 24, 2011 Psalm 37:5 Depend on the Lord; trust him, and he will take care of you. I like to drive on moonlit nights. But tonight I drove between Houston and Austin after taking a day trip and it unnerved me just a little bit. The highway was unusually empty, so I didn’t have the comforting taillights of an 18-wheeler or lots of other cars to light my way into the night. The uneasy drive made for deep thoughts. It dawned on me that I trusted that a road existed in the dark night ahead as I drove 70 mph up and down hills to reach my home. That’s the same way I have to trust God even when I don’t see him ahead on my trail. He is there – and he makes sure that I don’t veer off the road, crash into other cars or run over innocent animals and make a mess of my life or the lives of others. I am always on the right road when I trust and depend on God. He will take care of me.  

July 24, 2011 Psalm 98:4 (GW) Shout happily to the LORD, all the earth. Break out into joyful singing, and make music. A young country music star belted out a very touching version of the gospel great “How Great Thou Art” and created a sensation across all music lovers. The video went viral as thousands watched it on the internet. Worshipping God is one of the beautiful ways we express our devotion for him. We will be worshipping the Lord in eternity, so I think it’s a good idea to get used to it. When the Holy Spirit is in the house [or anywhere], it doesn’t matter who you are – you will feel his powerful, all-encompassing presence and it will stir your soul. Don’t fight it, instead embrace it and lift up your hands to praise God! I can no longer attend a church service and sit or stand quietly when I feel the power of God in the house – I just can’t go along with religious customs that put restrictions such as traditional or contemporary on worship. After all, I will not be...