Devotionals for the Heart: Don't forget

Why I Disappointed My Daughter This Christmas

A devotional by Voni Harris

“Therefore the Lord himself will give you a sign: The virgin will conceive and give birth to a son, and will call him Immanuel.” – Isaiah 7:14 (NIV)

I don’t like to decorate for Christmas. My daughter hates that I don’t like it. Sorry.

Wait! Let me defend myself here. These are my reasons why:

· Real life keeps happening, even in December. I don’t have time or energy to move around furniture and hoist up tree and decorations. We didn’t really have space to do so up until the last few years, anyway.

· Besides that, we had the tradition of spending the day at both of hubby’s grandparents and hubby’s parents. Or we traveled to spend time with my mom out-of-state. This is not quite applicable any more since our move to Alaska. Some Decembers, yes, others we stay at home. Still undecorated, most years.

· I do not have the money to make things look beautiful as they are on TV and in the community (see below). Plus, I’m only 4’6” tall, so putting up lights…eh, not so much.

· We do have Christmas money, of course, but it is focused on gifts. I love gift-giving, but I’m bad at it, no matter how much I love the gift recipient. Sorry about that, friends and family.

· In our community, we YoungLife volunteers “babysat” during the Kodiak Area Native Association Christmas party, throwing the kids their own Christmas party. There is always a Dickens Christmas community event with a true-hearted live Nativity. We walk every other day or so with our grandson to where our neighbor has given the gift of Christmas fun via outdoor decorations, tons of them. Caroling. The Harbor light-up with decorated boats. Our church’s Christmas Eve candlelight ceremony. Christmas movies. Party at a friend’s house …

In other words, there are a ton of community events, and they make my heart glad. Family and friends and community. Sharing Jesus. Sharing each other. I love it! Who has time for decorating?

I focus on the new year every December, ready to make my coming trip around the sun glorify God. Little brain space to decorate our house is left.

It means a lot to simply put up the Christmas cards we get. They make me smile whenever I walk by. Secondary true confession: I’m no good at Christmas cards, either. See the previous reasons for that, too.

None of these is a deep reason for my non-decoration tendencies. The truth is that the only truly meaningful Christmas decoration we have is our manger scene. If another breaks we just say “Aww” and throw it away. That’s it.

We currently have two manger scenes. Our plastic one plays songs and lights up, with a narrator telling the Christmas story. Perfect for our toddler grandson. We had a beautiful carved wood Christmas tree hanging; the carvings told the Christmas story. It is no longer with us, because, well, we have a toddler grandson.

Our main Nativity scene is still with us, though. It melts my heart putting it up; the reality of Jesus’ birth is there in front of my eyes when I do.

Christmas glitters with decorations and warms the heart with event and cards and presents. The real magic of Christmas, though, is the rise of your heart when you pause long enough to think of the birth of God’s son. Jesus. That’s what I love about Christmas: the birth of our Savior.

God’s son came in a manger and died on a cross, forging an inextricable link between Christmas and Easter. All prophesied. All completed. God is truth. He makes promises and He keeps them. He can be trusted with your soul.

I don’t want to hurry and scurry to make Christmas happen, and in the process forget.

~*~
Author Bio:

Voni Harris writes from her family’s home on the rain forest island of Kodiak, Alaska.

A legal-eagle husband, a breathtaking daughter, an adventurous grandson, and two enthusiastic dogs all conspire to keep her from spending too much time at the computer.

She holds a Radio-TV degree from Drake University, and her short story “The Wedding” was published in Heart-Stirring Stories of Romance.

Voni's novel Nothing Hidden won the 2013 ACFW’s First Impressions contest and the 2015 Daphne du Maurier unpublished inspy suspense category. It was also a 2018 ACFW Genesis finalist.

Devotionals for the Heart: Poems

We are the Poems of God
A devotional by Voni Harris

“For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them.” –Ephesians 2:10 (ESV)

What do “Ode to a Grecian Urn,” “Cat in the Hat,” “The Road Not Taken,” and “Where the Sidewalk Ends,” all have in common?

They are all poetry.

Yes, John Keats, Dr. Seuss, Robert Frost and Shel Silverstein were all poets. Such a great variety of poetry, each poet individual and personal.

Each poem individual and personal.

Each reader individual and personal.

But did you know that you are a poem?

Yes. In Ephesians 2:10, Paul calls us Christ’s “workmanship.” That’s sweet to hear, and stirs us to do the good works God prepared for us to do.

When you take a moment to look at that word workmanship, though, there is brain explosion, full of color and beautiful sound, for the word is translated from the original Greek word poiema, which means “something made.” In this context, it means, something made by God!

Just think!

God did not run some raw materials through a human creation factory.

He created each of us … He created you … individually, personally, purposefully, skillfully, artfully. With a huge diversity. He did so the way the poets write, only perfectly, and to a level we cannot comprehend with our human minds.

And He loves us.

So let’s go out and get on these good works He has prepared for us to do!

You may ask, “Wait, what good works?”

Allow me to answer in storytelling style…

I’ve seen two movies recently that provoked me to look at that. Sports movies like Overcomers. Running movies like Chariots of Fire. I loved each one!

In Chariots of Fire, Eric Liddell says, “When I run, I feel the pleasure of God.” In real life, he stated, “I believe God made me for China.” Liddell knew deep in his soul why God made him: to be a missionary in China. His running feats and his Olympic gold message gave him a platform to share Christ and prepared him for China.

How did Liddell know this deep in his soul?

In Overcomers, the coach is urged to do one thing: strip away all he does and discover who he is.

It’s about our identity in Christ.

Regardless of your identity or title be it that you are a spouse, a parent, a teacher, a doctor, a writer, an athlete, a victim, or alone … your identity as a child of God, your title of being a Christ-follower is what really matters.

Remember this: Those identities and titles that describe us to each other and show us our place in this world, don’t matter unless they come from who you are in Christ. And that starts with the word we looked at from the beginning of this blog …

Workmanship.

Poiema.

Strip away all the things you "do" that define you and seek to understand who you are in Christ then watch Him change your world!

After all, we are each God’s unique poem to the world.

~*~
Author Bio:

Voni Harris writes from her family’s home on the rain forest island of Kodiak, Alaska.

A legal-eagle husband, a breathtaking daughter, an adventurous grandson, and two enthusiastic dogs all conspire to keep her from spending too much time at the computer.

She holds a Radio-TV degree from Drake University, and her short story “The Wedding” was published in Heart-Stirring Stories of Romance.

Voni's novel Nothing Hidden won the 2013 ACFW’s First Impressions contest and the 2015 Daphne du Maurier unpublished inspy suspense category. It was also a 2018 ACFW Genesis finalist.

Devotionals for the Heart: The Deep

That’s Deep, Man
A devotional by Voni Harris

“Be wise in the way you act toward outsiders; make the most of every opportunity. Let your conversation be always full of grace, seasoned with salt, so that you may know how to answer everyone.” –Colossians 4:5-6 (NIV)

Back in the 70s, you’d hear, “That’s deep, man.”

What does that even mean?

Deep means: real, authentic, truth.

For Christians, the word “deep” means opening your heart to Jesus, because He is “the Way, the Truth, the Life” (John 14:6). Think about the fact that He is REAL. It truly is deep!

But what does it mean to be “deep” in today’s superficial social media world?

I’ve known people who talk sincerely about never being superficial. They shy away from having acquaintances because they don’t want to be fake friends, or to have them. They don’t want to be counterfeit like some people who we all see on social media and even on the news. They want to be real with everyone.

Excellent goal.

But here’s what I think about being “deep” and “real.”

There is a time to splash with companions on the beach, to collect sea glass or play beach volleyball. There is a time to swim or snorkel with friends or family. There is a time to scuba dive, explore underwater caves, go deep-sea fishing.

The way I see it, our social world works the same way.

Some people you have simply have fun with. You talk about surface subjects. Some people you share parts of your life with, and they share theirs with you: Parenting, hobbies, babysitting, offer of help packing for a move.

Some people are your deep-dive friends, only a few. When you have a crisis, you know you can turn to them. They can turn to you. You drop things for each other at a moment’s notice. You share your deepest emotions and thoughts because they are your deep-dive friend. Or you don’t need to share them because they know you. My husband is my companion on most of my deep-diving adventures! Spouses rightfully fit into this category.

If I am being polite to the waitress, or to the stranger on the Metro, am I being superficial? No. I’m operating at surface level. I don’t know people like that well enough to go beyond nice manners. That kindness, though, comes from graciousness, which is borne in truth.

There are other folks I don’t click with personally, but we’re casual friends. We stop and talk when we run into each other at the store. Is that superficial? No. I may share a true and funny story that just happened. I am sharing my reality … without diving into my deep emotions and thoughts.

I believe when Colossians talks about gracious speech, seasoned with salt, Paul is talking about authenticity, no matter who God brings across my path or deep into my life. May we all have Christ’s wisdom in that.

Being deep and real is a matter of the heart, not a matter of the outward actions the world sees. Do you choose your clothes to show off or look cool, or because what you’re putting on shows your real personality and is appropriate where you are headed? Do you look people in the eyes and shake hands firmly because you want to impress, or because you’re showing respect to the human being you are being introduced to? Are you using perfect etiquette as social nicety or as a mask? 

In this world we live in that tends to focus on the superficial and encourage surface level interactions, what matters to those of us who want to be true, authentic, full of grace and seasoned with salt, is the heart of our outward actions.

For Christians, that means checking our hearts with God. He is God! I freely express my anger or my silliness or my praise or my love to Him. I choose to be deep and real with my Creator, the God of the Universe, the One who loved enough to save me on the Cross.

He is not counterfeit. He is the Way, the TRUTH, and the Life.

I trust Him with all of my deepest truth!

~*~
Author Bio:

Voni Harris writes from her family’s home on the rain forest island of Kodiak, Alaska.

A legal-eagle husband, a breathtaking daughter, an adventurous grandson, and two enthusiastic dogs all conspire to keep her from spending too much time at the computer.

She holds a Radio-TV degree from Drake University, and her short story “The Wedding” was published in Heart-Stirring Stories of Romance.

Voni's novel Nothing Hidden won the 2013 ACFW’s First Impressions contest and the 2015 Daphne DuMaurier unpublished inspy suspense category. It was also a 2018 ACFW Genesis finalist.

Devotionals for the Heart: Gratitude

Being Rich Toward God
A devotional by Voni Harris

“For life is more than food, and the body more than clothes.” – Luke 12:23 (NIV)

The Parable of the Rich Man in Luke 12 is the story of the man so wealthy that he basically says, “I’ve got lots. I’ll build bigger storage sheds for all my wheat, and then eat, drink, and be merry.” God calls him a fool, for he is about to die that night.

Jesus Christ outright says this foolish Rich Man – and those of us like him – was being rich toward himself, not rich toward God (verse 21). In my opinion, being rich toward God means having your eyes on HIM and on HIS purpose for your life and the things HE has given you, which is why authentic gratitude is the key. The lack of Rich Man's gratitude is what hit me with this parable, and what I'm trying to communicate in this devotional. The Rich Man didn't thank God for his abundant harvest. He used it for his own benefit.

Wait, what? What does that even mean? The guy’s just trying to make plans for his huge wheat harvest. Duh, right? Wouldn’t you?

But think about this wealthy man in this parable. He had his eyes, not on God, not even on others, but on himself. His eyes were not even off himself enough to say “Thank you.” He didn’t make plans to build his business, hire more people. He didn’t care to make himself the John D. Rockefeller of the harvest. He was glad to relax and party off his profits. It reminds me of some of the modern-day wealthy kids who are no more than famous for being famous. The Rich Man didn’t care to build power and reputation for himself off his profit. Not even that, but no forging of a legacy, no impacting the world for good. Just eating, drinking, making merry.

He also didn’t look to make a donation to Wheat for the Homeless, if such an organization existed back in the time when Jesus told this story. The man didn’t dare share a little with his struggling cousin (if he had one). He didn’t think about ways to pass on his wealth to future generations. The storehouses that he wanted to build were his way of keeping what was his. Of course it was his. Rightfully so. However, his eyes were on himself and how all this wheat was going to allow him to be merry. He apparently couldn’t see the needs in the world around him.

Whatever you think of the Rockefellers won’t take away from the fact that they did good things for their country by creating railways that made a strong future for America. They created a strong, charitable foundation. But to the wealthy man in the parable, the purpose of the rich man’s harvest was him. He makes me think of someone with a stunning voice who sings only in the shower … if no one else is at home to hear and be blessed by their song.

It was Rich Man’s choice not to think of those around him, or to build a future of wealth for himself. It certainly was his choice to do whatever he wanted with his harvest. But his choice to build storehouses is what struck me hardest. He was not afflicted with simple, basic gratitude. There was not even a “thank you,” as he made his plans to keep it all for himself.

He didn't thank God for his abundant harvest. He used it for his own benefit.

Real gratitude is more than saying, “Thank you,” or writing a sweet “thank you” note. It goes far beyond that. It takes our eyes off ourselves and puts them on the Giver (God). That’s when we think about the future beyond ourselves, see the needs around us. That’s when we begin to care.

Rich Man did not, but do you have authentic gratitude?

His storehouses were so overflowing that they could easily have flowed to those around him, from donations to community building or in a will.

Are your eyes on yourself, hands clenched around what is yours? Or, does gratitude toward the Giver overflow your heart to those around you in need of Jesus, whatever God’s purpose? Are you living your life for God out of gratitude? Or for yourself?

In other words, as Jesus says in this parable, are you storing up for yourself, or are you being rich toward God? It’s food for thought, friends. Food for thought!

~*~
Author Bio:

Voni Harris writes from her family’s home on the rain forest island of Kodiak, Alaska.

A legal-eagle husband, a breathtaking daughter, an adventurous grandson, and two enthusiastic dogs all conspire to keep her from spending too much time at the computer.

She holds a Radio-TV degree from Drake University, and her short story “The Wedding” was published in Heart-Stirring Stories of Romance. 

Voni's novel Nothing Hidden won the 2013 ACFW’s First Impressions contest and the 2015 Daphne DuMaurier unpublished inspy suspense category. It was also a 2018 ACFW Genesis finalist.

Thoughts on turkeys, life and God

Turkeys and Surprises from God
A guest post by Voni Harris

“He performs wonders that cannot be fathomed, miracles that cannot be counted.” 

~Job 5:9 (NIV)

There we were in HellHole Canyon—it’s a real place, a county preserve outside San Diego. You should go, and you should definitely take water. I mean, it is called HellHole for a reason.

If you walk down the canyon and back up the other side, you can see Mexico and Catalina and San Diego County. Rich and I weren’t prepared to go that long and decided to turn back once we reached the creek at the bottom.

But just after we got to the bottom, we heard a strange noise.

A rustling in the bushes.

“Uh, is that a turkey?” Rich ventured.

“A turkey? Here?” Why would there be a turkey in HellHole, right?

Another rustle. It was a turkey! Cool.

“Let’s follow it!” I wanted a cool picture. So we did follow it on the trail up the other side of the canyon for a few more minutes.

Never could get a good picture because it’s a wild turkey, duh. It knows how to hide.

It was sure fun trying.

...

Isn’t that just like God, though?

You set your limits. You decide how far to go.

And God sends a wild turkey—a spurt of joy, of curiosity—that tickles you to move just outside your comfort zone. You’re just doing life as usual when *poof* God reveals a bit of Himself to you, draws you closer to Him.

Like He did when he split the Red Sea in half in front of the entire nation of Israel.

Or how about His bit of humor about a camel and the eye of the needle?

Or when He raised Lazarus from the dead? Surprise! Joy!

I admit that a wild turkey isn’t always a “good” surprise. A “turkey” can be all-out painful: A rebellious teen, a bad diagnosis, a divorce. A Cross.

But these surprises also come from God. They also do God’s work in drawing us outside of our self-imposed comfort zones and closer to Him … if we let them.

It’s so easy to just go through life without being open to those wild turkeys God sends in your path.

Singing worship songs.

Listening to a sermon.

Sitting down with your Bible.

Raising a child.

In a doctor’s office.

Out and about in nature.

What wild turkeys has God sent lately? What wonders is He working in your life?

~*~

Author bio:  

Voni Harris writes from her family’s home on the beautiful Alaskan island of Kodiak, with a husband, a golden retriever and a wheaten terrier to keep her from sitting at the computer too long at a time. 

She holds a radio-TV degree from Drake University, and her short story “The Wedding” was published in Heart-Stirring Stories of Romance (edited by Linda Evans Shephard). 

Her Christian suspense manuscript Nothing Hidden won the 2015 Daphne du Maurier unpublished inspirational category. It was titled “Next of Kin” when it won ACFW’s 2013 First Impressions contest. Tutoring is the second love of her life (after writing). 

Connect with Voni by visiting her blog at, http://vonildawrites.wordpress.com.