The Grace Cycle: Finding Rest and Generosity This Christmas

Devotional

Day 1: God's grace overflows to enable generous living.

When life feels like you're trying to be the Savior of the season, remember that God is able to make every grace overflow so you have what you need and even enough to share; receive that unmerited, everyday enabling power, notice it, and let it fuel actions rather than try to manufacture peace on your own. [45:52]

2 Corinthians 9:8-12 (ESV)
8 And God is able to make all grace abound to you, so that having all sufficiency in all things at all times, you may abound in every good work.
9 As it is written, "He has distributed freely, he has given to the poor; his righteousness endures forever."
10 He who supplies seed to the sower and bread for food will supply and multiply your seed for sowing and increase the harvest of your righteousness,
11 You will be enriched in every way to be generous in every way, which through us will produce thanksgiving to God.
12 For the ministry of this service is not only supplying the needs of the saints but is also overflowing in many thanksgivings to God.

Reflection: Identify one holiday task you feel you must control; today, ask God to provide grace for it and either delegate it or let it go—what specific first step will you take to stop carrying that burden?

Day 2: Jesus calls the lost, prompting repentance and generosity.

When Jesus looks up and calls your name, it changes everything: being truly seen breaks self-protective selfishness and leads to genuine gratitude and radical generosity, not out of obligation but as a joyful overflow of grace received. [56:32]

Luke 19:1-10 (ESV)
1 He entered Jericho and was passing through.
2 And a man was there by the name of Zacchaeus. He was a chief tax collector and was rich.
3 And he sought to see who Jesus was, but on account of the crowd he could not, because he was small in stature.
4 So he ran on ahead and climbed up into a sycamore tree to see him, for he was to pass that way.
5 And when Jesus came to the place, he looked up and said to him, "Zacchaeus, hurry and come down, for I must stay at your house today."
6 So he hurried and came down and received him joyfully.
7 And when they saw it they all grumbled, "He has gone in to be the guest of a man who is a sinner."
8 And Zacchaeus stood and said to the Lord, "Behold, Lord, the half of my goods I give to the poor. And if I have defrauded anyone of anything, I restore it fourfold."
9 And Jesus said to him, "Today salvation has come to this house, since he also is a son of Abraham."
10 For the Son of Man came to seek and to save the lost.

Reflection: List one tradition, possession, or status you realize has been clouding your vision this season; choose one concrete thing you will release this week to create space for relationship, and commit to the specific day you will do it.

Day 3: Come to Jesus for rest; His yoke is easy.

You are invited to bring your weariness to Jesus—his promise is rest for your soul and a different rhythm for life; practicing that with small, regular pauses makes you a more generous, present person than frantic activity ever will. [01:00:36]

Matthew 11:28-30 (ESV)
28 "Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.
29 Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls.
30 For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light."

Reflection: Open your calendar now and remove or delegate one obligation this week to create at least one hour of intentional rest; schedule it and treat that hour as non‑negotiable.

Day 4: Let go of perfection to notice Jesus' presence.

Examine what you clutch to tightly—perfect decorations, unreachable standards, or full hosting calendars—and choose to climb down from that tree so you can be seen, receive grace, and then respond with gratitude that frees you to connect with people rather than tasks. [59:45]

Psalm 46:10 (ESV)
"Be still, and know that I am God. I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth!"

Reflection: Write three holiday tasks or traditions you feel obligated to keep; pick one to pause this year and replace that time with 30 minutes of prayer, presence, or a visit with someone—what will you pause and when will you do it?

Day 5: Practice noticing God's grace through simple rhythms.

Intentionally build brief, tangible rhythms—reading Luke or Psalms, sitting quietly by a tree or a candle, journaling gratitude—so you begin to recognize the undeserved gifts God is already pouring out and allow that noticing to soften your heart toward thanksgiving and generosity. [01:01:47]

Luke 2:19 (ESV)
But Mary treasured up all these things, pondering them in her heart.

Reflection: For the next three mornings, block 10–15 minutes to read Luke 2 or a Psalm and write one sentence about one way you noticed God's undeserved grace; when will you start and where will you do this?

Sermon Summary

I shared how our family traditions—fires at the cabin, decorating the tree with White Christmas on, hot cocoa and puzzles—can feel like a Hallmark movie for a moment, but most of December usually feels hurried, frazzled, and heavy. The pressures are real: finances, social expectations, time we don’t actually have, and the weight of making “the magic” happen. In that scramble, I can easily try to be the savior of the season—measuring my worth by how much I produce—and end up exhausted and joyless. But the joy we’re craving doesn’t come from our output. It comes from grace.

Grace begins with Jesus. He came near, died, rose, and gave us not only salvation but daily enabling power through the Holy Spirit. God is able to make grace overflow so that we have what we need—and enough to share. That’s the shift: from self-propelled giving to grace-fueled living. I called this the grace cycle. Jesus gives grace we did not and cannot earn. When we notice and receive it, gratitude rises naturally. And gratitude, in turn, spills into generosity that reveals Jesus to others.

We saw it in Zacchaeus. Jesus called him by name, welcomed him before he cleaned up anything, and Zacchaeus responded with joy, repentance, and radical generosity. His changed life became a testimony; his giving repaired what greed had broken. But like Zacchaeus climbing the tree, we have to position ourselves to hear Jesus. That means naming what clouds our vision—overstuffed calendars, expectations no one is actually asking of us, traditions we grip too tightly—and making room to notice grace.

Jesus invites the weary to come and find rest. So I urged us to block space now: sit by the tree, read Psalms or Luke, journal the gifts you didn’t deserve—places you can’t, but God can. Let grace soften your heart, spark gratitude, and overflow in generosity to your family, neighbors, and the hurting. Not by your strength, but by the grace that is already overflowing to you. This Advent, we’re asking for ears to hear and eyes to watch so we don’t miss his presence right in our midst.

Key Takeaways

1. Grace precedes your generosity God’s provision comes before your output. When grace overflows, you receive sufficiency for what’s in front of you and abundance to share. Move from proving to receiving, and let giving be a response to what God has already supplied. [45:05]
2. Gratitude grows from noticing grace Gratitude isn’t forced; it blooms when you truly see what you didn’t earn. Slow down enough to name the undeserved gifts—help you didn’t ask for, strength you didn’t summon. As recognition deepens, thanksgiving rises naturally and steadily. [49:57]
3. Generosity becomes your testimony Zacchaeus didn’t just feel bad; he repaired what greed had harmed, fourfold. Real generosity doesn’t perform for approval; it restores what’s been broken and points to a changed heart. Where might repayment, repair, or release speak the loudest gospel in your life? [55:48]
4. Position yourself to hear Jesus Zacchaeus climbed a tree to see and be seen; posture matters. Clear space, loosen your grip on lesser things, and choose rhythms where you can actually hear your name called. When you make room, rest replaces hurry and direction replaces noise. [57:53]

Youtube Chapters

[00:00] - Welcome
[34:16] - Kids in service and family traditions
[36:50] - When Hallmark meets hurry
[38:25] - Time, expectations, and pressure
[41:50] - Grace, not self-made magic
[45:05] - God’s overflow in 2 Corinthians 9
[48:26] - The grace cycle explained
[51:20] - Zacchaeus climbs to see Jesus
[54:29] - Called by name, welcomed home
[55:48] - Repentance becomes generosity
[57:53] - Posture to hear and release
[60:14] - Come to Me: easy yoke
[61:17] - Simple Advent rhythms
[63:06] - Advent prayer together

Bible Study Guide

Bible Reading

- 2 Corinthians 9:8–12 — 8 And God is able to make all grace abound to you, so that having all sufficiency in all things at all times, you may abound in every good work. 9 As it is written, “He has distributed freely, he has given to the poor; his righteousness endures forever.” 10 He who supplies seed to the sower and bread for food will supply and multiply your seed for sowing and increase the harvest of your righteousness. 11 You will be enriched in every way to be generous in every way, which through us will produce thanksgiving to God. 12 For the ministry of this service is not only supplying the needs of the saints but is also overflowing in many thanksgivings to God. - Luke 19:1–10 1 He entered Jericho and was passing through. 2 And there was a man named Zacchaeus. He was a chief tax collector and was rich. 3 And he was seeking to see who Jesus was, but on account of the crowd he could not, because he was small in stature. 4 So he ran on ahead and climbed up into a sycamore tree to see him, for he was about to pass that way. 5 And when Jesus came to the place, he looked up and said to him, “Zacchaeus, hurry and come down, for I must stay at your house today.” 6 So he hurried and came down and received him joyfully. 7 And when they saw it they all grumbled, “He has gone in to be the guest of a man who is a sinner.” 8 And Zacchaeus stood and said to the Lord, “Behold, Lord, the half of my goods I give to the poor. And if I have defrauded anyone of anything, I restore it fourfold.” 9 And Jesus said to him, “Today salvation has come to this house, since he also is a son of Abraham.” 10 For the Son of Man came to seek and to save the lost.

Observation Questions

Read 2 Corinthians 9:8. What specific promise about God’s provision stands out in this verse, and how does the verse connect provision to doing “every good work”?
In Luke 19:5–8, what details show that Jesus initiated the relationship with Zacchaeus and that Zacchaeus’s response included both repentance and generous repair?
What examples did the pastor give of the pressures people feel during the holidays (time, money, expectations)? [38:25]
How did the pastor define “grace” in the talk, and what part of that definition points to grace being an ongoing, daily power rather than a one-time event? [46:11]

Interpretation Questions

How should the phrase “make all grace abound” be understood in relation to human limitations—does it mean God removes limits, supplies strength within limits, or both? What implications follow for how a person approaches seasonal responsibilities? [45:52]
How does Zacchaeus’s immediate offer to give half his goods and repay fourfold illustrate the connection between being seen by Jesus and a changed life? What does this say about the role of gratitude in motivating reparative generosity? [55:16]
What does the sermon mean by “position yourself to hear Jesus” (climb the tree)? What practical obstacles commonly keep people from that posture, and how does that posture change perception of God’s grace? [57:53]
The preacher contrasted “being the savior of the season” with trusting God’s overflow. What assumptions about personal worth and productivity does that contrast expose, and how might those assumptions distort Christian giving? [41:50]

Application Questions

Looking at your December or next four weeks, what is one specific tradition or obligation you can release or simplify this year so you have space to notice God’s grace? Describe exactly what you will stop, reduce, or delegate. [58:51]
Block out 10–30 minutes this week to create a “grace list”: write three recent moments you did not earn or deserve but experienced as gifts from God. When will you schedule that time and where will you do it? [01:01:47]
Identify one relationship (family member, neighbor, co‑worker) where an act of reparative generosity (apology, repayment, restoration) would reflect the gospel. What concrete step will you take in the next seven days? Be specific. [55:48]
When the pastor described trying to “be the Savior of the season,” people can feel hurt when efforts go unnoticed. Is there a current role or task you are holding that you do primarily for recognition? What is one small next step to reorient that task as a response to grace rather than a proof of worth? [41:50]
Choose one weekly rhythm you will adopt during Advent (sit by the tree for 10 minutes, read a Psalm, read Luke, journal). Which will you pick, when exactly will you do it, and who will hold you accountable? [01:01:47]
The sermon invited people to “come down from the tree” to be available to Jesus. What is a concrete boundary you can set on your calendar this month (a blank afternoon, one fewer event per week) to make room to hear God? Put a day and time on the calendar now. [57:53]
The grace cycle leads from receiving grace to gratitude to generosity. Name one small, tangible way you will pass along grace this season (invite someone who usually eats alone, donate to a specific need, hire help so you can rest). When will you do it and what will you say if asked why? [50:33]

Sermon Clips

``But here's the good news. All the goodness in my life, all the goodness in your life, it doesn't come from anything I did. It comes from the grace that Jesus has poured out for me. At the end of the day, in this season, in my quest to create all the holiday magic and to be generous with myself, I can make myself the Savior. I can feel hurt when my efforts go unnoticed or underappreciated. I have been the wife that says, why do I have to do all the shopping? Why do I have to do all the cooking? [00:41:50] (35 seconds) #OverflowingGrace

But I think we can all agree that we just want to feel joy and contentment in a season surrounded by hurry and grief and consumerism. And if that's true of you like it's true of me, it can only be found with Jesus. And it starts and ends in this thing called the grace cycle. That's what we're going to talk about today. This cycle of grace that brings us back to connection and closeness with him and each other. That peace and joy, it starts with Jesus, right? [00:43:21] (35 seconds)

God is able. Do you believe that? Like, really? If you really sat with it? I think sometimes me and my efforts to be the Savior of the season, I don't believe it all the time. I think I have to do the running. I have to do all the things. Otherwise, they don't get done. And that's true. Jesus is not going to pick up the toy for you from Target. But, but God is able, God is able to make every grace overflow to you. [00:45:17] (36 seconds)

I love that word overflow. Remember as a child when you would go to the ocean and you'd jump in those big waves and they would knock you out with that salty water? That's what it's like. It's not a sprinkling. It's not just a little bit. It is overflowing you with grace. And I love that what it says after that. He's overflowing you with grace so that in every way, always having everything you need, you may excel in every good work, pre-thing you need. [00:45:52] (37 seconds)

So real quick before I go on, I want to give you the definition of grace. Grace is Jesus taking on what you deserved, death, right? You deserved death for your sins. I deserve death for my sins. It's part of the human nature. Jesus took it on. He died a criminal death on the cross that he did not deserve. So he took it on himself. But it doesn't start there. He gave you what he deserved. He lived a perfect life. So he gave his grace to you. [00:46:30] (34 seconds)

So God is able to overflow you with grace so that you have everything you need. And not just that, he's also a God of abundance. God of sufficiency. God of abundance. You'll have enough to share. You'll have everything you need and enough to share. And verse 11 says, you will be enriched in every way for all generosity, which produces thanksgiving to God through us. So it results in generosity. It results in thanksgiving. [00:47:52] (37 seconds)

So that brings me to the grace cycle as we're going to talk about this. Jesus gives us our grace, right? It's not earned. It's not something you do. You don't have to clean yourself up. You just get it. You just get this power that is put on you. Jesus gives us grace, much like you give gifts to your children on Christmas. Not because they're perfect angels. They're not. Surprise. But because you love them and because you love giving your kids good gifts. [00:48:30] (32 seconds)

The same is true of unwrapping God's grace. If you don't have it, you're going to appreciate it so much more. And we don't have it unless he gives it to us. And so he gives us his grace. We recognize his grace. And when received and noticed and appreciated, it naturally turns to gratitude. Naturally. That kid throws their arms around you on that Christmas morning when they get that gift that they really wanted. And they go, thank you, mommy. Thank you, daddy. Because they know. [00:49:38] (32 seconds)

It just naturally turns into gratitude. And once your heart is in that place of noticing and appreciating the true gift that grace is, it turns to gratitude. And then you can't help but be generous. Right? When you receive that, you can't help but give it on to someone else. To give on that feeling. To give on that joy. Overflowing the grace that you've been giving all over everyone else around you. And then that grace that's so generously given is met with gratitude and more generosity and more gratitude and more generosity. [00:50:09] (37 seconds)

And Jesus is shown through us. It's those, like, catchy little phrases, like, be the light, be the hands and feet of Jesus. All those things that you're like, I don't know what that means. Right? That's what it is. All of God's grace is showing through you to the point where people can see something different in you. They see Jesus in you. And the cycle goes on and on and on and on. [00:50:46] (27 seconds)

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