Merry Christmas from Seed Effect

Dear friends,

If you are anything like me, the Christmas season can feel like a trail mix bag of emotions, hoping for more M&Ms than raisins in the mix.

One of my favorite Christmas hymns is “O Holy Night”. As I think back to my childhood, I recognize how simple it was to feel “the thrill of hope”. A new K-Mart toy catalog arriving in the mail, driving around seeing Christmas lights and decorations around town, and the joy of singing Christmas carols on Sundays for the month of December. Now, as a wife and working mom, the pace of life seems to be ever-increasing, while the time to tackle all that’s in front of me is not. And I can’t help but lean into the next line of the hymn, “the weary world rejoices”.

If I’m honest, there have been several years where I battled weariness at Christmas – the year we lost my grandfather 5 days before Christmas, the years of infertility and unmet longing, the hours of travel when I desperately wanted to rest. And yet, God met me in each of those seasons with a reason to rejoice. He sent his Son for me (and for you!), who is redeeming and restoring all that has been broken and lost. That hope is available to us all. No strings attached or checklists to complete. Just hope that restores the soul.

This 10-day devotional is intended to be a light lift that brings you back to a place of dependence, peace, and celebration this Christmas. “He knows our need, to our weakness is no stranger.” As you prepare to celebrate Christ’s birth this Christmas, with whatever emotional mix you are carrying, my hope for you is that you will truly experience the joy set before you.

With gratitude and hope,

Liz Johnson