Christmas Day 

“And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of heavenly host, praising God and saying, ‘Glory to God in the highest heaven, and on earth peace among those whom he favors!’” – Luke 2:13-14

Merry Christmas! Here’s a poem to help you and your family celebrate the arrival of the great rescuer, Jesus Christ. Consider taking a moment to watch this short video explaining the backstory of Longfellow’s poem: https://youtu.be/oZtNlZmnEMU

Christmas Bells
By Henry Wadsworth Longfellow

I HEARD the bells on Christmas Day
    Their old, familiar carols play,
        And wild and sweet
        The words repeat
    Of peace on earth, good-will to men!    

And thought how, as the day had come,
  The belfries of all Christendom
        Had rolled along
        The unbroken song
    Of peace on earth, good-will to men!

Till ringing, singing on its way,
    The world revolved from night to day,
        A voice, a chime,
        A chant sublime
    Of peace on earth, good-will to men!

Then from each black, accursed mouth
    The cannon thundered in the South,
        And with the sound
        The carols drowned
    Of peace on earth, good-will to men!

It was as if an earthquake rent
The hearth-stones of a continent,
        And made forlorn
        The households born
    Of peace on earth, good-will to men!

And in despair I bowed my head;
  "There is no peace on earth," I said;
        "For hate is strong,
        And mocks the song
  Of peace on earth, good-will to men!" 

Then pealed the bells more loud and deep:
  "God is not dead, nor doth He sleep;
        The Wrong shall fail,
        The Right prevail,
   With peace on earth, good-will to men."

Source: Longfellow, Henry Wadsworth. The Complete Poetical Works of Longfellow. Boston: Houghton Mifflin Company, 1893.

Read: Heaven breaks through, JSB p. 200 (Matthew 3, Luke 1, 3; John 1)

Ask: What kind of life is God calling you to live?

Pray: That God will help you live life to the fullest.

Act: Create a “rule of life” for your family. What are some of the spiritual disciplines your family will practice in the upcoming year?

Listen: Joy To The World