Day 8: I Heard The Bells On Christmas Day
I heard the bells on Christmas day
Their old familiar carols play
And mild and sweet their songs repeat
Of peace on earth good will to men
And the bells are ringing
Like a choir they’re singing
In my heart I hear them
And in despair I bowed my head
There is no peace on earth I said
For hate is strong and mocks the song
Then rang the bells more loud and deep
God is not dead, nor does he sleep
The wrong shall fail, the right prevail
It was near the end of 2010 when I first heard to the carol “I Heard the Bells on Christmas Day.” I had just purchased the Casting Crowns’ Christmas album Peace on Earth which was fitting because at that time, peace on earth was something my family truly needed. The months leading up to Christmas had been difficult and exhausting. To name just a few of the challenges we had faced that year, my dad was deployed for most of the year to Iraq, my mom and I were involved in a hit and run accident, and to top things off, we almost had to evacuate our house due to flooding in the area.
On a chilly November afternoon, I locked myself away in my room and listened to Peace on Earth. When “I Heard the Bells on Christmas Day” played, the haunting tones and somber lyrics of the song caught my attention. The song takes the listener on a beautiful journey from grief and sorrow to joy and expectation of the good news of the gospel:
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 menThen rang the bells more loud and deep
God is not dead, nor does he sleep
The wrong shall fail, the right prevail
With peace on earth, good will to men
My circumstances from ten years ago probably sounds familiar to many of our circumstances today. In the face of the unknown, after all that we have endured this year, it may be hard to feel the usual Christmas cheer. With the overwhelming problems we face, some of us may feel that peace on earth just isn’t possible in 2020 or beyond. Yet we have reason to believe in the hope we profess, and just like the church bells, the church can triumphantly proclaim the gospel message: God is not dead, nor does He sleep. Rather, God is alive and active in all of our circumstances ushering in peace on earth.
Day 25: Coventry Carol
Lullay, lullayMy little tiny childBy-by, lullay, lullay Oh, sisters two how may we doFor to preserve this day? This poor youngling of whom we do sing Herod the King in his ragingCharged he hath this day His men of might in his own sightAll children young to slay Then...
Day 24: O Holy Night
Oh, holy night! The stars are brightly shiningIt is the night of the dear Savior's birthLong lay the world in sin and error piningTill He appeared and the soul felt its worthA thrill of hope the weary world rejoicesFor yonder breaks a new and glorious morn Fall on...
Day 23: Mary Did You Know
Mary, did you knowthat your Baby Boy would one day walk on water? Mary, did you knowthat your Baby Boy would save our sons and daughters? Did you knowthat your Baby Boy has come to make you new?This Child that you delivered will soon deliver you. Mary, did you...
Day 22: O Come All Ye Faithful
O come, all ye faithful, joyful and triumphant O come ye, o come ye to Bethlehem O come and behold Him, born the King of Angels O come, let us adore Him Christ the Lord O sing, choirs of angels, sing in exultation O come, o come ye to Bethlehem O Come and...
Day 21: Handel’s Messiah
For the Lord God Omnipotent reigneth Hallelujah! Hallelujah! Hallelujah! Hallelujah! The kingdom of this world Is become the kingdom of our Lord And of His Christ, and of His Christ And He shall reign for ever and ever And He shall reign for ever and ever And He shall...
Day 20: Away In The Manger
Away in a manger No crib for His bed The little Lord Jesus Lay down His sweet head The stars in the sky Look down where He lay The little Lord Jesus Asleep on the hay The cattle are lowing The poor Baby wakes But little Lord Jesus No crying He makes I love Thee, Lord...
Day 19: Breath of Heaven
I have traveled many moonless nights Cold and weary with a babe inside And I wonder what I've done Holy father you have come And chosen me now to carry your son I am waiting in a silent prayer I am frightened by the load I bear In a world as cold as stone Must I walk...
Day 18: Do You Hear What I Hear
Said the night wind to the little lamb Way up in the sky, little lamb Do you see what I see Said the little lamb to the shepherd boy Ringing through the sky, shepherd boy Do you hear what I hear Said the shepherd boy to the mighty king In your palace wall, mighty...
Day 17: Joyful, Joyful
Joyful, Joyful, we adore TheeGod of glory, Lord of loveHearts unfold like flow'rs before TheeOpening to the sun above Melt the clouds of sin and sadnessDrive the dark of doubt awayGiver of immortal gladness,Fill us with the light of day! All Thy works with joy...
Day 16: Silent Night
Silent night, holy night All is calm, all is bright 'Round yon virgin Mother and Child Holy infant so tender and mild Sleep in heavenly peace Silent night, holy night! Shepherds quake at the sight! Glories stream from heaven afar; Heavenly hosts sing Al-le-lu-ia!...
Day 15: Little Drummer Boy
Come they told me A new born king to see Our finest gifts we bring To lay before the king So to honor him When we come I am a poor boy too I have no gift to bring That's fit to give our king I played my drum for him I played my best for him Then he smiled at me Me...
Day 14: Angels We Have Heard On High
Angels we have heard on high Sweetly singing o'er the plains And the mountains in reply Echoing their joyous strains Angels we have heard on high Sweetly, sweetly through the night And the mountains in reply Echoing their brief delight Gloria, in excelsis Deo Gloria,...
Day 13: It Came Upon A Midnight Clear
It came upon the midnight clearThat glorious song of oldFrom angels bending near the earthTo touch their harps of gold"Peace on the earth, goodwill to menFrom Heaven's all gracious King!"The world in solemn stillness layTo hear the angels sing Still through the cloven...
Day 12: O Come, O Come, Emmanuel
O come, O come, Emmanuel And ransom captive Israel That mourns in lonely exile here Until the Son of God appear Rejoice! Rejoice! Emmanuel Shall come to thee, O Israel O come, Thou Day-Spring, come and cheer Our spirits by Thine advent here Disperse the gloomy...
Day 11: God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen
God rest ye merry gentlemen let nothing you dismay Remember Christ our Savior was born on Christmas Day To save us all from Satan's pow'r when we were gone astray Oh tidings of comfort and joy, comfort and joy In Bethlehem, in Israel, this blessed Babe was born And...
Day 10: Light Of The World
The world waits for a miracle The heart longs for a little bit of hope Oh come, oh come, Emmanuel A child prays for peace on Earth And she's calling out from a sea of hurt Oh come, oh come, Emmanuel And can you hear the angels singing Glory to the light of the world...
Day 9: What Child Is This
What Child is this who laid to restOn Mary's lap is sleeping?Whom Angels greet with anthems sweet,While shepherds watch are keeping? So bring Him incense, gold and myrrh,Come Peasant, King to own HimThe King of Kings salvation brings,Let loving hearts enthrone Him....
Day 7: Hark! The Herald Angels Sing
Hark the herald angels sing "Glory to the newborn King!Peace on earth and mercy mild, God and sinners reconciled" Joyful, all ye nations rise, join the triumph of the skiesWith the angelic host proclaim:"Christ is born in Bethlehem"Hark! The herald angels sing"Glory...
Day 6: Go Tell It On The Mountain
While shepherds kept their watchingover silent flocks by night,behold throughout the heavens,there shone a holy light. Go, tell it on the mountain,over the hills and everywhere.Go, tell it on the mountainthat Jesus Christ is born. The shepherds feared and trembledwhen...
Day 5: Joy To The World
Joy to the world, the Lord is comeLet earth receive her King Let every heart prepare Him roomAnd Heaven and nature singAnd Heaven, and Heaven, and nature sing Joy to the World, the Savior reigns!Let men their songs employWhile fields and floods, rocks, hills and...
Day 4: Come Thou Long Expected Jesus
Come, Thou long expected Jesus Born to set Thy people free; From our fears and sins release us, Let us find our rest in Thee. Israel's strength and consolation, Hope of all the earth Thou art; Dear desire of every nation, Joy of every longing heart. Born Thy people to...
Day 3: Welcome to Our World
Tears are falling, hearts are breaking How we need to hear from God You've been promised, we've been waiting Welcome Holy Child Hope that You don't mind our manger How I wish we could have known But long-awaited Holy Stranger Make Yourself at home Please make Yourself...
Day 2: We Three Kings
We three kings of Orient are Bearing gifts we traverse afar Field and fountain, moor and mountain Following yonder star We three kings, we three kings Born a king on Bethlehem's plain Gold I bring to crown Him again King forever, ceasing never Over us all to reign Oh,...
Day 1: The First Noel
The First Noel, the Angels did say Was to certain poor shepherds in fields as they lay In fields where they lay keeping their sheep On a cold winter's night that was so deep Noel, Noel, Noel, Noel Born is the King of Israel! They looked up and saw a star Shining in...