{"id":33999,"date":"2025-09-17T08:27:36","date_gmt":"2025-09-17T12:27:36","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/debmillswriter.com\/?p=33999"},"modified":"2025-09-17T17:22:52","modified_gmt":"2025-09-17T21:22:52","slug":"worship-wednesday-is-peace-possible-i-heard-the-bells-casting-crowns","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/debmillswriter.com\/?p=33999","title":{"rendered":"Worship Wednesday – Is Peace Possible? – I Heard the Bells – Casting Crowns"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
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Photo Credit: Roseville Lutheran Church<\/a><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

\u201cGlory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, goodwill <\/strong>toward men!\u201d<\/em> \u2013 Luke 2:14<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given, and the government will be upon His shoulders<\/strong>. And He will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace<\/strong>. Of the increase of His government and peace there will be no end. He will reign on the throne of David and over his kingdom, to establish and sustain it with justice and righteousness from that time and forevermore. The zeal of the LORD of Hosts will accomplish this.<\/em> \u2013 Isaiah 9:6-7<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Be angry, and do not sin; ponder in your own hearts on your beds, and be silent. Selah. Offer right sacrifices, and put your trust in the Lord. In peace I will both lie down and sleep<\/strong>; for you alone, O Lord, make me dwell in safety.<\/em> – Psalm 4:4-5, 8<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

I will instruct you and teach you in the way you should go; I will counsel you with my eye upon you. Be not like a horse or a mule, without understanding, which must be curbed with bit and bridle, or it will not stay near you. Many are the sorrows of the wicked, but steadfast love surrounds the one who trusts in the Lord. <\/strong>Be glad in the Lord, and rejoice, O righteous, and shout for joy, all you upright in heart!<\/em> – Psalm 32:8-11<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Repay no one evil for evil, but give thought to do what is honorable in the sight of all. <\/sup>If possible, so far as it depends on you, live peaceably with all.<\/strong> Beloved, never avenge yourselves, but leave it to the wrath of God, for it is written, \u201cVengeance is mine, I will repay, says the Lord.\u201d<\/em> – Romans 12:17-19<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

[From the Archives<\/a>: One week ago this morning, I woke to the results of the 2024 US presidential election. Before going to bed in the early hours of today, I prayed, wanting to trust the outcome to Him. Wanting to believe Him for whatever direction our country would go. Affirming that the Scripture validates that He is sovereign, and we are in His care.]<\/p>\n\n\n\n

October is near, and in our home, it begins the season of Christmas music. So many beautiful anthems to the glory of God – the month of December is not enough to listen, sing, and meditate on the message of these words written by inspired authors and composers.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

As this week has unfolded around our nation, social media and news outlets are filled with a range of both shock and jubilation. Of fear and relief. We continue a nation divided\u2026for now. May the church not be a vessel of division\u2026but an instrument of God\u2019s peace.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

In December, 1863, American poet and scholar Henry W. Longfellow<\/a> received his wounded son home from battle. It was Christmas time, and the U.S. Civil War raged on. Having already lost his wife years earlier, Longfellow nursed his son, Charley, back to health. His own thoughts, in turmoil over all that was happening around him, he poured out in the poem \u201cChristmas Bells\u201d<\/a><\/em>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

“I Heard the Bells” <\/em>– 2022 film on Longfellow’s life and circumstance of writing this poem<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Longfellow clearly took comfort from God as he wrote, ending the poem with this stanza:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cGod is not dead, nor doth He sleep;<\/em>
        The Wrong shall fail,<\/em>
        The Right prevail,<\/em>
    With peace on earth, good-will to men.\u201d<\/em><\/strong>*<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

I Heard the Bells <\/em>is a Christmas carol, not a worship anthem. Yet, given the continuing wars of our day, and the politics surrounding them, we must tend the fires of our hope. God is the \u201clifter of our heads\u201d<\/em> (Psalm 3:3<\/a>). He is the One who gives strength to our \u201cweak hands and shaking knees\u201d<\/em> (Isaiah 35:3<\/a>). He will do as He\u2019s promised. He is faithful. When you hear the bells ring where you are in the wake of this past week, and as Christmas looms in weeks ahead, take heart in that. We must continue to pray for His peace on earth. We can be vessels of His good-will toward our neighbors, both near and far away.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Photo Credit: Ullie Kaye Poetry, Facebook<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Leaning into \u201cthe right [to] prevail\u201d<\/em> is where we stand, as Christ-followers. Straight and resolute in our understanding of God\u2019s intentions and His movement in our world. We can resist and refuse to add to the noise of hopelessness and cynicism in this world. We bend our hearts to hear the voice of God speak through the chaos\u2026speaking the peace that only He can bring\u2026through our Savior and Lord, Jesus Christ<\/strong>. We can speak that peace to our neighbor – the truth wrapped in His love.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Worship<\/a> with me\u2026<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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<\/p>\n\n\n\n

And the bells are ringing (Peace on Earth)
Like a choir they\u2019re singing (Peace on Earth)
In my heart I hear them
Peace on earth, good will to men<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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<\/p>\n\n\n\n

But the bells are ringing (Peace on Earth)
Like a choir singing (Peace on Earth)
Does anybody hear them?
Peace on earth, good will to men<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Then rang the bells more loud and deep
God is not dead, nor doth He sleep (Peace on Earth, peace on Earth)
The wrong shall fail, the right prevail
With peace on earth, good will to men<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Then ringing singing on its way<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The world revolved from night to day
A voice, a chime, a chant sublime
Of peace on earth, good will to men<\/p>\n\n\n\n

And the bells they\u2019re ringing (Peace on Earth)
Like a choir they\u2019re singing (Peace on Earth)
And with our hearts we\u2019ll hear them
Peace on earth, good will to men<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Do you hear the bells they\u2019re ringing? (Peace on Earth)
The life the angels singing (Peace on Earth)
Open up your heart and hear them (Peace on Earth)
Peace on earth, good will to men<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Peace on earth, Peace on earth
Peace on earth, Good will to men*<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Photo Credit: Dr. Rex; Jill Jackson Miller<\/a><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
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