[image: Our Daily Bread] <http://links.rbcministries.mkt6605.com/ctt?kn=17&ms=MjQyNzIzODIS1&r=NzgyMDAzNDM0MjcS1&b=0&j=NzAxODE0Mjc0S0&mt=1&rt=0> <http://links.rbcministries.mkt6605.com/ctt?kn=22&ms=MjQyNzIzODIS1&r=NzgyMDAzNDM0MjcS1&b=0&j=NzAxODE0Mjc0S0&mt=1&rt=0> <http://links.rbcministries.mkt6605.com/ctt?kn=15&ms=MjQyNzIzODIS1&r=NzgyMDAzNDM0MjcS1&b=0&j=NzAxODE0Mjc0S0&mt=1&rt=0> <http://links.rbcministries.mkt6605.com/ctt?kn=19&ms=MjQyNzIzODIS1&r=NzgyMDAzNDM0MjcS1&b=0&j=NzAxODE0Mjc0S0&mt=1&rt=0> [image: Our Story] <http://links.rbcministries.mkt6605.com/ctt?kn=12&ms=MjQyNzIzODIS1&r=NzgyMDAzNDM0MjcS1&b=0&j=NzAxODE0Mjc0S0&mt=1&rt=0> [image: Subscribe] <http://links.rbcministries.mkt6605.com/ctt?kn=3&ms=MjQyNzIzODIS1&r=NzgyMDAzNDM0MjcS1&b=0&j=NzAxODE0Mjc0S0&mt=1&rt=0> Our Daily Bread -- The Seventh Stanza
December 19, 2015 <http://links.rbcministries.mkt6605.com/ctt?kn=17&ms=MjQyNzIzODIS1&r=NzgyMDAzNDM0MjcS1&b=0&j=NzAxODE0Mjc0S0&mt=1&rt=0> Read: Luke 2:8-14 <http://links.rbcministries.mkt6605.com/ctt?kn=7&ms=MjQyNzIzODIS1&r=NzgyMDAzNDM0MjcS1&b=0&j=NzAxODE0Mjc0S0&mt=1&rt=0> Bible in a Year: Jonah 1-4; Revelation 10 <http://links.rbcministries.mkt6605.com/ctt?kn=10&ms=MjQyNzIzODIS1&r=NzgyMDAzNDM0MjcS1&b=0&j=NzAxODE0Mjc0S0&mt=1&rt=0> <http://links.rbcministries.mkt6605.com/ctt?kn=4&ms=MjQyNzIzODIS1&r=NzgyMDAzNDM0MjcS1&b=0&j=NzAxODE0Mjc0S0&mt=1&rt=0> Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is the Messiah, the Lord. —Luke 2:11 <http://links.rbcministries.mkt6605.com/ctt?kn=6&ms=MjQyNzIzODIS1&r=NzgyMDAzNDM0MjcS1&b=0&j=NzAxODE0Mjc0S0&mt=1&rt=0> In the summer of 1861, Henry Wadsworth Longfellow’s wife, Frances, died tragically in a fire. That first Christmas without her, he wrote in his diary, “How inexpressibly sad are the holidays.” The next year was no better, as he recorded, “ ‘A merry Christmas,’ say the children, but that is no more for me.” In 1863, as the American Civil War was dragging on, Longfellow’s son joined the army against his father’s wishes and was critically injured. On Christmas Day that year, as church bells announced the arrival of another painful Christmas, Longfellow picked up his pen and began to write, “I Heard the Bells on Christmas Day.” The poem begins pleasantly, lyrically, but then takes a dark turn. The violent imagery of the pivotal fourth verse ill suits a Christmas carol. “Accursed” cannons “thundered,” mocking the message of peace. By the fifth and sixth verses, Longfellow’s desolation is nearly complete. “It was as if an earthquake rent the hearth-stones of a continent,” he wrote. The poet nearly gave up: “And in despair I bowed my head; ‘There is no peace on earth,’ I said.” But then, from the depths of that bleak Christmas day, Longfellow heard the irrepressible sound of hope. And he wrote this seventh stanza. *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!”* The war raged on and so did memories of his personal tragedies, but it could not stop Christmas. The Messiah is born! He promises, “I am making everything new!” (Rev. 21:5). —Tim Gustafson Immanuel—God with us! *INSIGHT:* It is likely that the shepherds in Luke 2 were not just ordinary shepherds. Because the shepherds’ fields of Bethlehem were so close to Jerusalem, many scholars believe that these were temple shepherds who raised the sheep that would be used at the temple sacrifice. If so, this announcement becomes an anticipation of the proclamation of John the Baptist when he first saw Jesus: “Look, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world!” (John 1:29). These sheep destined for sacrifice would be replaced by God’s perfect Lamb—His one and only Son. Share your thoughts on today’s devotional on Facebook <http://links.rbcministries.mkt6605.com/ctt?kn=22&ms=MjQyNzIzODIS1&r=NzgyMDAzNDM0MjcS1&b=0&j=NzAxODE0Mjc0S0&mt=1&rt=0> or odb.org <http://links.rbcministries.mkt6605.com/ctt?kn=17&ms=MjQyNzIzODIS1&r=NzgyMDAzNDM0MjcS1&b=0&j=NzAxODE0Mjc0S0&mt=1&rt=0> . Share With Your Friends <http://links.rbcministries.mkt6605.com/ctt?kn=5&ms=MjQyNzIzODIS1&r=NzgyMDAzNDM0MjcS1&b=0&j=NzAxODE0Mjc0S0&mt=1&rt=0> Featured Video <http://links.rbcministries.mkt6605.com/ctt?kn=9&ms=MjQyNzIzODIS1&r=NzgyMDAzNDM0MjcS1&b=0&j=NzAxODE0Mjc0S0&mt=1&rt=0> [image: Our Daily Bread Ministries] <http://links.rbcministries.mkt6605.com/ctt?kn=17&ms=MjQyNzIzODIS1&r=NzgyMDAzNDM0MjcS1&b=0&j=NzAxODE0Mjc0S0&mt=1&rt=0> Our mission is to make the life-changing wisdom of the Bible understandable and accessible to all. Our vision is to see people of all nations experiencing a personal relationship with Christ, growing to be more like Him, and serving in a local body of His family. To read today's *Our Daily Bread* online visit www.odb.org <http://links.rbcministries.mkt6605.com/ctt?kn=23&ms=MjQyNzIzODIS1&r=NzgyMDAzNDM0MjcS1&b=0&j=NzAxODE0Mjc0S0&mt=1&rt=0> . Copyright © 2015, Our Daily Bread Ministries, Grand Rapids, MI 49555 USA. Written permission must be obtained from Our Daily Bread Ministries for any further posting or distribution. Scriptures taken from Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV® Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved. -- -- USE INCREDIMAIL ONLY IN THIS GROUP NO NUDITY ALLOWED --- You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "fiftiesoldiesmusicgroup" group. To unsubscribe from this group and stop receiving emails from it, send an email to fiftiesoldiesmusicgroup+unsubscr...@googlegroups.com. For more options, visit https://groups.google.com/d/optout.
