Tag Archives: Christmas

Christmas and the Garden of Eden

Posted on December 23, 2014 by Don Merritt

Q:  What do Christmas and the Garden of Eden have in common? A:  Nothing. …and everything! Christmas as a celebration, tradition and season have nothing to do with Eden.  Christmas as in the birth of Jesus Christ has everything to … Continue reading →

Posted in Christian Life | Tagged , , , , , , , , , | 2 Comments

Holiday Attitudes

Posted on December 22, 2014 by Don Merritt

 Therefore, as God’s chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience. Bear with each other and forgive one another if any of you has a grievance against someone. Forgive as the Lord forgave you. And over … Continue reading →

Posted in Christian Life | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , | 13 Comments

Wonder of Wonders

Posted on December 22, 2014 by Don Merritt

There is so much to take in when we consider the story of the birth of our Lord Jesus in Bethlehem so many centuries ago, the story is almost too much to absorb. There is one aspect to it that … Continue reading →

Posted in Christian Life | Tagged , , , , , , , , | 14 Comments

Christmas is Coming Fast

Posted on December 21, 2014 by Don Merritt

Who was it exactly, who was born in Bethlehem so long ago.  John makes it clear at the beginning of his Gospel: In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was with God … Continue reading →

Posted in Christian Life | Tagged , , , , , , , , , | 3 Comments

The Great Day

Posted on December 20, 2014 by Don Merritt

Joel 2:28-32 Like Jeremiah 31 in the previous post, this prophetic passage isn’t one that deals directly with the birth of Jesus; this one deals with the ultimate result of His birth, and isn’t that really why we celebrate his … Continue reading →

Posted in Bible | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , | 4 Comments

A New Covenant

Posted on December 19, 2014 by Don Merritt

Jeremiah 31:31-37 Jeremiah has set out a picture of trouble ahead.  He has cited curse after curse from the Old Covenant that God will invoke against Israel and Judah because of their unbelief that resulted in broken commands.  In chapters … Continue reading →

Posted in Bible | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , | 5 Comments

The Suffering Servant

Posted on December 19, 2014 by Don Merritt

Isaiah 53 In Isaiah 53, the prophet describes for us a servant who would be despised, rejected and die; with the result of saving many.  The poem here actually begins with verse 13 of the preceding chapter… See, my servant … Continue reading →

Posted in Bible | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , | 5 Comments

Bonus Post: Isaiah 11 Fulfilled

Posted on December 18, 2014 by Don Merritt

Romans 15:7-13 This is a section that shows that the unification of Jew and Gentile is clearly and unmistakably the work of the Christ.  In bringing these two groups together in the Body of Christ (Kingdom) Jesus has done something … Continue reading →

Posted in Bible | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , | 4 Comments

The Shoot from the Stump of Jesse

Posted on December 18, 2014 by Don Merritt

Isaiah 11:1-16 As we continue n the run up to Christmas, here is a brief tour of another messianic prophecy from Isaiah, this time from chapter 11… Chapter 11 is the beginning of the concluding portion of the first section … Continue reading →

Posted in Bible | Tagged , , , , , , , , , | 2 Comments

For Unto us a Child is Born

Posted on December 18, 2014 by Don Merritt

Isaiah 9:1-7 There is so much that goes on this time of year, so many distractions, so many little traditions that we find ourselves going through, sometimes without even thinking about what we are doing. Yet the birth of Christ, … Continue reading →

Posted in Bible | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , | 3 Comments