Author: Norm

SCRIPTURE: Luke 2:8-14 When Jesus comes again, He will come with angels, and every eye will see Him (Matthew 25:31, Revelation 1:7). For His first coming, the angels appear too, but not everyone gets to see Him. Yet the shepherds do… how curious that they get to see Jesus and the angels. This good news announced only to…

SCRIPTURE: Luke 2:1-7 The census of Quirinius was in 6/7AD (Josephus), but Jesus was born in the days of Herod (Luke 1:5), who died in 4BC. Proof, say critics, that Luke made this up. Apparently it depends on how a word is translated: ‘protos’, first or before. N.T. Wright addresses this issue here, and concludes: “I suggest,…

SCRIPTURE: Luke 1:76-80 Here we see the difference between a prophet and a Messiah. A prophet points the way, the Messiah makes the way. John the Baptist was a prophet, showing people how to be saved, how to be forgiven. Jesus is the Messiah, saving the people, accomplishing their forgiveness. John knew this; when his followers…

SCRIPTURE: Psalm 68 When he went up to his place on high, he led a line of prisoners. He received gifts from people, even from those who refused to obey him. The Lord God went up to live on Mount Zion. (Psalm 68:18) This is a victory song sung by people desperate for victory over their enemies….

SCRIPTURE: Job 1-3 “I was born naked. And I’ll leave here naked. You have given, and you have taken away. May your name be praised.” In spite of everything, Job didn’t sin by blaming God for doing anything wrong. (Job 1:21-22) His wife said to him, “Are you still continuing to be faithful to the Lord? Speak evil…

SCRIPTURE: Luke 1:67-75 Filled with the Spirit… what does this mean. On the one hand, this is something that God does to him. But he also opens himself to God, and allows the Spirit to bubble out of him. I have had times when I had praise or prayer stirring within me… During a powerful God…

SCRIPTURE: Luke 1:57-66 Zechariah was speechless because he had doubted God (Luke 1:19-20). By choosing the name ‘John’, he was showing he finally believed God. Zechariah chooses to name his blessing, to believe God’s message, to accept God’s promise. There is something powerful in naming our experiences by faith. This crisis is a God-opporunity, this encounter is…

SCRIPTURE: Luke 1:46-56 For Mary, the great thing about God is His connection to the little guy. She’s a nobody (humanly speaking), yet God choses her for this special mission. He is not impressed by stars and tycoons and rulers and bigwigs. In fact, His tendency is to bring down the ‘mighty’, while lifting up the…