Author Archives: Dr. Philip W. Turner

“After eight days had passed, it was time to circumcise the child, and he was called Jesus, the name given by the angel before he was conceived in the womb.” (Luke 2:21)          As Jewish law would prescribe, on the eighth day, Jesus is circumcised and officially given the name of Jesus.  What began with Gabriel revealingContinue reading “Identity”

“The shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all they had heard and seen, as it had been told them.” (Luke 2:20)          Luke doesn’t tell us how long the shepherds stayed at the stable.  Were they there for a few minutes, or did they spend a much longer time at this holy moment?  Luke does tell usContinue reading “Returning”

“But Mary treasured all these words and pondered them in her heart.” (Luke 2: 19) The heart and mind of Mary.  What was it like to be Mary as the shepherds retold their story to her and Joseph in their stable setting?  So much had already happened to Mary.  From Gabriel’s visit announcing to her the impending pregnancy,Continue reading “Treasures of the Heart”

“When they saw this, they made known what had been told them about this child, and all who heard it were amazed at what the shepherds told them.” (Luke 2: 17-18)          Everybody loves a story, especially a good story.  A story that invites you in and allows you to feel as though you were there inContinue reading “Tell Your Story”

“So, they went with haste and found Mary and Joseph and the child lying in the manger.” (Luke 2:16)          Emily Dickinson once wrote, “Not knowing when the dawn will come, I open every door.”  You might say it is the poet’s way of saying, “do not let an opportunity pass you by.”  Life presents us with differentContinue reading “Haste”

“When the angels had left them and gone into heaven, the shepherds said to one another, ‘Let us go now to Bethlehem and see this thing that has taken place, which the Lord has made known to us.” (Luke 2:15)          When the hillside turned dark after the angels departed, the shepherd decided to go togetherContinue reading “Together”

“And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host, praising God and saying, Glory to God in the highest heaven, and on earth peace among those whom he favors!” (Luke 2: 13-14)          It was no longer a silent night on the Bethlehem hillside.  The shepherds were suddenly met with a chorus ofContinue reading “When Heaven Moves”

“This will be a sign for you: you will find a child wrapped in bands of cloth and lying in a manger.” (Luke 2:12)          The angels inform the shepherds that they are to look for a sign that this birth has taken place.  Traveling to Bethlehem, what were they to look for?  The angelic message is thatContinue reading “Signs”

“But the angel said to them, ‘Do not be afraid; for see—I am bringing you good news of great joy for all the people: to you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ, the Lord.” (Luke 2: 10-11) Over the course of my ministry, I have had to be theContinue reading “Good News Delivered”

“In that region, there were shepherds living in the fields, keeping watch over their flock by night. Then an angel of the Lord stood before them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were terrified.” (Luke 2: 8-9)          For the first time, unnamed individuals enter the Christmas story.  Shepherds watching over theirContinue reading “Ordinary People”

“And she gave birth to her firstborn son and wrapped him in bands of cloth and laid him in a manger because there was no place for them in the inn.” (Luke 2:7)          Perhaps one of the most well-known parts of the Christmas story is when Mary and Joseph arrived in Bethlehem and could notContinue reading “No Place”

“While they were there, the time came for her to deliver her child.” (Luke 2:6)          Timing is everything.  I’m not sure this statement can be attributed to any one person. However, it is a statement that I think most people would agree with. Timing can often make all the difference in how an event unfolds or anContinue reading “Timing”

“In those days, a decree went out from Emperor Augustus that all the world should be registered. This was the first registration and was taken while Quirinius was governor of Syria. All went to their own towns to be registered. Joseph also went from the town of Nazareth in Galilee to Judea, to the cityContinue reading “Movement”

“He has helped his servant Israel, in remembrance of his mercy, according to the promise he made to our ancestors, to Abraham, and to his descendants forever.” (Luke 1: 54-56)          As Mary concludes her song of praise, she remembers that she is part of a larger story.  Mary does not live as an island to herself,Continue reading “Remember Your Past”

“His mercy is for those who fear him from generation to generation. He has shown strength with his arm; he has scattered the proud in the thoughts of their hearts. He has brought down the powerful from their thrones and lifted up the lowly; he has filled the hungry with good things and sent theContinue reading “An Active God”

“And Mary said, ‘My soul magnifies the Lord, and my spirit rejoices in God my Savior, for he has looked with favor on the lowliness of his servant. Surely, from now on, all generations will call me blessed, for the Mighty One has done great things for me, and holy is his name.”          The Magnificat,Continue reading “Praise and Gratitude”

“In those days, Mary set out and went with haste to a Judean town in the hill country, where she entered the house of Zechariah and greeted Elizabeth. When Elizabeth heard Mary’s greeting, the child leapt in her womb. And Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Spirit and exclaimed with a loud cry, ‘Blessed areContinue reading “Affirmation”

“Then Mary said, ‘Here am I, the servant of the Lord; let it be with me according to your word.’ Then the angel departed from her.” (Luke 1:38)          I can remember in school that each day the teacher would take attendance.  It usually involved the teacher calling out the names of the students on their rollContinue reading “Here I Am”

For nothing will be impossible with God. (Luke 1:37) It can’t be done.  How often have we heard these four words in our lives in relation to a lot of our experiences?  It can’t be done settles the matter about something we perhaps hoped for.  Whatever our hope or dream was, it was not going to happen.  It wouldContinue reading “Impossible”

The angel said to her, “The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you; therefore, the child to be born will be holy; he will be called Son of God.” (Luke 1:35) Mary faced a seemingly impossible scenario: giving birth while still a virgin.  She had already askedContinue reading “The Work of the Spirit”