The word tower is used thirty-six times in the Bible.
The Tower of the Flock was no ordinary place.
Long ago on a cold winter night, shepherds were huddled together watching their flocks in the fields near Bethlehem. Suddenly the sky lit up brighter than anything they had ever seen. They were terrified. But an angel appeared and said, “Don’t be afraid, I have come to you with good news. Today a Savior has been born, Christ the Lord. You will find Him wrapped in swaddling clothes and lying in a manger.” At this saying, the skies were filled with angels praising God.
When the angels had left, the shepherds were all talking at once saying, let’s go see this Child Who will be our Savior”. So, with haste, they left the fields and found the Child lying in a manger and wrapped in swaddling clothes just as the angel had said. They told His parents all they had seen and heard. Mary wondered at their story. The shepherds went back to their fields full of amazement and praise telling this news to everyone.
Why is this story in the Bible? Why were the shepherds the first to hear of this little Lamb of God? How did they know where to find Him???
These shepherds were not ordinary shepherds. They were hired by the Temple priests to raise perfect, unblemished lambs for sacrifice on the altar for man’s sin. They would take the mother sheep ready to birth to a place called the Tower of the flock. There they would check the lamb as it was born to see if it was perfect. If so, they would wrap it in swaddling clothes and lay it in a manger.
Here less than six miles from Jerusalem on a hill in the Tower of the flock lay the promised Christ child, the Messiah, the Lamb of God. One day He would become the final perfect sacrifice for the sins of mankind.
The plans and purposes of God are so amazing. He has plans and purposes for each of us. He knows us and has loved us since the beginning of time.
Let us love Him with all our heart, soul, and mind.
Below are two verses that were written by the prophet Micah some 700 years before the birth of the beloved Lamb of God. Micah 5:2
Bethlehem Ephrathah, you are small among the clans of Judah; One will come from you to be the ruler over Israel for Me. His origin is from ancient days, from eternity.
Micah 4:8
As for you, tower of the flock, the hill of the daughter of Zion, to you it will come...
“From Mary, we learn to surrender to God’s will in things. From Mary, we learn to trust even when all hope seems gone. From Mary, we learn to love Christ, her Son, and the Son of God…Learn from her to be always faithful, to trust that God’s Word to you will be fulfilled and that nothing is impossible with God.”- St. John Paul II
Meaning of Mary mother of Jesus.
The name Mary is in 46 verses...
As we approach one of the most important and widely celebrated holidays, known as "Christmas".
I would like to ask you to indulge me for a moment as we stop and give thanks to a woman who gave the world such a monumental gift...I say woman but she was only a child, maybe in her early teens...Who was she? Why did God favor her so? He trusted her to fulfill a prophecy that had already been put into motion since the beginning of time...
I struggle with trying to understand her unwavering commitment, her faith, and her love.. at such an early age.
Would we have the strength to say yes Father your will not mine... I will carry the shame when others do not understand, I will be your living vessel. I will deliver forgiveness and a love that goes deeper than most people can even comprehend. I will do my part to save all of mankind.
Was she even aware of the magnitude of this moment when she became God’s own chosen mother on earth...
Let’s travel back in time... Let me set the scene. God sent the angel Gabriel to Nazareth, a city in Galilee. To deliver a message of the highest importance... This message can be found in Luke 1:26-38.
The angel told her, “Don’t be afraid, Mary. You have found favor with God. You will become pregnant, give birth to a son, and name him Jesus. He will be a great man and will be called the Son of the Most High.
How many of us would have been so unafraid? How many of us would have only asked one question? Mary asked the angel, “How can this be? I’m a virgin.” The angel answered her, “The Holy Spirit will come to you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you. Therefore, the holy child developing inside you will be called the Son of God.
Mary answered, “I am the Lord’s servant. Let everything you’ve said happen to me.”
UNWAVERING FAITH... such responsibility... such Love and commitment at such a young age.
How could she share this news with her parents? Imagine a young unmarried girl telling her parents, family, and her fiancé I am pregnant... With God's child... ???
How many of us would believe such an unbelievable story??
While trying to understand this moment my mind traveled to Him... This beautiful innocent baby had been placed in her womb for the most incredible mission that man could even begin to understand. What did she feel? Did her emotions run away with her?
I have been blessed with children and I know the feeling of a tiny life growing within... What an amazing God-given miracle... What excitement and joy when you feel the baby move for the first time... But what do you feel when you know you are carrying the Son of God??? Are these feelings magnified? Or are they what every new mother has felt. Excitement, Love, Apprehension maybe fear?
Will the delivery be painful, Will my baby be healthy? Will I be a good mother?? Every child born is a miracle from God but to be singled out to carry God's own Son... What a larger-than-life, heaven-sent responsibility!!!!
Have you ever witnessed childbirth? I have had the amazing privilege of photographing such a miracle... The love that filled the room that day could only be from God...
I wish I could have captured this beautiful moment that happened so long ago... I can only close my eyes and envision this moment in time... Childbirth is a painful bodily experience...But soon, birthing pains are all forgotten, all the questions disappear and you are caught up in the beautiful moment of seeing the angelic face before you... all activity around you seems to fade into the distance ... You hear, see and touch nothing but this precious new life... and time seems to stand still for just a few moments...
I can only wonder, As she gently kissed His beautiful face... Did she think I am kissing the face of God... or at that tender moment was the newborn baby her precious beautiful baby boy and her gift from God?
All believers are given the miracle of God's own Son... to dwell within... He is our gift from God ... Do we cherish Him? Or do we feel shame and apprehension when we share His message with friends and family? Do we feel excited and overjoyed when we feel Him within our very soul? Are we set apart for a purpose? Do we have faith enough to be His willing vessel! Will we care for Him as He grows in our hearts and becomes a part of our very existence?
There is a miracle of new life that happens within each believer. As you feel His presence in your daily life things of this world will fade into the distance ...You see His Face and He will become as precious to you as a newborn babe...
And your heart will whisper ...
It’s Him, It has always been Him. My precious one...My gift from God...
He WOWs me!
So when that day comes, you will know that I am living in the Father and that you are one with me, for I will be living in you. Those who truly love me are those who obey my commands. Whoever passionately loves me will be passionately loved by my Father. And I will passionately love him in return and will revealmyself to him.”
Great leaders instill a sense of meaning and belonging in their followers by putting the personal imprint of who they are and what they stand for on their people.” Kevin Leman...
Meaning of Shepherd, A person who tends sheep. Someone who watches over, and looks after, or guides somebody.
There are approximately 40 verses in the King James Bible that refer to the word Shepherd.
The most famous Shepherd in history did not lead animals but lead souls... His earthly occupation was a carpenter?? Say what? Wait. A carpenter, not a Shepherd? A carpenter is someone that has a keen eye for detail and can create something from nothing...
Doesn’t it seem odd? That we think of Christ as a Shepherd instead of a carpenter?
Why did He choose the Shepherd as the image for us to grasp the hidden meaning behind His teachings...? He is such an amazing mastermind!!! There is no one greater!!! I love how He has intricately tied all the details of this amazing LOVE story together. His mystery has kept His Children interested since the beginning of time!!!He has yearned for our love and has been guiding our hearts home since Adam’s creation on earth.
The human mind is so weak in comparison to His vast and beautiful mind. We seem much like sheep, limited in our thinking and we need more... We need His Guidance...
We need a role model!!! One that we could relate to on a human level... We need someone that has felt the thrill of victory and the agony of defeat...
So, in His usual way we needed and He came... He offered His own life to teach man how to live and love from birth to death...
I wonder would we have followed God without question?? Would God’s presence be too powerful for the human mind to comprehend? Or would our human weaknesses lead us astray like Eve?
I am sure Elohim gave this master plan a great deal of thought and consideration!!
But why a Shepherd?? Let’s start by looking at a Job description of a Shepherd.
Job description:
1.Day-to-Day Care of the Flock.
2.Dealings with the Outside World on Behalf of the Flock
3.Foresees Danger
4.Leads and Guides the Flock
5.He learns the strengths, weaknesses, and personality of each one.
6.The Shepherd trains the sheep to hear only his voice.
It does seem the Shepherd
makes perfect sense.
The Shepherd had such an important role since the Old Testament.They cared for, protected, and guided the spotless lamb for the altar sacrifice to God...
Hmm God knew "the shepherd's" capacity of love, care, and guidance. And He also knew He would become "the shepherd’s" prize, Lamb. The ultimate sacrifice to God...
As He stepped into His earthly skin to save mankind... He came with the inherited skills of the creator. (i.e., carpenter) But His mission was to intricately lay out all the pieces of His life, to save all His children. He gave us that tangible role model ... a visual... a love offering that goes beyond anything of this world.We lovingly call Him Jesus.
This Heaven-sent Shepherd has been whispering words of love to His soul-filled sheep, since the beginning of time. He has been guiding their hearts home ever since Eve fell from grace.
His masterful plan has been playing out since these words were spoken: “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.”
The question becomes ... Do we know our Master's voice? Do we appreciate the artistic merit of our Creator? Do we love Him for sacrificing His royal life in Heaven to become a Shepherd of souls? Do we love Him enough to follow Him???
I will share with you...
He has captured my heart...
I have heard His alluring voice whispering a love song to my soul .. He has shared with me that this Love Story has no end!!
It’s Him, It’s always Him
The Lord is my shepherd, I lack nothing. He makes me lie down in green pastures, he leads me beside quiet waters, he refreshes my soul. He guides me along the right paths
Then the Holy Spirit will touch your heart and soul. This past week I kept seeing the verse in Acts 4:13.Especially one part of the verse.
”And they recognized that they HAD BEEN WITH JESUS”.
Another translation says......
“Then they began to understand the effect that Jesus had on them simply by spending time with Him”.
Peter and John spoke with BOLDNESS about Jesus to anyone. This day they had been talking with the religious leaders. Leaders who did not like the name of Jesus. They told Peter and John not to speak about Jesus. Peter and John said, “we cannot keep from talking about Him”. After warning them two more times Peter and John went to the other believers and rejoiced together and prayed.
Did they pray for protection? NO. They prayed for more BOLDNESS.
Two things hit my heart this week.
1. Believers are known by the time they spend with Jesus. Is He always on our mind? Do we dig deep into that well of His love and compassion? Do we feel that response from Him as we tell Him we love Him? Are our steps ordered by Him?
2. Peter and John said to the leaders in verse 19, “is it better to listen to you or to God”? Are we so hampered by worrying what others will think? I will say that I have been many times. It hurts to think about it. He is the Holy One Who humbled Himself and came to earth to save me so I might walk with Him here and spend eternity with Him.
As I shared the word BEEN it led me to these two thoughts. There is really no option. Is it my heart's desire to spend more time with Him and to be bold?
Time with Him is purest joy. So love Him with all your heart, soul and mind.
If you want the whole story read Acts chapter 3 and 4.
"Eclipse of the light of heaven, eclipse of God - such indeed is the character of the historic hour through which the world is now passing" ~ Martin Buber
Meaning of a Lunar Eclipse: an eclipse in which the full moon passes partially or wholly through the umbra of the earth's shadow.
There are 9 verses in the Bible that point us to the word Eclipse.
This is such an amazing event. I wanted to capture the moment. However, I fell asleep early... and I did not prepare my camera to capture the beauty or significance of such an amazing moment in history...
In my deepest state of slumber, I suddenly woke up ... at exactly 1:39 ... give or take a few sleepy moments… And as I became aware of my thoughts. I remembered the Lunar Eclipse... I grabbed my iPhone and my jacket in hopes that I could catch a glimpse of this once-in-a-lifetime event...
As I stumbled to the back porch ... My eyes began to focus on the illumination I could see in the blackened sky directly in front of me... I was mesmerized for a few moments, and I felt God woke me up at this very moment so I could witness His lunar creation ... I attempted to capture the image with my iPhone... But I could not capture the true essence of its beauty. I knew as a photographer, I could get much closer to the moon and document this moment in time. I grabbed my work camera and zoom lens. I stood on the back porch of my home in Triune, TN. And as I brought the viewfinder up to my eye I witnessed the breathtaking view. I indeed knew I could capture this beautiful moment.
The sky was dark but clear, the air was cold and crisp and the stars twinkled. As I stood watching the moon shadow dance with earth in the vastness of the universe that God created...
I stood there in my PJs, staring into the illuminated dark sky, as tears began to roll down my cheeks...
I could only ask myself, what kind of mind creates such wonder???
It’s Him! It’s always Him...
As the sun began to usher in the morning. My curious mind wanted to know more about this Godly phenomenon. I needed to understand the Heavenly connection. And then I found this…
Did you know that some scientists and scholars have discovered, That there was a partial lunar eclipse that occurred on what we now know as April 3 in 33 A.D., the day some think Jesus died?
I do believe that scripture confirms that there is a heavenly connection to all events that happen in the Heavens and Earth. I feel these events tug at our souls...
The question becomes do we sleep during these events...? Or are we awakened from our slumber… just in time to stand ready, gazing into the night sky. In hopes of witnessing prophecy being fulfilled!!!
And as we stand there in awe... we can only whisper…
He's here...
“The sun will be turned into darkness. And the moon into blood. Before the great and awesome day of the Lord comes. Joel 2:31
“There is nothing to writing. All you do is sit down at a typewriter and bleed.” ― Ernest Hemingway
Mark (letters, words, or other symbols) on a surface, typically paper, with a pen, pencil, or similar implement.
There are 91 verses about writing in the Bible.
Writing has never really been something that interested me... I became a photographer so I could capture the beauty of life with just one image... And that seemed to satisfy my need for creative expression...
But one day that all changed! It changed just as fast as the shutter speed on my camera could capture the moment.
I am still not sure why but God decided to give me a story to share that could not be fully shared without the heartfelt expressions of words... So, He freed my once bound heart ... and filled it with a LOVE that I could not contain!!! Tears began to flow, and I found my voice... and a pen.
I started this amazing writing adventure by writing love letters to Him... I found a richness in Him that was not of this world. I am not truly sure how it happened, but I fell in love with Him? I was not accustomed to sharing my spiritual heart on such a deep personal level... Where did these bottled-up feelings for God come from?? How do you express this heavenly relationship? Photography? Writing? Music?? He knew me better than I could ever know myself... He knew how to reach places in my soul that I never even knew existed ...I found that He was teaching me the art of the written word because He used this art to create a masterpiece of wonder!! Many call it the Bible! He has used this tool to communicate with His children for centuries...
Why would He not touch my heart and plant the desire to write within me? Why would He not use writing as communication tool to talk to my heart ?? I am not sure if He meant for me to share this gift with the world or was it a personal gift to help me find my way back to Him. Interesting enough I have found many of His children began the art of writing because of their own journey with Him.
He knew!!! He knew that my heart could not keep these words bound in my now freed heart! I had this burning desire to tell the world how amazingly wonderful He is!!! There is no way I could keep the gift of Him a secret!!!
Sharing Him brings such peace, joy and love to my soul...
Whether it’s in an image of a delicate rose, a smile from a beautiful child... or any subject matter... I always see Him!!! All my writings point to Him!
And well the music? I will admit I am not a musician, but I am a music lover ... And I have found He speaks to me through the lyrics and songs.... And when all 3 collide ... I am done!!
He WOWs me like no other!!
It’s Him! It’s always Him.
I still write love letters to Him everyday ... many call them prayers... I call them Heartfelt.
Let not steadfast love and faithfulness forsake you; bind them around your neck; write them on the tablet of your heart. So, you will find favor and good success in the sight of God and man Proverbs 3:3-4
And he who was seated on the throne said, “Behold, I am making all things new.” Also, he said, “Write this down, for these words are trustworthy and true.” Revelation21:5
In all things I have shown you that by working hard in this way we must help the weak and remember the words of the Lord Jesus, how he himself said, ‘It is more blessed to give than to receive.’” Acts 20:35.
