The Bonner cousins
Showing posts with label Christmas. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Christmas. Show all posts
Saturday, March 26, 2011
Thursday, January 07, 2010
Christmas, Part 1
Joel enjoying his Christmas morning pancakes
You can watch how much he really loves to eat as well as his "uh-oh" and hand guesture for "more"!
Sunday, December 20, 2009
Behold the Lamb
Behold the Lamb
The prophet Micah foretold the birthplace for the coming Messiah seven hundred years before the birth of Jesus Christ. Micah said that the Messiah would be born in the little insignificant village near Jerusalem called Bethlehem. The actual location of the birthplace of Jesus Christ is also found in the prophecy of Micah, the location was Migdal Eder which in Hebrew is the “tower of the flock”.
“And you, O tower of the flock, hill of the daughter of Zion, to you shall it come, the former dominion shall come, the kingdom of the daughter of Jerusalem.” Micah 4:8
“But you, O Bethlehem Ephrathah, who are little to be among the clans of Judah, from you shall come forth for me one who is to be ruler in Israel, whose origin is from of old, from ancient days.” Micah 5:2
Migdal Eder, the tower of the flock mentioned in Micah 4:8, is the watchtower where the priestly shepherds would watch over their flocks in the shepherd's fields there at Bethlehem.
This tower is where they would watch over their flock from the second story and where they birthed the newborn lambs in the lower portion of the two story tower there in the fields of Bethlehem. In the lower portion of this watchtower that the birthing of the lambs would take place, ewes were brought to give birth to the lambs. In this shelter the priests would bring in the ewes which were about to lamb for protection.
The shepherds would wrap the newborn lambs in swaddling clothes to protect the body of the lambs, keeping the new lambs without spot or blemish, they would then be laid in a manger until they had calmed down.
These were not just any flock and herd.
Migdal Eder was the watchtower that guarded the Temple flocks that were being raised to serve as sacrificial animals in the Temple. The shepherds who kept them were men who were specifically trained for this royal task. They were educated in what an animal, that was to be sacrificed, had to be and it was their job to make sure that none of the animals were hurt, damaged, or blemished.” These special lambs came from a unique flock which were designated for sacrifice at the temple in Jerusalem.
These lambs would be offered as sacrifice at the Temple just four miles away in Jerusalem.
With the establishment of Temple worship in Jerusalem, the fields outside of Bethlehem became the place where this special group of shepherds raised the lambs that were sacrificed in the Temple. Being themselves under special Rabbinical care, they would strictly maintain a ceremonially clean stable for a birthing place. The Tower of the Flock was used for birthing ewes, and the surround fields were where these shepherds grazed their flocks. These shepherds customarily kept their flocks outdoors twenty-four hours a day every day of the year, but brought the ewes in to deliver their lambs where they could be carefully cared for.
It was to this place that Joseph took Mary. It was in this special stable at “Migdal Eder” that Christ was born!
The "swaddling clothes" that wrapped the lambs was also used to wrap the Lord Jesus.
These priestly shepherds in their fields near Bethlehem on that Christmas Eve knew where to go to find the newborn Messiah, Jesus Christ. He would be found where the angel had told them, wrapped in swaddling clothes lying in a manger in the lower floor of the tower of the flock, Migdal Eder
Luke 2:8-18 records that there were shepherds in the fields keeping watch over their sheep by night.
“And in that region there were shepherds out in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night … And the angel said to them, ‘Be not afraid: for behold, I bring you good news of a great joy which will come to all the people; for to you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord.’” Luke 2:8,10,11
These shepherds were none other but the shepherds from “Migdal Eder”. The angels told the shepherds that they would find the Babe wrapped in "swaddling clothes and lying in a manger." There was no need for the angels to give these shepherds directions to the birth place because they already knew. These were the men who raised sacrificial lambs that were sacrificed in the Temple. When the angelic announcement came, they knew exactly where to go, as Luke 2 indicates, for the sign of a manger could only mean their manger at the tower of the flock!
Migdal Eder at Bethlehem is the perfect place for Christ to be born. He was born in the very birthplace where tens of thousands of lambs, which had been sacrificed to prefigure Him, were born. God promised it, pictured it and performed it at Migdal Eder.
It all fits together, for that's the place the place where sacrificial lambs were born!
The Lamb born at Migdal Eder was the Lamb to be sacrificed to take away the sin of the world.
You see our Lord Jesus was born in Bethlehem where all sacrificial lambs were born, and our Lord Jesus died in Jerusalem where all sacrificial lambs were killed.
John the Baptist proclaimed of Jesus,
"Behold the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world." John 1:29
Jesus is presented in the Bible as being “in type” as a sacrificial lamb. It was not by chance but by choice that Christ identified His death with the time of the observance of the Passover.
Peter spoke of our redemption as wrought by the
"Precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish and without spot" 1 Pet. 1:19
and Paul told us that
"Christ our Passover is sacrificed for us" 1 Cor. 5:7
Even the first fulfilled type by which Christ is to be revealed in Heaven is as the Lamb (Rev. 5:6-13).
The baby grew up! He grew into a man to fulfill the plan for our salvation. He grew up to be the advocate, the intercessor, the "one mediator between man and God, the man Christ Jesus." (1 John 2:1, Heb 7:25, 1 Tim 2:5)
He grew up so that He could die, thereby offering a perfect, sinless life in sacrifice for our sins. He grew up to be raised from the dead, conquering death and instilling a living hope of eternal life in all who come to Him. He grew up so that he might become “the source of eternal salvation." (Heb 5:9)
I'm glad that Jesus was born. But I rejoice even more in the life He lived, the death He died, and the accomplishment of His resurrection! While the world remembers a baby in a feeding trough, let our remembrance of His death help us to look to the Man, the Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ throughout the year.
Behold, the Lamb.
***************************************************
Credits/Sources for this article:
This is by no means "mine". It is very much a copy and paste along with some editing and my own bits pieced together.
I was first introduced to this subject through Brock and Bodie Thoene's historical fiction novel: "Jerusalem's Hope" . Which I loved, and highly recommend.
Within weeks of finished that novel for the first time I received my copy of Friends of Israel's magazine: "Israel My Glory" (the copy is Nov/Dec 2008 if you would like to request a copy from FOI). In this magazine there was an article (page 25) on this very subject! I was so excited! It was from there that my fascination really took off!
The Internet is a wonderful place to search to your heart's content and your time is your only limitation. I've included some of my preferred links if you would like to explore yourself, but many of the writers refer to the following as their "sources":
The Bible
The Mishnah
The Life and Times of Jesus the Messiah
Links:
Jimmy's Prophetic Perspective on the News, Dec. 23, 2005
http://www.welcometohosanna.com/LIFE_OF_JESUS/4shepherdfields.htm
http://www.jewishencyclopedia.com/view.jsp?letter=E&artid=40
http://www.mayimhayim.org/Rabbi%20Mike/Migdal%20Eder.htm
http://www.searchgodsword.org/lex/heb/view.cgi?number=04029
http://www.biblehistory.net/newsletter/jesus_birth.htm
http://www.bible.ca/D-Xmas-story.htm
http://www.bible-truth.org/BirthPlaceofJesus.html
I hope you enjoy your explorations as much as I did.
-Brittany
The prophet Micah foretold the birthplace for the coming Messiah seven hundred years before the birth of Jesus Christ. Micah said that the Messiah would be born in the little insignificant village near Jerusalem called Bethlehem. The actual location of the birthplace of Jesus Christ is also found in the prophecy of Micah, the location was Migdal Eder which in Hebrew is the “tower of the flock”.
“And you, O tower of the flock, hill of the daughter of Zion, to you shall it come, the former dominion shall come, the kingdom of the daughter of Jerusalem.” Micah 4:8
“But you, O Bethlehem Ephrathah, who are little to be among the clans of Judah, from you shall come forth for me one who is to be ruler in Israel, whose origin is from of old, from ancient days.” Micah 5:2
Migdal Eder, the tower of the flock mentioned in Micah 4:8, is the watchtower where the priestly shepherds would watch over their flocks in the shepherd's fields there at Bethlehem.
This tower is where they would watch over their flock from the second story and where they birthed the newborn lambs in the lower portion of the two story tower there in the fields of Bethlehem. In the lower portion of this watchtower that the birthing of the lambs would take place, ewes were brought to give birth to the lambs. In this shelter the priests would bring in the ewes which were about to lamb for protection.
The shepherds would wrap the newborn lambs in swaddling clothes to protect the body of the lambs, keeping the new lambs without spot or blemish, they would then be laid in a manger until they had calmed down.
These were not just any flock and herd.
Migdal Eder was the watchtower that guarded the Temple flocks that were being raised to serve as sacrificial animals in the Temple. The shepherds who kept them were men who were specifically trained for this royal task. They were educated in what an animal, that was to be sacrificed, had to be and it was their job to make sure that none of the animals were hurt, damaged, or blemished.” These special lambs came from a unique flock which were designated for sacrifice at the temple in Jerusalem.
These lambs would be offered as sacrifice at the Temple just four miles away in Jerusalem.
With the establishment of Temple worship in Jerusalem, the fields outside of Bethlehem became the place where this special group of shepherds raised the lambs that were sacrificed in the Temple. Being themselves under special Rabbinical care, they would strictly maintain a ceremonially clean stable for a birthing place. The Tower of the Flock was used for birthing ewes, and the surround fields were where these shepherds grazed their flocks. These shepherds customarily kept their flocks outdoors twenty-four hours a day every day of the year, but brought the ewes in to deliver their lambs where they could be carefully cared for.
It was to this place that Joseph took Mary. It was in this special stable at “Migdal Eder” that Christ was born!
The "swaddling clothes" that wrapped the lambs was also used to wrap the Lord Jesus.
These priestly shepherds in their fields near Bethlehem on that Christmas Eve knew where to go to find the newborn Messiah, Jesus Christ. He would be found where the angel had told them, wrapped in swaddling clothes lying in a manger in the lower floor of the tower of the flock, Migdal Eder
Luke 2:8-18 records that there were shepherds in the fields keeping watch over their sheep by night.
“And in that region there were shepherds out in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night … And the angel said to them, ‘Be not afraid: for behold, I bring you good news of a great joy which will come to all the people; for to you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord.’” Luke 2:8,10,11
These shepherds were none other but the shepherds from “Migdal Eder”. The angels told the shepherds that they would find the Babe wrapped in "swaddling clothes and lying in a manger." There was no need for the angels to give these shepherds directions to the birth place because they already knew. These were the men who raised sacrificial lambs that were sacrificed in the Temple. When the angelic announcement came, they knew exactly where to go, as Luke 2 indicates, for the sign of a manger could only mean their manger at the tower of the flock!
Migdal Eder at Bethlehem is the perfect place for Christ to be born. He was born in the very birthplace where tens of thousands of lambs, which had been sacrificed to prefigure Him, were born. God promised it, pictured it and performed it at Migdal Eder.
It all fits together, for that's the place the place where sacrificial lambs were born!
The Lamb born at Migdal Eder was the Lamb to be sacrificed to take away the sin of the world.
You see our Lord Jesus was born in Bethlehem where all sacrificial lambs were born, and our Lord Jesus died in Jerusalem where all sacrificial lambs were killed.
John the Baptist proclaimed of Jesus,
"Behold the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world." John 1:29
Jesus is presented in the Bible as being “in type” as a sacrificial lamb. It was not by chance but by choice that Christ identified His death with the time of the observance of the Passover.
Peter spoke of our redemption as wrought by the
"Precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish and without spot" 1 Pet. 1:19
and Paul told us that
"Christ our Passover is sacrificed for us" 1 Cor. 5:7
Even the first fulfilled type by which Christ is to be revealed in Heaven is as the Lamb (Rev. 5:6-13).
The baby grew up! He grew into a man to fulfill the plan for our salvation. He grew up to be the advocate, the intercessor, the "one mediator between man and God, the man Christ Jesus." (1 John 2:1, Heb 7:25, 1 Tim 2:5)
He grew up so that He could die, thereby offering a perfect, sinless life in sacrifice for our sins. He grew up to be raised from the dead, conquering death and instilling a living hope of eternal life in all who come to Him. He grew up so that he might become “the source of eternal salvation." (Heb 5:9)
I'm glad that Jesus was born. But I rejoice even more in the life He lived, the death He died, and the accomplishment of His resurrection! While the world remembers a baby in a feeding trough, let our remembrance of His death help us to look to the Man, the Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ throughout the year.
Behold, the Lamb.
***************************************************
Credits/Sources for this article:
This is by no means "mine". It is very much a copy and paste along with some editing and my own bits pieced together.
I was first introduced to this subject through Brock and Bodie Thoene's historical fiction novel: "Jerusalem's Hope" . Which I loved, and highly recommend.
Within weeks of finished that novel for the first time I received my copy of Friends of Israel's magazine: "Israel My Glory" (the copy is Nov/Dec 2008 if you would like to request a copy from FOI). In this magazine there was an article (page 25) on this very subject! I was so excited! It was from there that my fascination really took off!
The Internet is a wonderful place to search to your heart's content and your time is your only limitation. I've included some of my preferred links if you would like to explore yourself, but many of the writers refer to the following as their "sources":
The Bible
The Mishnah
The Life and Times of Jesus the Messiah
Links:
Jimmy's Prophetic Perspective on the News, Dec. 23, 2005
http://www.welcometohosanna.com/LIFE_OF_JESUS/4shepherdfields.htm
http://www.jewishencyclopedia.com/view.jsp?letter=E&artid=40
http://www.mayimhayim.org/Rabbi%20Mike/Migdal%20Eder.htm
http://www.searchgodsword.org/lex/heb/view.cgi?number=04029
http://www.biblehistory.net/newsletter/jesus_birth.htm
http://www.bible.ca/D-Xmas-story.htm
http://www.bible-truth.org/BirthPlaceofJesus.html
I hope you enjoy your explorations as much as I did.
-Brittany
Saturday, December 27, 2008
Special Ornament
Christmas ornaments are so special...they mark our years and memories. I know you have those ornaments that each year as you put them on the tree, you smile and remember when you got it, why and from whom...
Our very good friend, Carl West, made this ornament for Luke! We asked him to make it this past summer, gave him a very vague idea of what we wanted and he created a masterpiece!
Not only is this better than anything you can get in the store, its personalized, AND hand-crafted by a friend.
Thank you Carl! This will be a part of Luke's life forever.
Wednesday, December 24, 2008
Tuesday, December 16, 2008
Christmas with the Bonners! We had lots of fun, you can't tell in this first picture though...I think he was not excited about having to pose by himself in front of the tree...maybe we shouldn't have told him that we were opening presents until after we took the picture!
He wanted to show the presents to everyone, here he is showing Popaw clothes for his new baby / and opening one of his gifts-a very cool just-for-kids nativity!
Helping Popaw again/ and Playing with his new Woody and Bullseye
Helping Mommy open a gift
The tube had a present in it but Luke thought it was the toy! He danced around the room singing into it-lol/ helping Popaw again
The tube had a present in it but Luke thought it was the toy! He danced around the room singing into it-lol/ helping Popaw again
Look at that big grin! A giant Cars coloring book! Wow
Momaw kept pulling more stuff out of places!/ and Luke helped Daddy open as many presents as he could
Momaw kept pulling more stuff out of places!/ and Luke helped Daddy open as many presents as he could
He opened a gift for the new baby, it was a blanket/bear like his bears...here he is giving it a kiss! Sweet.
Helping Popaw again/ and Playing with his new Woody and Bullseye
Luke had lots of fun-as you can see. And we have another Christmas coming! Yeah!
Saturday, December 13, 2008
Setting up the tree
You can see these pictures and more by clicking on the Flickr slideshow on the sidebar
Luke was a very big helper to Aaron
I didn't just take pictures though
But the best part was Luke putting the angel on top of the tree! He really was so excited.
He concentrated and did it without any help (besides the lift of course)
He concentrated and did it without any help (besides the lift of course)
Look at that face!! He was so excited! and Proud of himself.
Good job guys!
Good job guys!
Friday, October 31, 2008
Last year
This was Christmas last year! Luke with his cousins, Madison and Hannah. We took a bunch of these pics and put them in a beautiful frame for Aaron's mom.
Saturday, January 12, 2008
My Siblings' Cali Christmas
This was the Christmas in California with my brother, sister in law, sister, brother in law and nephew Tre:
Saturday, December 29, 2007
We start'em early
While I hope to soon blog more about Christmas and what is going on with us, this is just a quick peek at Luke today to wet your appetites. Aaron got an ornament that plays the Mississippi State Song and Luke has definately grown attached to it-and learned a new phrase:
Wednesday, December 19, 2007
Reading Grandpa's Boat Book
The Most Perfect Christmas Picture Ever:
Wednesday, December 12, 2007
See the ticker? Its up there-at the top ^
Only 13 more days until Christmas! That is less than two weeks! How exciting!! I hope you are enjoying this time. The shopping and the cards arriving in the mail make me think of others, the music on the radio reminds me of the Joy of this season, and the bells dinging outside help us return our focus to the giving spirit that is to accompany this time of year. The trees in houses and outside that are evergreens remind of the eternality of our Lord...I could go on and on. I hope that you don't miss it-don't get overwhelmed or stressed.
Have Peace. Isn't that what we are celebrating anyway?
Have Peace. Isn't that what we are celebrating anyway?
Saturday, December 08, 2007
This Christmas
We will be spending this Christmas in Mississippi! We are excited. And a little stressed, maybe. Christmas cards should be out Monday, packages Tuesday, and I'm lacking just a little before I can say I'm done shopping. Sad to say, but I'll probably finish up shopping in Mississippi.
We are going to drive down, 12-ish hours. whew. I'm already tired thinking about it. I know some things already-number 1: Aaron is going to play football with the guys one day. Just so you know. ;) Lots of Bonner family to hang out with! (I'll miss you Emily!!) And I hope to visit with some friends and oo and aah about how big little ones are getting. Possibly walk around outside without snow boots (hahaha)...it doesn't take much to excite me. But that's a good thing.
Yesterday I was struck once again by the fact that when we go over to the Sprayberry's house, Mary won't be there. It was so odd and incredibly sad to imagine sitting on a stool in her kitchen and not being about to talk to her... I am overwhelmingly excited about where she is right now-in the presence of our LORD!! But I think maybe not being there where she was, not actually missing her being there, because I'm not there, is making it take a little longer for reality to set in that she is at home, in heaven. Meaning I'll see her when I get there, but not when I am in Mississippi this Christmas.
Our wonderful God who created our emotions and gives us the amazing capacity to be happy, joyful, feeling a loss and sad-all at the same time! Thank you.
We are going to drive down, 12-ish hours. whew. I'm already tired thinking about it. I know some things already-number 1: Aaron is going to play football with the guys one day. Just so you know. ;) Lots of Bonner family to hang out with! (I'll miss you Emily!!) And I hope to visit with some friends and oo and aah about how big little ones are getting. Possibly walk around outside without snow boots (hahaha)...it doesn't take much to excite me. But that's a good thing.
Yesterday I was struck once again by the fact that when we go over to the Sprayberry's house, Mary won't be there. It was so odd and incredibly sad to imagine sitting on a stool in her kitchen and not being about to talk to her... I am overwhelmingly excited about where she is right now-in the presence of our LORD!! But I think maybe not being there where she was, not actually missing her being there, because I'm not there, is making it take a little longer for reality to set in that she is at home, in heaven. Meaning I'll see her when I get there, but not when I am in Mississippi this Christmas.
Our wonderful God who created our emotions and gives us the amazing capacity to be happy, joyful, feeling a loss and sad-all at the same time! Thank you.
Christmas Pictures
Thanks Kelly for coming over and taking these! They are so nice! This is us in our living room with our decorated mantle and tree, taking pictures. Doesn't Luke look so adorable?? We choose this one to send out as Christmas cards:
Here we are reading our "Jesus book" with Luke and trying to get him to pose a little by getting him to pray. lol. We are such manipulators.
If you look closely at the next picture you may can see Luke's cuts and bruises, he had a rough weekend before we took these, poor kid. He's tough though.
Its amazing how much he has grown since the last Christmas pictures we took!
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