Sweet Songs

Did you know that a mocking bird has around 150 songs? In spite of everything, every morning at our new home a beautiful song greets me as I wake up. It is usually never the same, but the singer sits outside my window letting me know he/she is there. I know that mockingbirds are feisty and nest robbers, but they do love to sing. What a sweet reminder of our Creator's complicated creation that calls us to be still, to listen, to pray. In the afternoon, outside my studio window, a pair of them call back and forth to each other - another moment to be silent and listen to a new song.

We have a new church family, wow, I can't believe that it's true. A small, liturgical church, 1928 Prayer Book and very old songs. No praise band to deafen us, no "funny" ministers to entertain, just people who love God, His Son, and the tradition of the early church. Beautiful prayers, based on scripture, written by Godly men. A time to seek forgiveness of sins, followed by sweet Communion. 

Just like walking into our new home and knowing within 15 minutes it was what we wanted - our church home felt the same - we were home. 

Psalm 68:1-19

1 May God arise, may his enemies be scattered;
    may his foes flee before him.
2 May you blow them away like smoke—
    as wax melts before the fire,
    may the wicked perish before God.
3 But may the righteous be glad
    and rejoice before God;
    may they be happy and joyful.

4 Sing to God, sing in praise of his name,
    extol him who rides on the clouds;
    rejoice before him—his name is the Lord.
5 A father to the fatherless, a defender of widows,
    is God in his holy dwelling.
6 God sets the lonely in families,
    he leads out the prisoners with singing;
    but the rebellious live in a sun-scorched land.

7 When you, God, went out before your people,
    when you marched through the wilderness,
8 the earth shook, the heavens poured down rain,
    before God, the One of Sinai,
    before God, the God of Israel.
9 You gave abundant showers, O God;
    you refreshed your weary inheritance.
10 Your people settled in it,
    and from your bounty, God, you provided for the poor.

11 The Lord announces the word,
    and the women who proclaim it are a mighty throng:
12 “Kings and armies flee in haste;
    the women at home divide the plunder.
13 Even while you sleep among the sheep pens,
    the wings of my dove are sheathed with silver,
    its feathers with shining gold.”
14 When the Almighty scattered the kings in the land,
    it was like snow fallen on Mount Zalmon.

15 Mount Bashan, majestic mountain,
    Mount Bashan, rugged mountain,
16 why gaze in envy, you rugged mountain,
    at the mountain where God chooses to reign,
    where the Lord himself will dwell forever?
17 The chariots of God are tens of thousands
    and thousands of thousands;
    the Lord has come from Sinai into his sanctuary.
18 When you ascended on high,
    you took many captives;
    you received gifts from people,
even from the rebellious—
    that you, Lord God, might dwell there.

19 Praise be to the Lord, to God our Savior,
    who daily bears our burdens.

Listen to the birds, they are a call to pray!