mur·mur·a·tion [mur-muh-rey-shuhn]  noun...a flock of starlings.
Origin:
1350–1400; Middle English  < Latin murmurātiōn-  (stem of murmurātiō ).

There is a natural rhythm to the world, a deep order that was spoken into existence long ago. It speaks in a language that artists interpret  and scientists  attempt to explain.

It is the meter of falling rain, of measured breath, of light playing through the leaves of trees. It is the measured beat of the butterfly wing, the march of an ant, the still sound of a puddle drying up.

It is the language of God speaking to us through what he has made. It speaks of Sovereignty over everything. It shows his control, his purpose.

We have lost the ability to hear this truth.  Why?

We have robbed ourselves  of stillness.

We have become victims to the plight of Martha...come and do this! Do that! Everything becomes a blur in the window. Reading and prayer become the goal and still we do not hear God. We have forgotten how to listen.

God speaks into this: come, and be still and know that I am God (Ps. 46:10).


How can you shift this? As Anglicans we have a gift.

Start your day with this devotion from our prayer book (p. 137). It will take you only a few minutes. Read:

From Psalm 51

Open my lips, O Lord, *
    and my mouth shall proclaim your praise.
Create in me a clean heart, O God, *
    and renew a right spirit within me.
Cast me not away from your presence *
    and take not your holy Spirit from me.
Give me the joy of your saving help again *
    and sustain me with your bountiful Spirit.
Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit: *
   as it was in the beginning, is now, and will be for ever. Amen.

Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! By his great mercy we have been born anew to a living hope hrough the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead.
1 Peter 1:3

A period of silence (one minute)

The Apostles’ Creed is said; ...I believe in God, Father almighty

Pray for yourself and others, then the Lord’s Prayer


Lord God, almighty and everlasting Father, you have brought us in safety to this new day:  Preserve us with your mighty power, that we may not fall into sin, nor be overcome by adversity; and in all we do, direct us to the fulfilling of your purpose; through Jesus Christ our Lord.  Amen.

When we order our lives first thing of the day, we will flow in the rhythm of God...we will be like a murmuraion with the God-head. . Does this look like your life with God? Click here the link and watch ..murmuration

getting ready

“Oh, that you would rip open the heavens and descend, make the mountains shudder at your presence—
As when a forest catches fire,
 as when fire makes a pot to boil—

To shock your enemies into facing you,
   make the nations shake in their boots!

You did terrible things we never expected,
   descended and made the mountains shudder at your presence.”
Isaiah   64:1-2

Advent is upon us again and again for most it has come upon us as the Lord predicted...like a thief in the night, catching us off-guard. Much like my daughters sticker Advent calendar we are  found looking in different directions, facing different ways and listening to different music instead of the triumphant shout the angels proclaim.

Isaiah was not looking away. He was surrounded by enemies of God. The sounds of war were commonplace. The marks of shackles from slavery still fresh in the mind. Locusts ate what they wanted, water was scarce.

 Scriptures warned us that  longer for the Lord’s first appearance we would enter into a spiritual slumber not unlike the scene my daughter made. It echoes our preparedness for the Kings return.

We have been reading about the ten virgins and their lamps, the servants and their talents and now our church calendar is asking us are we ready for the arrival of the King?

Are you awaiting him and his return with the passion of Isaiah, or are you content with life the way it is? Yes, we can be in a time of great blessings, and many of us are, but are we longing for the far off country Abraham yearned for?

Let’s prepare for Advent. Let’s prepare our hearts for the coming Christ Child, the King of Kings and the Lord of Lord. Let’s give ourselves to this season of preparation with honesty.

We’ll cover a different theme each week. Enter into them. Make them your own.

Hope. Peace. Joy. Love.

Isaiah knew Hope even in the midst of  anguish. His Hope was a person. His Hope was the prophesied Messiah.

Blessings Beloved,

The first rays

The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it.

John 1:15

I have watched the sun rise from the heights of the hills and sitting in the oceans and it always takes my breath away. It starts slowly and understated. A pinpoint that quickly turns into a massive ball of flame bringing warmth and light that can't be stopped...day in and day out. Closing curtains or hitting a snooze button won't change this reality. But we can ignore it.

As I made coffee today I looked out my kitchen window and there it was..a strip of light in the back yard reminding me that no matter how hard we try, no matter how far off our focus may get, the sun still rises and the light still finds its way into the dark places.

So I ask us all today; are you ignoring the Son of God, the Light of the world...or are you looking for the sliver to rise? Are your actions keeping the light from entering into your house, or are you staring straight into the light? Have you ever even seen the Son? He starts with a pinhole that penetrates our present darkness...and then, oh and then if you are willing....well, I don't want to spoil your joy.


May we all reflect the light today....