The city of Jerusalem is set on a hill. There are a group of Psalms called the "Songs of Ascent". The ten Psalms in the "Songs of Ascent" were offered in praise as pilgrims made their way up the hill to Jerusalem. Not long before Jill died, she was in a Bible study that centered around these special Psalms. I know Psalm 121 was a favorite of hers.
Psalm 121 was the last scripture she heard on earth, as she made her ascent to heaven. Her sister-in-law, Donna, read it perfectly. It is a Psalm of praise and encouragement, not mourning. When the veil grows thin between this world and eternity, we are on holy ground. "He watches over our coming and our going..."
September 7th marks seven years since Jill joined Jesus. It is a blink in Heaven's time. August 26th marked 26 years since my sister, April took her first breath of heaven, too. Dates stick with us. We remember not to open wounds, but to celebrate a life, the love and the hope we know in Christ.
For Anna and her family, the pain of their loss of a son and brother is fresh and raw. In time, the pain gets softer in time... but not right now. Right now, it hurts. Right now, it is hard to breathe.
It is good to know we have a God who does not slumber or sleep. In the dark of night when sleep won't come, He is listening to the prayers of the broken hearted. "Our help comes from the Lord the Maker of Heaven and Earth." We need not fear the night or the morning light.
Every once in a while, I pull out the Casting Crowns song, "Praise You In This Storm". There are newer songs that encourage the heart, but there is something about that old song from 2005 that still resonates deeply with my soul. It has pieces of Psalm 121 in the chorus.
Casting Crowns has released a new song. "Scars in Heaven". It is a beautifully haunting ballad reminding us the only scars in heaven are "on hands that hold us now".
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qCdevloDE6E&t=33s
Our Jesus does not leave us broken. He took the whip, the thorns, the mocking, the spear in the side and the nails so we could be fully forgiven and whole. The only scars in heaven will welcome us home when it is time.
"He watches over you..." and me, too.
Today, I am grateful for the 121st Psalm.
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