Psalms

These past 5 weeks my church has been going through some Psalms. Each week our pastor has given us assignments to respond with a psalm of our own mimicking the style of the one covered on Sunday and then post it on FB (if we want to) by Friday. It has been such a neat activity. Last week was Psalm 147. In the freshness of Vitri's passing away, this was mine:

Praise the LORD

who sets out the times and seasons––

for birth and death;

for weeping and laughing,

mourning and dancing,

silence and speaking.

Praise the LORD

who breathed HIS breath in us

and gave us LIFE;

who determines

the number of breaths we have in us;

who knows the number of our days

and the dust from which we came

and will return.

Praise your God, Sarahjoy,

the Great Three, yet One,

seamlessly dancing.

We're assembled in His likeness

and must have companions.

Rejoice in His supplying

of friends.

Praise the LORD

and sing a new song to the King

whose ways are not our own;

whose Kingdom belongs to

the poor in spirit;

to meek and to children;

those persecuted for righeousness;

those who lay down their life;

and die to self; and

those certain of things unseen.

Exalt the King

whose life revolved around

uneducated fishermen

unpopular and unfair tax collectors

untouchable sick

stonable prostitutes

the hopeless dead and

those with untamable, unclean spirits.

Praise the LORD all you people--

who turns sorrow into joy

and mourning to dancing

who uses trials to bring perseverance

and for perseverance gives the crown of life!

Praise the LORD.

"You Give and Take Away"

Not many minutes after opening a facebook message heralding wildly exciting pregnancy news from friends on the other side of the world, another message popped up on my screen: a skype chat with a crying face from another friend (green shirt). It was early Sunday afternoon for me, but for her it was 3 am Monday morning and she had just found out that our sweet friend, sister, and 36-year-old co-worker went home to Jesus a few hours earlier (blue shirt). I worked with these 2 girls the 7 months I lived in Jakarta.

Today was the first bout of rain we've had in a long time here. I stayed home from the office, drained from yesterday's news. The rain was a little bit of comfort, as if God were bringing sympathetic tears my way. It is SO HARD to be on the opposite side of the world from where all my friends are grieving.

The rain has stopped now but I can't seem to just yet. I wish so much that I could be in Jakarta with my friends! In my mind I keep shouting, "It can't be! It can't be!" Last night I wrote in my journal:

I can't believe it. I just can't believe it. It can't be true. I must have heard wrong. Misunderstood.... But Vitri's FB page confirms it. Oh my friends. 2 of your treasures are gone [last month another friend was killed in a motorcycle accident]. Your group is full of treasures. Strengthen them through these deaths, Lord. It's so hard to be left behind. For their sake it is wonderful and we wouldn't wish them back, away from your presence, but we long to be there, too. With You, with them. One day... What a glorious day it will be!

Kak Vitri, I can't wait to dance before the Throne with you and those whose lives you have touched. I praise the Lord that your pain is over, but in the meantime I ache!!! Love you, kak. You are missed. Hug Jesus for me.