Commit your way to the LORD, trust also in Him, and He shall bring it to pass. Psalm 37:5.

Do not let your heart be troubled; believe in God, believe also in Me. John 14:1.

And continuing our 351 Old Testament prophecies, promises of God, fulfilled in Jesus Christ, we come to number 80: They seek His death. Psalm 22:12-13: Many bulls have surrounded me; strong bulls of Bashan have encircled me. They open wide their mouth at me, as a ravening and a roaring lion. And, John 19:6: So when the chief priests and the officers saw Him, they cried out saying, “Crucify, crucify!” Pilate said to them, “Take Him yourselves and crucify Him, for I find no guilt in Him.”

Yesterday I watched a part of the ABC 24 hour broadcast Disney Celebrates America. Their correspondents with National Geographic Explorers traveled to 7 wonders of America and showcased the amazing beauty and diversity of this amazing country and beyond. I was reminded again of that this morning reading in You Are The Beloved by Henri Nouwen where he said a tree speaks to us about growth, a river informs us about movement, a flower reveals to us the simple beauty of life, that “when we make a deep bow to the rivers, oceans, hills, and mountains that offer us a home, only then can they become transparent and reveal to us their real meaning.”

There is real meaning to be found in this life we have been given. Meaning in God’s love for us and our love for Him, and in our love for one another. Meaning in the struggles we all face, the illnesses we don’t understand, the ebb and flow of all things. Meaning in Creator God coming to live among us teaching us the lessons valid for all eternity; and meaning in His death on the cross and His resurrection to show us what will be after our own death. He paved the way in creation itself in showing us the ebb and flow of all life in nature, in the planet, the oceans, the universe itself. He paved the way in showing the smallness of all beginnings that flourish with vibrant life. He paved the way in showing us faithfulness to the Father and life lived trusting Him, and in being led by the Holy Spirit. He paved the way in showing forgiveness and grace so needed today and in every age of imperfect humans of which we are all a part because we are none of us perfect. He paved the way showing us what love is. And He prepares the way in our own hearts and minds to receive Him. Every struggle, every trial, every joy – the ground of our hearts being prepared to receive understanding and meaning He brings that I don’t think we can fully appreciate or understand in this life. But just as those in this life who have gone before who were deeply impacted personally by Creator God – Father, Son, Spirit, so too will we each of us be deeply impacted in the fullness of the truth of Creator God as we stand before Him in the resurrection to vibrant flourishing ongoing Life with Him.

***TRUSTING YOU My God, let me know and love You so that I may find my happiness in You. Since I cannot fully achieve this on earth, help me to improve daily until I may do so to the full. Enable me to know You ever more on earth so that I may know You perfectly in heaven. Enable me to love You ever more on earth so that I may love You perfectly in heaven. In that way my joy may be great on earth, and perfect with You in heaven. Augustine of Hippo (AD 354-430).***