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| Hello, Sunshine! |
~ The very word, "Sunflower" comes from the scientific name, Helianthus. Helios means sun and Anthos means flower. The French word for Sunflower is tournesol, which literally means to "turn with the sun." From our previous study, it's easy to see how the sunflower lives up to its name. Its actions speak for itself. Likewise, look at the word "Christian." It is derived from the greek word Christ. Shouldn't our actions exemplify those of our Savior? I believe that the world should be able to look at a person and tell whether or not he or she is a Christian. So many times, though, Christians compromise their name by getting caught up in the ways of the world. Their thoughts are often, Well, everyone else is doing it. It's no big deal. These souls have forgotten who they are, or perhaps they never even quite knew who they were. Jesus spoke to the Father regarding believers before entering the garden in John 17:16. "They are not of the world (worldly, belonging to the world), [just] as I am not of the world." (Amplified) Friends, let us remember we are not of this world. Let us always keep at the forefront of our minds who the head of our family is, for we have a mighty heavenly Father. Let us take the Romans 12:1-2 verses seriously and represent Him well. "So here's what I want you to do, God helping you: Take your everyday, ordinary life--your sleeping, eating, going to work, and walking around life--and place it before God as an offering. Embracing what God does for you is the best thing you can do for Him. Don't become so well-adjusted to your culture that you fit into it without even thinking. Instead, fix your attention on God. You'll be changed from the inside out. Readily recognize what He wants from you, and quickly respond to it. Unlike the culture around you, always dragging you down to its level of immaturity, God brings the best out of you, develops well-formed maturity in you." (The Message) ~
Poem to a Sunflower
I see you there in glory shining bright,
Following the sun and its path of light.
Standing tall above all others in the field,
You grow, conquer, and do not yield.
The little birds take great delight
In playing round you, from day to night.
With your petals of yellow and leaves of green
How very easily you are seen.
But there is more to you than first sight,
More than beauty and grander to delight.
Every beautiful aspect that appears,
Gives praise to the Father dear.
He made you a part of creation,
And you praise Him in glorious celebration!
The beauty that within you is expressed,
Gives testimony to his greatness.
Sunflower, how I long to be like you!
Glorifying God in all I do.
Following the Son and His path of light,
To worship Him in His glory shining bright.
I can learn from you, my friend,
With every breath, praise to God, I might send.
With all of His creation telling the story,
Might I, with you, proclaim His glory.
~By Katherine R. Lane (April 19, 1995)~
Sunflower Research References
I'm glad you're writing these posts Amanda. I really have been encouraged by what you've said in your 1st 3 posts. I can really relate to what you're feeling and I know i'm not the only one. In your last post the part about crying out to God like a baby with a poopy diaper was really an eye opener i needed to have. And the beautiful insightful spiritual parallels you're drawing from nature make so much sense. Thank you! -Lauren S.
ReplyDeleteThanks, Lauren! It is definitely God and not me. Thank you for reading my posts--I'm glad they encouraged you. :)
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