June 3, 2013
Part One
As nature announces the glory of God with each new dawn, it seals His handiwork with each palette of sunset, allowing Creation to rest. The morning brings its freshness and sings the melody of the heart of our Father God…in the anthem of the birds, in the summer breeze and the rustling of the leaves. And, the flowers raise their heads and turn their faces to the sun… welcoming the new day.
Flowers appear on the earth; the season of singing has come…
Song of Solomon 2:12
Over the years, as I walked on our ranch, I was intrigued as I would come upon a solitary sunflower, standing strong and stately, having pushed itself through the cracked and thirsty ground to reveal its splendor…its magnificent color, shining in the intense Texas sun.
Today, I feel inspired by the lovely flower, often growing alone; other times growing in groves, (which I refer to as God’s garden). Other foliage around the sunflower may have succumbed to the intense heat and lay burned and charred…but the sunflower overcomes the obstacles of the ground to bring beauty to its beholder, often in the midst of rock and ashes.
This lovely flower, to me, is an image of a fruit-bearing believer’s life strengthened and empowered by the Holy Spirit. A believer, who abides in the Lord, rises from the occasional or often frequent ashes…to shine and give beauty and hope to those who travel along the road of life. As I come upon this strong flower, rooted deeply into the ground, I am reminded that is our calling to reach deeply into God’s Word, with our hearts deeply rooted in His Life, in order to bear His Light and the beauty of His Kingdom, in the midst of the charred ashes that life often brings, to encourage the unsuspecting traveler, in unexpected places…
May our lives rise from the ashes; May they reflect the beauty of Christ and the strength of Christ, going where others may not go to shine His Light and His Love and His Hope.
And, may we always turn our faces to the source of Life…
Today, Daughters of Truth, I wish you joy… and who knows, you may come upon a sunflower…
…May you be rooted deep in love and founded securely on love…
Ephesians 3:17 (AMP)
Joyfully,
