The Sunflower is my favorite flower. Every time I spy their bright golden petals (usually in Walmart) their happy–wafts my way and lures me to their side.

Last summer, driving northeast on I-44 headed to The City, I saw something I’d never seen in my life. I was surrounded by Sunflowers as far as the eye could see–north, south, east, and west. For mile after mile I watched as their green leafy arms–raised to the heavens were wildly waving as the Oklahoma winds swirled through the fields. Their round, golden faces were focused upon their longing–the sun.

Worldwide there are thousands of varieties of Sunflowers adding up to a total of–God only knows–and yet, no two are alike. Sunflowers belong to the largest flower classification in all the world, the Asteraceae Family.

As the Sun-lovers mature their faces follow the sun across the sky from sunrise to sunset, East to West. Through the night their faces bow, returning East, ready to start the journey again the next morning. Mature Sunflowers become heavier during seed production, stems stiffen, and the flower face does not track the sun, generally, they face East.

The winds blow through the fields scattering the seeds, also birds, squirrels, and other animals disburse the seeds near and far. Being annuals as they near the end of their one season their tall stalks bow, whither, and turn to dust.

Last summer, I was surrounded by thousands of Sunflowers driving northeast on I-44 headed to The City; on both sides of the highway, as far as the eye could see, were mile after mile of Sunflowers! Their green leafy arms raised to the heavens wildly waving as Oklahoma winds swirled through the fields. Their faces focused upon their longing–the sun. Worldwide there are thousands of varieties of Sunflowers adding up to a total of–God only knows–and yet, no two are alike. Sunflowers belong to the largest flower classification in all the world, the Asteraceae Family. As these Sun-lovers mature their faces follow the sun across the sky from sunrise to sunset, East to West. Through the night their faces bow, returning East, ready to start the journey again the next morning. The winds blow through the fields scattering the seeds, also birds, squirrels animals disburse the seeds. Mature Sunflowers become heavier during seed production, stems stiffen, and the flower face does not track the sun; generally, they face East until they whither and die. Most Sunflowers live one season–from two weeks to the end of summer.see dancing in the fields of Oklahoma.

until they whither and die. Most Sunflowers live one season–from two weeks to the end of summer.see dancing in the fields of Oklahoma.

Heading to Oklahoma City driving northeast on I-44, I was tempted to pull over onto the narrow shoulder, hike down to the taller-than-me heads in the field, and run through the maze. It was too dangerous on several levels–from getting hit by a car to getting bit by a snake, to getting arrested for trespassing.

park, get out into the dirt with my iPhone and take pictures and videos. In all my years of living, I’d never seen this before. I was surrounded by wild Sunflowers mile after mile, field after field as far as the eye could see in every direction. Dheerful yellow faces for miles and miles and miles on either side of the highway as far as the eye could see for mile and miles wild Sunflowers, their green leafy arms raised to the heavens wildly waving as winds swirled through the fields. Their bright yellow faces turned toward their longing–the sun. The Sunflower is named “Sunflower” because the flower resembles the sun. Worldwide there are thousands of varieties of Sunflowers adding up to a total of–God only knows–and yet, no two are alike. As Sunflowers mature their fac es follow the sun across the sky from sunrise to sunset, East to West. Through the night their faces bow, returning East, ready to start the journey again the next morning. Mature Sunflowers become heavier during seed production, stems stiffen, and the flower face does not track the sun across the sky; generally they face East until they whither and die. Most Sunflowers live one season–from two weeks to the end of summer.

Mature Sunflowers become heavier during seed production, stems stiffen, and the flower face doesn’t track the sun across the sky; generally they face East until they whither and die. Most Sunflowers live one season–from two weeks to the end of summer.

The Sunflower is named “Sunflower” because the flower resembles the sun. Worldwide there are thousands of varieties of Sunflowers adding up to a total of–God only knows–yet, no two are alike.

As Sunflowers mature their faces follow the sun across the sky from sunrise to sunset, East to West. Through the night their faces bow, return East, ready to start the journey the next morning. Mature Sunflowers become heavier during seed production, stems stiffen, and the flower face doesn’t track the sun across the sky; generally they face East until they whither and die. Most Sunflowers live one season–from two weeks to the end of summer.

God spoke to me through the Parable of the Sunflower.

Verses came to my mind as I marveled at these flowers the Lord made.Verses came to my mind as I marveled at these flowers the Lord made.

We are surrounded by a great cloud of witnesses to the life of faith–what a sight to behold! From Genesis to Revelation God-followers led by the Wind of the Holy Spirit. Therefore from my house to yours, from your church to mine, to the myriads and myriads of God-followers past and present let us raise our arms in surrender to the leading of the Holy Spirit Wind. Let us fix our gaze on our longing–the Son–Jesus, the Author and Perfecter of our faith, who first fixed His gaze on us. May He ever change us more and more into His imrun with endurance the race that is set before us. Let us fix our gaze on our longing–Jesus–the Author and Perfecter of our faith, who has fixed His gaze on us.

who has fixed His gaze on one in throng that God alone knows the total, and also knows each one by name. Jesus-followers following the Son, becoming more like Jesus. m God knows each individual one and yet each one individual and seen as they are seen. Jesus-followers let usixed on the gaze of our Savior, Jesus, the Author and Perfecter of our faith becoming more like him day by day. Each one of us in uniquely preciousAs Jesus-followers let us run the race as Jesus did. So let us also lay aside every weight, and si n which clings so closely, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, looking to Jesus, the founder and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is seated at the right hand of the throne of God.With eyes fixed on our longing–the Son, Jesus–the Author and Perfecter of our faith let us run with endurance the race that is set before us. . the Son. We, who are called by Hislet us run the race that is set before us. We who are called by His Name–Jesus-followersas far as one can imagine, lives surrendered to the King of kings as the wind of the Holy Spirit wind and the wind of the Holy Spirit sweirglinwaving high to get our attention. For miles and miles on either side of the highway were wild Sunflowers, their green leafy arms raised to the heavens wildly waving as winds swirled through the fields. Bright yellow faces were turned toward their longing–the sun. The Sunflower is actually named “Sunflower” because the flower resembles the sun. Worldwide there are thousands of varieties of Sunflowers adding up to a total of–God only knows–and yet, no two are alike. As Sunflowers mature their faces follow the sun across the sky from sunrise to sunset, East to West. Through the night their faces bow, return East, ready to start the journey, again, the next morning. Mature Sunflowers become heavier during seed productionstems stiffen, and the flower face does not track the sun across the sky; generally they face East until they whither and die. Most Sunflowers live one season–two weeks up to the end of summer.

Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles. And let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us, ² fixing our eyes on Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of faith. For the joy set before him he endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. ³ Consider him who endured such opposition from sinners, so that you will not grow weary and lose heart.

There’s a great cloud of witnesses, From Genesis to Revelation and beyond, wildly waving their arms in surrender to the life of faith made possible by the Wind of the Holy Spirit gazing on their longing–the Son–their eyes fixed on the

He blows where He wills and accomplishes His desires. Fix your eyes on Jesus, the Author and Perfecter of your faith. Continue gazing into the Lover of your soul’s Word and be changed into His image, from glory to glory. Follow Him wherever He leads, day after day, night after night. Even in darkest night when your head is bowed low and you do not see the Son, you do not feel the Son and it seems hope is gone. You feel totally alone. The Lord will never abandon you, and in due season the He will Lift your head and you will grow stronger by His grace. will be changed from glory to glory.. As year after year passes and your soul grows strong and mature Through the night, and you will be changed more and more into His image. Jesus-Follower and you will be changed more and more . are surrounded by a great cloud of witnesses to the life of faith. These saints spur us on to . , for all who have ears to hear, If all heaven rejoices over the reconcilation of. Let us keep our eyes on the Son of God let us keep our eyes on the Son of God, Jesus, the Author and Perfecter of our faith who has gone to prepare a place for us but He did not send us comfortless. He has sent With each first breath of each new day until our last breath, the wind of the Holy Spirit be encouraged and run with endurance for we are surrounded by a great cloud of witnesses to the race of face.

our first thought be to focus on the Lover of our Soul. By Jesus’ grace may the Lover of our Soul be our longing. As we run the race God has set before us, let us remember that we are surrounded by a great crowd of witnesses to the life of faith. Their lives can spur us on to keep going, to keep our eyes on the Promise. in the midst of good times and bad times, laughter and tears, pain and sorrow

Wind of the Holy Spirit blows we are surrounded by a great cloud of witnesses to the race of faith Mile after mile asthrough the ups and downs, the moutains and valleys during the brightest day or the darkest know by the power of the Holy Spiirit we are being made into webecoming more like Christ. o speak to me in ways I can understand . Like the Sunflower Each morning when our Creator has given us breath may we focus on the Son of God and breathe in Him. May Jesus be our longing of our heart. we wake each morning–may the longing of our heart be for the Son of God and our desires –all the day long. May we open His Word and be changed more and more into the image of the One who says that we are “His image bearers”. May others see Jesus reflected in our lives to the glory of God. As we mature may our longing be to see Jesus Face to face “love His appearing” looking to the East from which direction He will come.In the morning when we wake and take our first breath of the new day, Holy Spirit get our attention with woo us to focus our hearts on the One who gives us life and brwith whispers of the kindness of our God. It is the kindness of God that leads to repentance. And in repentance, thanksgiving, and praise may we focus on the One who first focused on us. May we love Love because Love first loved us.

…when we fall down, get back up again…when we’re Sunflower’s journey, day after day, I was overwhelmed by the gracious picture of faithfulness the Creator gives us in this beautiful. f the CreaIn the light or in the dark, in the day or in the night, through the storm or through tfires the Sunflower lives to be spent for its purpose. When I wake, take my first breath of the new day, may my longing be the Son. May my longing be. As the gracious Spirit woos me heart focus on the Son who graciously gives me life supllied by You, may my face turn to the Son looking forwad to His appearing. May all that is within me praise the Holy Name of Jesus. May my heart, sould, mind and strength be pou out in thanksgiving and worship by the power of the HOly spirt who ldwells in me, gives me life and As I drove between the fields of Sunflowers I was encouraged by the Hope Whispers. we run the race, let us remember that we are surrounded by a great cloud of witnesses to the life of faith. cloud of witneesNot grow where yoplanted but run the race set before you. You are surrounded by a great cloud of witnesses, their lives of faith encourage you to run the race. to the life of faith, Many have run the race set before them keeping their eyes on the Promise of the Son. great cloud of witnesses Now it is your turn let us keep our eyes on the Son of God, Jesus, the Author and Perfecter of your faithDay after dayRemember the great cloud of witnesses who surround us cheering us on and rejoicing with each step we take, each time we fall and get back up again and take the next step.

Does one ever know he/she would be coming Home so soon?  Probably not.  And yet, no matter how old or young when a person’s time comes, we perhaps–well, most of us–didn’t comprehend how soon death would catch us. Time’s end runs to meet us surely sooner than we learn to number our days, faster than the grass withers and the flowers fade, quicker than the fog dissipates or the mist evaporates.

Why the knee-jerk, deer-in-the-headlights, caught-off-guard split second reaction followed by that guttural scream (silent or top of our lungs), “NOOOOOOOO!” when we the word, “deceased.“

Is it because You have placed eternity in every cell of every breathing soul, and there’s an innate knowing that we were made to live forever?  Is it because Your fingerprints are everywhere on all creation and as Your image bearers there’s an inherent knowing that we were made for our Creator?

I think about death, not of my choosing, rather, by being chosen to be among the living at the graveside of loved ones.  And even in the midst of deep sorrow, I thank God that as fast as death ran, Love ran faster, saving to the uttermost before the final breath.  

Hope rises knowing we will be together again.

Driving to Oklahoma City that day, I watched the Sunflowers in all His creative glory praising their Creator in are surrounded by a great c roud of witness cheering us on.

blow I-44, a parade of wild Sunflowers cheering me toward Oklahoma City. there arms reaching toward the heavens and the Oklahoma wind flowers escorting me Sunflowers names so because they look like the sun and they follow the sun. Sunflowers display a behavior called heliotropism. Young The flower buds and young blossoms will face east in the morning and follow the sun as the earth moves during the day. However, as the flowers get heavier during seed production, the stems will stiffen and the mature flower heads will generally remain facing east.

When a worldwide catastrophe happens or a catastrophe happens that effects our whole world where’s God?

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