“See how very much our Father loves us, for he calls us his children, and that is what we are! But the people who belong to this world don’t recognize that we are God’s children because they don’t know him.” 1 John 3:1 NLT (full chapter is very insightful)
I have been watching my sunflower show it’s offsprings day after day as the sun beams upon each tightly held bud. People walk and ride by stop to chat and ask how this could be? They take photos and chat to one another from their cars as if I’m not sitting on my porch and watching.
In some ways it’s a mystery to many of us that has only seen a sunflower with a single bloom or maybe 2 or 3 blooms. We might think this belongs to all of us and not just her, the lady in the rocker on her porch.
The Bees, I think, feel the same. They are in their comfort zone and they don’t move or very seldom when I dance around with my iPhone in hand.
I began to think what lessons might we learn in watching something a little different than what we are accustom to. As I listened, asked questions, and googled just as any curious person might do I didn’t get an clues. I was very interested in this family of sunflowers from one seed all connected.
Then I realized that I was struggling with a FB post I had just read by a Christian father and writer. He had posted a photo of his Christian college age daughters dressed in short styles with boots strolling through the street. We only saw their backs. Needless to say he got many compliments on their beauty and a few that didn’t find it appropriate for Christian girls.
Here’s where I got confused he had a lot to say about those negative people, “Pharisees”. Don’t they know that “his girls” live in the world and we don’t live by a set of rules as the “Pharisees”. I don’t know but it seem to me he was all over the place but nice and open for comments he said.
Our Father, a set of rules, live in the world …
“… But the people who belong to this world don’t recognize that we are God’s children because they don’t know him.” 1 John 3:1 NLT
I, like this eartly father of these girls, invite you to join in and help with understanding rules, living in this world and being like the culture to be accepted. How does this scripture connect? How do we communicate with others at times like this?
He had posted a photo on his page that gave OP for others to like, comment etc. Maybe the rule works if you can’t say something good keep your finger in your pocket? If you don’t like how his family dresses and handles the college culture don’t buy his books which seems to be stories about his family and how he sees living.
How does it work in our daily lives that the people of this world don’t recognize we are God’s children if we know God as Father and they don’t? How does my family of sunflowers bloom so beautifully from one root and excite the bees, me and others that see with glee. And, yet maybe some might think that my bee gathering place might cause a bee sting?
Pull up a chair, bring a cool drink and invite a friend as we explore the mysteries of God’s Word and World!
thedailylily.com 
Sara, your sunflower video/picture is really spectacular. “In some ways it’s a mystery to many of us that has only seen a sunflower with a single bloom or maybe 2 or 3 blooms.” You are right…I don’t recall ever seeing a sunflower like this with so many blooms shooting off from all sides.
I think what you wrote is like your sunflower because there are so many truths and things to look at and consider just like there are so many blooms…yet all from one seed, as you pointed out. Your seed seems to be one source, the Word of God.
Looking at just one sunflower, “Our Father, a set of rules, live in the world …” some thoughts came to mind after I read I John 3 as you recommended. Thoughts related to “set of rules” and the comment “we don’t live by a set of rules as the “Pharisees”. I think these 2 verses which speak of God’s commandments may relate to “rules”: I John 3: 23, 24: “…because we keep his commandments and do what pleases him. … Whoever keeps his commandments abides in God.”
And that brought to mind a scripture that I think was used in a teaching I listened to recently. The scripture was from Matt 5:17: “Don’t even begin to think that I have come to do away with the Law and the Prophets. I haven’t come to do away with them but to fulfill them.” CEB
I think the Phillips translation explains further: “You must not think I have come to abolish the Law or the Prophets; I have not come to abolish them but to complete them. Indeed, I assure you that, while Heaven and earth last, the Law will not lose a single dot or comma until its purpose is complete. This means that whoever now relaxes one of the least of these commandments and teaches men to do the same will himself be called least in Heaven. But whoever teaches and practises them will be called great in the kingdom of Heaven. For I tell you that your goodness must be a far better thing then the goodness of the scribes and Pharisees before you can set foot in the kingdom of Heaven at all!”
And Luke 16:17 says something similar: “It is easier for heaven and earth to pass away than for the smallest part of a letter of the law to become invalid.”
Debi, you must have given much thought and seriousness to the Word of God. I find that in itself amazing. The sunflower family is amazing! The believers in Jesus Christ with He being the head, the seed, the Messiah, the Priest, Judge,King and more is amazing.
It seems to me studying from the Bible in our culture with so much diversity in denominations among various extremes in political beliefs, races, cultures, to name a few is almost non-existent.
I am a believer in God’s Word while recognizing that the study of and living by is more than me and my generation or that of many generations.
Yet, there are some very comforting thoughts from His Word that may fit into all generation with clarity.
The Prophet Jeremiah records in 29:13 the words of the Lord, “if you look for me wholeheartedly you will find me!”
Study Jesus for a set of rules for our life styles, love one another as I have loved you! Beam your light bright by doing good deeds! Encourage one another daily! Come together and learn and share.
Most likely we will find all topics in the teachings of Jesus. Even dress code. I think it said be modest in your dress. Add a little season to your speech. Share kindness. Show gratitude! Sound the trumpet of Hope.
Maybe I could sum my thoughts up by saying I need to shrink wrap my ego, arrogance, pride etc etc into a size that equals one tiny mustard seed.
Let’s just be joyful as we continue to share and learn together. And, by the way some of the blooms on my multi sunflower stalk have finished their course and lower their head.
These are from Tammy Holton…..
The footnotes for Jeremiah 29:13 from the NLT says: “According to God’s wise plan, his people were to have a future and a hope; consequently, they could call upon him in confidence. Although the exiles were in a difficult place and time, they need not despair because they had God’s presence, the privilege of prayer, and God’s grace. If we seek him wholeheartedly, he will be found. Neither a strange land, sorrow, persecution, nor physical problems can break our fellowship with God.” Now, that is encouragement!
Absolutely gorgeous sunflowers in the video above! Thanks for sharing, I don’t think I have ever seen a sunflower with that many blooms from one little seed?!?!?
[Jesus said] “Consider then the parable of the farmer. Whenever people hear the word about the kingdom and don’t understand it, the evil one comes and carries off what was planted in their hearts. This is the seed that was sown on the path. As for the seed that was spread on rocky ground, this refers to people who hear the word and immediately receive it joyfully. Because they have no roots, they last for only a little while. When they experience distress or abuse because of the word, they immediately fall away. As for the seed that was spread among thorny plants, this refers to those who hear the word, but the worries of this life and the false appeal of wealth choke the word, and it bears no fruit. As for what was planted on good soil, this refers to those who hear and understand, and bear fruit and produce
—Matthew 13:1823 (CEB)
“And so, dear brothers and sisters, I plead with you to give your bodies to God because of all he has done for you. Let them be a living and holy sacrifice—the kind he will find acceptable. This is truly the way to worship him. Don’t copy the behavior and customs of this world, but let God transform you into a new person by changing the way you think. Then you will learn to know God’s will for you, which is good and pleasing and perfect.” Romans 12:1-2 NLT
https://bible.com/bible/116/rom.12.1-2.NLT
“Don’t copy the behavior and customs of this world, but let God transform you into a new person by changing the way you think.“
God must want our thinking and beholding changed. In your previous blog, Sara, “A Tree still standing…” we were asked to behold an undressed tree to have our minds “ignited” and to learn lessons.
“Behold, my beauty”, spoke the undressed tree that had no foliage to offer me now or leaves that even had a potential of falling to the grown while causing minds to ignite with words of wonder as Autumn seems about to approach.”
In this sunflower blog we behold a multi-multi-blooming, fully dressed plant that causes us to shake out of our minds any stereotype thinking we have of a sunflower with one or 2-3 blooms only.
“my sunflower show it’s offsprings day after day”…
“People walk and ride by stop to chat and ask how this could be?”
It seems both of these examples of God, His creations and creativity and lessons (and you have shared many scripture examples of these) brings us to back to your scripture statement, “ but let God transform you into a new person by changing the way you think.“