I stood on the plains of Lancaster California viewing an array of splendor that seemed forever endless as I gazed over the land. There was no end to this magnificent display of God’s creation, as I stood in awe of His splendor and majesty. There for a moment I saw, in a tangible way, His glory being poured over the earth. “And the glory of the Lord will fill the whole earth”. (Numbers 14:21).

Everywhere I turned this living golden splendor filled my eyes, heart, and soul. Before me were millions times millions of poppies that had been created by God.

I stood amazed as I saw these delicate gold flowers standing strong grasping tightly to their thin green stems. Just then the winds began to blow and the fragile but brave flowers closed their petals as to protect themselves from the winds. I then began to contemplate on the wonders of God. I reached for the ground and picked a poppy and held it in my hand. I opened the petal to find a fine gold dust sprinkled inside this delicate flower. There it was the reason it closed its petals. The next generation was in it, and when the winds began to blow it needed to protect the future poppies. It is as if God said, “It is time to close your petals little ones the winds of adversity are here.” I then remembered (Proverbs 4:23) “Keep your heart with all diligence, for out of it springs the issues of life.”

I began to see how God had created these small golden poppies. That though they were fragile and delicate God had made them to know when it was time to stay open and receive the beauty of sunshine, and when it was time to close their petals to protect the next generation of flowers. For in them were many thousands of poppy seeds protected from adversities.

I stood amazed on how simple it was. God had instilled into these little poppies to know when it was time remain open and when it was time to close up. It then became clear to me, as (Ecclesiastes 3:1) says, "To everything there is a season, a time for every purpose under heaven.” So, these golden fragile flowers had a reason to open and a reason to close.

How much can we learn from these wonderful art displays of God? There are times when we need to pour into others what God has placed in us, then there are times when the winds of adversity come to try to destroy us. It is then that we need to protect our hearts so satan cannot attack us. At that moment I prayed and said, “Lord help me to recognize when you are speaking to me so I may stay open to to you just like that little poppy. Also, help me to know when it is time to protect myself and close myself off from the winds of adversity that blow.”

I will never forget the experience I had with God that day in a field of splendor and majesty. God showed me a spiritual lesson through those small gold-filled poppies. If a little fragile poppy can obey God and be spared from destruction, then we too can obey the Lord and be protected from the winds of adversity and guard the Word of God that has been placed in our hearts. After all, we carry inside us the seeds of Gods Word so that we may pour it into the next generation, just like the poppies from Papa God.