Family Faith and Fun Fridays: Creation Quest
For the word of God is alive and powerful. It is sharper than the sharpest two-edged sword, cutting between soul and spirit, between joint marrow. It exposes our innermost thoughts and desires.
-Hebrews 4:12
Welcome to Family Faith and Fun Fridays! As the week winds down and I anticipate more family time over the weekend, I often ask God for one good idea that will enable me to bring the Word to life and bring our family together. Usually, the activity overflows out of something the Lord has been teaching me through His Word during the week. I’d like to invite you to join me and my family in the adventure. Sometimes I’ll post things we’ve tried; other times I’ll post an idea in the works. If you’ve got thoughts to add or
suggestions on how to adapt or improve the activity, please don’t hesitate to comment.
Creation Quest
I love challenging my kids to think about WHO God is. And one of the easiest ways to do that is to simply study WHAT God has made.
Romans 1:20 reminds us that God reveals His invisible qualities through creation-
“For ever since the world was created, people have seen the earth and sky. Through everything God made, they can clearly see his invisible qualities—his eternal power and divine nature. So they have no excuse for not knowing God.”
Therefore, if we take time to study God’s handiwork, we will undoubtedly learn something about the hands that made it. That’s why I love today’s activity! It requires no preparation. In fact, this experience invites your kids to become the teachers. All you need is access to nature and an investigative and attentive spirit. I’ve tried this lesson in every season and in a variety of places and it never grows old. Whether we’re studying the snowflakes in our own backyard, collecting leaves at Grandma’s house, or investigating the wonders of nature as we explore a new vacation sight, we always discover something new about the One who reveals Himself through creation. No matter how many times we repeat this little exercise, it never fails to spotlight BIG truths about our awesome God.
Therefore, if we take time to study God’s handiwork, we will undoubtedly learn something about the hands that made it. That’s why I love today’s activity! It requires no preparation. In fact, this experience invites your kids to become the teachers. All you need is access to nature and an investigative and attentive spirit. I’ve tried this lesson in every season and in a variety of places and it never grows old. Whether we’re studying the snowflakes in our own backyard, collecting leaves at Grandma’s house, or investigating the wonders of nature as we explore a new vacation sight, we always discover something new about the One who reveals Himself through creation. No matter how many times we repeat this little exercise, it never fails to spotlight BIG truths about our awesome God.
Don’t take my word for it; just try it yourself!
First: Read Romans 1:20 with your children and talk about how God uses the things He has made to show us something about WHO HE IS.
Next: Give some examples that will help your kids understand how nature shows off God’s character. For instance- A seed show us that God is interested in growing things (like people and plants). A sunset shows us that He values beauty. In fact, HE is beautiful. A huge mountain suggests that He is powerful and strong, sturdy and secure.
Next: Give some examples that will help your kids understand how nature shows off God’s character. For instance- A seed show us that God is interested in growing things (like people and plants). A sunset shows us that He values beauty. In fact, HE is beautiful. A huge mountain suggests that He is powerful and strong, sturdy and secure.
Then: Send your kids into nature to collect one thing that God has made. Ask them to think about how their chosen item shows off God’s character or magnifies His heart. In other words, “What can we learn about God when we study this piece of His creation?”
Hunt. Muse. Share. Listen. Learn. And celebrate the breadth and depth and beauty of our Creator.
Read Psalm 19:1-4 together and remind your children “listen” to what nature says about God.
Read Psalm 19:1-4 together and remind your children “listen” to what nature says about God.
“The heavens proclaim the glory of God.
The skies display his craftsmanship. Day after day they continue to speak; night after night they make him known. They speak without a sound or word; their voice is never heard. Yet their message has gone throughout the earth, and their words to all the world.”
Here’s what our kids and their cousins “heard” as they explored God’s creation along the shores of Lake Michigan….
Josh: This feather reminds me that God loves to laugh!
Hannah: This HUGE piece of wood reminds me that God is REALLY STRONG and POWERFUL
Luke: This handful of sand reminds me that God is all-knowing. He knows how many grains of sand are on that beach up there!
Lizzy and Mariel: This water from Lake Michigan remind us that God is LIVING WATER. Ya know- like He fills up that thirsty place inside of us.
Liesl: This spider reminds me that God pays attention to details. Look at the tiny little pattern of spots on this guy’s back!
Aunt Crystal: This evergreen reminds me that God is eternal.
Uncle Jim: This cicada shell reminds me that God invites us to leave the old behind and become new. We can shed our sin and be free! He helps us to change and grow.
And that’s just a tiny glimpse of our marvelous God! What will you see when you look at His handiwork?
