Enjoying Autumn: Learning From Nature (Part 2)

Seeing God in Nature

"The heavens are telling of the glory of God;
And their expanse is declaring
the work of His hands.
Day to day pours forth speech,
And night to night reveals knowledge."
(Psalms 19:1-2)

"For since the creation of the world
His [God's] invisible attributes,
His eternal power and divine nature,
have been clearly seen,
Being understood through what has been made,
so that they are without excuse."
(Romans 1:20)

God has revealed Himself in nature. We can build our children's faith when we point them to the Creator through the study of all the wonders He has made.

• Memorize and say verses about nature declaring the glory of God, such as the entire Psalm 19.

• While you are walking with your children out in nature, discuss spiritual matters.

"You shall teach them diligently to your sons
and shall talk of them when you sit in your house
and when you walk by the way
and when you lie down and when you rise up."
(Deuteronomy 6:7)

1. Start with Creation

Teach your children about creation directly from the Scriptures, starting in Genesis chapter 1.

2. Proceed to Appreciation

Teach your children to appreciate and wonder at God's creation as you drive, walk, view videos, or look at books. Notice its:
• Beauty
• Complexity
• Order
• Incredible dimensions, both large and small

3. Include Worship

Don't stop with appreciation and wonder; go on to express praise and thanksgiving to the Lord for His creation. Praising God for Himself and the wonders of the world He has created is an act of worship.

If your family is in an area by yourselves, it can be very meaningful to quote or read a few Bible verses (Psalm 19), sing a song ("How Great Thou Art"), and pray, praising and thanking the Lord for the beauty of the earth.

If you are not able to have a time of worship outside, you might quote Scripture, sing softly, and pray in a conversational manner as you walk along the trail or ride home in the car.

"I will bless the Lord at all times;
His praise shall continually be in my mouth."
(Psalms 34:1)

4. Seeing What God Is Like

Help your children see God's attributes in creation. (Read Psalm 104 and Psalm 139:13-16.) Some examples include:

• Power and Might - in thunderstorms and the pounding waves

• Faithfulness - in the consistent days, months, and seasons

• Love and Care - for the smallest bird

• Beauty - in scenery, flowers, sunsets, etc.

• Majesty - in the grandeur of mountains and canyons

• Infiniteness - in the expanse of the universe

• Orderliness - in migration and design

• Creativity - in the variety of nature

Quote of Note

"I love to think of nature as an unlimited broadcasting station through which God speaks to us every hour, if we will only tune in." – George Washington Carver


Resources

• Answers In Genesis, mega-website with many articles and resources.

• Creation Science Curricula from Answers in Genesis.

• Answers for Preschoolers Curriculum. Complete multi-subject curriculum for preschoolers affirms the truth of the Bible and uses Genesis as the basis.

• Nature Friend and Creation Illustrated, Christian nature magazines.