Jessica Doebler - God Is in Nature!: A Kids Devotional About His Awesome Creations

Acknowledgments

I have to start by thanking my awesome husband, Josh. For countless words of encouragement, and brainstorming sessions, and for keeping our kiddos occupied so I could write. I couldnt have done it without you. Thank you!

To Jovie, Jace, and Jenna: Thank you for making every day brighter. Being your mom is the greatest honor of my life. I hope you enjoy this book.

A very special thank-you to Lindsay, my sister-in-law, who shared her precious time to proofread every word. Your support and encouragement mean the world to me!

For my mom: thank you for being my teacher. You laid a foundation of Gods Word and a love for His world in my heart that has been life-giving ever since.

I would also like to thank my family, friends, and neighbors who encouraged me and prayed for me as I worked on this project. You know who you are. I love you and am truly grateful to have you all in my life.

A big thank-you to the team at Penguin Random House for the invitation to bring this book to life. I am grateful for the opportunity.

Lastly, thank You, Lord, for all these things. May my words be pleasing to You.

About the Author

Jessica Doebler is a homeschool mom and the owner of inspirethemom.com. Her hearts desire is to inspire a love for learning and encourage families to foster faith in their kids. Over the last few years, Jessica has shared her homeschool teaching experience and has used her education degree to provide moms with creative, useful, and fun ideas. She lives just west of the Cascades in the beautiful state of Oregon with her husband, Josh, and their three kids.

Hi, parents and caregivers,

We hope your child enjoyed reading God Is in Nature! If you have any questions or concerns about this book, or have received a damaged copy, please contact customerservice@penguinrandomhouse.com . Were here and happy to help.

Also, please consider writing a review on your favorite retailers website to let others know what you and your child thought of the book!

Sincerely,

The Zeitgeist Team

Contents

The activities and experiments presented in this book should be completed under adult supervision and with proper safety precautions. Neither the author nor the publisher shall be liable or responsible for any loss or damage allegedly arising from any content in this book.

Copyright 2021 by Penguin Random House LLC

All rights reserved.

Published in the United States by Z Kids, an imprint of Zeitgeist, a division of Penguin Random House LLC, New York.

penguinrandomhouse.com

Zeitgeist is a trademark of Penguin Random House LLC

Scripture quotations marked as the following are taken from:

(ESV) from the Holy Bible, English Standard Version, ESV Text Edition (2016), copyright 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. All rights reserved.

(KJV) from the King James Version.

(NIV) from the Holy Bible, New International Version, NIV Copyright 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc. Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.

(ASV) from American Standard Version.

ISBN9780593435519

Ebook ISBN9780593435526

Illustrations by Xareni Ramirez

Author photo by Josh Doebler

rhid_prh_5.8.0_c0_r0

For Jovie, Jace, and Jenna:

may you always delight in our Maker

Introduction

In third grade, I wrote a book for a young authors conference. My story, The Carlson Family Adventure , featured a family that traveled through Alaska, saw amazing sights, then found a moose and took it home.

I loved dreaming up things to wow my readers. Did you know that God also loves dreaming up things to wow His children? From towering mountains and colorful rainbows to flowing waterfalls, God created a beautiful world to surround us and draw us closer to Him. The wonder of nature is that it paints a bigger picture of who God is. The more we explore, the more we realize how wide, how deep, and how detailed our Creator God truly is.

While I never got to take a moose home, I did get to see a real one. For multiple summers, my family road-tripped through Alaskas rugged terrain. One day, on the side of a quiet two-lane highway, I saw the most majestic-looking moose. Its size was astonishing, and I sat watching, filled with awe, from the backseat of our station wagon.

On this trip, I also saw the northern lights glowing in the night sky and stars so big I thought I could almost touch them. I saw brown bears, black bears, and gigantic glaciers that sparkled in the sun.

This is the gift that God wants to give us all: a chance to experience His amazing works firsthand. The next time you go outside, stop and notice the beauty of Gods creation all around you. As you read this book, allow yourself to slow down and see the world in a new wayfrom the highest mountain to the tiniest fish in the sea.

Through these 100 devotionals, challenge yourself to read Gods Word, then go outside and let His creations captivate your curiosity.

Lets begin!

Part 1

Fields & Parks

When it comes to nature, there is always something new and exciting to unearth. You dont have to go far to see Gods amazing handiwork. Its in your backyard, in your neighborhood park, and in the open fields around your house. Step outside and let the adventure begin!

Follow the Son

When Jesus spoke again to the people, he said, I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness, but will have the light of life.

John 8:12 (NIV)

Buttercups are small, bright yellow flowers that you may have seen growing alongside the road and in open fields. Their petals are beautifully rounded and have an eye-catching, glossy texture. I guess you could say they lookbuttery.

But did you also know that these little gems are heliotropic? Heliotropic means following the sun. All day long, buttercups turn their faces toward the direction of the sun, warming their brightly colored blooms. How incredible is that?

Whats more incredible is that this little flower, which some people consider a common weed, demonstrates exactly what God wants His children to do. Follow Him. Follow the Son. The S-O-N being Jesus Christ.

The more we follow Christ, the brighter our life shines with His light. And this light will shine through at school, in the words we speak to friends, and even in our actions when no one is looking.