Friday, April 22, 2016

Earth Day April 22nd, 2016 Creation Care Resources

We are part of a nature study homeschool group and today we had an Earth Day Nature Study with a "creation care" focus. I am sharing it below should anyone be interested....



Earth Day April 22nd, 2016




This is My Father’s World

This is my Father's world, and to my listening ears,
all nature sings and 'round me rings, the music of the spheres
This is my Father's world, I rest me in the thought,
of rocks and trees, of skies and seas, His hand the wonders wrought

This is my Father's world, the birds their carols raise,
 the morning white, the lily white, declare their Maker's praise
This is my Father's world, He shines in all that's fair,
 in the rustling grass I hear him pass, He speaks to me everywhere

This is my Father's world, Oh let me not forget,
 that though the wrong seems oft so strong, God is the ruler yet
This is my Father's world, the battle is not done,
Jesus who died shall be satisfied, and earth and heaven be one

(I will not be afraid, I will not be afraid, This is my Father's world
I will not be afraid, I will not be afraid, This is my Father's world
I will not be afraid, No, I will not be afraid, This is my Father's world,
 I will not be afraid, No, I will not be afraid, This is my Father's world
My Father's world, Oh, everything I see, Oh, it's my Father's world, Everything my Father's world)


The Creation Story and Caring for God’s Creation



Genesis 1, ESV
Jesus Storybook Bible pages 18-27
Catherine Vos Children’s Bible pages 3-4

JSB page 18

Genesis chapter 1

In the abeginning, God created the heavens and the earth. The earth was bwithout form and void, and darkness was over the face of the deep. And the Spirit of God was hovering over the face of the waters.

DAY ONE, JSB page 20

And God said, c“Let there be light,” and there was light. And God saw that the light was good. And God separated the light from the darkness. God called the light Day, and the darkness he called Night. And there was evening and there was morning, the first day.

The first day of creation is about light: just think, none of these plants and trees would grow without sunlight.

Can you think of anything that has to do with light that would help us to take better care of God’s creation?
·         Turn off lights when not in a room to save on electricity
  Use light bulbs that use less energy
This saves energy and helps cut down on air pollution. Some power plants burn coal or oil to make electricity and the burning can pollute the air.

SECOND DAY, JSB page 20

And God said, d“Let there be an expanse1 in the midst of the waters, and let it separate the waters from the waters.” And God made2the expanse and eseparated the waters that were under the expanse from the waters that were fabove the expanse. And it was so. And God called the expanse Heaven.3 And there was evening and there was morning, the second day.

God’s creation includes the beautiful, blue sky. There are some places in this world where people have made the air so dirty they can’t see the beautiful sky anymore. Pollutants can form acid rain and harm animals and plants.

Can you think of ways that you can help cut down on polluting the air?
·         Walk and ride bikes and use cars less often, carpool, etc.
·         Be careful what chemicals you put in the air, like certain candles and hair sprays, etc.

DAY THREE, JSB page 20

And God said, g“Let the waters under the heavens be gathered together into one place, and let the dry land appear.” And it was so.10 God called the dry land Earth,4 and the waters that were gathered together he called Seas. And God saw that it was good.
11 And God said, h“Let the earth sprout vegetation, plants5 yielding seed, and fruit trees bearing fruit in which is their seed, each according to its kind, on the earth.” And it was so. 12 The earth brought forth vegetation, plants yielding seed according to their own kinds, and trees bearing fruit in which is their seed, each according to its kind. And God saw that it was good. 13 And there was evening and there was morning, the third day.

On this day God created all sorts of trees, plants, flowers, and crops. We depend on all of these parts of God’s creation to live. One especially important thing about trees is that they clean the air so we are able to breathe, and of course crops like fruits and vegetables feed us and feed the animals that we eat.

Can you think of some ways that we can take care of God’s creation of trees, plants, flowers, and crops?
·         Plant a garden or volunteer at a neighborhood garden
·         Join a CSA to support a small local farm
·         Buy fruits and vegetables that are organically grown, or at least pesticide and GMO free
·         Plant trees and flowers
·         Recycle paper and use recycled paper products and support companies that recycle
      You can RECYCLE all sorts of other things too.
What are some things you can think of to recycle?
·         plastic bottles, containers, and plastic bags, aluminum cans, glass, cardboard, newspapers, grocery bags.
·         Styrofoam doesn’t decompose, as well as some plastics, so try to always avoid Styrofoam
 Recycling helps take care of God’s earth by cutting down on trash and reusing valuable resources.

DAY FOUR, JSB 22

14 And God said, “Let there be lights in the expanse of the heavens to separate the day from the night. And let them be for isigns and forjseasons,6 and for days and years, 15 and let them be lights in the expanse of the heavens to give light upon the earth.” And it was so.16 And God kmade the two great lights—the greater light to rule the day and the lesser light to rule the night—and the stars. 17 And God set them in the expanse of the heavens to give light on the earth, 18 to lrule over the day and over the night, and to separate the light from the darkness. And God saw that it was good. 19 And there was evening and there was morning, the fourth day.

What are some ways we can use the sun to help take care of God’s creation?
·         Solar energy
·         Drying clothes on a clothes hanger outside

DAY FIVE, JSB 24

20 And God said, “Let the waters swarm with swarms of living creatures, and let birds7 fly above the earth across the expanse of the heavens.” 21 So mGod created the great sea creatures and every living creature that moves, with which the waters swarm, according to their kinds, and every winged bird according to its kind. And God saw that it was good. 22 And God blessed them, saying, n“Be fruitful and multiply and fill the waters in the seas, and let birds multiply on the earth.”23 And there was evening and there was morning, the fifth day.

What are some ways we can take care of birds and fish?
·         Bird feeders and bird houses
·         Don’t use toxic fertilizers or pesticides—chemicals for our garden and to kill bugs—or support companies that use them.
·         Use natural, non-toxic cleaning supplies, household products, and toiletries
·         Don’t waste water. Try to help keep the water clean.
·         Don’t support aquariums or companies that don’t treat dolphins and whales humanely.
·         Pick up litter and trash you see


DAY SIX, part one JSB 24-25

24 And God said, “Let the earth bring forth living creatures according to their kinds—livestock and creeping things and beasts of the earth according to their kinds.” And it was so. 25 And God made the beasts of the earth according to their kinds and the livestock according to their kinds, and everything that creeps on the ground according to its kind. And God saw that it was good.

What are some ways that we can take care of God’s animals?
·         Be kind and gentle to animals
·         Have a pet, adopt a pet, volunteer at an animal shelter
·         Help lost animals find their homes
·         Report animal cruelty and neglect
·         Only eat chicken, eggs, meat, and dairy products from animals that have been raised and killed humanely and had access to pastures and healthy food

DAY SIX, part two  JSB 26-27

26 Then God said, o“Let us make man8 in our image, pafter our likeness. And qlet them have dominion over the fish of the sea and over the birds of the heavens and over the livestock and over all the earth and over every creeping thing that creeps on the earth.”
27  So God created man in his own image,
in the image of God he created him;
rmale and female he created them.
28 And God blessed them. And God said to them, s“Be fruitful and multiply and fill the earth and subdue it, and have dominion over the fish of the sea and over the birds of the heavens and over every living thing that moves on the earth.” 29 And God said, “Behold, I have given you every plant yielding seed that is on the face of all the earth, and every tree with seed in its fruit. tYou shall have them for food. 30 And uto every beast of the earth and to every bird of the heavens and to everything that creeps on the earth, everything that has the breath of life, I have given every green plant for food.” And it was so. 31 vAnd God saw everything that he had made, and behold, it was very good. And there was evening and there was morning, the sixth day.

Humans are the most important creature that God created.

How can we take care of our own bodies and be good stewards of the bodies God gave us?
·         Eat healthy: avoid sugar and candy, artificial colors and flavors, eat plenty of fruits and vegetables
·         Exercise and get plenty of time outdoors
·         Get plenty of sleep and rest
·         Take vitamins and supplements
·         Don’t overuse medicine but instead use natural health remedies
·         Use natural non-toxic toiletries

How does taking care of creation also take care of humans?
·         Humans need fresh air to breath
·         We need clean water to drink
·         Humans needs healthy meat and dairy products to eat
·         Humans need vegetables and fruit to eat that are free of chemicals
·         Humans need for everyone to take care of creation so that the earth is still a beautiful place for generations to come.



Main resource used for this creation care devotional: Seven Days to Care for God’s World by Dean and Donna Erickson


Bible Verses/ Passages on creation and creation care:

Nehemiah 9:6,  Job 26:7-9, 11-14,  Psalm 104,  John 1:3,  Colossians 1:15-16,  Hebrews 1:2,  Deuteronomy 10:14, 1 Chronicles 29:11,  Job 41:1, Psalm 24:1-2, 89:11, 95:3-5,
Psalm 33:5-6, 145: 9, 13, 17, Genesis 1:31,
Job 12:10, Psalm 65:9-13, Psalm 104:10-14, Colossians 1:17, Hebrews 1:3
Romans 8:19-21
Genesis 9:9-10, Hosea 2:18, Genesis 6:19, Exodus 23:12, Matthew 10:29,  Proverbs 12:10
Genesis 2:15, Leviticus 22:2-5, 26, 3-4,
Job 12:7-10, Psalm 19:1-4, 97:6, Romans 1:20
Psalm 96:11-13, Psalm 148:1-6, 7-10, Isaiah 55:12


For a plethora of resources on creation care see: www.pinterest.com/chalbond/creation-care/