Join Master Naturalist, Bible teacher and author Eryn Lynum as we explore God's Word and his created world!
What can a bird's migration teach us about God's guidance in our life? How can counting tree rings help us understand our life story? How can a milkweed plant help us cut off toxic thoughts and think about everything lovely and true?
God's wild wonderful world is full of amazing life lessons. As we get outs ...
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Have you ever been near a wildfire? Today my family is sharing what it was like living through the largest wildfire in Colorado’s written history. We’re also discovering how wildfire can be helpful and what important jobs it has in nature.Here’s our trail map:What is it like to live through a wildfire?Can anything good come from a wildfire?How is a tree born from wildfire?How can we grow through hard times?Resources Mentioned or Used in Research:Access full Episode Activity Guides by joining the Nat Theo Club: https://www.patreon.com/NatTheoClubGet Eryn's new book, Rooted in Wonder: Nurturing Your Family's Faith Through God's Creation: https://www.amazon.com/Rooted-Wonder-Nurturing-Familys-Creation/dp/0825447615Free Coloring Sheet for This Episode: https://erynlynum.com/nattheo19Scriptures Referenced in This Episode:“Have you ever gone into the storehouse of the snow or seen the storehouses for hail, which I save for times of trouble…” Job 38:22-23“Jesus answered, ‘Why are you afraid? You don’t have enough faith.’ Then Jesus got up and gave a command to the wind and the waves, and it became completely calm. The men were amazed and said, ‘What kind of man is this? Even the wind and the waves obey him!’” Matthew 8:26-27“We also have joy with our troubles, because we know that these troubles produce patience. And patience produces character, and character produces hope. And this hope will never disappoint us, because God has poured out his love to fill our hearts. He gave us his love through the Holy Spirit, whom God has given to us.” Romans 5:3-5“The LORD himself will go before you. He will be with you; he will not leave you or forget you. Don’t be afraid and don’t worry.” Deuteronomy 31:8“When you pass through the waters, I will be with you. When you cross rivers, you will not drown. When you walk through fire, you will not be burned, nor will the flames hurt you. This is because I, the Lord, am your God, the Holy One of Israel, your Savior…” Isaiah 43:2-3“And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose.” Romans 8:28Terms Learned in This Episode:Pyrocumulus Clouds: A towering cloud caused by a massive fire that can make its own weather.Evacuate: to move yourself away from a dangerous situation or place.Restore: To bring something back to its original condition, like a fresh start.Serotinous: In most serotinous species, a seed requires high temperature like wildfire to open or be released.Faithful: Completely trustworthy. Can be counted on.Discover more Bible and nature lessons at Erynlynum.com
Let's explore the fascinating world of invisible living creatures. That’s right—invisible! Not because they have super powers or an invisibility cloak, but because they are so tiny we cannot see them with our eyes. We're exploring:What is a microscope and how was it invented?How were the tiny, invisible creatures called bacteria discovered?What important jobs do bacteria have?Why do bad bacteria that cause diseases exist?What can bad bacteria teach us about God’s good grace?Resources Mentioned or Used in Research:Get Eryn's new book, Rooted in Wonder: Nurturing Your Family's Faith Through God's Creation: https://www.amazon.com/Rooted-Wonder-Nurturing-Familys-Creation/dp/0825447615Free Coloring Sheet for This Episode: https://erynlynum.com/nattheo18Access full Episode Activity Guides by joining the Nat Theo Club: https://www.patreon.com/NatTheoClubThank you to Institute for Creation Research (ICR) for their episode on bacteria: https://youtu.be/7az1YsbkJBk?si=3PzS9J68LERU4ZMqScientific study on microbes on a grain of sand: https://www.mpg.de/11830658/sand-bacteriaScriptures Referenced in this Episode:“O Lord, what a variety of things you have made! In wisdom you have made them all. The earth is full of your creatures.” Psalm 104:24“God looked at everything he had made, and it was very good.” Genesis 1:31“I will put a curse on the ground, and you will have to work very hard for your food. In pain you will eat its food all the days of your life. The ground will produce thorns and weeds for you” Genesis 3:17-18“Everyone has sinned and fallen short of God’s glorious standard, and all need to be made right with God by his grace, which is a free gift. They need to be made free from sin through Jesus Christ.” Romans 3:23-24“You have been saved by grace through believing. You did not save yourselves; it was a gift from God.” Ephesians 2:8“God, your thoughts are precious to me. They are so many! If I could count them, they would be more than all the grains of sand…” Psalm 139:17-18“If you declare with your mouth, ‘Jesus is Lord,’ and if you believe in your heart that God raised Jesus from the dead, you will be saved. We believe with our hearts, and so we are made right with God. And we declare with our mouths that we believe, and so we are saved.” Romans 10:9-10Terms Learned in this Episode:Microscopic: Too small to see with only your eyes, you need a microscope to see it.Microscope: A tool used in science to magnify tiny objects and see them closer and larger.Bacteria: A type of microbe (living thing that can only be seen through a microscope).Fermentation: A process in which living bacteria (and other microbes) break down ingredients and turn a food or drink into something new.Pathogenic Bacteria: Microbes that cause illnesses or diseases. These are what we call Germs.Grace: When God gives us good things that we cannot work for and do not deserve.
Have you ever seen a snake wearing glasses? Did you know dragonflies have around 60,000 eyes? We're exploring the fascinating ways creatures see the world and answering these questions:How many eyes do insects have?Do snakes wear glasses?How do chameleons move their eyes in two different directions?How can we protect our eyes to see everything good, beautiful, and true?Resources Mentioned in this Episode:Get Eryn's new book, Rooted in Wonder: Nurturing Your Family's Faith Through God's Creation: https://www.amazon.com/Rooted-Wonder-Nurturing-Familys-Creation/dp/0825447615Free Coloring Sheet for This Episode: https://erynlynum.com/nattheo17Access full Episode Activity Guides by joining the Nat Theo Club: https://www.patreon.com/NatTheoClubChameleon Eye Research in Israel: https://www.voanews.com/a/scientists-solve-mystery-of-chameleon-eyes/3026868.htmlScriptures Used in This Episode:“The eye is a light for the body. If your eyes are good, your whole body will be full of light. But if your eyes are evil, your whole body will be full of darkness…” Matthew 6:22-23“Keep me from looking at worthless things. Let me live by your word.” Psalm 119:37“Keep your eyes focused on what is right, and look straight ahead to what is good.” Proverbs 4:25Terms Learned in This Episode:Complex: Opposite of simple. Consisting of many different and connected parts.Compound: Something made up of two or more parts, elements, or ingredients.Compound Eye: A larger eye made up of many tiny lenses, like tiny individual eyes.Peripheral Vision: What we can see to the left, right, up, or down without moving our heads.Facets or Ommatidia: The tiny lenses in a compound eye that act as light receptors and send information to the brain.Eye Caps or Spectacles: Special clear scales over a snake’s eyes that protect and keep their eyes clean.Sensory Receptor: Nerve ending that take in what is happening around us and helps send that information to our brains.Discover more nature lessons rooted in the Bible at Erynlynum.com
Have you ever seen a ladybug wearing a sweater? How about a bee wearing a scarf or a spider wearing snow boots? Insects might not have a winter wardrobe, but God designed them to brave the cold in very creative ways! We're exploring:Why did God make seasons?How do insects survive cold months?How can we live and do well in hard times?How can we create a legacy for those who live after us?Resources Mentioned in this Episode:Get Eryn's new book, Rooted in Wonder: Nurturing Your Family's Faith Through God's Creation: https://www.amazon.com/Rooted-Wonder-Nurturing-Familys-Creation/dp/0825447615Free Coloring Sheet for This Episode: https://erynlynum.com/nattheo16Join the Nat Theo Club: https://www.patreon.com/NatTheoClubScriptures Used in This Episode:“As long as the earth continues, planting and harvest, cold and hot, summer and winter, day and night will not stop.” Genesis 8:22“He existed before anything else, and he holds all creation together.” Colossians 1:17“God is our refuge and strength, always ready to help in times of trouble.” Psalm 46:1“This I declare about the Lord: He alone is my refuge, my place of safety; he is my God, and I trust him.” Psalm 91:2“We also have joy with our troubles, because we know that these troubles produce patience. And patience produces character, and character produces hope. And this hope will never disappoint us, because God has poured out his love to fill our hearts…” Romans 5:3-5“He (God) will wipe away every tear from their eyes, and there will be no more death, sadness, crying, or pain, because all the old ways are gone.” Revelation 1:4Terms Learned in This Episode:Lifespan: The amount of time a certain species normally lives for.Diapause: When an insect goes dormant (stops growing or developing) to survive the cold. Similar to hibernation.Glycerol: A chemical compound some insects produce to keep their cells from freezing (same chemical used in antifreeze).Legacy: What we do in life that blesses and impacts people after our lives.Refuge: A safe place. A shelter.Discover more nature lessons rooted in the Bible at Erynlynum.com
When God created plants, He made them in a very different way than animals and humans. And so the ways trees make friends and communicate with each other look quite different than our friendships and the way we talk! On this episode, we're exploring:How are trees and plants different than animals and humans?Do trees have friends?How do trees communicate?Why is it important that we choose our friends carefully?Resources Mentioned:Join the Nat Theo Club & Get Full Episode Activity Guides!Download the free Tree Friends coloring sheet and the Tree Secrets DevotionalGet Eryn's new book, Rooted in Wonder: Nurturing Your Family's Faith Through God's CreationScriptures in Today's Episode:“Then God said, ‘Let the earth produce plants—some to make grain for seeds and others to make fruits with seeds in them. Every seed will produce more of its own kind of plant.’ And it happened. The earth produced plants with grain for seeds and trees that made fruits with seeds in them. Each seed grew its own kind of plant. God saw that all this was good.” Genesis 1:11-12“So encourage each other and give each other strength, just as you are doing now.” 1 Thessalonians 5:11“Two people are better than one, because they get more done by working together. If one falls down, the other can help him up. But it is bad for the person who is alone and falls, because no one is there to help.” Ecclesiastes 4:9-10Terms Learned in Today's Episode:Nephesh: Hebrew word meaning living creatures (animal and humans) with blood, spirit, and the breath of lifeTheology: The study of GodForester: Someone whose job is taking care of a forestMycelium: Underground network of fungi, like a web of life, that produces mushrooms.Tannin: Bitter chemical compound found in plantsDiscover more nature lessons rooted in the Bible at Erynlynum.comSources that helped with research for this episode:https://www.icr.org/article/are-plants-alive/The Hidden Life of Trees by Peter Wohllebenhttps://www.kariega.co.za/blog/do-giraffe-make-trees-talk-to-each-other