Arizona Journeys

Hello, fellow blog-readers! I know I haven't written in a while, especially about this trip my family and I took in February! So, today, I will give you some details of what we did on our trip.

Our days in Arizona were jam-packed, but I wouldn't wanted it any other way! From college visits to science centers, we had a blast doing a variety of activities in Arizona! One of the main reasons we went out west was to visit churches, individuals, and addiction programs all across the nation. My dad had connections in Arizona, New Mexico, and Oklahoma. It was fun to meet so many people from across the nation on this trip alone! Plus, I had never been to the Southwestern states before. 🙂

Take a peak at a few snippets of our week:

Spotted at Grand Canyon University

THURSDAY. We took a college visit to Grand Canyon University, which was fascinating! 

Michael and Dad, playing the Brain Game
at the science center.

FRIDAY. Fun for the whole family, the Arizona Science Center had engaging games for your mind to be active while learning a thing or two. All of us enjoyed our time there.

Red Rock Park, Sedona, Arizona

SATURDAY. On our way to the Grand Canyon, we drove through Red Rock Park in Sedona, AZ. It was incredible. I definitely recommend for everyone to go there. You look all round and there are some massive red rocks and pretty mountains ... It's nothing like I've ever seen before.

With a view like this, how could you NOT take a picture by this?

SUNDAY. Grand Canyon. Simply breath-taking. My first verbal reaction was "wow." I couldn't think of another word to describe it. Just beautiful. And to think, I know the God who made all of this. I know, love, and serve the God who spoke this beauty into being.
It was simply a worship-filled moment just driving through the Grand Canyon National Park.

Well, our trip is only just beginning, and we've already seen Red Rock Park, the Grand Canyon, and visited G.C.U..
How could it get any better?

Stay tuned because it does...in new states like New Mexico and Oklahoma!

Part 11: Snow Pictures + Winner Revealed!

The final part to "God's Amazing Creation" series is here!

The heavens declare the glory of God, &

the sky above proclaims His handiwork. 

~Psalm 19:1

King David, the writer of Psalm 19, simply summed up God's creation in a great way! 

God's glory is evident here!

Snowy Trees

Spectacular Display of Sunlight

Ladies and gentlemen, this is the moment we've all been waiting for! The winner of the "You Name It!" competition being revealed!

And the winner is ....

Mary Shaw!
 

Congratulations to Mary Shaw for winning the "You Name It!" competition!

 

She suggested, "I'm just gonna catch a little bitty nap while I can before the crowds arrive." as a caption for this picture:

 

She suggested, "How many preschool field trips do you think we will see today?" as a caption to this picture:

Thanks for competing, readers!! I enjoyed reading your suggestions!! :)

 

Part 10: Animal Pictures + You Name It!

You're probably wondering what "You Name It!" means! Well, it just means you'll comment your caption for the animals in these pictures!! :) Winner will be revealed in Part 11! Exciting, isn't it? 

Picture #1: You Name It!

Picture #2: You Name It!

Have fun naming these pictures!

Coming up next: Part 11: Snow Pictures + Winner Revealed!

Part 8: Sky Pictures + Bible Trivia Question

Hasn't this series of "God's Amazing Creation" been wonderful? Let's continue the series with fun, interactive ways to apply what we've been learning from Genesis 1-2.

Comment Your Answer to the Bible Trivia Question:
Which day of creation did God make the sky?
Answer will be revealed in Part 9.

Coming Up Next: Part 9: Flower Pictures + Bible Trivia Answer

Part 7: A Day of Rest (Genesis 2:1-3)

Thus the heavens and the earth were finished, and all the host of them. 2 And on the seventh day God finished His work that He had done, and He rested on the seventh day from all His work that He had done. 3 So God blessed the seventh day and made it holy, because on it God rested from all His work that He had done in creation. ~Genesis 2:1-3

God has finished creating plants, animals, and humans, and now He rests from all His work on Day 7. 

In Bible times, church was on Saturday (the seventh day), in honor of Genesis 2:1-3 and in obedience to God.

Today, however, we have church on Sunday. Hmmmm, why did it change? Well, I'm glad you asked! We rest on Sunday because we remember what Jesus did on the cross. He died there in our place.

Have this mind among yourselves, which is yours in Christ Jesus, 6 who, though he was in the form of God, did not count equality with God a thing to be grasped, 7 but emptied himself, by taking the form of a servant, being born in the likeness of men. 8 And being found in human form, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross. ~Philippians 2:5-8

Rachel's Reflections & Applications: 

• Rest from all your work on Sunday, and remember Jesus' work on the cross, salvation and forgiveness of sins.
• Memorize Philippians 2:5-8. (verses are above in bold)

~ Stay Tuned for Next Part of God's Amazing Creation Series ~ 

~ Part 8: Sky Pictures + Bible Trivia Question ~

Part 6: Humans Are Created (Genesis 1:24-31)

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. 26 Then God said, “Let us make man in our image, after our likeness. And let 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; male and female He created them. 28 And God blessed them. And God said to them, “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. You shall have them for food. 30 And to 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 And God saw everything that He had made, and behold, it was very good. And there was evening and there was morning, the sixth day. ~Genesis 1:24-31

Living creatures have been created, and they reproduce according to their kind. God saw that it was good because sin hadn't entered the world yet; it was a perfect world. Notice that verse 26 has the word "our" in it. Who is it? Well, God is 3 persons (also called the Trinity). God is the Father, the Son (Jesus), and the Holy Spirit. They are three distinct Persons, but they are all God. The Trinity each have different roles; Jesus is our Mediator, God is our Creator, and the Holy Spirit convicts us of sin.

Are humans different from animals? In what ways?

~~in His image -- God created man in His image; He didn't make animals in His image. 

~~soul -- Humans have a soul that will last forever - either in heaven with Jesus, or in hell.

~~dominion -- Because God gave us dominion, we now have dominion over animals. However, we must be wise stewards of them.

27 So God created man in His own image, in the image of God He created him; male and female He created them. 28 And God blessed them. And God said to them, “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.” ~Genesis 1:27-28

Rachel's Reflections & Applications:

• Do you know where your soul will go in eternity? If you have questions about this, ask me in the comment section below.
• Give thanks to God for the amazing roles the Trinity fulfills: Jesus is our Mediator, God is our Creator, and the Holy Spirit convicts us of sin.

Part 5: Living Creatures (Genesis 1:20-23)

20 And God said, “Let the waters swarm with swarms of living creatures, and let birds fly above the earth across the expanse of the heavens.” 21 So God 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, “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. ~Genesis 1:20-23

A new day dawns, and then God makes the animals! Exciting, isn't it? Turtles, starfish, birds, and other animals have been created and God saw that it was good! Then, what gets even more amazing is that God blesses these animals! 

Rachel's Reflections & Applications:

• When you study animals in school, be fascinated at how detailed and purposeful God made the animals!
• Pick your favorite verse -- Genesis 1:20, Genesis 1:21, Genesis 1:22, or Genesis 1:23! Comment below & tell me! I'd love to know! :)

Part 4: Sun, Moon, & Stars (Genesis 1:14-19)

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 signs and for seasons, 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 made 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 rule 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. ~Genesis 1:14-19

On Day 4, our amazing God creates the sun, moon, and stars. Notice that God explains why He made each thing that He created. The sun's purpose is to rule the day and give light on the earth. So also, we should give the LIGHT of the Gospel to others. The moon's purpose is to rule the night.

Rachel's Reflections & Applications:

• Look at the stars and ponder what God has created. Admire how intricately He designed it.
• Share the Gospel of Jesus Christ with your friends and family. Tell them of Jesus' death, burial, and resurrection that was done for us!

For I delivered to you as of first importance what I also received: that Christ died for our sins in accordance with the Scriptures, that he was buried, that he was raised on the third day in accordance with the Scriptures. ~1 Corinthians 15:3-4

Part 3: Earth & Sea (Genesis 1:9-13)

9 And God said, “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, and the waters that were gathered together he called Seas. And God saw that it was good. 11 And God said, “Let the earth sprout vegetation, plants 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. ~~Genesis 1:9-13

Today's passage creates a vivid picture in our minds of what God created on Day 3. Not only did God create the earth and seas, but He also made the trees and its fruit.

Rachel's Reflections & Applications:

~~As you eat and enjoy the fruit that God provides for you, praise your Creator for making it so beautifully and tasty. :)

~~Make a list of all the names of the trees that you've seen. Next, draw a picture of each of those trees.

~~Comment below: and tell me all of the things that God created on Day 3. Don't forget to include trees & its fruit, land, and seas! (Hint: use the verses above in italics!)

Part 2: Creating An Expanse (Genesis 1:6-8)

Days of Creation

6 And God said, “Let there be an expanse in the midst of the waters, and let it separate the waters from the waters.” 7 And God made the expanse and separated the waters that were under the expanse from the waters that were above the expanse. And it was so. 8 And God called the expanse Heaven. And there was evening and there was morning, the second day. ~~Genesis 1:6-8

We see in this passage that God created a layer of water above the earth. And, we can learn that God separated the "waters above" (the heavens) from the "waters below" (that surrounds the earth).

Rachel's Reflections & Applications:

• When it rains at your house, be thankful for it because God is watering the plants so that you don't have to! :)
• Draw your own diagram of the Days of Creation! Answers in Genesis, a ministry about the biblical account of creation, has a tutorial of how to draw your own! Click here to read the first few steps of how to draw the Days of Creation! Click here to read the last few steps!

Part 1: Day & Night (Genesis 1:3-5)

Mobile Bay Sunrise

3 And God said, “Let there be light,” and there was light. 4 And God saw that the light was good. And God separated the light from the darkness. 5 God called the light Day, and the darkness he called Night. And there was evening and there was morning, the first day. ~~Genesis 1:3-5

Because God is all-powerful, God can speak anything into existence. And we see in verse 3 that our gracious God spoke light into existence (Day 1)! And do you know what day God created the sun? It wasn't Day 1, it was Day 4. In verse 4, God looked back at His creation and it was good! Then, He divided the light from the darkness. So, light & darkness were together at one point! Wow, this "God's Amazing Creation" series is AMAZING!

Lafayette, Indiana Sunrise

Rachel's Reflections & Applications:
~~Honor Christ throughout the day. Don't forget that He's the Creator of yesterday, today, and forever!

~~As you admire the sunrise or sunset, remember that God is the One who created it.