did you know - Grasshopper Mice!

Living from southern Canada, through the desert of Southwest United States and into Mexico is a very amazing,   “mighty”, mouse – the Grasshopper Mouse. These mice remind me of Nehemiah 9:6 – You are the Lord, You alone. You have made heaven, the earth and all that is on it; and You preserve all of them. 

God made everything on Earth, including Grasshopper Mice so let’s see what we are able to learn about them . . .

·  When you think about animals which are ferocious predators, you typically do not picture tiny mice . . . but after reading this, you will!

did you know - Helmeted Hornbills!

In a small area of Thailand and Indonesia, you may discover a unique, odd-looking bird – the Helmeted Hornbill, and when I think about it, I remember Job 12:10 –

“In his hand is the life of every living thing.”

The Earth is full of the creatures God made; some of them are quite unexpected; like the Helmeted Hornbill. Let’s take a closer look at this bird . . .

did you know - Fairy Penguins!

Living along the southern coast of Australia, and the entire coasts of Tasmania, and New Zealand is a tiny penguin known as the Fairy Penguin. See what we learn about God’s creation in Genesis 1:20 –

And God said, “Let birds fly above the earth across the expanse of the heavens.” 

Let’s look at a unique birds God created which does not fly through the air, but does “fly” through the sea -

did you know - Psychedelic Frogfish

Found only in the waters around Bali and Ambon Island, Indonesia, is the Psychedelic Frogfish. They make me think of Genesis 1:20 – “And God said, “Let the waters swarm with swarms of living creatures.”

Let’s see how Psychedelic Frogfish show us they are one of the “living creatures” God put in the waters –

did you know - Hoatzin

Living exclusively in the Amazon basin is one of the oddest birds on Earth – the Hoatzin. This bird makes me think of Psalm 33:6 – By the word of the Lord the heavens were made, and by the breath of his mouth all their host.

Let’s take a closer look at the Hoatzin, which was made by God and learn how He designed it “just right” -

did you know - Peacock Mantis Shrimp

Peacock Mantis Shrimp are a surprising example of why we are able to believe God is real and the Bible is true as they show us how God designed it “just right”! Look at what Jeremiah 32:17 says – “Ah, Lord God! It is you who have made the heavens and the earth by your great power and by your outstretched arm! Nothing is too hard for you.”

Let’s see how the Peacock Mantis Shrimp show us nothing is too hard for God.

• Measuring at about seven inches long, a Peacock Mantis Shrimp is not tiny – at least for a shrimp!
• Not only are Peacock Mantis Shrimp “big”, but they are powerful as they are actually able to punch prey or predators with a punch which breaks glass and has the same velocity as a .22 caliber rifle! They have a special core in their clubs which works like a shock absorber – this keeps their clubs from breaking when they punch prey.
• They are quick, too, as their punch is 50 times faster than the blink of your eye and creates “cavitation bubbles” which generate light and heat for a split second almost as hot as the sun – 4,400 degrees Celsius! When the bubbles pop, they make a shockwave which kills their prey – if they missed with their punch.
• Peacock Mantis Shrimp’s eyes move independently; this lets them see in two directions at once, and they are able to see colors even you are not able to see as they have at least 12 types of photoreceptors – you have three in your eyes.
• They also are able to send polarized light messages to another Peacock Mantis Shrimp which only they are able to see.
• Male Peacock Mantis Shrimp are beautiful with their reds, golds, greens, and blues – female Peacock Mantis Shrimp are just red.
• Dad and mom Peacock Mantis Shrimp stay together for their lifetime – when a mom lays eggs, she carries them around with her front legs until they hatch to protect and care for the eggs.
• Peacock Mantis Shrimp move quickly – they move thirty times their own length per second – yes, per second!

What do you think is the most surprising thing about Peacock Mantis Shrimp?

Activity to make the Point & Have Fun!

God designed Peacock Mantis Shrimp to be absolutely amazing! So, to help you remember their amazing bubble-making ability, let’s make some bubbles of your own. While they will not be as hot as the sun, or make shockwaves when they pop, they will be fun! You will need . . .

• ·    ½ cup water
• ¼ cup Dawn dish soap
• 1/8 cup sugar, or corn syrup, or glycerin
• Straws
• Cups
• Knit gloves/mittens/socks and rubber gloves
• Plate

Directions – 1. Combine water, soap, and sugar 2. Mix gently 3. Put on a rubber glove 4. Use a straw to blow a bubble in your hand 5. Bounce it gently and see what happens 6. Switch gloves and try bouncing your bubble 7. Put a touch of water on a plate, and then pour just a bit of bubble solution onto your plate 8. Use straw to blow bubbles – try blowing a bubble inside a bubble – have fun!

While you are not able to make bubbles hot as the sun or which make shockwaves when they break, you are able to have fun blowing bubbles, bouncing bubbles, and experimenting with your bubbles.

God designed and created Peacock Mantis Shrimp with the ability to blow incredible bubbles! He designed them to be able to move super-fast, punch very powerful punches, and gave them “shock-absorbers” to protect them. Clearly God knew what He was doing when He designed these shrimp – and He had a lot of fun doing so!

As you enjoy your bubbles, talk about some of the amazing things God did when He designed you – do you enjoy music, art, sports, writing, science, telling jokes, dancing, laughing, serving others? God knew what He was doing when He designed you and He did an amazing job doing so!

Think About This . . .

“Many people today—both Christians and non-Christians—assume ‘creation’ and ‘evolution’ are contradictory beliefs: That a person either believes in a creator God, or they believe in a natural process like evolution. I understand this perspective because I once held it myself. I still believe God is the creator of all things, but my perspective on evolution has shifted. I now see evolution as simply a way of understanding God’s creation, through the lens of science.” – John Ortberg, senior pastor at Menlo Church, Master of Divinity and doctorate degree in clinical psychology from Fuller Seminary

You will learn more about Peacock Mantis Shrimp in my book, Giant Anteaters, Peacock Mantis Shrimp, Rufous Potoos and More, which you are able to buy at this link for the children you love.

did you know - Pygmy Hippos

Living in West Africa is an animal people outside of there didn’t even know existed until 1911 – the Pygmy Hippo. It makes me think of Jeremiah 27:5 - It is I who by my great power and my outstretched arm have made the earth, with the animals that are on the earth.

God absolutely knew what He was doing when He designed Pygmy Hippos as one of the animals which evolved on the Earth. Let’s learn what makes them so unique.