He’s 10 years old. He’s staying with us for the next 5 days. He’s already been with us for 2 and ½ days. He’s our grandson. That puts him in a special group: much loved grandsons. He gobbles his grandmother’s cookies; and remembers to say please and thank you. His creative questions, bright smile and cheerful personality bring smiles to his grandparents faces.

He likes to go fishing. You have children who like to fish. You may never have gone fishing with your children. Perhaps this blog article will encourage you to take one of your children fishing. But this Big Screen Family post is not about fishing how to, it is about seeing God’s power and divine nature while outside. Fishing provides an opportunity to get your son or daughter and you to the place where God’s invisible qualities can be seen.  

We went fishing today. Fishing is a chance for you and your son or daughter-or both to do another thing: “power checks.” Our grand son laughed when I used “power checks” in a story, I told him last night. Today I explained them more. We did power checks while we fished. Power checks are intentional ways to get everyone in the family “looking for the power and divine nature of God. Here’s the explanation…

The idea for “power checks” comes from the Bible. Romans 1:20 is the key verse. It reads: “For since the creation of the world God’s invisible qualities—his eternal power and divine nature—have been clearly seen, being understood from what has been made, so that people are without excuse.” Power checks are when we take time to look at the world around us specifically to see God’s power and divinity. The earth, sky, all of nature display the attributes of God. They are about checking on the power of God by using creation. It really is possible. It also brings a serious blessing to your family when you do them…seeing the “hand” of God in creation is stimulating. Once you start, more is always better.

Much of the time we are too busy to pay attention.

My grandson and I can demonstrate for you what a power check might look like for people going fishing. I asked him questions…his answers reveal how he sees the eternal power and divine nature of God. These are power checks. Here we go…

Q: How do we see the power of God while digging earthworms for bait?

A: “We see His power in an earthworm that can be split in 4 pieces and still live. We see power in how He keeps the soil always wet. Earthworms don’t have eyes, but they still know where they are going.”

Q: Look out the pickup window, tell me how you can see the power and divine nature of God.

A: “His power is in the trees that give usair. The green color of the leaves. Grass that doesn’t die, even in winter and when snow covers it. The tall pines trees that smell very, very good, it’s my favorite scent. God can give things scents, they are not food, but they smell good.”

Q: On the water…Can you see God’s eternal power and divine nature out here on water?

A: “God gave Loons oil for their feathers so they can keep them from getting wet, that’s power. The wind gives us a breeze and even on a super-hot day you can be cool so you don’t want to go back into your house. Wind is even better than air freshener. Lake weeds can be put in sushi…did you know that?”

Q: About fish…Can you see God’s eternal power and divine nature in fish?

A: “The gills show His power because instead of breathing air, fish swallow water and get oxygen through their gills. And how He gave them scales, when you look closely, they have color in the sun like a rainbow. It is always fun to kiss the first fish you catch. It is cool how even tiny fish have such incredible strength. God gives them power.”

Last question: Tell me about water, God made water.

A: “Water isn’t really wet; it makes other things wet though. Water is fun to swim in and go tubing on. And water gives fish what they need to survive and swim in. So that’s how great God is!”

Try “power checks” with your family. Look for God’s power and divine nature while outside. In the places you go, and from the things you see in nature-turn the experience into questions about God’s power in what you see. Look for things which show the divine-God nature of God. It takes a little doing; we are not in the habit of “looking” for the power and divine nature of God.

Finding the power of God and His divine nature in creation is not hard. Power checks provide us with the reason to look for them. Do you believe God would make it difficult for us to see His attributes?

Just my opinion, but you cannot begin teaching your children to do “power checks” too soon.