Editor’s note: Louie Giglio’s popular devotional for kids, Indescribable, about God and science is so fascinating that adults are buying it for themselves! Packed with scripture and fantastic data about everything from seahorses to stars to the depth of the ocean, this devotional is a page-turner. And now, you can pick up the Indescribable boxed set! Enjoy this excerpt and share with a young friend.
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Let the rivers clap their hands. Let the mountains sing together for joy. — Psalm 98:8
Once, as Jesus traveled to Jerusalem, a crowd of people gathered around Him and began shouting out praises for all the miracles they had seen Him do. But the Pharisees didn’t like this, and they wanted Jesus to tell the people to be quiet. But Jesus said,
I tell you... if they keep quiet, the stones will cry out. — Luke 19:40 NIV
Jesus can make even the rocks and stones sing His praises — and that seems to be exactly what’s happening just a few miles outside of Butte, Montana, where an unusual rock formation has people listening to the songs of the “Ringing Rocks.” When someone strikes these special rocks with a hammer, the rocks ring like a bell. The shape of the rocks, their size, and how they are stacked cause each rock to produce a different sound.
Scientists aren’t sure exactly why these rocks ring. They think perhaps it’s because the rocks have iron in them. But Christians know the real reason:
the rocks ring because God created them to ring.
The Bible tells us in Psalm 19:1 that
the heavens tell the glory of God. And the skies announce what His hands have made
— and so do the animals, the trees, the oceans, and every single thing God has created. They all declare God is awesome and He is our Creator. Even the rocks ring out with His praises!
Lord, I cannot even count all the things I should praise You for — but I want to try! Help me remember to ring out Your praises every day.
Be Amazed
A similar field of “Ringing Rocks” lies in Pennsylvania. In June of 1890, Dr. John J. Ott gathered enough of the special rocks (each rock weighing some 200 pounds) and arranged them according to their musical sounds. He then played a concert — a real rock concert — by hitting the stones with a steel hammer.
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Dinosaur Rock
Love each other. You must love each other as I have loved you. All people will know that you are My followers if you love each other. — John 13:34–35
Not all rocks are just rocks. Some are actually fossils — rocks with the imprints of ancient animals or plants left in them. You see, when an animal dies, its body quickly decays and disappears most of the time. But if an animal dies in a watery area, its body might sink into mud, or be quickly covered with muddy soil. When this happens, the soft parts of the animal’s body — like its skin or internal organs — decompose, but the hard parts — like teeth and bones — are preserved. Over a long period of time, sedimentary rocks form around these animal remains, thereby forming fossils. (Sedimentary rocks form when small bits of rocks, shells, or bones cement together.) Plants, animal footprints, burrows, and even poop can all become fossils!
Scientists called paleontologists study fossils and are able to learn a lot about ancient plants and animals by studying what they’ve left behind in the rocks.
Without fossils, we wouldn’t even know dinosaurs existed!
Did you know that you also leave fossils — or at least impressions — behind wherever you go? Okay, so they’re not really rocks. Instead, you leave impressions on people’s hearts by what you do and say, and the way you make people feel. Jesus said you’d be able to tell which people belong to Him by the love and kindness they show to others. So do you make people feel good when they’re around you? Or do they run from you as if you were a Tyrannosaurus rex? Just as scientists learn about dinosaurs from the fossil impressions they leave behind, people learn about Jesus from the impressions His people leave behind. Make sure your “fossils” are ones the Rock — that’s Jesus — would be proud of!
Be Amazed
Imagine an animal about the size of a squirrel with a big, soft, bushy tail. Now imagine it with big eyes and a longer snout — and fangs! That’s exactly what scientists think they’ve found in some fossils collected in Argentina, and they’re calling this extinct creature the saber-toothed squirrel.
Lord, teach me to love others as You have loved me. Let the “fossil impressions” I leave behind be ones that make people want to learn more about You.
Excerpted with permission from Indescribable box set by Louie Giglio, copyright Louie Giglio.
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Your Turn
Even the rocks rejoice! Let’s join all creation in praising Jesus today. He’s so worthy of our worship! Share today’s devotion with your kids or young friends. ~ Devotionals Daily
