Verse: Various
Fun Fact: Yellowstone was the first established national park!
Favorite Hike: Grand Prismatic Spring
Yellowstone National Park was our nation’s first national park established in 1872. In 1806, John Colter came across Yellowstone while trapping furs on his return from the Lewis and Clark expedition. Yellowstone stories and legends later inspired Ferdinand Hayden, the head of the U.S. Geological and Geographical Survey of the Territories, to plan an expedition in 1871. Hayden returned from his trip and advocated for the protection of the amazing area. The following year it was signed into law by Ulysses S. Grant.
Yellowstone primarily protects the hydrothermal areas that contain about half the world's active geysers! There are over 10,000 different hydrothermal features within the park.
One of the most popular is Grand Prismatic Spring. The spring waters come from a crack more than 120 feet deep, making it the 3rd largest spring in the world! The spring is a mix of bright orange, yellow and blue colors, largely due to the heat-loving bacteria that live along the edges of the water. Another is Mammoth Hot Springs in the northern part of the park, which some say looks like an inside-out cave.
And of course, we can’t forget about the most popular: Old Faithful. Old Faithful is one of nearly 500 geysers in Yellowstone. It is usually uncommon to be able to predict when geysers will erupt, but Old Faithful has been relatively consistent; the time between eruptions has only lengthened by about 30 minutes in the last 30 years, living up to his name. The average interval between eruptions of Old Faithful changes; as of August 2017, the interval was about 94 minutes +/- 10 minutes, with intervals ranging from 51 to 120 minutes. The eruptions last between 2-5 minutes, reaching heights of more than 180 feet. You can check with the National Park Service for eruption times.
Scientists agree that thermal features are always changing, and it is possible that Old Faithful may stop erupting someday. How comforting is it that our Lord is unchanging; His faithfulness will never end.
We see this encouragement throughout the Bible, so much so that it’s hard to pick one verse to focus on. As you visit Yellowstone, mediate on the following verses:
Lamentations 3:22-23 The steadfast love of the LORD never ceases; his mercies never come to an end; they are new every morning; great is your faithfulness.
Hebrews 10:23 Let us hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering, for he who promised is faithful.
1 Corinthians 1:9 God is faithful, by whom you were called into the fellowship of his Son, Jesus Christ our Lord.
Psalms 119:90 Your faithfulness endures to all generations; you have established the earth, and it stands fast.
1 John 1:9 If we confess our sins, He is faithful and righteous to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.
2 Timothy 2:13 If we are faithless, He remains faithful, for He cannot deny Himself.
2 Thessalonians 3:3 But the Lord is faithful, and He will strengthen and protect you from the evil one.
Deuteronomy 7:9 Know therefore that the Lord your God, He is God, the faithful God, who keeps His covenant and His lovingkindness to a thousandth generation with those who love Him and keep His commandments.
Psalm 36:5 Your lovingkindness, O Lord, extends to the heavens, Your faithfulness reaches to the skies.
I pray as you visit Yellowstone, you are reminded of the unchanging, ever-faithful nature of the Lord. May you find peace, hope and encouragement in that truth.
A thousand Yellowstone wonders are calling. Look up and down and round about you. — John Muir
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