I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit in you; I will remove from you your heart of stone and give you a heart of flesh. Ezekiel 36:26 When we become a new creation in Christ, the desire of our hearts change. Pursuits we thought were fulfilling are replaced...

Every child God has gifted to this world should know how infinitely they're loved by their Creator.  The Bible in 52 Weeks for Kids will lead them to that knowledge. I pray this book reveals to every child's heart, the One who loves them with all of His. "God knit you...

We want the things in our lives to count—the careers we choose, the goals we pursue, and the causes we support. While we feel passionate about what is deemed important in this world, God wants us to remember that what matter to Him matters most. We don’t want to...

May the Lord bless and protect you; may the Lord's face radiate with joy because of you; may he be gracious to you, show you his favor, and give you his peace. Numbers 6:24-26 There are so many blessings for us in this prayer from Numbers chapter 6. Protection, mercy,...

The power we have for doing God's will has nothing to do with our personal strengths and weaknesses. The more aware we are that we're helpless without Him, the more likely we are to live a life that glorifies Him. Our success isn't performance-driven; it's based on...

MERCY O beautiful for heroes proved, in liberating strife, Who more than self their country loved, and mercy more than life!, America! America!, May God thy gold refine, Till all success, be nobleness, and every gain divine.  -"AMERICA THE BEAUTIFUL," THIRD VERSE,...

For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us. Romans 8:18 Think about the hardships you’ve experienced but never expected, because we all have them in the course of this wonderful,...

A quiet spot, a soft chair, and a good nap. Sometimes the sweetest rest is stolen at unplanned times in the middle of a day when our heart is in turmoil and our mind is exhausted. Give yourself this luxury when you need it. God will let you know, through the body He...

This book was written for an 8-12-year-old audience, but I believe it can be a great introduction to the Bible for young teens who are beginning their journey of faith. "Love tells us to hope when things look impossible, to trust God when we're afraid, and to believe...

God is truly wonderful. His sending the Holy Spirit to us is a gift we can never take for granted. Having a Comforter in our corner at all times is no small thing in a world growing colder every day. We couldn't serve God with strength, confidence, or consistency...

This book transformed me in the writing process. Walking young people through the text of the Bible is a life-changing journey. I pray for everyone who buys the book and joins the adventure. God has put everything we need in His Word, and every word is for our...

“I do not believe that the Constitution was the offspring of inspiration, but I am as perfectly satisfied that the Union of States in its form and adoption is as much the work of a Divine Providence as any of the miracles recorded in the Old and New Testament were the...

Nothing will transform your heart like believing God loves you with all of His. Blessed is the Lord, for He has shown me that His never-failing love protects me. Psalm 31:21

A calm, cool spirit keeps the peace. Proverbs 15:18 Keeping our cool on days filled with schedule interruptions, tests of our patience, or pressures to worry about things we can’t change, is tough to do. Yet our inner-peace depends on it—the peace that passes...

  On October 6, 1935, President Franklin D. Roosevelt wrote this: "In the formative days of the Republic, the directing influence the Bible exercised upon the fathers of the Nation is conspicuously evident...We cannot read the history of our rise and development...

Annuit coeptis, meaning "God has favored our undertakings."  -INSCRIPTION ON THE U.S. CAPITOL BUILDING ABOVE THE SENATE EAST ENTRANCE When our congressional leaders walk into the U.S. Capitol, the words engraved on the building serve as a reminder, and in a sense,...

"Praise the power that hath made and preserv'd us as a nation!" To this little-known lyric of "The Star Spangled Banner," we offer a passionate Amen! The final verse of our national anthem then suggests this be our motto: "In God is our trust." Complete and unwavering...

The motivation for every decision, desire, or deed directed by the Holy Spirit is love. Jesus tells us that every commandment from God hangs on the first two: love God and love your neighbor. The guidance of the Holy Spirit will never deviate from the definition of...

Our first president, George Washington, was the first rose breeder in the United States. He hybridized a rose and named it after his mother, the ‘Mary Washington’ rose. It’s an old garden variety known for its large, fragrant blooms. The rose is one of the oldest...

It’s humbling to remember the way we were before surrendering to our ‘new nature’—and humility is a good thing. When the Holy Spirit moved in and brought the power of God with Him, our old nature was no longer welcome. If anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old...

You are the only hope…throughout the world and far away upon the sea. (Psalm 65:5) Hope. It sounds like a good place to unfold our chairs and rest our weary souls today—if only for a few beachlike moments! Hope, as with so many worthwhile things, takes some nurturing...

When we see the U.S. flag, it should not induce a feeling of indifference. It should inspire us to think about the magnitude of the price paid for our freedom, and the magnificent God who gave individuals the strength to afford it. Our flag flies still, against the...

    He thought of everything, provided for everything we could possibly need, letting us in on the plans He took such delight in making. Ephesians 1:9 MSG At some point in our lives, we realize our relationships are everything. Possessions are temporal, feelings are...

        Honoring God through prayer is the way our nation puts Him first. The seeds of prosperity are sown through hearts of humility, and as we surrender to God’s will, we secure a harvest of His goodness for generations to come. Having a reverence for God and...

Pray hard and long. Pray for your brothers and sisters. (Ephesians 6:17) When we’re praying for one another there’s no room for judgement, pointing fingers, or defending differences. Praying levels the playing field. We’re all submitting to God’s sovereignty, in the...

The remarkable and miraculous involvement of God in our fight for independence cannot be too gratefully acknowledged—even to this day. Our hearts should be no less sure of why we’re a free and blessed nation than our founders were at its dawn. As for God, His way is...

      Spending time in the presence of the Holy Spirit ushers in a sweet time of communion with our heavenly Father. It clears our mind and opens our heart to the voice of our Savior, who is the beginning of every good thing and the end of every fear and doubt. As the...

  Out of the generosity of Christ, each of us is given his own gift. (Ephesians 4:8) You are unique. You’re fearfully and wonderfully made, with a different set of traits than anyone else and a specific collection of gifts to use for God’s glory. No one else in the...

VISION “I am well aware of the Toil and Blood and Treasure, that it will cost Us to maintain this Declaration, and support and defend these States. —Yet through all the Gloom I can see the rays of ravishing Light and Glory. I can see that the End is more than worth...

Immense in mercy and with an incredible love, He embraced us.  (Ephesians 2:5) God gives hugs. He gives them through our people. He gives them in gorgeous sunrises and starlit nights. He gives them in unexpected kindnesses and unearned grace. God’s goodness toward us...

Jesus knew their thoughts and said to them, “Every kingdom divided against itself will be ruined….” Matthew 12:25 Jesus wasn’t talking about having differing opinions, different ideas, or disagreements. He was talking about good versus evil. He healed a man from the...

Every good and every perfect gift is from above, and comes down from the Father of lights. (James 1:17) God is faithful to put good things in all of our days. It’s up to us to notice them. Being carefree is a great eye-opener. We can’t have a mind filled with anxious...

"Love is the one thing that will benefit the good of every person and every hope our nation aspires to. We cannot hate and hope to survive." (from GOD BLESS AMERICA, Scriptures, Devotions, and Prayers for Our Nation)

Be careful how you act; these are difficult days. (Ephesians 5:15, TLB) These are difficult days. The suffering and trials on a worldwide scope compel us to pray without stopping and might, if we’re not careful, tempt us to change the course of what God has called us...

James Madison vowed to place his confidence in God under every difficulty. He gave honor to "that Almighty Being whose power regulates the destiny of nations." With these words, President Madison issued a blessing on the rising Republic which had seen the conspicuous...

And with the support of this Declaration, with a firm reliance on the protection of divine Providence we mutually pledge to each other our Lives, our Fortunes, and our sacred Honor. -Conclusion of the Declaration Of Independence, July 4, 1776 There could be no wider...

“We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty, and the Pursuit of Happiness.” -U.S. Declaration of Independence Jesus gave His life...

Americans are generous and kindhearted people, a people who strive to strengthen and preserve those delicate bonds of affection that unite the human family and give safe harbor to all its members. -Ronald Reagan, fortieth U.S. President, 1989 My book, God Bless...

The tallest structure in our nation’s capital, built by man and pointing to heaven, is inscribed Laus Deo, words that encapsulate the reason our nation exists: Praise be to God. These words face the rising sun. From the Pilgrims’ arrival in 1620 to the vastness of our...

Meditate on this for a moment today: Christ has entered into heaven itself to appear now before God as our Friend (Hebrews 9:24). It’s nearly breathtaking to believe this. We, who have done nothing to deserve His love, are befriended by the Savior of the world. And He...

When I think of the wisdom and scope of His plan, I fall down on my knees and pray. Ephesians 3:14 Precious Lord, take my hand; Lead my on, Let me stand; I am tired, I am weak, I am worn—a lyric written by Thomas A. Dorsey in 1932, as relevant today as it has ever...

A sweet book focusing on the celebration of our risen Savior! For little hearts filled with big purpose by the God who gave us the way, truth, and life. Jesus answered, "I am the way. And I am the truth and life. The only way to the Father is through me." John 14:6...

LIBERTY “God who gave us life gave us liberty. And can the liberties of a nation be thought secure when we have removed their only firm basis, a conviction in the minds of people that these liberties are the gift of God? That they are not to be violated without His...

GRACE-MINDED A peaceful heart leads to a healthy body. Proverbs 14:30 God isn’t concerned about a portion of our well-being, He cares about all of it. He’s a God of wholeness and healing. He knows the world we live in is a stressful place and the peace He gives is the...

It's an astounding privilege to be chosen to join God's work on earth. To be given the Holy Spirit as a guide is equally humbling. If we wake up every day in a manner of praise for all God has done, we open our hearts to doing all that can be done—for the glory of our...

When the light of a new day washed over Fort McHenry on the morning of September 14, 1814, the stars and stripes became the symbol of an infant nation in the hands of an eternal God. Francis Scott Key felt compelled to capture the emotion he felt when he witnessed the...

God writes the beginning, middle, and end of our life’s story. The Holy Spirit stands ready to help us live a life marked by trusting God and laying aside anything outside of His will. When we look to our Savior and the way He walked through this world, we see clearly...

WHO ELSE? Who else has held the oceans in His hands? Isaiah 40:12 Who else holds the pages of your life in His hands? Who else holds the hope of your days in His hands? Who else holds you, and everything you need, in His hands? The magnitude and fullness of God is...

Where we are in our life, what we’re doing, and who we’re affecting, is a valuable part of our journey. The Holy Spirit, our constant companion, sees our life from every perspective. Most importantly, from God’s point of view. Even though we don’t make all the right...

The Bible tells me over and over again to praise the Lord, never mind what’s happening. —Elisabeth Elliot It’s challenging to praise and never mind what’s happening when we’re going through tests and trials of every kind. But that’s when God develops the harmony. He’s...