“In God WE Trust”

Hello Friends,

It’s hard to fathom that the next time we meet will be in March! Where did January and February go?? They either blew away in all the wind we have had recently or they melted under the early Spring-like temperatures God has graciously provided us. I guess it will have to remain a mystery for now (unless we call upon Scooby-Doo and his friends who ride around in the Mystery Machine).

Speaking of mysteries, did you know that there is a mysterious phrase written on our money? This past Monday, we found ourselves thinking about this mysterious phrase when we honored both past and present Presidents. Whether on paper money or on coins, the phrase “In God We Trust” appears on them. But before we talk about that, let’s see what kind of knowledge you have about Presidents….

Do you know how many Presidents have been featured on money? If you guessed seven, you’re right! Money now in circulation bears the images of seven U.S. presidents — George Washington on the $1 bill and quarter coin, Thomas Jefferson on the $2 bill and nickel, Abraham Lincoln on the $5 bill and penny, Andrew Jackson on the $20 bill and Ulysses S. Grant on the $50 bill. The nation’s first Treasury Secretary Alexander Hamilton appears on the $10 bill and statesman Benjamin Franklin is pictured on the $100 bill. Franklin D. Roosevelt is shown on the dime and John F. Kennedy’s image appears on the half dollar coin. And associated with these Presidents is the phrase “In God We Trust.”

“In God We Trust” (also rendered as “In God we trust“) is the official motto of the United States (as well as the motto for the state of Florida). It was adopted by the U.S. Congress in 1956, replacing the famous Latin phrase E pluribus unum (Out of many, one), which had bee the de facto motto since the initial design of the Great Seal of the United States. So since 1956, our nation has honored the phrase “In God We Trust” and we honor it so much that we are willing to put it next to the fearless and brave leaders we call Presidents. But did you know that this phrase is not just find on money? It actually comes from the Bible.

King Solomon, a man with great wisdom, offered his people with a proverb by which promises that if you submit to the Lord and trust in him with our whole heart, “In God We Trust,” then we will be put on the right path. King Solomon wrote, “Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways submit to him, and he will make your paths straight” (Proverbs 3:5-6). When we trust God with our whole heart, He will protect us, love us, strengthen us, help us, guide us, and make our paths straight. But we must be willing to say, “in God we trust.” If we can’t trust God, then we might find ourselves getting in a lot of trouble….and we certainly don’t want that. So even though “In God We Trust” appears on money and is associated with our Presidents, it is actually something that we strive to do every day as we pray to have God in our heart.

Before you go to bed, I encourage you to simply pray, “God, I trust you. And I invite you into my heart today.” “In God We Trust,” a mysterious phrase, but yet so true and loving when it comes to having God in our heart.

Your Friend, Holy Spirit!