I'm so proud to be an American. We're looked up to by people around the world. I don't know why God chose for me to be born an American. But I'm glad He did and I have many riches because of it.

I have a special place in my heart for our soldiers who are fighting to preserve our freedom on the homefront. I always try to hear the news about the war in Iraq and Afganistan each day. It saddens me to hear that even one more of our soldiers has died. I think about them a lot and regularly pray for them, whether it's a morning prayer or it's said in my thoughts after the day has begun.

If you don't know how to pray for them let me tell you how I do it. I turn to Psalm 91 and Psalm 140 in the Bible. I once heard in a TV biography that when Jimmy Stewart was in World War II, he carried these two passages with him into battle. I pray these two Psalms for our soldiers but before that I say a prayer in my own words:

Dear Heavenly Father,

Thank you for our soldiers fighting to keep America free today. Please be with them and keep them safe. Bless them and their families for the many different sacrifices they have made. I pray that the war would come to an end very soon and Osama Bin Laden and other such terrorists would be captured and destroyed. Be with our wounded soldiers and heal them in every aspect. Help all of our soldiers to be encouraged. Please be with the President, his staff and the military leadership and give them wisdom as they make serious decisions. And please help us to pay off the huge debt from the war.

In the name of Jesus I pray. Amen.

On the Fourth of July our American soldiers will be participating in our nation's birthday in the biggest way. Their intentions are to give the gift of their life if necessary. On Independence Day, after we're full of potato salad and all the other goodies, and as we sit in our lawn chairs with our families very near, we'll get to enjoy the freedom their protecting while we watch the sky fill with brightly colored fireworks. Just don't forget our soldiers then and say a good prayer for them.