Today marks the birth date of the Marine Corps.

In 1775, the Continental Congress passed a resolution declaring that “two battalions of Marines be raised” for service as landing forces with the Naval fleet. This formation of the Continental Marines marked the birth of the United States Marine Corps, which was officially commissioned through an act of the new United States Congress in 1798.

Serving on both land and sea, the early Marines supported General George Washington when he crossed the Delaware River to surprise the Hessians in New Jersey. They fought alongside John Paul Jones on his ship. They participated in many operations during the War of 1812, fighting alongside Andrew Jackson in defeating the British at New Orleans. Since their inception, the Marines have served in all the wars of the United States and have carried out more than 300 landings on foreign shores.

One of the defining characteristics of the Marine Corps is its motto, Semper Fideles—a constant reminder of the Marine’s devotion to the Corps and Country. These two words, meaning “always faithful,” describe a Marine’s commitment to his or her duty. The Corps proudly points out that Marines throughout their history have lived up to this motto, as proved by the fact that there has never been a mutiny among the Corps.

Faithfulness, staying true to someone or something in thought, word, and action, is part of God’s very character (Psalm 89:8). The Bible tells us that God’s faithfulness is great (Lamentations 3:23), unfailing (2 Timothy 2:13), and that it will never end (Psalm 146:6). God will do what he says he is going to do—and the proof of that is his Son, Jesus.

Even when our faith is weak and we have trouble staying faithful, God will be there and will take care of us.

He is always faithful.

God will surely do this for you, for he always does just what he says, and he is the one who invited you into this wonderful friendship with his Son, Jesus Christ our Lord (1 Corinthians 1:9).

To Do

Do you know the “The Marines’ Hymn”? Find a recording today and listen to it. Or find a copy of it and read it. The first two lines refer to battles fought early on in the Marines’ history.

Also on this day

1483—Martin Luther was born.

1951—Direct dial telephone service was first available coast to coast.

1969—Sesame Street premiered on PBS.

From Betsy Schmitt and Dave Veerman, 365 Trivia Twist Devotions: An Almanac of Fun Facts and Spiritual Truth for Every Day of the Year (Cincinnati: Standard, 2005). Scripture quotations are from the New Living Translation unless otherwise noted.

This is Family Stories Month.

The holidays are just around the corner, a time for family get-togethers, lots of good food—and storytelling! Yes, that’s right. It’s inevitable that when families get together the stories begin flowing. “Remember when we . . . ” “When I was your age . . . ” “Did I ever tell you about the time . . . ?”

Family stories are important. Some stories may make us laugh, some may encourage us in our tough times, and some may cause us to think. But most important, these stories bond us together as family because these stories form our shared history. It’s what makes our family unique. Every family has its own stories to tell.

The same is true with God’s family. Just as God was sending Moses to Pharaoh with warnings about the upcoming plagues, he told Moses, “You will be able to tell wonderful stories to your children and grandchildren.” Imagine the stories Moses had to tell!

On numerous occasions the Israelites were told to tell stories about God and what he had done for them. Why? Because such stories helped the people remember God’s care for them. Remembering God’s deeds in the past encouraged the people during the difficult times, helped to strengthen their faith, and built their trust in God.

When we share stories about what God is doing in our lives and what he has done in the past, we also are building our faith and encouraging others. When you tell someone how God has helped you in a particular situation, you challenge that person to trust God. When you share how God encouraged you through a particular Bible verse, someone else may find the same strength.

You’re part of God’s family. What stories do you have to share?

You will be able to tell wonderful stories to your children and grandchildren about the marvelous things I am doing among the Egyptians to prove that I am the Lord (Exodus 10:2).

To Do

Tell a story today about what God has done in your life.

Also on this day

Today is National “Dear Santa” Letter Week.

1906—President Theodore Roosevelt left for Panama to see the progress on the new canal. It was the first foreign trip by a U.S. President.

1927—Giant pandas were discovered in China.

From Betsy Schmitt and Dave Veerman, 365 Trivia Twist Devotions: An Almanac of Fun Facts and Spiritual Truth for Every Day of the Year (Cincinnati: Standard, 2005). Scripture quotations are from the New Living Translation unless otherwise noted.

Today is Ample Time Day.

You probably have heard someone complain, “I just don’t have enough time!” Maybe it was your mom as she was trying to get dinner on the table while picking you up from soccer practice. Maybe it was your teacher as he pushed to finish the math chapter before the big test. Maybe it was even you as you tried to finish your homework so you could have time to hang out with your friends.

So it probably comes as good news that today is Ample Time Day—it means you have enough time to do whatever you need to get done. Well, not really. Just saying we have ample time doesn’t make it so, does it? Yet the truth is God has given each one of us 24 hours every day—ample time to get done everything that he wants us to do that day.

So what’s the problem? Why is it that we always feel rushed and out of control? Why is it that we usually come to the end of the day and say, “Gee, I wish I had more time to do _________.” We either are trying to do too much during one day, or we are wasting our time on unimportant things (like watching TV!).

As Ecclesiastes 3:1 tells us, God has given us time for “every activity under heaven.” God has a plan for everything that has already happened, for everything that is happening right now, and for everything that will happen. There is ample time for everything to happen according to God’s plan.

That’s good news when you do get that “I don’t have enough time” feeling. Remember, God is in charge of time. There is always ample time to do what God has planned for you. Just ask him!

And this is his plan: At the right time he will bring everything together under the authority of Christ—everything in heaven and on earth (Ephesians 1:10).

To Do

Say you don’t have enough time? Make a chart of everything you have to do today and then place those items in order of importance. Make sure to include time for God!

Also on this day

1656—Edmond Halley was born. Halley was the first to calculate the orbit of a comet that was named after him. The comet appears every 76 years.

1793—The Louvre Museum in Paris opened to the public for the first time.

1889—Montana became America’s 41^st state.

From Betsy Schmitt and Dave Veerman, 365 Trivia Twist Devotions: An Almanac of Fun Facts and Spiritual Truth for Every Day of the Year (Cincinnati: Standard, 2005). Scripture quotations are from the New Living Translation unless otherwise noted.

Today is Hug A Bear Day.

Maybe you don’t want to admit it. Maybe you think that you are too old for such things, or maybe you think that you’re the only one who still has something soft and cuddly to hold on to during a storm. But let’s be honest. If someone were to search underneath your bed or to look under your pillow or hunt through the back corners of your closet, that person might just discover a frayed, torn piece of blanket, or a one-eyed stuffed animal with one of its limbs just barely hanging on.

Like Linus’s faithful blanket, this well-worn and well-loved object has been there for you through all sorts of situations. It was “Teddy” that helped you get through those terrible thunderstorms. You clung to “Bunny” when you were traveling to your new home. It was “Blankie” that comforted you on those long afternoons when you were sick and Mom couldn’t be by your side.

We all have those moments in our lives when we need to feel secure. We need to know that someone is with us when we feel all alone; that someone is there to comfort us when we are frightened or anxious about facing something new. We want someone there to comfort us when we are feeling down.

The good news is that we have someone like that in our lives 24-7. Jesus is there whenever we need him, wherever we are, in whatever situation we find ourselves. Listen to these words Jesus spoke to his disciples: “And be sure of this: I am with you always, even to the end of the age.” I am with you always. We need never fear being alone or being scared or being abandoned. Jesus is with us. Always.

That’s the best security blanket ever.

And be sure of this: I am with you always, even to the end of the age (Matthew 28:20).

To Do

Go ahead, hug a bear—or a blankie or a bunny, or whatever cuddly thing you cherish—today! But remember where you find your real security.

Also on this day

1893—The state of Colorado granted women the right to vote.

1944—President Franklin D. Roosevelt became the first person to win a fourth term as president.

1965—The Pillsbury Doughboy® debuted in television commercials.

From Betsy Schmitt and Dave Veerman, 365 Trivia Twist Devotions: An Almanac of Fun Facts and Spiritual Truth for Every Day of the Year (Cincinnati: Standard, 2005). Scripture quotations are from the New Living Translation unless otherwise noted.

On this day in 1860, Abraham Lincoln was elected president.

Without a doubt, Abraham Lincoln is counted among America’s greatest presidents. His firm belief that the government should be a positive force to serve people guided him through his life and was at the heart of his desire to become president of the United States.

But it was not a goal that Lincoln easily or quickly achieved. His career path was littered with setbacks and failures. In his first attempt at running for political office as a state representative in 1832, Lincoln finished eighth out of 13. So he returned to practicing law. Then he won a seat in the Illinois Legislature in 1834.

Over the next decade, however, Lincoln suffered numerous business and political setbacks. During that time Lincoln’s sweetheart died, he suffered a nervous breakdown, and he was defeated for Speaker of the Illinois House. Lincoln was overlooked for the nomination for U.S. Congress in 1843. He was elected three years later, but lost his renomination bid two years after that. In 1854, he was defeated for the U.S. Senate, denied the nomination for Vice President in 1856, and again defeated for U.S. Senate in 1858.

With so many failures in his life no one would have blamed Lincoln for giving up and going back to his law practice. But because he was determined to achieve his political goals and dreams, Lincoln never gave up. Though he was knocked down repeatedly, Lincoln continued to get back up and continue on.

That is the very promise that God gives to us in Psalm 37:24. Read it for yourself. God’s promise is that he watches over every step we take. When we stumble, when we fail and suffer setbacks, God is there to help us keep going. He promises to hold on tightly to our hands and lead us on.

So next time you fail at reaching your goal, remember Abe and his persistence. Then remember the One who will hold you up and keep you going!

Though they stumble, they will not fall, for the Lord holds them by the hand (Psalm 37:24).

To Do

What failure have you experienced lately? Think about how you can use that experience to help you in achieving your goals.

Also on this day

Today is Saxophone Day.

1861—James Naismith, the inventor of basketball, was born.

1952—The first hydrogen bomb was exploded at Eniwetok Atoll in the Pacific Ocean.

From Betsy Schmitt and Dave Veerman, 365 Trivia Twist Devotions: An Almanac of Fun Facts and Spiritual Truth for Every Day of the Year (Cincinnati: Standard, 2005). Scripture quotations are from the New Living Translation unless otherwise noted.

Today is Guy Fawkes Day.

Today marks the anniversary of the Gunpowder Plot, a conspiracy to blow up the English Parliament and King James I in 1605. On November 5, King James was to open Parliament. But the conspiracy came to light when a mysterious letter was sent to Lord Monteagle, urging him not to attend Parliament on opening day.

When the contents of the letter were brought to the attention of others in Parliament, an extensive search of the House of Lords was conducted. In the cellar underneath the building, 36 barrels of gunpowder that were overlaid with iron bars and firewood were discovered. Guy Fawkes, one of the conspirators, was arrested when he entered the cellar.

Guy Fawkes Day—the remembrance of the failure to blow up Parliament—is still celebrated in Britain today with fireworks and bonfires on which effigies of the conspirators are burned.

Seems strange doesn’t it, to have a holiday marking the failure of something? Usually we celebrate victories like the Fourth of July.

When the Roman and Jewish leaders nailed Jesus to the cross, they thought they had gotten rid of Jesus and his radical ideas for good. Little did they expect what was to happen three days later when Jesus left the tomb. Not only was Jesus alive, but his followers were energized and empowered to spread the gospel.

Easter marks the failure of men to defeat Jesus—and ultimately the failure of Satan to defeat God’s plan to offer salvation to all people who accept forgiveness of their sins through Jesus. Satan must have been dancing on that dark Friday afternoon, but it was God who did the ultimate victory dance.

Victory in failure? You bet!

But now in a single victorious stroke of Life, all three—sin, guilt, death—are gone, the gift of our Master, Jesus Christ. Thank God! (1 Corinthians 15:57, The Message).

To Do

Celebrate Satan’s failure today by thanking God for the great victory at the cross when Jesus defeated sin, guilt, and death.

Also on this day

1872—Susan B. Anthony was fined $100 for attempting to vote in the presidential election. She never paid the fine.

1935—The game Monopoly® was introduced by Parker Brothers Company.

1940—President Franklin D. Roosevelt won an unprecedented third term in office.

From Betsy Schmitt and Dave Veerman, 365 Trivia Twist Devotions: An Almanac of Fun Facts and Spiritual Truth for Every Day of the Year (Cincinnati: Standard, 2005). Scripture quotations are from the New Living Translation unless otherwise noted.

The patent for the artificial leg was granted to Dr. Benjamin Franklin Palmer in 1846.

Dr. Benjamin Franklin Palmer had lost a leg in an accident. Determined not to let this tragedy hinder him from living a full life, Palmer looked for solutions. Failing to find any type of device that would help him walk as normally as possible, Palmer did the next best thing—he invented an artificial leg.

Palmer’s design included springs and hidden joints that gave the appearance of natural movement. For his efforts Palmer received an award at the first World’s Fair at the Crystal Palace in London in 1851.

Palmer’s response to his situation was different from the man in the Bible who spent his days lying by the pool of Bethesda. You can read about him in John 5:1-14. Although the man had been lying there for 38 years, no one was able to help him . . . until Jesus came upon the scene.

Jesus took one look at the man and asked him, “Would you like to get well?” The man replied, “I can’t, sir.” Then after the man had explained all the problems he faced, Jesus simply told him, “Stand up, pick up your sleeping mat and walk.” And the man did so.

We have a choice when facing difficult and hopeless situations. We can give up, feeling hopeless and trapped like the man at the pool before he met Jesus. Or we can respond like Palmer and look for solutions to our problems. A positive attitude is necessary to overcome obstacles.

Jesus told him, “Stand up, pick up your sleeping mat, and walk!” (John 5:8).

To Do

What difficulty are you facing today? How would you describe your attitude in this situation? What could you do to take that first step toward a solution?

Also on this day

Today is National Candy Day.

1922—In Egypt, Howard Carter discovered the way into the lost tomb of Pharaoh Tutankhamen.

1965—Lee Ann Roberts Breedlove became the first woman to exceed 300 mph in a jet-powered car.

From Betsy Schmitt and Dave Veerman, 365 Trivia Twist Devotions: An Almanac of Fun Facts and Spiritual Truth for Every Day of the Year (Cincinnati: Standard, 2005). Scripture quotations are from the New Living Translation unless otherwise noted.

Today is Sandwich Day.

The sandwich actually goes back as far as the first century bc when the famous rabbi, Hillel the Elder, started the custom of eating a mixture of chopped nuts, apples, and spices between two matzos. In the Middle Ages, thick slices of coarse stale bread called trenchers were used instead of plates. Piles of meats and other foods were placed on top of the bread to be eaten with the fingers.

But it wasn’t until the late 1700s that the first written record of sandwich appeared in a Londoner’s journal. The cooks at London’s Beef Steak Club were said to have invented the first sandwich in 1762. John Montague, the Fourth Earl of Sandwich, was a frequent diner at the restaurant and a devoted card player. Reluctant to quit playing, Montague would order his valet to bring his meal to him—a piece of meat tucked between two pieces of bread. Soon others began ordering “the same as Sandwich” and the name stuck!

However you slice it, bread is what makes the sandwich. Without it, what do you have? A slice of ham and cheese. Tuna on a plate. A glob of peanut butter and jelly. Clearly, it’s the bread that gives the definition and substance to this lunchtime staple. Throughout all cultures and ages, bread has been an important food source.

Jesus called himself “the living bread that came down out of heaven.” Just as we all need bread and food to satisfy our hunger and to help keep us alive, we also need Jesus to keep us going spiritually. And just as we need to eat every day, we need to connect with Jesus on a daily basis. That means spending time praying and reading the Bible to get our daily serving of “living bread.”

Have you had your daily bread?

I am the living bread that came down out of heaven. Anyone who eats this bread will live forever; this bread is my flesh, offered so the world may live (John 6:51).

To Do

Make up your own sandwich creation today. Enjoy it, and then explain to someone about the “living bread.”

Also on this day

1952—Clarence Birdseye marketed frozen peas.

1957—Sputnik II was launched by the Soviet Union. It was the first man-made satellite to put an animal into space, a dog named Laika.

1998—Minnesota elected Jesse “The Body” Ventura, a former pro wrestler, as governor.

From Betsy Schmitt and Dave Veerman, 365 Trivia Twist Devotions: An Almanac of Fun Facts and Spiritual Truth for Every Day of the Year (Cincinnati: Standard, 2005). Scripture quotations are from the New Living Translation unless otherwise noted.

Daniel Boone, the American frontiersman, was born on this day in 1724.

Even as a boy Daniel Boone was training for his future as a man of the wild. Growing up in the Pennsylvania countryside, the young boy made friends with the Indians living nearby and learned the habits of the wildlife. At age 19, Boone fought in the French and Indian War, where he met John Finley—a hunter who had explored some of the western wilds and who filled the young man with dreams of exploring the land for himself.

It wasn’t until 1767, when Daniel was 33 and married, that he set out to explore the uncharted territory that is now Kentucky. It took Daniel and his companions two years to travel and explore one end of Kentucky. On later trips Boone worked to clear the Wilderness Road and establish a settlement that became known as Boonesborough.

At age 64 Boone set out again—this time for the Missouri region. As he paddled by in his canoe, folks would ask him, “Why are you leaving Kentucky?” to which Boone replied, “Too crowded.”

John the Baptist was another man who felt most comfortable in the wilderness. John ate insects and wild honey, dressed in camel hair, and lived alone in the desert. Far from any distractions, John could hear God’s instructions. And his unconventional manner certainly caught the people’s attention. What better way to point to the coming of the Messiah?

John was confident of what God wanted him to do. He prepared people for the coming of the Lord: “Someone is coming soon who is far greater than I am” (Mark 1:7).

Take a lesson from John. You don’t have to eat bugs or live in the desert. But you can reduce the distractions in your life that keep you from hearing God’s voice clearly. And you can introduce people to Jesus.

This messenger was John the Baptist. He lived in the wilderness and was preaching that people should be baptized to show that they had turned from their sins and turned to God to be forgiven (Mark 1:4).

To Do

Go out in the backyard or a nearby park and spend some time in a place where you are away from distractions. Listen for God speaking to you.

Also on this day

1795—James K. Polk, the 11^th president of the United States, was born.

1865—Warren G. Harding, the 29^th president of the United States, was born.

1989—Carmen Fasanella retired after 68 years and 243 days of taxicab service in Princeton, New Jersey.

From Betsy Schmitt and Dave Veerman, 365 Trivia Twist Devotions: An Almanac of Fun Facts and Spiritual Truth for Every Day of the Year (Cincinnati: Standard, 2005). Scripture quotations are from the New Living Translation unless otherwise noted.

Do Books Still Matter?

Redbook Magazine

Why Reading to Kids Is Still So Important One of my favorite activities with my three kids was reading aloud to them. In this age of Internet and gaming, it’s more important than ever that kids develop a love for books early on—often by listening to mom or dad read aloud. And for publishers, it’s good to know that nothing replaces the feel and sound of a good book! —Linda Taylor