Happy 248th Birthday America!

As we celebrate America’s birthday today, let’s join in praying the words to America the Beautiful from the poem by Katherine Lee Bates; (1859-1929). As we give God all the glory for our many blessings, we proclaim He is our only hope for the future.

“O beautiful for spacious skies,

For amber waves of grain,

For purple mountain majesties

Above the fruited plain!

America! America!

God shed His grace on thee,

And crown thy good with brotherhood

From sea to shining sea!

O beautiful for pilgrim feet

Whose stern impassioned stress,

A thoroughfare for freedom beat

Across the wilderness!

America! America!

God mend thine every flaw,

Confirm thy soul in self-control,

Thy liberty in law!

O beautiful for heroes proved

In liberating strife,

Who more than self their country love

And mercy more than life!

America! America!

May God thy gold refine

Till all success be nobleness,

And every gain divine!

O beautiful for patriot dream

That sees beyond the years,

Thine alabaster cities gleam

Undimmed by human tears!

America! America!

God shed His grace on thee,

And crown thy good with brotherhood

From sea to shining sea!