The other day the President said I know you've had some rough times and I want to do something that will show the nation what faith that I have in you in your maturity and sense of responsibility. He paused then said would you like a puppy?

You cannot be President of the United States if you don't have faith. Remember Lincoln going to his knees in times of trial in the Civil War and all that stuff.

You all know that I have been sustained throughout my life by three saving graces - my family my friends and a faith in the power of resilience and hope. These graces have carried me through difficult times and they have brought more joy to the good times than I ever could have imagined.

As a people of faith we know that prayer is a powerful instrument. And as one Nation under God we know that many times our most powerful tool is prayer.

Amidst the confusion of the times the conflicts of conscience and the turmoil of daily living an abiding faith becomes an anchor to our lives.

No person I have ever met not even the most righteous or pure of heart has gone without those times when faith recedes in the busy-ness of life.

It strikes me as odd that the free exercise of religious faith is sometimes treated as a problem something America is stuck with instead of blessed with.

It's not the tools that you have faith in - tools are just tools. They work or they don't work. It's people you have faith in or not. Yeah sure I'm still optimistic I mean I get pessimistic sometimes but not for long.

Sometimes life hits you in the head with a brick. Don't lose faith.

Faith is a living daring confidence in God's grace so sure and certain that a man could stake his life on it a thousand times.