Nate Freeman

After 20+ years of walking families through loss, these are the books, journals, and comforts I actually put in grieving hands. Grief isn't only emotional — it hits your spirit, your mind, and your worn-out body. So I've sorted it by all three: what feeds your faith, what tends your heart and mind, and what helps your tired body rest. Whether it's your loss or someone you love's, start anywhere. You're not alone, and you won't always feel like this. More at asknatefreeman.com.

After 20+ years as a pastor, these are the faith-filled gifts I actually recommend when people ask “what do I get the Christian in my life?” — books, devotionals, and keepsakes that get used, not shoved in a drawer. Sorted by who you're shopping for, with a few of my own books in the mix. For more, come find me at asknatefreeman.com.

I'm a pastor who builds. These are the AI and automation tools I actually use to write, create, preach, and run everything behind asknatefreeman.com — plus a few others creators and church leaders swear by, and the AI apps I built myself. Some are free, some are paid, all are worth knowing. Sorted into what I personally use, other tools worth trying, picks for pastors and church leaders, and my own apps. If you want to do more without burning out, start here. Come find me at asknatefreeman.com.

Summer is long, screens are easy, and ‘I’m bored' starts around week two. As a pastor and a dad, this is my go-to list for keeping kids curious, growing, and off the iPad without turning the house into a classroom. It is sorted into four simple buckets: workbooks to stop the summer slide, screen-free boredom busters, a reading routine by age, and hands-on science for little explorers. Pick a few, mix them up, and watch them come alive. For more on raising kids who love to learn, come find me at asknatefreeman.com.

Sending a kid off to college is a big deal, and the packing list feels endless. As a pastor and a dad, here is what actually matters for dorm life, the stuff students really use, not the things that end up shoved in a closet and forgotten. I leaned toward good sleep, real comfort, and a few things to keep them grounded while they are far from home. Print it, check it off, and breathe. They are going to be okay. For more encouragement for this season, come find me at asknatefreeman.com.

I spent more hours than I can count in a dialysis chair, so this list is personal. These are the comfort items that actually help you get through long treatment days — the things I used, and the things I watched bring real comfort to the people in the chairs around me. If you're buying a gift for someone on dialysis, or you're facing it yourself, start here. Most of it is simple: something soft, something to help the hours pass, something to make a cold clinic feel a little more human. None of this is medical advice, just honest comfort from someone who has been there. For encouragement along the way, come find me at asknatefreeman.com.

After 20+ years of ministry, these are the books I keep coming back to and recommending most — the ones that have shaped how I pray, lead, and walk with God. Whether you're a new believer or you've been following Jesus for decades, start anywhere on this list. Every one of these has discipled someone in my church. For more, come find me at asknatefreeman.com.