A Few of FR's Finest....Every Day....11-24-04....Happy Thanksgiving!

Mama_Bear

[Mama_Bear]

A Few of FR's Finest....Every Day

Free Republic made its debut in September, 1996, and the forum was added in early 1997. Over 100,000 people have registered for posting privileges on Free Republic, and the forum is read daily by tens of thousands of concerned citizens and patriots from all around the country and the world.

A Few of FR's Finest....Every Day was introduced on June 24, 2002. It's only a small room in JimRob's house where we can get to know one another a little better; salute and support our military and our leaders; pray for those in need; and congratulate those deserving. We strive to keep our threads entertaining, fun, and pleasing to look at, and often have guest writers contribute an essay, or a profile of another FReeper.

On Mondays please visit us to see photos of A FEW OF FR'S VETERANS AND ACTIVE MILITARY

If you have a suggestion, or an idea, or if there's a FReeper you would like to see featured, please drop one of us a note in FR mail.

We're having fun and hope you are!
~ Billie, Mama_Bear, dansangel, dutchess, Aquamarine ~

Giving Thanks

For the hay and the corn and the wheat that is reaped,
For the labor well done, and the barns that are heaped,
For the sun and the dew and the sweet honeycomb,
For the rose and the song and the harvest brought home --
Thanksgiving! Thanksgiving!

For the trade and the skill and the wealth in our land,
For the cunning and strength of the workingman's hand,
For the good that our artists and poets have taught,
For the friendship that hope and affection have brought --
Thanksgiving! Thanksgiving!

For the homes that with purest affection are blest,
For the season of plenty and well-deserved rest,
For our country extending from sea unto sea;
The land that is known as the "Land of the Free" --
Thanksgiving! Thanksgiving!

Author Unknown

In searching for a special Thanksgiving prayer for this post, I came across this from a couple years ago. I don't think I could find anything more fitting to include in this year's Thanksgiving presentation. Thank you, Michelle Malkin, for this.....

By Michelle Malkin

Dear Heavenly Father,

As we gather together to count our blessings, 381 years after the first Thanksgiving Day, we realize how little appreciation we have expressed for this thy bounty:

For sunbeams and sunsets and sun-kissed cheeks, for rainbows and raindrops and rain sticks, for mountain dew and prairie frost, for harvest moons and shooting stars, we give thee praise.

For Blueberry Hill and Blackberry Creek, for Apple Valley and Orange County, for Plum Borough and Peachtree City, for Pineapple Park and Coconut Grove, we give thee praise.

For coal miners and construction workers, for truckers and bakers, for mail sorters and short-order cooks, for ranch hands and stage hands, for accountants who keep honest books, for politicians who keep their promises, for stay-at-home moms and double-shift dads, we give thee praise.

O God, our help in ages past, our hope for years to come, we thank you this day for "Proud to Be an American" and "These Colors Don't Run," for "Let Freedom Ring" and "Of Thee I Sing," for "Every Heart Beats True" and for "Courtesy of the Red, White and Blue."

For Purple Hearts and Bronze Stars, for Green Berets and Gold Stripes, for the 10th Mountain Division and the 15th Marine Expeditionary Unit, for the KC-130 Crew and the 101st Airborne Division, for the soldiers and SEALS and special forces who made the ultimate sacrifice this year, and for all who continue to protect and to serve, we give thee praise.

For the Border Patrol and citizens on patrol, for the National Guard and Guardian Angels, for the USO and the VFW, we thank you, O God, our creator and redeemer.

For the Pentagon rebuilt and Ground Zero restored and the faith of a nation renewed, for "Semper Paratus" and "Non sibi sed patriae," for "Never forget" and "Never surrender," for freedom from fear and freedom to dream, for free minds and free markets, for freedom with responsibility, we give thee praise.

For the Song of Solomon and the Prayer of St. Francis, for "the Lord is my rock, and my fortress, and my deliverer," for "without vision we perish," for Proverbs 28, for John 3:16, for "The Old Rugged Cross," for "The Solid Rock," and for "What a Friend We Have in Jesus," we offer eternal thanks.

For "All men are created equal," for "Tear down this wall," for "Ask not what your country can do for you," for "Eternal vigilance is the price of liberty," for "I swear to uphold the laws and Constitution of the United States of America, against all enemies foreign and domestic," we give thee praise.

For iron will, for steely resolve, for mettle tested and time-worn, for uncommon valor that never sleeps, for steady hands, sturdy legs, broad shoulders, and level heads, for stiff upper lips, for blood, sweat and tears, for conquering our fears, and for unbending courage in the face of the unknown, we give thee praise.

O Father, we come to thee on this national day to join with heart and voice all the people of our blessed land to honor and thank thee. We ask you, Lord, as our forefathers did in times of strife, "to inspire our commanders both by land and sea, and all under them, with that wisdom and fortitude which may render them fit instruments, under the providence of Almighty God, to secure for these United States the greatest of all blessings: independence and peace."

For precious life itself in this great nation—under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all—we thank thee, O Father. Amen.

Click here for Michelle Malkin's website.

Copyright 2002 Creators Syndicate, INC.

This holiday thread will run through Sunday, November 28th.
Please drop by when time permits and share a cup of cheer and
fellowship with us. New FRiends and old FRiends are always welcome
at our cyber table. So, pull up a chair ~ we are glad you are here.

We now return to our regularly scheduled program...

To you and your family ~

May your Thanksgiving be blessed with
The bounty of the Season
Love of Friends and Family
And a Harvest of Smiles...

Billie, Mama_Bear, Dansangel, Dutchess, Aquamarine,
The Mayor, JohnHuang2

THIS WEEK'S THREADS 11-22-04...Military Monday 11-23-04...Let the Holidays Begin!

Opinions by our own 'King of Ping' The guy's good, folks!

Thanks, Mixer!

1) Click on the graphic to open the Calendar.
2) Once there you can click on any month and even click to the right to go into next year. Once you are in the month that you joined FR you will need to click on the number in the calendar and then an add item screen will come up.
3) In the next box enter your name in the "Calendar Text" field and then click on submit.
4) If any of the screens fail to load simply click on refresh in your browser and that will usually fix it.
5) If all else fails or simply if you want me to do this for you send me an FReepmail and I will gladly do it for you. ~Mixer

Click on the photo to view the album. To
submit your photo, please contact danangel or .45man at danbh59@yahoo.com
and include Freeper Photo Album in subject line.

CLICK

[Mama_Bear]

[JohnHuang2]

Good morning to ya :-) And (just in case I don't see you before then) Happy Thanksgiving!

(((((((((((Mama_Bear)))))))))))

[Mama_Bear]

Yes, we are starting our Thanksgiving holiday celebration a day early. We hope that you all have a safe and happy holiday! I'll try to stop by when I can, I hope you will do the same.

[Mama_Bear]

And a Happy Thanksgiving to you, friend!

[JohnHuang2]

Thank you :-)

[JohnHuang2]

Wishing y'all a Happy Thanksgiving too! May God bless every one of you.

[MeekMom]

What a lovely thread!
God bless you all here and God bless our brave military!

[.45MAN]

I'AM NOT TOO HAPPY ABOUT THANKSGIVING!!!!!

[MeekOneGOP]

[Lakeside]

Kudos, Mama_B! This is yet another delightful thread.

Among all the myriads of blessings from our God this past year I am also thankful for:

>Free Republic which has been my daily fare since I discovered it in 1998.

>the day I finally clicked on the Finest thread. It took me long enough to do that but now I'm hooked for good!

>all you hosts and hostesses who work to produce these beautiful, witty, thought provoking, or just plain fun threads. Thank you all for making all of us feel right at home here.

>JohnHuang2 for your articles. I every week I read your post and think they can't be topped then the next Thursday rolls around (and the next..and the next...) and you prove me wrong.

>The Mayor for the devotional thoughts every morning

>LadyX for all your stories and prayers and beautiful pictures.

>All the Finest for the camaraderie we share every day.You guys are the best. Hugs all around!

A very Happy Thanksgiving to you all.

[Temple Owl]

Have a very fulfilling and happy Thanksgiving Day Mama and FReepers everywhere.

[Texagirl4W]

Good morning, all. Checking in early because I knew it would be a good one today. I have so much to be thankful for this day. Most of you knew that my sister was very ill last week. I am so thankful that they found a doctor to diagnoses her illness and she is now on the road to recovery. What a great God we serve.

God bless this nation and our great military that are fighting and making grave sacrifices to keep this nation safe. And a special thanks for the families of those protecting us from harm. May they know that we love them and acknowledge the sacrifice that are making also. May you all have a happy and blessed Thanksgiving.

[The Mayor]

November 24, 2004

Give Thanks And Remember

Read: Hebrews 13:1-16

Do not forget to do good and to share, for with such sacrifices God is well pleased. —Hebrews 13:16

Bible In One Year: Ezekiel 22-23; 1 Peter 1

---

One of today's most popular syndicated newspaper columns is "Dear Abby." Started in 1956 by Abigail Van Buren, the advice column is written today by her daughter Jeanne Phillips. In a recent edition, she included this Thanksgiving Prayer written many years before by her mother:

O Heavenly Father:
We thank Thee for food
and remember the hungry.
We thank Thee for health
and remember the sick.
We thank Thee for friends
and remember the friendless.
We thank Thee for freedom
and remember the enslaved.
May these remembrances
stir us to service.
That Thy gifts to us may be used
for others. Amen.

The words of this prayer echo the clear teaching of Scripture. Our thanksgiving to God should always be accompanied by thinking of those in need. "Therefore," said the writer to the Hebrews, "by [Jesus] let us continually offer the sacrifice of praise to God, that is, the fruit of our lips, giving thanks to His name" (Hebrews 13:15).

But there is more to it than thankfulness. We are to put actions behind our gratitude. "Do not forget to do good and to share, for with such sacrifices God is well pleased" (v.16).

Be thankful for God's many blessings, but be sure to remember those who have less. —David McCasland

Serving others is a way of thanking God.

[phancypants]

Happy Thanksgiving to everyone!!

I'm thankful for everyone I have "met" here and all of the blessings in my life. Please pray for our troops and their families before you pass out in front of the TV tomorrow :0)

I know I will!

[crabbie]

Happy Thanksgiving, everyone.

I am grateful for another year at the tablbe with those I love and in spirit with those who are too far away to be here. I give thanks for those who have kept us safe and can't be with their loved ones because of their service.

May we be blessed with another healthy, safe year.

[LadyX]

All your presentations are simply wonderful, Mama_Bear, and this one is so very special!
Your skill in gathering just the *right* sayings, prayers and illustrations, plus music, is legendary, and we Finest Family Folks appreciate all you do.

[LadyX]

Gabz, having lived in your area of the DelMarVa peninsula and knowing of its huge poultry-growing industry, I took the liberty of snooping thereabouts for A Turkey Story.

Eureka!
Managed to snap a picture of one of your neighbors selecting his Thanksgiving turkey:

[Barlowmaker]

Have a blessed Thanksgiving Maggie! There's much to be thankful for. We're very lucky to be born free and prosperous Americans.

[The Mayor]

This is funny and something all depressed democrats need!

[LadyX]

~~~ U Have Freep Mail ~~~