A Few of FR's Finest....Every Day...08-31 thru 09-01-05 ~ Katrina ~ A Nation in Prayer and Sorrow

DollyCali; Billie; Aquamarine; Mama_bear; Dutchess; Just Amy | August 31 - Sept 1, 2005 | Dolly Howard

[DollyCali]

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

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We're having fun and hope you are!
~ Billie, Mama_Bear, Dutchess, Aquamarine, DollyCali ~

Free Republic’s Finest
Pray For America

Our Country suffered a devastating blow this week with Hurricaine Katrina. It is so hard to watch the pain and suffering from our citizens. BUT….WE WILL PREVAIL because we are a society that lends a helping hand. Please stop here and share your thoughts and prayers.

We are heartened by all the threads offering support… Many of us are personally involved with local relief efforts… Some come from small communities who have deployed two to three trained disaster volunteers. Larger communities send more. The bottom line is....WE ARE here for our fellow countrym men and women.

The same thing is happening all around the United States. We are just of a few small communities but you add them up and thousands are helping set up shelters all around the country, providing food, water shelter, comfort and support. This is the United States at its best.

We now offer prayers for all the victims of this terrible disaster and GOD BLESS THE USA!!!!!!

Isaiah 33:2 -- O LORD, be gracious to us; we long for you. Be our strength every morning, our salvation in time of distress.

James 5:15b -- The prayer of a righteous man is powerful and effective.

The Levee Breach

NOLA SWAT Team

06-28-05 ~ Hall of Fame #12

THIS WEEK'S THREADS 08-29-05 Military Monday 08-30-05 How I Spent My Summer Vacation

Opinions by our own 'King of Ping' Every Thursday at the Finest The guy's good, folks!

[DollyCali]

gasp!!!! 21 Million?

wow, I am impressed.

So many seemed to indicate they would be giving to other agencies, and I am sure they did. Thanks for the info MamaB

[Mama_Bear]

Did you see the pictures of the giraffes? I forgot if it were on WWL or Fox.

No, I didn't. I did hear a story (on FOX or CNN) about a couple of dolphins who were moved to a hotel swimming pool and seem to be doing alright. They will be moved eventually to some marine facilities.

[Grampa Dave]

Thanks, DollyCali, and here is rerun re the Salvation Army for those who missed my first reply:

The link to donate with a credit card is below. Even with a DSL link, it takes a lot of time to get to the site:

http://www.salvationarmyusa.org/

Salvation Army Serving Storm Refugees
Feeding First Responders

The Salvation Army is currently providing services to storm victims and first responders in the Gulf Coast states.

A $100 donation to The Salvation Army will feed a family of four for two days, provide two cases of drinking water and one household clean-up kit, containing brooms, mops, buckets, and cleaning supplies.

http://www.salvationarmyusa.org/

[Grampa Dave]

Thanks for posting this list Dolly. I will email it to a who is saying the Evil Bush is doing nothing.

[Fudd Fan]

For the people who were killed in this monster storm, Eternal Rest grant unto them O Lord, and let Perpetual Light shine upon them. Amen.

[LadyX]

Surfing several channels to get a variety of reporting on the disaster, Aaron Brown on CNN just had on the phone the head of a private ambulance service.

With horror, I listened to him describe his ambulances dispatched to remove patients from hospitals (those facilities barely able to function, and without communications, wondering WHY help has not come to them) to relocate them, said 'human animals' were attacking the ambulances - trying to turn them over!

The terrible, terrible pictures are growing in number every minute.

In answer to Aaron's query, he said that if not impeded they could handle the patient transfers in a day and a half - now it is quite uncertain.
Obviously, without power, water, food, ability to deliver lifesaving care for the patients, many patients will die before moved.
The utterly exhausted staffs, too, are overwhelmed, and many themselves are becoming ill.
The stories of these and other tragedies will be filling our news for months and years to come.

Almighty God, we ask You to hear our cries for mercy and comfort for those displaced, injured, ill, and/or giving care.
Protect them, and the police and firemen - all those engaged in search and rescue - the National Guard and military and the legions of plain citizens desperately trying to help.

Lord, allow water and food to flow to those in need like the manna sent to Moses leading the Israelites out of Egypt. Let us get to them wherever they are, proper clothing, and find shelter and honest work to do elsewhere.

Have special mercy on parents and children, the elderly and infirm, the bereaved, those without any friends or family...our list is much longer, but You know the needs...

Help us find our way back to You as a nation, and from this,
as individuals grow in all ways.

We praise and thank You for hearing and acting upon our pleas.
Amen.

=====================================

[luvie]

Amen--I couldn't add another thing to your prayer!

[LadyX]

Glad you're there, Luvvy.
Imagine you, too, are giving much thought to how comfortable our lives are, and offering profuse thanks.
While we've seen a family home burned out here, a few under water over there in our respective towns/cities, and other severe hurricanes in America, there is *nothing* in our experiences that can compare to the loss of all those cities and towns and lives, woth many more certain to perish as a result.

There are as many stories as there are persons, and the images are right before us, not to be ignored, but to reach us where we are in our comfort...I see - I hear, Lord, and am correcting my course.

After 0100 here, and time to go back to prayer, and sleep.
In my prayers is one thanking God for bringing your David safely home, Luvvy.

Good night, and God bless you.

[luvie]

Thank you, sweet Lady--your thoughts are my thoughts! You just have the way with words to say what I am thinking. Good night and have sweet dreams! (((hugs)))

[MEG33]

Amen

[LadyX]

Circled the field one more time, and thank you both for your replies.
Hope to see you here tomorrow - wait, later today!

Good night, and God bless...

[The Mayor]

September 1, 2005

Got Thirst?

Read:
Psalm 73:23-28

There is none upon earth that I desire besides You. —Psalm 73:25

Bible In One Year: 2 Chronicles 4-6

Health experts tell us we should drink at least 64 ounces of water each day. It may reduce the risk of heart attack, give our skin a healthy glow, and help us lose weight. We should drink even more water during exercise or if we live in a hot or dry climate. Even if we're not thirsty, we ought to drink water anyway.

Our thirst for God is even more beneficial. When we're spiritually dry, we long to hear from Him through His Word, and we search for even a drop of knowledge about Him. When we're exercising our faith in a new way, we want to be close to Him and receive His strength. Our thirst for God may increase when we see the sinfulness of people around us or when we gain a new awareness of our own sin and need for Him.

Spiritual thirst is a metaphor used throughout Scripture. Asaph thirsted for answers in his questioning psalm. When he saw the wicked prospering, he cried out to God to understand why (Psalm 73:16). He found the Lord to be his strength and realized that he desired nothing but Him (vv.25-26).

If we're spiritually thirsty, we can follow Asaph's example and draw near to God (v.28). He will satisfy us, yet give us a deeper thirst for Himself. We'll learn to desire Him above all else. —Anne Cetas

O sinner, won't you come today to Calvary?
A fountain there is flowing deep and wide;
The Savior now invites you to the water free,
Where thirsting spirits can be satisfied. —Peterson
© Renewal 1978, Singspiration, Inc.

A thirst for God can be satisfied only by Christ, the Living Water.

FOR FURTHER STUDY
What Is A Personal Relationship With God?

[DollyCali]

[McGruff]

This just about made me cry.

Hope he makes it out ok.

[alwaysconservative]

Thank you for that beautiful graphic. It is much appreciated.

[DollyCali]

This just about made me cry. It did make me cry. Poor guy wants to be out playing stick or ball. I shudder thinking of all the animals that were tied down & didn't have a chance. Thanks for stopping by McG

[DollyCali]

It is so difficult to know HOW to pray at this time. I am infuriated by the anarchy & thugs who are attacking and robbing already distraught citizens & even overturning & tormenting ambulances/staff trying to evacuate critically ill people. I know I am to pray for them. Difficult is the wrong word at this point I am afraid

I do know that we need to be tough on the looters, criminals. Order must be restored & people will be killed in process. I pity our peacekeepers who must fire these shots, killing criminals, to restore order.

The best and worst of humanity comes forth in times like these. It is heart wrenching to see the survivors who have lost all, thank God for life & another chance.

I am so grateful that George W. Bush is in charge and
offer prayers for his resolve & wisdom and he guides the efforts. May his distrators be silenced in shame.

It is difficult to see the tragedy of people & animals unfold. they need so much. I have cried so much as I helplessly follow stories that are shared.

I have several friends in the area. One especially special person was in Gautier,Miss. which I understand is rubble. I pray he evacuated.

Now for a quick overview/update "borrowed with credit" from "the Chair" (Chairman_December_19th_Society) at ATRW from his morning thread:

@@@

Some world reaction to the catastrophe:


Venezuela, on the other hand, is offering humanitarian aid and fuel if requested.


A local official in Romania: "Nature proved that no matter how rich and economically developed you are, you can't fight it."


French President Chirac and German Chancellor Schroeder sent letters of sympathy to President Bush--the French President addressing the letter "Dear George".


Pope Benedict XVI expressed his belief that "belief that that the American people will definitely overcome the natural disaster and rebuild their beautiful homeland."


Queen Elizabeth II sent her condolences "especially to the families of those who have lost their lives, to the injured and to all who have been affected by this terrible disaster."


Then there was the criticism:


Islamic extremists are rejoicing in the destruction of New Orleans and have dubbed the storm Private Katrina, who has joined the global jihad.


Netherlands (based on the fact it has half its country below sea level) official: "I don't want to sound overly critical, but it's hard to imagine that (the damage caused by Katrina) could happen in a Western country. It seemed like plans for protection and evacuation weren't really in place, and once it happened, the coordination was on loose hinges.


World Wildlife Fund Germany said global warming had increased the intensity of hurricanes [this will be the subject of a later opening rant], and "The Americans have a big impact on the greenhouse effect."


Other KATRINA news:


Hotel rooms are filling up in SE Texas, and many who fled there when the hurricane struck are now being put out for "wave 2" of refugees who have reservations, not to mention Labor Day travelers.


Red Cross facilities in Texas are also starting to feel the strain of thousands of people descending upon Houston, though they are coping.


Refugees are also making their way to Dallas/Ft Worth.


Churches in Orange county, TX (near Houston), are also helping to house those who have fled New Orleans.


Meanwhile, in the stricken city, the mayor has called the police force off of search and rescue and pointed them toward the looters, who ransacked a nursing home yesterday.


President Bush says "recovery will take years".


Probably, many will never return. New Orleans has become the American Pompei.


For AMERICA - The Right Way, I remain yours in the Cause, the Chairman.

[Dan Lacey]

[DollyCali]

LOVE IT!!

Thank you. The light at the end of tunnel.. wonderful.. that light varies, the tunnel varies

[Billie]

Have just read through all the beautiful posts, prayers, and graphics, and apologize for my absence yesterday; problems connecting to the net off and on all day kept me away from here. So frustrated trying to *fix* it when I sat down at the computer. Success finally.

My prayers go out to the victims, their families and loved ones, and a special prayer to the rescue workers, that they might feel God's strength as they search so tirelessly in the hope of finding more survivors.