A Few of FR's Finest....Every Day....11-24 to-27-05...Thanksgiving is GIVING Thanks!

DollyCali | November 24, 2005 | DollyCali

[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

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, Dutchess, DollyCali, Mama_Bear, GodBlessUSA ~

THE FIRST THANKSGIVING DAY PROCLAMATION
President Abraham Lincoln, 1863

The year that is drawing towards its close, has been filled with the blessings of fruitful fields and healthful skies.

To these bounties, which are so constantly enjoyed that we are prone to forget the source from which they come, others have been added, which are of so extraordinary a nature that they cannot fail to penetrate and soften even the heart which is habitually insensible to the ever watchful providence of Almighty God.

In the midst of a civil war of unequalled magnitude and severity, which has sometimes seemed to foreign States to invite and to provoke their aggression, peace has been preserved with all nations, order has been maintained, the laws have been respected and obeyed, and harmony has prevailed everywhere except in the theatre of military conflict; while that theatre has been greatly contracted by the advancing armies and navies of the Union.

Needful diversions of wealth and of strength from the fields of peaceful industry to the national defense have not arrested the plough, the shuttle, or the ship; the axe had enlarged the borders of our settlements, and the mines, as well of iron and coal as of the precious metals, have yielded even more abundantly than heretofore.

Population has steadily increased, notwithstanding the waste that has been made in the camp, the siege and the battle-field; and the country, rejoicing in the consciousness of augmented strength and vigor, is permitted to expect continuance of years with large increase of freedom.

No human counsel hath devised nor hath any mortal hand worked out these great things. They are the gracious gifts of the Most High God, who, while dealing with us in anger for our sins, hath nevertheless remembered mercy. It has seemed to me fit and proper that they should be solemnly, reverently and gratefully acknowledged as with one heart and voice by the whole American People.

I do therefore invite my fellow citizens in every part of the United States, and also those who are at sea and those who are sojourning in foreign lands, to set apart and observe the last Thursday of November next, as a day of Thanksgiving and Praise to our beneficent Father who dwelleth in the Heavens.

And I recommend to them that while offering up the ascriptions justly due to Him for such singular deliverances and blessings, they do also, with humble penitence for our national perverseness and disobedience, commend to his tender care all those who have become widows, orphans, mourners or sufferers in the lamentable civil strife in which we are unavoidably engaged, and fervently implore the interposition of the Almighty Hand to heal the wounds of the nation and to restore it as soon as may be consistent with the Divine purposes to the full enjoyment of peace, harmony, tranquility and Union.

Give Thanks
Music Here

Give thanks with a grateful heart
Give thanks to the Holy One
Give thanks because He's given
Jesus Christ, His Son

(Repeat twice)

And now, Let the weak say "I am strong"
Let the poor say "I am rich"
Because of what the Lord has done for us

(Repeat twice)

Give thanks !







Count Your Blessings
Words by Johnson Oatman, 1897
Music Here

Chorus:

Count your blessings
Name them one by one
Count your blessings
See what God has done
Count your blessings
Name them one by one
Count your many blessings
See what God has done

When upon life's billows
You are tempest tossed
When you are discouraged
Thinking all is lost
Count your many blessings
Name them one by one
And it will surprise you
What the Lord has done

Chorus

Are you ever burdened
With a load of care
Does the cross seem heavy
You are called to bear
Count your many blessings
Every doubt will fly
And you will be singing
As the days go by

Chorus

When you look at others
With their lands and gold
Think that Christ has promised
You His wealth untold
Count your many blessings
Money cannot buy
Your reward in heaven
Nor your home on high

chorus

So, amid the conflict
Whether great or small
Do not be discouraged
God is over all
Count your many blessings
Angels will attend
Help and comfort give you
To your journey's end

chorus

"Enter His gates with thanksgiving, and His courts with praise.
Give thanks to Him and praise His name.
For the LORD is good and His love endures forever;
His faithfulness continues through all generations."
(Psalm 100:4-5)

"I do not think of all the misery,
but of the glory that remains.
Go outside into the fields, nature and the sun,
go out and seek happiness in yourself and in God.
Think of the beauty that again and again discharges itself
within and without you and be happy. Anne Frank

"Let us remember that, as much has been given us, much will be expected from us, and that true homage comes from the heart as well as from the lips, and shows itself in deeds."—1901 Theodore Roosevelt

"As we express our gratitude, we must never forget that the highest appreciation is not to utter words, but to live by them."
John Fitzgerald Kennedy

"It is the duty of all Nations to acknowledge the providence of Almighty God, to obey his will, to be grateful for his benefits, and humbly to implore his protection and favor." George Washington October 3, 1789 in his first Presidential Proclamation.

Thanksgiving Links

Thanksgiving Timeline

Jackie Lawsons 2005 offering

Turkey Singin the blues

Pumpkin Pie (Jackie Lawson)

11 Commandments of a THANKSGIVING DINNER

Thanksgiving Dinner Family Debate: Liberals vs. Conservatives

09-27-05 ~ Hall of Fame #13

THIS WEEK'S THREADS 11-21-05 Military Monday 11-21-05 Giving Thanks 11-23-05 “Animals are People Too”

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

[JustAmy]

Happy Birthday, Dutchess!
Wishing you the best day ever.

[The Mayor]

I don't comment much, but I sure do enjoy your tributes to our troops.

You're such an upbeat person. I had never encountered you before I read about the dog you and your friend rescued from the shore while canoeing. What a great story!

Bump to that sinkspur

[DollyCali]

Thank you Sinkspur! what a nice set of compliments! The thread on rescuing Oliver was fun to do. I need to do one on dog number two that found me over labor day.

I am going to try the plumbing myself (that should be cute,no?) I had my arm down the floor drain about 2 feet until the place it elbowed. There was alot of tile bits & rust parts. Not blocking but settled at bottom . I had a short snake that I tried but didn't have much luck so have left message w/friend to borrow his. I was actually in a hurry as I had to clean all up (water at least) and get ready to go out. thanks for your input - I think you are right about something going into the line a bit & getting struck. If it is as rusty as the other things it will break apart easily.. I have had to do a lot of troubleshooting & fixing of things the past years. With each project I learn more.

[DollyCali]

Thanks Rus.. I love eating out & have several good friends who I share dinner dates with a few times a week... nice to relax,chat & unwind.

[DollyCali]

Happy Birthday Sistah
(click)

[Diver Dave]

Happy Birthday, dutchess!!!

-Jack and Bailey

[DollyCali]

Hi all.. just wanted to give you the chance to visit new Finest member Pconttraux's Pcottraux's Friday FReeptoon most recent post. He has a bi-weekly thread.

[LadyX]

"Oh dear -- am I late, Alice?!!
You asked us to be here for a birthday party for The Dutchess!"

"Nah, Mr. Rabbitt - she's late!!"

I, for one, can hardly wait to eat some of her cake!
I understand her critters had this catered,
with a few of their favorite things on it!"

Happy Birthday, Your Majesty!!

[Billie]

"Nah, Mr. Rabbitt - she's late!!"

:)

Sweet Sistah Dutchess, I hope you are enjoying your weekend, and your birthday today. I would have given you your card in FR Mail, but Miss Dolly has thrown you a party, and I couldn't come empty-handed. :)

[Billie]

That is BEAUTIFUL, Amy!!!!

[LadyX]

"Your greeting for dutchess is
Simply Perfect, Billie!!!"

[Billie]

Thank you, Maggie. :) Hope she'll have time to drop in sometime. Like me, she's not always around a lot on the weekends. :)

I need to get dressed - still in robe and slippers and having second cup of coffee.

Hope you enjoy the rest of the weekend! :)

[The Mayor]

November 26, 2005

Where Will Death Lead?

Read:
1 Corinthians 15:12-26

The sting of death is sin . . . . But thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ. —1 Corinthians 15:56-57

Bible In One Year: Acts 19:11-20:1, 2 Corinthians 1-3

In AD 410, the Germanic barbarians known as the Goths sacked the city of Rome. During the invasion, many Christians were put to death in hideous and cruel ways.

In the midst of this tragedy, the great theologian Augustine (354-430) wrote his classic The City of God. His reflections, now nearly 16 centuries old, are still fresh today.

Augustine wrote, "The end of life puts the longest life on a par with the shortest . . . . Death becomes evil only by the retribution which follows it. They, then, who are destined to die need not inquire about what death they are to die, but into what place death will usher them."

For those who trust Jesus Christ, death is not a sheriff dragging us off to court, but a servant ushering us into the presence of a loving Lord. The apostle Paul understood this. He looked at life and death from Christ's perspective. Since he knew where death would take him, he could boldly declare, "Death is swallowed up in victory" (1 Corinthians 15:54).

Every Christian can have that same courage. Because of Christ's death and resurrection, we who place our faith in Him can look at death not as a period but a comma that precedes a glorious eternity with our Lord. —Haddon Robinson

We never have seen, nor heard, nor imagined
The wonderful future the Lord has prepared
For those who will love and trust and receive Him—
This glorious truth He has plainly declared. —Hess

Death is not a period—it's only a comma.

FOR FURTHER STUDY
Is There Life After Death?

[JustAmy]

Good morning, Billie. Thank you .... I remembered the lesson that you gave me a couple of months ago. :)

Happy Saturday ...... hope you are having a wonderful weekend.

[JustAmy]

Good morning, Rus.

Thank you for our Daily Bread. I appreciate these messages.

Hope you are having a relaxing weekend.

[The Mayor]

Glad you enjoy them Amy..
Cold, snowy weather here in WNY
I do have to run out to do some work today.

[deadhead]

Happy Birthdaydutchess

[JustAmy]

Stay warm, Rus.

See you when you get back.

[ST.LOUIE1]

Well, darlin', another year older and you're still as pretty as ever.

[PrissyMissy]

Happy Birthday, Dutchess.
I hope you are having chocolate cake for lunch.