A Few of FR's Finest....Every Day....12-9,10,11-05...From East to West Freepers Decorate Best

Billie

[Billie]

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 ~

Good morning, FReeper FRiends! We're Christmas'ing all this month at the Finest, and this weekend you are invited to join us on a tour of the Finest Homes, where many of our regulars are going to share their decorations with you in their posts throughout the weekend. In addition, we would love to see your Christmas trees, your outdoor lights, favorite decorations, recipes, Christmas traditions in your home.

Because the thread may get really *graphics-heavy*, I ask that you keep your photos a reasonable size (both physical and in bytes), but do hope you will feel free to post as many as you like, and drop in often to see the offerings of others. I will start with a little bit of Christmas in my kitchen, which helps get me in the mood to bake cookies and other goodies we don't need but think we can't do without. :)

As we share our photos and traditions with others, I'd like to share a link to a wonderful Christmas album: "Merry Christmas With love" by Clay Aiken, who has one of the most beautiful voices I've ever heard. My favorite song is #6: "Mary Did You Know". I've been listening to it over and over and over, but you should be able to listen to all of the songs on that CD.

Clay Aiken ~ "Merry Christmas With Love"

Mary Did You Know

Mary, did you know
that your Baby Boy would one day walk on water?
Mary, did you know
that your Baby Boy would save our sons and daughters?
Did you know
that your Baby Boy has come to make you new?
This Child that you delivered will soon deliver you.

Mary, did you know
that your Baby Boy will give sight to a blind man?
Mary, did you know
that your Baby Boy will calm the storm with His hand?
Did you know
that your Baby Boy has walked where angels trod?
When you kiss your little Baby you kissed the face of God?

Mary did you know.. Ooo Ooo Ooo

The blind will see.
The deaf will hear.
The dead will live again.
The lame will leap.
The dumb will speak
The praises of The Lamb.

Mary, did you know
that your Baby Boy is Lord of all creation?
Mary, did you know
that your Baby Boy will one day rule the nations?
Did you know
that your Baby Boy is heaven's perfect Lamb?
The sleeping Child you're holding is the Great, I Am.

From My House to Yours.....

Merry Christmas, Ya'll!

09-27-05 ~ Hall of Fame #13

THIS WEEK'S THREADS 12-05-05 Military Monday 12-06-05 Finest Christmas Tables, Part I 12-07-05 Christmas in New York 12-08-05 Bush Booming, Democrats Still Depressed

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

[snugs]

Most of the leaves have turned and in most place fallen but they were late this year so some still have not.

We do also have some trees and hedges that are ever green; I suppose origins somewhere in Scandinavia.

The palm tree, we have a spate of this being popular; seems you do not need very hot weather for them they seem to survive in wet, windy and miserable weather.

Our weather at present is just above freezing; no snow yet normally we do not get that until January/February though this will not stop people putting a bet on a white Christmas.

On the subject of decorations etc. Do your TV stations have special graphics etc with Christmas scenes; have seen some on FNC but what about the non cable stations? Ours do.

[snugs]

Skinner now that sounds a good English name my guess probably from the Midlands or the North of England.

[GodBlessUSA]

Yes, a hankie alert for sure. Very lovely Pistov Elf. Thanks so much. :)

[GodBlessUSA]

(ROTFLOL)
Don't worry Pistov Elf. Tell the EIB to put the canes down. From the short time I've come to know Louie, He has a big heart and wouldn't hurt anyone. He's more than likely just teasing you. Although, seeing Louie as an elf with a tail could be interesting. :)

[Mrs.Nooseman]

Good Morning Pistov.

Thank you for sharing this story with us.

It's my favorite Christmas story.~sniff,sniff~

[The Mayor]

December 11, 2005

Confronted By The Cross

Read:
Luke 23:33-43

When they had come to the place called Calvary, there they crucified [Jesus]. —Luke 23:33

Bible In One Year: Hebrews 1-4

World-famous Russian author Aleksandr Solzhenitsyn was sent to a Siberian prison because he criticized communism. Languishing there under intolerable conditions year after year, he decided to end his life. But suicide, he firmly believed, would be against God's will. He thought it would be better for a guard to shoot him.

So at a public assembly of the prisoners, he sat in a front row, planning to get up and walk toward an exit, compelling a guard to kill him. But to his surprise, another prisoner sat down, blocking his exit. That unknown man leaned over and, to Solzhenitsyn's astonishment, drew a cross on the dirt floor.

The cross! Wondering if that fellow prisoner might be a messenger from God, Solzhenitsyn resolved to endure his imprisonment. There in prison he became a Christian and was eventually set free to bear witness to the world.

Are you in the grip of difficult circumstances? Have you wondered if life is worth living? Focus your heart on the cross—it is the message of God's love, forgiveness, and saving grace for you. Invite the Christ of Calvary with His transforming power into your life. Discover for yourself that the Christ of the cross can change you. —Vernon Grounds

The cross is my hope for eternity—
No merit have I of my own;
The shed blood of Christ my only plea—
My trust is in Jesus alone. —Christiansen
© Renewal 1949 by Singspiration Inc.

Calvary's cross is the only bridge to eternal life.

FOR FURTHER STUDY
Why Did Christ Have To Die?

[DollyCali]

Have a wonderful Lord's Day All...
It is Snowing heavily here

[apackof2]

Maddie & Me Christmas 2004

[luvie]

Good morning Mayor. Have a blessed Sunday, sing out in church.

Thank you for our beautiful lesson from God's Word.

He died that we might gain eternal life with Him if we obey Him.

[luvie]

[click on picture]
~~~~~~~~~
"Heaven Opened Up Its Doors"
by Jeff Russell
aka Texas Songwriter

[dixie sass]

The same to you Dolly. Y'all stay snug as bugs today! I bet the dogs are having fun when they go out!

[ST.LOUIE1]

Everyone's home looks so special all decorated - wolfie caught the bug. : )

Have a wonderful Sunday. God Bless.

[ST.LOUIE1]

Although, seeing Louie as an elf with a tail could be interesting. :)

Don't go 'there', GeeBee......

your pet may meet a terrible fate, like old St.Nick.: )

[ST.LOUIE1]

Elfin tricks will never rid you of Santa Wolfie.

Stop whining and go back to making bells for your slippers.

[Wolfstar]

Beautiful, Dolly. Be safe in that snowy weather. Here in L.A. what passes for a winter day has dawned bright, sunny and mild.

[Billie]

A wonderful song to listen to on this Lord's Day, two weeks before Christmas.

Clay Aiken ~ Mary Did You Know

[Billie]

Oh, wolfie! I love your Christmas decorations. Do you have some hot chocolate inside - it's cold and snowing outside. :)

[Billie]

Beautiful Christmas photo! THank you for posting it here!

[Billie]

That's so pretty, Colleen, and I love the way you've presented your kitchen tree.

[Billie]

I missed you yesterday, GeeBee. Are you going to get to post some of your Christmas decor? I hope so. Really would love to see what you've done.