A Few of FR's Finest....Every Day....02-08,09,10-08....T.G.I.F. at the Finest

February 8, 2008 | Billie

[Billie]

[Billie]

Welcome to TGIF "Wear Red Friday"
Supporting Our Troops Today & Every Day

[MEG33]

Happy TGIF To The Finest

I'm Wearing Red To Support Our Troops

[The Mayor]

February 8, 2008

The Secret Garden

ODB RADIO: Listen Now | Download

READ: Proverbs 4:20-27

Keep your heart with all diligence, for out of it spring the issues of life. —Proverbs 4:23

The Secret Garden, a novel by Frances Hodgson Burnett, tells the story of Mary, a young girl who goes to live with her wealthy uncle Archibald on his estate in England.  Mary gets to know Dickon, a working-class boy who loves nature. The two children discover a fenced-in garden that Mary’s uncle has locked up because it reminds him of his deceased wife. The garden looks dead because of neglect, but Dickon assures Mary that, with proper tending, it will recover with new life. With the children’s help, “the secret garden” eventually bursts forth with colorful, fragrant blooms.

All of us have a secret garden of the heart. How we tend it will determine what speech and behavior it produces. Proverbs wisely admonishes us: “Keep your heart with all diligence, for out of it spring the issues of life” (Prov. 4:23). The word keep means “to watch or guard with fidelity.” Guarding what we take into our hearts and monitoring our response will determine what takes root there. As we remove the thorns of resentment, weeds of lust, and roots of bitterness, we can replace them with the fruit of the Spirit: “love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control” (Gal. 5:22-23).

Are you tending the garden of your heart?

Think not alone of outward form;
Its beauty will depart;
But cultivate the Spirit’s fruits
That grow within the heart.  —D. De Haan

God wants you to water the seed He’s planted in your heart.

Bible in One Year:  Exodus 34–36; Proverbs 14:12-24

[MEG33]

Thank You!

For Our Weekend Thread..
Beautiful pledge and ping!

[lonestar]

Is that a ghost in red heels?

Weinie

[lonestar]

Why are some of those women wearing only their underwear?

Weinie

[MEG33]

It’s a style, show ,Weinie, and all of it is to wear in public! LOL

[The Mayor]

[MEG33]

Thank you, Mayor, for a reminder to tend our “garden”.

[La Enchiladita]

Thanks, Billie, what a week!!! Whew!!!
Do I need to remind everyone why? Hmmm, I don’t think so....

I was happy to tune in to The Early Show this morning, which I never do. There was a young singer named Jamia Nash (?), absolutely lovely. As if that wasn’t enough, she was followed by Josh Groban. Did anyone else see this? What a nice change, something peaceful and lovely to focus on.

[La Enchiladita]

Wow, interesting pic Meg, always nice to see Lady Laura.

[MEG33]

I am sorry I missed that!

The picture is from a Heart Month Style Show.

[Diver Dave]

TGIF at the Finest! Yipee!
Busy agenda but but stopping by to bump a Finest Thread.
Great looking Pledge, Billie. Is that you decked out in RED?
Have a Great Weekend, y’all!

[Diver Dave]

Back again to post a pic and text from an e-mail...

John works at the Cargill plant in Eddyville , Iowa .

Wouldn't it be fitting if this went completely around the world!...

John Gebhardt's wife, Mindy, said that this little girl's entire family was executed. The insurgents intended to execute the little girl also, and shot her in the head...but they failed to kill her. She was cared for in John's hospital and is healing up, but continues to cry and moan. The nurses said John is the only one who seems to calm her down, so John has spent the last four nights holding her while they both slept in that chair. The girl is coming along with her healing.

He is a real Star of the war, and represents what America is trying to do.

This, my friends, is worth sharing. Go for it!! You'll never see things like this in the news. Please keep this going. Nothing will happen if you don't, but the American public needs to see pictures like this and needs to realize that what we're doing over there is making a difference. Even if it is just one little girl at a time.

James Gates U. S. Navy

[SnarlinCubBear]

Thank you for posting this. It’s so touching. I hate evil.

[SnarlinCubBear]

Beautiful reminder Mayor. So necessary, too.

[The Mayor]

February 9, 2008

Life Beyond The Rituals

READ: Mark 1:16-20

They immediately left their nets and followed Him. —Mark 1:18

A royal dignitary was greeting residents at a nursing home, when he was surprised by the unresponsiveness of one woman who just sat there and stared at him. Finally, the dignitary asked, “Do you know who I am?”—to which the woman responded: “No. But that nurse over there helps us with those kinds of things.”

Many people are confused about who Jesus is. But through His Word,  God helps us know and enjoy the real Jesus. You will find Him wonderfully compelling. Tough fishermen, tax collectors, and zealots gave up everything to follow Him (Mark 1:18). Women felt safe with Him. Crowds stood in awe of His power and authority. 

Jesus is not content to be just our “fire insurance,” saving us from eternal punishment in hell. Rather, He wants us to know Him for who He really is, and He desires to connect with us on a deeper, more personal level.

If you are weary of a religion that is about rules and regulations, then welcome to life beyond the rituals. Welcome to a relationship in which you can find companionship, comfort, wisdom, and reality. Welcome to the wonderful privilege of getting to know Jesus and the joy of following Him.

Get to know Him—and you’ll grow to love Him more and more each day.

Which of all our friends, to save us,
Could or would have shed their blood?
But our Jesus died to have us
Reconciled in Him to God.  —Newton

To know Jesus is to love Jesus.

Bible in One Year:  Mark 1–6; Proverbs 14:25-35

[DollyCali]

sorry for being AWOL.. I had a big presentation to make this evening (spoke to over 200) and had a lot of prep.

It went well..

Neat Pledge & ping Billie. interesting with the red heels on the train tracks.. lots of imagery there & good fodder for therapists to use

Hope you are all having a great weekend.I am beat & must sleep.. night all & God Bless!

[GodBlessUSA]

Hi Billie
Wonderful thread! :) Neat photo.