[Billie]

Good morning! I'm sorry to be so late getting today's thread up - I had *MAJOR* problems posting, but FINALLY we're here - door's open, coffee's on!

[The Mayor]

November 23, 2004

"Just As I Am"

Read: John 6:35-40

All that the Father gives Me will come to Me, and the one who comes to Me I will by no means cast out. —John 6:37

Bible In One Year: Ezekiel 20-21; James 5

---

Charlotte Elliott learned an important lesson about Jesus one sleepless night in 1834. She was an invalid, so when her family held a bazaar in Brighton, England, to raise money to build a school, she could only watch from afar.

That night she was overwhelmed by her helplessness and could not sleep. But her sadness turned to joy when she realized that God accepted her just as she was.

Her experience inspired these well-loved words: "Just as I am, without one plea but that Thy blood was shed for me, and that Thou bidd'st me come to Thee, O Lamb of God, I come! I come!" When she published the poem in The Invalid's Hymn Book, she included with it John 6:37.

Jesus always accepts people as they are. In John 6, the people had come from miles around to hear Jesus. When the crowd became hungry, He miraculously fed them with a boy's unselfish gift of five loaves and two fish. Then the Lord offered Himself as "the bread of life," promising that He would not turn away anyone who came to Him.

It's still true today. No one who comes to Jesus will be turned away. Come to Him with all your sin. He'll accept you just as you are. —Dave Egner

Just as I am, Thou wilt receive,
Wilt welcome, pardon, cleanse, relieve;
Because Thy promise I believe,
O Lamb of God, I come! I come! —Elliott

No one is too good or too bad to be saved.

[The Mayor]

I still love this one..

[Diver Dave]

Mornin' Billie. I was beginning to wonder if the turkey plucking you were engaged in had taken it's toll.

Glad to see you made it, turkey feathers and all.

Looks like we're gonna be busy re-visiting all those old thread. Pretty presentation to get into the holiday spirit. Time to throw out the calorie counters - It's Christmas time.

BTW, I started putting up my outdoor lights over the weekend. I grumble less doing it in the sunshine than I do in the rain.

[lonestar]

This will keep us busy for a while. Love it!

[dansangel]

Sorry to hear you had so many problems this morning (((((((Billie)))))))

You managed to pull it off with grace and aplomb just the same!

Beautiful thread, although it makes my palms sweaty to think about Christmas coming so soon.....eeeeek!

[Lakeside]

Oh--just WOW, Billie! What a fun thread today. This is my absolute favorite time of the year---a little bit of heaven on earth. Let the holidays begin!!

Gotta go for a while but I'll be back in a bit...

[LadyX]

What a truly special thread it is, Billie, revisiting some of our Finest Hours!!

First things first, though, for the holiday we truly should celebrate every day of every year ---

Almighty God,
Thy Will,
Nothing More,
Nothing Less,
Nothing Else!

Happy Thanksgiving!!

[Pippin]

Good Afternoon or Morning Everybody!!!

I have a top ten list for you all.

The Ten Top things I'm grateful for this Thanksgiving

10. For my family

9. My job

8. The fact that I live in a good place and am across the street from the church I go to.

7. for great friennds and co-workers (even if they are liberals)

6. My health is basically good

5. We survived the Election of '04 and proved once again our ability to have a peaceful trqansition of power (well, a re-election anyway)

4. That wew weren't hit by another terrorist attack on US soil this year

3. We have a great leader and he has a great staff and cabinet.

2. That I had FreeRepublic to come to for my sanity.

1. And the #1 reason to be greatful, We HAVE A GREAT AND POWERFUL GOD WHO IS IN CHARGER OF ALL THINGS.

HAPPY THANKSGIVING!!!!!

[Aeronaut]

Good morning Snippy.

[tuliptree76]

Good afternoon, Billie! I hope you are having a wonderful Tuesday.

[Kitty Mittens]

Thank you for the lovely thread, Billie! I'm still overwhelmed by the kindness and hospitality the Finest Family has shown me! I love you all, and pray everyone has a Blessed Thanksgiving!

[MEG33]

Thank you for the great thread! Bookmarking it.

Wishing all of you a Blessed and Happy Thanksgiving!

God bless our armed forces and all who wait for them at home

[Mama_Bear]

Lovely post today, Billie. Thank you for all the beautiful things you do. :-)

Can't stay around today. I'm at my son's for the Thanksgiving holiday. I feel like I am being antisocial sitting here behind a computer screen, so I guess I had better close up the ol' laptop at start socializing. LOL

[deadhead]

Hi Billie, wonderful thread! Was looking over some of the threads from days gone by, great memories. You're the best!

[Diver Dave]

Looks like the doors are about to close for the evening, but wanted to take another look around the place.

Great thread today filled with Holiday Seasons from the past and present. Good to see so many FRiends stopping by with greetings and memories.