A Few of FR's Finest....Every Day....05-10-05....Pippin's Top Ten Reasons to be Happy

Billie; Pippin | Pippin

[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, Mama_Bear, Dutchess, Aquamarine, DollyCali ~

Hello everybody! Pippin here, sharing some thoughts...

These last few weeks and months have been really tough, and no more so than here on Free Republic. So much evil going on....

• Those two innocent little girls in Florida being raped and murdered by those creeps! But even worse was the fact that they were convicted, repeat offenders!
  
  
• Then there was Terri Schiavo - I thought there was gonna be a civil war here on FR on that issue! PHEW!
  
  
• The latest are the comments, both pro and con, about the First Lady at that WH Correspondents Dinner! If this wasn't the internet, I do believe there would've been physical violence for sure!
  
  
• Then there are the continuing threads about the borders and illegal immigrants, as well as terrorists and really crazy democrats! And the Bush bashing! Ugh!

You know what we need, not only at the Finest, but *all* of Free Republic?

We need laughter!

We need to get back to a sense of the really important things in our lives: counting our blessings instead of the curses. I made a Top Ten List, in no particular order, of just a few of the things that make me happy and that I am thankful for. Here's my list:

Pippin's Top Ten Reasons to be Happy!

1. Every morning I wake up to a beautiful new day. As Travis Tritt wrote in one of his songs, "The sun still shines when I close my eyes." Thank you Jesus!
   
   
2. I may have back and joint problems amongst other things, but I look at someone every day who has no legs and only one arm with two fingers. (She plans to get married in October) Yet she has such a positive attitude she puts me to shame whenever I complain. She has much more to complain about, but doesn't, so I'm grateful for having two legs to walk with, two arms to work with, and two eyes to look upon God's splendid Creation!
   
   
3. I am thankful that I was born and raised in a wonderful and free country with such diverse beauty from ocean to ocean, border to border!
   
   
4. I am grateful that we have folks in America who are willing to risk it all in service to our country. Grateful not only for our military, but those who serve in the state houses, the Congress, and those in the Governors' Mansions and the Oval Office. Then there are the police officers and firefighters as well! God bless them all!
   
   
5. I may not be from a perfect family (who is?) but I'm part of a family who cares for one another and loves one another no matter what mistakes one of us might make.
   
   
6. I enjoy a good long walk where I'm thinking and looking at all the wonderful little evidences of life, both flora and fauna! And I think "GOD IS GREAT!"
   
   
7. God loves me in spite of some of the things I do that are wrong. Even if no one loves me I know HE does. :o)
   
   
8. I love a really good novel - either history or SCI-Fi/Fantasy, as well as fiction or non-fiction.
   
   
9. Happiness is watching children just being children.
   
   
10. Of course! I am also thankful for FREE REPUBLIC and all my FReeper FRiends! Thank you Jim Robinson!

Say, maybe YOOU ALL have something in your lives you are most grateful for and things that make you happy! I've told you mine, now you can tell me yours. I only have one stipulation, though, and that is, nothing negative! Only the positive!

~ Pippin ~

If this doesn't put a smile on your face, then
there is no hope - you're just an ole' sourpuss! :)
~ Billie

03-29-05 ~ Hall of Fame #11

THIS WEEK'S THREADS 05-09-05 Military Monday

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

[Billie]

[Billie]

[Billie]

Below are names of some of our FReepers' loved ones who are serving our country. If you have someone you would like to add, please address a post to

Billie; Mama_Bear; Dutchess; Aquamarine; The Mayor; DollyCali,
and we will add their name to this list. As we pray for them, we pray also for all our nation’s leaders, and military personnel, and their families and friends. May God hold them close to His heart.

gator girl........................husband severa............husband, brother Maigrey............................cousin mystery-ak.............son, husband Gogrammy...................grandson Inspectorette.......................son Blessed American..........nephew Slip18..........................nephew anniegetyourgun...........nephew Diver Dave.......niece, nephew ConspiracyGuy........2 nephews Pippin............niece's husband sneakers..............................son weldgophardline.....brotherinlaw jamaly.................brotherinlaw Future Snake Eater..........cousin WaterDragon.............grandson WaterDragon...........son-in-law BeforeISleep...................son kimmie7......................brother Armymarinemom............3 sons american_ranger.............son LadyX.........................grandson fawn796.......................nephew Dubya............................nephew ValerieUSA....................2 sons Lakeside........................2 sons LakeLady......................nephew Spruce.........................daughter Philman_36..............2 nephews bjcintennessee.......son, niece TheMayor...............friends'son mhking.........................cousin eaglesiniowa.....................son visualops..........................cousin auboy.............................cousin Ladysmith..nephew, friend's son tina07......soninlaw & his friend Katydidnt.............................son MontanaCowgirlCop.......brother Colorado Slim................nephew Tapatio....................2 nephews Alouette................................son Q6-God...................twin brother Q6-God.....................active duty Warrior Nurse...........active duty SK1 Thurman...........active duty David Osborne.........active duty fc2tomschermuly......active duty bkwells....................active duty LongCut....................active duty cjk...........................active duty Trish.........................active duty ODC-GIRL.................active duty AF_Blue...................active duty Notwithstanding.......active duty thumperusn..............active duty Veloxherc.................active duty Don Simmons...........active duty wingnutx...................active duty Old Sarge.................active duty CGblue.....................active duty bigghurtt...................active duty frankiep....................active duty

scubachick.....................husband OhioWfan................................son ladtx..................................2 sons Its_me_K.E.T.........................son Hostel............................cousin MozartLover...........son, nephew LBGA (RIP)..........................son katykelly..............................son cookcounty.............................son SpookBrat........................nephew SpookBrat........................cousin Doug from Upland............soninlaw Himyar....................................son boxerblues........................2 sons the piper....................................son sheeza................................husband kemathen7.........................husband Tiffee4Bob..........................boyfriend deadhead.............................cousin JimRobinson...............2 nephews TexKat.......................son, step-son StarCMC.............................brother Consort........................2 daughters Consort.......................son-in-law Darheel...............................niece Donaeus...........................nephew dixie sass........................nephew BeAllYouCanBe........................son Repubmommy........................brother AgThorn................................2 sons homeschoolmama...............nephew kneezles.................................son RoseinRoseBear.....cousin's hubby Atomic Conspiracy......half-brother Atomic Conspiracy...........nephew Atomic Conspiracy..............niece Sunflowergal....................grandson mrstank..............................husband MrsMike31........................husband spotbust1............................husband Leofl...........................................son chena............................................son campfollower............................fiance LUV W........................................son painter...................................nephew ProudAFDad...................................son Misty4jc................................husband Bykrbayb........................................son Hope and Glory.........................son ak_daddoo..............................nephew SilentServiceCPOWife........husband Walkenfree................2 grandsons Walkenfree.................. 3 nephews Walkenfree..................granddaughter ariamne.........................2 cousins Zechariah_8_13.......brother-in-law Zechariah_8_13.......................cousin DirtyHarryY2K......................daughter DirtyHarryY2K................son-in-law nelibeli...................................nephew Skimask.....................................son El Gato...............................nephew Palladin...............................grandson MississippyMuddy...................sister MississippyMuddy.....2 nephews

[ST.LOUIE1]

Morning, beautiful Billie Blue.

Happy to see you up and running again. : )

[ST.LOUIE1]

Say, maybe YOOU ALL have something in your lives you are most grateful for and things that make you happy!

I do. *You*!

Pip, you have the soul of an angel. I love your kind heart and special personality.

((((((( My Little Hobbit )))))))

[Billie]

Hi, there, you! Mailbox was hanging up a few minutes ago. :(

Time for me to say goodnight. Thought I should post this thread while I had the connection to the net.

(((((((((TLL))))))))))))

[ST.LOUIE1]

Time for me to say goodnight.
Thought I should post this thread while I had the connection to the net.

Good girl. And a great thread it is.The Pipster knocked it outta the park! : )

Cute graphics too. : )

G'nite, doll.

[ST.LOUIE1]

Hey, cutie.....come read our little Pip's thread, it's a beauty. : )

[Diver Dave]

A beautiful presentation. Thank you.

Pip, you are a joy to have around. I'm proud to be listed among your friends.

[The Mayor]

May 10, 2005

The Answer Is No

Read:
2 Samuel 12:13-23

David arose from the ground, . . . and he went into the house of the Lord and worshiped. -2 Samuel 12:20

Bible In One Year: Psalm 88-90

Children are so lovable and innocent-until their parents say no to their demands. When that happens, some kids scream uncontrollably, insisting on what they want.

When our children were little, my wife and I thought it was important for them to learn to accept no for an answer. We felt this would help them to handle the disappointments of life more effectively. We prayed that it would also help them submit to God's will.

Today's Bible reading records King David's admission of guilt when confronted by Nathan. David was forgiven, but God let the consequence of his sin fall on the baby conceived out of wedlock. David fasted and prayed to the Lord day and night for his son's healing. In spite of his sincere petitions, the baby died.

Instead of behaving like a demanding child and being angry with God, David got up, washed, changed his clothes, "went into the house of the Lord, and worshiped" (2 Samuel 12:20). His actions teach us an important lesson: Sometimes we must accept no from God as the answer to our pleas.

In times of difficulty or loss, we should seek God's help and deliverance. But we must still trust Him if He does not answer our prayers the way we want Him to.

Have we learned to take no for an answer? -Albert Lee

I do accept Your will, O God,
And all Your ways adore;
And every day I live I'll seek
To please You more and more. -Anon.

In His will is our peace. -Dante

FOR FURTHER STUDY
God Our Father

[Pippin]

Thanks Louie! :o)

[Pippin]

Thanks! :o)

[Lakeside]

G' morning, BillieBlueBird.

Hiya, Pip.

Love the thread, ladies. Great topic.

I just spent the whole Mother's Day weekend visiting Older Son, DIL, and Beautiful Grandchild and positively reveling in #5 and #9 on the list.

Older Son took us on a tour of his submarine(wow, was THAT ever fantastic and amazing!) so #4 came into sharp focus.

And today I come to the Finest, our little corner of sunshine, reminding me that #10 is just a click away...

My happiness cup is running over.

[GailA]

Good morning ALL. Many fine reasons to be happy Pippin.

[LadyX]

"But we must still trust Him if He does not answer our prayers the way we want Him to."

A reminder of how often in our youth (and beyond) when we, taught to solve our own problems, figured out "what was best/what we wanted," only to have it derailed by Our Father - and to figure out later "our" solution would have led to a disaster.

Simple phrase - hard to grasp - "THY WILL be done!"

Finally the realization breaks through to we must present Him with our needs and thoughts, and then turn over the reins to Him and allow Him to operate in our behalf -- and things then turn our in our best interest.

Sometimes that is definitely not pleasant, but through our handling of it, He might be trying to use us to demonstrate something to others!!
Your example of your co-worker is a perfect illustration of that, Pippin.

It is not possible for every prayer to go as we might like; healing not granted, one of the most frequent.
Nineteen years ago facing a "progressive and irreversible" outcome to a physical problem and a prognosis of burial within a year or less, I trustingly placed it under HIS Timetable, and rested in that.

I have been given all these years and 4 more grandchildren, added to the 4 I already had - and a great-grandson!

The point I am trying to make, though, is something I read back then--a writer pointed out "If God grants every plea for healing of the sick/dying, the world would soon be greatly overpopulated, and all of us thus *unable to sustain life* without adequate food and shelter!!"

I, for one, do not wish to starve to death, out in the heat/cold, with predators trying to steal what I possess!
The Law of those (human) Animals would rule us.

Mull over the wisdom of that, and realize God plans our lives and all these things, including when to take us to His Home.
Yes - the 'evil one' has dominion over the earth, and is the one who inflicts pain and illness upon us, but true 'survival' is our willingness to abide by God's Will.

Adopting David's attitude, I continue to trust and praise and thank God every day, no matter what their number might be...

[LadyX]

**LadyX is going out to play in the yard!!**
YIPPEEE!!!

[Darksheare]

Morning!

[Mrs.Nooseman]

Good Morning Pippin!

Outstanding post and so true!

I am thankful for my beautiful children,that God gave me and
#10 on your list! :)

God bless you!

[FreeTheHostages]

[Pippin]

Good Morning Lakeside! :o)