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A Few of FR's Finest....Every Day....11-24 to-27-05...Thanksgiving is GIVING Thanks!
DollyCali | November 24, 2005 | DollyCali

Posted on 11/24/2005 12:51:41 AM PST by 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!


TOPICS: News/Current Events
KEYWORDS: abrahamlincoln; family; food; football; friends; georgebush; georgewashington; pilgrims; prayer; thanksgiving; turkey
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1 posted on 11/24/2005 12:51:43 AM PST by DollyCali
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To: DollyCali
Is Thanksgiving a Religious Holiday?
By Tom Barrett


Thanksgiving is a national holiday. But long before it was recognized as such by President Lincoln, Americans understood clearly that it was a special time for a Christian nation to set aside time to thank their Heavenly Father for His many blessings.

103 Pilgrims arrived on the Mayflower on the shores of Cape Cod in November, 1620. 51 of them died that first terrible winter. Yet even in the face of such great loss, they set aside a day for prayer and Thanksgiving after their first harvest. Although it was not recognized as such at the time, this was the beginning of the yearly Thanksgiving celebration.

Over the years Americans celebrated Thanksgiving informally without benefit of any governmental proclamation. After all, God's children have never needed the approval of government to offer thanks to Him.

In 1817 the State of New York adopted Thanksgiving as an official holiday. Many other states followed suit, until in 1863 Abraham Lincoln appointed a national day of Thanksgiving

Since then, every President has issued a Thanksgiving Day proclamation for the fourth Thursday in November. These proclamations, even when uttered by the most immoral of presidents, always mention gratitude to God. This is because they know that most Americans still acknowledge that God is the source of every good thing we receive.

If you would like to know what God thinks about all this, look at I Thessalonians 5:18: "In everything give thanks, for this is the will of God for you." In Philippians 4:6 the Apostle Paul says, "Be careful for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God. And the peace of God which passeth all understanding shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus."

But Paul also says, "In the last days people will be ungrateful." (2 Timothy 3:1). We see a lot of that these days, don't we? As a nation, we have been blessed with abundance unknown in many parts of this world. In fact, the poorest American would be considered wealthy in many nations. Yet many refuse to even acknowledge the God Who has blessed them.

So, is Thanksgiving a religious holiday or a national holiday? In many places it is simply another opportunity for a long weekend and a chance to get together with family. In millions of homes this week people gorged themselves with delicious food and watched sports. No one said a blessing over the food that God had provided. No one took a few moments to share the things for which they should have been grateful. In these homes, they didn't even understand Who it was they should be grateful to. For these people, it was just another holiday.

In other homes, it was a religious holiday, as it has been from its inception. The family members and guests honored the Lord. They thanked him for the food he had provided. Many took time for each family member to share something for which they felt especially grateful. These homes were blessed. I feel sorry for those which missed this experience.


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.


Some Presidential Proclamations to note:

THANKSGIVING DAY PROCLAMATION
(Excerpt)
President Andrew Jackson, 1867

"Let us remember that He has covered our land with greatly needed and very abundant harvests; that He has caused industry to prosper, not only in our fields, but also in our workshops, in our mines, and in our forests. He has permitted us to multiply ships upon our lakes and rivers and upon the high seas, and at the same time to extend our iron roads to far into the secluded places of the continent. He has inclined our hearts to turn away from domestic contentions and commotions and to walk more and more in the ancient ways of loyalty, conciliation, and brotherly love."

Thanksgiving Proclamations





THANKSGIVING DAY 1863


By the President of the United States : a Proclamation

...In the midst of a civil war of unequaled 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 theater of military conflict, while that theater has been greatly contracted by the advancing armies and navies of the Union...

...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.

ABRAHAM LINCOLN




THANKSGIVING DAY 1898


By the President of the United States : a Proclamation

...The skies have been for a time darkened by the cloud of war, but as we were compelled to take up the sword in the cause of humanity we are permitted to rejoice that the conflict has been of brief duration and the losses we have had to mourn, though grievous and important, have been so few, considering the great results accomplished, as to inspire us with gratitude and praise to the Lord of Hosts...

WILLIAM McKINLEY




THANKSGIVING 1917


By the President of the United States : a Proclamation

It has long been the honored custom of our people to turn in the fruitful autumn of the year in praise and thanksgiving to Almighty God for His many blessings and mercies to us as a nation. That custom we can follow now even in the midst of the tragedy of a world shaken by war and immeasurable disaster, in the midst of sorrow and great peril, because even amidst the darkness that has gathered about us we can see the great blessings God has bestowed upon us, blessings that are better than mere peace of mind and prosperity of enterprise.

WOODROW WILSON




THANKSGIVING DAY, 1943


By the President of the United States : a Proclamation

God’s help to us has been great in this year of march towards world-wide liberty. In brotherhood with warriors of other United Nations our gallant men have won victories, have freed our homes from fear, have made tyranny tremble, and have laid the foundation for freedom of life in a world which will be free. Our forges and hearths and mills have wrought well; and our weapons have not failed. Our farmers, Victory gardeners, and crop volunteers have gathered and stored a heavy harvest in the barns and bins and cellars. Our total food production for the year is the greatest in the annals of our country...

FRANKLIN D. ROOSEVELT




THANKSGIVING DAY, 1953


By the President of the United States : a Proclamation

As a Nation much blessed, we feel impelled at harvest time to follow the tradition handed down by our Pilgrim fathers of pausing from our labors for one day to render thanks to Almighty God for His bounties. Now that the year is drawing to a close, once again it is fitting that we incline our thoughts to His mercies and offer to Him our special prayers of gratitude... Especially are we grateful this year for the truce in battle-weary Korea, which gives to anxious men and women throughout the world the hope that there may now be an enduring peace.

DWIGHT D. EISENHOWER




THANKSGIVING DAY, 1967


By the President of the United States : a Proclamation

...Over the years, we have made Thanksgiving a unique national occasion. Thanking God for His goodness, we thank Him as well for the promise and achievement of America. Our reasons for gratitude are almost without number.... Much as we are grateful for these material and spiritual blessings, we are conscious, in this year, of special sorrows and disappointments. We are engaged in a painful conflict in Asia, which was not of our choosing, and in which we are involved in fidelity to a sacred promise to help a nation which has been the victim of aggression. We are proud of the spirit of our men who are risking their lives on Asian soil. We pray that their sacrifice will be redeemed in an honorable peace and the restoration of a land long torn by war...

LYNDON B. JOHNSON




THANKSGIVING DAY, 1991


By the President of the United States : a Proclamation

...As we continue the Thanksgiving tradition, a tradition cherished by every generation of Americans, we reflect in a special way on the blessings of the past year. When this Nation and its coalition partners took up arms in a last-resort effort to repel aggression in the Persian Gulf, we were spared the terrible consequences of a long and protracted struggle. Indeed, the millions of people who prayed for a quick end to the fighting saw those prayers answered with a swiftness and certainty that exceeded all expectations. During the past year, we have also witnessed the demise of communism and welcomed millions of courageous people into the community of free nations.

GEORGE BUSH




THANKSGIVING DAY, 2003


By the President of the United States : a Proclamation

....America is a land of abundance, prosperity, and hope. We must never take for granted the things that make our country great: a firm foundation of freedom, justice, and equality; a belief in democracy and the rule of law; and our fundamental rights to gather, speak, and worship freely.

These liberties do not come without cost. Throughout history, many have sacrificed to preserve our freedoms and to defend peace around the world. Today, the brave men and women of our military continue this noble tradition. These heroes and their loved ones have the gratitude of our Nation.

GEORGE W. BUSH

2 posted on 11/24/2005 12:53:44 AM PST by DollyCali (Don't tell GOD how big your storm is -- Tell the storm how B-I-G your God is!)
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To: DollyCali

3 posted on 11/24/2005 1:01:14 AM PST by DollyCali (Don't tell GOD how big your storm is -- Tell the storm how B-I-G your God is!)
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To: DollyCali

Sorry, it's last year's toon. I'll have a new turkey day toon over the weekend.
Happy Thanksgiving, everyone!
4 posted on 11/24/2005 1:17:55 AM PST by Dan Lacey
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To: All

5 posted on 11/24/2005 1:31:12 AM PST by DollyCali (Don't tell GOD how big your storm is -- Tell the storm how B-I-G your God is!)
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To: Dan Lacey
Hi Dan. thank you! I didn't see it last year so that is fine! (and it would have been fine even if I had seen it). This thread will run all weekend.

Have a great day


6 posted on 11/24/2005 1:33:23 AM PST by DollyCali (Don't tell GOD how big your storm is -- Tell the storm how B-I-G your God is!)
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To: Aquamarine; Billie; dutchess; Mama_Bear; The Mayor; ST.LOUIE1; LUV W; Mrs.Nooseman; GodBlessUSA; ...

7 posted on 11/24/2005 1:36:57 AM PST by DollyCali (Don't tell GOD how big your storm is -- Tell the storm how B-I-G your God is!)
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To: DollyCali

Wow DC---what an opening !!!


8 posted on 11/24/2005 1:49:31 AM PST by The Raven
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To: The Raven

hope that is a "good" wow. Are you just getting up or not in bed yet? How is the eye doing? cyst as I recall?


9 posted on 11/24/2005 1:58:47 AM PST by DollyCali (Don't tell GOD how big your storm is -- Tell the storm how B-I-G your God is!)
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To: DollyCali

Just getting up.....I was telling my boss about the eye and turns out he had the same thing a few yrs back.


10 posted on 11/24/2005 2:07:57 AM PST by The Raven
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To: The Raven

Is it viral or bacterial? Did you see you pix?


11 posted on 11/24/2005 2:12:02 AM PST by DollyCali (Don't tell GOD how big your storm is -- Tell the storm how B-I-G your God is!)
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To: DollyCali

>>Is it viral or bacterial? Did you see you pix?

From what he said - it's a clogged duct or something. I stopped listening after he said "It'll go away"

Where's my pix?


12 posted on 11/24/2005 2:14:10 AM PST by The Raven
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To: The Raven

post three..(you have to hunt a bit). To reduce pixels adequately the pix are fuzzier than I would like. the LARGE pix in the graphic program is great


13 posted on 11/24/2005 2:15:24 AM PST by DollyCali (Don't tell GOD how big your storm is -- Tell the storm how B-I-G your God is!)
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To: DollyCali

Goodness...that's the first thing I looked for (except I was looking for the bridge)...I also missed it on two subsequent scans). I must be deficient in turkey.


14 posted on 11/24/2005 2:20:08 AM PST by The Raven
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To: DollyCali; All
Happy Thanksgiving!
15 posted on 11/24/2005 2:24:33 AM PST by Las Vegas Dave ("Liberals out of power are comical-Liberals in power are dangerous!"-Rush Limbaugh.)
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To: The Raven

Well it is small. It is the one of us at the restaurant.


16 posted on 11/24/2005 2:27:28 AM PST by DollyCali (Don't tell GOD how big your storm is -- Tell the storm how B-I-G your God is!)
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To: Las Vegas Dave

Hi Dave. Happy Thanksgiving to you and Anne! are the kitties going to get some turkey scraps?


17 posted on 11/24/2005 2:28:09 AM PST by DollyCali (Don't tell GOD how big your storm is -- Tell the storm how B-I-G your God is!)
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To: DollyCali

Thanksgiving 1967 aboard the US Army Vessel LCU 1581, Vung Tau South Viet Nam.

18 posted on 11/24/2005 3:40:45 AM PST by R. Scott (Humanity i love you because when you're hard up you pawn your Intelligence to buy a drink.)
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To: DollyCali

I am thankful for the miracle of the internet. It has opened a whole new world for me.

The free flow of information that it provides will transform the world.

Islamofascists and other tyrants know that the internet is their worst enemy; the UN must NEVER be allowed control over this marvel.


19 posted on 11/24/2005 4:00:39 AM PST by tkathy (Ban the headscarf. (All religious headdress). The effect will creat a huge domino effect..)
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To: DollyCali

Happy Thanksgiving to All!

Turkey is stuffed and in the oven, now it is a nice quiet lazy morning.

This FreeRepublic that Jim has created is a fabulous thing to be thankful for, isn't it?

But the main thing I am thankful for is that I have a healthy wonderful family and that we live in the United States where each of is free to pursue our own life as we see fit. And I don't forget that freedom is not free, and that it must be defended by capable soldiers who have a tough job to do in order to secure that freedom.

Thanks to every soldier, ex-soldier, and all of your families for the sacrifice that you make for us. Many of us feel inconvenienced when we need to make a business trip that stretches over a weekend, or that forces us to miss something we wanted to do. But you go to far places for months and years, without family in many cases, and you do it because you believe in this country. Thank you. Every American is in your debt.


20 posted on 11/24/2005 4:13:11 AM PST by RobFromGa (Polls are for people who can't think for themselves.)
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