[DollyCali]

Please Let me know if you want ON or OFF the Finest Ping List.

[sinkspur]

Wow! What a story! What a dog! What a woman you are, DollyCali!

I've got three, but this is the kind of tale that makes me want to rescue one more.

He's a handsome boy, and he's obviously been a gift to you.

Thanks for taking Oliver in.

[leadpenny]

First of all, DollyCali, I want on your ping list.

Great story! I found myself tearing up and laughing at the same time. The silver lining about the skunk cracked me up.

There is always some reason for me to wake up in the middle of the night and the story of Oliver was the reason this morning. Thanks.

[ST.LOUIE1]

Wonderul read! Great pics!

Oliver is a handsome dude. And your cat is a beauty. : )

Great thread, Dolly!

[Goodgirlinred]

Oliver's story was the greatest. I have taken in some great dogs myself. Mostly I have adopted them from shelters. Give Oliver a big hug for me. Put me on your ping list. My Harm (Malamute/Husky/Lab) would sure love to run and play with your Oliver. Harm also has a never ending supply of energy.

[TexKat]

Troops from the Third Battalion, Second U.S. Marines secure a house during a search of the city of Haditha, 220 kilometers (140 miles) northwest of Baghdad, Wednesday, May 25, 2005. About 1,000 U.S. Marines, sailors and soldiers encircled Haditha in the troubled Anbar province, launching the second major operation in this vast western region in less than a month. (AP Photo/Jacob Silberberg)

1,000 U.S. troops launch offensive in Iraq (Operation New Market)

GET SOME!!

[The Mayor]

May 25, 2005

Frustrating Promises

Read:
Psalm 37:1-24

Delight yourself also in the Lord, and He shall give you the desires of your heart. -Psalm 37:4

Bible In One Year: Psalm 133-135

Do any Bible promises frustrate you? Some people say that Psalm 37:4 is a guarantee that you'll get whatever you want-a spouse, a job, money. This has made me wonder at times, Why don't I have what I want?

When a promise frustrates us because it seems that God is not fulfilling it, maybe it's because we don't understand what the verse really means. Here are three suggestions to help, using Psalm 37 as an example:

Consider the context. Psalm 37 is telling us not to worry or be envious of the wicked. Our focus is not to be on what they have, nor on what they seem to be getting away with (vv.12-13). Instead, we are commanded to trust and delight in the Lord (vv.3-4).

Consider other verses. We're taught in 1 John 5:14 that our requests need to be according to God's will for us. Other Scriptures on the same topic can give us a balance.

Consult a Bible commentary. In The Treasury of David, C. H. Spurgeon says this about verse 4: "[Those] who delight in God desire or ask for nothing but what will please God." Doing a little deeper study can help us understand frustrating Bible verses like this one.

As we learn to delight in the Lord, His desires will become our own and He will grant them. -Anne Cetas

Standing on the promises that cannot fail,
When the howling storms of doubt and fear assail,
By the living Word of God I shall prevail,
Standing on the promises of God. -Carter

You can't break God's promises by leaning on them.

FOR FURTHER STUDY
How Does God Keep His Promises?

[Diver Dave]

Mornin' Dolly and everyone at The Finest.

We really love reading your Doggie Tails, Oliver.

--Bailey and Jack

PS... I've got my own rescued/dognapped story -- Jack

[dixie sass]

I throughly enjoyed Oliver's "Tale". I am also a cat person and I still don't know what I'm doing with a dog!

Shadow is a delight and keeps me going. She is part Scottish Terrier and part Llapso-Apso. Smart and energetic!

[Billie]

Dolly, this is the cutest, sweetest *tail*, and the way you've written it is so entertaining! Your pictures are GREAT - what a fantastic way you put them together with the story! (That bath scene is hiliarious! Who would ever have thought of taking a bath WITH your doggie?!)

Look forward to more of your *tails* - both canine and feline!

Love your pledge and your ping pic, too!

[Lakeside]

Such a great doggie story, Dolly. Oliver reminds me of my late, great dog Sam(antha). She was a German shepherd/collie/husky mix. She, too, kept me going when it would have been very easy to give in to the illness. She was very intuitive about just when I needed encouragement to get off my duff. She also knew when it was time to leave me alone to rest. She was truly my partner in this infirmity of mine just like a seeing eye dog is to the blind.

Sadly, she was prone to seizures and last summer she suffered a really bad one. We had to have her put to sleep last September. I miss her so much!

But, as luck would have it, we fell heir to our son's three legged doggie a couple of years ago when he went into the Navy. He had rescued her from the pound, a victim of abuse, when he was in college. She's an Aussie mix and a zany clown. She's not as intuitive as Sam was but she keeps me laughing. She's also physically limited endurance-wise and can't go on long walks either so we are perfect for each other.

I just cannot imagine being without a dog!

[FreeTheHostages]

[deadhead]

"Doggie Tails"...Wonderful, wonderful thread Dolly :-) Thank you for sharing, I am so happy that you and Oliver found each other! I wish I had your energy, Dolly.

Just had to post this graphic again, be sure to save it for yourself.

And here is photo of my pup, Lucy

[LadyX]

**The LadyX offers an excuse for neglecting the Finest -- ummm...thinking hard...
will just say SPRING/LOVELY MAY DAY/LURE of YARD!!**

Oh, Dolly, what a feast you have placed at The Finest Table!!
It is an absolute delight from the first line to the last, and your illustrations and borders are wonderful, as is the script..:))

Mega Kudos, Miss - - - take a well deserved bow.

In my several decades there have been **MANY** Tails to Tell --
only one critter of many a planned and deliberate purchase.

Several I've described here, of course - some tales sad, some funny.
Since it is late and the thread and posters are winding down, when you post the next Tails Thread, please let me know in advance, and I'll prepare some to have "at the ready" to post -- 'kay???