All you Moms know the feeling...so you understand.

Luke was the winning pitcher for the school championship baseball game Tuesday night. He pitched innings 3 through 8. The last 2 innings were extra innings because of a tie.

I was so proud of him. He kept his focus and composure as he threw the final strike that won the game 6-5.

After the game, he received a trophy for All Conference league and will be playing in a independent league All-Star game this Saturday. It was a teary night for his dad and me. :-)

Thanks so much to those who wrote what they believe about preparation for assembly. It was a topic with my Thoughts for Thursday also. Heard one negative comment about it...but all in all...kind responses.

If your my age...50's..then I am confident you have seen a change in how we present ourselves for assembly. I remember the hat and glove days with matching shoes and purse! Showy???...for some yes..others, just a matter of fashionable dressing.

In my OPINION (please read that over and over :-) )many of us fell into the "Come as you Are mentality and did not expect more than that. Of course we expected more from the preacher, his family, the elders and their families. The preacher in a tee-shirt for Sunday?? Should be okay shouldn't it? But wait...he is being paid. :-(

So my "thoughts" are ....giving our best which includes our hearts and how we present ourselves. When you read of what God expected when offerings were made...he wanted the best. Was not Cain's heart relfected in what he presented?

We all have to decide what is our best. If a college student's best is jeans and tee-shirt...then glad he/she is there. But at some point...my hope would be that he/she would come to understand that presentation before the KING is important. At least that is MY opinion.

We do tend to dress "down" for Sunday and Wednesday. And honestly...I don't know why. But we all do that and is something I want to give attention to for myself.

I appreciate all the thoughts...and please know that my opinion is just that...my opinion :-)

Do you make a conscious decision to wear something "dressier" on Sunday for worship service? Do you think what you wear should matter when you come together to worship? Is there such a thing as "sloppy" dress for assembly?

Were you to visit a King of a country...would you make more effort to dress appropriately for that occassion?

I recently bought this book called..."Divine Prayers for Despairing Parents." I love it. It is that book for those of us who have a prodigal child and there is nothing else to do but pray. It is a book for those who have rebellious children and can no longer find the words to say to God about their child. It is a book for those who have adult children who are making choices that are not glorifying God.

I recommend this book. It is by Susanne Scheppmann.
Example...The Story called..."Holy Tattoo"

Skulls grin at me from across the room. As my son's arm reaches for his water, a snake's blood-red eye winks at me. I recall hanging my son's crayon pictures on the fridge. Pastel Sunday School portraits of Jesus he loved. Now he displays colorful artwork of different genre-on his own skin.

Sullen indifference replaces the sweet excitement my little boy used to possess. I wonder where the young artist-child hides inside this young man I hardly recognize. Surely he resides in my son's soul still.
Smiling at the memories, I ask, "Son, can I get you a refill? I'm headed to the kitchen."

Without looking up, he nods.
I stop at the fridge to fill up the glass and whisper to God, "Bring back the boy of the crayon days. Help him to feel the excitement again! Let him remember how he colorfully displayed Your love for him each week. Lord, tattoo his heart with Your love. Give my son a tattoo of holiness. Fill him with Your love, just as I fill up this glass."

As I hand the brimming glass to my son, I know God heard my prayer. I smile down at my son's colorful arm, but this time I wink back at the snake.

Prayer......

"Father, pour out Your water on __________'s dry spirit. May my beloved child say, "I am the Lord's." May __________________call on the Lord and write on his hand, "Belonging to the Lord." You are ____________'s Redeemer. Let my child say, "You are the Lord of hosts, and there is no God besides You.

In His name...Amen



Does that not get your heart? I haven't had this type of situation with a child...but I do long for prayers that help me say what is close to my heart. There is nothing great than a talk with the Savior.