Yay! Heat index: 105

Wed. night went SUPER! Mark- your best lesson yet. I know he was scared but he pushed through and it really went well. He started with how much he misses the teens. That was hard because I know the teens miss him (even if the won't admit it) and I know I miss him a lot. I'm just used to seeing him all the time and now I don't. I miss his lessons and his presence but I know we will all get through this.

Having lunch with Mark and Scott today. I am really looking forward to it.

Then, Relay for Life. I know a lot of people will be at the campout but if you aren't you should be at Normal Community West High School visiting will all your Northside friends. (I'll be there, what more do you need?)

Peace out.

Another thing to pray about

Well, real quick I thought I would mention that Mark is going to come talk to the teens tonight and Jeanna will be maybe in a few weeks. Please pray that it goes well and emotions are expressed in productive ways!

It's Wednesday

Ya, so tonight...

If you guys could just pray for the teens a little bit - tonight is the first meeting with the teens since Sunday, obviously, and we are going to be talking about a lot of stuff with them.

Some of them are handling things okay and some aren't. Some are acting like its no big deal (even though I know how close they are to the situation) and are instead taking their anger out on, oh, for instance me. So that is fun...

So, just pray for these kids. I know they will be okay but they really miss Mark ... so do I.

I look beyond the empty cross
forgetting what my life has cost
and wipe away the crimson stains
and dull the nails that still remain
More and more I need you now,
I owe you more each passing hour
the battle between grace and pride
I gave up not so long ago
So steal my heart and take the pain
and wash the feet and cleanse my pride
take the selfish, take the weak,
and all the things I cannot hide
take the beauty, take my tears
the sin-soaked heart and make it yours
take my world all apart
take it now, take it now
and serve the ones that I despise
speak the words I can't deny
watch the world I used to love
fall to dust and thrown away
I look beyond the empty cross
forgetting what my life has cost
so wipe away the crimson stains
and dull the nails that still remain
so steal my heart and take the pain
take the selfish, take the weak
and all the things I cannot hide
take the beauty, take my tears
take my world apart, take my world apart
I pray, I pray, I pray
take my world apart
we're worlds apart

Can something good come from this?

Of course it can because God is working now. I think it has done something to all of our walks with Christ.

I'm not going to lie. I'm feel hurt, betrayed, and deceived. But, I also feel love for everybody. On Sunday, I wanted to scream and Mark and hit him as hard as I could. But when he finally walked over to me what was the only thing I could do? Love him - because that is what God told me to do.

It is hard to give forgiveness to people sometimes. But that is what God does without a second thought for us.

Sometimes we forget that Satan wants to destroy everything that is good. Pray for our church...