Thoughts from a sick day

The amazement of grace from our sweet Jesus has been on my mind this morning. I have been home in bed all day due to a migraine. Although the migraine is much better, the headache is still lingering but I've just been lounging and thinking. I was frustrated to miss today because this week is my first full week with student teaching meaning that I teach all day, every subject, every day. So missing a whole day is inonvenient to my cooperating teacher and causes me to lose hours. My emotions have changed throughout the day though.

Starting off feeling so sick and frustrated for being sick and on then to reading blogs and looking at pictures of friends I have with glamorous lifestyles filled with lots of fun, friends, money, and perfect circumstances or so it seems. i felt even more down after that as I began comparing my simple, struggling life to theirs momentarily wishing for more. I then stumbled upon something written on someone's blog quoting from Proverbs. "How can we understand the road we travel? It is the LORD who directs our steps." How perfectly encouraging and eye-opening that was! I felt God reminding me of my life as a vapor. My perspective changed from being selfish and worldly, to humbled and thankful. What a beautiful life He has given and redeemed me from.

My roommate Laura and I had a sweet talk last night just about our divided hearts. We love and desire to spread the gospel to the lost world but we feel miserable in the lives we are living here in Central Louisiana. No matter where we are, we are called to live as it says in scripture.These are just some I was reading through and became encouraged by today.

"For whoever wants to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for me will save it."
"If anyone wants to be my follower, you must put aside your selfish ambition, take up your cross daily and follow me."
"What is more, I consider everything a loss compared to the surpassing greatness of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord, for whose sake I have lost all things. I consider them rubbish, that I may gain Christ...I want to know Christ and the power of his resurrection and the fellowship of sharing in his sufferings, becoming like him in his death"

 This is what we called to do as disciples of Jesus Christ no matter if we are in Turkey, in Kenya, in Van, Texas or in Cenla. I am thankful for a check in perspective but am also desiring to take action in continuing with a Christ-centered perspective. I want to live my life cry out until the whole world hears. Thank you Jesus for not leaving us where we are. Thank you that you care enough to remind us that you are on our side. You are underservingly gracious to us yet perfectly holy as well. Thank you for loving me.
You are worth all treasures in the world.

I am so thankful for redemption. There's more to reflect on. I love that His word amd character will never be fully learned. There's always more to delve into and be consumed with...
Now on to more laundry and working on the resume. Hm and coffee sounds good right now too.
Happy Wednesday!