American Idioms-not Idiots

Because I'm a hard core nerd, and English would be boring without idioms....My 5th grade teacher always said "Idioms, not idiots!"

An ode to American idioms that get lost in translation, for that we get when foreigners stare at us trying to understand what was said

-My mind is blown

-I slept like a rock

-'86 that...

-Your mom goes to college

-I know it by the book

-My noodle is baked (personal favorite)

-The cat is out of the bag

-Mind your own beeswax

-Don't catch your eggs before they hatch

Gleaning

Gleaning: leftover grain or other produce

In Levitical law times, God commanded the Jewish owner of the fields to leave the corners of the field unharvested, and if anyone should pick grapes from a vineyard, they were to go through only once and leave anything they dropped behind.

This was God's system of welfare and providence for the people that had less than the providers.

I'm going to compare this to a parallel, but I see myself as a gleaner and God as the owner of the field. The way I see it sometimes as the field of God's infinite wisdom and I once in a while will get grapes and barley, which sustain me but I have little compared to the field.

I've been learning of late that God speaks to us in unusual ways. Sometimes, it's a woman telling me her story and then saying "I don't know why I'm saying this" while my mind is reeling through the situation it perfectly applies to. Sometimes it can be a song on the radio that has perfect timing. I'm learning God's ways are smalls ways built into my daily life which I can easily overlook.

One of my personal favorite books is the book of Ruth. Boaz (a wealthy man) provided Ruth ( a poor woman) with barley to sustain her and her mother-in-law abundantly. Ruth had a tore-up past, but she followed YAWEH, and He brought her Boaz (soon to be her husband) to care for her and to redeem her.

Boaz is a parallel of Christ, always ready to be a gentleman and supply our needs, for me it is currently wisdom.


"If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask God, who gives generously to all without reproach, and it will be given him." James 1:5

Delta

The winds of change come more often that all of us expect.

I was the kid in math who always asked "Will I ever use this in real life?"

Well, I've still used absolutely none of the theorems, but I have used the Greek geometry taught me...my tutor taught me rise over run was the change of x over the change of y. The shorthand he showed me was DELTA- a Greek letter that was used in calculus for change.

It very soon became my shorthand for change whenever I took notes. Thinking upon it today, I noticed the symbol is in the shape of a triangle. Being the over-analyzer I am, I immediately thought of the Trinity. Three sides all making up a triangle- just in different ways and places.

It's ironic how the sign for change, is so similar to the characteristics of the Trinity. It's absolutely how much can change. I have the notion that God changes things, creates things, for His divine purpose.

Within the past few months, my life has changed a lot. I have gained much, and lost some. It is going to happen. But one thing holds my mind ever fast

'But, as it is written, “What no eye has seen, nor ear heard, nor the heart of man imagined, what God has prepared for those who love him”' -1 Corinthians 2:9

I know no matter how much change may come, I have a divine purpose for my life. And no matter how differently I think things may be, God ultimately has a higher purpose and design for me. And coming to the realization that Christ has something better for you can be the most freeing thing. =)

Cheese-Graters&Jr High

You know when you're thrown out of your comfort zone...The best analogy I can think of is a cheese grater.

Like I'm a block of cheese, Cheese a la Amanda, and when I submit my will, I get grated. It may be painful, slow and tedious, but when it's done, you're left with a scrumptious little treat.

The other night this was kinda what I did.

To understand we'll have to rewind back to Jr High.

In Jr High, I had two awesome leaders (Elyse&Lindsey) that always encouraged me, and really motivated me to become a godly woman. We were close, and I loved them to death. I remember saying when I was 14 that I wouldn't ever want to do Jr High ministry. Jr High was really awesome, but really poopy, and I would not ever go back.... Or so I thought

Fast forward to 2009. I got involved doing 5th/6th grade Children's MInistry, I led a small group as well as worship. But after a few months, something was tugging on me. Something that felt like (God forbid) Jr Highers. I told God I would serve in any other ministry. I made excuse that I didn't love Jr High kids.

God slowly but surely showed me how I needed to be in Jr High, it was a burden that grew with time, along with my love for Jr. Highers.

I am now serving in Jr High, my first event was a girl's bible study on Friday, and when I walked into it, I knew I was where I was supposed to be.

God still wanted to stretch me, I was called out to do worship. (I play a smidge of guitar, and don't sing.) But God had me do it for His glory. Even though I was shaking like a salt shaker with nervousness racking my brain to conjure up old songs I had memorized, I felt God's spirit reassuring me.

God kept telling me He wanted my Abel offering, not my Cain offering. He wanted to put me out of my comfort zone, and now I'm trusting Him, I'm excited even though it's intimidating. All in all, I'm ecstatic about this new season. And on being a block of cheese again. =)

On Being Rapunzel

When I was in jr. high I went through that whole 'mad at the world' stage. So I took it out on my hair. I whacked it off.

When I started high school, my hair was shoulder-length. Now it is mud-back (and mind you, it's curly!)

Just because this has to do with hair, I'm calling myself Rapunzel for the next few paragraphs. =)

It's funny, but I measure my high-school life partially through my hair. The longer and curlier it got, the older and wiser I became. I can look back on pictures, and merely by the length of my hair I know where I was in life.

I naturally think about things a little deeper, and AP classes exemplify the madness. The ends of my hair, he dead frizzy strands are the same ones that were with me when I was a bright-eyed bushy tailed 14 year old.

It's really awesome to see my outer appearance change with what was going on internally. Some things have changed, my hair color, the texture, the length, my grades, the way I see myself, etc.


I love my hair, and how I've been able to grow with it (no pun intended.) ;)