Saturday cookin

I guess you could say that today I had a "productive" day. I had breakfast with a friend and mentor, then I visited with my neighbor, and finally I came home to cook and clean. I don't know of anyone who loves to cook and clean on a Saturday. But...today, I loved it. I remember one time hearing a pastor say "how do you expect to feel the presence of the Lord when your house is a mess!?". I remembered that always and since then I have become what the world would describe a type "A' personality. My sisters roll their eyes when I tell them they should clean and help my mother out. You see, my mom was a very clean person, but organized, she was not. She was a single mother and if the eldest (me) didn't help her with organizing and cleaning, then she will do it when she would do it. I learned quickly that I did not like disorder, and have tried to maintain my personal room and life in order. This can sometimes become tiring and frustrating for me because I want everything to be perfect. Clutter upsets me; papers on the counter tops sets me off.

Today though, was different. I cleaned and cooked while enjoying thinking about Jesus. My house is not in perfect order as I would like it to be but right now I have some chicken soup boiling, and some rice cooking. I rearranged the stuff that was in my cabinets. Switched the coffee mugs to the other side where the medicine used to be. It's the little re-arranging that helps me be a sane person. Why? You must think I'm sick. The truth is that you can practice the presence of God in little things like cleaning. Sometimes, I feel most close to Him when I make my bed. Weird? I don't think so.

Take this scripture for example:

A good person produces good things from the treasury of a good heart, and an evil person produces evil things from the treasury of an evil heart. What you say flows from what is in your heart. (NLT) Luke 6:45

Sometimes, the external, can be a clear picture of what's inside your heart. Why then, wouldn't a messy house be a clear picture of what you believe in?


I believe in re-arranging, making your home the home it's mean to be, but without Jesus, it still doesn't say squat. You are just a type A person who is obsessed with order. With Jesus, you are practicing in His presence what he has given to you: a home.