"Daily" devotion?

"Lord of all pots and pans and things....
Make me a saint by getting meals
And washing up the plates!"
Brother Lawrence (The Practice of the Presence of God)

I've learned that it's not too hard to feel "devotional" when you're going to a third world country on a mission trip, leading a large children's ministry or feeding the homeless on Christmas day. But what about when the farthest you travel in a day is to the neighborhood park to run your rugrats children so they'll drop into bed without a fight and the extent of feeding anyone is a days menu of Fruit Loops, PB&J and mac 'n' cheese (maybe with some frozen peas thrown in for "color")? Where's the devotion in that?

How do we not only practice His presence for ourselves, but share it with the people in our world neighborhood house?

I’ve wrestled with this idea since shortly after I got married and discovered that no, Hubby really doesn’t cook. I love to make fancy desserts and fun birthday cakes, but the everyday breakfast/lunch/dinner thing just doesn’t get me excited. (And in the interest of full disclosure, I still don’t actually cook three meals a day!) It’s been more than 10 years (and two children) and I’m still working on seeing the dailiness of diapers, dinners and dusting as devotion.

I recently visited a church out of town and the pastor mentioned that the word for “worship” in Hebrew is the same as the word “work.” I'm surprised I had never heard that before. Even so though, I think I've always had a sense of that as I try to make the most mundane activities into something meaningful.

Devotion/worship/work. Knowing that the language that God originally chose to communicate his thoughts to the world used the same word for these concepts really gives me a whole new outlook on Refreshmoments and how I’m trying to live. While I’m sharing the Refreshmoments concept with whomever is interested, I really do it first for myself. I don’t write it because I’ve mastered the idea that God is close in the most ordinary moments and that I worship Him by being faithful in the small things. I write because I need the reminder to practice those very things in my own life. And, I could use a little help.

What about you? Does it make a difference to you to know that God used the same word for Work and for Worship? How do those ideas come together in your life? In what way do you see the need for it to come together more? Talk about it!

Refreshmoments

Life is busy and noisy and full of distraction. It’s easy to miss God’s presence in the midst of it all. Refreshmoments is designed to be a place to come and be reminded that He’s right here, right now; when you’re doing the dishes, taking a bath, making cookies, putting on lip balm.

Refreshmoments is a concept I created a few years ago that pairs anything refreshing (coffee, tea, sweets, a long soak, a good book.....) with thoughts that lead us back to the Source of genuine refreshment. I've paired some of the above with passages from scripture to create brief moments in the day that take us out of the mundane into the meaningful. I hope this blog will be a source to share these thoughts with others who seek to find meaning in the mundane. Not simply an online journal open to voyeurs, but a place of refreshment for whomever may drop by; a place for me to "practice what I preach" and to bring this philosophy back into my everyday life (heaven knows I need it!).

Refreshmoments isn't about being profound, but mindful; learning to see everyday occurances with an eternal perspective. Simple observances that might not change the world, but will hopefully change me, and in turn, give me something to say to you that might enrich your day as well.

I hope you’ll come here not to escape from your daily life, but for a brief retreat. And when you leave, I hope you’ll take with you something that connects to your world and lets you re-enter it with an improved perspective, renewed energy or a sense of peace that you didn’t have when you arrived. Welcome.