Tuesday, January 12, 2021
WHAT’S IN YOUR CUP?
Finally, beloved whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is pleasing, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence and if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things. Philippians 4:8
As we face a New Year we all agree that 2020 wasn’t a particularly good one. We are hoping for a better 2021, but right now things are still uncertain and – to be honest – a little frightening. Let me ask you a question…How have you reacted to all that has happened in 2020? Have you constantly complained about all of the changes – all of the restrictions? None of us like to be told we can’t do everything we want to do just when we want to do it. No one likes to be told we can’t gather in our homes with extended family or in our churches with our Brothers and Sisters in Christ. Life just isn’t the same as it was a year ago! Oh, and don’t get me started on not being able to hug!!!
A while back a friend gave me something that she saw on Facebook and I thought it was worth passing along. If you have already read it…I apologize. I won’t be quoting it exactly…but you will get the idea.
You are holding a cup of coffee when someone comes along and bumps into you, making you spill your coffee everywhere. Why did you spill coffee? You spilled coffee because there was coffee in your cup. Had there been tea in the cup, you would have spilled tea. The point is…whatever is inside the cup is what will spill out.
Therefore, when life comes along and shakes you (and, Brothers and Sisters, we have all been shaken during 2020!), whatever is inside you will come out. It’s easy to fake it, until you get rattled.
So, we have to ask ourselves, “What’s in my cup? When life gets tough, what spills out?” Does joy, gratefulness, peace and humility spill out? Or maybe what comes out is anger, bitterness, harsh words and reactions. We have a choice!
Reread the Scripture for today and, as we start this New Year, let’s ask God to help us fill our cups with gratitude, forgiveness, joy, words of affirmation, kindness, gentleness and love for others.
Remember -- whatever we focus on is what will fill our minds and will eventually come out of our mouths.
LET US PRAY: Dear God, we want to be empty vessels just waiting for you to fill us. Fill us with Your Holy Spirit so that there won’t be room for anything else. Amen.
Pastor Ruth
