What's in My Cup?
“I was recently driving along, holding a very full cup of iced tea in my lap. Having done this multiple times previously, I perceived no issue. What I did not anticipate was the very large and unavoidable pothole in my path. I attempted to slow down and avoid it, but to no avail. My lap was now wet with most of the tea.
Why did I spill the tea? Because I hit a pothole? Not really, I was wet with tea because it was tea that filled my cup. Had it been coffee or a soft drink, that would have spilled out. The reality is that whatever is inside the cup is what spills out.
The same is true for us. When stress comes, it reveals what our lives/cups are currently filled with. Certainly, what frequently spills out of my life reveals contents I am not very proud of. Jesus reminds the Pharisees, who are overly concerned with maintaining cleanliness through ritual that “…whatever is in your heart determines what you say.” (Matthew 12:34)
The apostle Paul encourages the Philippian church to fill their ‘cups’, their minds and their lives, with thoughts that will reveal the character of Jesus pouring out. “Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things.” (Philippians 4:8)
As a community, let us help one another fill our lives with excellent and praiseworthy things. Let us pursue opportunities to serve our neighbors together, side-by-side, so that God’s love and care might also be revealed to them through us.
Multiple opportunities are coming over the next few months where we can not only serve together but, in doing so, fill our lives with Godly qualities. Check the "Serve" page or reach out to Dan or Donna at the church office to learn of ways you too can be involved.
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As RPC’s Associate Pastor for Mission Outreach, Rev. Dr. Dan Kreiss, has a heart for service and a diverse array of experiences in the mission field. Be sure to subscribe to the Mission Outreach Blog to read and follow along as he documents his personal journey and shares his vision for RPC’s mission outreach commitment. Along with providing meaningful resources, this blog will help jumpstart the important conversations our church community must be having about missional living.
Rev. Dr. Dan Kreiss
Rev. Dr. Dan Kreiss is the Associate Pastor for Mission Outreach at RPC. Dan is particularly passionate about encouraging the church to reflect the diversity found in its surrounding community in regard to age, gender, ethnicity, education and economic status.