To some, a lifted cup is a gesture of thanksgiving, a raised glass showing honor and gratitude with a toast of celebration. This is a fine and worthy action, especially in the hospitality industry, however, the symbol of our lifted cup invites our customers to find a deeper meaning.
Our lifted cup was inspired by Psalm 116, as the author asks, “What can I do to repay God?” What can I possibly give to God to repay Him for all the blessings in my life? Truly, what can an empty cup offer anyone? The only thing I can offer is the empty vessel itself–an object with the potential to hold something, to be filled by something. But what we fill it with, and who we lift it to is the key! We are all empty cups, needy and hungry souls desperate to be filled with anything that promises some temporary happiness. The good news is that God promises to fill any cup that is lifted to Him. He fills it with living water and mercy that leads to eternal life–it will never run out, never cease to satisfy! In John 4:13-14 Jesus answered the Samaritan woman at the well, “Everyone who drinks this water will be thirsty again, 14 but whoever drinks the water I give them will never thirst. Indeed, the water I give them will become in them a spring of water welling up to eternal life.”
But in receiving such a gift as eternal life, or any of the many blessings God gives us like good food, families, communities, homes, cars, sunsets, strength, health, medicine, knowledge, electricity, rain, sunny days, beautiful seasons, trees, flowers….what can we do to repay God for these things? How can helpless empty cups show honor to the One that fills and sustains them?
“What shall I render to the LORD for all His benefits towards me?
Psalms 116:12-13
I will lift the cup of salvation and call upon the name of the LORD!”
The only thing we can do is lift our empty cups again and again and ask for more. The Giver gets the Glory! The giver, God, is honored and glorified by our humble act of continually lifting our cups and returning to the eternal fountain, seeking Him as the source of our hope and happiness in this life and beyond. He is glorified when the joy of being filled overflows in love toward others and pours out in praise testifying to the world of His goodness.
That is the story of The Lifted Cup Café, and where our name comes from. We hope this little café shows the love of God in Christ to our customers while we seek Him to fill our cups each day. We want to be reminded every day that we are empty without God. In order to serve this community with love in our hearts we must continue to be filled with His love for the world. We want to share with others that Jesus is the eternal fountain of living water that fills every lifted cup that cries out to Him for salvation.
As we start this venture and seek to serve our community, we are humbled each day knowing our livelihood depends upon God’s goodness to bring people to the café. It has never been more clear that our strength is dependent on Him to give us the energy each morning to continue serving, especially at this point in our lives. The peace in our relationships depends upon His grace towards us, to forgive us, as we forgive others-especially each other as we work together with family. We are all empty in and of ourselves, and we need God each day to fill our lifted cups to save us from ourselves and our own broken natures.
Beyond the lifted cups that clink happy toasts of thanksgiving, we pray that our café is a blessing to all those seeking good food and fellowship here. We hope to bring you joy in simple good food, and fellowship as we fill your cup with the overflow of God’s love in us and through us. We hope this feels like home, and that your neighbors become friends, and eventually family, as relationships bud and grow here.
Friend, do you know this love? Are you empty despite a life full of busy distractions and seeking fulfillment in one pointless thing after another? Are you longing for something that really satisfies and fills the emptiness inside–and fills it forever, eternally? All you need to do is seek the LORD for the living water that never runs dry. Lift the cup of salvation and call on the name of the LORD!
We would be happy to pray with you about anything at all, just find us during a slow time and reach out. Whether you need prayer over an illness, a family situation, or work, or you are looking for hope and peace in your life and you feel like Christ might be the thing you’ve been missing, we’d love to pray with you about it.
Blessings in Christ,
Your Friends at The Lifted Cup Café
