Doug Barrett
Director of Leadership Development

Napkin Note: Reflecting

Every great cup of coffee – whether from Starbucks, Panera or a local coffee shop – needs to always be accompanied by a great napkin.  No, not because I have a tendency to spill, but because you never know what great insight or shot of encouragement is going to come out of the conversation.

I continue to be amazed at how God speaks through people – just like you – in our everyday conversations.  Conversations that share praise, excitement, concern and hardship.  Through these conversations, I am reminded of Paul’s words of encouragement to us in 2 Corinthians 4:7 that we have this treasure – the light and power of Christ - shining within us.  As I reflect over this verse, I catch myself thinking back to my early Sunday school days where we would sing – well, shout – “this little light of mine, I’m gonna’ let it shine!”  But are we?  Are we really letting His light shine?  Are we really reflecting Christ’s image in all we say and do? 

Brothers and Sisters in Christ, God has called each of us to shine forth His light – to reflect His glory and image in our actions and attitudes – while investing in the relationships around us.   God calls us to share experiences by praying together, crying together, laughing together and encouraging one another.  But, do our crazy schedules, which often reflect today’s culture, allow us moments where we can invest in the lives around us?  Are we making time for good cups of coffee?

It is true… life is not easy, but don’t forget, neither was Paul’s – a man whose one aim in life was to please Jesus.  Look at his testimony from 2 Corinthians for a second…

         “We were crushed and completely overwhelmed, and we thought we would never live through it.” (1:8, NLT)

        “We get knocked down, but we get up again and keep going” (4:9, NLT)

         “I have lived with weariness and pain and sleepless nights.  Often I have been hungry and thirsty and

           have gone without food” (11:27, NLT)

Yet through it all…Paul continued to honor God!  How about this for a shot of encouragement… “since I know it is all for Christ’s good, I am quite content with my weaknesses and with insults, hardships, persecutions, and calamities.”  (5:17, NLT) 

Friends, the message of 2 Corinthians is that we can live as Paul did!  Reflecting the glory and image of God in all we do!  If we can continue to give of ourselves, our time, our efforts and our resources to God, we will bring him the glory he deserves and we will share in that glory.  Clearly…that is the Good News of Jesus Christ!  Now, it is our mission to spread that Good News of Jesus Christ to our Members, our Community and the World over with Care, Compassion and Christian Love – by reflecting Christ’s image in all we do!  I can only imagine what that will be like…

I don’t know about you…but I always enjoy a good cup of coffee!

Keep reflecting His image in all you do!

God Bless! 

Doug

Jeremiah 29:11