Cappuccino cups & Investments

Melissa Logsdon – January 13, 2026 5 Comments

Steve says I always have the most unusual experiences everywhere I go. Well, I had another one this past week… all from shopping for some cappuccino cups!

For years, I’ve been wanting an espresso machine, but between the cost and the complexity I hadn’t pursued this desire. Then, over the holidays I had the privilege of traveling and fell in love with the Nespresso machine at my hotel.

Of course, once you get a new kitchen appliance, then you realize you need/want other tools to go with it! One of the things I really wanted were some cappuccino cups. Nespresso had a set for $26. I could have clicked and shipped. But I had a pause; I couldn’t explain why I paused, but I didn’t purchase them. 

So, the day went on.

Nearing the end of the day, I still had my heart on making cappuccino — in a cappuccino cup. Then, a thought came to me…maybe from God? Go to my local thrift store, Salt & Light, and look around.

I walked it and found the deal of the day: kitchenware 15% off! 

As I looked through the cups, I found THE EXACT SET of Nespresso cappuccino cups for 50 cents each! So with the discount that put the set at just 85 cents! Hmmm…$26 or $0.85? Um, yes!

Pretty neat story, right?! Well, it gets better!

Once I checked out, I noticed the two women in line behind me. The first, a very young mom with a very new baby and her own mom in tow. She was checking out with just 1 item: a backpack/diaper bag. I offered to pay for it for her. She hesitated at first, but then I said that I believe in paying it forward and wanted to bless her if that was ok. She accepted. I also had some cash in my wallet and felt like I was supposed to give it to her. She hesitated and then I again encouraged her that I don’t have a little one to take care of and wanted to just bless her a bit. She thanked me and said she would pay it forward.

Now we come to the second woman in line. 

In hearing the exchange she piped up, “Would you be willing to pay it forward right now?” Well, I’ve never seen someone take off so quick! The first woman, gone. 

I’m still standing there and I look at this second woman and offer to buy her items for her — it ends up being just 2 packages of chicken thighs. She thanked me and I was about to go on my way. But then I turned to her and shared with her how I remember a time when I only had $1 and it was a big deal to even spend the $1 and the ways God had provided for me in that time. She then shared her story with me. She introduced herself to me, and said she had spent the day panhandling to have enough money to buy this food for dinner. She pointed to her outfit and shared how she was grateful that Salt & Light had given her the clothes for free. With tears in her eyes she asked if she could give me a hug. We hugged. And then she went on her way to an acquaintance’s home to cook up the chicken for dinner for her family.

Wow! Right? My seemingly insignificant desire for cappuccino cups was not just met in a great deal for me, and happiness in getting the set I wanted, but also in blessing two other women as well. 

The next morning while sipping a cappuccino from my new cappuccino cup and journaling about this experience, I felt prompted to look up my sales receipts from this exchange: the amount for the 2 women’s purchases plus my cappuccino cups (with tax) came to $26.02. Remember the cost of the same cups online? $26! For the SAME AMOUNT (really less once you add in taxes and shipping costs) not only was my heart’s desire met, but other’s needs/wants were met as well!

Then, I opened my Bible to continue reading where I had left off the day before, and I read:

“God’s Kingdom is like…

a man going off on an extended trip. He called his servants together and delegated responsibilities. To one he gave five thousand dollars, to another two thousand, to a third one thousand, depending on their abilities. Then he left. Right off, the first servant went to work and doubled his master’s investment. The second did the same. But the man with the single thousand dug a hole and carefully buried his master’s money.” 

When the master came back, the first 2 servants showed how their investments had doubled. 

“He replied: ‘Good work! You did your job well. From now on be my partner.’”

But the third servant told the master how he was afraid to disappoint him and just hid the money away until he returned. 

“The master was furious. ‘That’s a terrible way to live! It’s criminal to live cautiously like that! If you knew I was after the best, why did you do less than the least?’” 

-Matthew 25:14-26 MSG

We all have a choice to make each day on how we will invest the money/resources and energy/time we have been given (no matter the amount: much or little). May we not be labeled as those that live cautiously, but rather as those that live investing and experiencing the best that God desires for us! –Melissa Logsdon, NCF Associate Pastor