Tarts and Inspiration

Today my Mom and I baked my brothers favorite butter tarts as a way to honor him, for a special milestone that he has reached in his life. Just to let him know that we are proud of him and that we see the hard work he puts into this daily. It was nice to do something for him.
He's not a big fan of nuts, so we made coconut and raisin tarts for him and a few with nuts for the rest of us who do like them.

 

Today I read something by Charles H. Spurgeon that really struck home for me. The words actually shocked me a little bit, but in a good way. I'd like to share it with you:

If sinners will be damned, at least let them leap to hell over our bodies.
And if they will perish, let them perish with our arms around their knees, imploring them to stay.
If hell must be filled, at least let it be filled in the teeth of our exertions,
and let not one go there unwarned and unprayed for.  

Wow, if that doesn't open our eyes! As I look around me, I see so many people who are hopeless and empty, trying to find fulfillment in earthly things. People who think that Jesus and Heaven are too 'out-there', that God is too busy to be concerned and involved in everyday, messy problems. But if He is not involved in those then in what is He? Jesus is just waiting for an invitation into our circumstances, for us to call out in our brokenness and hopelessness and accept the help and hope He wants so desperately to give us. He will meet us anywhere, anytime.

And He is also waiting and pleading for those of us who believe in Him, to bring this message to the people. To share with them the reason we have hope, and peace and joy in these trying times. He wants us to be the light to a world of broken people and to stand in front of the road to hell and make it really difficult for them to keep walking on it without seeing and knowing about Jesus.

This is such a challenge for me, to truly see and love people.  I would honestly much rather be selfish and caught up in my own little world and in my own life. But that is not what a Jesus girl should be doing. I need to get out of my comfort zone and open up to the people around me. Get involved in their messy lives, be a blessing and  a comfort to them. Really love and accept them for who they are. Honor and love them even when they don't deserve it, because you know what? I didn't deserve forgiveness and love either, but Jesus gave and keeps giving that to me freely and without asking for anything in return every single day.

So as hard as it is, I pray for God to help me to die to self and live my life for Him because my life could very well be the only Jesus some people will ever see.