On Target

I wanted a good excuse to post this somewhere without a lot of attention. Since no one reads my blog - this seemed like a good place. I have discovered a new hobby; target shooting. DISCLAIMER: There WERE two actual paper silhouettes harmed in the making of this post, and one tree. I know, poor tree; but it was already dying so the owner has designated it the shooting tree, and it has been selected to be a backstop.
What's really neat about the picture is that this was not just wasting time shooting but a church member visit. We talked about children, aging, and life in rural communities while shooting holes in paper targets tacked to a tree.

My thoughts turned to humanity as I was leaving. One of the most basic definitions of sin means to miss the mark. We aim at holiness, and are way off, we take aim at goodness and just cannot hit the bullseye. Without Christ as our guide and gracious sacrifice, this cycle of sin ends in guilt and frustration. But a life surrendered to Christ means grace and freedom from guilt and frustration. I am free to admit that I am not perfect, I don't have to live in the stained glass masquerade any longer. I can live life surrendered to the One who is perfecting me through Himself. He never misses the mark. His calling for me is perfect even if I am not. I lean on His perfect strength each day to accomplish the maturing process in me. This process happens through trust in the Jesus, by faith, In Him - not me. I KNOW I'll miss the mark. But He never does.

Galatians 2:20, says "I have been crucified with Christ, and it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives IN me; and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself up for me." 




Bullseye!