What am I AIMing at?

I've been asking that question in light of the new year, my word for the year (AIM) and in light of my life. It is a working out, wrestling through, a process of seeking... finding... and being grateful for the journey. 

No matter what I aim at, or set out to do, Christ needs to be the center of my focus. That is what the big circle with the gold center is about. 

The most recent journal page is the one with the loose and doodled concentric circles, the same shape as a target. Concentric circles have become my shape of the year. They are simply circles that share the same center. 

I envision us, like stones of God being dropped into the center of His purpose. Each stone that drops, makes concentric rings, with the potential of radiating the Kingdom of God into the world. It is God who does the work, if I am willing to be dropped into his purpose. 

"There has never been the slightest doubt in my mind 

that the God who started this great work in you 

would keep at it and bring it to a flourishing finish 

on the very day Christ Jesus appears."

- Philippians 1:6 The Message Bible

This year, concentric circles illustrate how I relate to God, self and others. God is at the center, His bulls-eye, as Psalm 25:12 in the

Message Bible

says,

"...What are God-worshipers like?

... Arrows aimed at God's bulls-eye."

That it my desire: to be a "God-worshiper." To illustrate that, I put gold circles at the center of each "target." I know I can only do this if I take the time to listen, seek, step out in faith.... risk... giving myself grace to make mistakes... 

The concentric circles page has more layers of paint than any of the others in the journal so far. One would think it would be the easiest page, but for me, it wasn't. Layers upon layers of trying to get it right. The process of art journaling was once again reflecting life. I was unsure of myself, but just kept going until the circles seemed to fit in with the rest of the pages. It is a message for me in life as in art: Come back to Center. Trust God. Don't give up.

"My aim is to raise hopes by pointing the way to life without end. 

This is the life God promised long ago—

and he doesn’t break promises!" 

- from Titus 1:1-4 The Message Bible