I am part of a gal's ecumenical Bible study group which meets weekly on Wednesday mornings. Last week's topic was on 'perfection'. And how Satan uses the lie to discourage us.

In our mind's eye, we see things coming out 'perfectly'. The new recipe. The daughter's wedding. A  broken relationship not responding to being mended. What happens to us when it doesn't work out in some area of our lives? Maybe daily?

An example for me is the petunias that annually line my farm home sidewalk. This year has been a struggle. Starter plants set out early this spring met with too much heat and high winds. Even with watering them, some didn't make it. So I replanted to fill in. Looked better.

Two weeks ago I woke up to find that five petunias in a row had been eaten off by rabbits overnight. Too late and too hot to replant any now.

I have a choice: only see this year's gaps. Or enjoy the beauty of the ones that are left. I am choosing the latter.

If you visit my home, I hope that you also see the pretty flowers and not the holes!

The Bible has much to say about a lot of things, but 'perfection' doesn't appear to be one of them. Looking to Jesus is.

We don't have to be part of Sunday School or church long before we hear John 3:16, "For God loved the world so much that He gave His only Son so that anyone who believes in Him shall not perish but have eternal life."

But the next verse continues (v.17), "God did not send His Son into the world to condemn it, but to save it."

God knew we didn't need anyone to condemn our lack of 'perfection' in this life. Rather we needed Someone to save us. From things in our lives which don't turn out like we planned. From the errors we make. And for a world which is coming.

Praise God!