Sunday

"This ones called "decisions" the man is naked because hes vulnerable. he has come to a point in his life where he has to make a decision which way he wants to live. the broad and easy that goes into the darkness, or the narrow and difficult that leads to the light. hes asking God to give him strength to turn toward the right path. i guess personally this ones about christians often having to refocus and get back on the right track cause we are starting to stray a little or a lot and we have lost our focus."

This ones called "Letting Go"
"its not finished and still needs alot of work! but it should still make sense, its a man who is holding on to the world which is broken and falling apart, but its the only thing the man understands, its the only thing thats tangable and familar, below him is the unknown, what God understands but the man doesn't. the angel or holy spirit is holding on to him trying to comfort him by holding his hand, and trying to let him know that he can let go and just trust in God. i sort think the little landscape in the corner represents who God sees things, and if youll notice its from a completely different perspective than the rest of the picture." -josh



This is a painting by a very good brother of mine. His name is Joshua Kieffer and he continues to be an inspiration in my life. This painting of his hit me really hard. Its funny how visual I am and knowing what I know..knowing that these things that I cling to for comfort seem so easy to ignore. But when I see a painting like this...its all I can think about. All I can think about..my filth, my fleshly thoughts and how this world and its temptations bring nothing but death but are so easy to grasp onto. Christ fights for our souls every second of every day...constantly pulling us away from the things of this filthy prison. So I'm torn because I know I will wake up tomorrow morning and continue to cling onto this world. His grace is sufficent for all my needs. Give me strength for my inadequicies as a man and show me truth. Show me your face. Do not leave me in my time of despair and need..show me your light through my oppression.

stressy mcstresser smith...

Monday. March 2. The sun is shining and i could not ask for a better or more pleasant day in baton rouge. I started listening to shane and shane again today. I don't know why. My lack of community since I have been here has been such a challenge in my every day life. I think listening to them has been really encouraging today. Not forgetting there is a deeper and mesmerizing beauty in everything around me. The simple human connection from one person to the next..or the connection man has to nature is something to rejoice and dance about. I haven't really laughed joyfully in a long time. I want to have joy in all aspects of my life. To not feel so weighed down by the troubles the world brings to us day in and day out. Im incredibly stressed about school but there are so many more important things to consume my mind with..good things. Less of me is more of jesus. There is glory in the cross. Help me find my gain in loss.