The reason why people don't want to believe in Christ, isn't due to lack of evidence. I mean the evidence is all around. You can breakdown the Bible and you'll find no flaw. Go to Israel and check out the archaeological sites, you'll see more evidence. The reason why they don't want to believe, isn't because of lack of evidence. They don't want to believe, because they want to do there own thing. They want the freedom to do whatever they want without any consequences. They want to steal, they want to fornicate, lie, cheat get drunk and do all kinds of sexual immorality. They want to do that which makes the flesh feel good. They don't want to follow Christ, because he tells us not to do those things and to guard our soul. Jesus says, those things are wrong and that it will corrupt our soul. But they don't want to hear any of that. Because they're already following another religion, called Self-love. That religion of self teaches you that if it feels good, do it. It encourages you to follow your heart, instead of following Christ. The Bible warns us about how deceitful our hearts really are. But nothing good can come from self-love. I'm not talking the self-love that's about hygiene care, that should come naturally, such as taking care of our body by washing or brushing your teeth. I'm talking about self-love that is built on lies, that doesn't pleases God but pleases the flesh. It's this earthly pleasure that they do not want to give up. And so they mock us, and they throw it in our face as a means of bragging. Basically they're telling us, "Look at what we can do, but you can't." But whatever they do to us, we must remember to turn the other cheek. Love your enemies and pray for them. Stop telling these people who are lost, that God hates them and that they are going to hell. That will only push them that much further away. And that will give them that much more excuse to mock us. We should be welcoming like Christ. The Bible says we should call out sin, but we should do so in a loving way. You'll be surprised how many Christians I see on Tiktok preaching on the street, who are being aggressive, showing hate and not being Godly, definitely not acting like Jesus. We want the world to see Christ in us, that is what it means to be a Christian. Don't be hateful, don't be quick to condemn, don't be judging, and stop acting as if you are above everybody, because that is pride. As Christians, we are not to be prideful, but humble. I have seen so many Christians who act as if they are perfect and above everybody, but I know for a fact I am not perfect, that is why Christ is my savior. We need to remind this world that is lost to this religion of self who God really is, and God is love. So stop telling thim where they're going if they don't repent, this world is already dark, they don't want to hear more darkness. What they want to hear is that they are loved and who loves them. We are to be salt and light. So if you're going to preach on the street, don't preach damnation, but preach that Jesus loves. Don't be aggressive, show humility and peace, be humble as you show love. We are to be planting seeds and the best way to plant seeds, is by showing the love of Christ. It's videos like that that I've seen on tiktok that shows people showing what the love of Christ is, that seems to be changing people more. So we need to get on the right track Church and stop pushing people away. Yes the world will still hate us for Christ's namesake, but by showing humility, peace, humbling ourselves and Christ's love, we have a better chance on saving more souls. I have heard countless testimonies from exgays and former atheists, who says the ones who have led them to Christ had the kindest, most humble heart. We can easily bring more souls to Christ without forming with the world, we just have to be more humble and show more humility.
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I want to talk to each and everyone of you about depression from someone who suffers with depression on a daily basis. Many people may think that those who suffer with depression are just sad all the time and that's all they see. But sadness is not always the case, there's also loneliness, fear and anger. Depression is a mix of emotions that tugs on the hearts of those who suffers with it daily. From my experience depression for me is like being at Comic Con midst of all the crowds; midst of all the people you see as your friends and no one is saying hi to you. You feel like you're a ghost that everyone is seeing right through you. You want the world to see you, but all you are to the world is a ghost. It's a heavy feeling and each day it gets heavier and heavier until you can no longer breath. You feel the world, society's judgmental glare aimed at you. You feel as if someone is talking bad about you, even though they're not, they're not even talking about you at all. You begin to wonder if anyone would truly miss you if you're gone. If anyone would come to your funeral if you were dead. If the world would be better off if you were no longer here. That's when you start pondering suicide. That's what I feel on many occasions. I'm always feeling alone. I feel like the whole world is judging me. I want to reach out but I'm afraid, afraid that people might judge me even more. That people might accuse me of being weak. I want someone to acknowledge my existence. I want to know that I have a purpose in this world and that what I do is meaningful. But when it come to depression, you start believing in fear. You start believing that your life is pointless. You stop believing that everything is meaningful and that no one will reach out to you and no one will help you. Depression can be so severe, you can actually put yourself at risk for anxiety, panic attacks, even heart attacks. You could be putting so much weight on your self, on your heart that sometimes, many times actually, depression would lead to suicide. Even I've had my share of suicidal thoughts in the past, but I'm a fighter and no matter how I feel, I will always fight for my life. Because even during my darkest times, my darkest hours, in my deepest pit of despair, even I know that life is worth fighting for. But some people, they don't have that same feeling, that same encouragement and to them, death is the only way out. Death is the only Freedom they have. So that's why many people take their own lives. Maybe no one ever reached out to them. Maybe someone saw that person in despair and just walked right by thinking that person will fix their own problems. Perhaps they were in a hurry and never paid attention. Maybe they were too prideful of themselves. So instead of helping, each and every one of these people could've been a light, but they were only thinking of themselves, not of others. They had a choice to be a light and shine for someone who may need it, but they chose to turn away. They didn't let that light shine and believe it or not each and everyone of you can be a light. Even a spark in the darkest night can still cast light. So you have a choice in this matter, you can be a light in someone's life and help save them from fear and bring them out of that depression, or you can go on with your life, thinking only of yourself and not your fellow man. Each person with depression is a ticking time bomb and every minute that person is that much closer to taking their own life. So don't hesitate to talk to someone if you see them feeling down. Just don't talk to them one time. Let then know you really care and that they are are loved. Talk to them twice a week even, that way they know they have someone who actually cares. If you just talk to them once and that's it, that's not going to help them. They're gonna see that you don't really care about them. They're still going to feel alone. You can show them that life is worth fighting for, all you have to do is be the light. Depression is serious and it's always taking people away, it's always taking lives, but together we can conquer depression, we can conquer fear. So in a world full of Darkness, shine bright, brighter than the sun and the moon at night. Shine bright, because you are hope to someone who needs hope. You are love to someone seeking love. Shine bright for those who is fighting a losing battle, so they can be victorious. Shine bright and never let your light go out. Because all it takes is you doing what is right. Shine bright and be the light to those suffering in darkness, they are not alone.
I want to start a hashtag to help raise awareness for depression. With your help let's make the #YouAreNotAlone go viral. Let's show them they are not alone. Let's show them that they are loved and that you are willing to be there for them. By sharing the #YouAreNotAlone, you letting them know that they can confined in you. That they can trust you. Continue being the light. Writing poetry isn’t as it is all cracked up to be. In fact, you will find yourself staring countlessly at an empty page, just waiting for the words to come and sometimes they don’t. Sometimes when we find our inspiration to write, we lose it. It can cause excruciating headaches for us. It’s reason such as that, that poets call themselves, “mad.” Because all the countless headaches, pain and emotional breakdown they go through to write, it’s enough to drive one insane. For a poet, inspiration can be a fragile thing to have. To find your inspiration, sometimes it can be easy, but sometimes it can feel as if it’s impossible. Just remember, nothing is impossible, just plausible; you just got to have patience. When finding your inspiration, sometimes it’s best to start simple and small. The best example I can give is this: Look in the mirror. Who do you see staring back at you? What’s their story? What’s their emotional state? What exactly is it that they want? Use those as a guide line to write. Writing about yourself is a good way to start. Once you have mastered that, take a walk into the world and look around. Watch the people you may see. Keep an eye on nature as well. Everything has a story, everything has a poem and it’s up to you to find those words and write them down. Nobody can force your words, not even myself, but I can help guide you. If you ever get the urge to write, write. Don't hold back and don't force your words. If you force your words, it can come out as nonsense and leave the readers confused. You want your words to come naturally and with ease, so your readers can easily understand you. You do not want to lose your readers. To quote Robin Williams from the movie, ‘Dead Poets Society.’ “We don't read and write poetry because it's cute. We read and write poetry because we are members of the human race. And the human race is filled with passion. And medicine, law, business, engineering, these are noble pursuits and necessary to sustain life. But poetry, beauty, romance, love, these are what we stay alive for. To quote from Whitman, "O me! O life!... of the questions of these recurring; of the endless trains of the faithless... of cities filled with the foolish; what good amid these, O me, O life?" Answer. That you are here - that life exists, and identity; that the powerful play goes on and you may contribute a verse. What will your verse be?” What will your verse be? If you go on through life and you feel the words deep inside you, don’t be selfish and horde it for yourself. If you feel the words inside you and that’s all you can think of, let it out. Because life gave you a gift and you’re meant to be a writer, a poet. Many people have completely ignored what could’ve been. They could’ve been the next Shakespeare, Edgar Allan Poe or even Emily Dickinson, but they failed to share what life gave them. If you want to write, write freely. Don’t lose what life gave you. You’re a writer, a poet; it’s in you to express what it is that you are feeling. Use your words that life gave you to inspire others. It’s a tremendous gift to have and it can even be a burden. If you ever feel it becoming a burden for you, don’t give up and don’t give in to that burden. If it ever becomes a burden for you, just remember that it is life building up your verse and during that time of burden is when the best verse comes. You should never have to be ashamed of your writing, even if it's bad; at least you're expressing what it is that you are feeling. Even if the words are a bit shallow, it's the emotions that gives it power. That is poetry. You want your readers to feel what it is that you are feeling. You want your readers to know you. Again, you do not want to lose your readers. What is poetry to you? Each poet has their own definition of what poetry means. To me, poetry means an expression to free oneself emotionally and physically. It's where you can take your emotions and pour them out and bring peace to your physical being, while in return inspiring others to do just the same. That is why I write. So, go on and write. Be the writer you want to be. Don’t hold back. It was Robert Frost who once said, “A poem begins as a lump in the throat, a sense of wrong, a homesickness, a lovesickness. It finds the thought and the thought finds the words.” So, I challenge you today, pick up a pen and write, let your poetic soul be free and inspire future writers, poets. Write and don’t ever stop writing. I am a poet, I would write endless amounts of romantic poetry, the truth is my ink has ceased to flow. I have forgotten what it means to love, to be loved. That is what I long for and until I find it, or love finds me, my pen, my ink won't flow.
Oh, let me get this right... Because I'm white and a conservative, that automatically makes me a racist... Because I am a Christian, that automatically makes me a bigot... Because I am a male, that automatically makes me a sexist pervert... And because I voted for Trump, that makes me garbage... Racist, Bigot, Sexist pervert and Garbage... These are the labels that people have placed upon me based on what I am and what I believe and I am a White Conservative Christian Male and I am NOT a racist, I am NOT a bigot, I am NOT a sexist pervert and I am NOT garbage. Society has become one sided these days and if you're not with them, they label you with hateful names to try to tarnish you. I don't give in and let their labels bother me, I know that with every raging storm, there is a calm behind it. So I just keep my head up high and continue walking tall.
I had a coworker came up to me earlier today and jokingly tell me that I'm weird. I looked at her all seriously and said, "I would rather be weird than normal, because normal is too overrated." She continued to look at me weird after that. But what she doesn't know is that I am a poet and us poets are weird and calling a poet weird is a complement.
As I was at work today; a woman came to the line I was bagging, she was wearing a shirt that read from Proverbs 3:5-6. Something came over me, as I couldn't help myself my read that verse out loud. That could've cost me my job but that verse struck me where it hurts the most and I needed it. I've been letting the stress of work get to me. I've been letting finances get to me as well. But that verse reminded me that I should always trust in the Lord with all my soul, with all my heart and with all my might. How things are in this world, it's so easy to forget that. That shirt, funny that all this came from a shirt, but that shirt reminded me of something I long forgot. "Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge Him, and He shall direct your paths." Proverbs 3:5-6 New King James Version (NKJV) So you think raising the minimum wage to $15 is a good thing and that it will give you a lot of extra money in your pocket to spend? You still have a lot to learn. Let me break it down the best I can for you. If minimum wage was in fact raised, you know corporate will not give their employees the raise out of their own pockets; they’re too greedy for that. Instead, here’s what they’re going to do.
1) They’re going to lay-off several hundred if not thousands of employees. That way they could pay that extra $7 to each and all remaining employees. And those employees that they did lay-off, they’re going to replace them with self-automotive check-out or some other self-serving technology. 2) Expect the price of foods to go up drastically to compensate the raise of the minimum wage. Did you know that corporate isn’t the one who pays the employees, but the costumers? Oh, yeah. Even though corporate does take a portion of the employee’s paycheck and a percentage from the costumers, it is in fact the costumers who pays the employees. With that being said, with the price of foods doing up, here’s how that’s going to work. A loaf of bread is a dollar, right? With the minimum wage raised, expect to pay $5 for a single loaf of bread. A $1.99 gallon of milk would end up costing you $8.99. A single dozens of eggs that is originally $2.48 would be $11.48. People wouldn’t be able to donate food for the hungry anymore, because it would be too costly, because a single can of soup which use to be $1 is now $5. More people would be hungry, starving all because you got greedy and wanted more money for yourself. It’s called ‘minimum wage’ for a reason. You’re not supposed to live on it. Minimum wage is a starter for high schoolers and young adults. It’s not meant to be lived on, but to learn from so that you can excel in life, so that you can move up higher and higher with a better pay and a better job. By raising the minimum wage, it would also make it very difficult, possibly border-lining impossible for a high schooler or a young adult to find work. So Bernie Sanders, Hillary and all who want the minimum wage to be raised, do your research (yes, that means reading). Do your research before you do what you feel is right. Do your research before you choose sides. A politician will only speak what you want to hear and do the complete opposite. Sure, what you hear might sound so good, but what you hear and what you want would do more damage than what WE really need. Before you side with a politician running for office, always, ALWAYS do your research, deep research into that person and who or what they stand for. Never vote blindly. That is a life lesson I learned from my father before he passed and that is a life lesson I am willing to pass on. Oh, and one more thing. I work in retail and I get paid minimum wage and I, myself don’t want it raised. Think before you do and please do your research. The irony is that we have men and women risking their lives, even dying for America, to protect her.. Yet we in our homeland, are destroying her from within with all this racism and hate. The way I see it, until we fix what's going on in our homeland, until we learn to love on one another, our men and women over seas are dying in vein.
There's a time in life where we come across two bridges and we must decide which to cross. Here you got one bridge that is gorgeous and decked out, made of solid iron and the other is a rugged old splintered wooden bridge that looks like it's falling apart. But looks can be deceiving as the splintered bridge would lead you all the way, sure it might shake and some boards might fall, but at least you would make it all the way. As for the gorgeous iron bridge, it looks as if it goes all the way, but in reality it only goes half way. You see, the iron bridge is all things man. It looks trustworthy and it looks as if it could take you all the way, but in reality you can only go so far. But as for the old wooden bridge, which represents the Cross that Jesus laid down His life upon. It is that bridge that would take you all the way. You just have to put your faith and trust in Him and know that it is that bridge that will lead you all the way home. It is up to you to decide the bridge you would take. Which one would it be? Then said Jesus unto his disciples, If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow me. -Matthew 16:24 |
"There's light in every darkness, you just have to find it." AuthorA.M. Snow is a poet, photographer and in his own way, a philosopher and he is a strong devoted dedicated follower of Jesus Christ. BlogAdam's personal blog for all his randomness and poetic thoughts. Archives
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