He is Risen: John the Beloved's Witness of the Resurrection- Light Love and Mercy

The Son, even on the cross,
Showed the way for all to see
That our souls need not be lost
He is light, love, and mercy

He sees the bigger picture
Beyond every sorrow and pain
He calls to hearts to assure
The repentant have peace to gain

In His intense suffering
He paid the price for sin
He leads the way offering
Eternal life with Him

He Is Light Love and Mercy

Verse 1] The Son, even on the cross, Showed the way for all to see That our souls need not be lost He is light, love, and mercy [Chorus] He is light, love, and mercy Calling every heart by name Through the sorrow, through the pain His forgiveness stays the same He is light, love, and mercy [Verse 2] He sees the bigger picture Beyond every sorrow and pain He calls to hearts to assure The repentant have peace to gain [Chorus] He is light, love, and mercy Calling every heart by name Through the sorrow, through the pain His forgiveness stays the same He is light, love, and mercy [Verse 3] In His intense suffering He paid the price for sin He leads the way offering Eternal life with Him [Bridge] When the road is hard to follow When the past will not let go Turn your heart toward His promise There is peace for you to know [Final Chorus] He is light, love, and mercy Calling every heart by name Through the sorrow, through the pain His forgiveness stays the same He is light, love, and mercy Eternal life with Him [Outro] Light, love, and mercy Eternal life with Him

Light Love and Mercy

Verse 1] The Son, even on the cross, Showed the way for all to see That our souls need not be lost He is light, love, and mercy He sees the bigger picture Beyond every sorrow and pain He calls to hearts to assure The repentant have peace to gain [Pre-Chorus] In His intense suffering He paid the price for sin Still He stands, still He saves And leads us back again [Chorus] He is light, love, and mercy Light, love, and mercy He is light, love, and mercy Eternal life with Him [Verse 2] In the shadow of the cross Grace was written in His wounds Every shame and every loss Met the dawn that broke too soon When the guilty turn and come He does not turn them away Open arms and open sky Promise mercy for today [Pre-Chorus] In His intense suffering He paid the price for sin Still He stands, still He saves And leads us back again [Chorus] He is light, love, and mercy Light, love, and mercy He is light, love, and mercy Eternal life with Him [Bridge] Show us how to kneel Show us how to rise At the foot of mercy Where the old life dies [Chorus] He is light, love, and mercy Light, love, and mercy He is light, love, and mercy Eternal life with Him

mercy: compassion or forgiveness shown toward someone whom it is within one's power to punish or harm.

The Nativity - Joy To The World -Christmas

Candles are being lit

All the world over

The story's being read

Cover to cover

See the baby Jesus

A bright star lights the sky

Condescended for us

Born of a virgin, the sign

Let the good news now spread

That the Prince of Peace did come

Of loaves and truth, He fed

And redeemed us, He the Son

Now, in homes, last of all

Let the bright star be raised

Atop evergreens tall

His blessed name be praised

Verse 1] Candles are being lit All the world over The story's being read Cover to cover See the baby Jesus A bright star lights the sky [Pre-Chorus] Condescended for us Born of a virgin, the sign Let the good news now spread The King has come tonight [Chorus] Let the good news now spread Let the good news now spread The Prince of Peace did come Born to save us all Let the good news now spread Let the good news now spread His blessed name be praised Over homes and hearts [Verse 2] Of loaves and truth, He fed And redeemed us, He the Son Grace in every wound Mercy in His hands Now in homes, last of all We gather round and sing Near a star topped evergreen tall His blessed name be praised [Pre-Chorus] Condescended for us Born of a virgin, the sign Let the good news now spread The King has come tonight [Chorus] Let the good news now spread Let the good news now spread The Prince of Peace did come Born to save us all Let the good news now spread Let the good news now spread His blessed name be praised Over homes and hearts [Bridge] Peace into the broken Light into the night Hope for every wounded soul Held in His sight We bow and we remember The child in Bethlehem The world is turning heavenward Because of Him [Final Chorus] Let the good news now spread Let the good news now spread The Prince of Peace did come Born to save us all Let the good news now spread Let the good news now spread His blessed name be praised Jesus, King of all

Satan Knows of our Strengths

Satan knows all of our strengths
And he knows where we are weak
That for chains of longest length
It’s through our blind spots, he will seek

Then when the chain tightens
Woe to what happens to talents
For they are then tools to contend
And further his grasp-like talons

Then through pride we feel empowered
Puffed up as he deceive us as it's God he imitates
Such that we feel strong- in this rising power
But, in truth, ultimately, our path he limitates

As though bought- he increases his demand
Unto serving his continual evil purposes
Till there's an eventual fall that's hard to land
For he does not support his purchases

Verse 1]

Satan knows all of our strengths

And he knows where we are weak

That for chains of longest length

It’s through our blind spots, he will seek

Then when the chain tightens

Woe to what happens to talents

For they are then tools to contend

And further his grasp-like talons

[Pre-Chorus]

Then through pride we feel empowered

Puffed up as he deceives us

As it's God he imitates

We start to trust that rising power

[Chorus]

Blind spots, blind spots

He knows where we are weak

Blind spots, blind spots

That’s where the chains will reach

Blind spots, blind spots

Don’t let pride take the lead

Blind spots, blind spots

Keep my heart on its knees

[Verse 2]

Such that we feel strong-

in this rising power

But, in truth, ultimately,

our path he limitates

As though bought- he increases

his demand unto serving

his continual evil purposes

Till there's an eventual fall that's hard to land

For he does not support his purchases

[Bridge]

Break the grin

Break the spell

Name the lie

Ring the bell

What looks like strength

Can turn to sand

If I keep my soul

Out of his hand

[Final Chorus]

Blind spots, blind spots

He knows where we are weak

Blind spots, blind spots

That’s where the chains will reach

Blind spots, blind spots

Don’t let pride take the lead

Blind spots, blind spots

Keep my heart on its knees

Elder Marion G. Romney of the Quorum of the Twelve taught: “Latter-day Saints know that there is a God. With like certainty, they know that Satan lives, that he is a powerful personage of spirit, the archenemy of God, of man, and of righteousness” (Ensign, June 1971, p. 35). President Joseph F. Smith described one of Satan’s methods: “Satan is a skillful imitator, and as genuine gospel truth is given the world in ever-increasing abundance, so he spreads the counterfeit coin of false doctrine” (ibid., p. 36).

Satan uses every possible device to degrade and enslave every soul. He attempts to distort and corrupt everything created for the good of man, sometimes by diluting that which is good, sometimes by camouflaging that which is evil. We generally think of Satan attacking us at our weakest spot. Elder Spencer W. Kimball of the Quorum of the Twelve described this technique when he said: “Lucifer and his followers know the habits, weaknesses, and vulnerable spots of everyone and take advantage of them to lead us to spiritual destruction” (The Miracle of Forgiveness, Salt Lake City: Bookcraft, 1969, pp. 218–19).

Like the fabled Achilles, who was immune to every lethal blow except to his heel, many of us have a special weakness that can be exploited to our spiritual downfall. For some, that weakness may be a taste for liquor, an unusual vulnerability to sexual temptation, or a susceptibility to compulsive gambling or reckless speculation. For others, it may be a craving for money or power. If we are wise, we will know our weaknesses, our spiritual Achilles’ heels, and fortify ourselves against temptations in those areas.

But weakness is not our only vulnerability. Satan can also attack us where we think we are strong—in the very areas where we are proud of our strengths. He will approach us through the greatest talents and spiritual gifts we possess. If we are not wary, Satan can cause our spiritual downfall by corrupting us through our strengths as well as by exploiting our weaknesses. I will illustrate this truth with several examples

Dallin H. Oaks,
“Our Strengths Can Become Our Downfall,”
Ensign, Oct 1994, 11

Waiting for Promised Blessings

With honest, desperate tears

How? I question my faith!

After ten long years, we've fears

My hope's losing strength

For blessings assure they'll come

And our arms eagerly await

For the joy to become

Parents! We know we'll be great!

Meanwhile our families gather

And others easily have many

They share our pain on this matter

Still we grieve more we've not any

I try to fix my wife's hurt

The aching hole in her heart

We know we are not the first

But, God's promise makes this hard!

I would trade in every trip

Every night we've slept well

Every moment of free time

To soothe our child, overwhelmed

Help us find that joy

That surpasses understanding

A sweet girl or boy

Our own miracle for handling

Oh God, hear our prayers

Forgive us of our grief

We shed helpless tears

Help us in our unbelief

Verse 1] With honest, desperate tears How? I question my faith! After ten long years, we've fears My hope's losing strength For blessings assure they'll come And our arms eagerly await For the joy to become Parents! We know we'll be great! [Pre-Chorus] Meanwhile our families gather And others easily have many They share our pain on this matter Still we grieve more we've not any [Chorus] Help us find that joy That surpasses understanding A sweet girl or boy Our own miracle for handling Oh God, hear our prayers Forgive us of our grief We shed helpless tears Help us in our unbelief [Verse 2] I try to fix my wife's hurt The aching hole in her heart We know we are not the first But, God's promise makes this hard! I would trade in every trip Every night we've slept well Every moment of free time To soothe our child, overwhelmed [Pre-Chorus] Meanwhile our families gather And others easily have many They share our pain on this matter Still we grieve more we've not any [Chorus] Help us find that joy That surpasses understanding A sweet girl or boy Our own miracle for handling Oh God, hear our prayers Forgive us of our grief We shed helpless tears Help us in our unbelief [Bridge] We are weak, but You are near Hold the pieces of our need Through the waiting, through the fear Be the answer, plant the seed Give us grace to keep on standing When the longing cuts so deep Help us in our unbelief Help us in our unbelief [Final Chorus] Help us find that joy That surpasses understanding A sweet girl or boy Our own miracle for handling Oh God, hear our prayers Forgive us of our grief We shed helpless tears Help us in our unbelief

It Begins With Faith- Read the Book of Mormon

How grateful we should be

And how wonderful it is 

To have the gospel fully 

Through the Holy Ghost's witness

Read the Book of Mormon

And learn for yourself

It is written for man

For latter-day help

Never lose sight of 

This marvelous truth:

"God's message is love!"

And this book is your proof!

Read and pray to know

If the words come from God

A witness will show

And then, read it a lot!

Christ's restored church is here

Promised blessings await

His glad message is clear

And it begins with faith

Elder Causse shares his testimony of the fulness of the gospel and of his mother's conversion story.  It is as beautiful as she is.  She read the book in one week!  She said she couldn't put it down.

https://youtube.com/shorts/DnvZkJMPGs8?si=0JeqmgDmHwzTvr1y

Verse 1] How grateful we should be, How wonderful it is, To have the gospel fully Through the Holy Ghost's witness. [Chorus] Read the Book of Mormon, And learn for yourself; It is written for man, For latter-day help. [Verse 2] Never lose sight of This marvelous truth: God's message is love, And this book is your proof. [Chorus] Read the Book of Mormon, And learn for yourself; It is written for man, For latter-day help. [Bridge] Read and pray to know If the words come from God; A witness will show, And then, read it a lot! [Verse 3] Christ's restored church is here, Promised blessings await; His glad message is clear, And it begins with faith. [Outro] It begins with faith, It begins with faith.

With a Whoosh of Wind I Enter the Oakland Temple

With a whoosh of wind I enter
Unto a place of peace and rest
As double doors outwards filter
And invite me to come as my best

Inside they quietly welcome
Offering greetings as a host
I find strength, wisdom
And holiness I need most

I am inside of God's temple
Through grace and a recommend
Here to bless mine and His people
Through His sure covenants that transcend

Here I learn of what's timeless
And become linked to my kin
Here I ascend for what's breathless
From endowments, my sealing begins!

Here the words settle and swell
To reach inside of my soul
What joy I feel, I cannot tell
But, I liken it to feeling whole

My Name is Fentanyl

My name is Fentanol 

I dangle before your feet

I entrance you all

Each and every time we meet

Those who hang around me

End up wanting, always, more

Hooked they dont care or see

Who benefits from the score

-----------------------------------------------

The drug cartels smuggle and work

Through a long network chain

They are always on the alert

For expansions to gain

By submarines or speed boats

They race across the seas

To find those whose hope never floats

Who've lost all of their dreams

A swastika insures respect

It's meaning that is there's 

A conspiracy, we suspect

With the devil each man shares

Verse 1] My name is Fentanol I dangle before your feet I entrance you all Each and every time we meet Those who hang around me End up wanting, always, more Hooked they dont care or see Who benefits from the score [Chorus] My name is Fentanol (dangle before your feet) My name is Fentanol (entrance you all) Hooked they dont care or see Who benefits from the score My name is Fentanol (you want it more) [Verse 2] The drug cartels smuggle and work Through a long network chain They are always on the alert For expansions to gain By submarines or speed boats They race across the seas To find those whose hope never floats Who've lost all of their dreams [Bridge] A swastika insures respect It's meaning that is there's A conspiracy, we suspect With the devil each man shares [Chorus] My name is Fentanol (dangle before your feet) My name is Fentanol (entrance you all) Hooked they dont care or see Who benefits from the score My name is Fentanol (you want it more)

Score:

 noun, slang The successful purchase or procurement of something illicit, especially drugs.He spent his days scrounging money from wherever he could in order to get his next score.

And really, all I want to do is surround myself with love and thoughts of Christmas. God bless our DEA for working so hard. Stay safe.