“God, be merciful to me, a sinner!” -Luke 18:13b ESV Study Bible

Friday, October 7th, 2022. 9:18 AM
The 280th day of this year

Luke 18

Luke 18 ESV – The Parable of the Persistent Widow – Bible Gateway

Dear Leilah

I’ve been thinking of you since very early this morning.

It is now 5:44 AM

Your name – Leilah — got me remembering a song about “Lola”

The Kinks – Lola (Official Lyrics Video)

The Kinks – Lola (Official Lyrics Video) – YouTube

Leilah, you told me I don’t seem like the kind of guy to be at mfc

Well, you don’t seem like the kind of lady to be into bdsm.

After I finished writing this whole 9-page blog, I looked into the meaning of bdsm – and it almost prevented me from posting this writing – however, I really like you. And I’m a Christian trusting in the Lord Jesus; and I’m trusting Him to help both of us – so we don’t hurt each other with bdsm – nor any other kinds of immorality or evil or wickedness.

Elvis Presley-Can’t Help Falling In Love (Lyrics)

Elvis Presley-Can’t Help Falling In Love (Lyrics) – YouTube

Leilah, because I have a Savior in Jesus Christ – and He is the Light of the world – and because this writing puts us in the light where all can see what is going on – well, just watch and see how Jesus saves those who really believe in him – and that no one can snatch out of His hand those who belong to Him – who have been purchased by His Blood that He poured out on the Cross to pay for our sins – mine and yours too, Leilah.

“It is the Spirit who gives life; the flesh is no help at all. The words that I have spoken to you are spirit and life. But there are some of you who do not believe.” (For Jesus knew from the beginning who those were who did not believe, and who it was who would betray him.) And he said, “This is why I told you that no one can come to me unless it is granted him by the Father.” -John 6:63-65 ESV Study Bible.

Not judging anyone . . .

May True God have mercy on me, a sinner – no better than anyone else on earth.

Elvis Presley – (You’re The) Devil In Disguise (Official Animated Video)

Elvis Presley – (You’re The) Devil In Disguise (Official Animated Video) – YouTube

“Therefore be imitators of God, as beloved children. And walk in love, as Christ loved us and gave himself up for us, a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God.

“But sexual immorality and all impurity or covetousness must not even be named among you, as is proper among saints. Let there be no filthiness nor foolish talk nor crude joking, which are out of place, but instead let there be thanksgiving. For you may be sure of this, that everyone who is sexually immoral or impure, or who is covetous (that is, an idolator), has no inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and God. Let no one deceive you with empty words, for because of these things the wrath of God comes upon the sons of disobedience. Therefore do not become partners with them; for at one time you were darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Walk as children of light (for the fruit of light is found in all that is good and right and true), and try to discern what is pleasing to the Lord. Take no part in the unfruitful works of darkness, but instead expose them. For it is shameful even to speak of the things that they do in secret. But when anything is exposed by the light, it becomes visible, for anything that becomes visible is light. Therefore it says,

“Awake, O sleeper,

And arise from the dead,

And Christ will shine on you.

“Look carefully then how you walk, not as unwise but as wise, making the best use of the time, because the days are evil. Therefore do not be foolish, but understand what the will of the Lord is. And do not get drunk with wine, for that is debauchery, but be filled with the Spirit, addressing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody to the Lord with your heart, giving thanks always and for everything to God the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, submitting to one another out of reverence for Christ.” -Ephesians 5:1-21 ESV Study Bible.

What got me to turn on my HP (happy) computer was this thought:

L is the letter that is just before M in the alphabet

L is the twelfth letter and M is the thirteenth letter

12 + 13 = 25

Twenty-five is the number of the day celebrated in December for the birth of Jesus

L is the first letter of Lady

L is the first letter of Love

M is the first letter of Man

M is the first letter of Mark

M is the first letter of Marriage

M is the first letter of May – a beautiful month in Springtime

FIRST OF MAY (Lyrics) – THE BEE GEES

FIRST OF MAY (Lyrics) – THE BEE GEES – YouTube

Simon & Garfunkel – April Come She Will (Lyrics)

Simon & Garfunkel – April Come She Will (Lyrics) – YouTube

M is the first letter of Me – as in:

“Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.” -Matthew 11: 28-30 ESV Study Bible.

And L is the first letter of Light

“Again Jesus spoke to them, saying, ‘I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will not walk in darkness, but will have the light of life.” -John 8:12 ESV Study Bible.

And L is the first letter of Life

“Jesus said to him, ‘I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me. If you had known me, you would have known my Father also. From now on you do know him and have seen him.” -John 14:6, 7. ESV Study Bible.

John 14-17

John 14-17 ESV – I Am the Way, and the Truth, and the – Bible Gateway

And there is this beautiful love song that begins with the letter L

Longer

LONGER BY DAN FOGELBERG LYRICS

LONGER BY DAN FOGELBERG LYRICS – YouTube

Was also thinking of you last evening, Leilah. It was late – after we met online. Was remembering love songs from long ago – in the 1970s – by Bread. Bread may not begin with the letter L; but . . .

Jesus said to them, ‘I am the bread of life; whoever comes to me shall not hunger, and whoever believes in me shall never thirst. But I said to you that you have seen me yet do not believe. All that the Father gives me will come to me, and whoever comes to me I will never cast out. For I have come down from heaven, not to do my own will but the will of him who sent me. And this is the will of him who sent me, that I should lose nothing of all that he has given me, but raise it up on the last day. For this is the will of my Father, that everyone who looks on the Son and believes in him should have eternal life, and I will raise him up on the last day.’” -John 6:35-40. ESV Study Bible.

John 4-6

John 4-6 ESV – Jesus and the Woman of Samaria – Now – Bible Gateway

John 7-11:55

John 7-11:55 ESV – Jesus at the Feast of Booths – After – Bible Gateway

David Gates & Bread Greatest Hits With Lyrics

David Gates & Bread Greatest Hits With Lyrics – YouTube

Because I think 8 is my number, was wondering what the 8^th letter of the Hebrew alphabet is called; so, I asked that question in a search engine online – and found more than just the name of the letter: a wonderful article about marriage written in the light of Biblical understanding. It touched my heart so much I felt like crying – as I feel when listening to a very beautiful love song.

Chet – The eighth letter of the Hebrew alphabet – Essentials (chabad.org)

Isaiah 62

Isaiah 62 ESV – Zion’s Coming Salvation – For – Bible Gateway

Sweet Beulah Land – Squire Parsons – YouTube

“No longer will they call you Deserted, or name your land Desolate.

But you will be called Hephzibah, and your land Beulah; for the LORD will take delight in you, and your land will be married. As a young man marries a maiden, so will your sons marry you; as a bridegroom rejoices over his bride, so will your God rejoice over you.

“I have posted watchmen on your walls, O Jerusalem; they will never be silent day or night.

“You who call on the LORD,

Give yourselves no rest, and give him no rest till he establishes Jerusalem and makes her the praise of the earth.” -Isaiah 62:4-7 NIV Study Bible.

My mom’s name is/ was Beulah. We lived on Sweet Avenue. She departed this life when she was 88, on August 15, 2018.

The word Eternal begins with the letter E

And E is the second letter of Me [see Matthew 11:28-30]

Evergreen

Evergreen – Susan Jacks HD

Evergreen – Susan Jacks HD – YouTube

Jesus Christ is eternal life

And his love is eternal – everlasting — for those who believe in him, the Son of God . . .

Jesus at the Center by DARLENE ZSCHECH

Jesus at the Center by DARLENE ZSCHECH – YouTube

“He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of all creation. For by him all things were created, in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or rulers or authorities – all things were created through him and for him. And he is before all things, and in him all things hold together. And he is the head of the body, the church. He is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead, that in everything he might be preeminent. For in him all the fullness of God was pleased to dwell, and through him to reconcile to himself all things, whether on earth or in heaven, making peace by the blood of his cross.

“And you, who once were alienated and hostile in mind, doing evil deeds, he has now reconciled in his body of flesh by his death, in order to present you holy and blameless and above reproach before him, if indeed you continue in the faith, stable and steadfast, not shifting from the hope of the gospel that you heard, which has been proclaimed in all creation under heaven, and of which I, Paul, became a minister.

“Now I rejoice in my sufferings for your sake, and in my flesh I am filling up what is lacking in Christ’s afflictions for the sake of his body, that is, the church, of which I became a minister according to the stewardship from God that was given to me for you, to make the word of God fully known, the mystery hidden for ages and generations but now revealed to the saints. To them God chose to make known how great among the Gentiles are the riches of the glory of this mystery, which is Christ in you, the hope of glory. Him we proclaim, warning everyone and teaching everyone with all wisdom, that we may present everyone mature in Christ. For this I toil, struggling with all his energy that he powerfully works within me.” -Colossians 1:15-29 ESV Study Bible.

Colossians 1-4

Colossians 1-4 ESV – Greeting – Paul, an apostle of Christ – Bible Gateway

Your Presence is Heaven with Lyrics

Your Presence is Heaven with Lyrics – YouTube

Withholding Nothing Medley

Withholding Nothing Medley – YouTube

You Are Holy | Jesus Image

You Are Holy | Jesus Image – YouTube

The Wedding Song

PAUL STOOKEY The Wedding Song (There is Love) (+lyrics)

PAUL STOOKEY The Wedding Song (There is Love) (+lyrics) – YouTube

Sonnet 116 -William Shakespeare

Sonnet 116: Let me not to the marriage of true minds

Launch Audio in a New Window

Sonnet 116: Let me not to the marriage of true… | Poetry Foundation

Sonnets from the Portuguese -Elizabeth Barret Browning

Sonnets from the Portuguese 43: How do I love… | Poetry Foundation

How Do I Love Thee, Let Me Count the Ways . . .

Leilah . . .

Leilah . . . may I count your ways?

Will you show me your ways, Leilah?

Will you let my love go to you?

Will you, Leilah?

I have already seen your face and your facial expressions and your eyes; and I see someone special in you;

Someone who is, or could be, a kindred spirit to me and with me

Someone whose heart and mind I’d like to confide in and be connected with . . . and be in love with you – if you are willing – willing at least to give us a chance.

Mary Black – The Dimming of the Day

Mary Black – The Dimming of the Day – YouTube

Mary Black with Emmylou Harris – The Loving Time

Mary Black with Emmylou Harris – The Loving Time – YouTube

Mary Black – Bright Blue Rose

Mary Black – Bright Blue Rose – YouTube

Mary Black – Song For Ireland

Mary Black – Song For Ireland – YouTube

Will the United States of America become the United States of AmericaL

Will We the People turn to the Living God

And let Him possess U.S.

And fill us with His Holy Spirit

Will We Be Born Again

“Before she was in labor she gave birth; before her pain came upon her she delivered a son. Who has heard such a thing? Who has seen such things? Shall a land be born in one day? Shall a nation be brought forth in one moment? For as soon as Zion was in labor she brought forth her children. -Isaiah 66:7, 8. ESV Study Bible.

Isaiah 66

Isaiah 66 ESV – The Humble and Contrite in Spirit – Bible Gateway

(the writer knows there is a change of subject happening here and now – he hasn’t lost his mind)

“The Times They Are a Changing” — as Bob Dylan wrote and sang

The Times They Are A Changin’ Lyrics

The Times They Are A Changin’ Lyrics – YouTube

“My heart is stirred by a noble theme as I write my verses for the king; my tongue is the pen of a skillful writer.” -Psalm 45:1 NIV Study Bible.

Psalm 45

Psalm 45 NIV – Psalm 45 – For the director of music. – Bible Gateway

Bob Dylan – A Hard Rain’s A Gonna Fall (Lyrics)

Bob Dylan – A Hard Rain’s A Gonna Fall (Lyrics) – YouTube

Mary, Did You Know with Lyrics

Mary, Did You Know with Lyrics – YouTube

The Titanic was built in Belfast. She was magnificent and luxurious. She didn’t make it across God’s Great Atlantic. True God is Great. Man without True God is destined to fail. We can only live with True God — or only sink without Him.

REVIVAL IN BELFAST | Robin Mark [1999] [FULL DISC – HQ]

REVIVAL IN BELFAST | Robin Mark [1999] [FULL DISC – HQ] – YouTube

Gladys Knight The Best Thing That Ever Happened To Me Lyrics

Gladys Knight The Best Thing That Ever Happened To Me Lyrics – YouTube

Michael Ball Love Changes Everything

Michael Ball Love Changes Everything – YouTube

Love Changes Everything (lyrics) Michael Ball & II Divo

Love Changes Everything (lyrics) Michael Ball & II Divo – YouTube

Isaiah 14

Isaiah 14 ESV – The Restoration of Jacob – For the LORD – Bible Gateway

Second Coming of Jesus Christ – Polar Shift & Global Earthquake (NOT THE ONE ON JULY 29th)

Second Coming of Jesus Christ – Polar Shift & Global Earthquake (NOT THE ONE ON JULY 29th) – YouTube