The Beginning Of A Great Persecution Against The Church

Hello! and happy good Tuesday to all of us, GUYS.  Our "food for the soul" today:

THE GOOD NEWS (12 April 2016)

"As they were stoning him, Stephen prayed saying: 'LORD JESUS, receive my spirit.'  Then he knelt down and said in a loud voice: 'LORD, do not hold this sin against them.'  And when he had said this, he died.

Saul was there, approving his murder.  This was the beginning of a great persecution against the Church in Jerusalem.  All, except the apostles, were scattered throughout the region of Judea and Samaria.  Devout men buried Stephen and mourned deeply for him.  Saul meanwhile was trying to destroy the Church; he entered house after house and dragged off men and women and had them put in jail." - Acts 7:59-60; 8:1-3 

Saul of Tarsus, Before Conversion

(The death of Stephen leads to a resurrection.  Instead of Stephen, the Church will have a new apostle in Saul who, after his conversion, will become "St. Paul."  So GOD heard the prayer of Stephen for his murderers.

The illegal execution of Stephen unleashes the persecution against the Hellenists Christians.  The apostles and others in the Hebrew group were not persecuted, because they were considered loyal to the Jewish religion and traditions.)

Christian Persecution, Early Church

Free Me From My Persecutors

Hello! and happy good weekend to all of us, GUYS.  For our "food for the soul" this Saturday:

THE GOOD NEWS (12 March 2016)

"O LORD, my GOD, in YOU I take shelter; deliver me and save me from all my pursuers, lest lions tear me to pieces with no one to rescue me.

O LORD, my GOD, if my hands are stained with guilt - if with evil I have repaid good, if I have plundered unjustly my opponent, let the enemy hound me, let him crush me to the ground and lay down my glory in the dust.

Arise, O LORD, in YOUR wrath; rise up against the fury of my foes.  Awake, O my GOD and judge the nations, for the time of judgment has come.

Let the nations gather around YOU; and YOU take YOUR seat high above them.

Proclaim, O LORD, my righteousness; YOU see that I am blameless.

Bring to an end the power of the wicked, but affirm the just, O righteous GOD, searcher of mind and heart.

YOU cover me as a shield, O GOD, for YOU protect the upright.

A righteous judge is GOD, HIS anger ever awaiting those who refuse to repent. - Psalm 7:2-12

FATHER GOD, The Merciful

(A cry that comes from the depth of the soul, demanding justice.)