Thursday, 1 May: mini bible study anyone?

Hey hey hey!

This week was a little crazy, complete with a broken blender, 2 exchanges, and getting locked out...for the 3rd time (I think we've got a problem lol) but another one under my belt!

ok I'm going to get a little vc nerdy on all y'all so bear with me but I'm obsessed with Paul's story. If it's been a minute since you've taken a look at the book of Acts I'll give you a little refresher haha. So we start off with Saul. Basically a terrible guy. Like the worst of the worst. When Paul is telling his story to the people in Galatians he says that he persecuted the church of God "beyond measure" and "profited in the Jews' religion above many my equals in my own nations", which just means he was the best in his class. Noone stood a chance against this guy. He would hunt down innocent men and women trying to worship God, put them in prison, and vote for their deaths. Pretty horrible stuff. Paul goes on a business trip to Damascus and on the way "shined round about him a light from heaven." Jesus speaks to him and asks "Saul, why persecutest thou me?" He then commands him to go into the city. Saul is blinded but follows the Lord's will and is led into the city by his friends.

I hope I haven't lost very many people at this point haha because my favorite part of the story is coming up!!

Ananias was a disciple in Damascus, who had heard of Saul and the much evil he had done. He may have even been hunted by Saul himself. The Lord speaks to Ananias and tells him to go find Saul and heal him. The Lord says: "for, behold, he prayeth...he is a chosen vessel unto me, to bear my name before the Gentiles, and kings, and the children of Israel."

This might be one of my favorite lines of the whole New Testament. I love prayer so much. It's such a gift that I think a lot of us take for granted. And the beautiful thing is that every time we humble ourselves before God in prayer, He listens. Every single time. He listened to this man who's literal job was to persecute God! He knew Saul's heart. He knew Saul's potential. And He gave him the opportunity to change. Because of the Atonement of Jesus Christ, Saul was able to change and become Paul, one of the greatest apostles of all time. He fearlessly preached the gospel across the Roman Empire and wasn't willing to give up his testimony of Jesus Christ, even until death. Yesterday we walked past the Mamertine prison near the Roman Forum where it is believed Peter and Paul (mission companions here in Rome) were imprisoned and later martyred. It was so cool!! I found a picture and put it down below.

Call me a nerd but I love learning about this stuff and living here. My New Testament class at BYU this fall is going to go crazy haha.

ciao for now!

Sorella McCune