The Bleeding Woman, from Luke and Mark

Twelve years. I opened my eyes, but stayed in bed, wondering why I would even need to get up. Twelve years unclean--like one of the lepers. So many doctors had come in and out of my life. They each tried their various cures, collecting my money, then got frustrated and left. Now, I was alone, sick, and completely impoverished.

That morning, a crowd of voices drifted through my open window, and I recognized the voice of a man who lived down the street-- "He's coming across the lake! Jesus is coming this direction!"

Something in my heart leapt. Is this what hope felt like? It had been so long since I had felt anything but the pain of constant bleeding and the poking and prodding of doctors. Something deep inside of my broken body stirred as I heard the name--Jesus. With a struggle, I pulled myself to a seated position.

Once, I had been beautiful. But now, the blood had drained from every part of my body. I knew just from the horrified stares that I had gotten when people caught just a glimpse of me, that I must look gaunt and gray-faced.

I stood, feeling dizzy enough to fall face-forward onto the ground. I steadied myself against the wall, sweat forming on my upper lip and on my brow. I pushed with one hand against the wall, and started determinedly taking one step at a time. Somehow, I knew that if I could get to this man, this Jesus, I could be healed. Stories of his miraculous signs and rumors of him being the Messiah that we had all waiter for had filtered through the town.

I took step after step, sweat pouring down my face. It took hours to make it the miles to the lake--and I finally began to see the edge of the crowd. The hope in my heart that had pulled me instinctively in this direction began to build even more. From this distance, I couldn't see him, but I knew he had to be in the center of the crowd. I craned my neck, taking all the strength I had, and there he was. He had a kind face, but wasn't handsome. He looked ordinary. However, he had definitely caught the attention of the crowd. I knew that I would never make it through. I dropped to my knees and squeezed through the edge of the crowd.

A woman stepped on my fingers. I scratched at the hard clay ground with my fingernails, clawing past numberless pairs of feet. I didn't care, I just knew I needed to get to the center. The dust was coating my sweaty skin, and I was exerting more energy than I had in 12 years. The tan hem of the man's garment was in sight. I wearily reached out my hand, my sore fingertips barely brushed his garment--I wasn't even sure that it was enough to get his attention.

I felt the warmth flood my body, and I knew I had touched him. Somehow, the bleeding had stopped, and blood was reaching parts of my body that had been deprived for so long. My breath was still coming in deep gasps, but I found the strength to peer up at him, the sun shining into my eyes.

"Who touched me?" His voice was kind, like his eyes. I rose a little from my crawling position. His deep brown eyes scanned the crowd as I struggled to my feet. I managed a step towards him before I fell at his feet. It wasn't lack of strength that forced me to my knees--it was the awe.

"Sir...Lord. It was me." I met his eyes briefly, but quickly looked away as the whispers about me, "that unclean woman" began. But I knew I had to explain the feeling that had led me to find him. "I knew if I could only touch you, I would be okay."

He kneeled down and laid a hand on my trembling shoulder as tears welled in my eyes. "Daughter, your faith has healed you. Go in peace and be freed from your suffering." He gently put his hand under my elbow and helped me rise to my feet. I watched him walk away and the crowd that followed him until he was gone from view.

I no longer felt pain, nor bleeding. Months later, our Messiah was crucified. He bled and suffered--so that I wouldn't have to.

I am lame.

I am not a blogger. Have you figured that out yet?

My niece was born 3 weeks ago. She is beautiful and perfect. I was fortunately able to go and meet her when she was only 2 days old! With any luck, and massive amounts of prayer, I hope to be an aunt that is able to be an active influence in my niece's life. I want to be able to take her out on Saturdays to the zoo, or be so close that I can babysit when mom and dad want to go out, and spoil her absolutely rotten, because I am the aunt and that is what aunts can do! :-)

Needless to say, I am counting down the days until I see her again. 8!!!!!!!!

Last one on Aug 22nd, really?

Dear blog, I am very sorry to have neglected you for so long. My last post being August 22nd makes sense, considering that my semester began on August 25th and I've been running around like a crazy person ever since.

I am anxiously awaiting my little niece Libbie's entrance into the world. I wish I were in Nashville right now instead of trying desperately to finish assignments in case I need to take off quickly one of these days.

I am feeling utterly tired and sarcastic this morning, but somehow I cannot manage to write an amusing blog for you to read. I miss my sister and I am getting a niece sometime in the next 8 days, at the latest on November 4th. That's about all I'm focusing on right now :-)

Blessed beyond Belief!

I try not to be overly serious on here...but prepare yourself for a sappy-fest!

I am so blessed!

1. I have a wonderful family- a sister who loves me and is also about to bring another member of my family into the world!, a sweet brother-in-law who adores my sister, a mom and dad who tolerate me still living with them at the age of 23 and take me on amazing vacations to Cancun.

2. The absolute best friends anyone could ask for. (yes, my friends are better than yours.) Not only do I have amazing girl friends here ranging in age from their 20's to their 60's, I also have friends in Virginia (and other scattered places) from college. My friends forgive me when I don't answer my cell phone because I left it on silent. I even have friends who still love me and send me texts that say "you are amazing" when I haven't spoken to him in months.

3. I have a God who thinks I am beautiful and sent His son, his only Son, to die for me. This should have been first on the list. Forgive me, it's after midnight.

4. I have the opportunity to continue my education so I can pursue my passion of teaching children. So many people don't get to do what they are passionate about as a career, and I look forward to it!

5. Did I mention that I am crazy about my family and friends and feel so blessed to have them in my life? Just checking... :)

6. I am the proud sponsor (through Compassion International) of a beautiful little Ecuadorian girl who will be 6 in October. I feel so blessed that I am financially able to share with this little girl who her mom describes as a good, obedient, and peaceful child.

So, reader, what are you thankful for?

Reality TV

I love Reality TV.

Big Brother is on right now--gotta love how they tear each other apart. It's really amazing. Last season, they were backstabbers and mean. This year, they are LOUD. They yell at each other like EVERY day. And no one cries as a result of these fights...it amazes me, really!

I think I might make an interesting reality TV personality...I would be crying all the time, but I wouldn't let people step on me. A real Christian--not ones that go on and create "Team God" and continue to backstab and lie. Not a pastor's son who immediately starts having sex with a blonde bimbo. But a real Christian. It'd be pretty cool.

Anyways, off to Cancun tomorrow, so it's time to reeeeelax :-)

Hola Cancun!

6 days until beach! I am staying in this lovely resort. and I am so excited! I thought for this occasion, I would list my top vacations I've taken in the past, not really in a particular order.








1. Grand Bahama, 2006- My mom and I took a girls vacation, and we had a blast just hanging out at the hotel pool and taking a ferry to the neighboring Port Lucaya to shop and eat at our fave restaurant there--the Irish pub!! LOL.

2. Disney World, Christmas 2002- Yes, I convinced my family to go to Disney World for the Christmas before my 18th birthday. It's amazing...our Christmas Eve plans were ruined and we were wading in water up to our ankles through pouring rain, but it was really one of the more fun Christmases I can remember. Plus it was one of the last family vacations we got to take with my sister!

3. DollyWood, 2006 (I think!)- We were actually staying outside of Pigeon Forge, but Dollywood was one of the big things we did. It was an awesome vacation--we stayed in a cabin in the woods, and there was a jacuzzi! And Mr. and Mrs. Vanderbilt were there!

4. Niagara Falls- I think I was in elementary school when we did this...but I can still remember the feeling of the mist on my face as we rode under the falls on the Maid of the Mist. Truly a breathtaking sight.

5. California, 2005- We went to San Diego and went to TWO zoos. I've always loved zoos. The wild animal park was amazing, and the San Diego zoo wasn't bad itself. Also, I had the best Mexican food I'd ever had in old town. Then a few days later we moved onto LA, went through the beach I read about in the Christy Miller series, then went to Disney Land/California theme parks (16 hours!). Then into LA where we did Rodeo Drive (lame) and went to see the Jay Leno Show live (awesome!)

6. Yellowstone, 2003/4???- Another beauty of the world. The nature was gorgeous.

7. Disney World 1993- this was when I was 8, and was the first trip I remember to Disney. Everything was so magical!

8. Carnival Cruise, 1996- My first cruise! We got to dress up for dinner, and I learned the Macarena!

9. Myrtle Beach, basically every other year in between these!

10. Virginia Beach, Spring Break '03- I went with my mom because my Spring Break trip to Scotland/England got cancelled. It was cold! But we had so much fun!

I have been so blessed with having awesome family vacations, and an awesome family, period!

per your request...

I have been asked to update! I thought I would post something that I wrote yesterday while preparing for leading my small group. Please enjoy :-)

To say my heart plunged into my stomach when the Pharisee burst into my room was an understatement. The moment he grabbed my arm, pulling me away from the man in my bed, I knew that I was going to die. I clutched at blankets and discarded clothing, anything to hide my immodestly dressed figure. I screamed as I landed on the clay ground and the lump in my throat made breathing even more difficult than the cloud of dust our scuffle had caused to invade my lungs. The angry man wrenched me to my bare feet and slapped me, leaving bold red marks across my face.

“What do you want?” I cried, trying to regain any of my confidence.

“What do I want?” he sneered. “He will answer. And he will pay.” My eyes flashed to the man in the corner, who was hurriedly dressing. He looked back at me with cold, blank eyes and I realized quickly that he wasn’t the man that the Pharisee was talking about. If it wasn’t him, who were they after?

He pulled me out the door and into the city streets quickly. I struggled, but I was nothing against the power of this man’s anger. He reached the temple courts and threw me at a man’s feet. The rabbi Yeshua. I had only heard about this man—performing miracles, giving sermons, and spending time with outcasts—people like me. I barely heard the shouts of the Pharisees. The calmness and gentleness that radiated from this man, this teacher, overpowered me.

The man who had dragged me from my home spoke. “Teacher, I found this woman in the act of adultery. In the Law of Moses, we are commanded to stone such women.” He paused, it seemed, for effect. “What then do you say?”

I couldn’t see this man’s face, but I stared at his feet from my place on the ground, tears rolling down my face. I cursed the white fabric of my undergarment that clung to every curve I had. No one would ever forgive me. I didn’t deserve any forgiveness—I was an adulteress, a sinner, an outcast. The teachers had found in the law that I was unworthy to live any longer, and I was about to die.

The man kneeled on the ground. I felt his eyes on me for a brief moment before he started to write on the ground. I glanced up at him, incredulous. What was he doing? The teachers still taunted him, asking questions, almost daring him to answer. He stood, and the crowd and the teachers hushed, waiting with bated breath for his answer, hoping, praying, that he would condemn himself by answering. “If any one of you is without sin, let him be the first to throw a stone at her.” He stooped back down beside me and continued his scribbling on the ground.

I threw my arms over my head, waiting for the self-righteous Pharisees to throw their stones and incite everyone else to violence. The stones never came. The shuffle of retreating footsteps began, and I raised my head. I watched in amazement as everyone left, the older citizens first, and the Pharisees reluctantly last, surely cursing this Yeshua in their heads, and already beginning more scheming of how to trap him in another way.

He stopped scribbling in the dirt and rose to his feet, brushing the sand from his garments, and held out a hand to me. I hesitated, but took his hand, which was worn with calluses like a carpenter, but at the same time, warm, comforting, and gentle. He pulled me to my feet and asked, “Woman, where are they? Has no one condemned you?”

“N-no one, sir,” I stammered, unsure of what to say. Surely a man so good would have a few words to say about the actions I had committed.

He pulled the wide sash of fabric from around his waist and gently wrapped it around my shoulders, his eyes filled with a love I hadn’t seen since my father had died. “Then neither do I condemn you. Go on your way and sin no more.” And he was gone.

I fell to my knees and cried. The fabric around my shoulders was still warm from his touch. I felt lighter than I had in years. I had deserved the punishment that the Pharisees had been ready to give me. How could this ordinary man, who traveled around teaching, have been able to fill a void in my heart that had been there as long as I could remember? I rose to my feet slowly, wiping away my tears. Why? By vouching for me, he could have suffered the fate of stoning himself. Then I knew. The rumors that this man, this Yeshua, was our Messiah were true. I wouldn’t need married men or empty pleasures to fill the void any longer. My God has stopped for a moment, held out his hand, and forgiven me of it all.