Sherri Gragg

Desperation is a great giver of clarity: Bartimaeus needed no time to decide what to do next. __esus! Son of David!_ he shouted. __ave mercy on me!_ (Mark 10:47). The crowd turned to him in disgust. __hut your mouth, son of filth!_ But Bartimaeus knew what it meant to be despised. He also knew that the chance of a lifetime was literally passing him by, so he called to the Savior all the louder. (From: Bartimaeus)

Once, long ago, Jesus had called her name, breaking through the darkness of her oppression to set her free from the seven demons that bound her. now He broke through the hopelessness of her grief and despair. Mary might not have recognized His face, but she could never forget the sound of His voice, not when He called her name.(From "I Have Seen The Lord!")