Deed and Teresa came up canned 18 pints of salsa.  We are starting to get a pretty good routine going up here when it comes to processing the garden produce.  Still, takes time and effort – well worth it when you consider we know what is in the product and we know there are no preservatives other than natural ones.  In addition you get the flavor and the strength you want for your salsa, not too hot, not too cold, it is just right.

Smokey and Loki came with Deed and layed about the kitchen supervising the girls at work.  Blaze, at first, headed to his kennel, but after a while he came out and jumped up on the couch; for him that is a bit difference in activity.  He still doesn’t like them here, but at least he didn’t hide the entire time – course he didn’t go into the kitchen, either, but we will take the victories where and when they come.

Josh is bear hunting with a friend.  When I first moved to The Dalles I tried to find someone who went bear hunting, couldn’t find anyone even after a couple of years of trying.  Carla pointed out that there may be a reason why no one hunts bears – ya know?  I thought, she may be right!

Much cooler today, in the low 80’s and these temperatures are to continue through the weekend.  Interesting that the last ‘official’ day of summer season is ending with winds and cooler temps.  No complaints here. 

Mathew 20:29-34  And as they departed from Jericho, a great multitude followed him.

³⁰ And, behold, two blind men sitting by the way side, when they heard that Jesus passed by, cried out, saying, Have mercy on us, O Lord, thou son of David.

³¹ And the multitude rebuked them, because they should hold their peace: but they cried the more, saying, Have mercy on us, O Lord, thou son of David.

³² And Jesus stood still, and called them, and said, What will ye that I shall do unto you?

³³ They say unto him, Lord, that our eyes may be opened.

³⁴ So Jesus had compassion on them, and touched their eyes: and immediately their eyes received sight, and they followed him.

Why wouldn’t Jesus stop, after all isn’t that what He is all about, serving others?  Why was the crowd so instant that these men be quiet?  Were they trying to hear what He was saying as they walked along and these men were interfering with that?  Or, did they look at them as men being unworthy of Jesus’s attention and shouldn’t be allowed to address Jesus?  It doesn’t say, but we do find some interesting things here.

This incident follows the conversation of who should be seated at the feet of Jesus as He sits on His throne.  He made it clear that God would make that decision, but they shouldn’t be concerned about how great they were – using man’s standards – and as His followers be humble and servants to others.  This incident helped re-enforce that conversation – He was a servant of God and He expects His followers to do the same.  Sometimes you have to interrupt your plans and help someone along the way.

The two blind men were sitting by the road – presumably, but not for certain – knowing Jesus would be passing by.  They knew when He had come close enough for them to call out His name, and they made it clear they believed He was the Christ by calling Him the Son of David, not the son of Joseph.  They knew He could heal them.  They also refused to keep quiet as they called out to Him.  The crowd would quiet them, but these men were persistent, they would not let anything come between them and Christ.

When Jesus asked them what they wanted, they did not hesitate or beat around the bush, their request was immediate – and it showed they had faith in Jesus’ ability to heal them.  Just as quickly, Jesus had compassion on them and healed them.  It was just one more example of who He was and what God had enabled Him to do.

Jesus was always being slowed down by the masses in one way or another.  It was draining on Him as a man, it took away from His agenda of being somewhere for a specific reason.  While we may think He had all the time in the world, after all He didn’t have a ‘real job’ to go to, He did have a mission and He had God’s timing to be concerned about.  Yet, He took the time to meet the needs of these two men.  He always has time to meet our needs, we just need to wait on Him and be bold in our request.

These men could have allowed themselves to be pushed back by others, yet they were determined to not let anything stand between them and Jesus.  We need that same resolve when it comes to talking with God, we should not let anyone interfere with our time and diligently seek Him.  He wants to meet our needs, and He wants us to ask Him to meet those needs.

They asked and they received and they followed Christ.  They didn’t head home, they followed Him.  Jesus was the focus of their life, now, just as He should be with us.  While we may not have been dramatically healed, we do have the promise of eternal life with Him.  He has healed our souls from their retched condition, cleansed and purified us making us whole and able to come into the presence of God.

We once were sitting, blind to the purity and sanctity of God.  Jesus came by and we cried out asking for Him to show us the way and He healed the eyes of our soul so we could see Him as He is and so we could recognize the need for forgiveness.  Once our eyes were opened and we accepted that gift of salvation, we followed Him.

Mark 8:34  And when he had called the people unto him with his disciples also, he said unto them, Whosoever will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow me.

Even before He died on the cross at Calvary, He foretold the manner of His death and the need to follow Him.  Our eyes are now open to Who He is, why He came into this world, and the fulfilling of the mission to us that was given to Him by God.  With that realization comes our responsibility to get up and follow Him.

Later, Art :-)