A friend of mine wrote poetry before he died. His name was Dallas Brown. He wrote two books: Intimate Voice of God, Heavy Rain and Light Breezes.

The following is an unpublished poem by him for me and my second wife after my first wife passed.

Under His Wing

Under the Wing of God

I found you

My love, my one and only,

We would have been married long

And happily

But your tragic death

Changed all plans.

Why? Why was I bereft

Of my youthful, loving,

My chaste virgin,

Who knew no man,

Who waited until we

Became one in our own home?

My love for her will not fade.

Healing trudged slow

And sadly, until a day

When he touched my face,

With a Light Breeze

Reminding me of his many

Blessings of life.

I could only love again,

By this power of God.

Don't think me rash,

Or hasty, or as giving up

On a dream I once had.

My dream remains

To do His Will!

If a friend join me

As a new wife

In the Lord,

We shall continue on

In His Steps!

"Time passed.  Cain brought an offering to God from the produce of his farm.  Abel also brought an offering, but from the firstborn animals of his herd, choice cuts of meat.  God liked Abel and his offering, but Cain and his offering didn't get his approval.  Cain lost his temper and went into sulk" (Genesis 4:3-5 MSG).

Why was God displeased with Cain's sacrifice?  Was it because Cain didn't sacrifice animals?  He could have easily traded his produce for one of Abel's quality animals.  Yet, the text doesn't specify that animals were the only sacifice God required at this time.  So, his land produce may not have been the issue.  A likely reason God wasn't happy with Cain's offering was because Cain didn't offer the best of his wealth and prosperity?  Perhaps he offered the second-rate produce to God. 

This text, as well as so many others, is dealing with our attitude toward God.  Was Abel "more" perfect than Cain?  No.  But it seems that Abel's worship to God was accepted because he used the best of what he had to offer; thereby, honoring God for who He truly is - the provider of all blessings.

The Lord's humbled . . . John A. Reeves

"Someone told him (Jesus), 'Look, your mother and your brothers are standing outside, wanting to speak to you.'  But to the one who had told him this, Jesus replied, 'Who is my mother, and who are my brothers?'  And pointing to his disciples, he said, 'Here are my mother and my brothers!  For whoever does the will of my Father in heaven is my brother and sister and mother'" (Matthew 12:47-50).

A proper relationship with Jesus is important; at least, it is important to Jesus.  First, He distinguishes between a physical heratige and spiritual heratige by stating that blood relationship is not what counts; rather, love, dedication, and an obedient faith to the heavenly Father (cf. Romans; Galatians; 1 John).

Second, the spiritual relationship with Jesus is not just based on a "blind" following and meaningless repitition.  (Jesus doesn't want a "blind faith").  He pointed to His disciples.  A disciple is a follower.  A learner in the true sense.  They are those who choose to follow by free will.  They continue to learn, grow, and produce fruit of righteousness.

A person of relationship with Jesus (and God) are those who "does the will of my (Jesus') Father in heaven" (Matthew 12:50).  Other passages in Scripture teach that this obedience is not one that attempts to earn their salvation (Romans; Galatians).  It is a faith that lives a life worthy of the gospel of Christ; i.e., because one desires to wholeheartedly live for Him because of His love that He has already given.

Are you in a relationship with God?

The Lord's humbled . . . John A. Reeves