cain and abel fell for each other during some twisted scenarios.
they were definitely pining for each other during their training as knights, but neither of them realized how much they yearned for the other until the war.
cain realized his feelings as he watched his comrades die one by one during the fight against gra with the king. too much might have happened at once (bro had to deliver the king of fucking aritia's dying words to his son and then watch their king lose his breathe and life, how fucked up is that) but one of the strongest thoughts that dominated him on the moment he rode away, other than the overwhelming desire to go home and hug his mother forever, was how glad he was that he didn't have to watch his best friend abel die among his fellow knights.
abel realized his feelings when he saw cain almost bleed himself to death as he barely made it to their small escape party. there was a look of pure horror on abel's face as he watched cain struggle to ride on his horse and tell marth what happened until jagen urged them to hurry up and leave. when they lock eye contact, abel saw a ghost of a smile on cain's bloodied lips, but he coughed up and there was no more time for conversations after that.
abel did not leave cain's side as they tended his wounds. he also refused to leave cain in a room by himself once they escaped to talys and temporarily settled there. if it weren't for the war, cain would have teased abel for being unusually clingy. but he too wanted nothing more than to stay close with abel while he was still blessed to remain alive.
during their stay at the talys kingdom's guest room, cain woke up one morning and looked to his side to see abel sitting and fast asleep by the side of the bed, his head rested on his crossed arms, face tilted high enough for cain to make out the other's soft, tranquil expression. abel's brows weren't creased since they first escaped from their homeland, it's as if the war never happened.
if it weren't for his wounds, cain would reach out to fix abel's ruffled hair. he did not notice that he was staring at abel for the god knows how long until the other opened his eyes. neither of them moved and broke eye contact for another moment that felt timeless. for the first time since they left, cain smiled ever so slightly. "hi."
abel blinked blearily and smirked back, seemingly unfazed that cain had been staring at him in his sleep. abel +made a small wave with his fingers. "hi."
do they talk about out the horrors they have done through for the past days? neither of them were ready for that yet. but one thing they know that at the back of their heads, that they wished his small hopeful peaceful moment between them could last forever.
JANUARY 19, 2026, MONDAY
Entry: 2:29pm, Fairview QC
VERSE OF THE DAY:
PSALMS 133:1
How wonderful and pleasant it is when brothers live together in harmony!
A UNIFYING MISSION
Almost every successful company or group in history has shared something in common: they all had a unifying mission.
Missions are critical in not only aligning objectives, but also unifying a large group of people toward one purpose.
As Christians, we all share the same mission. We are unified in following Christ. We're saved by His blood (Romans 5:9) and we're all called to make disciples in His name, (Matthew 28:9)
And yet, even among Christians, there is so much division and disunity.
Part of the division comes from our lack of clarity and commitment to the mission that is defined in Scripture. And to make it worse, we are sinful people, and sin naturally causes division on our lives and relationships.
But, the Psalmist in Psalm 133:1 reflect on how good it is when the people of God live together in unity. There is something powerful that happens among Christians when we are unified.
Unity is not putting away our differences, because there would be no need to be unified if we were all the same. No, unity is coming together with our differences and striving to make much of Jesus together.
We can accomplish so much more for God's kingdom together that we can alone. But, we must strive for unity to make that happen. Life's better when we work together.
We can accomplish so much more for God's kingdom together than we can alone. But, we must strive for unity to make that happen, Life's better when we work together.
Take a moment to consider that people in your life who might be different from you. What steps can you take today to build a greater sense of unity with those around you? Consider a few ways that you can make Jesus famous in your life through the relationships and communities that you're in.
SHARE YOUR FAITH
God-honoring unity is coming together with out differences and striving to make much of Jesus.
God, You alone can unite Your children. You make sinful hearts clean. You make broken families whole. You make divided nations return to You. Help me remember Your power to unite, and Your will for togetherness. Mend the divisions You see in me, and mend the divisions You see in the world. In Jesus' name, Amen.
JOHN 14:6
Jesus told him, "I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one can come to the Father except through me"
It is because of Jesus' sacrifice that we can come to God-as we are-through prayer today.
Offer your honor and praise to God right now.
PSALMS 28:7
The Lord is my strength and shield. I trust him with all my heart. He helps me, and my heart is filled with joy. I burst out in songs of thanksgiving.
Every concern you have matters to God.
So, what's on your mind right now? Where do you want God to show up?
God, when I think about all that You've done for me, I am overwhelmed with thanks. You are so good and kind to me! Thank You for being my steady source of hope and joy. You are worthy to be praised at all times, in every situation! In Jesus' name, Amen.
DAILY BIBLE READING:
GENESIS 46-48
MATTHEW 13:1-30
JACOB'S JOURNEY TO EGYPT
“I am God, the God of your father,” the voice said. “Do not be afraid to go down to Egypt, for there I will make your family into a great nation."
JACOB'S FAMILY ARRIVES IN GOSHEN
JACOB BLESSES PHARAOH
Pharaoh said to Joseph, “Now that your father and brothers have joined you here, 6choose any place in the entire land of Egypt for them to live. Give them the best land of Egypt. Let them live in the region of Goshen. And if any of them have special skills, put them in charge of my livestock, too.” oseph provided food for his father and his brothers in amounts appropriate to the number of their dependents, including the smallest children.
JOSEPH'S LEADERSHIP IN THE FAMINE
“Look, today I have bought you and your land for Pharaoh. I will provide you with seed so you can plant the fields. 24Then when you harvest it, one-fifth of your crop will belong to Pharaoh. You may keep the remaining four-fifths as seed for your fields and as food for you, your households, and your little ones.”
Meanwhile, the people of Israel settled in the region of Goshen in Egypt. There they acquired property, and they were fruitful, and their population grew rapidly.
JACOB BLESSES MANASSEH AND EPHRAIM
“May the God before whom my grandfather Abraham
and my father, Isaac, walked—
the God who has been my shepherd
all my life, to this very day,
16the Angel who has redeemed me from all harm—
may he bless these boys.
May they preserve my name
and the names of Abraham and Isaac.
And may their descendants multiply greatly
throughout the earth.”
“The people of Israel will use your names when they give a blessing. They will say, ‘May God make you as prosperous as Ephraim and Manasseh.’”
PARABLE OF THE FARMER SCATTERING SEED
footpath-birds came and ate them - those who hear the message about the Kingdom and don’t understand it.
shallow soil with underlying rock-soon wilted under the hot sun - They fall away as soon as they have problems or are persecuted for believing God’s word.
among thorns that grew up and choked out the tender plants- he message is crowded out by the worries of this life and the lure of wealth, so no fruit is produced
fertile soil, and they produced a crop that was thirty, sixty, and even a hundred times as much as had been planted! produce a harvest
blessed are your eyes, because they see; and your ears, because they hear.
PARABLE OF THE WHEAT AND WEEDS
“The Kingdom of Heaven is like a farmer who planted good seed in his field. his enemy came and planted weeds among the wheat, When the crop began to grow and produce grain, the weeds also grew."
Let both grow together until the harvest. Then I will tell the harvesters to sort out the weeds, tie them into bundles, and burn them, and to put the wheat in the barn.’”
ACTS 10:30-35, 39-43
a man in dazzling clothes was standing in front of me. 31He told me, ‘Cornelius, your prayer has been heard, and your gifts to the poor have been noticed by God! it was good of you to come. Now we are all here, waiting before God to hear the message the Lord has given you.”
THE GENTILES HEAR THE GOOD NEWS
“I see very clearly that God shows no favoritism. 35In every nation he accepts those who fear him and do what is right. there is peace with God through Jesus Christ, who is Lord of all. Then Jesus went around doing good and healing all who were oppressed by the devil, for God was with him. we apostles are witnesses.
Then God allowed him to appear, 41not to the general public, but to us whom God had chosen in advance to be his witnesses. We were those who ate and drank with him after he rose from the dead. 42And he ordered us to preach everywhere and to testify that Jesus is the one appointed by God to be the judge of all—the living and the dead. 43He is the one all the prophets testified about, saying that everyone who believes in him will have their sins forgiven through his name.”
INSIGHT
In Acts 10, Peter’s response to God’s command contrasts with that of the prophet Jonah. God commanded both the wayward prophet and Peter to take His words to non-Jewish people. Jonah fled by way of Joppa so that he didn’t have to obey (Jonah 1:3), but Peter, while in Joppa, listened and headed straight to Cornelius (Acts 10:23-24). Jonah responded to God’s outpouring of compassion with anger (Jonah 4:1), but Peter allowed his heart and mind to change in light of God’s acceptance of the outsider (Acts 10:34, 44-48). Believers in Jesus are called to love everyone without favoritism, for we’re all made in the image of God.
By: Jed Ostoich
FOR EVERY NATION
London is a cosmopolitan city, with people from many nations living side by side. This coming together of people from around the world can bring richness—including amazing food—but also challenges. For instance, I was saddened that friends from one European country felt they were the least respected in London because their country had been admitted to the European Union more recently. They felt overlooked, blamed for problems, and resented for the jobs they secured.
Since God doesn’t show favoritism, neither should we. He breaks down barriers between people. We see His Spirit at work in Peter’s vision while praying on the rooftop, and how Peter was called to minister to Cornelius, a God-fearing gentile. God helped Peter evaluate the Jewish regulations about not associating with gentiles. The apostle listened and went to Cornelius’ home to share the good news of Jesus. He said, “I now realize how true it is that God does not show favoritism but accepts from every nation the one who fears him and does what is right” (Acts 10:34-35).
Those who follow Jesus are called to love and serve all those who are made in the image of Christ. Part of that mission is to not to show favoritism for people from certain nations or with particular skin colors. May we learn to seek justice and to defend the oppressed as God guides us (Isaiah 1:17).
By: Amy Boucher Pye
REFLECT AND PRAY
Why do you think God breaks down barriers between people of different nations? How could you speak out for the oppressed?
Dear God, please help me make a difference for You in my community. in Jesus' name, Amen.
HOW TO START GOSPEL CONVERSATIONS
GO TO THE MAIN EVANGELIST
God saves people; we do not. This powerful truth lifts a heavy, undue burden off of us. God is pursuing people with His love. The fact is, God's heart is for each person in your current daily spheres of influence to be saved. His Holy Spirit is the one who convicts and draws someone to put their faith in Jesus. So, relax. We have the joy of joining God in what He's doing. Remember, you are not on God's mission alone. God is with you in your awesome mission to share Jesus among who you know. Acknowledge Him being with you.
Ask Him to give you His heart and affections for the people in your life, which is the same as His heart for you.
JOHN 3:16
“For this is how God loved the world: He gave his one and only Son, so that everyone who believes in him will not perish but have eternal life."
2 PETER 3:9
9The Lord isn’t really being slow about his promise, as some people think. No, he is being patient for your sake. He does not want anyone to be destroyed, but wants everyone to repent.
2 TIMOTHY 2:3-4
This is good and pleases God our Savior, 4who wants everyone to be saved and to understand the truth.
