Saddened by Kobe Bryant And Gianna’s Passing

Today we lost a man who many loved and admired in the NBA, Sports in general, and more. This man left a reputation for being a person who lived up to people’s expectations. He was also a wonderful husband and father to his children. This person was no other than Kobe Bryant. What he did in his career for the Lakers was remarkable, and watching him over the years was also amazing, whenever he stepped on the court. He had a passion for the game that is hard to find anymore. Now, as an avid Christian, I will say that he made basketball fun, but he was no idol or god to me, but someone I looked up to over the years. So please don’t accuse me of such things, for writing this. I love Jesus Christ, my Lord, and am left in mourning over Kobe’s death. I am just heartbroken for his and his daughter’s (Gianna) sudden passing, after their helicopter crashed. And now it is in the hands of God if Kobe and his daughter are saved and are going to heaven. This is very sad and heart wrenching to think about. If it was up to me, I would love to see them both in heaven, when I make it there one day also, but I know it is in the Lord’s hands now. All I can do is pray that the Lord, our God, will have mercy for their souls. It is my prayer that they knew Jesus before this tragic event took place. So all I can do now, along with mourn, is pray for his wife and other children left behind. I am also praying for his family, friends and other people who looked up to him. This is probably the saddest thing to hit 2020 as of yet, and I still cannot stop shedding tears over it. God knows why this happened, and it is in His hands now. I just wish I could have told them about Jesus before this happened.

In saying these remarks about Kobe Bryant and his daughter who has passed on, all I can think of are the following verses in Psalm 23, which reads, ¹“the Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want. He maketh me to lie down in green pastures: he leadeth me beside the still waters. He restoreth my soul: he leadeth me in the paths of righteousness for his name’s sake. Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil: for thou art with me; thy rod and thy staff they comfort me. Thou preparest a table before me in the presence of mine enemies: thou anointest my head with oil; my cup runneth over. Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life: and I will dwell in the house of the Lord for ever. (Psalm 23) Now let us have a moment of silence for Kobe, and Gianna. They and their family are in my heart. People can mock me for paying tribute to a man and his daughter’s death, but do they not know that ²“Jesus wept” (John 11:35) also when he heard that Lazarus died. This emotion of sadness is what Jesus felt as well when someone he loved died. Now, my friends, Jesus is our Judge. He is also our advocate to the Father. One day Kobe and his daughter will face him in judgment, and it is my prayer that Jesus opens the doors to them both. May the Lord bless them and keep them safe until that time comes. May He also watch over Vanessa, Kobe’s wife, and her children. It is my prayer that she gives her life to Christ before her life comes to an end also. My friends, this life is short, so please commit your lives to Jesus, starting today. You need to know that Jesus can save you. God bless you.

Let us pray:
Lord, I pray for Kobe Bryant’s wife and family. Right now they are going through a lot of pain and anguish, having lost, not only Kobe, but Gianna, his daughter, as well. I can just imagine how his wife is feeling at this moment in time and my heart is aching because of this. I know that many people looked up to this man, and to see him suddenly dying in a helicopter crash is devastating. So Lord, bring comfort and peace upon those people that are affected. Help me and others get through this sad loss. I know that I will need Your strength to carry on, so I cannot even imagine how other people are dealing with this loss as well. All I can ask in such an event like this is to help people know that life is short. May they make every moment count, especially when it comes to coming to You for salvation. I know that I do not know the hour or day that I will pass on from death unto life, but when that day does come, I will be ready to meet You, Lord. You are my greatest joy and the anchor of my soul. Be with me now and forever. I do not wish to leave people behind wondering where I will be after I die. So let this day be known that I am in Your hands. You are my Lord, and Savior, Jesus. I commit my life to follow You now, as I did those five years ago. Also, Lord, help the Bryant household be at peace. May their faith, if any, grow because of this event. I pray that they will look to You in faith and no longer look back. And as for Kobe and his daughter, You know where they are now. Have mercy upon their souls, and bring peace to those that are left behind. I love You, God. Amen.

Psalm 23

¹Psalm 23 (KJV)
1 The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want.
2 He maketh me to lie down in green pastures: he leadeth me beside the still waters.
3 He restoreth my soul: he leadeth me in the paths of righteousness for his name’s sake.
4 Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil: for thou art with me; thy rod and thy staff they comfort me.
5 Thou preparest a table before me in the presence of mine enemies: thou anointest my head with oil; my cup runneth over.
6 Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life: and I will dwell in the house of the Lord for ever.

John 11

²John 11 (KJV)
1 Now a certain man was sick, named Lazarus, of Bethany, the town of Mary and her sister Martha.
2 (It was that Mary which anointed the Lord with ointment, and wiped his feet with her hair, whose brother Lazarus was sick.)
3 Therefore his sisters sent unto him, saying, Lord, behold, he whom thou lovest is sick.
4 When Jesus heard that, he said, This sickness is not unto death, but for the glory of God, that the Son of God might be glorified thereby.
5 Now Jesus loved Martha, and her sister, and Lazarus.
6 When he had heard therefore that he was sick, he abode two days still in the same place where he was.
7 Then after that saith he to his disciples, Let us go into Judaea again.
8 His disciples say unto him, Master, the Jews of late sought to stone thee; and goest thou thither again?
9 Jesus answered, Are there not twelve hours in the day? If any man walk in the day, he stumbleth not, because he seeth the light of this world.
10 But if a man walk in the night, he stumbleth, because there is no light in him.
11 These things said he: and after that he saith unto them, Our friend Lazarus sleepeth; but I go, that I may awake him out of sleep.
12 Then said his disciples, Lord, if he sleep, he shall do well.
13 Howbeit Jesus spake of his death: but they thought that he had spoken of taking of rest in sleep.
14 Then said Jesus unto them plainly, Lazarus is dead.
15 And I am glad for your sakes that I was not there, to the intent ye may believe; nevertheless let us go unto him.
16 Then said Thomas, which is called Didymus, unto his fellowdisciples, Let us also go, that we may die with him.
17 Then when Jesus came, he found that he had lain in the grave four days already.
18 Now Bethany was nigh unto Jerusalem, about fifteen furlongs off:
19 And many of the Jews came to Martha and Mary, to comfort them concerning their brother.
20 Then Martha, as soon as she heard that Jesus was coming, went and met him: but Mary sat still in the house.
21 Then said Martha unto Jesus, Lord, if thou hadst been here, my brother had not died.
22 But I know, that even now, whatsoever thou wilt ask of God, God will give it thee.
23 Jesus saith unto her, Thy brother shall rise again.
24 Martha saith unto him, I know that he shall rise again in the resurrection at the last day.
25 Jesus said unto her, I am the resurrection, and the life: he that believeth in me, though he were dead, yet shall he live:
26 And whosoever liveth and believeth in me shall never die. Believest thou this?
27 She saith unto him, Yea, Lord: I believe that thou art the Christ, the Son of God, which should come into the world.
28 And when she had so said, she went her way, and called Mary her sister secretly, saying, The Master is come, and calleth for thee.
29 As soon as she heard that, she arose quickly, and came unto him.
30 Now Jesus was not yet come into the town, but was in that place where Martha met him.
31 The Jews then which were with her in the house, and comforted her, when they saw Mary, that she rose up hastily and went out, followed her, saying, She goeth unto the grave to weep there.
32 Then when Mary was come where Jesus was, and saw him, she fell down at his feet, saying unto him, Lord, if thou hadst been here, my brother had not died.
33 When Jesus therefore saw her weeping, and the Jews also weeping which came with her, he groaned in the spirit, and was troubled.
34 And said, Where have ye laid him? They said unto him, Lord, come and see.
35 Jesus wept.
36 Then said the Jews, Behold how he loved him!
37 And some of them said, Could not this man, which opened the eyes of the blind, have caused that even this man should not have died?
38 Jesus therefore again groaning in himself cometh to the grave. It was a cave, and a stone lay upon it.
39 Jesus said, Take ye away the stone. Martha, the sister of him that was dead, saith unto him, Lord, by this time he stinketh: for he hath been dead four days.
40 Jesus saith unto her, Said I not unto thee, that, if thou wouldest believe, thou shouldest see the glory of God?
41 Then they took away the stone from the place where the dead was laid. And Jesus lifted up his eyes, and said, Father, I thank thee that thou hast heard me.
42 And I knew that thou hearest me always: but because of the people which stand by I said it, that they may believe that thou hast sent me.
43 And when he thus had spoken, he cried with a loud voice, Lazarus, come forth.
44 And he that was dead came forth, bound hand and foot with graveclothes: and his face was bound about with a napkin. Jesus saith unto them, Loose him, and let him go.
45 Then many of the Jews which came to Mary, and had seen the things which Jesus did, believed on him.
46 But some of them went their ways to the Pharisees, and told them what things Jesus had done.
47 Then gathered the chief priests and the Pharisees a council, and said, What do we? for this man doeth many miracles.
48 If we let him thus alone, all men will believe on him: and the Romans shall come and take away both our place and nation.
49 And one of them, named Caiaphas, being the high priest that same year, said unto them, Ye know nothing at all,
50 Nor consider that it is expedient for us, that one man should die for the people, and that the whole nation perish not.
51 And this spake he not of himself: but being high priest that year, he prophesied that Jesus should die for that nation;
52 And not for that nation only, but that also he should gather together in one the children of God that were scattered abroad.
53 Then from that day forth they took counsel together for to put him to death.
54 Jesus therefore walked no more openly among the Jews; but went thence unto a country near to the wilderness, into a city called Ephraim, and there continued with his disciples.
55 And the Jews’ passover was nigh at hand: and many went out of the country up to Jerusalem before the passover, to purify themselves.
56 Then sought they for Jesus, and spake among themselves, as they stood in the temple, What think ye, that he will not come to the feast?
57 Now both the chief priests and the Pharisees had given a commandment, that, if any man knew where he were, he should shew it, that they might take him.