"Yesterday, Today, & Forever"

𝒯𝒽𝓊𝓇𝓈𝒹𝒶𝓎'𝓈 𝒫𝓇𝒶𝓎𝑒𝓇: 4/15/2021

𝒮𝒸𝓇𝒾𝓅𝓉𝓊𝓇𝑒: Hebrews 13:8

𝒯𝑜𝓅𝒾𝒸: "Yesterday, Today, & Forever"

𝒢𝑜𝑜𝒹 𝒜𝒻𝓉𝑒𝓇𝓃𝑜𝑜𝓃 𝓉𝑜 𝒴𝑜𝓊,

In one of my most darkest seasons, I had a cousin who would check on me daily via call or text. She had a big laugh, a huge heart, and an enormous love for people. She loved God, she loved her family, she loved educating, and she loved many other things. I always saw her as a strong female role model in my life. She was nothing close to a pushover but more so a protector of the bullied. In her text messages, she would say, "Hey Cousin, doing a check in. How are you today and how are you feeling"? She had just lost her own mother, but yet always checking on others. So it was our way of staying connected on rough days.

She was my cousin, Angie "Shereece" Barnes, and I loved her dearly. We lost her on April 8th, 2021. My first thought was, it is not possible that my cousin has passed. I saw her as such a strong figure and a strong woman. How could she, of all people, suddenly leave this earth. We were scheduled to have lunch the next Monday. She was the person to encourage and uplift when she saw others down. I asked God, "What happens next"? What do we do Father when our strongest support system leaves without warning? I so rarely trust people at all. I wondered, how could any of us lose our Shereece...

People will fade away but One entity remains the same; the Trinity: God the Father, the Son, and the Holy Ghost. The scripture reads in Hebrews 13:8, "Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever". I felt the Holy Ghost reminding me of how we are to lean on God more than man. It's nothing wrong with earthly support systems, but people will come and go in life. That's what we're meant to do. With the passing of friends, family, loved ones, the elderly and the youth, God is showing us that this life is temporary, but we must fix our minds of eternal permanence in God's Heavenly Kingdom someday. With that said, my cousin accepted Jesus Christ into her life a long time ago.

However, I have a few questions for you....

1. If today was your designated hour, would you be prepared?

2. Who are you relying on?

3. What if your support system leaves suddenly?

4.Would you crumble or would you stay fixed in the Word of God?

5. Most importantly, are you leaning on God more than people? Or are you leaning on people over God?

We have an opportunity to prioritize our relationship with our Heavenly Father through the acceptance of his son, Jesus the Christ.

Father in the name of Jesus, please forgive us our sins. Father forgive us for placing more value on temporary things versus our relationship with You. Father, show us the areas that we need improvement, as it relates to our relationship with You. Father, expose the areas in our lives where we are dependent on people and things over you. Father God, help us to prepare our hearts and souls so that when we are called to come home, we will be ready. Father God, until that time, use us to draw as many souls as possible to Your Heavenly Kingdom. Father God have your way in our lives.

In Jesus Name, Amen.

𝐿𝑜𝓋𝑒,

𝑀𝑜𝓃𝒾𝒸𝒶

P.S. If you are in need of prayer, please submit a prayer request on the prayer tab.