Pastor Odie Kennedy's Pearls

Have you ever wondered why your heart and mind cannot seem to agree when you need them to? Are you one of those people that can see the good in those that others always find fault? Do you assume the burdens of others as if they're your own?  If you answered yes, you have a big heart! When you have a big heart it can work against you.  Sometimes you know there are things you need to loose and even cut off, but your heart just won't agree.  You toss and turn all night agonizing over a situation when others rest better than they ever have.  When people hurt you, you say, "that's it! I'm done!" but you end up right back there again. Your big heart can't just walk away. And you probably wish there was a switch that could just turn your heart off.  It doesn't work like that and thank God! Some of my best triumphs, best blessings, and greatest anointing came because of this big heart that God gave me. Sadly, some of my greatest pain and greatest disap

Currently I am teaching a series on "Forgiveness".  It's a quality that many claim to possess while still struggling with past offenses.  In class I posed the question "What causes unforgiveness?" and among the biggest offenders is church-hurt.  It's probably happened to you.   Your ministry leaders embarrassed you in front of the congregation.  Someone started a rumor about you that caused you to be ostracized.  Maybe it was the time you tried to embrace  your "sister" only to be shunned and pushed away.  Whatever the case, that hurt can be so deep that you find it difficult to forgive. I think if we really understood forgiveness, we would forgive quickly.  I saw a wrestling move once in which the wrestler pressed his forearm against the jugular vein of his opponent until he lost consciousness.  The jugular veins are in your neck and they carry blood from the head, brain, neck, and face to the heart. The jugular is vital and therefore quite