Pastor Odie Kennedy's Pearls

It means a great deal to have a testimony.  It illuminates the awesomeness of God and gives you the victory over your situation.  As the name implies, you must endure a test to gain a testimony. There isn't a person alive that has a perfect life.  We all face struggles and trials in our lives.  Some people resist the test, and question the very deity of God for allowing the test to come. The Hebrew boys, Meshach, Shadrach, and Abednego faced a trial that threatened to be fatal.  In the 3rd Chapter of Daniel, we see that King Nebuchadnezzar erected a golden image to be worshiped at the sound of the music.  He made a decree that anyone who failed to heed his instructions would be thrown into the fiery furnace.  It was observed that the young men disobeyed and rejected the king's demand to worship the graven image. When they were brought before the king, he explained again the rules of the decree, the reward of compliance, and the consequences of d...

Anger. Rejection. Forgiveness. Healing. Most people are reluctant to admit that they feel anger because of its negative connotation.  Believers tend to suppress their anger in an effort to be loving and forgiving.  Unfortunately, this can cause damage in the long run. When we ignore our emotions, we give the enemy room to attack our mind.  Small offenses become unforgivable acts. Internalized anger can manifest feelings of depression, anxiety, low self-esteem, and rejection. When my toddler great-grandson gets upset, his Godmother helps him by saying, "Use your words." As a school teacher, she deals with children in various emotional states everyday.  Sometimes they get mad and throw things.  Sometimes they breakdown and cry.  Encouraging them to use their words, gives them a opportunity to say what they feel instead of acting out.  When expressing themselves is welcome, they often feel valued and accepted. Anger is a necessary and powerful e...