Pastor Odie Kennedy's Pearls

Essential is defined as being absolutely necessary and extremely important. I cannot think of anything more essential to the spiritual health of the believer than prayer. As the year comes to close, I look back at the tragedies some of us narrowly escaped, the tests we endured, and the pain we suffered. This glance back isn't global or even national. We only have to look as far as our own front doors.  Even our houses of worship have been subject to trials. It is only through the grace of God that we are not consumed. And it is essential that we pray, and we give thanks. Prayer can sometimes be seen as powerful when the verbiage is great, and the tone is loud. For me, it has been in my quietest moments that I have seen the power of prayer manifest miracles. Though I may be surrounded by chaos, prayer allows me to come humbly before my God and find his peace. As followers of Jesus, we must take heed to his divine example. In the garden of Gethsemane (Matthew 26:29), while facing the...

It's the Holy Week! This is a such an exciting time for the believers of Christ.  It's the time of year when the His love was experienced, witnessed, and lived out before His followers and enemies.  Of course, we reference and reverence this time throughout the year.   It's only April, but it seems like we have already lived a full twelve months! Life really has no respect for time or even our awareness of time.  Sometimes, I can go hours without eating. I get caught up in whatever I am doing and forget that I haven't nourished my body.  The same can be said when we fail to reference and reverence what Jesus has done for us.  When we live everyday as if we are in control of our lives, we are cheating God out of His glory, and pushing His son aside.  God did not give us such a gift for us to leave it unopened and unappreciated. Our relationship with God is the most priceless and precious gift that has ever been given and ever will be given. ...

If you were to ask my family what I was like as a child, no doubt the answer would be shocking. Can you believe that I was very shy? I didn't talk much around people. I'm not sure if it was because I was afraid to talk or just had so little to say.  I can tell you that is not the case now.  As the only black nursing student in my college in Texas, I had to come out of my shell. Over the years, I have had the opportunity to share with prestigious leaders both corporately and in the religious arenas. Although there have been many conversations, I have not entered into them just for the sake of talking. Sometimes we talk just to hear our own voice, but other times we speak because we are expected to do so.  When we enter into fellowship with God, we must strive to avoid empty fellowship.  What do I mean by that? Simply, going through the motions.  With the pressures of life pulling at us from every direction, it doesn't take much for us to operate on autopilot....