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...

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....

In this holiday season, there is so much going on. Driving through the neighborhoods, we see beautiful lights that have been strung with care. Some once bare lawns are not filled with the nativity scene which reminds us of the reason for the season.  Although we have endured the seclusion brought on by the pandemic, we are now slowly gathering. It has been three years since my church had a Christmas Celebration, and it's coming up soon.  Our party is a special opportunity to love on the members of Unity Pentecostal Temple Church of God in Christ.  As with most holiday celebrations, there will be a gift exchange.  This part of the party is always so much fun.  I love to see the excitement when a gift is chosen from under the tree.  There is something about choosing that makes the atmosphere charged with anticipation.   Now that you are in the mind of exchanging gifts, let me focus on the reason for this post. As we celebrate the birth of Jesus, let...