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...

  Can you believe the way things are changing here in Colorado? Of course, if you have been here a week, you already know how quickly the weather can change. Yesterday, it was a gut-wrenching 100 degrees. It seemed like the heat was cooking me from the inside out and then tore a hole right through my clothes.   When I think about the state of this world, I know that the heat is on. The enemy is trying every trick in the book to stop the believer from making Jesus his choice. He starts with what we think are random and harmless drops of anxiety, depression, and offense.  He is strategically placing people and things in our paths to cause us to stumble. That's not enough for him. He wants us to be utterly destroyed.  If you don't believe me, look at the legislature that contradicts the very word of God.  Look at the spirit of violence which has been released among us.  Look the worldwide anguish and wars.  In my lifetime, I have not witnessed so gre...

This is the time when so many are evaluating their lives and declaring change.  You know the season.  When the new year rolls in, we start looking for a new person to emerge in the mirror.  This can be an effective motivation for some.  They begin the weight loss journey and soon begin to see results. That accomplishment becomes a drug that keeps them running back to the gym.   I could possibly make some declarations of my own, but this year I am asking God to do a new thing in me. It would be nice to be slimmer, richer, and all of that, but it's more important for this child of God to be spiritually made new.  I'm not talking about a new shout or dance, but I want God to transform me from the inside out.  This time of year is also a time of consecration.  We turn down our plates and lift up our hearts in prayer. We take our devotion to the next level by denying this flesh. I know you're saying that we should be doing that all of the time....

I love this time of the year at my church.  I am so deeply honored to serve the members of Unity Pentecostal Temple. While we love on each other all year long, this special time brings us together to celebrate the years of ministry we share.  This is a time when I stand on the shoulders of my late husband, Superintendent Lamar Kennedy.  We shared 40 years of anniversary celebrations.  Six years later, though we miss him dearly, the celebrations continue.   I especially enjoy breaking bread with the members. There's so much anticipation and excitement in the air. As I sat on the platform this past weekend, I was humbled by the scene.  Platforms are elevated for a reason. God's children must never view their station in life as an indicator of their self-worth, but rather use it help someone along the way. Let me explain.  Though you may have a great title or position, your value comes from what you bring to the position.  This isn't a post toda...

There are so many hinderances these days. It seems that behind every corner lurks temptation or discouragement.  We know that God has given us the authority to take down every hinderance. We don't have to accept what the enemy brings our way.   That being said, one of the obstacles that most often trips up the believer is forgiveness.  I cannot tell you how many times I have heard, "I just can't do it." The pain that comes from offense can be so deeply rooted that it stops us in our tracks.  Literally.  When we do not forgive, we are frozen in place.  The place of the offense becomes our vantage point.  Though we attempt to move forward, we operate from our pain.  Yes, we try to compartmentalize what we have gone through, but that is a temporary and sometimes, false fix.  Just because we are no longer speaking of the offense, does not mean that we have forgiven and overcome it.  So why is forgiveness so difficult?  You cannot f...

When I look at the state of affairs in our government, churches, and homes, I see a common thread. The attack of the enemy is all around us.  He has waged war against everything and everyone standing on the righteousness of God.  It's not a surprise to me.  He is doing what the devil does.  Devilment is his title and position.    The thing we must remember is that our position does not exempt us from opposition.  The titles we hold here on earth will not shield us from the pain and difficulty that comes in life.  We cannot afford to expect shelter behind our education or church elevation.  No amount of prestige or money will keep us from facing off with the devil. He knows his position and governs himself accordingly.   When will we do the same?  When will we know who we are in Christ, and govern ourselves accordingly? We spend too much time focused on what's coming against us instead of focusing on WHO'S coming for us! We are ...

Our world has changed so dramatically in the last two years.  It all happened in the blink of an eye.  One minute we were carefree. We went anywhere and everywhere we wanted without consulting the powers that be. We simply chose a destination, and that was that. Who bothered to ask about the health of that place? Who left the house, but turned quickly around to retrieve a face covering? Who walked around with germ killers as accessible as car keys? No one, and the next minute we were in a battle.  When we face tests we either learn to conform, or we learn to conquer. Which one best describes you? When you conform, you are not only allowing the situation to control you, but also to mold you.  Conforming takes on the traits of that problem.  What seems hopeless will develop hopelessness in you.  What seems unsure will produce doubt in you. It's like a ship in a storm being tossed about in the direction the storm chooses.  When the ship has a sail or its ...

What I'm about to say isn't earth shattering.  It isn't even surprising.  In fact, I know you will be nodding your head when you read it.  I have had some down days.  It seems like life comes at me like a bulldozer trying to bury me under my circumstances. Are you nodding yet? I know you get what I'm saying. That may sound presumptuous of me, but I don't have to know your business to know that you're in a battle.  I know who is stirring up the trouble around you. I know because he is the same one who tries to discourage us all.  Sometimes, the initial response to the attack of the devil is to fight back with our smarts.  We think we can outwit him with our natural thinking, but God showed me a better way.   I was feeling down just the other day, when in minutes, God reminded me of this:  "I'm God! In the midst of calamity, I am still God!" He took my mind back to a series of lessons we had last year in Bible study.  We examined the ...