Credit for digital music: "Come Fill My Heart" by Elton Smith, Larry Holder and Steve Israel/Songs of Praise)
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Words
From the Well!
A Weekly Devotional by
Peggie C. Bohanon
Are you hurting? Then you've come to the right place--the place where long ago a woman from Samaria found help and healing. From human answers? No--from the One Who IS the Answer! Jesus Christ, our Savior and Lord, awaits us all at the Well today--come with me, and let's meet Him there!
Ok, so you DIDN'T get the joke...you clicked on the above title and got a "not found/not available" error message, and are about to write and let me know...HOLD IT! The jokes's on you...grin...that was fun!
So why is the perfect pastor "not found"? 'Cause you'll not find a perfect pastor anywhere on this internet OR on the face of the earth! I know--I lived with one! My dad was a pastor--a wonderful dad, husband, servant of the Lord, but perfect? No way, and if he were, it sure didn't rub off on me! There's NO perfect man, woman, teen, kid, husband, wife...OR pastor! And the sooner we, as people sitting in the pews, realize that, the happier we're all be! This is Pastor Appreciation Day, and being a p.k. myself (that's "preacher's kid," "peculiar kid" or "precious kid"!), I have a deep appreciation for God-called, God-honoring pastors--who they are, what they do, why they do it, and whom they serve! I love them--and hope you do too. God does!
Does HE look for a "perfect pastor"? No--He looks for a man or woman who has a heart for God and for His people. That's all. Give the Lord a servant like that--and He will use him mightily, imperfections and all. Let's go to the Well and find out the Lord's qualifications for a pastor....you may even find some qualifications for a parishoner there as well!
A Helping Word...or Two!
P rayerful Partner!
A good pastor prays for me and with me. He or she praises God for my joys and petitions God for my needs--but not just me alone. A good pastor prays for the poor, the needy, the saved, the unsaved, the broken, the hurting. A good pastor prays for those who bless or curse and intercedes for us all before His Father in heaven. A good pastor prays for a needy world...do I?
A mbassador of God!
A good pastor represents God to me. He hears God's Word and ministers it faithfully--in preaching, in teaching, in being! He's ever conscious He is God's servant. He helps me learn God's ways and God's will. He instructs me in God's Word, whether it's an easy word or a hard word I need to hear. He's not afraid to boldly proclaim God's truth. He's ambassador of a greater Kingdom than his own and he lives it....do I?
S piritual Leader!
A good pastor is a spiritual leader to me. He models Christian living--in his home, in the church and in the marketplace. He has a deep thirst for God and leads me to the Well so I will thirst too. He loves God's Word and God's House. He has a passion for souls and and a heart for God...do I?
T ouchable Servant of Grace!
A good pastor is someone I can touch. He doesn't look down from some spiritual lofty tower, but he walks the real dirt road of life with me. He listens to me and loves me for who I am and who I am becoming. He understands when I most need God's grace and love, and he's there to extend it to me. He says, "I care," and He means it. He's REAL, and he really loves people...do I?
O verflowing vessel of God's Love!
A good pastor is someone whose life overflows with the love of God--love for his family, his God, his congregation, and his world. That love spills out from a heart of tender compassion--even when he's not trying! For God's love so fills him, it naturally flows to others. I see God's love in his eyes, I hear it in his voice, and I feel it with my heart. He loves God so much...do I?
R ighteous Man of God!
A good pastor is a godly man I can admire. He not only preaches integrity--he lives it. There's no cause to doubt his message, his morals or his motivations, for they are pure before God and man. He's pure in heart and holy in living...am I?
Now any pastor reading this will say, "WHOA...that's not me....that's the PERFECT pastor down the street--forget it! No, I beg to differ--that's you, the man after God's own heart. He sees you through the Blood of Christ, imperfections and all. And on the days you don't quite make it, He's there to help and lift you up--He's the GREAT Shepherd of the sheep, and that includes you too! So stand--this is your day. We love you and we are proud of you!
Pastors, I salute you. You've got my attention. Why? Well, if I haven't said enough already let me add: A pastor has legal license to dedicate you, perform your wedding ceremony, officiate at your funeral, and everything in between. He's on call 24 hours a day, must wear a kind smile, have a listening ear, a watchful eye, a controlled mouth, a concerned heart, a forgiving spirit, an extended arm--and running feet! There's no way any man can be all those things to all his people, but a good pastor certainly tries, and I honor each one today! You deserve the biggest chocolate sundae in town!
And that's just a thought or two--from from my heart to yours!
Please note: I have not intentionally been "politically incorrect" so please understand that the "he" mentioned numerous times is meant to include both men and women. I wholeheartedly approve of women in ministry who are also very capable of being godly pastors, and regret it was not completely spelled out when this devo was originally written.
His Healing Words
1Thessalonians 2:4-13 - A Pastor After God's Own Heart!
"Lord, bless pastors today around the world. Encourage, uplift, strengthen and sustain them. They've not got an easy task--they must pastor US, the imperfect sheep. Help us to love them, pray for them, support and bless them --as YOU do! In Jesus' Name, Amen.
Peggie's Place banner was "Made in Hawaii" compliments of my friend Madelein of His Praise Maui!
Peggie's blog, "Fun 'n Faith for the Soul" is no longer available.
Note: As of 11/30/15, sites will no longer be checked for dead links. Please contact owner at peggiesplace.com due to tremendous amount of links.
Celebrating God's goodness . . .. . . 16 million and more!
Note: Counter keeps a running total of "hits" (which include images and people "hitting" any page or pages), erroneously identified by me as "page views" for the
entire site. --It jogs around the world and around the clock--to find
YOU!
This Christian home has been visited a zillion times
since December 26, 1995! Well, not quite, but there HAS been a houseful--and
STILL room for one more--YOU! The Christian Counter scans the entire site--and there's plenty of chocolate for everyone--so enjoy!
Most of the music playing at Peggie's Place originates from Songs of Praise.
Additional (previously named) original source for some midis: Gilberto Barreto.
Visit this great Web site to hear beautiful tunes by many talented artists. CDs are available.
All Scriptures on this website, including all applications, etc., are from the King James Version of The Holy Bible, public domain, unless otherwise noted.
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Please note that while I strongly adhere to major tenets of the
evangelical Christian faith, I may not personally agree with every specific doctrinal belief set forth in other
Christian pages.
A safety tip: Internet links and material may include other links and/or material which do not reflect my views or yours, Christian or otherwise. Please choose wisely and use with discretion! And if you find an ugly spider hiding in a dark corner,
you may smash it with a broom--I hate offensive stuff too!
A Hurting Word...