Daily Bread Today’s scripture selection: Proverbs 29-30 Key verses: Proverbs 30:7-9 “Two things I ask of you, O LORD; do not refuse me before I die: Keep falsehood and lies far from me; give me neither poverty nor riches, but give me only my daily bread. Otherwise I may have too much and disown you… Continue reading Week 41 Thursday
Author: Paul Simrell
The Reverend Paul W. Simrell has served for over thirty years in a variety of congregational and institutional settings. He is a recognized minister with standing in the Virginia region of the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) in the United States and Canada and is nationally endorsed by the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) for specialized ministry in both pastoral counseling and chaplaincy. Ordained in 1982, he has served congregations in Kentucky, Texas, Florida, and Virginia. He currently serves as the pastor of Elpis Christian Church, a small, historic congregation located just a few miles west of Richmond, Virginia. Elpis is the Greek word meaning “expectant hope.” He also serves on the associate clinical staff of the Virginia Institute of Pastoral Care, Richmond, Virginia, both as a pastoral counselor and a ministerial assessment specialist, specializing in executive, clergy and relationship coaching. He is a graduate of the University of Florida and Lexington Theological Seminary and has done advanced clinical training in chaplaincy and pastoral counseling at the University of Kentucky Medical Center in Lexington, Kentucky, Children’s Medical Center and Parkland Hospital in Dallas, Texas and the Virginia Institute of Pastoral Care in Richmond, Virginia. He is a Certified Pastoral Counselor, an ACPE Practitioner, and a member of the American Association of Christian Counselors. He is a Certified Facilitator of the Prepare-Enrich relationship assessment and skills-building program and served as a volunteer chaplain for over twenty years with the CJW Medical Center campuses in Richmond, Virginia. His avocational interests include playing the piano and drawing. He is very happily married to his wife Elizabeth Yeamans Simrell, a free-lance writer, who is also a Certified Facilitator for the Prepare-Enrich program.
Good company in a journey makes the way seem shorter. — Izaak Walton
Week 41 Wednesday
The Word Today’s scripture selection: Psalms 119 Key verses: Psalm 119:11 “I have hidden your word in my heart that I might not sin against you.” It’s the longest Psalm and longest chapter in the Bible. It’s also a love poem, written to God and His Word. Some think it may have been written by… Continue reading Week 41 Wednesday
Week 41 Tuesday
Lessons Learned Today’s scripture selection: Second Chronicles 16-20 Key verses: Second Chronicles 17:3-9 King Jehoshaphat, the fourth king of the kingdom of Judah, was on to something. His people were biblically illiterate. So first he got rid of all the false idols they followed. Then he instituted nationwide religious reform. And, for awhile, all went… Continue reading Week 41 Tuesday
Week 41 Monday
Little By Little Today’s scripture selection: Numbers 33-36 Key verse: Numbers 33:1 “Here are the stages in the journey of the Israelites….” Sometimes they made a lot of progress; sometimes they failed miserably. Sometimes they remained true to their covenant with God; sometimes they went running after idols of their own making. Sometimes they were… Continue reading Week 41 Monday
Week 41 Sunday
Knowing Who Is Boss Today’s scripture selection: Acts 5-6 Key Verse: Acts 5:29 He was just an orderly – and not very high up on the “pecking order” in terms of staff organization. So when a Doctor, who was in a very foul mood, and who wanted to throw his weight around, wanted to find… Continue reading Week 41 Sunday
Week 40 Saturday
Growing Up Today’s scripture selection: Hebrews 5-7 Key verse: Hebrews 6:1 “Therefore let us move beyond the elementary teachings about Christ and be taken forward to maturity….” Most everyone eventually “grows up” – it’s just some grow up more than others. Physically – provided our health holds – we grow up physically. And, with a… Continue reading Week 40 Saturday
Week 40 Friday
Today’s scripture selection: Jonah Key verse: Jonah 4:2 It was a message that Jonah simply didn’t want to deliver. Why? Because it was a message of hope; and warning; and the potential for forgiveness and mercy. Why would Jonah not want to deliver such a message? Because it was to be given, from God, to… Continue reading Week 40 Friday
Week 40 Thursday
A Soft Heart Today’s scripture selection: Proverbs 28 Key verse: Proverbs 28:14 Have you ever accused someone of being “hard hearted”? If you have – you’ve quoted Scripture. It’s a very Biblical concept; this idea of someone who is so cold, so unfeeling, that he or she is said to have a hardened heart. It’s… Continue reading Week 40 Thursday
Week 40 Wednesday
Superhero Faith Today’s scripture selection: Psalms 117-118 Key verses: Psalm 118:6-7 It sounds like something from the pages of a comic book: “What can mere mortals do to me?” But actually, it’s from the pages of Scripture. The Psalmist writes, “The LORD is with me; I will not be afraid. What can mere mortals do… Continue reading Week 40 Wednesday
Week 40 Tuesday
Faithful Always Today’s scripture selection: Second Chronicles 11-15 Key verse: Second Chronicles 12:1 “After Rehoboam’s position as king was established and he had become strong, he and all Israel with him abandoned the law of the LORD.” There are many stories of those who abandoned their faith in tough times. There are plenty of accounts… Continue reading Week 40 Tuesday