A Living Faith Today’s scripture selection: Second Timothy 1-2 Key verse: Second Timothy 1:5 In writing to a young minister named Timothy the apostle Paul said this: “I am reminded of your sincere faith, which first lived in your grandmother Lois and in your mother Eunice and, I am now persuaded, now lives… Continue reading Week 35 Saturday
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 35 Friday
Truth or Consequences Today’s scripture selection: Hosea 8-14 Key verses: Hosea 8:7a Do you remember a wildly popular game show from some years ago named “Truth or Consequences”? It featured trivia questions and wacky stunts and it ran for years – first on radio then on television. But the phrase “truth or consequences” could be… Continue reading Week 35 Friday
Week 35 Thursday
Deep Waters Today’s scripture selection: Proverbs 20-21 Key verse: Proverbs 20:5 “The purposes of a person’s heart are deep waters, but one who has insight draws them out.” How well do you know others? Co-workers; classmates; friends on the team; even your own family members – do you really know what’s going on with them,… Continue reading Week 35 Thursday
Week 35 Wednesday
A Long Way Today’s scripture selection: Psalms 102-104 Key verses: Psalm 103:11-12 “For as high as the heavens are above the earth, so great is his love for those who fear him; as far as the east is from the west, so far has he removed our transgressions from us.” It’s been awhile since I… Continue reading Week 35 Wednesday
Week 35 Tuesday
With You Wherever Today’s scripture selection: First Chronicles 15-19 Key verses: First Chronicles 17:7-8 “Now then: tell my servant David, ‘This is what the LORD Almighty says: I took you from the pasture, from tending the flock, and appointed you ruler over my people Israel. I have been with you wherever you have gone….” David’s… Continue reading Week 35 Tuesday
Week 35 Monday
Heavenly Food Today’s scripture selection: Numbers 9-12 Key verses: Numbers 11:6 The people in the desert were hungry. So they asked God to provide. And He did. It was called “manna” and it was, literally, heaven-sent. At first, everything was fine. Then human nature kicked in. “The rabble with them began to crave other food,… Continue reading Week 35 Monday
Week 35 Sunday
Not Even Death Today’s scripture selection: John 10-12 Key Verses: John 11:11 Jesus told them, “Our friend Lazarus has fallen asleep; but I am going there to wake him up.” Like so often, Jesus’ followers didn’t understand. They didn’t understand how the events which were unfolding were all part of a great divine plan; they… Continue reading Week 35 Sunday
Week 34 Saturday
Count On It Today’s scripture selection: First Timothy 4-6 Key verses: First Timothy 4:9-10 We all need something we can count on. We need to have a secure foundation; something upon which we can boldly and confidently stake our claim. For some, that is a belief in a particular political party. For others, it… Continue reading Week 34 Saturday
Week 34 Friday
Unfaithfulness and Redemption Today’s scripture selection: Hosea 1-7 Key verses: Hosea 1:2 “Go; take to yourself an adulterous wife and children of unfaithfulness, because the land is guilty of the vilest adultery in departing from the LORD.” The prophets had a hard job to do, to say the least. Often they were called to bring… Continue reading Week 34 Friday
Week 34 Thursday
Plans and Purpose Today’s scripture selection: Proverbs 19 Key verse: Proverbs 19:21 “Many are the plans in a man’s heart, but it is the LORD’S purpose that prevails.” We all make plans – one way or another – some better thought out than others. Some come to fruition; others never see the light of day.… Continue reading Week 34 Thursday