Be Holy Today’s scripture selection: Leviticus 19-21 Key verses: Leviticus 19:2 It may seem like a tall order, but there it is: “Be holy, because I, the LORD your God, am holy.” And the order was issued to not just the pious; not just the particularly religious, but the whole community – everyone. The people… Continue reading Week 30 Monday
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 30 Sunday
Today Today’s scripture selection: Luke 23-24 Key Verses: Luke 23:43 One of the most poignant scenes in the entire Bible is that of Jesus hanging on the cross. There beside him, on crosses of their own, are two criminals. One is defiant; angry; bitter. The other is repentant. And he has one, and only… Continue reading Week 30 Sunday
Week 29 Saturday
Grace, With A Little Seasoning Today’s scripture selection: Colossians 3-4 Key verse: Colossians 4:6 I like how the apostle Paul says this to some of his fellow believers: “Let your conversation be always full of grace, seasoned with salt, so that you may know how to answer everyone.” He’s talking about more than just… Continue reading Week 29 Saturday
Week 29 Friday
No Longer Scattered Today’s scripture selection: Ezekiel 31-36 Key verse: Ezekiel 34:12 The image of a shepherd watching over his flock is an understandably popular one in the scriptures. Time and again we see it – a picture of either a good shepherd protecting the flock; or a lazy or corrupt one leaving them in… Continue reading Week 29 Friday
Week 29 Thursday
A Lightweight Heart Today’s scripture selection: Proverbs 11-12 Key verse: Proverbs 12:25 Do you ever feel “weighed down” – like you just can’t find the energy to do even the smallest thing, much less anything important? If so, you may want to see if anxiety is the culprit. The Bible says, “Anxiety weighs… Continue reading Week 29 Thursday
Week 29 Wednesday
A Home For The Fragile Today’s scripture selection: Psalms 84-86 Key verse: Psalm 84:3 Most of us, whether we admit it or not, feel fragile now and then. There are certainly times when we feel at the top of our game. But there are other times when, for whatever reason, we feel like we need… Continue reading Week 29 Wednesday
Week 29 Tuesday
Well Guided Today’s scripture selection: Second Kings 11-16 Key verses: Second Kings 12:1-3 In ancient Israel kings came and went – frequently. Some were pretty good; some were extremely evil; and some were very young when they began to rule. Take young Joash for example. He was only seven years old when his… Continue reading Week 29 Tuesday
Week 29 Monday
An Open Door Today’s scripture selection: Leviticus 16-17 Key verses: Leviticus 16:2 The LORD said to Moses, “Tell your brother Aaron that he is not to come whenever he chooses into the Most Holy Place behind the curtain….” In the days of desert wandering – access to God had very specific rules. Ignore them, and… Continue reading Week 29 Monday
Week 29 Sunday
So Little; So Much Today’s scripture selection: Luke 21-22 Key Verses: Luke 21:1-4 I love the story of the widow’s mite. In fact, I actually own one – or at least the same kind of coin – from the time when Jesus’ lived. It was given to me by a friend years ago. … Continue reading Week 29 Sunday
Week 28 Saturday
Hollow Ideas Today’s scripture selection: Colossians 1-2 Key verse: Colossians 2:8 When I was in college I had a hard time deciding on a major. It was art one day; psychology the next; journalism the following week; sociology the one after that. Finally, I ended up studying religion. Along the way – I… Continue reading Week 28 Saturday