Raised Imperishable Today’s scripture selection: First Corinthians 15-16 Key verse: First Corinthians 15:42 The apostle Paul isn’t known for his brevity. Like a lot of lawyers (and Paul had been trained in matters of spiritual and moral law) – he could be “wordy”. But there were some times when he cut right to… Continue reading Week 16 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 16 Friday
On the Wheel Today’s scripture selection: Jeremiah 17-21 Key verse: Jeremiah 18:6b “Like clay in the hand of the potter, so are you in my hand…” I’ve always liked the image that is presented in Jeremiah’s story of how Israel was like the clay on God’s wheel – He being the master artisan. It speaks… Continue reading Week 16 Friday
Week 16 Thursday
Counting Our Steps Today’s scripture selection: Job 31-32 Key verses: Job 31:2-4 “For what is our lot from God above, our heritage from the Almighty on high? Is it not ruin for the wicked, disaster for those who do wrong? Does he not see my ways and count my every step?” Job was just… Continue reading Week 16 Thursday
Week 16 Wednesday
Be Still Today’s scripture selection: Psalms 45-47 Key verses: Psalm 46:10 Can you remember what it was like to be a little kid and find it almost impossible to be still? When it was birthday and you knew a party was being planned When it was Christmas morning – about 3 a.m. and you… Continue reading Week 16 Wednesday
Week 16 Tuesday
Be Careful Whom You Ask Today’s scripture selection: First Samuel 26-31 Key verses: First Samuel 28:5-8 At the end of his tumultuous life King Saul needed some advice. The scripture says that, having rid his land of mediums and spiritists he asked the Lord for guidance. He received no guidance – at least… Continue reading Week 16 Tuesday
Week 16 Monday
Tell Your Children Today’s scripture selection: Exodus 9-12 Key verse: Exodus 12:26-27 When God saved the people of Israel from their bondage in Egypt – He instructed them to keep a sacred ceremony – and they have been keeping it ever since. It is the celebration of the Passover – and it… Continue reading Week 16 Monday
Week 16 Sunday
Which is the Greatest? Today’s scripture selection: Mark 11-12 Key Verses: Mark 12:28b-30 Time was running short. Jesus was pressing on toward his destiny – and his enemies were gathering. It was time to get down to basics. There would be no room for doubt or misunderstanding. Jesus would make things… Continue reading Week 16 Sunday
Week 15 Saturday
The Greatest Gift Today’s scripture selection: First Corinthians 13-14 Key verses: First Corinthians 13:13b “And the greatest of these is love.” Faith – without it we would be doomed to believe only in what we can see, touch, or taste. Hope – without it we would be destined to a… Continue reading Week 15 Saturday
Week 15 Friday
What You Want To Hear Today’s scripture selection: Jeremiah 12-16 Key verse: Jeremiah 14:14 It’s a common ailment: wanting someone to tell you what you want to hear. It’s human nature – the desire to have our opinions ratified; to be assured that we are “right” about what we believe about ourselves, others, and our… Continue reading Week 15 Friday
Week 15 Thursday
Out of Tune Today’s scripture selection: Job 29-30 Key verses: Job 30:31 “My lyre is tuned to mourning, and my pipe to the sound of wailing.” As Job came to the end of his long lament he gave us an eloquent image of grief and depression. He spoke of a musical instrument that could only… Continue reading Week 15 Thursday