A Thirsty Spirit Today’s scripture selection: Psalms 42-44 Key verses: Psalm 42:1-2 Have you ever been really thirsty? I mean parched; feeling like you if you don’t get a glass of something, anything, soon you will pass out. I’m not an athlete so I can only barely remember what it was… Continue reading Week 15 Wednesday
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 15 Tuesday
A Golden Opportunity Today’s scripture selection: First Samuel 21-25 Key verse: First Samuel 24:19 It was a golden opportunity. David had a chance to kill the man who was pursuing him – a man he knew wanted him dead – King Saul. But he didn’t take it. Though he crept up behind him, so close… Continue reading Week 15 Tuesday
Week 15 Monday
Known by His Actions Today’s scripture selection: Exodus 5-8 Key verse: Exodus 6:3 Moses had a problem. He had been called by God to go to Egypt’s Pharaoh and demand that he release the Israelite slaves under his control. Pharaoh wasn’t impressed, to say the least. So Moses took his problem to… Continue reading Week 15 Monday
Week 15 Sunday
Just a Kid Today’s scripture selection: Mark 9-10 Key verse: Mark 10:15 “Truly I tell you, anyone who will not receive the kingdom of God like a little child will never enter it.” In Jesus’ days lots of people thought children were a blessing. Many also thought that these little “blessings” were better… Continue reading Week 15 Sunday
Week 14 Saturday
Everybody Counts Today’s scripture selection: First Corinthians 11-12 Key verses: First Corinthians 12:15-20 “Now if the foot should say, “Because I am not a hand, I do not belong to the body,” it would not for that reason stop being part of the body. And if the ear should say, “Because I am not an… Continue reading Week 14 Saturday
Week 14 Friday
Worthless Religion Today’s scripture selection: Jeremiah 7-11 Key verses: Jeremiah 7:3-8 I’m not much on condemning religion. In fact, I’ve spent the last thirty-some years of life working in the field. A preacher’s kid who became a preacher – that’s me. So, for the most part, I’m fine with the idea of “organized”… Continue reading Week 14 Friday
Week 14 Thursday
Who Knows? Today’s scripture selection: Job 27-28 Key verses: Job 28:20-24 We’re all looking for answers. Even the most self-confident, well-educated among us needs to learn – that is if they are to progress and not stagnate in life. And even those who are forced by circumstances to just “survive” every day… Continue reading Week 14 Thursday
Week 14 Wednesday
Life Is Short Today’s scripture selection: Psalms 39-41 Key verses: Psalm 39:4-5 Life is short. It’s a platitude we’ve all heard. It’s also true. The problem is most of us don’t really believe it. Or at least you couldn’t tell we do by our actions. I suppose it’s only natural that many of us… Continue reading Week 14 Wednesday
Week 14 Tuesday
After God’s Own Heart Today’s scripture selection: First Samuel 16-20 Key verse: First Samuel 18:12 From the very beginning – David, God’s chosen, had enemies. Anointed by Samuel, this shepherd boy who was destined to be king had to contend with those both in and outside the kingdom that wanted him dead. Not the least… Continue reading Week 14 Tuesday
Week 14 Monday
Who, Me? Today’s scripture selection: Exodus 1-3 Key verse: Exodus 3:11 But Moses said to God, “Who am I that I should go to Pharaoh and bring the Israelites out of Egypt?” There’s been a fair amount said in recent years about how God has a plan for everyone’s life; that we should… Continue reading Week 14 Monday