By Elizabeth Yeamans Simrell (Guest Blogger) Week 49 Scripture Readings: 1 John 4-5 Key Scripture Verses: 1 John 4:1-3 (NIV, Life Application Bible) “Dear Friends, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits to see whether they are from God, because many false prophets have gone out into the world. This is how you… Continue reading Week 49 Testing the Spirits and Learning to Discern God’s Will
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 48 Know the Scriptures – Be Not Deceived
By Elizabeth Yeamans Simrell (Guest Blogger) Week 48 Scripture Readings: Acts 19-20 Key Scripture Verses: Acts 19:13-16 (NIV, Life Application Bible) “Some Jews who went around driving out evil spirits tried to invoke the name of the Lord Jesus over those who were demon-possessed. They would say, ‘In the name of the Jesus whom Paul… Continue reading Week 48 Know the Scriptures – Be Not Deceived
Week 48 Beware of the Ungodly Priests and False Teachers
By Elizabeth Yeamans Simrell (Guest Blogger) Week 48 Scripture Readings: Malachi Key Scripture Verses: Malachi 2:7-8 (NIV, Life Application Bible) “‘For the lips of a priest ought to preserve knowledge, because he is the messenger of the Lord Almighty and people seek instruction from his mouth. But you have turned from the way and by… Continue reading Week 48 Beware of the Ungodly Priests and False Teachers
Week 48 Enjoy Life, But Remember God
By Elizabeth Yeamans Simrell (Guest Blogger) Week 48 Scripture Readings: Ecclesiastes 11-12 Key Scripture Verse: Ecclesiastes 11:4 (NIV, Life Application Bible) “Whoever watches the wind will not plant; whoever looks at the clouds will not reap.” This verse in Ecclesiastes reminds me of the old adage, “Nothing ventured, nothing gained.” Solomon’s message in Psalm 11… Continue reading Week 48 Enjoy Life, But Remember God
Week 48 I Will Praise You, Lord, With All My Heart
“I Will Praise You, Lord, With All My Heart” By Elizabeth Yeamans Simrell (Guest Blogger) Week 48 Scripture Readings: Psalms 137-139 Key Scripture Verses: Psalm 138:1 (NIV, Life Application Bible) “I will praise you, Lord, with all my heart; before the ‘gods’ I will sing your praise.” This psalm was written by David as a… Continue reading Week 48 I Will Praise You, Lord, With All My Heart
Week 48 Trust That God Goes With You
By Elizabeth Yeamans Simrell (Guest Blogger) Week 48 Scripture Readings: Deuteronomy 20-22 Key Scripture Verses: Deuteronomy 20:1-3-5 (NIV, Life Application Bible) “He shall say: ‘Hear, Israel: Today you are going into battle against your enemies. Do not be fainthearted or afraid; do not panic or be terrified by them. For the Lord your God… Continue reading Week 48 Trust That God Goes With You
Week 48 John’s Testimony of God’s Love for Us
By Elizabeth Yeamans Simrell (Guest Blogger) Week 48 Scripture Readings: 1 John 1-3 Key Scripture Verses: 1 John 1:4 (NIV, Life Application Bible) “That which was from the beginning, which we have heard, which we have seen with our eyes, which we have looked at and our hands have touched—this we proclaim concerning the Word… Continue reading Week 48 John’s Testimony of God’s Love for Us
Week 47 Speak the Truth – Speak it to All Who Will Listen
By Elizabeth Yeamans Simrell (Guest Blogger) Week 47 Scripture Readings: Acts 17-18 Key Scripture Verses: Acts 18:9-10 (NIV, Life Application Bible) “One night the Lord spoke to Paul in a vision: ‘Do not be afraid; keep on speaking, do not be silent. For I am with you, and no one is going to attack and… Continue reading Week 47 Speak the Truth – Speak it to All Who Will Listen
Week 47 “They Will Mourn For Him” – “The One They Have Pierced”
By Elizabeth Yeamans Simrell (Guest Blogger) Week 47 Scripture Readings: Zechariah 8-14 Key Scripture Verse: Zechariah 12:10 (NIV, Life Application Bible) “‘And I will pour out on the house of David and the inhabitants of Jerusalem a spirit of grace and supplication. They will look on me, the one they have pierced, and they will… Continue reading Week 47 “They Will Mourn For Him” – “The One They Have Pierced”
Week 47 In All Things Give Thanks To the Lord
By Elizabeth Yeamans Simrell (Guest Blogger) Week 47 Scripture Readings: Psalms 134-136 Key Scripture Verse: Psalm 136:1 (NIV, Life Application Bible) “Give thanks to the Lord, for he is good. His love endures forever.” Psalm 136 is the perfect Thanksgiving prayer of thanks to God. Every line of it gives tribute to God, thanking him… Continue reading Week 47 In All Things Give Thanks To the Lord