Today’s Text: First Timothy 1-3 Key Text: First Timothy 2:1-2 “First of all then, I urge that supplications, prayers, intercessions, and thanksgivings be made for all people, for kings and all those who are in high positions, that we may lead a peaceful and quiet life, godly and dignified in every way.” It’s an extraordinary… Continue reading Week 33: First of All
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 32: The One Everybody Knows
Week 32: The One Everybody Knows Today’s Text: John 3-4 Key Text: John 3:16 “For God so loved the world that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosover believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.” It is probably the most well-known scripture verse in the Bible, at least among Christians. If… Continue reading Week 32: The One Everybody Knows
Week 32: Blessed Be the Name
Today’s Text: Daniel 1-6 Key Text: Daniel 2:20-21 Daniel said: “Blessed be the name of God from age to age, for wisdom and power are his. He changes times and seasons, deposes kings and sets up kings; he gives wisdom to the wise and knowledge to those who have understanding.” Daniel was an amazing young… Continue reading Week 32: Blessed Be the Name
Week 32: Good Plans
Today’s Text: Proverbs 16 Key Text: Proverbs 16:3 “Commit to the LORD whatever you do, and he will establish your plans.” How are you when it comes to planning? Are you organized? Do you see things through? Are you consistent and trustworthy? Do you set things in careful order – then set your priorities – fill… Continue reading Week 32: Good Plans
Week 32: The Rock of Our Salvation
Week 32: The Rock of our Salvation Today’s Text: Psalms 93-95 Key Text: Psalm 95:1 “Come, let us sing for joy to the LORD; let us shout aloud to the Rock of our salvation.” The words roll off the tongue… Come Sing Joy Shout Aloud To what and to whom? The LORD – the ROCK… Continue reading Week 32: The Rock of Our Salvation
Week 32: Family Line
Today’s Text: First Chronicles 1-4 Key Text: First Chronicles 2:1-2 “These were the sons of Israel: Reuben, Simeon, Levi, Judah, Issachar, Zebulun, Dan, Joseph, Benjamin, Naphtali, Gad and Asher.” It’s one of those sections of scripture you might be tempted to skip over – this long, long genealogical list. “So and so begat so and so…”… Continue reading Week 32: Family Line
Week 32: Blessings for Obedience
Today’s Text: Leviticus 25-27 Key Text: Leviticus 26:3-5 “If you walk in my statutes and observe my commandments and do them, then I will give you your rains in their season, and the land shall yield its increase, and the trees of the field shall yield their fruit. Your threshing shall last to the time… Continue reading Week 32: Blessings for Obedience
Week 32: Always and Continually What?
Today’s Text: Second Thessalonians Key Text: Second Thessalonians 1:16 “Be joyful always; pray continually; give thanks in all circumstances, for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.” I know a young man who, if you say you do something “all the time” calls you on it. “All the time?” he chides, “can anyone… Continue reading Week 32: Always and Continually What?
Week 31: The Twilight Zone
Today’s Text: John 1-2 Key Text: John 1:5 “The light shines in the darkness, but the darkness has not understood it.” I’m a first generation TV watcher. What I mean by that is that I was one of those kids, born in the late 1950’s, who grew up right after TV was invented. I can… Continue reading Week 31: The Twilight Zone
Week 31 “Filled with Glory”
Week 31 “Filled with Glory” Today’s Text: Ezekiel 43-48 Key Text: Ezekiel 43:1 “Then the man brought me to the gate facing east, and I saw the glory of the God of Israel coming from the east. His voice was like the roar of rushing waters, and the land was radiant with his glory. The… Continue reading Week 31 “Filled with Glory”