While You Wait Today’s scripture selection: Jude Key verses: Jude, verse 21 “…keep yourselves in God’s love as you wait for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ to bring you to eternal life.” Who knows when it will happen? Who knows when all the promises of scripture will come to fruition; when death will… Continue reading Week 52 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 52 Friday
The Star Today’s scripture selection: Revelation 18-22 Key verses: Revelation 22:16 “I, Jesus, have sent my angel to give this message for the churches. I am both the source of David and the heir to his throne. I am the bright and morning star.” Jesus of Nazareth has been called a lot of things over… Continue reading Week 52 Friday
Week 52 Thursday
Mine to Give Today’s scripture selection: Song of Solomon 7-8 Key verse: Song of Solomon 8:11-12a It’s a song of deep, never ending love and devotion between a man and woman. It’s also a picture of the deep, never ending love and devotion that can be shared between Christ and His church; God and His… Continue reading Week 52 Thursday
Week 52 Wednesday
The Breath of Praise Today’s scripture selection: Psalms 149-150 Key verse: Psalm 150:6 “Don’t waste your breath!” Have you ever said that to anyone? Usually, we say it half in warning; half in exasperation – telling someone that he or she is wasting time trying to get a particular point across. “Don’t waste your breath,”… Continue reading Week 52 Wednesday
Week 52 Tuesday
Behind the Scenes Today’s scripture selection: Esther 6-10 Key verses: Esther 7:3 “Then Queen Esther answered, “If I have found favor with you, Your Majesty, and if it pleases you, grant me my life- this is my petition. And spare my people – this is my request.” Some have quickly passed over the story of… Continue reading Week 52 Tuesday
Week 52 Monday
Like Showers On New Grass Today’s scripture selection: Deuteronomy 32-34 Key verse: Deuteronomy 32:1-3 At the end of the Book of Deuteronomy we get a glimpse of Moses, not as lawgiver, but as poet. Here, in the form of a song, we hear this invitation to praise the God that has been so centrally important… Continue reading Week 52 Monday
Week 52 Sunday
Whose I am, and whom I serve Today’s scripture selection: Acts 27-28 Key Verse: Acts 27:23 In route to his “appointment” with Caesar; the apostle Paul – and those with him – ran into more than a little trouble. During a tempest at sea, the ship on which Paul sailed – and all aboard – were… Continue reading Week 52 Sunday
Week 51 Saturday
The Welcome Mat Today’s scripture selection: Third John Key verses: Third John, verse 5 I guess it’s supposed to be funny. It’s a door mat that I saw for sale awhile back. It says simply, “Go Away.” My, how the world has changed. I understand that people are tired of dealing with junk mail; solicitors;… Continue reading Week 51 Saturday
Week 51 Friday
Real Evil Today’s scripture selection: Revelation 12-17 Key verses: Revelation 12:17 “Then the dragon was enraged at the woman and went to make war with the rest of her offspring – those who obey God’s commands and hold to the testimony of Jesus.” Though the message is filled with symbolic images; it’s message is crystal clear:… Continue reading Week 51 Friday
Week 51 Thursday
Majestic as the Stars Today’s scripture selection: Song of Solomon 5-6 Key verse: Song of Solomon 6:10 “Who is this that appears like the dawn, fair as the moon, bright as the sun, majestic as the stars in procession?” Of all the terms lovers use to describe each other these days – majestic – is… Continue reading Week 51 Thursday