Simple Understanding Today’s scripture selection: Psalms 146-148 Key verse: Psalm 147:5 “You just don’t understand!” How many times has that phrase been uttered through tears; yelled in anger; whispered in disbelief? How many times have children said that to their parents or spouses said that to one another? Sometimes, regardless of who is “right” or… Continue reading Week 51 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 51 Tuesday
A Bitter Meal Today’s scripture selection: Esther 1-5 Key verses: Esther 3:1-6 “When Haman saw that Mordecai would not kneel down or pay him honor, he was enraged. Yet having learned who Mordecai’s people were, he scorned the idea of killing only Mordecai. Instead Haman looked for a way to destroy all Mordecai’s people, the… Continue reading Week 51 Tuesday
Week 51 Monday
Closer Than You Think Today’s scripture selection: Deuteronomy 29-31 Key verse: Deuteronomy 30:11-14 “Now what I am commanding you today is not too difficult for you or beyond your reach….No, the word is very near you; it is in your mouth and in your heart so you may obey it.” When Moses reminded his people of… Continue reading Week 51 Monday
Week 51 Sunday
The Witness Today’s scripture selection: Acts 25-26 Key Verse: Acts 26:28-29 When the apostle Paul was witnessing to his faith – this time in front of King Agrippa – the ruler asked: “Do you think in such a short time you can persuade me to be a Christian?” Paul calmly replied, “Short time or long… Continue reading Week 51 Sunday
Week 50 Saturday
From the Beginning Today’s scripture selection: Second John Key verses: Second John 4-6 The New Testament letter of Second John helps me get back to basics. When so many different philosophical; political; religious; social ideas compete for our attention and allegiance – John keeps things simple. Writing to his “dear children” in the faith he… Continue reading Week 50 Saturday
Week 50 Friday
The Faithful Multitude Today’s scripture selection: Revelation 7-11 Key verses: Revelation 7:9-10 “After this I looked, and there before me was a great multitude that no one could count, from every nation, tribe, people and language, standing before the throne and before the Lamb. They were wearing white robes and were holding palm branches in… Continue reading Week 50 Friday
Week 50 Thursday
Flawless Today’s scripture selection: Song of Solomon 3-4 Key verse: Song of Solomon 4:7 “All beautiful you are; my darling; there is no flaw in you.” Nobody’s perfect – everybody knows that, right? Ah, but if you are in love, you may choose to argue with that. When love is fresh and young, it’s easy… Continue reading Week 50 Thursday
Week 50 Wednesday
Level Ground Today’s scripture selection: Psalms 143-145 Key verse: Psalm 143:10 It’s a cry for help. And it comes from one who was well acquainted with danger: a shepherd named David. He was A courageous warrior A confident king A man of deep faith And he wasn’t afraid to ask God for help. When he… Continue reading Week 50 Wednesday
Week 50 Tuesday
The Lost Sabbath Today’s scripture selection: Nehemiah 10-13 Key verses: Nehemiah 13:17-22 “I rebuked the nobles of Judah and said to them, “What is this wicked thing you are doing—desecrating the Sabbath day? Didn’t your ancestors do the same things, so that our God brought all this calamity on us and on this city? Now… Continue reading Week 50 Tuesday
Week 50 Monday
No Longer Wandering Today’s scripture selection: Deuteronomy 26-28 Key verse: Deuteronomy 26:5-8 “Then you shall declare before the LORD your God: “My father was a wandering Aramean, and he went down into Egypt with a few people and lived there and became a great nation, powerful and numerous. But the Egyptians mistreated us and made… Continue reading Week 50 Monday