Opening the Floodgates Today’s scripture selection: Malachi Key Verses: Malachi 3:6-12 Twenty-six centuries ago, God spoke to a people who said they wanted to “return” to Him. You see, things weren’t going so well for them. Why? Because, as God put it, ever since “the time of your forefathers” they had turned away from Him;… Continue reading Week 48 Friday
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 Thursday
An Open Book Today’s scripture selection: Ecclesiastes 11-12 Key verse: Ecclesiastes 12:13 “Now all has been heard; here is the conclusion of the matter: Fear God and keep his commandment, for this is the duty of all mankind. For God will bring every deed into judgment, including every hidden thing, whether it is good or… Continue reading Week 48 Thursday
Week 48 Wednesday
In A Foreign Land Today’s scripture selection: Psalms 137-139 Key verses: Psalm 137:1-5 Some years ago I worked with our church’s youth camps. Part of our daily routine was to sing camp songs. Many of these songs were silly little things – complete with silly actions designed to get the kids laughing and interacting. But… Continue reading Week 48 Wednesday
Week 48 Tuesday
From Tears to Action Today’s scripture selection: Nehemiah 1-4 Key verses: Nehemiah 1:4 “They said to me, “Those who survived the exile and are back in the province are in great trouble and disgrace. The wall of Jerusalem is broken down, and its gates have been burned with fire.” When I heard these things, I… Continue reading Week 48 Tuesday
Week 48 Monday
Outnumbered Today’s scripture selection: Deuteronomy 20-22 Key verse: Deuteronomy 20:1 “When you go to war against your enemies and see horses and chariots and an army that is greater than yours, do not be afraid of them, because the LORD your God, who brought you up out of Egypt, will be with you.” It’s a… Continue reading Week 48 Monday
Week 48 Sunday
Finishing Well Today’s scripture selection: Acts 19-20 Key Verses: Acts 20:22-24 He had endured much. And he knew there was still much more to come. Upon leaving them, the apostle Paul told his dear friends in Ephesus that he knew what was in store for him. “And now, compelled by the Holy Spirit, I am… Continue reading Week 48 Sunday
Week 47 Saturday
Under Construction Today’s scripture selection: Second Peter Key verses: Second Peter 1:3; 5-7 Do you ever feel like you need something more? Do you ever think you need something more in the way of talent; resources; wisdom; strength? Well, according to Peter – if you are a person of faith – you already have more… Continue reading Week 47 Saturday
Week 47 Friday
Full of Surprises Today’s scripture selection: Zechariah 8-14 Key Verses: Zechariah 9:9b “See, your king comes to you, righteous and having salvation, gentle and riding on a donkey, on a colt, the foal of a donkey.” Sometimes God comes to us in the most surprising of ways. In this passage from Zechariah; long before Jesus… Continue reading Week 47 Friday
Week 47 Thursday
No Need to Shout Today’s scripture selection: Ecclesiastes 9-10 Key verse: Ecclesiastes 9:17 Have you noticed how noisy our world has become? Even though I live on the outskirts of a moderately large city; even though I try and make it a priority to have some “quiet time” each day – the noise is steadily… Continue reading Week 47 Thursday
Week 47 Wednesday
No Limits Today’s scripture selection: Psalms 134-136 Key verses: Psalm 136:1 When you think of the words endure or endurance – what do they bring to mind? An athlete pushing herself to that point of almost breaking – and then beyond? A soldier accomplishing something seemingly super-human for the sake of duty? An exhausted mother… Continue reading Week 47 Wednesday