Devotion

Counterfeit

(Hold out for what’s real)

For now, we see in a mirror dimly but then face to face. Now I know in part; then I shall know fully, even as I have been fully known.
1Corinthians 13:12 ESV

Born to this world searching,
pushing up against the walls.
Crying for salvation,
the injustice of it all.
Searching for tomorrow,
not yet finished with today.
Hardly satisfied
with the part we have to play.
Then one day we find
what we think is it.
The only problem is,
it’s a counterfeit.

Jesus, you are
the genuine article.
No knockoffs
or fraudulent goods will do.
The Great I Am
will always triumph over
what isn’t,
and last
when everything pretend
has gone.

The world will say,
“if it feels good, do it”.
Relationships are disposable,
you can always find another.
They say, “trust your heart,”
but when it is deceitful,
families are left
on the side of the road.

Put away your childish things.
Find joy that lasts
in commitment to the maker.
Trade away a life sentence
for true joy everlasting.
God’s restoration
will replace what’s counterfeit.

© Joel Tipple 11/10/2018

Quiet Moments

(Jesus knew the value of time alone with God, and so should we)

And rising very early in the morning, while it was still dark, he departed and went out to a desolate place, and there he prayed. And Simon and those who were with him searched for him,  and they found him and said to him, “Everyone is looking for you.”
Mark 1:35-37

Scripture clearly teaches that for God there is no time too momentous or trivial to seek Him. Besides time to speak with and hear from God, Christians need to unplug from the world (both literally and figuratively) on occasion. For Jesus, as His fame grew and crowds began to clamor for Him, He would go off by Himself. Though Jesus was fully divine, He was also fully human. When He spent time alone, He modeled a very human need for the maintenance of spiritual and mental health.

God, help us to take time to unplug from the world. The noise and various demands upon our time and attention can eat away at our energy stores throughout the day. By not taking the time to allow You to restore and renew us, we are cheating ourselves, and, by extension, those who depend on us.

Lord, I tolerate too much noise.
Could it be I’m so accustomed
to low-level bedlam?
Teach me to find the joy
and healing
away from the maelstrom.

© Joel Tipple 11/7/2018

Begin

(Anything worth finishing must first be started)

For every house is built by someone, but the builder of all things is God.
Hebrews 3:4

Fear of beginning
envisions failure at every turn,
calamity
long before the finish line.
God has always chosen
imperfect people
who, though they stumble,
will go on
time after time.

© Joel Tipple 11/5/2018

Feeling Music

19 speaking to one another with psalms, hymns, and songs from the Spirit. Sing and make music from your heart to the Lord,20 always giving thanks to God the Father for everything, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ.
Ephesians 5:19

Music drew me to the Lord when I was a child.
The rhythm, like my heartbeat, pushing melodies.
Well worn hymns or modern songs,
like David’s famous psalms,
tied me ever tighter
to the maker of the sounds
of winds and waters.

But no matter
where life takes me,
no great cacophony
or raucous clamor
can drown out
the ever-present ebullience
of my Saviour’s symphony.

So it is now as it was then,
that I’m drawn along with
seekers and believers,
to the places
that play Amazing Grace,
then to the oceans and forests
that fuel me for the race.
I’m always seeking
the joyous sounds of God’s music.

© Joel Tipple 11/3/2018

 

Walk In It

5 Trust in the LORD with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; 
6 in all your ways submit to him, and he will make your paths straight.
Proverbs 3:5-6


There is power
in saying yes.
There is power
in saying no.
There is power in expressing God’s truth
as His word reveals it to you.
Walk in it.

There is power in being
the person God says you are
and moving in the direction
He’s told you to move
even if when you turn around,
no one is following you.

There isn’t always a script,
or a well-worn path.
You may feel as though
you’re falling through clouds,
but He’ll catch you.

© Joel Tipple 11/2/2018

The Armor of God (Part 7: The Sword of the Spirit)

(Exploring aspects of “the armor of God.”)

10 Finally, be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power. 11 Put on the full armor of God, so that you can take your stand against the devil’s schemes. 12 For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms.13 Therefore put on the full armor of God, so that when the day of evil comes, you may be able to stand your ground, and after you have done everything, to stand. 14 Stand firm then, with the belt of truth buckled around your waist, with the breastplate of righteousness in place, 15 and with your feet fitted with the readiness that comes from the gospel of peace. 16 In addition to all this, take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one. 17 Take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God.
Ephesians 6:10-17

Today I let my armor slip,
left myself undefended.
Without defense,
I found myself rended.
But God has prepared for us
suits suitable to protect,
then as soldiers in a spiritual war
His conditions of battle dress
we’ll have met.

The belt of truth,
Jesus Christ,
the foundation,
upon which
our armor rests.
In a world which insists
truth is elusive,
The truth of our Lord
is that upon which we rest.

The breastplate of righteousness,
stamped with the name of Jesus Christ,
given to protect our heart and soul
from evil and deception.
We could not protect ourselves
on our own.
The more we put on this armor
the more our righteous maturity will grow.

The shoes of the “gospel of peace,”
cover the feet of the bringer of good news.
Ready, prepared, protected,
sharing the greatest truth.
How beautiful the feet,
the bringers of peace,
those who walk,
telling of the kingdom.

The shield of faith I hold
all the while, it goes before me.
The strength of this protection lies
in unyielding belief.
Satan’s attacks will fail
to successfully assail,
though the blows may come
from above or beneath.

The helmet of salvation,
our eternal and best defense
against whatever weapon
the enemy would devise.
God, however, would
protect us, especially our
minds, against Satan,
and his ruthless lies.

The sword of the Spirit,
the Word of God,
that which gives us strength
and the power to withstand,
attacks by the accuser,
when he dares to lift his hand.
But wielded by God’s children,
none can withstand this blade,
for the same reveals our salvation
the price with His blood
Christ has paid.

© Joel Tipple 11/01/2018

On Empty

(Just because we feel empty, that doesn’t mean we are)

For this reason, I kneel before the Father,  from whom every family in heaven and on earth derives its name.  I pray that out of his glorious riches he may strengthen you with power through his Spirit in your inner being, so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith. And I pray that you, being rooted and established in love, may have power, together with all the Lord’s holy people, to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ, and to know this love that surpasses knowledge—that you may be filled to the measure of all the fullness of God.
Ephesians 3:14-19 NIV

If you’ve driven for long, chances are you’ve discovered that the empty mark on your vehicle’s gas gauge isn’t always an accurate indicator of how far you can actually go before you run out. There is usually some reserve left in your tank. Again, that amount will vary, and it’s always a good practice to fill up sooner rather than later.

Yesterday, I found myself discouraged. Some setbacks, together with a lack of sleep, combined to put me in a funk. I reached out to God and asked Him to throw me a lifeline… an auxiliary tank, so to speak. “God, I need you,” I said.  I don’t know about you, but sometimes, when I’m feeling that way, it’s a little like I’ve failed. “Here I am again, Lord, unable to handle this on my own. What’s wrong with me?” Admitting you need help is not a sign of weakness though, it’s a necessary part of a healthy relationship with the Lord. Just as we long to be there for our children, God longs to be there for us.

From the depths of my discouragement,
from the place where I have need,
from my lack of resource,
fill me up.

I’ve nothing to repay you God,
but I’ll go where you say.
Just teach me to listen to your voice.
Then the next time I journey,
and I’m planning for the miles,
let your direction be my first
and not my second choice.

© Joel Tipple 10/23/2018

Think on These Things

(Consider your mind)

Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable —if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things.
Philippians 4:8 NIV

If you find yourself sick,
you might wonder…
have I been around someone
who was sick too?

When it comes to a healthy mind
the same principle applies,
so negative exposure
can make you blue.

Guard your heart,
guard your mind,
dream well, read well, think well,
God’s children.
Be sure to train yourself,
You know, God wants you well
Christian pilgrim.

The journey’s hard enough
without
wasting time
on stupid stuff.
There’s plenty of pain
without standing out
in negative rain
with no umbrella.

© Joel Tipple 10/21/2018

Not So Pretty Prayers

After He had sent the crowds away, He went up on the mountain by Himself to pray; and when it was evening, He was there alone.
Matthew 14:23 NASB

In the tumult of our lives,
the noise and chaos,
we don’t always take the time
to download peace.
Jesus was our model for connection
to our father, who would gladly hear our needs.
Our words don’t always have to be perfection.
God surely wants to hear our naked truth.
A genuine relationship is what he seeks from us,
so don’t try to sanitize your news.

© Joel Tipple 10/15/2018

The Past

Brothers, I do not consider that I have made it my own, but one thing I do: Forgetting what lies behind and straining forward to what lies ahead, I press on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus.
Philippians 3:13-14 ESV

I’ve got a new perspective now.
The past isn’t what it used to be.
God’s pointing my head in a new direction.
Is this what it means to be free?

Instead of taking inventory
of possessions,
I remind myself
to whom I belong.
Instead of bemoaning
all the reasons I’m weak,
I claim the One
who makes me strong.

© Joel Tipple 10/10/2018