Winter is chill
and you can catch your death
of cold.
Spring can bounce you in directions
too bold.
Summer’s so hot, it isn’t funny
at all.
But mess with Autumn, and you’re in
for a Fall.
Poetry
“Come to Me…”
28 “Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. 29 Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. 30 For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.” Matthew 11:28-30
The rest we obtained through you,
salvation, your life for ours and to
be redeemed, take on a yoke that’s new
and feels
like it belongs.
And we belong
to You.
Weather or Hot
In our moderate to the extreme climate
a day such as today
with its temp. in the mid-70s
causes us to plumb wilt away.
Those experiencing degrees such as 117
would stand aghast and wonder how this could be.
82? Oh, the horror! How do you carry on?
But we’ll just start up a new chain gang song
about humidity
and weep like Job on a not so merry day.
“Honey! Come look!!”
“What is it? Are you alright?”
“My forehead is wet! Should I take something for it?”
“Here, have a seat and a glass of iced tea. I think it
may be sweat, but to be safe I’ll Google it.
Better yet, I’ll check Web MD.”
Follow your heart?
You have heard,
“Just be happy and follow your heart.”
and it was doubtless
said with good intention.
A thousand self-help books
more or less
make that mention.
But our hearts must be surrendered daily
if we hope to be happy
and free,
and the choice
to follow Jesus
is the wisest of
elections.
And without faith it is impossible to please him, for whoever would draw near to God must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who seek him. Hebrews 11:6
that grain of sand
beginning as a mountain
big as half the world
broken down by lightning
while peals of thunder unfurled
fell into the sea
to stand in the way of ships
the north sea threw itself at me
till I went to smaller bits
the world heaved back
then it shuddered forth
I rolled into a river
felt the rage from its source
with my back to that river
and my face to the sea
here I am that grain of sand
as small as can be
from the good Lord’s earth beginning
until the scroll is read
I’m seen it all behind me
and I see it all ahead
© Joel Clayton Tipple
“Peace I leave with you…”
“Peace I leave with you; My peace I give to you;
not as the world gives do I give to you. Do not
let your heart be troubled, nor let it be fearful.”
John 14:27
Not as the world gives,
short-lived.
Not as the world gives,
ephemeral.
Not as the world gives,
fleeting & unsure.
A vision floating on the desert horizon,
cruel and deadly.
Instead Lord, your peace is the gift you left with us
and that which we share.
It’s a cup that cannot be emptied,
but instead grows if we give it away.
Peace everlasting,
our inheritance by virtue of adoption.
New Energy
There’s no night so dark
His name can’t illuminate,
no depression so deep
He can’t lift it.
No heart so weary
and grown tired of beating
He can’t recharge
like the sun coming up.
The meaningless
find new meaning.
Those wondering why
find new hope.
Those finding themselves
short of the summit
suddenly spy
a new length of rope.
He’ll breath into you compassion
when maybe you thought
you didn’t care.
He’ll be the force
lifting your wings
with angels into ebullient air.
Content
Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer
and thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God.
Phil. 4:6
I know how to get along with humble means, and I also
know how to live in prosperity; in any and every
circumstance I have learned the secret of being filled
and going hungry, both of having abundance and
suffering need.
Phil. 4:12
Lord in all my days
in my times of lean
and well fed
the times I look forward to
and yes those that I dread
build within me a structure
of peace
like a tree
long used to storms
let me not rely on happenstance
but rather look to You
Your steady hand
and guiding voice
will always hold me fast
Your “Work”
Do you love what you do?
Do you do what you love?
Do you find inspiration,
motivation,
fulfillment?
Remember that though you need to
“get paid,” your needs go beyond
just paying the rent.
If your sparks don’t fly
from just getting by,
induce some magic
and escape the tragic
by creating in time
and finding your why
and why not.
What the child loved
and the adult
forgot.
This is not defeat
This is not defeat,
it’s a bridge,
over the raging river
in which you might have drowned.
This is not defeat,
it’s a landslide,
which fell to create a pass
where none existed through the mountains.
This is not defeat,
this is an earthquake,
a jagged arrow pointing the way
toward solid ground.
Joseph replied, “Don’t be afraid. Do I act for God? Don’t you see, you planned evil against me but God used those same plans for my good, as you see all around you right now—life for many people. Easy now, you have nothing to fear; I’ll take care of you and your children.” He reassured them, speaking with them heart-to-heart. Genesis 50:19-21 The Message
Write here, Joel. 