Ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and the door will be opened to you.
Matthew 7:7 NIV
I trust my Father to give
and I stand, expectant to receive,
that which is good, beneficial,
what I need.
I pray first before I ask,
that my desires be made like His.
And that my attitude
is open hands
instead of closed fists.
© Joel Tipple 12/7/2018
And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.
Philippians 4:7 NIV
When you seek peace,
it often eludes you.
The tighter you hold it,
like a fist grasping water
the faster it rushes away.
But the peace I give,
says the Lord,
the more you give away,
the more you’ll keep.
The peace I give,
you can’t exhaust,
the more the thunder shouts,
the more the waves are tossed.
© Joel Tipple 12/6/2018
On November 30, George HW Bush, the 41st President of the United States, passed away. Since that time, and including today’s national funeral, many have remembered his time in political office. Of the personal qualities that have been mentioned, his sense of humor has come up often. Here are some notables.
“I’m a conservative, but I’m not a nut about it.”
“I have opinions of my own, strong opinions. But I don’t always agree with them.”
“Those who travel the high road of humility in Washington are not bothered by heavy traffic.”
His biographer, Jon Meacham noted that during a campaign stop Bush mistakenly grabbed the hand of a department store mannequin, asking for its vote. When he realized what he had done, he said, “Never know, gotta ask.” Meacham also told about showing Bush the remarks he would be making at his funeral. Said Bush, “That’s a lot about me, Jon.”
“I do not like broccoli. And I haven’t liked it since I was a little kid and my mother made me eat it. And I’m President of the United States and I’m not going to eat any more broccoli.”
“Never ask anyone over 70 how they feel. They’ll tell you.”
Finally, this story from his son and former president George W. Bush. The father and son were sitting on a porch enjoying the ocean view. The younger Bush, who had been painting earlier and had gotten some on his pants, said he hoped this might be a moment he could glean perhaps some deep, personal insight from his father. “Beautiful view, isn’t it, dad? Yes, son, it sure is, his father replied, quickly following with, “Say, do those pants come in clean?”
© Joel Tipple 12/5/2018
I will give thanks to you, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made; Wonderful are Your works, and my soul knows it very well. My frame was not hidden from You, when I was made in secret, and skillfully wrought in the depths of the earth; Your eyes have seen my unformed substance; and in Your book were all written the days that were ordained for me, when as yet there was not one of them.
Psalm 139:14-16
“Never confuse the size of your paycheck with the size of your talent.”
Marlon Brando
God gives to each a gift to express,
its type or size is immaterial;
That our gifts are given expression
is the thing.
Our nature seems to be to compare how we’ve been made
with others,
but that’s akin to comparing crocodile feet
with bird wings.
One is not greater,
or of higher quality
than the other.
They’re each perfectly made
for fulfilling their being.
© Joel Tipple 12/02/2018
Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God.
Philippians 4:6
Do not worry about tomorrow; for tomorrow will care for itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own.
Matthew 6:34
Worry often gives a small thing a big shadow.
Swedish Proverb
I’ve wasted the sun of too many todays
predicting dark clouds for tomorrow.
Anxiety rents space but never pays.
Facing this moment is all
God’s ever asked me to do.
I have my job
and He has his
and the blessed thing about it,
is His promises are true every day.
Every day, no doubt about it,
the Bible’s pages light up a path,
the leather’s worn, the pages thin
but when fear of the future has me in its grip
the security of God’s Word
weighs more than worry’s mass.
© Joel Tipple 12/01/2018
our conversation
players of word badminton
fouls out of bounds
© Joel Tipple 11/30/2018
But if anyone is a hearer and not a doer, he is like a man who looks intently at his natural face in a mirror. For he looks at himself and goes away and at once forgets what he was like. But the one who looks into the perfect law, the law of liberty, and perseveres, being no hearer who forgets but a doer who acts, he will be blessed in what he is doing.
James 1:23-25 ESV
“God provides the wind, but man must raise the sails.”
William R. Inge
Church records attest
I’m a regular attender,
an attendee, if you will,
of the regular sort.
I stand up and sit down,
and amen render
with nary a protest
or wayward retort.
But if my heart and gumption
isn’t where
God wants it to be,
it’s all show
and no go, you see.
Mediocrity isn’t anyone’s stated goal.
It’s just where we slide back to
when we stop reaching,
so it’s okay if His teaching smarts a little
and makes you decide
to stop riding and
drive.
Get an oar out and paddle.
It’s time for you to
drive.
Put your foot on the throttle.
Go ahead and
drive
and even if you make some mistakes
God honors His servants
who are willing to
get in,
ask God for direction…
and drive.
© Joel Tipple 11/29/2018
When the Spring comes,
God, you help me grow.
The word you planted in me
shows brightly in all its colors.
When the Summer comes,
you cool my feet
in your river of life.
You give me rest
under a canopy of trees.
When the Fall comes,
you nourish me
with your bounty of blessings.
You make me strong and whole.
When the Winter comes,
your house shields me
from the storm.
And your love
keeps me warm
and safe.
You have prepared Lord,
for all our needs,
no matter the challenge,
so that we may weather…
every season.
© Joel Tipple 11/28/2018
(God doesn’t use “perfect people.” He uses “available people.”)
All of God’s people are ordinary people who have been made extraordinary by the purpose He has given them.
Oswald Chambers
For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them.
Ephesians 2:10 ESV
It doesn’t do any good to protest,
or to presume to tell God He’s mistaken.
The Spirit of God begins a work in us
from the moment we’re reborn.
He chooses someone like you,
with the qualities you like
and those you’re unsure of,
because a puzzle piece simply takes its place,
for the picture wouldn’t be right without it.
© Joel Tipple 11/27/2018
(To the tune of, “God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen.”)
Entering this season,
this Christmas time of year,
at times we struggle to maintain
enough of Christmas cheer.
Our thoughts drift from the reason
we hold this time so dear.
Ohh, tidings of retail therapy,
therapy.
Ohh, tidings of retail therapy.
Turkey’s barely cold before
we put on suits of black.
And God help you, fellow shopper,
you better put that back!
I saw it first, my mood’s the worst,
and I’ve been up since three.
Ohh, tidings of retail therapy,
therapy.
Ohh, tidings of retail therapy.
If you’ve got a home
and clothes to wear,
and food enough to eat,
you’re better off
than most of the world,
so don’t give in to greed.
Get your heart right,
the better fight’s
to fight for others’ needs.
Don’t focus on retail therapy,
therapy.
Share Jesus’ love,
not retail therapy.
© Joel Tipple 11/25/2018
Write here, Joel. 