Not so fast

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Wait,
when you’re tired and you just want it over.
Wait,
when the words will be harsh.
Wait,
when your mind screams how unfair it is,
and you want a re-counting or re-slicing or
re-whatever.
It’s not about
whether
someone
has it
worse,
better,
or even the same.
This is between
God and you
whether you ever
get the sun or the rain.
Well done good and faithful servant
are the words you’re waiting to hear,
and then you won’t remember the pain.

This you know, my beloved brethren. But let everyone be quick to hear, slow to speak and slow to anger; for the anger of man does not achieve the righteousness of God. James 1:19-20

Stake your claim

Life’s too short
to save it
for the fourth.
Don’t wait till July
to let your rockets fly.
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Declare independence
from the rut you’re in
and stake your claim,
the time to begin…
is now.
Once in your life
you have to stake your claim
take stock
of the junk
that is holding you down.
God doesn’t doesn’t bring anyone
into this world
without a purpose
so ask Him,
expect an answer,
He won’t let you down.

“Come to Me…”

 

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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

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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.”

Persistence, Realization, and Horse Sense

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I’ve

come

to the realization

through hard work

and persistence

that there is nothing

altogether common

about what is generally known

as horse sense.

Whether the topic

is children

or far east policy

or angels

or indeed, horses

nothing short of enthusiastic

application of curiosity and desire

will spell the difference

in success or failure

of the courses.

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Garden Gnome

We recently installed several bird feeders in the dogwood tree in our front yard.
They’ve proven pretty popular with the local finches, sparrows, blackbirds, doves, etc.
I decided there were so many birds taking advantage of our largess that they needed a guardian.
I’ve every confidence in the little guy. He even sings while watching over
the birds, although I must say his song selection tends toward the melodramatic.
The first one went something like this: “Gnomebody knows the trouble I’ve seen…”

Follow your heart?

panzies 002You 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

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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