God

This Accidental Earth

This accidental earth,
who would have imagined?
This fortuitous birth,
No intelligence planned it?
Just think of the biological speed dating required!

This accidental earth,
no, not an accident.
Science can take us far,
but its explanation
falls short of the spark.

This purposed earth,
this oasis of birth,
God’s creation, served.
As caretakers, we’ve been found wanting.

Outcasts from the garden,
from judgement, by grace pardoned,
as His children we are never alone.
Respect our planet,
our earthly world as God planned it,
until we move on to our heavenly home.

© Joel Tipple
#3/14

 

 

 

Don’t Keep the Faith

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It’s so tempting to keep your salvation to yourself,
protecting it, like a beautiful bird in a pretty cage.
But God’s love really flies out in the real world.
You need to let it show; don’t keep the faith.

Don’t keep the faith, don’t keep it, all locked up inside you.
Don’t keep the faith, growing cold, away from the sun in the sky.
Don’t keep the faith. That anthem always had it wrong, I believe.
Because a glass of water held under lock and key…
will still go dry.

Now the Holy Spirit is a gentleman. He doesn’t go knocking down doors.
He goes where He’s invited and empowers the children of God.
Those born again, are given a part in the great commission
and that doesn’t involve keeping Him on a shelf like a set of laws.

Don’t keep the faith, children, don’t keep it, all locked up inside you.
Don’t keep the faith, growing cold, away from the sun in the sky.
Don’t keep the faith. That anthem always had it wrong, I believe.
Because a glass of water held under lock and key…
will still go dry.

Release it. Sonshine. Release it. Now is the time.
Release it. Sonshine. Release it…
Don’t keep the faith.

© Joel Tipple
373

Childlike Haiku

Then he said, “I tell you the truth, unless you turn from your sins and become like little children, you will never get into the Kingdom of Heaven.
Matthew 18:3 NIV

“Behold, I send you out as sheep in the midst of wolves; so be shrewd as serpents and innocent as doves.
Matthew 10:16

Worldly speech falls short
Faith finds truth
Children speak honestly

© Joel Tipple
367

If you work at it…

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If you work at it hard enough
you can find seven things wrong with you
at the expense of the one thing that’s right.

If you commit thoroughly to the cause
you’ll ignore that encouraging word
and instead find a way to start a fight.

If you just devote yourself
you can undermine the faith
someone dear helped you find.

With focused effort you can avoid
seeing the strengths God gave you
because it’s easier to remain blind.

You can put in the work to be amazing
or you can work just as hard to be not.
God uses those you might least expect
when they say yes to what they’ve got.

© Joel Tipple
354

Our Thanks

Our thanks to God
is simply our part
in the chain of gratitude
that binds our hearts.

This is not a chain that weighs
as a burden would;
It’s a chain of arms and hands
transforming shoulds
to: I do, I am, I give.

Thanks transform.
Thanks cause us to thrive.
Thanks teach us to live,
not merely be alive.

Thanks don’t talk.
Thanks proclaim.
Thanks give credit
and don’t bother with blame.
Lord, please catch us giving thanks
at the beginning
and the ending
of our days.

© Joel Tipple
342

For Tears

You have taken account of my wanderings;
Put my tears in Your
bottle.
Are they not in Your
book?
Psalm 56:8 NASB

The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit;
A broken and a contrite
heart, O God, You will
not despise.
Psalm 51:17 NASB

If at the end of my life
my tears are weighed
and found wanting,
let me stay a little longer.
My life does not belong to me,
but please, until then,
let me stay.

If I said no
one too many times,
Let me stay a little longer
and say yes.

If I take credit
for a gift from You Lord,
let me give You the glory, Father.
Let me stay.

If I grow too comfortable,
and decide it’s what I deserve,
remind me of the value
You place in brokenness.
Until then, let me stay.

Lord, you taught me to smile
and You’ve given me
so many laughing days,
but if You call me to be here overtime,
let it be for tears I stayed.

© Joel Tipple
333

I Trust in Your Lovingkindness

But as for me, I am like a
green olive tree in the
house of God;
I trust in the
lovingkindness of God
forever and ever.
Psalm 52:8 NASB

I will trust in Your lovingkindness,
come to me Lord,
without delay
your mercy without measure
poured out over me.
Tip over this vessel
to empty
anything not of You.
Anything tainted
with the things of this world.
Fill my mind with You
so there is no room left over.
Fill me Father,
with you.

© Joel Tipple
325

Understanding

1 Good friend, take to heart what I’m telling you; collect my counsels and guard them with your life. 2 Tune your ears to the world of Wisdom; set your heart on a life of Understanding
Proverbs 2:1-2 The Message

God’s earth that we sail upon,
with its finely tuned wisdom.
A machine of infinite complexity,
built by the master architect.
Our planet hurtles through space
and our concept of time.
Our devotion to you, God
is not dampened by examination.
Far be it! Those who would devote
their energy to sincerely seek you
are richly rewarded.

© Joel Tipple
320

To the Encouragers

To the encouragers, we celebrate you,
with your words
you change lives.
Salt of the earth, God’s messengers,
Discerning talents with your light.

How many of us would not try,
or try a little and then stop.
Spirits faint, not willing to step out,
for fear of falling.

Cajoling, gently nudging,
You’re the ones who say we can swim.
Somehow we’re able to borrow your courage
and begin
and begin again.

Whatever our best is, you see it before we do,
encouragers, heroes behind the scenes.
You don’t always get the credit,
but we know how much your love in action means.

If you get what you deserve,
you’ll be encouraged too.
Thank you, encouragers.
Thank you.

© Joel Tipple
311

Vessel to Serve

Why did you call
me,
this nondescript vessel?
I’m every-day-ware, with a few chips from use.
How do I dare take a place on your table?
And yet you say I’m beautiful. And you use me.

It’s the same mistake we make every time,
trying to discover our purpose
our way.
But the vessel cannot dictate to the potter.
It doesn’t have the final say.

Let your love pour forth from this vessel.
Help me get out of the way, and let Your Spirit work.
I know this God, You didn’t make your vessel
to store.
You made it to serve.

Here at your table, your everyday vessels,
redeemed and rescued from sin.
We humbly offer ourselves Lord.
however you care to use us,
pray begin, Lord.
Begin.

Let your love pour forth from this vessel.
Help me get out of the way, and let Your Spirit work.
I know this God, You didn’t make your vessel
to store.
You made it to serve.

© Joel Tipple
310