Do I think myself opaque, Lord?
Not transparent, though I surely am.
Hesitant, do I seek to hold back
some part of me from your plan?
Help me surrender every aspect,
reveal you in me as I do.
Mold me, oh great Maker.
Perfect me for Your use.
© Joel Tipple
Speak into my life hope.
The horizon appears bleak sometimes
and I’m looking for a length of rope.
Speak into my life light.
At times it seems so dark and I can’t see well to fight.
Speak into my life strength.
I’ve tried too long to make it on my own
and feel I’m about to break.
Speak into my life faith.
I started with what seemed enough.
Now my belief feels second rate.
Speak into my life and pray.
We both need God to fight for us
and help us win the day.
For where two or three are gathered in my name, there am I among them.”
Matthew 18:20 English Standard Version (ESV)
© Joel Tipple
5 1-5 “For instance, we know that when these bodies of ours are taken down like tents and folded away, they will be replaced by resurrection bodies in heaven—God-made, not handmade—and we’ll never have to relocate our “tents” again. Sometimes we can hardly wait to move—and so we cry out in frustration. Compared to what’s coming, living conditions around here seem like a stopover in an unfurnished shack, and we’re tired of it! We’ve been given a glimpse of the real thing, our true home, our resurrection bodies! The Spirit of God whets our appetite by giving us a taste of what’s ahead. He puts a little of heaven in our hearts so that we’ll never settle for less.”
The Message (MSG)
Heaven in our hearts,
a bit of beautiful against a background of despair.
So much is haywire in the world
and it does battle with the question we all carry to the cradle
and forward…
is it fair?
This notion of justice we apply with no schooling,
maybe before we ever speak at all,
have you noticed?
Somehow we know.
In our anguish,
we seemingly hire God
and fire Him
at will.
Evil speaks itself into our world
and our notion of justice
becomes one of proximity.
But,
God is still God,
whether an innocent child
dies
in Belfast,
Kampala,
or
Des Moines.
Now, that isn’t the typical
winning marketing formula
espoused by Madison Avenue.
“Thank you very much, Mr. Tipple. Ah, we have your number. No, no. We’ll call you.”
But,
At the same time,
a child is born
in Belfast,
Kampala,
and Des Moines
For those who have passed
and
for those who live,
“Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever.”
English Standard Version (ESV)
© Joel Tipple
I opened the door one day,
to the room
where I had decided to keep God.
It was a nice room
I thought,
decorated lavishly
but tastefully.
To my dismay,
revealed
where I believed
I had left God
was
instead,
my ego.
It was then
that I realized my mistake.
I had built a special room
for God,
while allowing my ego
full roam
through the house
of my life.
In that moment
of clarity
I realized I had managed
to get it all
quite backward.
© Joel Tipple
23 But Jesus didn’t swerve. “Peter, get out of my way. Satan, get lost. You have no idea how God works.”
24-26 Then Jesus went to work on his disciples. “Anyone who intends to come with me has to let me lead. You’re not in the driver’s seat; I am. Don’t run from suffering; embrace it. Follow me and I’ll show you how. Self-help is no help at all. Self-sacrifice is the way, my way, to finding yourself, your true self. What kind of deal is it to get everything you want but lose yourself? What could you ever trade your soul for?
Matthew 16:23-26
The Message (MSG)
much is expected from whom much is given
but all the same
so much more
He will do
through His children
the children of the Lord
often He waits only
for the moment we dare to ask
and then step out
believing He wants
to strengthen our bodies
for the task
our minds, too
to focus
on not small things
but great
for there is victory
in climbing daunting mountains
and reaching for a higher fate
© Joel Tipple
8-10 So don’t be embarrassed to speak up for our Master or for me, his prisoner. Take your share of suffering for the Message along with the rest of us. We can only keep on going, after all, by the power of God, who first saved us and then called us to this holy work. We had nothing to do with it. It was all his idea, a gift prepared for us in Jesus long before we knew anything about it. But we know it now. Since the appearance of our Savior, nothing could be plainer: death defeated, life vindicated in a steady blaze of light, all through the work of Jesus.
11-12 This is the Message I’ve been set apart to proclaim as preacher, emissary, and teacher. It’s also the cause of all this trouble I’m in. But I have no regrets. I couldn’t be more sure of my ground—the One I’ve trusted in can take care of what he’s trusted me to do right to the end.
13-14 So keep at your work, this faith and love rooted in Christ, exactly as I set it out for you. It’s as sound as the day you first heard it from me. Guard this precious thing placed in your custody by the Holy Spirit who works in us.
2 Timothy 1 8-14 (MSG) The Message
sometimes when i take the time to be quiet
i feel as though i could float all day
stopping by each of the world’s beaches
to steal a few moments of play
at some point for far too many
growing up and old means we stop
enjoying those breaks
in between oceans of work
and perfecting our frown all day
people notice
in case you hadn’t
whether you don’t smile
or if you do
so pay attention
find a way
to make life fun
even if
fun is new to you
© Joel Tipple
i’ve got memories that live
outside my little mind
and when I’m old and feeble
the good ones will refuse to die
they’ll just go on blooming
like an old homestead’s roses would
and passers by will wonder
just how on earth they could
but when the soil’s reclaimed all else
their beauty in season will show
that’s how my memories of you will linger
as the petals come and go
© Joel Tipple
we’re sail-a-brating
our
anniversary
using that
system
of counting daze
oceans of memories between us
how can we count
the waves?
that have washed through
our story
written in the sand
beach ya we can
make more
walking hand in hand
endless ditties
won’t express my
true emotions
words won’t
so I’ll stop versing now love
to see you
and hold this moment
I am unworthy,
but I have the keys to the kingdom on my key ring.
It would be sad if I grew old
and forgot what they were for.
I am unworthy,
He must increase and I must decrease.
What’s that sound?
He’s at the door.
I am unworthy.
Washed in the blood.
Seeking revelation of my sin.
It is true, if in my flesh I have lost,
in the atonement of grace, I have won.
Most days when I wake up
and begin the routine,
bleary eyes taking in
a familiar scene,
I start the ball rolling
just the way I should
but life isn’t as smooth
as I think it
could
be.
A lot of days are bigger than me,
I admit.
Okay, most,
okay, all.
I need a little of me,
but much more of Him,
because Jesus is there to catch me
when I fall.
Did you ever wake up feeling like
the loser of a bet?
It’s only the beginning of the day
but you feel like a horse
put away wet.
I’ve never been much
for the sound of retired.
When I’m done being tired,
I’ll have had enough of that.
I need energy to live
through this world to beyond
where I’ll get to sing the rest of the song
and know
all of its meaning.
But that doesn’t come without dropping
the idea my strength is enough.
I’m good with knowing
on You
Lord,
I’ll be leaning.
Write here, Joel. 