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
11 For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.
Jeremiah 29:11
New International Version (NIV)
H)eaven knows how encouraged I am.
O)nly You Lord know every plan.
P)rosperous in all ways.
E)very day I praise Your name.
Membership has its privileges,
so the advert. said. But its so easy to forget
the grace given by the one who bled
should be foremost in our hearts,
and not just in our heads.
1) “Do not let your heart be troubled; believe in God, believe also in Me. 2) “In My Father’s house are many dwelling places; if it were not so, I would have told you; for I go to prepare a place for you. 3) “If I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and receive you to Myself, that where I am, there you may be also. John 14:1-3 (NASB)
My dad has been in an assisted living facility for some time now. When the house that he raised us in sold, it was difficult for him. After all, he and my mother had it built in 1968, and I know he figured it would be the last place he lived in. He also didn’t plan on my mother passing away before he did. Both of these circumstances were, and continue to be, hard for him to deal with. Like most of us, I guess, he doesn’t know how long he’ll live, and the idea of being alone, or not having a home to call his own, is unsettling. Uncertainty seems to be part and parcel of life on earth. So what is certain? What about our forever home? Jesus tells us to trust Him. He has prepared a place for us with Him for eternity. Though we’re given some clues, we don’t exactly know what it will be like. I am certain, though, that it will be more wonderful than our most vivid imaginings.
Absent from this earth,
together with the Lord,
Our concepts seem so small.
Stories about clouds and harps
aren’t so helpful at all.
Misconceptions about doing nothing
do exactly that much to excite.
An eternal worship service?
What of those who can’t sing?
Oh, I know, those limitations are misplaced.
Besides, are music critics redeemed?
If you’ve been in love,
and who hasn’t?
Multiply that by one thousand.
I’m guessing it’s that massive.
© Joel Tipple
(NASB) – New American Standard NEW AMERICAN STANDARD BIBLE Copyright (C) 1960, 1962, 1963, 1968, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1975, 1977,1995 by THE LOCKMAN FOUNDATION A Corporation Not for Profit LA HABRA, CA All Rights Reserved http://www.lockman.org
Many times I’ve wondered
at my lack of vision.
What would it take to wash
the scales from my eyes.
Tender words or lightning strikes,
perhaps nuclear fission,
you just can never tell heart-wise.
Just be open
Just be open
Everyone is crying for some freedom,
But with so much they don’t know what to do.
I have found there are so many wrong directions,
leading to blind alleys for me and you.
There’s a cry that’s living deep within us.
Heaven’s message sprouting deep inside,
like two magnets speeding cross the universe,
God’s coming for us and it’s useless to hide.
Just be open
There is surely more than you’ve been told
Just be open
You don’t have to sell yourself to be sold
Just be open
There’s no need any more to be afraid
Jesus knows already what your soul craves.
Just be open
Just be open
© Joel Tipple
2 And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, so that you may prove what the will of God is, that which is good and acceptable and perfect. Romans 12:2 (NASB)
On the battlefield of my mind
where the sounds and sights and smells
of this old world unwind.
Well, the battle won for God would sure be fine,
on the battlefield of my mind.
There’s no question what artillery
this soldier should employ,
cause Jesus fought Satan with
the firepower of scripture,
on the battlefield.
Let’s give the Lord the high ground
Let Him command the field
This day and the ones to follow
let us see what they may yield.
This holy war is fought on battlefields
in the hearts and minds of men
Raise the flag of our God
and sound the call
of victory.
© Joel Tipple
New American Standard Bible Copyright © 1960, 1962, 1963, 1968, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1975, 1977, 1995 by The Lockman Foundation
22 Immediately Jesus made the disciples get into the boat and go on ahead of him to the other side, while he dismissed the crowd. 23 After he had dismissed them, he went up on a mountainside by himself to pray. Later that night, he was there alone, 24 and the boat was already a considerable distance from land, buffeted by the waves because the wind was against it.
25 Shortly before dawn Jesus went out to them, walking on the lake. 26 When the disciples saw him walking on the lake, they were terrified. “It’s a ghost,” they said, and cried out in fear.
27 But Jesus immediately said to them: “Take courage! It is I. Don’t be afraid.”
28 “Lord, if it’s you,” Peter replied, “tell me to come to you on the water.”
29 “Come,” he said.
Then Peter got down out of the boat, walked on the water and came toward Jesus. 30 But when he saw the wind, he was afraid and, beginning to sink, cried out, “Lord, save me!”
31 Immediately Jesus reached out his hand and caught him. “You of little faith,” he said, “why did you doubt?”
32 And when they climbed into the boat, the wind died down. 33 Then those who were in the boat worshiped him, saying, “Truly you are the Son of God.”
Matthew 14:22-33 NIV® Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.®
In the middle of my storms Lord
I’ve called to You
and asked You to calm the weather
But Your plans for me turned out to be
something so much better.
You gave me courage and strengthened my faith
so I could ride it through,
plus You promised You would never leave
so I could walk with You.
There’s no storm that I will ever face
that will defeat me with You by my side.
With each one that blows, my faith also
grows. I can endure with You by my side.
© Joel Tipple
The recording that’s playing,
running in your mind,
that condemns at every turn,
only to rewind,
is not correction or direction
unless you count the blind alleys.
This voice makes it difficult
to rebound or to rally.
It’s not an encouraging voice
to bring you to the fold.
It’s purpose is to bludgeon,
criticize and scold.
Its name is Self-Talk,
and if this sounds like your own,
record new material, call yourself
on the phone. Read what God
says about you
apply some of that.
Let His voice redeem yours;
set your mind to this task.
© Joel Tipple
Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect. Romans 12:2
(D)reams are placed by God
deep within us…
(A)spirations born,
to be nurtured or left.
(N)one of us can say
we are bereft
of vision.
(C)alled we all are,
though buried deep
in our chest.
(E)ndings come too soon,
our lives are but a blink.
We can choose to dance in heaven,
or trip over the brink.
© Joel Tipple
“There, that’s done,” Clay breathed a sigh of relief as he and Lori left the real estate office in Bandon, Oregon after signing the lease for
the latest All Hope Ministries outreach center. “Clay,” Lori said, “there’s something you might not have considered when you picked this particular city for the next All Hope.” Clay’s brows drew together. “What’s that?” he said. The corner of her mouth lifted just a little. “Well, you know how you answer the phone in San Francisco? San Francisco, All Hope.” “Sure,” Clay said, “and in Portland we answer, Portland, All Hope. So in Bandon we would
say… Oh!” He shook his head and laughed quietly. “Okay, we’ll have to adjust that.”
© Joel Tipple
Write here, Joel. 