Sanctuary, Lord, I find, for my heart and for my mind.
Thanks be to you, God, for my salvation.
I rejoice, for when I was lost, you found me.
Lasting peace, of inestimable value, I now possess.
Light, you’ve made all my earthly burdens,
that can’t measure with the treasure of you.
© Joel Tipple 9/5/2020
Though a heavy blanket of darkness
threatens to overwhelm me
I search through its suffocating fabric
for a spot of light
and tear it open.
Someone needs Jesus.
When I’m bound up in my troubles
and can’t seem to get out
of my own head,
when my biggest issue is my list of issues,
I set them aside.
Someone needs Jesus.
When any effort I make
seems to be just a drop
in the ocean of the world of troubles,
I take up an oar anyway
and row with the strength I do have.
Someone needs Jesus.
Walking down a crowded street
people part around me
like water swirling round a stone.
How many are really drowning
while pretending they can breathe?
How many?
God could use me
to lift them out of the water
and point the way home.
Will I reach out?
Lord, give me the courage to reach out.
Women who feel weak and used,
men convinced they’re not enough,
children forced to grow before they’re ready
need real help and compassion
fueled by Jesus.
For those cast aside by those who should have cared,
for the people even advertising ignores,
let them know they are precious
in the sight of Jesus.
Lord, please keep in the front of my mind
names of those I know
who don’t know you.
Help me take down barriers
while it is day
and there is time.
God of wonders,
author of the world,
each soul is precious to you.
Give me a heart with a burden
to share and proclaim your good news.
This is my prayer,
Amen.
©Joel Tipple
33 At noon, darkness came over the whole land until three in the afternoon. 34 And at three in the afternoon Jesus cried out in a loud voice, “Eloi, Eloi, lema sabachthani?” (which means “My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?”).
Mark 15:33-34 NIV
Easter. We celebrate on this day the victory over darkness Jesus secured for us. This free gift of eternal life was dearly bought. Consider for a moment the darkest day you’ve ever experienced. The loneliest. Has there ever been a time when the entire weight of the world seemed pressed down upon you? Multiply that. Jesus Christ, the Son of God, lived life as a human, preached the kingdom of God, and performed many miracles, including raising the dead. This God/man was then unjustly convicted and sentenced to a brutal public execution. It began at about nine in the morning. At noon, as the Bible records, the land went dark for three hours. Think about how frightening this must have been for those who experience it! The longest solar eclipse is a matter of minutes. It must have seemed like the world was coming to an end. However, instead of a bitter end, Jesus’ death heralded a wonderful new beginning for all of mankind because Jesus rose from the dead, thereby defeating death forever. If we believe in Jesus and the sacrifice he made for us, if we then turn from our way and accept His. We can have the gift of eternal life He paid for with His blood. Jesus Christ experienced terrible darkness so we can live in eternal light.
When night fell
in the middle of the day
Jesus, you paid the price
so I didn’t have to pay.
You went to the dark for me.
On earth, in heaven, our king.
There, between two thieves,
you gave compassion
while demanding none for yourself.
You went to the dark for me.
To the dark for me,
to the dark for me,
through the scourge, the nails, the taunts and the mockery.
To the dark for me,
to the dark for me,
though in agony, Jesus, you went to the dark for me.
Now I have dreams
because you faced the nightmare,
and there is nothing I can give you
except surrender.
Sweet mystery,
sweet mystery,
that my pardon was purchased before I could search it,
sweet mystery.
The greatest story…
I’ll tell your story,
that you sacrificed your life for all mankind.
Though I do great deeds,
I could never repay.
Though thousands revere me and honor my name,
I could never earn the gift you gave away…
when you defeated the grave.
To the dark for me,
you went to the dark for me,
when Jesus, a curtain fell across the sun.
Lamb of God, given and risen, glorious one.
We’re freed from sin, so now and forever, your love has won…
because you went to the dark for me,
you went to the dark for me,
He went to the dark… for you.
©Joel Tipple
#1/17
Therefore encourage one another and build one another up, just as you are doing.
1 Thessalonians 5:11 ESV
And let us consider how to stir up one another to love and good works, not neglecting to meet together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another, and all the more as you see the Day drawing near.
Hebrews 10:24-25 ESV
What comes to mind when you hear the words “encourage” and “discourage?” Merriam-Webster says of encourage, 1 a : to inspire with courage, spirit, or hope : HEARTEN // she was encouraged to continue by her early success. Of discourage, 1 a : to deprive of courage or confidence DISHEARTEN // was discouraged by repeated failure
While for all practical purposes we can agree there are right times to encourage and discourage, I argue there is a real lack of encouragement in our world generally, sometimes even coming from the people who should be the most encouraging of all, followers of Jesus. After all, who has better cause to encourage? Among our promises from God are direction, help, and comfort in this world and salvation in the next. You won’t find an encouraging package like that anywhere else; it’s a Jesus Christ exclusive.
So what is that root word, courage? Using the dictionary again, we find it defined as : mental or moral strength to venture, persevere, and withstand danger, fear, or difficulty. Everyone needs courage of some kind. For one it could be the courage to rescue someone from a rooftop in a storm. For another it might be stepping into an elevator. For you it might be telling someone the source of your hope. There are all kinds of courage. The best source of Godly courage will always be Jesus.
It has always been a strategy of the enemy to convince us that as we are at this moment is not enough, that the situation we are in or task at hand is greater than us and the God who has prepared us to this point. But God has not given us a spirit of fear, and the next step he wants you to take has already been prepared beforehand. With God there are no surprises and there is never a lack of resource. So take courage! And by all means, give it too.
When desperate and faltering
I found myself
by what I considered my lack
I searched the best source of courage
to make sure my feet on the path
I found my guide and strength in Jesus
who prepared the way before
He became my light and compass
so I needn’t fear anymore
Christ gave me courage to carry
but it wasn’t just for me
it was a lamp to show the way
so more captives could be freed
©Joel Tipple 9/14/2019
Even the darkness is not dark to You.
And the night is as bright as the day.
Darkness and light are alike to You.
Psalm 139:12
“Not everything that is faced can be changed,
but nothing can be changed until it is faced.”
James Baldwin
Sing to the Lord the new song He gave.
Sing to the Lord, and be amazed.
Oh ohh, never let go.
Sing to the Lord when the battle seems lost.
Sing to the Lord when the cost seems too high,
and you want to cut and run.
It’s easy to give up on supernatural.
It’s easy to abandon what isn’t naturally known,
even when the known is getting you nowhere.
We cling to familiar like a broken-down car,
sit in the seat though we can’t get far.
allowing our lives to be run by fear and regret.
Since you are with me wherever I go,
since you know my every thought,
I might as well get to know you.
I can’t run so fast as to get away.
I can’t stop the sunrise by holding down the curtain.
Of all these things I’m certain.
You formed me, designed me,
made me unique for a purpose.
When I was still an unformed substance,
you saw me, you knew me,
you knew where my piece fit in the puzzle.
Lord, help me find my way in the puzzle.
© Joel Tipple 11/23/2018
My friend, like a lot of people
you are searching
and searching’s not a bad place to be
to the light
point me to the light
but neon signs of false gods
masquerade as reality
their garish promises mislead
and leave you empty
to the light
point me to the light
truth strikes a chord when you find it
just like God designed it
you thought your heart was locked securely
but Jesus has the key
wake up and breathe
wake up and breathe
you were made to be one with the Father
where he leads, you can learn to follow
wake up and breathe
wake up and breathe
trade in those superficial dreams you thought were so fantastic
back before you had eyes to see
throw away your calendar
full of yesterdays
wake up and breathe
instead of marching in place
move
instead of waiting for someone
move
instead of trying in vain to reinvent yourself
let Jesus reveal who you were always meant to be
wake up and breathe
wake up and breathe
you were made to be one with the Father
where he leads, you can learn to follow
wake up and breathe
wake up and breathe
This is the most important decision you will ever make.
Are you ready?
Okay…
now breathe.
© Joel Tipple
#23/14
If you’re looking for a mission,
here’s a good direction to roam.
You can start by letting folks know
they are not alone.
You see lots of people are good at
looking like they’re alright,
when really they are lonely
and maybe scared inside.
You’d be surprised, but it takes so little
to make a difference in someone’s day,
and God can use that opening
to shine His Son that way.
Just remember if you show the light,
people will use it to see,
so make sure what you put out there
is worthy.
© Joel Tipple
372
Shadow, are you opposed to light?
Do you think your poor image is
associated
with your negative disposition?
© Joel Tipple
on reflection
the light I have
is too difficult to carry
in my arms
all on my own
I have to share
with another known
to me
and since it grows
if it’s nurtured
by one
that one will soon
have to share it too
and so it goes
Write here, Joel. 