poetry

All Right

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Some days
I dunk my head in a cup of coffee.
It doesn’t have to be any way but hot.
By the time
I’ve sipped it down I’m feeling more ready
for whatever wonky things this day brings.

The clatter of leaves blowing in like fall
brings news of changing weather. Change is coming.
But it didn’t ask me, didn’t ask me, didn’t ask me.
But it’s all right.

It’s all right and I’ll just roll right into heaven.
No reason to stop just cause this life ain’t cake.
It’s all right all day and into evenin’.
It’s all what God gives you and it’s surely what you make.
It’s all right.

© Joel Tipple

Eloquent

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i’m not
all
ways
so eloquent
words
all run for the door
to be met
by the
gate
keeper
who checks to see
if they’ve been said before

and yet
i watch as the words
tumble forth
forgetting
their
place
in line
what i hoped
would be
rhapsody
turns out
not so
sublime

good soldiers
words
train some more
letters
lift
and run
cycle then
until the wheels
go and
spin up
the sun

© Joel Tipple

sure

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sure as the clouds
play hide and seek with the sun
come a time
the things we’ve done
will be revealed

of our own volition
or without
because of our condition
come a time
we’ll need
to be healed

we can’t get all we need
from those we love
right relationship you see
starts from above

where you are
is where you’re placed
your obedience first
when you seek His face
will nourish you
and those you touch
with the living waters

© Joel Tipple

Matthew 6:33-34
The Message (MSG)
30-33 “If God gives such attention to the appearance of wildflowers—most of which are never even seen—don’t you think he’ll attend to you, take pride in you, do his best for you? What I’m trying to do here is to get you to relax, to not be so preoccupied with getting, so you can respond to God’s giving. People who don’t know God and the way he works fuss over these things, but you know both God and how he works. Steep your life in God-reality, God-initiative, God-provisions. Don’t worry about missing out. You’ll find all your everyday human concerns will be met.

34 “Give your entire attention to what God is doing right now, and don’t get worked up about what may or may not happen tomorrow. God will help you deal with whatever hard things come up when the time comes.

clouds

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Clouds haven’t time to stop at all,
even if you’re enamored with their pattern.
You’re lucky if you have a camera nearby,
for your wish that they halt doesn’t matter.

Where must they go to be in such a hurry?
As rabbits and horses and other cloud
forms whisk away, it could cause one to worry.

Whole worlds of animals plants and mechanization
become other stories, while the one that impressed
us before develops its own culture and mores.

So the future is cloudy, that much I think is certain.
But that’s not a bad thing at all, nor is it a burden.

I’ll just keep watch until the next
form comes along. Maybe soon they’ll form up a band
and the wind will whip up a song.

© Joel Tipple

Unworthy

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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

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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.

Life is like Pizza

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Oven-tually
you have to come out
from where it’s
toasty
and warm,
and life’s
mishaps
can break you and leave you a mess,
just like after a storm.
But whether you’re
upper, middle, or even lower
crust,
no matter how life has tossed you,
pick yourself up you must.

© Joel Tipple

Do Write

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Writing out your thoughts
can make them stand up;
letters possessed of value
or ideas that need to be mucked.
Sometimes those notions
flitting through your nogin late at night,
are best allowed to continue their flit,
traveling where they might.
Just let em go land on
some other hapless scribe
recording for posterity what another writer might.

There are innumerable combinations
of letters and symbols
for humanity’s communications,
so there may never be an end.
But fashion forward or fashion not
from writers’ minds they’ll continue to rend.

© Joel Tipple

Image

White Flowers

Bring me white flowers,
alive and brimming with light.
Set them before my door,
just at railing’s height.
Let them glow in the evening,
and be first up at dawn,
sustenance to my sight,
or nourishment for a fawn.

© Joel Tipple

Adopted

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3 Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places in Christ,
4 just as He chose us in Him before the foundation of the world, that we would be holy and blameless before Him. In love 5 He predestined us to adoption as sons through Jesus Christ to Himself, according to the kind intention of His will. Ephesians 1:3-5 (NASB)

If you knew me
before the world’s foundation was laid
knew my foibles and faults
all the mistakes I’ve made
chose to adopt me
and call me your own
only waiting for my decision
to set my life toward that home
If you still called me
knowing all that you did
even when I foolishly
tried to hide my sin
If you knew that even after
I asked forgiveness and joined this life
that sometimes I’d stumble and create
unnecessary strife
If you knew all that
and still gave me your name
the least I can do
is every dawn
say thank you
and start again.
© 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