Beware the tines of your march
when you come to a fork in the road.
postaday
This is a Recording
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
Home Sweet Home
Completely Entirely Exactly
Complete: 1. Having all necessary or normal parts, components, or steps; entire: a complete meal.
Entire: 1. Having no part excluded or left out; whole: I read the entire book.
Exact: 1. Strictly and completely in accord with fact; not deviating from truth or reality: an exact account; an exact replica; your exact words.
When your standard is
to be complete
that’s all the stuff
on the blueprint sheet
well, to be most plain
and to get to the meat
most simply put, complete
is all and all is complete.
Then the other day I received a wire
and if you must know the subject was
the lyre. It’s music is melodious,
its aficionados stuforious
I’m stuck in this story and I’m not
often a crier, but I must hear it all
and by that I mean entire.
Now I know what you’re thinking
I’ll try to say with tact
this is not what I did before in Vegas
it’s not an ex act. You just can’t have any
errors and by that I mean exact.
Here on Earth
Dreaming of heavenly things
my mind is blown by what God brings
and then I spy that bathtub ring
Just what am I supposed to do
when it’s clear that I have so much more to view
You came down to earth to show there is life
beyond what we see with our two eyes
You gave up your life so we could live
so why can’t we see past all of this
here on earth
Morning devotion with the King
some days God my mind is filled with other things
like wash the dishes pay the bills fight the yard
instead of being thankful
I complain that it’s so hard
You came down to earth to show there is life
beyond what we see with our two eyes
You gave up your life so we could live
so why can’t we see past all of this
here on earth
Just what is it that we deserve?
dear God how can we even say that word?
All I ask is water to wash my eyes
so that I can see what I
should
be
grateful
for…
You came down to earth to show there is life
beyond what we see with our two eyes
You gave up your life so we could live
so why can’t we see past all of this
here on earth
here on earth
here on earth
light
Light brakes
hard
striking the earth at its speed
revealing a million surfaces
clothed in a revelation
too bright
this glittering sight
inside I carefully replace the blind
but some light leaks in
where the corner bends
and the room’s transformed
from the night
then brighter bright
multi-hued
faceted light
moves quickly left and right
day begins
where night has been
the sun’s great sight
moves dark aside
till memory is light
and recedes to night
to hold warm tight
under covers till light
comes again
© Joel Tipple
(Originally published 8:03 7-18-13 Edited 15:08)
Your Tears
Your tears weren’t meant to fall that way
sideways to the sheet
I much prefer the way they trace
lines of joy upon your face
round where those groups of freckles meet
Your tears weren’t meant to fall that way
frightened in alarm
I’d really rather see them well
to see a child saved from harm
Your tears weren’t meant to fall that way
trying to bear the pain
I think I’d like to see them mix
with a refreshing summer rain
Your tears weren’t meant to fall that way
so if a mere man has any say
if God wills no more days of sadness play
please tears of joy fill her days
and make the rest of those tears fall that way
© Joel Tipple
Dance
(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
To Read
As a child
it amazed me
that people
could write things
almost as incredible
as the stuff in my mind.
Do you mean
you can write those things down,
and people will read them,
adding their own sounds?
It’s hard to find words
to describe
how much words
mean to me.
It’s like living in a city
that grows
new streets every day.
I hope growing up
doesn’t mean
I stop loving
the words in the books…
the stories in the books…
the adventures in those books…
that I read today.
© Joel Tipple
To Be Home
To be home
after the road
a bridge away
a bridge to roam
to travel is adventure
but when traveling is over
it’s bliss to be where
the bed and rooms are my own.
Write here, Joel. 
