Sew,
not everything is what it
seams.
If you think something’s
too hard,
you may just be taking it
for granite.
© Joel Tipple
postaday
Safe Seasons
Winter is chill
and you can catch your death
of cold.
Spring can bounce you in directions
too bold.
Summer’s so hot, it isn’t funny
at all.
But mess with Autumn, and you’re in
for a Fall.
“Come to Me…”
28 “Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. 29 Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. 30 For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.” Matthew 11:28-30
The rest we obtained through you,
salvation, your life for ours and to
be redeemed, take on a yoke that’s new
and feels
like it belongs.
And we belong
to You.
Weather or Hot
In our moderate to the extreme climate
a day such as today
with its temp. in the mid-70s
causes us to plumb wilt away.
Those experiencing degrees such as 117
would stand aghast and wonder how this could be.
82? Oh, the horror! How do you carry on?
But we’ll just start up a new chain gang song
about humidity
and weep like Job on a not so merry day.
“Honey! Come look!!”
“What is it? Are you alright?”
“My forehead is wet! Should I take something for it?”
“Here, have a seat and a glass of iced tea. I think it
may be sweat, but to be safe I’ll Google it.
Better yet, I’ll check Web MD.”
Persistence, Realization, and Horse Sense
I’ve
come
to the realization
through hard work
and persistence
that there is nothing
altogether common
about what is generally known
as horse sense.
Whether the topic
is children
or far east policy
or angels
or indeed, horses
nothing short of enthusiastic
application of curiosity and desire
will spell the difference
in success or failure
of the courses.
Garden Gnome
We recently installed several bird feeders in the dogwood tree in our front yard.
They’ve proven pretty popular with the local finches, sparrows, blackbirds, doves, etc.
I decided there were so many birds taking advantage of our largess that they needed a guardian.
I’ve every confidence in the little guy. He even sings while watching over
the birds, although I must say his song selection tends toward the melodramatic.
The first one went something like this: “Gnomebody knows the trouble I’ve seen…”
Follow your heart?
You have heard,
“Just be happy and follow your heart.”
and it was doubtless
said with good intention.
A thousand self-help books
more or less
make that mention.
But our hearts must be surrendered daily
if we hope to be happy
and free,
and the choice
to follow Jesus
is the wisest of
elections.
And without faith it is impossible to please him, for whoever would draw near to God must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who seek him. Hebrews 11:6
that grain of sand
beginning as a mountain
big as half the world
broken down by lightning
while peals of thunder unfurled
fell into the sea
to stand in the way of ships
the north sea threw itself at me
till I went to smaller bits
the world heaved back
then it shuddered forth
I rolled into a river
felt the rage from its source
with my back to that river
and my face to the sea
here I am that grain of sand
as small as can be
from the good Lord’s earth beginning
until the scroll is read
I’m seen it all behind me
and I see it all ahead
© Joel Clayton Tipple
“Peace I leave with you…”
“Peace I leave with you; My peace I give to you;
not as the world gives do I give to you. Do not
let your heart be troubled, nor let it be fearful.”
John 14:27
Not as the world gives,
short-lived.
Not as the world gives,
ephemeral.
Not as the world gives,
fleeting & unsure.
A vision floating on the desert horizon,
cruel and deadly.
Instead Lord, your peace is the gift you left with us
and that which we share.
It’s a cup that cannot be emptied,
but instead grows if we give it away.
Peace everlasting,
our inheritance by virtue of adoption.
Spider, Please Step Forward
You put your right foot in, and the other one, and the other one, and the other one,
and the other one, and the other one, and the other one, and the other one.
You put your right foot out, and the other one, and the other one, and the other one,
and the other one, and the other one, and the other one, and the other one.
You do the hokey pokey and you weave another web,
that’s what it’s all about.
Will the following spider please step forward.
You weave your webs
to little fanfare
blinged out with dew
in the chill morning air
but they’re the ones I see,
for invisible in space,
are the ones I walk smack into
strung all across my face.
Write here, Joel. 
