reaching

Drive

But if anyone is a hearer and not a doer, he is like a man who looks intently at his natural face in a mirror. For he looks at himself and goes away and at once forgets what he was like. But the one who looks into the perfect law, the law of liberty, and perseveres, being no hearer who forgets but a doer who acts, he will be blessed in what he is doing.
James 1:23-25 ESV

“God provides the wind, but man must raise the sails.”
William R. Inge

Church records attest
I’m a regular attender,
an attendee, if you will,
of the regular sort.
I stand up and sit down,
and amen render
with nary a protest
or wayward retort.
But if my heart and gumption
isn’t where
God wants it to be,
it’s all show
and no go, you see.

Mediocrity isn’t anyone’s stated goal.
It’s just where we slide back to
when we stop reaching,
so it’s okay if His teaching smarts a little
and makes you decide
to stop riding and
drive.
Get an oar out and paddle.
It’s time for you to
drive.
Put your foot on the throttle.
Go ahead and
drive
and even if you make some mistakes
God honors His servants
who are willing to
get in,
ask God for direction…
and drive.

© Joel Tipple 11/29/2018

Vision

cropped-redwood.jpg

much is expected from whom much is given

but all the same

so much more

He will do

through His children

the children of the Lord

often He waits only

for the moment we dare to ask

and then step out

believing He wants

to strengthen our bodies

for the task

our minds, too

to focus

on not small things

but great

for there is victory

in climbing daunting mountains

and reaching for a higher fate

© Joel Tipple

8-10 So don’t be embarrassed to speak up for our Master or for me, his prisoner. Take your share of suffering for the Message along with the rest of us. We can only keep on going, after all, by the power of God, who first saved us and then called us to this holy work. We had nothing to do with it. It was all his idea, a gift prepared for us in Jesus long before we knew anything about it. But we know it now. Since the appearance of our Savior, nothing could be plainer: death defeated, life vindicated in a steady blaze of light, all through the work of Jesus.

11-12 This is the Message I’ve been set apart to proclaim as preacher, emissary, and teacher. It’s also the cause of all this trouble I’m in. But I have no regrets. I couldn’t be more sure of my ground—the One I’ve trusted in can take care of what he’s trusted me to do right to the end.

13-14 So keep at your work, this faith and love rooted in Christ, exactly as I set it out for you. It’s as sound as the day you first heard it from me. Guard this precious thing placed in your custody by the Holy Spirit who works in us.
2 Timothy 1 8-14 (MSG) The Message