song

Why, Poet?

Why, Poet?
Are these your Psalms?
Like David, have you felt
you don’t belong?

Have you felt your words
float into the ether
without a corresponding hail?
Have you expressed desperation
when especially assailed?

Chin up, poet!
For like the bards of old
God won’t leave you
because you’re bold.

Continue to sing,
without notes, just words.
Continue to speak,
though you feel absurd.
Continue to shine,
even when it rains.
Continue to share,
’cause we all feel pain.

© Joel Tipple 11/17/2018

Missing Heartbeats

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One fifteen thousand times a day,
your heart was born to beat that way.
Jesus died for you and he rose again,
abundant life is now yours and freedom from sin.
The joy that you’ll feel will make your heart skip some beats,
now you’re free from that Adam disease.

If it seems I’m missing just a few of my heartbeats,
if counting them I come up shy every time,
it’s cause Lord, you fill me up with love and new meaning. I’m your design.
Your perfect love covers all my imperfections
and all I’ve gotta do is to surrender me.
You make my heart so full God that it skips some beats, see,
but they were never mine.
No they were never mine.

Joyfully my heart beats. Joyfully my heart beats.
Joyfully my heart beats. Joyfully my heart beats.
Joyfully my heart beats. Joyfully my heart beats.
Joyfully my heart beats. Joyfully my heart beats.

Life everlasting
Love never failing
Push away from the shore
Now you’re sailing!

God gives a new heart when you turn from sin,
when you turn to him.
You’ll put away your childish ways and become a beacon of light.
Help those you meet in the world gain new sight.

“Now we see but a poor reflection as in a mirror;
then we shall see face to face. Now I know in part; then I shall know fully,
even as I am fully known.”

If it seems I’m missing just a few of my heartbeats,
if counting them I come up shy every time,
it’s cause Lord, you fill me up with love and new meaning. I’m your design.
Your perfect love covers all my imperfections
and all I’ve gotta do is to surrender me.
You make my heart so full God that it skips some beats, see,
but they were never mine.
No they were never mine.

They were never mine.
And you take my breath away.
They were never mine.
You take my breath away.
They were never mine.

© Joel Tipple
#25/14

Living the Dream

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Surely your goodness and unfailing love will pursue me
all the days of my life,
and I will live in the house of the Lord forever.
Psalm 23:6 NLT

Living the Dream

I’m living the dream, but it’s not because I’m a dreamer.
I’m living in anticipation of my home.
You see when I read about God’s promises,
I took that dream on for my own.

Surely your goodness,
Surely your goodness, Lord
Surely your goodness and unfailing love
will pursue me.

Surely your goodness,
Surely your goodness, Lord
Surely your goodness and unfailing love
will pursue me
all the days of my life.

There’s nothing I would ever hold on to,
nothing that could ever tie me down.
Nothing would ever hold me to this world
when it’s time for you to call me home.
Sweet Lord, when it’s time to go.

Surely your goodness,
Surely your goodness, Lord
Surely your goodness and unfailing love
will pursue me.

Surely your goodness,
Surely your goodness, Lord
Surely your goodness and unfailing love
will pursue me
all the days of my life.

Sweet sweet Jesus, that place beyond the horizon
Sweet sweet Jesus, your everlasting arms
Sweet Jesus, you know that’s where I’m bound.

Surely your goodness,
Surely your goodness, Lord
Surely your goodness and unfailing love
will pursue me
all the days of my life.

I’m living the dream, but it’s not because I’m a dreamer.
I’m living in anticipation of my home.
You see when I read about God’s promises,
I took that dream on for my own.

© Joel Tipple
370

Here on Earth

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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

Destiny Please Part 1

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Destiny please,
what you see, is just the beginning.
Now that I can see
the purpose in the pain
and I’m not foolin’ around anymore.

Destiny please,
The seed that God planted
and nurtured with the sun and the rain
is bursting forth and spreading its wings.
Soaring to
where the air is thin
and it’s terribly hard to breathe.

Little do you know,
but great you should expect
from the One
Who invented miracles.

What I Say

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Don’t just say you see
what I do
what I say what I say
don’t just do
what you can prove
say what I say what I say
all the day all the day
what I say what I say
stop

jump in jump in spin
jump in jump in spin
do a quick revolution
jump out

ever since the day
we got married
been a holy ride
love done never ended
holy ride holy ride
on

jump in spin jump in spin
jump in spin jump in spin
do a quick revolution
jump out

Lori sweet Lori
train gets a goin’ cross country
dreams of rails and coattails
we got goin’ with a mist of steam
dreams of rails and coattails
ain’t never lost what it mean

jump in spin jump in spin
jump in spin jump in spin
do a quick revolution
back on

dance to the Lord’s revival
dance to our sweet Lord’s tune
dance to Jesus’ music
sweet sounds in your room

jump in spin jump in spin
jump in spin for it do you in
Lord lead a quiet revolution
with your strong constitution
say when

Thank You

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Just before or after last Christmas I decided to be more consistent with my writing by resurrecting a WordPress blog that had been dormant for quite some time. I had recently received a lot of encouragement and it gave me the incentive to write more poetry. While putting together the new blog I noticed a challenge put out by WordPress to post every day for 2013. I decided to give it a try and let everyone who read my blog know by putting the badge on my cover page. Today will be my 137th post. Accounting for a few days that I’ve posted more than once, that means I’ve posted over 130 days in a row. I’m looking forward to doing the whole 365.

There have been a lot of great things to come out of writing and publishing every day. For one, it has forced me to investigate different kinds of writing. I’ve explored poetry, song writing, devotionals, and humor. Along the way, I’ve gotten to know fellow bloggers who also believe strongly in writing, especially writing that moves them. I’ve had days when I thought I had written something relevant, only to get little in the way of results. But then I’ve had other days when I wasn’t all that thrilled with what I had put out, only to get lots of positive comments. It continues to be a fantastic learning experience and I just want to sincerely thank everyone who has read, commented, and shown me how fun and rewarding blogging can be. God continues to bless it. It’s my prayer that He is honored by what I write.

It’s all Ahead of You

No matter
however old or young
it’s all ahead of you
destiny is inspired
knowing you’ll sing

Best be working
on your theme song
make sure
that
you sing it true
make certain the lyrics are all
that they can be

notes

Tender moments
followed
by grand notes
borrowed
from a chorus
sung long ago
a memory
dimly
responding
simply
plays well
fast or slow

If people
start hearing you
round the town
whistling
a braver tune
worries
tossed to the
side
like castaways

They’ll remark
to each other
listen closely
I’d rather
miss anything
other
than that

We can now end our day
in no more
satisfied way
’cause its made all
our hearts
so
very glad.

The Economy of J.Q. Person

It’s the economy,
clearly
John Q. Person.
That’s why you’re busy
messing with your phone.
But is it true that if you looked up
and met the world’s eyes,
the reflection would show
you’re alone?

There’s nothing wrong with money
if you don’t fall in love with it,
but dollars never could heal a man’s soul
Only one power here or heaven
can give you what you’re craving.
Only Jesus Christ can make you whole.

It’s the economy, J.Q.P.
Moths emptied your wallet
and all you do is run in place.
But more money and a better ride
won’t cure the emptiness inside.
Have you considered what may
be at stake?

There’s nothing wrong with money
if you don’t fall in love with it,
but dollars never could heal a man’s soul
Only one power here or heaven
can give you what you’re craving.
Only Jesus Christ can make you whole.

It’s the economy.
You’re vexed
Mr. Person.
Is it the libs
and cons
in D.C.?
At night you lie and wonder,
“would any amount of money
fix what is broken in me?”

Disconnect from the marketing, Person.
Just say no to what’s there for sale.
Learn to meditate on what is for real, son.
Leave alone what all the parrots rail.
Polly wants everything.

There’s nothing wrong with money
if you don’t fall in love with it,
but dollars never could heal a man’s soul
Only one power here or heaven
can give you what you’re craving.
Only Jesus Christ can make you whole.

He cares for you, John Q. Person.
And he’s coming back.

He’s there for you, John Q. Person
And he’s coming back.

He’s not an infomercial, John Q. Person
Yeah, He’s coming back.

Coming back, coming back, Person-ally
Coming back, coming back, Person-ally.

John Q. Person
Introducing, John Q. Person.