Born in the Big Sky Country of Montana and now living in the Buckeye State of Ohio, Richard is the creative mind behind Big Sky Buckeye. Retired after 40 years of teaching, I enjoy writing, photography, traveling, and following a healthy lifestyle.
Grace prepares one’s heart to forgive. Jesus tears up life’s scorecard, ignores the “why” reasons, and encourages us to follow His teachings.
Do you write a daily journal? This inspiring thought comes from my journal, and much of what is written in my journal comes from reading and commenting on other bloggers’ posts. Thanks to many of you for adding so much to my journal.
One of the noblest words in our language is “grace,” defined as “unearned blessing.” We live by grace far more than anything else.
From Romans 3:23-24: “Since all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God; they are now justified by His grace as a gift, through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus.”
Elton Trueblood (1900-1994) was an American Christian author and theologian. He served as chaplain to both Harvard and Stanford universities.
Montana’s Crazy Mountains as pictured outside of the town of Big Timber. This photo was taken in late May, yet there remained substantial snow visible on the peaks.
Waking up on cold, frigid, winter morn
Looking like snowy storms, soon to be born
Pulling warm covers over this bare head
Let’s fast forward to new season instead
Always dreaming with bigness every night
Never alone, tasting perfect delight
Traveling ahead to hot summer day
Feeling urge to jump up, shouting to say
Has one ever seen more beautiful sky?
Sensational, unblemished blue so high
Treasure State’s journey, mines purest pleasures
Opening saddlebag, full of treasures
Shining high above, fullest sun in view
Sharing smiles with heavens, always be true
Western hospitality, comes this way
Be sure to come back, as we always say
From warmest hearts, joy overflows with grace
Montana’s Big Sky, lifetime’s “Last Best Place”
This poem reworks the theme from a previously published poem from 2019. The much-improved verses were inspired by the 1990 publication of The Last Best Place: A Montana Anthology. Through eight chapters and over 800 pages, the works of numerous Montana authors can be read. Each illustrates the unique way of life and history found in Montana’s Big Sky Country.
From the top left and moving clockwise: Southwestern montana’s tobacco root mountains form the western wall along the madison river valley, montana ingenuity is discovered at a rest area along interstate 90, the hospitality of the community of ennis is found up and down its main street, the former parmly library building in billings–now home to the western heritage center, from a distance the “sphinx” formation is visible along southwestern Montana’s madison range (about 10 miles east of the community of cameron).
Sometimes moving forward entails leaving behind some cumbersome baggage.
Do you write a daily journal? This inspiring thought comes from my journal, and much of what is written in my journal comes from reading and commenting on other bloggers’ posts. Thanks to many of you for adding so much to my journal.
If you make the customer a promise, make sure you deliver it.
It’s always been my philosophy: Turn the page. If something falls through, turn the page. It’s over with, get used to it, get on with it.
Merv Griffin (1925-2007) was an American television show host and media mogul. His accomplishments included: hosting his own television talk show from 1962-1986, and creation of the television game shows “Jeopardy” in 1964 and “Wheel of Fortune” in 1975.
From John 1:38-39: “When Jesus turned and saw them following, He said to them, ‘What are you looking for?’ They said to him, ‘Rabbi (which translated means Teacher), where are you staying?’He said to them, ‘Come and see.’ They came and saw where He was staying, and they remained with Him that day. It was about four o’clock in the afternoon.”
From John 8: 31-32: “Then Jesus said to the Jews who had believed in Him, ‘If you continue in My word, you are truly My disciples, and you will know the truth, and the truth will make you free.'”
Our life’s purpose becomes more simplified when we welcome the opportunity to see the road ahead through God’s lens.
Do you write a daily journal? This inspiring thought comes from my journal, and much of what is written in my journal comes from reading and commenting on other bloggers’ posts. Thanks to many of you for adding so much to my journal.
Has it ever dawned on you that you are responsible for other souls spiritually before God? For instance, if I allow any private deflection from God in my life, everyone about me suffers. We “sit together in heavenly places.”
From Romans 14:7-9: “For we do not live to ourselves, and we do not die to ourselves. If we live, we live to the Lord, and if we die, we die to the Lord; so then, whether we live or whether we die, we are the Lord’s. For to this end Christ died and lived again, so that He might be Lord of both the dead and the living.”
Oswald Chambers (1874-1917) was a Scottish evangelist and Christian teacher. Following his death from an illness while in Egypt during World War I, his wife took on the task of transcribing the detailed notes she had written from his lectures and sermons. Gertrude Hobbs Chambers’ efforts resulted in the publication in 1924 of MY UTMOST FOR HIS HIGHEST. I frequently read from this devotional, and it has greatly deepened my faith and understanding of God’s Word.
Indeed there is joy to discover, even when completing life’s most simple tasks.
Do you write a daily journal? This inspiring thought comes from my journal, and much of what is written in my journal comes from reading and commenting on other bloggers’ posts. Thanks to many of you for adding so much to my journal.