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.
When we realize that Jesus Christ has served us to the end of our meanness, our selfishness, and sin, nothing that we meet with from others can exhaust our determination to serve men for His sake.
From Matthew 20:26-28: “It will not be so among you, but whoever wishes to be great among you must be your servant, and whoever wishes to be first among you must be your slave, just as the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve and to give His life a ransom for many.”
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.
From Joshua 24:15: “Now if you are unwilling to serve the Lord, choose this day whom you will serve, whether the gods your ancestors served in the region beyond the River or the gods of the Amorites in whose land you are living, but as for me and my household, we will serve the Lord.”
Praying for healthy marriages within each family. May God’s grace fill their homes with love, patience, and kindness.
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.
This informative post will be published on Saturday along with my usual writing. You are invited to participate with the opening question.
Brain Teaser Question
What is the shortest name of a U.S. state that shares a letter in common with each of the other 49 states?
(answer found at the end of this post)
Featured Facts
The 11th American President was James Polk, whose single term (1845-1849) included many notable accomplishments.
Here are some interesting facts about President Polk:
State Represented: Tennessee
Political Party: Democratic
College Attended: University of North Carolina (his birth state)
Other Political Offices: Tennessee Governor, Speaker of the U.S. House of Representatives, Tennessee Legislature
When elected to the office of President in 1844, James Polk became the first dark horse candidate to win the nation’s highest office. Being an overlooked underdog, Polk was nominated as a compromise candidate for the Democratic Party when its nominating convention was deadlocked. He campaigned with an agenda to annex Texas into the U.S. as well as opening up the Oregon territory to American settlers.
Polk’s nickname of “Young Hickory” reflected his mentorship under another famous Tennessean, President Andrew Jackson. Jackson’s nickname was “Old Hickory.”
Promising to only serve one term, James Polk continued a long line of one-term Presidents, who followed the two-term Presidency of Andrew Jackson (1829-1837). There would not be another President elected to a second term until Abraham Lincoln in 1864.
Polk’s term in office featured several distinguished outcomes:
Founding of the Smithsonian Institute
Construction begins on the Washington Monument
U.S. Naval Academy founded in Annapolis, Maryland
Extension of the American northern border along the 49th parallel
After leaving the White House, James Polk’s life (1795-1949) was cut short due to illness. He died a few months later, probably from cholera. Taking only 27 days off during his term, Polk was a workaholic as President. This quote from his diary reinforced how dedicated he was to his responsibilities as President:
“No President who performs his duty faithfully and conscientiously can have any leisure time. I prefer to supervise the whole operations of the government myself rather than entrust the public business to subordinates, and this makes my duties very great.”
The pages of history are littered with the “train wrecks” of mankind’s fruitless, wayward, and destructive efforts.
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.
God’s love remains at the center of one’s faith. As we trust, He nurtures our hopes with unselfish grace.
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.
