Author Archives: bigskybuckeye

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About bigskybuckeye

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.

One on One

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From American theologian, Fulton J. Sheen:  “God does not love us because we are valuable.  We are valuable because God loves us.”

white paper with red text

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God’s eternal love seeks

Intimate relationships

No longer standing back

Feeling love as He speaks

 

Our Lord loves each of us

Stepping forward with faith

Accepting His sincere truth

Our God, never to mistrust

 

When darker times arrive

Opening hearts to our Lord

Never to feel forsaken

Trusting, abiding, alive

 

Our Father always cares

Hearing faithful prayers

Watching trusting steps

Feeling moments of despair

 

Flowing from Heaven above

To a stable’s manger

Witnessing from a cruel Cross

God’s Grace delivers His love

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From John 15:8-9:  “My Father is glorified by this, that you bear much fruit and become My disciples.  As the Father has loved Me, so I have loved you; abide in My love.  

Alan Redpath Quote

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The conversion of a soul is the miracle of a moment, but the manufacture of a saint is the task of a lifetime.

From 2 Corinthians 5:17:  “So if anyone is in Christ, there is a new creation:  everything old has passed away; see, everything has become new!”

Haiku Series #66 (Life)

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Daily Changes

Coronavirus

Learning to adapt each day—

World paradigm shift

blue banner sign posters

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Experience Counts

Cleaning and cooking

Being a baby boomer—

Fatherhood training

cleaning supplies

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Not Now

Muddy, rain-soaked road

Destination now delayed—

Changing a flat tire

shadow of person on water during daytime

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M. Scott Peck Quote

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It is only because of problems that we grow mentally and spiritually.

From James 1:2-4:  “My brothers and sisters, whenever you face trials of any kind, consider it nothing but joy, because you know that the testing of your faith produces endurance; and let endurance have its full effect, so that you may be mature and complete, lacking in nothing.”

Redeeming Spirit

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From Isaiah 12:2:  “Surely God is my salvation; I will trust, and will not be afraid, for the Lord God is my strength and my might; He has become my salvation.”

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To a world filling with harsh darkness

Our Heavenly Father wakens trust

God’s love conquers, crushing this starkness

Sending our Redeemer, always just

 

Jesus, the Messiah, walks the land

His Spirit deepens our mind and soul

We experience God, close at hand

Blood shed on a Cross, paying our toll

 

With every footprint Jesus makes

Walking forward, His bright light beckons

We follow with faith, make no mistake

Through our adversity, faith checks in

 

Enemy lurks, bringing temptation

Walking with Jesus, freed like a bird

In alignment with Him . . . Salvation!

Faithful “doers” of God’s Holy Word

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From Psalm 3:3-4:  “But you, O Lord are a shield around me, my glory, and the one who lifts up my head.  I cry aloud to the Lord, and He answers me from His Holy hill.”

American Presidents Quotes

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James Monroe

Our country may be likened to a new house.  We lack many things, but we possess the most precious of all–liberty!

[James Monroe took office in 1817, and the United States was still in its infancy as a nation.]

John Quincy Adams

Patience and perseverance have a magical effect before which difficulties and obstacles vanish.

Quietness Speaks

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I took a recent neighborhood walk, and the surroundings were definitely not the norm.  Quiet streets and hardly anyone outside on a gloomy, spring afternoon.  I crossed a busy road, without the usual volume of traffic.  The entire experience brought many thoughts to mind, some of which found their way into this poem.

grayscale photography of waiting shed near open road at night

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Morning rush traffic, missing in action

Downtown streets resemble empty ghost towns

All of this, most unusual for many

Life experiencing major breakdowns

 

Atmosphere of dark, winter gloom arrives

Quiet neighborhood lanes, filled with stillness

Sheltered-in-place covers the entire land

Fear and panic, with visions of illness

 

Households, overflowing with family

Quite unique for a midweek afternoon

Only essential employees at work

Life differs from a “Charlie Brown” cartoon

 

Spring’s portraits and sounds, arriving on schedule

Trees bud out, grass turning green, robins sing

God’s creation reminds us, He is near

His steadfast, faithful hope shall always ring

young grain

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From Lamentations 3:21-23:  “But this I call to mind, and therefore I have hope:  The steadfast love of the Lord never ceases, His mercies never come to an end; they are new every morning; great is Your faithfulness.”

Oswald Chambers Quote

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Am I as spontaneously kind to God as I used to be, or am I only expecting God to be kind to me?  Am I full of the little things that cheer His heart over me, or am I whimpering because things are going hardly with me?  There is no joy in the soul that has forgotten what God prizes.

If, as I recall what God remembers about me, I find He is not what He used to be to me, let it produce shame and humiliation, because that shame will bring the godly sorrow that works repentance.

Taken from the text found in Oswald Chambers’ MY UTMOST FOR HIS HIGHEST:  “Recall What God Remembers.”  

From Jeremiah 2:1-2:  “The Word of the Lord came to me, saying:  ‘Go and proclaim in the hearing of Jerusalem, Thus says the Lord:  I remember the devotion of your youth, your love as a bride, how you followed me in the wilderness, in a land now sown.  

Life Looks Back

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Dusty top of the kitchen fridge

No worries about cleaning

Unless . . .

Taller guests come to play bridge

 

Windshield wipers, broken and worn

Needing to be replaced

But never . . .

Attempt when rain becomes airborne

 

Congested and overmatched table

Keeping life healthy and in order

Looking like . . .

Walgreens, filled with pill labels

 

Remembering school days past

Time to take another test

Pausing . . .

Hoping the “ditto” smell will last

 

Self-driving cars, soon to be the craze

Sitting in one, with perplexed look

Pondering . . .

Will the back seat driver be unfazed?

 

Raiding the freezer for a midnight snack

Hunger disrupts blissful sleep

What’s this . . .

Cookie Dough ice cream has been hijacked

 

Installing a terrific app on her “hip” phone

Grandson helps his Grandma out

Meanwhile . . .

With his flip phone, Grandpa feels quite alone

 

Finding a parking spot is tonight’s mission

Free valet parking

Guaranteed . . .

When you drive a manual transmission

 

So many toilet paper choices and sizes

What ever happened to having just one?

Confusing . . .

Mega and Super Mega waiting in disguise

 

Enjoying a late night film on television

Fearful of falling asleep

Always prepared . . .

Setting an alarm, allows for night vision

 

Reading and proofreading, reading once more

Retired English teacher

Never satisfied . . .

Writing a “perfect” text with words to adore

 

If you have enjoyed this bit of fun

Wait for the next round

When . . .

Doughnuts and coffee for everyone

doughnut on white ceramic plate beside ceramic mug on brown wooden table

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Corrie ten Boom Quote

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man and child sitting on shore

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It is a joy that God never abandons His children.  He guides faithfully all who listen to His directions.

From Isaiah 9:6:  “For a child has been born for us, a Son given to us; authority rests upon His shoulders; and He is named Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.”