Big Sky Buckeye

A writer's journey continues

Monday Memories: Are We Worthy?

Posted on June 7, 2021 by bigskybuckeye

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Feeling lost, alone, and unworthy

Walking forward to seek God

Questioning and asking, crying out

Gathering together, we trust God

Seeking Christ must come first

Contrasting himself to the Messiah

Foretelling of the One coming

Crying out in the wilderness

Baptizing believers at the Jordan

Sending John to baptize Jesus

Sensing himself to be unworthy

Finding Christ must come first

Expressing love now for family

Adoring father, mother, son, daughter

Returning from his sinful journey

Rejoicing, a prodigal son found

Suffering dishonor for Christ’s sake

Preaching, Apostles speak the Gospel

Loving Christ must come first

Accepting God’s gift of Grace

Blessing us as worthy Christians

Coming to believe Christ’s Salvation

Humbling praising His blessed truth

Creating all things, God cares

Receiving glory, honor, and power

Standing alone at the Cross

Ransoming His body and blood

Loving and accepting our Savior

This faith-based poem comes from my archives. It was originally written and posted in September, 2019.

Wave After Wave

Posted on June 6, 2021 by bigskybuckeye

From Psalm 23:1-3: “The Lord is my shepherd, I shall not want. He makes me lie down in green pastures; He leads me beside still waters; He restores my soul. He leads me in right paths for His name’s sake.”

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No matter how life plays out

Encountering sea of waves

Big, small . . . quiet, turbulent

Sin’s cunning waits to enslave

No promise of easy life

Struggles crashing, day by day

Never learned how to ride waves

Grace anchors hope at each bay

Thankfully, never alone

Riding God’s steady surfboard

Trusting Him, surfing each wave

Building up faith, love’s reward

Healing our souls from darkness

Guiding us through stormy waves

Refreshing peace from God’s Word

Navigating, His grace saves

Walking on calmest waters

Shepherd’s mercy comes to save

Protecting from evil’s doom

Faith conquers incoming waves

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From Acts 4:11-12: “The stone that was rejected by you, the builders; it has become the cornerstone. There is salvation in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given among mortals by which we must be saved.”

Navigating Change

Posted on June 5, 2021 by bigskybuckeye

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Time’s ever-changing river

Hours flowing day after day

Navigating change, life’s song

Destiny travels our way

Tomorrow’s adventure calls

River flows with rapid pace

Navigating change, be safe

Ambition now giving chase

Facing Niagara Falls

Calling out new direction

Navigating change, new route

River journey’s correction

River experience counts

Night’s campsite, overcrowded

Navigating change, next choice

New site empty, not crowded

Life shadows shifting river

Requires flexibility

Navigating change, time calls

Now teaching humility

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From the words of American business pioneer and founder of Mary Kay Cosmetics, Mary Kay Ash: “When you come to a roadblock, take a detour.

God’s Greatness (Elfchen Series #61)

Posted on June 4, 2021 by bigskybuckeye

Righteousness

Remember

God’s promise

Grace delivers goodness

Eternal life through Jesus

Love

Faithfulness

Follow

Heaven’s light

Love’s shining grace

Eternity’s ticket fully paid

Jesus

Worthiness

Accept

God’s love

Promises eternal life

Savior pays our debts

Christ

Vanishing Prairie

Posted on June 3, 2021 by bigskybuckeye

Vanishing prairie hangs on

Isolated town foregone

Time long ago, grand premiere

History fading each year

Showing up on highway map

Road’s wide spot, taking a nap

Middle of farming country

Seldom find even one tree

Boarded-up wood-frame schoolhouse

Empty, forgotten courthouse

No longer town’s pride and joy

Critters, varmints now employ

Railroad track hides in tall grass

Recalling past trains, first-class

Grain elevator hanging on

Memories live, town’s swan song

Single street light standing guard

Night’s shadows, lasting vanguard

Yesteryear’s grandest of homes

Mystery for Sherlock Holmes

Faded sign for Ruth’s Café

Long absent dinner entrees

Movie theater shuttered

Smelling fresh popcorn, buttered

Few remember town’s past times

Hearing nature’s windy chimes

Past glory days, now long gone

Dim sunset, well past its dawn

During my teaching career, I taught 25 years in the eastern prairie country of Montana. Today, many small farming communities struggle for survival while others such as the one in this poem live on only as memories.

Walking in Light

Posted on June 2, 2021 by bigskybuckeye

From 1 John 1:6-7: “If we say that we have fellowship with Him while we are walking in darkness, we lie and do not do what is true; but if we walk in the light as He Himself is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus His Son cleanses us from all sin.”

Traveling earthly journey

Living alongside our Lord

Following His path with trust

Feeling love, grace brings accord

Pursuing God’s righteousness

Confessing sins, big and small

Obeying Holy commands

Hanging up when evil calls

Trading former self for love

Abandoning temptation

Accepting Jesus’ new light

His way, life’s blessed station

Teaching life from Father’s Word

Steering lives in righteous ways

Walking in light, blessing faith

Rejoicing with lasting praise

From the words of American pastor and Christian teacher, Charles Stanley: “Are you trying to carry old baggage into your walk with the Lord? The attitudes, habits, and conduct that were yours before Christ must be abandoned in order for you to walk with God.”

Life’s Better Way (Haiku Series #137)

Posted on June 1, 2021 by bigskybuckeye

Impression

Sounding like Eeyore

Winnie-the-Pooh listens in—

Stop this gloomy talk

Renewal

Negative self-talk

Pessimistic attitude—

Life needs makeover

Crossroads

Look into life’s lens

Allow bright sunshine inside—

Turning a new page

Monday Memories: Fallen, Never Forgotten

Posted on May 31, 2021 by bigskybuckeye

American flag

hangs mournfully

at half mast

Honoring a

courageous, fallen soldier

on a distant battlefield

Many come

to honor this

patriotic, young man

Supporting his loved ones

Family, wife, and children

Who will miss

his gentle soul

Let us

never forget

this day!

The ultimate sacrifice

paid by

one mighty soldier

So many others

may be free

U.S. Army Specialist Joseph P. Collette died on March 22, 2019 from enemy fire in Afghanistan while on a combat mission. This poem is written to honor him along with all others who have fallen.

Hope’s Solid Rock

Posted on May 30, 2021 by bigskybuckeye

From Lamentations 3:22-24: “The steadfast love of the Lord never ceases, His mercies never come to an end; they are new every morning; great is your faithfulness. ‘The Lord is my portion,’ says my soul, ‘therefore I will hope in Him.'”

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Darkness stirs up from storms

Crashing out of control

Lost in gloomy tempest

Jesus’ anchor, our soul

Hope’s single foundation

Resting on solid rock

Built by Savior Jesus

Robust, righteous bedrock

Jesus carries faith through

Taking oath by His blood

Brings about newest day

Hope survives stormy flood

Daily works mean nothing

Facing life’s rugged slope

Breathe in grace from Jesus

Final beacon of hope

Jesus leads trusting sheep

Climbing to solid rock

Redeemed at Calvary

Hope’s lasting building block

**Photo by Gantas Vaiu010diulu0117nas on Pexels.com**

You are invited to join in and sing along with “My Hope is Built on Nothing Less.”

Wisdom’s Guardrails

Posted on May 29, 2021 by bigskybuckeye

Life’s journey fills with mistakes

Wisdom’s guardrails prevent headaches

Working together as a team

Life’s active, productive sunbeam

Be available to others

Treat everyone as brothers

Come prepared for each assignment

Results in flawless alignment

Apologize for day’s misdeeds

Forgiveness sowing fertile seeds

Keep secrets to self, follow scripts

Remember now, loose lips sink ships

Checking answers, rechecking twice

Turn over each stone, good advice

Patiently molding shapeless clay

Details finished, now walk away

Stay together, through thick ‘n thin

Tight as a fist, faithful linchpin

Taking charge, bold skipper steering

Encouraging words now cheering

Sometimes, life’s outcomes say we’re wrong

Solving mistakes, newest hit song

This poem’s wisdom was gleamed from Special Agent Leroy Jethro Gibbs on the American television drama, “NCIS.” Throughout the nearly endless episodes, Mark Harmon’s character shares his timely wisdom from “Gibbs’ Rules.”

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Righteousness

Faithfulness

Worthiness

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Impression

Renewal

Crossroads

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