Big Sky Buckeye

A writer's journey continues

Eternal and Lasting

Posted on March 21, 2021 by bigskybuckeye

From Psalm 100:4-5: “Enter His gates with thanksgiving, and His courts with praise. Give thanks to Him, bless His name. For the Lord is good; His steadfast love endures forever, and His faithfulness to all generations.”

**Photo by Enric Cruz Lu00f3pez on Pexels.com**

Master of creation’s universe

Father’s love, boundless and enduring

Defying mankind’s understanding

Endless waterfall, reassuring

God’s lasting presence covers this earth

Filled with unending mercy and care

Sharing His love, bringing us gladness

Hearing concerns, answering prayers

Our world rotates between night and day

Yet, God never ceases His labors

Cherishing us, sheep in His pasture

Caring and loving us—as neighbors

God’s eternal and lasting love flows

Filling every second with love

His steadfast love shall always prevail

Sharing His love from heaven above

**Photo by eberhard grossgasteiger on Pexels.com**

From the words of Christian writer, Corrie ten Boom: “There is no pit so deep that God’s love is not deeper still.”

His Presence Leading

Posted on March 20, 2021 by bigskybuckeye

From Psalm 88:1-2: “O Lord, God of my salvation, when, at night, I cry out in your presence, let my prayer come before you; incline your ear to my cry.”

**Photo by Torsten Kellermann on Pexels.com**

Cold stillness greets early morning air

Dressed in armor’s extra warm layers

Pre-dawn speaks with inviting brightness

Heavenly Father answers prayers

Heart’s emptiness filled with sorrow’s grief

Walking life’s open road with brisk pace

Precious moments with Father’s goodness

He stands ready at this time and place

Frigid frost slaps rosy cheeks and nose

Step after step, life moving along

Chill penetrates through extra clothing

Heart needs comfort, love from Heaven’s song

Absent clouds replaced with brightest sun

God’s advent warms both body and soul

Speaking with loving mercy and grace

Father softens pain from rocky shoal

Walk’s intensity traded for peace

Warmness and hope, alive and feeding

Life’s burdens lightened with God’s blessings

Sharing much more, His presence leading

**Photo by Matheus Bertelli on Pexels.com**

From Psalm 25:16-17: “Turn to me and be gracious to me, for I am lonely and afflicted. Relieve the troubles of my heart, and bring me out of my distress.”

Christian Witness (Elfchen Series #50)

Posted on March 19, 2021 by bigskybuckeye

Absorbing

Allow

God’s Wisdom

To speak aloud

Permeate souls and minds

Truth

**Photo by Oladimeji Ajegbile on Pexels.com**

Believing

Courage

Young David

Clinging to God

Lasting perseverance over his

Trials

Rescuing

Witness

Christ’s body

Wounds and scars

Transformed by our Risen

Savior

This series of poems (written in the German-inspired style of Elfchen or Elevenie) shares a total of eleven words in each poem, with a sequence by line of one, two, three, four, and one words.

Nothing More Precious

Posted on March 18, 2021 by bigskybuckeye

From John 12:44-46: “Then Jesus cried aloud: ‘Whoever believes in me believes not in me but in Him who sent me. And whoever sees me sees Him who sent me. I have come as light into the world, so that everyone who believes in me should not remain in the darkness.'”

**Photo by Dominika Roseclay on Pexels.com**

Across this world’s vastness

There’s nothing more precious

Than our God-given life

Primed to breath by His grace

Every precious day

Praise God for its richness

Honor life’s simple ways

Praying with thankful hearts

Just as God molds this earth

Spirit works tirelessly

Shaping and stretching lives

Blessing each precious breath

God’s precious hands guiding

Framing, leading, teaching

Crafting lives, filled with love

Accept His blessed gift

Charged with following God

Life’s precious, rocky path

Falling with stumbling steps

But, Father picks us up

Savoring each day’s breath

There’s nothing more precious

Honoring Lord of all

Straight to life’s final end

**Photo by Robin Schreiner on Pexels.com**

From Psalm 23:5-6: “You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies; you anoint my head with oil; my cup overflows. Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life, and I shall dwell in the house of the Lord my whole life long.”

Following prayer and reading my Bible, my thoughts went into writing this special poem. Indeed, there is nothing more precious than life. On March 17, 2021, my stepfather, Ed, went to the Lord. The love he shared with my mother (his loving Martha) was boundless, and I was blessed to share my Christian faith with him. The unconditional love given by my mother to her blessed Ed will be a lasting gift because it has been witnessed by so many others.

Lessons From Failure

Posted on March 17, 2021 by bigskybuckeye

Around life’s corner

Failure’s waiting train

Our very fiber

Split open with pain

Chasing newest dreams

Success sometimes waits

Failure comes knocking

What will be life’s fate?

Unavoidable

Failure hitting hard

Inevitable

Drawing life’s harsh card

Fear of failure breathes

Spreading, holds us back

Life fogging over

Success now off track

Vulnerable vibes

Feeling passed over

Alone in darkness

Where’s life’s sweet clover?

Lessons from failure

Past trials teach us

Embrace them and learn

Ride fortitude’s bus

With renewed purpose

Learn while improving

Plus motivation

Success now moving

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From the words of American writer, Meg Dowell: “Failure will teach you to be vulnerable. Failure will show you what it means to chase a dream. More importantly, your past failures will change the way you value your successes.”

Signs of Spring (Haiku Series #126)

Posted on March 16, 2021 by bigskybuckeye

Anticipating

Warmer days ahead

Tree buds filling with new life—

Spring waiting on deck

Growing

Frigid soil warms up

Transformation taking place—

First green shoots of spring

**Photo by jonas mohamadi on Pexels.com**

Arriving

Crafting welcome signs

Daffodils make announcement—

Spring now official

**Photo by Tetyana Kovyrina on Pexels.com**

Monday Memories: Running with Perseverance

Posted on March 15, 2021 by bigskybuckeye

Originally written in October, 2019, this re-edited poem brings forth a message from Sunday worship at New Life Church in Gahanna, Ohio. The free-verse style enhances my sermon notes.

From Hebrews 12:1-3

Let us throw off everything

Hindering sin, which easily entangles

Running life’s race with perseverance

Fixing faith’s eyes on Christ

He endures Calvary’s Cross

Defeating sin’s darkness and shame

Now sitting at God’s side

Bringing hope to lost hearts

The Message

Life’s treadmill defines our race

Running with God’s steady faith

Life’s marathon, hard and long

Facing emotional ups and downs

God sends His encouraging words

Overcoming defeat, distress, and despair

Trusting in Jesus, keep running

With perseverance, to the end

Jesus endures His own journey

Running to “our” bloody Cross

Following always Jesus’ faithful example

Showing us perseverance and trust

Young David ignores Goliath’s size

Focusing on faith in God

Christ faces the impossible

Yet, His journey will succeed

Jesus surrenders to God’s plan

Faithfully carrying our burdens

We all suffer sin’s consequences

Christ comes, guarding our hearts

Withstanding life’s harsh body blows

In this fallen, broken world

Take Action

Trusting God, eyes on Jesus

Focusing on Christ, remain obedient

Replacing life’s empty, negative notions

Knowing Jesus as our Savior!

**Photo by Alem Su00e1nchez on Pexels.com**

Charles Stanley Quote

Posted on March 15, 2021 by bigskybuckeye

Photo by Michael Morse on **Pexels.com**

Believers must remember that God’s love is of a much higher caliber–it is the starting point of our salvation.

From 1 John 4:9-10: “God’s love was revealed among us in this way: God sent His only Son into the world so that we might live through Him. In this is love, not that we loved God but that He loved us and sent His Son to be the atoning sacrifice for our sins.”

Stepping Into Light

Posted on March 14, 2021 by bigskybuckeye

From Romans 13:11-12: “Besides this, you know what time it is, how it is now the moment for you to wake from sleep. For salvation is nearer to us now than when we became believers; the night is far gone, the day is near. Let us then lay aside the works of darkness and put on the armor of light.”

Turning away from temptation’s path

Following God’s Holy, righteous road

Transforming self into Christ’s image

Experiencing His love, bestowed

Breathing, yet lost in evil’s darkness

Hiding in shame, past sinful landscape

Reaching for Salvation’s lasting grace

Wearing armor of light, faith reshapes

Sharing His Father’s Word, Christ teaches

Loving one another, sharing peace

Witnessing His greatest commandment

Living with openness, life’s new lease

Leaving His advocate, Christ assures

Coming Holy Spirit, lifts each life

Overcoming sin’s flesh-filled desires

Growing in submission, without strife

Offering path to new life, Christ comes

Forsaking life’s bold truth, darkness flees

Walking in faith, stepping into light

Remaining steadfast, in what He sees

From the words of American pastor and Christian teacher, Charles Stanley: “When we rely on Him [God] instead of ourselves, He produces godly desires within us, empowers obedience, and transforms our character into Christ’s likeness.”

Warm Breezes

Posted on March 13, 2021 by bigskybuckeye

**A view of Long Wharf along the Choptank River at Cambridge, Maryland. Chesapeake Bay is waiting on the horizon. (Courtesy of Pinterest)**

Early morning’s reversing wind

No longer facing fierce headwind

Life takes comfort in day ahead

Thrilled to be awake, out of bed

Skipjack sailing away from home

Leaving Choptank’s berth, free to roam

Adventure waiting, take it on

Facing nature, ready with brawn

Pride of Maryland’s Eastern Shore

Nathan of Dorchester explores

With summer day’s life-giving breeze

She skims across these waves with ease

Distant river shoreline fading

Chesapeake Bay, now invading

Each crew member tackles his tasks

Loving this boat, each effort basks

With warm breezes, life’s sails now fill

Each port of call, sharing goodwill

**A skipjack cuts through the water on the Choptank River. It is the official boat of the state of Maryland. (Courtesy of Pinterest)**

The inspiration for this poem comes from my travels to Maryland’s Eastern Shore along the Choptank River at Cambridge. While I haven’t sailed on the Skipjack Nathan of Dorchester (yet), it is something I would enjoy experiencing during a future summer trip back to my wife’s hometown.

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Absorbing

Believing

Rescuing

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Anticipating

Growing

Arriving

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