Big Sky Buckeye

A writer's journey continues

Monday Memories: Mountaintop Wedding

Posted on February 1, 2021 by bigskybuckeye

My youngest daughter was married on February 2, 2018, and this poem was written to honor the special day experienced by a loving couple. The poem was originally published in January, 2019. It has been updated and edited in style.

Montana’s Lone Mountain stands above most peaks

Providing skiing challenges and thrills for all to seek

Today brings sweet, special time on this tallest mountain

Witnessing marriage joy, more beautiful than any fountain

On cloudless and frigid Friday, love will indeed arrive

Blessing God’s joining of two people, to forever thrive

This loving couple enjoys their shared passion to ski

Planning to tie marital knot, wedding party shall see

Carried to lofty summit, gondola ride quite soaring

Bride and groom cement their love at mid-morning

There’s no more beautiful moment than a wedding

Linking of two lives as one, in this majestic setting

Wedding vows exchanged in blusterous, bitter cold

Sharing their simple words of love, special and bold

Precious wedding rings left at home, safely hidden

Dropping them in deep powder, would be forbidden

Brief ceremony proceeds to its eventual conclusion

Watching husband kissing wife, seals God’s union

Newly married couple, outfitted in finest skiing attire

Skiing as husband and wife, before daylight expires

Easy to find, youthful bride finishing her downhill run

Wearing white veil on top of her helmet, just for fun

Husband and wife, skiers with remarkable skill

Sharing and enjoying further runs, sharing thrills

Holy Father sanctifying this couple’s wedding day

Smiling at faithful love, with beloved words to say

**Here’s the happy and now married couple after their first ski run as husband and wife. My daughter decided to dress up a bit by wearing her wedding veil.**

Worthy Soldier

Posted on January 31, 2021 by bigskybuckeye

From 2 Timothy 2:3-4: “Share in suffering like a good soldier of Christ Jesus. No one serving in the army gets entangled in everyday affairs; the soldier’s aim is to please the enlisting officer.”

**Photo by Jessica Lewis on Pexels.com**

Born as blessed children of God

Learning the Bible’s sacred truth

Strong in grace of Savior Jesus

Worthy soldier matures from youth

Listening to God’s witnesses

Faithful, Godly people speaking

Maturing in Father’s Spirit

Daily blessings from Christ’s teachings

Humbly serving in God’s army

Following footsteps, walked by Christ

Bolstered by our own suffering

Clutching faith, never underpriced

Our Father’s way, rich truth to say

Bringing total understanding

His Holy Word comes without chains

Gospel, forever commanding

From 2 Timothy 2:11-13: “The saying is sure: If we have died with Him, we will also live with Him; if we endure, we will also reign with Him; if we deny Him, He will also deny us; if we are faithless, He remains faithful—for He cannot deny Himself.”

Night

Posted on January 30, 2021 by bigskybuckeye

From Colossians 1:13-14 “He has rescued us from the power of darkness and transferred us into the kingdom of His beloved Son, in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins.”

**Photo by Nicolas Postiglioni on Pexels.com**

From the Creator, comes the day’s light

Why then, is there perpetual night?

Sin-filled darkness, traverses borders

Nations breathing endless disorders

Not a single country shall be spared

Few if any, seem ready . . . prepared

Partisan turmoil ignites unrest

Another sleepless night, minus rest

Social illness parks at each corner

Past ills, leaving many a mourner

Violence, injustice never pause

Out of this gloom, marches a new cause

Shroud of night’s blackness, tearing apart

Light conquers night, crashing our Lord’s heart

Blood-stained Cross, now-empty tomb proclaim

Son of Man, Son of God lights new flame

**Photo by George Becker on Pexels.com**

From Revelation 22:5: “And there will be no more night; they need no light of lamp or sun, for the Lord God will be their light, and they will reign forever and ever.”

Eternal Presence (Elfchen Series #43)

Posted on January 29, 2021 by bigskybuckeye

Obeying

Child

Of God

Respect your Father

With love and obedient

Heart

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

Needing

Weariness

Day’s trials

God’s soothing Word

Heals fragile, tender hearts

Peace

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

Seeking

Focus

Life’s attention

God’s secure refuge

Stabilized by His love

Jesus

**Photo by RODNAE Productions on Pexels.com**

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.

Haunting Storm

Posted on January 28, 2021 by bigskybuckeye

Pleasant, mid-winter day

Warm winds decide to stay

Touch of spring thaws the air

Ideal life, not a care

Hidden, in frigid North

Cold destined to call forth

Prairie living unaware

Grass uncovered, and bare

Few cowboys work the range

Life will soon see big change

Barren land, overgrazed

Cattle wander, unfazed

Calmness warns of trouble

Winter’s wrath comes double

Arctic-fed winds stir up

Wet snow creates pileup

Haunting storm now arrives

Few cattle will survive

Blizzard smothers this land

Conditions, out of hand

Cowboys wait out fierce storm

Snow and cold, nasty swarm

Waiting, hours become days

Prairie, now winter’s maze

Cattle’s cries go unheard

Snow-blinded, vision blurred

Storm’s cruel hand, plays its cards

Life stops, prairie graveyards

**Montana artist Charles M. Russell captures the shattered blow of winter’s fury in “Waiting for a Chinook” (“Last of Five Thousand”) as depicted in this watercolor. (Courtesy of Pinterest**)

This poem attempts to capture the daunting winter of 1886-1887 on the prairies in the Montana Territory when the Open Range’s cattle industry collapsed from its near annihilation. Russell’s artwork says even more than words can describe.

Follow His Footsteps

Posted on January 27, 2021 by bigskybuckeye

From Romans 12:1-2: “I appeal to you therefore, brothers and sisters, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, which is your spiritual worship. Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your minds, so that you may discern what is the will of God—what is good and acceptable and perfect.”

Imperfect humans

Walking darkest trails

World twists upside down

Christ calls, without fail

World crying out with

Endless, empty claims

Filled with dead end thoughts

Christ drowns looming flames

Noisy distractions

Countless temptations

Follow His footsteps

Christ’s supplications

Waking to darkness

God’s will lights each day

Struggling with life’s sin

Christ bridges the way

Share genuine love

Holding fast to good

Serving the Father

Christ transforms driftwood

Zealous in spirit

Rejoicing in hope

Walk with humbleness

Christ’s love helps us cope

Marked with our Lord’s truth

Walk with Christian steps

Soul and mind renewed

Follow Christ’s footsteps

**Photo by Akshaya Premjith on Pexels.com**

From Hebrews 6:19-20: “We have this hope, a sure and steadfast anchor of the soul, a hope that enters the inner shrine behind the curtain, where Jesus, a forerunner on our behalf, has entered, having become a high priest forever according to the order of Melchizedek.”

Faith’s Testaments (Haiku Series #119)

Posted on January 26, 2021 by bigskybuckeye

Love

Brothers and sisters

God calling us to freedom—

Share our love with all

Mission

Loving the Father

Born into human likeness—

Christ empties himself

**Photo by Cu00e9sar+Mirna Choto on Pexels.com**

Submission

Trusting His guidance

Living in love of Jesus—

Submit to His will

Monday Memories: Victorious Savior

Posted on January 25, 2021 by bigskybuckeye

This Christian poem was originally published in November, 2019. The verses recount the final minutes of Jesus Christ’s earthly life at Calvary.

A few believers stand in fear

God’s only Son dies a cruel way

Sorrow fills hearts so near

What will we now do and say?

Hope dies on a barren hill

Spotlighting a bloody cross

What happens—can’t be God’s will

Witnessing a life, now lost

Darkness fills a burial room

Feeling cold and forlorn

Sitting as an empty tomb

From here, hope is reborn

The sun rises on Easter morn

God’s Son fulfills His promise

Glorious Resurrection sets the norm

Even for a single, doubting Thomas

The greatest story ever told

We drop to a knee and pray

God’s action, never so bold

Victorious Christ, the final say

Just in Case

Posted on January 24, 2021 by bigskybuckeye

From James 4:6: “But He gives all the more grace; therefore it says, ‘God opposes the proud, but gives grace to the humble.'”

Our Creator’s divine plan

Offers fullest, living grace

Giving patience, just in case

When running life’s anxious race

Our Lord shares forgiveness

Relationships need healing

Forgiving sin, just in case

When each day seems freewheeling

Heaven’s Father, sharing peace

Imperfect lives needing change

Trimming each branch, just in case

When roaming lost on God’s range

God shares His timely wisdom

From Heaven, He sees us fall

Touching our hand, just in case

When we need His hope-filled call

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

From John 15:1-2: “I am the true vine, and my Father is the vinegrower. He removes every branch in me that bears no fruit. Every branch that bears fruit He prunes to make it bear more fruit.”

River of Life

Posted on January 23, 2021 by bigskybuckeye

From Psalm 92:12-15: “The righteous flourish like the palm tree, and grow like a cedar in Lebanon. They are planted in the house of the Lord; they flourish in the courts of our God. In old age they still produce fruit; they are always green and full of sap, showing that the Lord is upright; He is my rock, and there is no unrighteousness in Him.”

**Photo by Johannes Rapprich on Pexels.com**

River of life, unceasing in its travels

Mysteries of life, shall ever unravel

From heavenly source, cascades living water

Shaping clay, molded by Creation’s potter

When ultimate challenges travel too high

Overcoming all odds, courage one’s ally

Life’s purpose, taking self far from safety’s home

Discovering meaning, hidden catacombs

Fate knocking, invisible hand clearly seen

Traveling waters, transparent with routine

Years continue to advance, filled with Lord’s grace

Breathing enduring joy, from life’s timeless chase

Life’s sunset glimmers, over cloudless skyline

Looking back, years richer than any gold mine

Mysteries of life, eternally fulfilled

River of life, journey which only God builds

From the words of American pastor and Christian teacher, Charles Stanley: “Our bodies may age, but we get old only if we choose to do so–attitude is what makes the difference.”

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Obeying

Needing

Seeking

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Love

Mission

Submission

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