Big Sky Buckeye

A writer's journey continues

Taste His Goodness

Posted on June 18, 2020 by bigskybuckeye

David praises the greatness of God through Scripture found in Psalm 145, and these verses inspire this poem.

Each day life seems too normal

Monotonous and mundane

Beautiful bundle arrives

Hallmarks of our Lord’s domain

Blessing us each precious day

Spontaneous surprises

Praising our Father’s great name

Goodness comes in all sizes

Reaching depths of every sea

Loving each generation

Eclipsing highest heavens

Honoring God’s creation

Awesome and vast deeds come forth

Witnessing God’s mighty acts

Glorious splendor singing

Filling what life truly lacks

God’s everlasting kingdom

Harvesting abundant gifts

Faithful words stir greatest feats

Balancing life’s slips and shifts

Singing of God’s righteousness

Showering with compassion

Tasting His Holy goodness

Remembering His passion

Blessing His name forever

Amen

From Psalm 145:8: “The Lord is gracious and merciful, slow to anger and abounding in steadfast love.”

Life’s Screenshots (Haiku Series #82)

Posted on June 16, 2020 by bigskybuckeye

Hurry

Blazing summer heat

Laboring against the clock—

Melting ice cream cone

**Photo by Jonathan Borba on Pexels.com**

Morning Ritual

New day beginning

Morning coffee aroma—

Good to the next cup

Try Again

Internet gateway

Needing a secure password—

How does p@$$word sound?

Pursuing Wisdom

Posted on June 14, 2020 by bigskybuckeye

From the words of Latin priest and theologian Jerome of Stridon: “Love Holy Scripture, and wisdom will love you. Love her, and she will keep you. Honor her, and she will keep you.”

Pursuing wisdom over a lifetime

Gathering, enriching a single life

Applying to everyday challenges

Loving Scripture, supplanting darkest strife

Seeking wisdom with a hunger for more

Searching in the truthful and proper place

Persevering with consistency now

Tasting God’s Holy Word and loving grace

Sustaining the tree of life, holding fast

Following a righteous path, leads to peace

Finding God’s wisdom, life’s only true wealth

Blessing His wisdom, sustains life’s new lease

Trusting these blessed fruits of God’s wisdom

Turning evil away, aligned with Him

Refreshing mind and body, healing flesh

Respecting God’s Word, singing a new hymn

Treating our neighbors better than ourselves

Trusting, loving, supporting each other

Walking together with God, hand in hand

Partnering with each sister and brother

Photo by Andrea Piacquadio on Pexels.com

From Proverbs 3:13: “Happy are those who find wisdom, and those who get understanding,”

Hand in Hand

Posted on June 13, 2020 by bigskybuckeye

From Matthew 14:25:27: “And early in the morning He [Jesus] came walking toward them on the sea. But when the disciples saw Him walking on the sea, they were terrified, saying, ‘It is a ghost!’ And they cried out in fear. But immediately Jesus spoke to them and said, ‘Take heart, it is I; do not be afraid.'”

Dreaded Covid arrives, knocking at her door

Daughter takes refuge on a hospital floor

Fear challenges faith during this trying hour

Daughter and mother seek God’s love and power

Through their journey of faith, walking together

God steps forward, quieting stormy weather

Hand in hand with God, crossing scary tightrope

His love sustains their faith, resurrecting hope

Mother and daughter’s prayers, faithfully roam

This hellish scourge flees at last, sending her home

Singing praises of thanksgiving, with glad hearts

Walking hand in hand, their life journey restarts

Kneeling before a Holy, mighty Father

Feeling the Lord’s love, like a great grandfather

**Photo by Wendy van Zyl on Pexels.com**

From Psalm 92:1-2: “It is good to give thanks to the Lord, to sing praises to your name, O Most High; to declare your steadfast love in the morning, and your faithfulness by night.”

Transforming Light (Elfchen Series #18)

Posted on June 12, 2020 by bigskybuckeye

Transformation

Today

Pursuing Jesus

Cultivating your relationship

Drawing nearer to Christ

Salvation

Follow Him

Faith

First element

Christian life journey

Who is in control?

God

**Photo by Kun Fotografi on Pexels.com**

Into the Light

Darkness

Surrounding me

Challenging my faith

God says, “Don’t fear”

Jesus

**Photo by Szabolcs Toth on Pexels.com**

Suffering No More

Posted on June 11, 2020 by bigskybuckeye

Reading from Psalm 38, one finds David’s words as he asks for God’s healing. This poem’s verses bring to the forefront an active voice with feeling, praying, finding, healing, praising, and seeing.

**Photo by Isaac Weatherly on Pexels.com**

Feeling darkness

Feeling unknown

Feeling empty

Feeling alone

Praying with faith

Praying this Psalm

Praying for hope

Praying for calm

Finding God’s love

Finding what’s heard

Finding new life

Finding His Word

Healing these wounds

Healing this soul

Healing my heart

Healing me whole

Praising Father

Praising accords

Praising heavens

Praising my Lord

Seeing the Cross

Seeing the light

Seeing Christ’s love

Seeing God’s might

From Psalm 38:15: “But it is for you, O Lord, that I wait; it is you, O Lord my God, who will answer.”

Big Sky Memories

Posted on June 10, 2020 by bigskybuckeye

I must admit that I have been feeling a bit homesick in thinking of my native state of Montana, where much of my family still lives. This poem and photographs share some past memories of experiencing these awesome wonders of the Big Sky state, and I look forward to visiting when Covid-19 finally takes a backseat.

**Looking downstream, the scenic Madison River as seen along U.S. Highway 287 between Hebgen Lake and the delightful community of Ennis.**

Dreaming often of Montana’s Big Sky

Feeling more like an eagle, flying high

Revisiting wide open eastern plains

Watching combines harvesting ripened grains

Driving switchbacks on the Beartooth Highway

Topping amazing heights, wishing to stay

Floating the Yellowstone, like yesterday

Spending time with old friends, lasting all day

Scaling Baldy Mountain, there’s just one goal

Reaching the “M” without taking a roll

Fishing the scenic Madison once more

Joining Herb and his grandson, trout in store

Exploring limestone caverns underground

Enjoying mysteries, yet to be found

Walking the Bear Paw Mountains near Chinook

Learning Nez Perce history, without books

Motoring down the “Going to the Sun”

Chasing this highway to the setting sun

Flying over this amazing “Last Best Place”

Returning soon for another sweet taste

**From the summer of 2018, climbing the trail to the largest block “M” in the country. The “M” stands for Montana State University, where I graduated from 40 years earlier.**

Nature’s Bounty (Haiku Series #81)

Posted on June 9, 2020 by bigskybuckeye

Joyful

Unceasing rainfall

A minor inconvenience—

Landscape turning green

Thrilling

Around every bend

Nature offers surprises—

Mysteries waiting

Listening

Quiet stillness sits

Can you hear nature at work?

With each blade of grass

Monday Memories: Heavenly Tranquility

Posted on June 8, 2020 by bigskybuckeye

Life sometimes motors along much too fast

Leaving us hungry for something that lasts

A journey to a big city, feeling so alone

Thinking I should have stayed at home

I am not used to being in the big city, yes

Realizing my Lord has put me to this test

The final morning arrives, thank goodness

Dreaming of any place, filled with fullness

My morning walk takes me to a hidden place

Parking itself near a stadium, comes a taste

A botanical garden erupts with vibrant color

Blossoming the landscape, like none other

Colors of every imaginable shade and hue

Beholding God’s brilliance, eternally true

My eyes capture incredible memories that last

Experiencing heavenly tranquility, what a blast

God brought me here today for a special reason

Planning to share His love, no matter the season

Harmony in Creation

Posted on June 7, 2020 by bigskybuckeye

This poem is inspired with Creation’s visions from Psalm 104 (the poem’s first 12 verses), and with a response from the hymn “My Life Flows On in Endless Song” (the poem’s final six verses).

Photo by Brett Sayles on Pexels.com

Clothed with Holy majesty and honor

Heavens stretching out to infinity

Our Lord’s masterpiece endures forever

Clouds witness this sacred affinity

Earth’s foundation, never to be shaken

Lofty mountaintops look upon it all

Safe refuge waiting in fertile valleys

Creation’s spirit fulfilling each call

From flowing springs, animals quenching thirst

Every season following moon’s phases

Birds singing praise from highest tree branches

Rising and setting sun painting praises

God’s creation flowing as endless songs

Nothing shall ever shake its inner calm

Echoing across earth’s fruitful valleys

Scaling each mountaintop as joyful Psalms

Creation’s fountain forever springing

Beauty of the Lord’s harmony singing

time lapse photo of water falls in the forest

Photo by Aleksey Kuprikov on Pexels.com

From Colossians 1:16: “For in Him all things in heaven and on earth were created, things visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or rulers or powers—all things have been created through Him and for Him.”

Here is the melody and lyrics to “My Life Flows On in Endless Song”:

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Hurry

Morning Ritual

Try Again

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Transformation

Follow Him

Into the Light

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Joyful

Thrilling

Listening

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