Gentle morning clouds
Gather above lofty peaks
Valley awakens
From nightly mystique
Misty rain drops in
Moisture covers quiet fields
Valley’s sunrise climbs
Rainbow’s blessed shield
Lake’s tranquil waters
Every fisherman’s delight
Valley smiling back
Trout ready to bite
River’s pace slows down
Dam hidden at canyon’s gate
Valley sings with joy
Faith’s daily soul mate
Creator shares peace
Small town’s unflappable pace
Valley’s spirit leads
Witness morning’s grace
Nothing tends more to cement the hearts of Christians than praying together.
From Matthew 20:18: “For where two or three are gathered in My name, I am there among them.”
Charles Finney (1792-1875) was an American pastor and Christian evangelist. In the years before America’s Civil War, he was an outspoken opponent of slavery.
Waking up on cold, frigid, winter morn
Looking like snowy storms, soon to be born
Pulling warm covers over this bare head
Let’s fast forward to new season instead
Always dreaming with bigness every night
Never alone, tasting perfect delight
Traveling ahead to hot summer day
Feeling urge to jump up, shouting to say
Has one ever seen more beautiful sky?
Sensational, unblemished blue so high
Treasure State’s journey, mines purest pleasures
Opening saddlebag, full of treasures
Shining high above, fullest sun in view
Sharing smiles with heavens, always be true
Western hospitality, comes this way
Be sure to come back, as we always say
From warmest hearts, joy overflows with grace
Montana’s Big Sky, lifetime’s “Last Best Place”
This poem reworks the theme from a previously published poem from 2019. The much-improved verses were inspired by the 1990 publication of The Last Best Place: A Montana Anthology. Through eight chapters and over 800 pages, the works of numerous Montana authors can be read. Each illustrates the unique way of life and history found in Montana’s Big Sky Country.
Pursuing
Faith’s righteousness
Light opens path
Steps honor Savior’s grace
Found
Building
Lasting relationships
Quiet reflection’s refreshment
Accepting Savior’s timeless grace
Strengthened
Tasting
Precious wisdom
Cultivating Savior’s grace
Sprinkled with tomorrow’s hope
Behold
We don’t heal in isolation, but in community.
You don’t find light by avoiding the darkness.
S. Kelley Harrell is an American author with many books to her credit. Her home is found in North Carolina.
Nobody is a whole chain. Each one is a link. But take one link and the chain is broken. We need each other. You need someone and someone needs you. Isolated islands, we’re not.
From Colossians 1:9: “For this reason, since the day we heard it, we have not ceased praying for you and asking that you may be filled with the knowledge of God’s will in all spiritual wisdom and understanding,”
Father’s
Sharing grace
People needing others
Serving each with love
Harmony
Growing
Fruitful friendships
Iron sharpens iron
Refining faith of another
Brotherhood
Love’s
Eternal commandment
Coming from Jesus
Caring for one another
Community
From Galatians 6:2: “Bear one another’s burdens, and in this way you will fulfill the law of Christ.”
Created with purpose
Breathing with His desires
Divine God stirs up grace
Planting what life requires
Need for community
Designing faith’s pathway
Communion joins many
Tasting Savior’s buffet
Encouragement in Christ
Sharing in Spirit’s love
Saints gathering as one
Feeling joy from above
Fellowship’s lasting bonds
Confessing sins, repent
Prayer lifts others up
Witnessing God’s intent
Blueprint for believers
Bearing life’s overloads
Love shared with each other
Transforming faith’s crossroads
From James 5:16: “Therefore confess your sins to one another and pray for one another, so that you may be healed. The prayer of the righteous is powerful and effective.”
Cherishing small towns
America’s gift
Community pride
Life never adrift
Welcoming Main Street
Absent traffic lights
Community hub
Unique stores excite
People greet with “hello”
Strangers become friends
Community loves
Caring’s dividends
Close-knit neighborhoods
Immaculate yards
Community joy
Beauty fills postcards
Town’s crowning jewel
School engages minds
Community guides
Students’ daily grind
White wood-framed churches
God’s daily footprint
Community prays
Town’s faithful blueprint
The fabric of a small town in strengthened by how people stay connected with one another. Long before the Internet and cable, people actually talked face-to-face.
Billy owns and operates a small service station on the corner of Main Street and the highway which passes through town. Years ago, he took over the operation from his father. Assisting him a few hours each day is Duane, a retired highway patrol trooper.
Billy and Duane run a station without too many frills. They stick pretty much to selling gas, changing worn-out batteries, rotating and balancing tires, and light service and maintenance of cars and trucks.
Anyone who just happens to drop in can usually find a seat on the generous and wide window ledge inside as well as a comfortable bench outside.
The “Conoco” station has been here for many years so everyone knows about Billy and his business. People depend on him for many of their automotive needs, but the special folks drop in for an even more important reason.
Many people think the original CNN (Cable News Network) was founded in 1980 by media mogul Ted Turner. Billy likes to think otherwise.
A small sign on the bulletin board identifies this station as a site for CNN. For the “hottest brand going” in local news, one needs to stop by CNN (Conoco News Network), which is years older than the other CNN.
Locals stop in to catch up on the latest news and more. Sometimes a visitor just might hear a bit of innocent gossip or the sharing of a story or two (but watch out for the really “tall” tales).
On the busiest of days, Billy and Duane always have a free minute to share and gather news. The day always goes faster with conversation while a car or truck goes up on the hoist every half hour.
Joe stops by this morning. He is a colorful cowboy-type who worked on the big dam construction project back in the 1930s. His stories are legendary. But be warned, he just might take one on a hunt for pocket gophers.
Another regular happens to be Pete, a retired teacher. Later in the morning, he stops by on his way to the post office. In a small town, everything is within a short distance.
In the early afternoon, Flint rides up on his fine-looking quarter horse. The duo has been out for a ride, and both need a quick water break. Even at CNN, news can be delivered by “Pony Express.”
Big Sky Buckeye 