Big Sky Buckeye

A writer's journey continues

By Faith Alone

Posted on December 30, 2021 by bigskybuckeye

From Hebrews 11:1: “Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen.”

Praising his earthly work ethic

Man seeking Father’s lasting grace

Totally missing Gospel’s heart

By faith alone, shall love embrace

Preparing for Heaven’s homeland

Mercy of Christ walking ahead

Righteousness, marking worldly path

By faith alone, waits daily bread

Tasting God’s eternal goodness

Earthly trials, evil’s dark hand

Lord’s strength overcomes man’s weakness

By faith alone, His grace commands

Seeking blessings for things hoped for

Filled with promises, where love dwells

Thirsty for Christ’s living water

By faith alone, salvation swells

**Photo by Anton Atanasov on Pexels.com**

From Hebrews 11:6: “And without faith it is impossible to please God, for whoever would approach Him must believe that He exists and that He rewards those who seek Him.”

Lee Roberson Quote

Posted on December 29, 2021 by bigskybuckeye

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The greatest faith is born in the hour of despair.

From Ephesians 6:16: “With all of these, take the shield of faith, with which you will be able to quench all the flaming arrows of the evil one.”

Faith’s Adventure

Posted on December 26, 2021 by bigskybuckeye

From the words of American pastor and Christian teacher, Charles Stanley: “Obeying God’s will in our lives should not be a burden but a thrilling adventure that we walk through with Him each day.”

Believer’s obedience

Thrilling adventure

Filled with Father’s blessed grace

Divine, joint venture

Trusting with patience of Job

Faith’s foundation grows

Living upon Father’s rock

His way always knows

One step follows another

Smallest matters count

Daily walk of faith matures

Father’s blessings mount

Escaping from sin’s darkness

Mercy marks life’s route

Repenting for transgressions

Father’s grace takes sprout

Obedience grows with love

Leading back to God

Life’s choices, Father rewards

His glory’s tripod

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From Psalm 40:6-8: “Sacrifice and offering you do not desire, but you have given me an open ear. Burnt offering and sin offering you have not required. Then I said, ‘Here I am; in the scroll of the book it is written of me. I delight to do your will, O my God; your law is within my heart.'”

Never Alone (Haiku Series #165)

Posted on December 14, 2021 by bigskybuckeye

Trusting

Walking through life’s fire

Never to blindly stumble—

God always walks close

Depending

Darkness testing faith

Patiently trusting Father—

Accepting His plan

Witnessing

Holy Spirit seeks

Guiding tongues in bringing forth—

Pure and blessed speech

Filled with Joy (Third Sunday of Advent)

Posted on December 12, 2021 by bigskybuckeye

From Zephaniah 3:14-15: “Sing aloud, O daughter Zion; shout, O Israel! Rejoice and exult with all your heart, O daughter Jerusalem! The Lord has taken away the judgments against you, He has turned away your enemies. The king of Israel, the Lord, is in your midst; you shall fear disaster no more.”

**Photo by Tobias Bju00f8rkli on Pexels.com**

Looking inward, changing selves

Repenting, reversing course

Searching for life’s cherished peace

Joy spreads from Bethlehem’s source

Reading, praying, reflecting

Preparing our minds and hearts

Beaming starlight in dark times

Joy brightens, world seeks restart

Rejoicing always, Lord is near

Restoring fortunes, Prince of Peace

Renewing tomorrow’s hope

Joy transcends Father’s new lease

Trusting in God’s promises

Waiting with welcoming grace

Singing praises, justice calls

Joy blossoms in this birthplace

Proclaiming mercy-filled peace

Glowing, rising midnight sun

Igniting life’s dormant faith

Joy worships birth of God’s Son

**Photo by Susanne Jutzeler on Pexels.com**

You are invited to join in prayer: Lord God, your love and mercy promise hope, joy, and peace. During this season of Advent, open our hearts in preparation to receive our Savior. Amen.

“Joy to the World” is frequently sung during the Advent and Christmas season. Written in 1719 by English minister and hymn writer, Isaac Watts, this hymn has been a favorite for well over 100 years in North America.

Charles Swindoll Quote

Posted on December 8, 2021 by bigskybuckeye

**Photo by Caroline Veronez on Pexels.com**

“I will hold you up,” God says. When you lean on another person or another thing, your focus is sideways, not vertical. Human crutches paralyze the walk of faith.

From Isaiah 41:10: “Do not fear, for I am with you, do not be afraid, for I am your God; I will strengthen you, I will help you, I will uphold you with My victorious right hand.”

Charles Stanley Quote

Posted on November 28, 2021 by bigskybuckeye

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

The Lord wants us to lay down our ways of figuring things out and instead to walk by faith.

From 2 Corinthians 5:6-7: “So we are always confident; even though we know that while we are at home in the body we are away from the Lord—for we walk by faith, not by sight.”

Sorrow to Joy

Posted on November 24, 2021 by bigskybuckeye

From John 16:20: “Very truly, I tell you, you will weep and mourn, but the world will rejoice; you will have pain, but your pain will turn into joy.”

Frightened, behind closed doors

Sorrowful tears cry out

Yesterday, filled with light

Today, darkness brings doubt

Disciples and others

Bewildered and scattered

Christ’s death crushes spirit

Faith’s fragileness shattered

No place to run toward

Trapped and shut-off from God

Tomorrow’s hope now gone

What makes this picture flawed?

Peter, John, and Mary

Cold, empty tomb proclaims

Resurrection witnessed

Evil’s planning in flames

Sorrow turning to joy

Messiah comes to save

Bloodied cross bears man’s sins

Chains no longer enslave

**Photo by Andrea Piacquadio on Pexels.com**

From John 20:18: “Mary Magdalene went and announced to the disciples, ‘I have seen the Lord’; and she told them that He had said these things to her.”

Monday Memories: Waiting For Rain

Posted on November 22, 2021 by bigskybuckeye

Photo by Fabiano Rodrigues on Pexels.com

What is so special about simple rain?

Have you truly witnessed God’s gift of rain?

Everywhere, anticipation of rain

Withering crops crave God’s rainfall today

Farmers wait faithfully for rains to come

Without rain, hearts and plants start to decay

The farmland depends on these vital rains

Last year, little rain arrives to help out

Sunny skies chase away clouds too often

“Next year” cries out from thirsty lands of drought

Farmers sow their spring crops on faith alone

Waiting for nature to moisten the ground

Praying to the Lord, asking for His rain

Rain arrives, new life rising skyward bound

God sends righteousness, in the form of rain

Fulfilling prayers, easing farmers’ pain

From Isaiah 45:8: “Shower, O heavens, from above, and let the skies rain down righteousness; let the earth open, that salvation may spring up, and let it cause righteousness to sprout up also; I the Lord have created it.”

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Monday Memories: Seeking His Guidance

Posted on November 15, 2021 by bigskybuckeye

Photo by Mike on Pexels.com

From Psalm 37:23-24: “Our steps are made firm by the Lord, when He delights in our way; though we stumble, we shall not fall headlong, for the Lord holds us by the hand.”

God wants us to succeed today

Asking for our patience and trust

Allowing faith to rebuild hope

Studying from His Word, we must

Always trusting in our Father

Bringing us guidance and His love

Achieving good through His name

Touching hearts, His joy sings above

We are never forsaken, never

Leading, God offers direction

Finding the means, moving forward

Meeting trials with reflection

The wicked gather all around

Following the Enemy’s lies

Causing God to judge their follies

Coming Judgment Day will apprise

Our Savior’s coming, all waiting

Receiving God’s Grace, what a gift

The Lord standing with the righteous

Accepting His plan, lives not adrift

We may still misstep and stumble

Preventing us from falling down

Reaching out, God’s hand guiding us

Fleeing, the thirsty Enemy frowns

Through His Word, the Father blesses

Giving generously, all with love

Choosing Jesus, Salvation comes

Seeking God’s guidance, from above

From the words of Dutch priest, writer, and theologian Henri Nouwen: “A spiritual discipline is necessary in order to move slowly from an absurd to an obedient life, from a life filled with noisy worries to a life in which there is some free inner space where we can listen to our God and follow His guidance.”

man s hand in shallow focus and grayscale photography

Photo by lalesh aldarwish on Pexels.com

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Trusting

Depending

Witnessing

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