Big Sky Buckeye

A writer's journey continues

Monday Memories: Leaving Room

Posted on April 24, 2023 by bigskybuckeye

From Galatians 1:15-16: “But when God, who has set me apart before I was born and called me through His grace, was pleased to reveal His Son to me, so that I might proclaim Him among the Gentiles.”

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Life will sometimes serve us trials

God asking for some elbow room

Always leaving room for the Lord

Delivering light over our gloom

Never be surprised when God comes

At His choosing, His will descends

Always leaving room for the Lord

His Spirit pays real dividends

Looking out for God’s faithful love

Expecting Him to come close by

Always leaving room for the Lord

Never certain of how, when, why

Following God’s Holy commands

He stands at center of our selves

Always leaving room for the Lord

Transforming lives, from cluttered shelves

Just as Jesus stuns vengeful Saul

On a darkened Damascus road

Always leaving room for the Lord

Knowing our way, will just implode

Any given time, God breaks in

He blesses us with His surprise

Always leaving room for the Lord

Following His plan, always wise

smiling woman in black denim long sleeve

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From Scottish evangelist and teacher, Oswald Chambers: “Always be in a state of expectancy, and see that you leave room for God to come in as He likes.”

Originally published March, 2020.

Always Near

Posted on April 23, 2023 by bigskybuckeye

From Isaiah 40:10-11: “See, the Lord God comes with might, and His arm rules for Him; His reward is with Him and His recompense before Him. He will feed His flock like a shepherd; He will gather the lambs in His arms and carry them in His bosom and gently lead the mother sheep.”

Staying close

Mercy knows

Chasing away doubts

God’s hand reaches out

Quiet rest

Hope be blest

Faith’s embers restart

Nestled in God’s heart

Always near

Never fear

Righteous grace arrives

Resurrection thrives

Peaceful place

Light’s embrace

Holy Spirit roams

Redemption comes home

The hymn “Near to the Heart of God” inspired today’s faith-based poem. Here is a dynamic video of the hymn with lyrics by Fountainview Academy in British Columbia, Canada.

Father’s Love (Elfchen Series #149)

Posted on April 21, 2023 by bigskybuckeye

Revealing

Lost

Darkest wilderness

Focusing on Light

Mercy shall be waiting

Found

Confiding

Believing

Never forsaken

Conversation with God

Faithful trust connects daily

Prayer

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Heartening

Discouraged

Frozen outlook

Spirit’s warming presence

Gentle rain of grace

Encouraged

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.

God’s Quiet Place

Posted on April 19, 2023 by bigskybuckeye

From Luke 6:12: “Now during those days He went out to the mountain to pray, and He spent the night in prayer to God.”

Needing to rest awhile

Overwhelmed, countless thoughts

Looking for special place

Mind bound in endless knots

Seeking time for prayer

Faced with fleeting choices

Searching for quiet place

Away from past voices

Hiking to mountaintop

Filled with Spirit’s insight

Trusting every new step

God welcomes with His light

Being alone with God

Bottled up words speak out

Praying for hours on end

Life’s course now comes about

Hearing from God’s wisdom

Blessed words offer grace

Quelling battle within

Always, God’s quiet place

From Luke 5:16: “Meanwhile, He would slip away to deserted places and pray.”

Andrew Murray Quote

Posted on April 19, 2023 by bigskybuckeye

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Where there is much prayer, there will be much of the Spirit; where there is much of the Spirit, there will be ever-increasing prayer.

From James 5:15-16: “The prayer of faith will save the sick, and the Lord will raise them up, and anyone who has committed sins will be forgiven. 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.”

Andrew Murray (1828-1917) was a South African Christian pastor, writer, and teacher. He believed that Christians should always place a great emphasis on maintaining a rich, personal devotional life.

Monday Memories: Procrastinators Club

Posted on April 17, 2023 by bigskybuckeye

From 2 Corinthians 9:6: “The point is this: the one who sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and the one who sows bountifully will also reap bountifully.”

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Hey you, yes you!

Sitting there alone

Life without a view

Lack of efficient action

Reaping fear and doubt

Living without traction

Being a loyal member

Procrastinators Club

Ever since November

Life’s emotional quicksand

Robbing your life rewards

Time to join a new band

Do you really desire?

To find true happiness

Without life’s misfires

Seeking God’s advice

He’ll always support you

His Grace pays the price

Spending little attention

With overwhelming fears

Can’t relax without tension

Take courage, now believe

Jesus conquers the world

Time for your life to achieve

Released from gloom

Fleeing this quagmire

Life ready to bloom

King’s Solomon’s words implant

Whoever watches the wind

Will never attempt to plant

Time to change is now

Adopt new life patterns

Sowing with a new plow

Here’s some simple advice

Now follow this amazing tip

Better than throwing dice

Do first things—first!

Better sooner, than later

Darkest clouds now burst

Each challenge, take it on

Looking fear in the face

Reaping rewards, feeling strong

Handling life, forever free

Tearing up my membership

Procrastinator, no longer me

photo of a person s hand touching wheat grass

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From American writer and lecturer, Dale Carnegie: “Action breeds confidence and courage. If you want to conquer fear, do not sit at home and think about it. Go out and get busy.”

Originally published March, 2020.

Charles Swindoll Quote

Posted on April 17, 2023 by bigskybuckeye

You know the human response to panic? First, we are afraid. Second, we run. Third, we fight. Fourth, we tell everybody. God’s counsel is just the opposite. Don’t be afraid. Stand still. Watch Him work. Keep quiet. It’s then that He does it. He takes over!

From Exodus 14:13: “But Moses said to the people, ‘Do not be afraid, stand firm, and see the deliverance that the Lord will accomplish for you today, for the Egyptians whom you see today you shall never see again.'”

Mary McLeod Bethune Quote

Posted on April 16, 2023 by bigskybuckeye

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Faith ought not to be a plaything. If we believe, we should believe like giants.

From Psalm 71:5: “For you, O Lord, are my hope, my trust, O Lord, from my youth.”

Mary McLeod Bethune (1875-1955) was an American educator, philanthropist, and civil rights activist. A daughter of former slaves, she made a significant impact in the lives of many.

Living Through Christ (Elfchen Series #148)

Posted on April 14, 2023 by bigskybuckeye

Fulfilled

Witnessing

Christ’s purpose

Opening up hearts

Inviting to follow Him

Faith

Cultivated

Nurturing

Life’s endurance

No longer suffering

Character molded by Christ

Hope

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United

Connecting

With believers

Christ’s humble approach

Sharing love with others

Grace

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Strength in Faith

Posted on April 9, 2023 by bigskybuckeye

From the words of American Christian author, Kay Arthur: “To be courageous is to step out in faith–to trust and obey, no matter what.”

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Each fear tests quiet resolve

Holding tightly to God’s Word

Strength in faith, stepping forward

Waiting courage, to be stirred

Another mountain to scale

Taking every fear to God

Faith’s shield shall always protect

Dissolving evil’s facade

Disappointment knocks at door

Believing in faithful Lord

Unspoken fears leaving heart

Sustaining grace, comes aboard

Endless wilderness journey

Seeing mercy’s light ahead

Every roadbed now smoothed out

Darning each fear, with faith’s thread

Dark challenges setting sail

Meditating day and night

Prayer surrounds every fear

Transforming faith, Savior’s light

Yesterday’s failures vanish

Removing fear’s daily stress

Faith encased with timeless love

Coming sunrise brings success

From Joshua 1:9: “I hereby command you: Be strong and courageous; do not be frightened or dismayed, for the Lord your God is with you wherever you go.”

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Revealing

Confiding

Heartening

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Fulfilled

Cultivated

United

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