Big Sky Buckeye

A writer's journey continues

Seasoned with Salt

Posted on December 13, 2023 by bigskybuckeye

From Colossians 4:5-6: “Conduct yourselves wisely toward outsiders, making the most of the time. Let your speech always be gracious, seasoned with salt, so that you may know how you ought to answer everyone.”

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Words, each matter

Jesus leading

Seasoned with salt

Prayer feeding

Words filled with peace

Jesus imparts

Seasoned with grace

Mercy fills heart

Words magnify

Jesus’ teachings

Seasoned with love

Change far-reaching

Words quieting

Jesus transforms

Seasoned with faith

Now empty storms

Words share wisdom

Jesus’ sixth sense

Seasoned with truth

Gospel’s defense

Words new pathway

Jesus affirms

Seasoned with salt

Goodness confirms

From Luke 6:45: “The good person out of the good treasure of the heart produces good, and the evil person out of evil treasure produces evil, for it is out of the abundance of the heart that the mouth speaks.”

Merciful Grace

Posted on December 6, 2023 by bigskybuckeye

From Psalm 103:8: “The Lord is merciful and gracious, slow to anger and abounding in steadfast love.”

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Praising God eternal

His merciful grace reigns

Steadfast, abounding love

Unshackling evil’s chains

Praising almighty God

His glory always reigns

Filled with merciful love

Blessing life, changing lanes

Praising God’s steady hand

His endless grace shall reign

Forgiveness, heals with love

Boarding heavenly train

Praising God’s Holy name

Spirit coming to reign

His mercy shared with love

Covering distant plains

Praising God’s divine plan

Son’s kingdom born to reign

Taste lasting, grace-filled love

Washing white, sinful veins

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From the words of American pastor and theologian, Eugene Peterson: “God is sheer mercy and grace.”

Hope’s Fulfilling Night (First Sunday of Advent)

Posted on December 3, 2023 by bigskybuckeye

From Isaiah 7:14: “Therefore the Lord Himself will give you a sign. Look, the young woman is with child and shall bear a son and shall name Him Immanuel.”

Leading from Zion

Mercy taking flight

God shall be with us

Hope’s ember of light

Sprouting from his roots

Jesse’s stump alive

Faithful branches breathe

Hope’s spirit survives

Waiting in prayer

Prophesied birthplace

Prince shall bring His peace

Hope’s beacon of grace

Sheltering man’s faith

Bethlehem sleeping

Flock’s promised Shepherd

Hope’s heart now leaping

Believing in God

Life’s harshness turns bright

Virgin bears His Son

Hope’s fulfilling night

Advent Prayer: Heavenly Father, as we remember and reflect upon this Advent season, assist us in turning our hearts toward You as we approach the birth of Your blessed Son. Encourage us to celebrate the gifts received from that very first Christmas: hope, peace, joy, and love. Amen.

One of Advent’s most enduring hymns is “O Come, O Come, Emmanuel.” The original text was composed in Latin during the 12th century. In 1861, English priest and scholar John Mason Neale translated the lyrics into what many Christians recognize and sing today.

Gospel’s Revelations (Elfchen Series #179)

Posted on December 1, 2023 by bigskybuckeye

Encouraging

Grace

Unconditionally offered

Father’s timely gift

Propelling faith’s lasting peace

Love

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Fulfilling

Hope

Tomorrow’s destiny

God’s everlasting promises

His faithful, righteous Word

Trust

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Beholding

Courage

Undeniably witnessed

Savior’s steadfast journey

Mercy’s blood spilling over

Faith

Inescapable

Posted on November 29, 2023 by bigskybuckeye

From Psalm 139:1-2: “O Lord, you have searched me and known me. You know when I sit down and when I rise up; you discern my thoughts from far away.”

Searching and knowing

Discerning each thought

Inescapable

God ties one more knot

Seeing tomorrow

Opening one’s eyes

Inescapable

God hears every cry

Leading each day forth

Holding darkness back

Inescapable

God’s light covers black

Sharing His good works

Teaching righteous truth

Inescapable

God matures one’s youth

Weaving from earth’s depths

Knitting with intent

Inescapable

God’s efforts well-meant

Navigating storms

Lifting each above

Inescapable

God brings grace-filled love

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From Psalm 139:11-12: “If I say, ‘Surely the darkness shall cover me, and night wraps itself around me,’ even the darkness is not dark to You; the night is as bright as the day, for darkness is as light to You.”

Choosing God’s Love

Posted on November 22, 2023 by bigskybuckeye

From 1 John 4:15-16: “God abides in those who confess that Jesus is the Son of God, and they abide in God. So we have known and believe the love that God has for us. God is love, and those who abide in love abide in God, and God abides in them.”

Earth filled with darkness

Hate crosses another street

Enemy’s hand at work

Peace surrenders its fleet

World aching for change

Grace knocking on every door

Chains of evil loosen

Love coming ashore

God holds righteous reins

Providence surges ahead

Muscles ready to flex

Born in Bethlehem shed

Hope now awakens

Messiah’s light enters in

Choice now offered to all

Love strengthens faith’s linchpin

Darkness and hate flee

Forgiven, choosing God’s love

Mercy stirs with kindness

Witnessed from high above

From 1 John 4:21: “The commandment we have from Him is this: those who love God must love their brothers and sisters also.”

Charles Swindoll Quote

Posted on November 22, 2023 by bigskybuckeye

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To be humble in heart . . . is to be submissive to the core. It involves being more interested in serving the needs of others than in having one’s own needs met.

From Philippians 2:3-4: “Do nothing from selfish ambition or empty conceit, but in humility regard others as better than yourselves. Let each of you look not to your own interests but to the interests of others.”

Father’s Gift

Posted on November 8, 2023 by bigskybuckeye

From Psalm 118:24: “This is the day that the Lord has made; let us rejoice and be glad in it.”

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Each morning sunrise

Father’s gift to thee

Heaven’s brilliant skies

Mercy offers free

Coffee friends meeting

Father gathers all

Grace pours out greetings

Kindness fills each y’all

Kitchen’s window view

Father sharing peace

Each tender fescue

Life’s renewing lease

From each faithful seed

Father’s blessed prize

Harvest’s bounty feeds

Thoughts forever wise

Day’s fading sunset

Father always here

Night’s trusted cornet

Rhythm always clear

From Psalm 42:8: “By day the Lord commands His steadfast love, and at night His song is with me, a prayer to the God of my life.”

Actions Never by Chance

Posted on November 1, 2023 by bigskybuckeye

From John 10:10-11: “The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy. I came that they may have life and have it abundantly. I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd lays down His life for the sheep.”

Father almighty

Designing redemption’s plan

Actions never by chance

Good Shepherd, faith’s steady helmsman

Shepherd’s faith searches

Teaching His flock, hear My voice

Actions never by chance

Heavenly angels shall rejoice

Angelic choir sings

Rising from cold, empty tomb

Actions never by chance

Redeemer’s grace faithfully blooms

Redeemer sheds blood

Forgiving each transgression

Actions never by chance

Father blesses without question

Father’s greatest love

Offering His only Son

Actions never by chance

Forever, His will shall be done

From John 3:16-17: “For God so loved the world that He gave His only Son, so that everyone who believes in Him may not perish but may have eternal life. Indeed, God did not send the Son into the world to condemn the world but in order that the world might be saved through Him.”

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Encouraging

Fulfilling

Beholding

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