Big Sky Buckeye

A writer's journey continues

Hannah Whitall Smith Quote

Posted on February 4, 2026 by bigskybuckeye

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God is the giver, and we are the receivers. And His richest gifts are bestowed not upon those who do the greatest things, but upon those who accept His abundance and His grace.

From Numbers 6:22-26: “The Lord spoke to Moses, saying, ‘Speak to Aaron and his sons, saying: Thus you shall bless the Israelites. You shall say to them: The Lord bless you and keep you;the Lord make his face to shine upon you and be gracious to you; the Lord lift up his countenance upon you and give you peace.'”

Hannah Whitall Smith (1832-1911) was an American lay speaker and Christian author. She was an active voice during the women’s suffrage movement as well as the temperance movement in the United States.

Monday Memories: Meeting at Last

Posted on February 2, 2026 by bigskybuckeye

From Luke 1:27-27: “In the sixth month the angel Gabriel was sent by God to a town in Galilee called Nazareth, to a virgin engaged to a man whose name was Joseph, of the house of David. The virgin’s name was Mary.”

When shall we ever meet?

Longing to meet my Lord

His lamp, lighting the way

Filled with love, now on board

Life’s laboring turmoil

Enchained by sin’s shackles

Christ offers lasting Grace

Freed from darkest jackals

Heaven’s gifts come to earth

Filled with unselfish love

Each dawn brings liberty

Embracing newfound love

Rejoice, again rejoice!

No more trembling in fear

Appearing like day’s sun

Safely home, Jesus steers

From Luke 24:50-53: “Then He led them out as far as Bethany, and, lifting up His hands, He blessed them. While He was blessing them, He withdrew from them and was carried up into heaven. And they worshiped Him, and returned to Jerusalem with great joy; and they were continually in the temple blessing God.”

Salvation’s Refreshment (Elfchen Series #286)

Posted on January 30, 2026 by bigskybuckeye

Quenching

All

Who thirst

Seek living waters

Flowing into believer’s heart

Come

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Enriching

Given

From Jesus

Precious living waters

Flowing from Spirit’s depths

Life

**Photo by Daniel & Hannah Snipes on Pexels.com**

Praising

Accepting

Christ’s nourishment

Blessed living waters

Flowing outward from heavens

Grace

From Isaiah 12:3: “With joy you will draw water from the wells of salvation.”

Monday Memories: Attitude of Praise

Posted on January 26, 2026 by bigskybuckeye

From Psalm 111:1: “Praise the Lord! I will give thanks to the Lord with my whole heart, in the company of the upright, in the congregation.”

**Photo by Littlehampton Bricks on Pexels.com**

Pessimistic and gloomy attitude

One negative brick follows another

Suffocating and negative self-talk

Sounding more like Eeyore’s little brother

Time for transforming callous attitude

With praise and thanksgiving, eyes upon God

His Grace offering truest Bread of Life

Believe, follow, accept His blessed rod

Breathing in our Lord’s trusted, living Word

Dropping negativity’s jagged sword

Accepting our Father’s mercy and love

Trading bitterness for His sweet accord

Learning from God’s Holy teachings and creeds

Feeling His just and faithful, love-filled works

Listening to each breath, His spoken Word

Maturing in faith’s righteous masterworks

Embracing God’s eternal covenant

Studying His Word, bearing full delight

Celebrating Him with salutations

Singing with attitude of praise, now right

From Psalm 111:10: “The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom; all those who practice it have a good understanding. His praise endures forever.”

Originally published February, 2021.

Comforting Presence

Posted on January 25, 2026 by bigskybuckeye

From Isaiah 40:1-2: “Comfort, O comfort My people, says your God. Speak tenderly to Jerusalem, and cry to her that she has served her term, that her penalty is paid, that she has received from the Lord’s hand double for all her sins.”

**Photo by Johannes Plenio on Pexels.com**

God’s invitation

Walking before Me

Fleeing sin’s darkness

Peace shall cover thee

Confidence cries out

Embracing God’s way

Leaving wilderness

Hope transcends this day

God’s glory revealed

Kneeling before Me

Comforting presence

Tomorrow walks free

Each valley raised up

Revealing God’s grace

Rebuilding faith’s trust

Joy beams from His face

God’s will standing tall

Sharing Word with Me

Believing His truth

Mercy granted thee

**Photo by Tima Miroshnichenko on Pexels.com**

From Isaiah 40:31: “But those who wait for the Lord shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings like eagles; they shall run and not be weary; they shall walk and not faint.”

Journey’s Truth (Elfchen Series #285)

Posted on January 23, 2026 by bigskybuckeye

Relationship

Praying

Without ceasing

Anchored to Father

Faith’s fabric of grace

Trusting

**Photo by Danik Prihodko on Pexels.com**

Refreshment

Walking

With Jesus

Destiny’s promised light

Faith strengthened through grace

Loving

**Photo by Nothing Ahead on Pexels.com**

Rebirth

Rescuing

From darkness

Witness Calvary’s forgiveness

Faith embraces redemption’s grace

Transforming

**Photo by Adrien Olichon on Pexels.com**

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.

Trust Forever Fed

Posted on January 21, 2026 by bigskybuckeye

From the words of American pastor and Christian teacher, Charles Stanley: “In the hands of God, adversity becomes the means through which His supernatural power is demonstrated.”

Believing in Jesus

Faith built upon His love

Following God’s law

Hope sown from above

Walking in light with Christ

Faith’s strength breathes, as God planned

Conquering darkness

Peace fills each heartland

Beholding Savior’s grace

Faith’s cornerstone reborn

Seeing empty tomb

Redemption airborne

Hearing Messiah’s voice

Faith embraces His Word

Fearing no longer

Mountaintop unblurred

Weeping replaced with joy

Faith’s enriched Living Bread

Coming home at last

Trust forever fed

From 1 John 5:3-4: “For the love of God is this, that we obey His commandments. And His commandments are not burdensome, for whatever is born of God conquers the world. And this is the victory that conquers the world, our faith.”

Robert Millen Horn Quote

Posted on January 7, 2026 by bigskybuckeye

When we lack the peace of God, we should turn to our peace with God.

From Romans 5:1-2: “Therefore, since we are justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ,through whom we have obtained access to this grace in which we stand, and we boast in our hope of sharing the glory of God.”

Robert Millen Horn (1933-2005) was a British pastor and Christian writer. He was born to parents who served as missionaries in Ethiopia until 1936 when they fled the country following the Italian invasion.

Unwavering Journey

Posted on January 4, 2026 by bigskybuckeye

From Psalm 3:3-4: “But you, O Lord, are a shield around me, my glory, and the one who lifts up my head. I cry aloud to the Lord, and He answers me from His holy hill.”

**Photo by Mostafa Ft.shots on Pexels.com**

Shoring up man’s wisdom

Stepping forward to serve

Giving generously

From heavens, God observes

Walking daily with God

Sharing peace from His love

Receiving blessed grace

Mercy breathes from above

Facing adversity

Believing in God’s Word

Unwavering journey

Hope deepens from faith stirred

Writing faith’s divine plan

Fulfilling every page

Forgiving sin’s darkness

Christ’s light takes center stage

From Acts 13:23-25: “Of this man’s posterity God has brought to Israel a Savior, Jesus, as He promised; before His coming John had already proclaimed a baptism of repentance to all the people of Israel. And as John was finishing his work, he said, ‘What do you suppose that I am? I am not He. No, but One is coming after me; I am not worthy to untie the strap of the sandals on His feet.’”

Monday Memories: Just in Case

Posted on December 29, 2025 by bigskybuckeye

From James 4:6: “But He gives all the more grace; therefore it says, ‘God opposes the proud, but gives grace to the humble.'”

Our Creator’s divine plan

Offers fullest, living grace

Giving patience, just in case

When running life’s anxious race

Our Lord shares forgiveness

Relationships need healing

Forgiving sin, just in case

When each day seems freewheeling

Heaven’s Father, sharing peace

Imperfect lives needing change

Trimming each branch, just in case

When roaming lost on God’s range

God shares His timely wisdom

From Heaven, He sees us fall

Touching our hand, just in case

When we need His hope-filled call

**Photo by Dominika Roseclay on Pexels.com**

From John 15:1-2: “I am the true vine, and my Father is the vinegrower. He removes every branch in me that bears no fruit. Every branch that bears fruit He prunes to make it bear more fruit.”

Originally published January, 2021.

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Quenching

Enriching

Praising

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Relationship

Refreshment

Rebirth

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