Big Sky Buckeye

A writer's journey continues

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

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

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.”

**Photo by Mathew Thomas on Pexels.com**

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.”

Puzzle Incomplete

Posted on October 25, 2023 by bigskybuckeye

From Romans 5:5: “Hope does not put us to shame, because God’s love has been poured into our hearts through the Holy Spirit that has been given to us.”

**Photo by Mathias Reding on Pexels.com**

Trust’s missing pieces

Empty vision’s space

Puzzle incomplete

Father’s grace, replace

Fear’s lack of patience

Filled with anxious space

Puzzle defective

Father’s grace, backspace

Shame’s torn-up pages

Tattered, sinful space

Puzzle uncertain

Father’s grace, erase

Hope’s shattered darkness

Doubts drain daily space

Puzzle fragmented

Father’s grace, embrace

Faith’s empty focus

Lost in prideful space

Puzzle imperfect

Father’s grace, retrace

**Photo by Jadson Thomas on Pexels.com**

From Romans 8:27: “And God, who searches hearts, knows what is the mind of the Spirit, because the Spirit intercedes for the saints according to the will of God.”

Monday Memories: Witnessing a Foretaste

Posted on October 23, 2023 by bigskybuckeye

Looking outside from the kitchen table offers a view each morning of how our Lord presents each day as a precious gift. Here is a mini sonnet which witnesses a foretaste of the feast to come.

photo of red flowering trees beside body of water

Photo by Dominic M Contreras on Pexels.com

Viewing the early morning

Welcoming each libation

Peering from kitchen’s window

Witnessing God’s creation

Growing greener, grass below

Blooming, flowers spelling love

Witnessing creative hands

Working each day from above

Taking in this peaceful scene

Witnessing each day’s foretaste

Blessing each feast, more to come

Tasting moments, without haste

Witnessing God’s daily Grace

Making life a happy place

Photo by Pixabay on Pexels.com

From Lutheran Communion liturgy, Christ’s people sing: “Grace our table with Your presence, and give us a foretaste of the Feast to come.”

Originally published May, 2020.

Gentleness

Posted on October 22, 2023 by bigskybuckeye

From Philippians 4:5: “Let Your gentleness be known to everyone. The Lord is near.”

Savior filled with truth

Gentleness flows

Outward to others

Spirit knows

Ready to listen

Gentleness stirs

Shared with believers

Grace transfers

Savior always near

Gentleness loves

Risen from dark tomb

Peace-filled dove

Prayer opens heart

Gentleness speaks

Light shatters darkness

Mercy seeks

Savior’s faithful bridge

Gentleness leads

Steady, trusted rock

Heaven’s seeds

From Philippians 4:8: “Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is pleasing, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence and if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things.”

Transforming Light (Elfchen Series #173)

Posted on October 20, 2023 by bigskybuckeye

Straying

Lost

Wayward sheep

Surrounded in darkness

Shepherd’s light finding each

Gathering

**Photo by Alenka Skvarc on Pexels.com**

Unknowing

Questions

Empty answers

Life’s harsh wilderness

Shepherd’s light sharing grace

Illuminating

**Photo by Cristian Joaquin Pezo Guevara on Pexels.com**

Unsettling

Forsaken

Coldest nights

Enemy’s false promises

Shepherd’s light warming hearts

Nurturing

**Photo by Anna Tarazevich on Pexels.com**

Redemption’s Ticket

Posted on October 15, 2023 by bigskybuckeye

From Ephesians 2:8 “For by grace you have been saved through faith, and this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God.”

Dotting I’s, crossing T’s

Life’s performance checklist

Nice life bestowed on thee

Knowing Father shall insist

Worshipping each Sunday

Dollars fill collection

Mirror says, “Good Christian”

Seeking Father’s affection

Feeling faith’s emptiness

Life’s perfection falls short

Redemption’s ticket waits

Striving for Father’s passport

Hearing at last, Word’s truth

New covenant shall rise

Hope’s mercy calls for faith

Fulfilling Father’s franchise

Receiving salvation

Despite life’s sinful walk

By grace, Savior redeems

Grasping Father’s faithful rock

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

Leaving life’s performance treadmill, the Gospel’s true road offers guidance through our Savior’s blessed grace–as we walk faithfully in His light into new life.

In His Hands

Posted on October 4, 2023 by bigskybuckeye

From Isaiah 46:3-4: “Listen to Me, O house of Jacob, all the remnant of the house of Israel, who have been borne by Me from your birth, carried from the womb; even to your old age I am He; even when you turn gray I will carry you. I have made, and I will bear; I will carry and will save.”

**Photo by Samantha Garrote on Pexels.com**

Praising Father above

Faithful promises speak

In His hands, mercy proves

Forsake idol’s mystique

Looking to heavens high

Courage to face trials

In His hands, time stands still

Return from dark exile

Reciting Father’s Word

Wisdom from light-filled grace

In His hands, answers found

Holy, this divine place

Walking in righteous steps

Troubles fading away

In His hands, peace shall reign

Salvation comes today

Believing Father’s Son

Life no longer adrift

In His hands, refuge found

Faith rises from Christ’s gift

From Colossians 3:17: “And whatever you do, in word or deed, do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through Him.”

Share this:

Share this:

Share this:

Share this:

Share this:

Share this:

Share this:

Straying

Unknowing

Unsettling

Share this:

Share this:

Share this: