Big Sky Buckeye

A writer's journey continues

Shattered Hopes

Posted on October 26, 2019 by bigskybuckeye

From Romans 10:12-13: “For there is no distinction between Jew and Greek; the same Lord is Lord of all and is generous to all who call Him. For, ‘Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord shall be saved.'”

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Sitting here on a quiet, morning dawn

Drinking coffee, warming a drowsy mind

Passing the time with memories, all wrong

Looking for warmhearted hopes, none to find

Wishing countless troubles would go away

Thinking another day will bring some hope

Realizing now, my dreams are crushed today

Watching out the window, through hopeless scope

Opening a Bible, found by God’s Grace

Inviting me in, His Word reaches out

Sensing a way to change life’s dismal pace

Offering a new path, without a doubt

Witnessing Christ Jesus on a cruel Cross

Accepting my Savior, no longer lost

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Vance Havner Quote

Posted on October 9, 2019 by bigskybuckeye

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The Grace of God transcends all our feeble efforts to describe it. It cannot be poured into any mental receptacle without running over.

From Romans 8:35, 37: “Who will separate us from the love of Christ? Will hardship, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword? No, in all these things, we are more than victorious through Him who loved us.”

Are We Worthy?

Posted on September 26, 2019 by bigskybuckeye

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From 2 Thessalonians 1:11: “To this end we always pray for you, asking that our God will make you worthy of His call and will fulfill by His power every good resolve and work of faith.”

Feeling lost, alone, and unworthy

Walking forward to seek God

Questioning and asking, crying out

Gathering together, we trust God

Seeking Christ must come first

Contrasting himself to the Messiah

Foretelling of the One coming

Crying out in the wilderness

Baptizing believers at the Jordan

Sending John to baptize Jesus

Sensing himself to be unworthy

Finding Christ must come first

Expressing love now for family

Adoring father, mother, son, daughter

Returning from his sinful journey

Rejoicing, a prodigal son found

Suffering dishonor for Christ’s sake

Preaching, Apostles speak the Gospel

Loving Christ must come first

Accepting God’s gift of Grace

Blessing us as worthy Christians

Coming to believe Christ’s Salvation

Humbling praising His blessed truth

Creating all things, God cares

Receiving glory, honor, and power

Standing alone at the Cross

Ransoming His body and blood

Loving and accepting our Savior

grayscale photography of people raising hands

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Christ Prevails

Posted on September 22, 2019 by bigskybuckeye

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From 1 Peter 2:24: “He himself bore our sins in His body on the Cross, so that, free from sins, we might live for righteousness; by His wounds you have been healed.”

Chosen and precious in God’s sight

To believers, Christ’s Spirit brings Salvation

Jesus Christ turns darkness into light

Our faith’s chosen and precious cornerstone

Christ comes forward to redeem us

We can live by His bread alone

Jesus becomes our Holy, High Priest

Believe and never put to shame

God’s own Son takes His seat

Nonbelievers reject God’s Holy, chosen one

Christ prevails to become our Rock

Salvation goes through God’s Holy Son

Christ suffers mightily for His flock

Yet, He never commits any sin

Following God’s steps around the clock

Christ never waivers, He follows through

Entrusting Himself to His Heavenly Father

Bearing our sins, Resurrection’s glorious view

Our lives feel threatened with gloom

Jesus never ceases caring for us

Standing by, Christ prevents our doom

Jesus at our side, always a friend

Loving us with passion and intensity

Our opportunity for Salvation, God sends

Christ, the Good Shepherd, beckons us

No longer gone astray and lost

Christ’s body and blood heal us

The old, rugged cross stands tall

Freeing us from our endless sins

Washing us white, Salvation calls all

Living in bondage, forever in sin

Emancipation by Christ, paying the ransom

Accepting Christ, brings all believers in

From Luke 24:6: “Remember how He told you, while He was still in Galilee, that the Son of Man must be handed over to sinners, and be crucified, and on the third day rise again.”

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Thirsty for Living Water

Posted on September 8, 2019 by bigskybuckeye

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Like deer at a flowing stream

I wake thirsty from a dream

Tears feed me, night and day

“Where is your God?” people say

My spirit is cast down low

God’s faithful, trusty love, He shows

Nightly, Psalms sing to my heart

Praying for my life to restart

My flesh cries out in thirst

God’s love will always arrive first

In the middle of dry land

His love extends from His hand

Sometimes life brings bitterness to drink

Thirsty like parched land, I think

The Gospel brings forward good news

Living water quenches, like morning dew

The Enemy taunts me once more

“Where is your God?” he implores

He has left and forsaken you

Your tiny life should be through

Glory of God fills the streams

Desert sands become pools, no dream

Grass thickens across the vast plains

Springs arise, thirst never to wane

Jesus, the Lamb, shepherds me now

Providing living water, kneel and bow

Come, take this water of life

Receiving God’s grace, without any strife

Waking in the darkness of night

Thirsty for God’s message of might

Making water flow from a stone

Split open by God’s blessed tone

The Enemy’s spirit no longer swarms

Thirst for righteousness, defeats any storms

All who thirst, seek God’s altar

Holy Spirit’s living water, never falters

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Haiku Series #18 (With God)

Posted on August 28, 2019 by bigskybuckeye

Future

Live in the present

Always look to the future—

God’s amazing Grace

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Grace

God’s Grace arrives—yes

Accept His unselfish gift—

Thanks be to our Lord

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Faith

Stand strong with the Lord

Take His shield of amazing faith—

Trust Him every day

grayscale photography of people worshiping

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Stormy Seas

Posted on July 25, 2019 by bigskybuckeye

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Most days, life experiences calming seas

Witnessing each moment, steady to see

God provides for us, through it all

Picking us up, even when we fall

Life moves along at its normal pace

Taking for granted, God’s free grace

Then, stormy seas appear in the west

Bringing worried looks, never the best

Life’s ship now encounters the storm

Feeling the sea’s fury, totally reborn

Panic and worry fill helpless hearts

Asking God, may we try a restart?

Our boat takes on water, brisk and cold

Overwhelming our spirit, no longer bold

Has our Lord forsaken us at this time?

Sinking ship, as faith no longer climbs

Across the tempest sea, comes a voice

Calming the storm and sea, His choice

Our Lord and Savior walks over to thee

Releasing the terror caused by the sea

In an instant, the dark storm is gone

Restoring faith and hope, now strong

God prompts us to maintain our hope

Remaining faithful, steadies our boat

Calm or stormy seas, look straight ahead

Accepting God’s grace, always best said

Thank you Lord for being with us each day

Reminding us, Your Word points the way

Preserving His Saints

Posted on May 17, 2019 by bigskybuckeye

man in gray shit sitting on rock boulder

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When life’s eventual calamities gather and appear

Providing safe refuge, God emerges without fear

Our Lord remains sovereign over His domain

Assembling Christians to worship in His name

Rock of infinite refuge and mighty fortress to see

Hearing God’s Holy words, coming to rescue thee

Dark and evil situations linger and wait to thrive

Offering worthless promises, the Enemy strives

His hollow assurances hide a dishonest net

Waiting to capture us, continually a threat

Righteous wisdom and truth reside with our Lord

Witnessing our sinful afflictions, like a river to ford

God never gives up on anyone, never makes a fuss

Standing between the Enemy and his devilish lust

Our Lord commands us to deposit trust in Him

Allowing His countenance to shine through sin

Abundant goodness will reach out from Heaven

Hearing our supplications and prayers, so driven

Our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ comes to save

Defeating forever sin’s darkness and the grave

His glory spreads to cover each corner of the earth

Saving our resurrected lives with a heavenly berth

All confidently march in spirit to accept His grace

Seeking Christ’s salvation, with rich mercy to taste

Our Lord comes again to preserve His saints

Prompting all Christians to be faithful mates

God stands ready, listening to everyone’s cause

Sacrificing Jesus for us, we kneel without pause

Our Father wants His children to be saved

Desiring that all will return to Him one day

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The foundation for this poem comes from Psalms 31 and 51. Here are a few of my favorite verses from them.

Psalm 31:3-4: “You are indeed my rock and my fortress; for your name’s sake lead me and guide me, take me out of the net that is hidden for me.”
Psalm 51:2-3: “Wash me thoroughly from my iniquity, and cleanse me from my sin. For I know my transgressions, and my sin is ever before me.”

Do you have a favorite verse or verses from any of the Psalms? You are invited to share it in the comments.

Grace-filled Rain

Posted on May 14, 2019 by bigskybuckeye

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The Bible mentions “rain” many times in scripture. God’s creation finds multiple uses of rain. Perhaps you can think of a few more after reading this poem.

Waking up to see another blessed, rainy day

Witnessing as God brings us grace this day

God creates rain to descend upon the earth

Bringing rain to produce yields from the land

The heavens’ water brings awesome worth

Allowing for existence by woman and man

Rain arrives by the word of our mighty God

Sending vital water to the crops and fields

God’s creation brings early rains with a nod

Providing late rains to fulfill a farmer’s yield

God brings rain in abundance with His hand

Opening the dry earth, salvation springs up

Skies raining down righteousness, is His plan

Showering our lives with a grace-filled cup

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Rain nurtures spring’s new green, tender sprouts

Providing seed to the sower, bread for the table

Harvest arrives again on time by fall’s usual route

Filling grain bins as hardworking farmers feel able

God shines sun on both the Good and the Bad

Sending rain on the righteous and unrighteous

Rains from heaven fill hearts, never to be sad

Earmarking fruitful seasons for the righteous

Remember the incredibly prudent man

Constructing his house upon solid rock

Rains fell, floods came—over the land

Preserving a faith as steady as a rock

gray painted house surrounding of pine trees

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Precious and Transforming Grace

Posted on January 28, 2019 by bigskybuckeye

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God sends amazing grace freely to all

Offering to save sinners aren’t we all?

Jesus died on an old rugged cross for our salvation

Giving all of us a true path for avoiding temptation

There are no gifts greater than God’s grace

Flowing from His love, making no mistake

The Bible teaches all of us to follow the “Grace Path”

Justifying through faith in Christ keeps us on track

The righteous live each single moment by faith

Feeling God’s rich grace, so delicious to taste

Apostle Paul, a sinner like us, received mercy and life

Writing about God’s plan, he is freed from all strife

God fine tunes our hearts to receive his treasured gift

Redeeming love and grace keep us from running adrift

All we need is faith to live without harm

Running to God’s waiting and loving arms

Grace is a precious gift for all people to receive

Running from an enemy who continues to deceive

Abraham’s faith brings God’s great promise to light

Believing, he followed his Lord without any fright

Be content with what daily life throws at us

Raising up Christ to believers without any fuss

Christ’s sacrifice and resurrection burn bright

Allowing our faith to grow and never lose sight

Grace is given freely through Christ, from our Father

Replacing our works with daily faith without any bother

God opposes the proud, bringing His grace to the humble

Restoring, supporting, and strengthening when we stumble

Lord, relieve our uncertainties and lead us homeward

Abounding and steadfast love will carry us forward

God transforms sinners through His gift of grace

Following Christ will bring our lives to a proper place

All look to the Lord, His awesome wonder astounds

Sending grace by faith through Christ will abound

God sends amazing grace freely to all

Offering to save sinners aren’t we all?

It is amazing and insightful to find so many references of God’s grace in scripture as well as hymns. These resources helped with the writing of this poem. May all of you accept God’s free gift of grace.

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Future

Grace

Faith

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