Big Sky Buckeye

A writer's journey continues

Fear Not

Posted on December 19, 2020 by bigskybuckeye

From Matthew 14:22-24: “Immediately He made the disciples get into the boat and go on ahead to the other side, while He dismissed the crowds. And after He had dismissed the crowds, He went up the mountain by Himself to pray. When evening came, He was there alone, but by this time the boat, battered by the waves, was far from the land, for the wind was against them.”

**Photo by James Wheeler on Pexels.com**

Life’s storms intensify

Overcoming with fear

Facing each hostile sea

Darkness, nothing seems clear

Spiritual squalls come

Turning world upside down

Battered by strongest gales

Fearing each wave’s knockdown

Christ’s love intercedes

Praying hands, clay’s potter

Mountains to heavens

Walking on calm water

Jesus never leaves us

Storms quietly subside

His blessed protection

Lasting, sovereign guide

Fear not, faith’s spark ablaze

Christ’s true light boldly seeds

Following Son of God

Hope ripens from His deeds

From Matthew 14:25-27: “And early in the morning He came walking toward them on the sea. But when the disciples saw Him walking on the sea, they were terrified, saying, ‘It is a ghost!’ And they cried out in fear. But immediately Jesus spoke to them and said, ‘Take heart, it is I; do not be afraid.'”

Hope in Christ

Posted on November 29, 2020 by bigskybuckeye

From Isaiah 64:8: “Yet, O Lord, you are our Father; we are the clay, and you are our potter; we are all the work of your hand.”

Spiritual homelessness

Forcing hope’s darkest setbacks

With every passing day

Time stops, frozen in its tracks

How long will God stand silent?

Fading lives, like autumn’s leaf

Among earth’s darkest shadows

Hope’s flames, drowned by a sly thief

Expectations growing dim

Praying, Savior’s light to come

God’s love, molds life’s foundations

Our hope, plays its steady drum

Coming Spiritual light

Transforming power from God

Iniquities to be paid

Shepherd’s hope, His staff and rod

Hopeful world watches and waits

Appealing to God, save us

Hungry flock’s burdens cry out

God remains faithful, hear us

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

From Psalm 80:1-3: “Give ear, O Shepherd of Israel, you who lead Joseph like a flock! You who are enthroned upon the cherubim, shine forth before Ephraim and Benjamin and Manasseh. Stir up your might, and come to save us! Restore us, O God; let your face shine, that we may be saved.”

The Christian season of Advent begins with this final Sunday of November. For myself, this will bring a time of meditation and prayer . . . filled with the hope, peace, joy, and love of Christ, the Messiah.

Crying Out

Posted on November 11, 2020 by bigskybuckeye

From Psalm 23:4: “Even though I walk through the darkest valley, I fear no evil; for you are with me; your rod and your staff—they comfort me.”

Darkness shields life’s guiding light

Causing worries to take flight

Life’s trials, too much to bear

Ask, who really seems to care?

World seems to be crashing down

Running dry, emptiness drowns

Words and actions, meek and weak

Ask, who shall one run to seek?

Vacant wilderness, so dark

Crying out, life’s question mark

Heart and soul, feeling hollow

Ask, what voice shall one follow?

Voice answers, restoring hopes

Searching from distant slopes

Good Shepherd, looking for one

Saving His flock, one by one

From John 10:14-16: “I am the good shepherd. I know my own and my own know me, just as the Father knows me and I know the Father. And I lay down my life for the sheep. I have other sheep that do not belong to this fold. I must bring them also, and they will listen to my voice. So there will be one flock, one shepherd.”

Anthem of Grace

Posted on October 25, 2020 by bigskybuckeye

From Hebrews 11:1: “Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen.”

Weary times, filled with quiet tears

Witnessing mankind’s cruelest hurts

Hate, division, violence, fears

God’s grace, peace, love . . . never deserts

When witnessing injustice, stand

Lift up voices, sing with passion

Offer a loving, helping hand

Filled with oneness and compassion

No longer sit with thoughts muzzled

Liberty-filled harmonies ring

God’s grace flows, days never puzzled

Loud as roaring seas, let us sing

God’s Word lighting eternal fires

Inside our faith, unwavering

Hope fills each heart, never expires

Teachings of Jesus, favoring

Jesus always front and center

Faithfully walking as His feet

Loving as His hands, our mentor

Marching on, His grace ever sweet

**Photo by John-Mark Smith on Pexels.com**

From 1 John 5:3-5: “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. Who is it that conquers the world but the one who believes that Jesus is the Son of God?”

Monday Memories: No Longer Lost

Posted on October 19, 2020 by bigskybuckeye

This poem, written in May of 2019, again brings a message which has been part of some recent devotionals and Bible readings. May all believers continue to reach out to others with the message of God’s grace and peace. He never grows weary of gathering the Lost to hear His Word.

**Photo by Jens Johnsson on Pexels.com**

Walking down an empty sidewalk all alone

Feeling lost when no one calls his phone

Facing the final sunset of a life

Remembering past sinful strife

Rubbing together his chilly, worn hands

Warming a cold heart of a humbled man

Recalling a strong home built brick by brick

Wiping away tears when she became sick

Losing his loving bride to illness

Asking, “Why God, is this meant?”

Battling the raging, turbulent cosmic powers

Creating lonely darkness that sadly towers

Living without a daily dose of hope

Trying to understand his life’s scope

Reciting scripture as Christ says, “I am with you”

Witnessing the bloody Cross, coming into view

Testing his faith, builds continued endurance

Removing sinful chains at every occurrence

Loving us, God guards our hearts and minds

Smiling, the old man knows he has more time

Bringing Salvation, our Savior conquers the Cross

Blessing another life, this man no longer feels lost

Finding New Life

Posted on September 24, 2020 by bigskybuckeye

From 2 Corinthians 11:13-14: “For such boasters are false apostles, deceitful workers, disguising themselves as apostles of Christ. And no wonder! Even Satan disguises himself as an angel of light.”

Facing life’s harshest trials

Walking uphill in shadows

Keeping on the proper trail

Coveting greener meadows

Suffering darkest ordeals

Praying for divine advice

Listening for God’s response

Willing to pay any price

Hiding off the path, waiting

Offering cunning, false hope

Sliding into Satan’s net

Reaching up for rescue’s rope

Clutching God’s forgiving hand

Leaving the enemy’s grip

Finding new life with the Lord

Walking in His fellowship

From Romans 6:22-23: “But now that you have been freed from sin and enslaved to God, the advantage you get is sanctification. The end is eternal life. For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.”

John Calvin Quote

Posted on September 17, 2020 by bigskybuckeye

Hope is nothing else than the expectation of those things which faith has believed to have been truly promised by God.

From Romans 8:24-25: “For in hope we were saved. Now hope that is seen is not hope. For who hopes for what is seen? But if we hope for what we do not see, we wait for it with patience.”

Old Man Trouble

Posted on August 13, 2020 by bigskybuckeye

From the words of British pastor and theologian, Charles Spurgeon: “The closer we are to the Shepherd, the safer we are from the wolves.”

Encountering another of life’s setbacks

Visitor from the darkness shouts, “I am back”

Old Man Trouble comes knocking at my front door

Relentless, he desires to even the score

How will I choose to deal with adversity?

His darkness masks the sky over this city

Tackle straight forward what Old Man Trouble brings

Or . . . wait timidly for his continued sting

God’s Word teaches us and brings us hope:

We all live preciously in God’s perfect sight

He gathers us in His loving, Holy might

Past—present—future . . . from the Great I Am

Making it through turbulent seas for each lamb

Through desolate wilderness, God shares a way

Bringing rivers of hope to this life’s gateway

**Photo by Nashwan Guherzi on Pexels.com**

Looking Old Man Trouble in his doom-filled eyes

With faithful courage, my hope begins to rise

Life waits to see . . . who will finally blink first?

With God’s living water, quenching my parched thirst

Listening, following God’s steadfast handbook

His love will save me with a whole new outlook

Bringing Godly fortitude, when needed most

Old Man Trouble defeated, nothing to boast

From Isaiah 43:2-3: “When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; and through the rivers, they shall not overwhelm you; when you walk through fire you shall not be burned, and the flame shall not consume you. For I am the Lord your God, the Holy One of Israel, your Savior.”

Walking in Confidence

Posted on July 23, 2020 by bigskybuckeye

From Romans 15:13: “May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, so that you may abound in hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.”

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

Life’s journey suddenly growing cold

Living under clouds of uncertainty

No longer feeling confident and bold

Even confident people possess fears

Overcome by unplanned dilemmas

Feeling much like the rest of our peers

Our faithful prayers will be heard

God’s will scatters those stormy clouds

Never lose hope, listen to His Word

As neighbors, our love supports each other

Through our steadfast encouragement

Children of God, true sisters and brothers

Tackling problems on life’s clipboard

Filled with determination and courage

Walking in confidence with our Lord

**Photo by Craig Adderley on Pexels.com**

From the words of German-Dutch Christian author, Thomas a Kempis: “Oh, how great peace and quietness would he possess who should cut off all vain anxiety and place all his confidence in God.”

Surrounded by Blue

Posted on July 19, 2020 by bigskybuckeye

From Philippians 4:4-7: “Rejoice in the Lord always; again I will say, Rejoice. Let your gentleness be known to everyone. The Lord is near. Do not worry about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.

Normally for many

This world looks full and bright

Cups overflow with blessings

But then, dark dims faith’s light

From this window, world turns blue

Hope was filled with each seed

Life’s harvest seems in doubt

Farmers’ fields fill with weeds

Harsh rhetoric and gloom

Positivity hides

Lost in negative times

With whom shall we abide?

There has to be a way

Let’s not fight over masks

Turning blueness to light

Remind us of our tasks

Jesus, faith’s Bread of Life

Fills our empty hunger

Leading us to His peace

Hearts feeling much younger

There are days during this Covid pandemic in which I feel at a loss. The roller coaster ride of life suddenly takes a dark turn, and I feel left at the gate. This poem was written following one of these “blue” moments in my life. Together, we can continue to share prayers and encouragement with others. God’s peace!

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