Big Sky Buckeye

A writer's journey continues

Trusting to Follow

Posted on May 1, 2024 by bigskybuckeye

From Psalm 23:1-3: “The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want. He makes me lie down in green pastures; He leads me beside still waters; He restores my soul.”

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Walking through trials

Shepherd’s voice of peace

Trusting to follow

Grasping faith’s newfound lease

Seeking to believe

Wonders offer signs

Trusting to follow

Rising faith shall align

Affirming Lord’s Word

Each day follows night

Trusting to follow

Watching darkness take flight

Feeling love come forth

Savior’s light proclaims

Trusting to follow

Witnessing heaven’s flame

Overcoming death

Christ shall never rest

Trusting to follow

Tasting grace, faith digests

Filling hope with joy

Resurrection thrives

Trusting to follow

Knowing Shepherd’s alive

From John 11:14-16: “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.”

Father’s Love

Posted on April 28, 2024 by bigskybuckeye

From Philippians 2:5-7: “Let the same mind be in you that was in Christ Jesus, who, though He existed in the form of God, did not regard equality with God as something to be grasped, but emptied Himself, taking the form of a slave, assuming human likeness.”

**Photo by Ludu011bk Madu011bryu010d on Pexels.com**

Chained to sin’s wilderness

Faith missing what matters

Detached from Father’s love

Like sheep, mankind scatters

Father responds with love

Relationship desired

Son of God empties self

Divine plan now hard-wired

Born in human likeness

Messiah shares His love

Father’s trusted guidance

Promised grace from above

Given name of Jesus

Mercy’s love now descends

Servant becomes Shepherd

Father’s own heart transcends

Calvary’s death vanquished

Jesus forever reigns

Every knee shall now bend

Father’s love breaks each chain

From Philippians 2:9-11: “Therefore God exalted him even more highly and gave him the name that is above every other name, so that at the name given to Jesus every knee should bend, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.”

Traveling the Distance (Elfchen Series #200)

Posted on April 26, 2024 by bigskybuckeye

Joy

Bearing

Virgin Mary

Riding blessed donkey

Birthplace beneath Bethlehem’s star

Messiah

Anguish

Celebration

King’s arrival

Riding blessed donkey

Betrayal, Calvary’s empty darkness

Shattered

Hope

Redemption’s

Victorious grace

Riding blessed donkey

From manger to cross

Savior

All images courtesy of Pinterest.

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.

Adrian Rogers Quote

Posted on April 26, 2024 by bigskybuckeye

We ought to be living as if Jesus died yesterday, rose this morning, and is coming back this afternoon.

From Luke 12:40: “You also must be ready, for the Son of Man is coming at an hour you do not expect.”

Adrian Rogers (1931-2005) was an American pastor and Christian author.

Eternity’s Treasure

Posted on April 24, 2024 by bigskybuckeye

From 1 Timothy 6:10: “For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil, and in their eagerness to be rich some have wandered away from the faith and pierced themselves with many pains.”

**Photo by RDNE Stock project on Pexels.com**

Many pursue worldly riches

Studying today’s balance sheet

Counting every single dollar

Sadly, sailing away from God’s fleet

Darkness harbors each earthly thought

Bending to desire . . . needing more

Chasing abundance without peace

Another day posts wealth’s losing score

Jesus speaks with Father’s wisdom

Holding eternity’s treasure

Teaching man to follow His light

Salvation’s gift fills mercy’s ledger

Enlightened spirit today sails

Sharing deposits of His grace

Leaving sinful journey behind

Jesus navigates faith to hope’s place

From Mark 6:35-37: “For those who want to save their life will lose it, and those who lose their life for My sake, and for the sake of the gospel, will save it. For what will it profit them to gain the whole world and forfeit their life? Indeed, what can they give in return for their life?”

Vance Havner Quote

Posted on April 24, 2024 by bigskybuckeye

There is no such thing as part-time loyalty to Jesus Christ.

From Matthew 10:39: “Those who find their life will lose it, and those who lose their life for My sake will find it.”

Vance Havner (1901-1986) was an American pastor and Christian author. During his many years of service to the Lord, he preached throughout America.

Monday Memories: Walking with Jesus

Posted on April 22, 2024 by bigskybuckeye

Selected verses from Psalm 122 bring inspiration for this poem. America, as a nation, needs healing and reconciliation. The two verses of Scripture take us on a journey from where we have been to where we wish to go.

From Jeremiah 6:14: “They have treated the wound of my people carelessly, saying, ‘Peace, peace,’ when there is no peace.”

Praying for peace in our city

Loving Jesus takes center stage

Welcoming peace into all hearts

Hearing love of God over rage

Listening to cries of anguish

Walking with Jesus protects all

Showing empathy for neighbors

Sharing His peace at every call

Stepping forward with trusting words

Treating these wounds with Jesus’ care

Saying “peace, peace” with conviction

Lifting hands high, love fills the air

Standing and feeding His lost flock

Replacing discord, Jesus comes

Proclaiming a new dawn today

Following Grace-filled, beating drum

**Photo by Caleb Oquendo on Pexels.com**

From Isaiah 57:19: “Peace, peace, to the far and the near, says the Lord; and I will heal them.”

Originally published June, 2020.

Charles Stanley Quote

Posted on April 15, 2024 by bigskybuckeye

Whenever anyone turns from sin and trusts in Jesus Christ for forgiveness and salvation, God in His mercy makes that person alive with Christ.

From Ephesians 2:4-5: “But God, who is rich in mercy, out of the great love with which He loved us even when we were dead through our trespasses, made us alive together with Christ—by grace you have been saved.”

Heaven’s Gate

Posted on April 14, 2024 by bigskybuckeye

From Psalm 118:19: “Open to me the gates of righteousness, that I may enter through them and give thanks to the Lord.”

Glorious morning light

Blessings from Father’s heart

Angelic voices praise

Calling out faith’s fresh start

Tomb forever empty

Raising Messiah’s love

Hallelujah’s sing out

Praising heavens above

Risen Savior conquers

Draining river of sin

New covenant flowing

Uplifting quest begins

Divine plans now fulfilled

Spreading faith’s greatest news

Darkness vanquished at last

Breathing from mercy’s view

Bridge built to Heaven’s gate

Fulfilling gift of grace

Good Shepherd holds its key

Seeing at last, His face

From John 10:9: “[Jesus speaking] I am the gate. Whoever enters by Me will be saved and will come in and go out and find pasture.”

Charles Swindoll Quote

Posted on April 14, 2024 by bigskybuckeye

Heaven is something we inherit. We are undeserving, therefore we do not earn heaven; it is a gift provided by the One who went before us.

From Psalm 145:13: “Your kingdom is an everlasting kingdom, and Your dominion endures throughout all generations. The Lord is faithful in all His words and gracious in all His deeds.”

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Joy

Anguish

Hope

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