Big Sky Buckeye

A writer's journey continues

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.

Hope’s Voice

Posted on April 17, 2024 by bigskybuckeye

From the words of Scottish evangelist and Christian teacher, Oswald Chambers: “If we think of prayer as the breath in our lungs and the blood from our hearts, we think rightly.”

Thinking as Jesus taught

Prayer’s breath offers peace

Blood enriched in one’s heart

Light fills faith’s every piece

Spurring each other on

Prayer links faith as one

Devotion encouraged

God sends His blessed Son

Believing Father’s Word

Prayer becomes hope’s voice

Each hour, without ceasing

Shepherd’s flock shall rejoice

Praising Christ for His light

Prayer leads to support

Faithful mercy arrives

Answers sail to each port

Walking always in faith

Prayer fills lungs with joy

Conscious of Savior’s grace

Holy Spirit deploys

From 1 Thessalonians 5:16-18: “Rejoice always, pray without ceasing, give thanks in all circumstances, for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.”

A. W. Pink Quote

Posted on April 17, 2024 by bigskybuckeye

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

Prayer is not so much an act as it is an attitude–an attitude of dependency, dependency upon God.

From Romans 12:12: “Rejoice in hope; be patient in affliction; persevere in prayer.”

Arthur Walkington (A. W.) Pink (1886-1952) was an English Bible teacher and Christian writer. Following his death, many of his writings were well-received by readers. This turnabout established him as an influential evangelical author.

Charles Swindoll Quote

Posted on April 1, 2024 by bigskybuckeye

Nothing is impossible with God. Will you ask the Lord to handle that specific impossibility, and then leave it with Him in a faith that simply will not doubt?

From Jeremiah 32:17: “Ah Lord God! It is You who made the heavens and the earth by Your great power and by Your outstretched arm! Nothing is too hard for You.”

Lessons of Faith

Posted on March 31, 2024 by bigskybuckeye

From John 17:25-26: “Righteous Father, the world does not know You, but I know You, and these know that You have sent Me. I made Your name known to them, and I will make it known, so that the love with which You have loved Me may be in them and I in them.”

**Photo by cottonbro studio on Pexels.com**

With every waking hour

Reading from faith’s Good Book

Guided by Jesus Christ

Spirit waits by quiet brook

Righteous steps lead to God

Praying for mercy’s light

Gathered by Jesus Christ

Faith growing, now taking flight

Journey of faith goes forth

Approaching grace-filled curve

Propelled by Jesus Christ

Goodness awaits those who serve

Endless lessons of faith

Teaching fills precious space

Mentored by Jesus Christ

Hope speaks, “Let’s finish this race”

Given tasks to complete

Hearing One lasting voice

Promised by Jesus Christ

Faith always trusting His choice

From 1 Corinthians 9:24: “Do you not know that in a race the runners all compete, but only one receives the prize? Run in such a way that you may win it.”

Rising to God’s Way

Posted on March 27, 2024 by bigskybuckeye

From Matthew 6:25: “Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or what you will drink, or about your body, what you will wear. Is not life more than food and the body more than clothing?”

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

Sinking in despair

Worries adding up

Christ calls us forward

Grace shall be enough

Fearing tomorrow

Worries might return

Christ speaking with truth

Hold His righteous hand

Searching for freedom

Worries seek backdoor

Christ shall strengthen faith

Hope waits to mature

Praying each morning

Worries bundled up

Christ bearing them all

Darkness transformed now

Finding blessed love

Worries now swept free

Christ’s mercy takes flight

Rising to God’s way

From Matthew 6:33-34: “But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well. So do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will bring worries of its own. Today’s trouble is enough for today.”

Harm’s Way

Posted on March 21, 2024 by bigskybuckeye

Early morning darkness

Sleep filled with quiet dreams

Sudden interruption!

Storm alert’s pulsing beam

Wide awake, checking phone

Tornado touching down

Only miles west of home

Shelter sought all around

Weather’s constant updates

Safety makes its quick choice

Moving to surest place

Heart fills with peaceful voice

Warning shrieks from siren

Calling all to be smart

Retreating from harm’s way

Bathroom, now rescue cart

Outside, wind-driven rain

Pounding with clear intent

Will storm alter its path?

Praying calmness be sent

Storm front now moving east

Heaven’s safety net cast

Thoughts with others in need

“All Clear” arrives at last

On Wednesday, February 28, a series of tornadoes touched down west of the Columbus, Ohio outerbelt. At approximately 5:15 a.m. my wife and I were awakened by a storm alert on our phones. Fortunately, the worst of the storm stayed south and north of our location, but others did not fare so well. Here is a link to a photo update of the storm (courtesy of The Columbus Dispatch): Storm Update.

Day After Day

Posted on March 20, 2024 by bigskybuckeye

From Psalm 17:5: “My steps have held fast to Your paths; my feet have not slipped.”

**Photo by Olanma Etigwe-uwa on Pexels.com**

Day after day

Another journey waits

Absorbing Savior’s Word

Keeping our righteous path straight

Day after day

Enemy surrounds thee

Witnessing Savior’s love

Grasping His truth, always free

Day after day

Darkness shames life of sin

Rising, Savior confronts

Locking faith’s righteous linchpin

Day after day

Blindness in faith creeps in

Praying for Savior’s grace

Casting His light from within

Day after day

Hope finds security

Blessing from Savior’s heart

Bestowing His purity

**Photo by Ric Rodrigues on Pexels.com**

From Matthew 5:8: “Blessed are the pure in heart, for they will see God.”

By My Side

Posted on March 13, 2024 by bigskybuckeye

From Psalm 46:1: “God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble.”

Raging storms now surround

Trusting Him in hard times

Always, God by my side

With each step, hope shall climb

Anchoring in His peace

Nurturing faith through grace

Always, God by my side

Love flows from heaven’s place

Rising every morning

Spending time in prayer

Always, God by my side

Comfort found in His care

Silencing each tempest

Shining countenance beams

Always, God by my side

Journey heading downstream

Leading with righteous truth

Hearing mercy’s voice

Always, God by my side

Faith accepts blessed choice

Escaping from bondage

Following perfect light

Always, God by my side

Sheltered at His campsite

From Psalm 28:7: “The Lord is my strength and my shield; in Him my heart trusts; so I am helped, and my heart exults, and with my song I give thanks to Him.”

Monday Memories: Suffering No More

Posted on February 26, 2024 by bigskybuckeye

Reading from Psalm 38, one finds David’s words as he asks for God’s healing. This poem’s verses bring to the forefront an active voice with feeling, praying, finding, healing, praising, and seeing.

**Photo by Isaac Weatherly on Pexels.com**

Feeling darkness

Feeling unknown

Feeling empty

Feeling alone

Praying with faith

Praying this Psalm

Praying for hope

Praying for calm

Finding God’s love

Finding what’s heard

Finding new life

Finding His Word

Healing these wounds

Healing this soul

Healing my heart

Healing me whole

Praising Father

Praising accords

Praising heavens

Praising my Lord

Seeing the Cross

Seeing the light

Seeing Christ’s love

Seeing God’s might

From Psalm 38:15: “But it is for you, O Lord, that I wait; it is you, O Lord my God, who will answer.”

Originally published June, 2020.

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