Big Sky Buckeye

A writer's journey continues

Randy Frazee Quote

Posted on February 14, 2024 by bigskybuckeye

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God never calls us to be successful. He calls us to be faithful.

From Romans 1:16-17: “For I am not ashamed of the gospel; it is God’s saving power for everyone who believes, for the Jew first and also for the Greek. For in it the righteousness of God is revealed through faith for faith, as it is written, ‘The one who is righteous will live by faith.'”

Randy Frazee is an American pastor and Christian author. As a teacher and innovator, he is dedicated to leading others in Bible engagement, spiritual formation, and biblical community.

Oswald Chambers Quote

Posted on February 7, 2024 by bigskybuckeye

If you want to be of use to God, get rightly related to Jesus Christ and He will make you of use unconsciously every minute you live.

From Mathew 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.”

Oswald Chambers (1874-1917) was a Scottish evangelist and Christian teacher. Following his death from an illness while in Egypt during World War I, his wife took on the task of transcribing the detailed notes she had written from his lectures and sermons. Gertrude Hobbs Chambers’ efforts resulted in the publication in 1924 of MY UTMOST FOR HIS HIGHEST. I frequently read from this devotional, and it has greatly deepened my faith and understanding of God’s Word.

Called to Repentance

Posted on January 24, 2024 by bigskybuckeye

From Jonah 3:4-5: “Jonah began to go into the city, going a day’s walk. And he cried out, ‘Forty days more, and Nineveh shall be overthrown!’ And the people of Nineveh believed God; they proclaimed a fast, and everyone, great and small, put on sackcloth.”

Called to live in tune

With our Father’s Word

Strengthened through His light

Path no longer blurred

Shaped by His patience

Never be shaken

Righteousness stands firm

Truth shall awaken

Set aside worries

Empowered to walk

With loving Father

Away from man’s talk

Transformed by faith’s light

Darkness now falling

Past sins nailed to cross

Follow Lord’s calling

Called to repentance

Step forward in Christ

Delivered through grace

His blood sacrificed

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From 1 Corinthians 7:29-31: “I mean, brothers and sisters, the appointed time has grown short; from now on, let even those who have wives be as though they had none, and those who mourn as though they were not mourning, and those who rejoice as though they were not rejoicing, and those who buy as though they had no possessions, and those who deal with the world as though they had no dealings with it. For the present form of this world is passing away.”

Righteousness Through Faith

Posted on January 14, 2024 by bigskybuckeye

From Romans 3:20: “For no human will be justified before Him by deeds prescribed by the law, for through the law comes the knowledge of sin.”

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Falling far short

With Father’s law

Darkness of sin

Man’s many flaws

False righteousness

Enemy seeks

Transgressions breathe

Judgment shall speak

Condemnation

Actions deserved

Love intervenes

Mercy preserved

Empty works fade

Grace filled with love

Sin meets Savior

Called from above

Calvary bleeds

Empty tomb’s light

Redemption saves

Heaven’s hope bright

Righteousness found

In Christ, our Lord

Through faith, not works

By His accord

From Romans 3:27-28: “Then what becomes of boasting? It is excluded. Through what kind of law? That of works? No, rather through the law of faith. For we hold that a person is justified by faith apart from works prescribed by the law.”

Nicky Gumbel Quote

Posted on January 14, 2024 by bigskybuckeye

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Sometimes God calms the storm. Sometimes He lets the storm rage and He calms you.

From Proverbs 10:24-25: “What the wicked dread will come upon them, but the desire of the righteous will be granted. When the tempest passes, the wicked are no more, but the righteous are established forever.”

Nicky Gumbel (born 1955) is an English-born Anglican pastor and Christian author.

Mark Twain Quotes

Posted on January 9, 2024 by bigskybuckeye

Good friends, good books, and a sleepy conscience: this is the ideal life.

Always do right. This will surprise some people and astonish the rest.

Mark Twain (1835-1910) was an American author and humorist. He has often been praised as one of America’s greatest humorists, and American writer William Faulkner called him “the father of American Literature.”

Thirsting No More

Posted on December 27, 2023 by bigskybuckeye

From Matthew 5:6: “Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they will be filled.”

Sitting on grassy hillside

Hearing Christ’s blessed teachings

Thirst for righteousness, be filled

Spirit forever reaching

Gathering each disciple

Walking ahead of His flock

Shepherd leading faithful sheep

Kingdom’s always steady rock

Answering God in heaven

Blessing each thought and action

Each stranger shall be welcomed

Peace filling hope’s new traction

Lifting up from fallen steps

Bearing fruits, quiet manger

Power of praying Spirit

Faith’s confident game changer

Thirsting no more, risen Light

Resurrecting blood-stained love

God wipes away every tear

Joy forever sings above

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From Revelation 7:16-17: “They will hunger no more and thirst no more; the sun will not strike them, nor any scorching heat,for the Lamb at the center of the throne will be their shepherd, and He will guide them to springs of the water of life, and God will wipe away every tear from their eyes.”

Monday Memories: Hallelujah!

Posted on December 25, 2023 by bigskybuckeye

From Luke 2:1-7: “In those days a decree went out from Emperor Augustus that all the world should be registered. This was the first registration and was taken while Quirinius was governor of Syria. All went to their own towns to be registered. Joseph also went from the town of Nazareth in Galilee to Judea, to the city of David called Bethlehem, because he was descended from the house and family of David. He went to be registered with Mary, to whom he was engaged and who was expecting a child. While they were there, the time came for her to deliver her child. And she gave birth to her firstborn son and wrapped him in bands of cloth, and laid him in a manger, because there was no place for them in the inn.”

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Hallelujah!

Angels sing, from heavens above

Glory forever, to a newborn King

Praising Emmanuel, as they sing

Hallelujah!

Virgin Mary, mother to this Son

Jesus will be His blessed name

This world, never to be the same

Hallelujah!

Born in a bustling hamlet, Bethlehem

Chiseled in history, forever renowned

Baby in a manger, shepherds found

Hallelujah!

God with us, in flawless human form

Walking in our steps, we will trust

Witnessing a Cross, our Savior must

Hallelujah!

God lifts the veil of His great plan

His Son will bear our bloody sins

Forever, God’s flock will say “Amen”

Hallelujah!

All bow, take a bended knee

Praise our Savior in prayer

Darkness leaves, Jesus cares

Hallelujah!

God’s divine, sacrificial plan

Jesus comes in person, to save

He overpowers sin and the grave

Hallelujah!

Birth of this blessed, Holy child

Peace and joy, we will follow Him

His righteousness, a lasting hymn

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Originally published December, 2019.

Monday Memories: Never Alone

Posted on December 18, 2023 by bigskybuckeye

I keep a daily journal of “take-aways” from my devotional readings. This poem was crafted from some of my February entries.

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Sitting alone and hopeless

Faith’s shadow, covered in rust

God awakens mind and soul

In His Spirit, words bring trust

Turning to God, always there

His footprints walking ahead

Through life’s hefty challenges

Our Lord brings our daily bread

Reading from His Holy Word

Always giving thanks and praise

Marvelous things, God has done

Our hope alive and ablaze

Growing in faith, from our woes

Therefore, pray . . . listen . . . follow

Righteous life following Christ

Savior’s hope, never hollow

Facing temptation each day

Alignment with Son of God

Blood and body shed for us

Boldly fleeing evil’s fraud

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From Galatians 6:1-2: “My friends, if anyone is detected in a transgression, you who have received the Spirit should restore such a one in a spirit of gentleness. Take care that you yourselves are not tempted. Bear one another’s burdens, and in this way you will fulfill the law of Christ.”

Originally published May, 2020.

Monday Memories: Choices Through Faith

Posted on December 11, 2023 by bigskybuckeye

From the words of American pastor and Christian evangelist, Vance Havner: “Life is a series of choices between the bad, the good, and the best. Everything depends on how we choose.”

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Our daily walk encounters many tests

Life’s decisions shall never be easy

Facing a series of heartfelt choices

Sometimes feeling so alone and uneasy

Quality decisions lead life forward

God’s Word and righteousness always shining

Making choices, pleasing to our Father

Our Lord’s love, His sacred silver lining

God chooses our Savior—His Holy Son

Jesus becomes our faithful source of life

Bringing lasting redemption to ourselves

Hope-filled Cross saving the foolish from strife

Our Father calls many, few are chosen

His chosen, precious cornerstone—Jesus

Believing in Him, never put to shame

Living by faith through our Lord, who frees us

Jesus chooses us in His Father’s name

Days ahead offer bounties of treasures

Following His love and wealth of teachings

Therefore, bear lasting fruit through His measures

Photo by Marius Venter on Pexels.com

From 2 Corinthians 5:6-7: “So we are always confident; even though we know that while we are at home in the body we are away from the Lord–for we walk by faith, not by sight.”

Originally published May, 2020.

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