Author: Frank Hubeny

I enjoy walking, poetry and short prose as well as taking pictures with my phone.

Forgiveness—Ovi Poetry Challenge

The easy way is not the way
that God would breathe through me today.
Those wicked ones so led astray—
may we forgive them all.

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Ronovan Hester offers the inspiration “forgiveness” for this week’s Ovi Poetry Challenge. Also posted on Poet’s Corner.

Luke 23:33-34
33 And when they were come to the place, which is called Calvary, there they crucified him, and the malefactors, one on the right hand, and the other on the left.
34 Then said Jesus, Father, forgive them; for they know not what they do. And they parted his raiment, and cast lots.

Task—Six Sentence Story

The gifts had been collected over centuries from the time of the prophet Daniel. In obedience they waited for the star, a task they felt privileged to perform, knowing it could appear any night now. When it did they hastened toward Jerusalem to worship the King and deliver the gifts.

They regretted the attention, especially from Herod, that they drew to themselves in Jerusalem by asking for directions and so they left for home right after they found the Child. After they left at nightfall Joseph, awakened by a dream, quickly rose to take Mary with her Child to Egypt using the gifts the wise men left as means of support. 

The next morning Herod went into such a rage upon hearing from his spies that the wise men were not coming back that, instead of just one Child Whom they couldn’t find anymore, he had all of the male children in Bethlehem and the surrounding area under the age of two killed.

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Denise offers the prompt word “task” to be used in this week’s Six Sentence Stories. For what really happened see Matthew 2.

The Edge of a Pond

Challenge—Ovi Poetry Challenge

My mind’s been twisted in a knot.
Some argue that I haven’t got
a mind to twist and there’s a lot
of screws I’ve lost somewhere.

Some bricks are missing from the load
I carry since they’re hard to hold,
but I’ll still take the narrow road
that leads from here to there.

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Ronovan Hester offers the inspiration “challenge” for this week’s Ovi Poetry Challenge. Also posted on Poet’s Corner.

Matthew 7:13-14 (NKJV)
13 Enter by the narrow gate; for wide is the gate and broad is the way that leads to destruction, and there are many who go in by it. 14Because narrow is the gate and difficult is the way which leads to life, and there are few who find it.

Sweetgum spiny seed pod

Jingle—Six Sentence Story

A woman walked up to Brian and told him, Sometimes all you’re asked to do is something small. Brian thought the message odd, but he heard a voice inside him say, Thank her. So, he thanked her.

After she walked away Brian wondered what just happened. 

Was the unexpected jingle of joy ringing inside him because he obeyed that inner voice and thanked her? How could something so insignificant as common courtesy have such a profound effect?

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Denise offers the prompt word “jingle” to be used in this week’s Six Sentence Stories.

Tiny Bird in a Leafless Tree

Christmas Poem


Waters rush within,
living rivers flow—
wise men follow star—
God is here not far,
nearer than we know.

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Matthew 2:1-2
1 Now when Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judaea in the days of Herod the king, behold, there came wise men from the east to Jerusalem,
2 Saying, Where is he that is born King of the Jews? for we have seen his star in the east, and are come to worship him.

John 7:38
38 He that believeth on me, as the scripture hath said, out of his belly shall flow rivers of living water.

Merry Christmas

Dale offers the prompt “show us your Christmas” for this week’s Cosmic Photo Challenge. The above ornament is somewhere on the tree.

Also posted on Poet’s Corner.

New Heart—Ovi Poetry Challenge



The Baby sleeps. The stars shine high
upon the earth through darkened sky.
The virgin hums a lullaby.
The Lord has finally come.

As sacrifice He died then rose.
Let’s follow Him, be one of those
who lives the love that Jesus shows
and offers to us all.

The Spirit now makes new the heart.
Those fruitless thoughts that demons start
will stop. We have been set apart
for Him forever more.

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Ronovan Hester offers the word “new” as inspiration for this week’s Ovi Poetry Challenge. Also published on Poet’s Corner.

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May you have a blessed Christmas season