Family—Ovi Poetry Challenge



Begone dark spirits everywhere
that seed offense to grow despair.
No power worth the having’s there
since Love flows not through it.

And may bright blessings fall on you,
your loved ones, your whole family, too.
May living waters rush on through
to everyone you meet.

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

Remote—Six Sentence Story

While on vacation Willard and Matilda visited a notorious, but remote, congregation their pastor warned held services “too indecent for decent worship” so they could report back a few good words of condemnation against them.

With the service having gone on for hours and with no end in sight, Matilda told Willard, “Tell that girl behind us to stop giggling so much so I can hear the heresies the preacher is preaching.”

Willard said that for the past God knows how long the preacher hasn’t said anything worth noting but merely wandered up and down the rows of people touching some, here and there, who’d fall back laughing like idiots too dumb to stop.

“I have a mind to give him a piece of my mind before it’s too late,” Matilda said.

Willard wanted to say something, perhaps that it might already be too late, as Matilda, with eyes and mouth wide open, watched her husband giggle uncontrollably. Then, sensing the heavy ashes of mourning she didn’t know she was carrying transform into beautiful garments of praise, she herself began to laugh with tears flowing down her cheeks grateful that even she was loved enough to be anointed with the oil of gladness.

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

Isaiah 61: “…beauty for ashes, the oil of joy for mourning…”

School—Ovi Poetry Challenge

There might be value in a school
unless the teacher is a fool
who doesn’t know the golden rule,
but teaches other ones.

But if the Teacher’s truly wise,
let not your heart His words despise,
but follow. You’ll receive the prize
your spirit’s yearning for.

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

Matthew 7:12
Therefore all things whatsoever ye would that men should do to you, do ye even so to them: for this is the law and the prophets.

John 14:26
But the Comforter, which is the Holy Ghost, whom the Father will send in my name, he shall teach you all things, and bring all things to your remembrance, whatsoever I have said unto you.

Colorful flower found on Normandy Isle of Miami Beach, FL

Ace—Six Sentence Story

Although Jairus knew that Jesus had healing power, as a ruler of the synagogue he didn’t want to expose his belief by playing the only real ace in his hand until it became clear that his beloved twelve-year-old daughter would likely die that very day if he did not. At his request Jesus followed Jairus to his house, but on the way a woman with a twelve-year issue of blood which no physician could cure crept close enough to Jesus to just touch the border of His robe without being noticed. Jesus stopped, asked who touched Him and after the woman revealed herself He told her that her faith had healed her.

While Jairus waited impatiently for this testimony of the woman to be over, people from his house told him what he feared that his daughter had died, but Jesus told him to only believe and she would be made whole.

At the house Jesus allowed Peter, James, John, Jairus and his wife to go in with Him where the child lay. Then Jesus said, “Maid, arise.”

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

Luke 8:41-56 KJV
41 And, behold, there came a man named Jairus, and he was a ruler of the synagogue: and he fell down at Jesus’ feet, and besought him that he would come into his house: 42 For he had one only daughter, about twelve years of age, and she lay a dying. But as he went the people thronged him. 43 And a woman having an issue of blood twelve years, which had spent all her living upon physicians, neither could be healed of any, 44 Came behind [him], and touched the border of his garment: and immediately her issue of blood stanched. 45 And Jesus said, Who touched me? When all denied, Peter and they that were with him said, Master, the multitude throng thee and press [thee], and sayest thou, Who touched me? 46 And Jesus said, Somebody hath touched me: for I perceive that virtue is gone out of me. 47 And when the woman saw that she was not hid, she came trembling, and falling down before him, she declared unto him before all the people for what cause she had touched him, and how she was healed immediately. 48 And he said unto her, Daughter, be of good comfort: thy faith hath made thee whole; go in peace. 49 While he yet spake, there cometh one from the ruler of the synagogue’s [house], saying to him, Thy daughter is dead; trouble not the Master. 50 But when Jesus heard [it], he answered him, saying, Fear not: believe only, and she shall be made whole. 51 And when he came into the house, he suffered no man to go in, save Peter, and James, and John, and the father and the mother of the maiden. 52 And all wept, and bewailed her: but he said, Weep not; she is not dead, but sleepeth. 53 And they laughed him to scorn, knowing that she was dead. 54 And he put them all out, and took her by the hand, and called, saying, Maid, arise. 55 And her spirit came again, and she arose straightway: and he commanded to give her meat. 56 And her parents were astonished: but he charged them that they should tell no man what was done.

Positivity—Ovi Poetry Challenge

May blessings flow on all of those
especially where conflicts rose.
So, demons, note: I won’t compose
a loveless fantasy.

Unwelcome thoughts like seeds were sown.
Offenses grew. I will not own
what stifles joy to ever groan.
The weeding season’s come.

Now, deadly darkness can’t annoy.
Defeated demons can’t destroy.
The coming harvest laughs with joy,
with joy forever more.

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