Blessing Our Lord and Causing Him to Rejoice

1. Introduction

2. E-Word Today and Devo
3. Scheduled Poems' List
4. Easter Contest Winner
5. Notable Mention
6. Contests and Special Contests
7. Our Newest Volunteer
8. A Word from Reverend John Marinelli
9. Encouraging Letters
10. Believe That You Receive
              Contributor: Pastor Mark Brazee
11. Blessing Our Lord and Causing Him to Rejoice
              Contributor: Elsie Cuevas

Welcome to "News & Reviews." We encourage you to write and let us know what you are doing with your poetry: Has your poetry been a blessing to anyone? Are you using your poems to minister to others? We'd like to know.

We are especially looking for encouraging letters sent to you from readers who either have used your FOCP--published poetry or have been blessed as a result of having seen it somewhere on our web-site. Send your e-mails to "News & Reviews" cpoets@adelphia.net

E-Word Today has moved to a 7-day-a-week publication. Subscribers can receive E-Word Monday through Friday only, Saturday and Sunday only, or seven days a week (in their choice of html, plain text, or large print). Current recipients of the Monday through Friday subscription will not automatically receive the newly available weekend editions mentioned above. You must subscribe.

Devo Digest, published 7 days a week, also features poems from our Library of Poetic Expression on a daily basis. As in E-Word Today, the actual poems are not being published in the devotionals. Instead, a link with the title of the poem and the author's name is being listed. These publications also provide links to the Poem of the Month WebPage as well as this Fellowship's website.

Their combined circulation is nearly 13,000 opt-in subscribers. The e-mail addresses for both devotionals are as follows:

E-Word Today: ewordtoday-subscribe@ewordtoday.com
Devo Digest: devodigest-subscribe@ewordtoday.com

The following poems will be linked from Mike's newsletters to our Library of Poetic Expressions in March:

• As I Hung Upon The Cross . . . - Marinelli, Marilyn - Lynchburg, VA USA
• Golgotha - Buitendyk, T. - Edmonton, AB Canada
• The Sound of Revelation - Thomsen, Mikael J. - Denmark, Europe
• NUMBERS DON'T COUNT - McKenna, Suzanne - Orleans, ON Canada
• Remember This Old Tree - Stevenson, Linda J - Roanoke, VA USA
• A Work That's Pleasing - Smidt, Chester - Kansas City, MO USA
• The Love Song - Kelly, Joy - The Woodlands, TX USA
• A Soul's Study in Simile - Evans, John - Jacksonville, FL USA
• Someone Cares - Hames, Linda - Houston, TX USA
• Branches - Grigsby, David - Arlington, TX USA
• At Calvary - Kelley, Granville - Riverside, CA USA
• Isaiah 53 Rap - Amato, Steve - Waburn, MA USA
• Prayer - Bozeman, Ivie - Thomasville, GA USA
• He is Risen! - Adams, William O. - Plano, TX USA
• Beyond The Rainbow - Marinelli, John - Lynchburg, VA USA
• Grace: Free but not Cheap - Kelly, Joy - The Woodlands, TX USA
• Melody of Love - Duckworth, Bonnie - Medford, OR USA
• The Lord's Return - Howland, Larry - Elsie, MI, USA
• Paradox of Pain - Tate, James E. - Tulsa, OK USA
• You Are Never Forgotten! - van Oord, Aletta - Calgary, Alberta, Canada
• RESURRECTION POWER - Cuevas, Elsie - Selden, NY USA
• In The Deepest Valley - Stanton, Sandra Catherine - Limassol, Cyprus
• The Unseen Hand - Hames, Linda - Houston, TX USA
• You Helped Me Find A Way - Gomez, Jody - Murrieta, CA USA
• Where Shall We Go - Woody, Peggy Jeanine - Benton, IL USA
• Our God's Alive! - Cosgrove, Jacqueline A. - Battle Creek, MI USA
• Ponder the Cross - Poynter, Geneva - Hoffman Estates, IL USA
• UNDYING LOVE - Devine, Jana J. - Independence, MO USA
• MORNING IN PARADISE - Cunningham, Susan - Colorado Springs, CO USA
• CHRIST'S COMPASSION - Paterson, Terrie - Gold Coast (Qld), Australia
• SON RISE - DeHart, Juanita - Houston, TX USA

And the winner is . . . "Easter Is" by Dottie Brewer from Clarkston, Washington. This poem should not be taken as an indictment against chocolate bunnies and eggs, but rather as a voice in the wilderness that's calling our attention back to the death, burial, and resurrection of our Lord Jesus Christ and the Gospel--the power of salvation to all who will believe!

Congratulations, Dottie. May the Lord use your poem to not only bring conviction and awakening to whosoever may need it, but also a desire to celebrate the true meaning of Easter. This poem will be linked every day in March from E-Word and Devo newsletters to our Library of Poetic Expression and displayed on our web-site's Poem of the Month Web Page.

The following recent entries are worthy of notable mention:

"Our God's Alive" by Jacqueline Cosgrove from Battle Creek, Michigan.

This poem was inspired, no doubt, by the almost comical account in 1 Kings 18 wherein we find hopeless heathens pathetically praying in vain to their false gods while the prophet of God, Elijah, looks on in righteous contempt. Jacqueline cleverly captures the essence of God's biblical lesson as she compares the reality of our God to the fallacy of fools and the ignorant.

"Isaiah 53 Rap" by Steve Amato from Waburn, Massachusetts.

To Steve, I would like to say: "A few years ago, I wrote a poem on the 53rd chapter of Isaiah, so I appreciate the prayer, devotion, and effort that I'm sure it must have taken to create this unique work of art. Bravo!"

Both of these great poems have been posted below for your convenience and enjoyment. Along with other fine entries, they will be linked one day this month from E-Word and Devo newsletters to our Library of Poetic Expression for thousands of readers to enjoy.

Our God's alive! He gave His life.
He became our sacrifice.
There is no other God than He--
He lives! He cares! He hears! He sees!

The heathen fashioned with their hands
Their idol gods of gold.
They carried them on weary beast;
They were a heavy load.

Not so our God--our God is real.
He created us by His own will.
He lifts us with His Mighty Arm--
He carries us; we know no harm.

They bowed before their deities.
They had stone eyes; they could not see.
They vainly wept aloud in prayer.
Their gods were deaf; they could not hear.

Our God sees us with eyes of love,
Intently watching over us.
His ears are listening for our cry;
He even hears our faintest sigh.

To hearts of stone, they made appeal.
Their gods were dead and could not feel.
They cut themselves and sacrificed
To no avail; there was no life.

Our God's alive!--He gave His life.
He became our sacrifice.
There is no other God than He--
He lives! He cares! He hears! He sees!

pojac_77@hotmail.com

Jacqueline A. Cosgrove
Battle Creek, MI

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1. Who has believed our message, and to whom has the Lord been revealed?
   He seemed such a common man, to whom has he appealed?
2. And what did attract us to him, no beauty or majesty
   Nothing in his appearance, that people wanted to see.
3. A man of sorrows and suffering, men did reject and also debase
   He was despised and not esteemed, like a man from whom one hid his face
4. Surely he took up our sorrows, yet we reckoned him stricken by God
   Smitten by him and afflicted, our hearts were, oh, so hard.
5. But he was pierced for our transgressions, and for our sins was broken
   But by his wounds we're healed, this is what Isaiah has spoken
6. Like sheep we've gone astray, each turned to his own way
   But the iniquity of us all, upon Christ did God lay
7. He was oppressed and also afflicted, yet he submitted to God's will
   As a sheep before her shearers, or as lamb that one does kill.
8. By oppression and judgment he was taken away, and left no descendant behind
   For he died unmarried and without a child, being stricken in the place of mankind.
9. He died being reckoned as wicked, and buried in a rich man's tomb
   Though he had done no violence, nor was deceitful as some did assume
10. Yet it was God's will to crush, and cause him to suffer to death
    To make his life a guilt offering, just as he took his last breath
    Yet he lives on and has many children, and through him God's will does thrive
11. For he came back to life again, and many sinners he does justify
12. So he has earned a great portion, because he poured out his life that day.
    For he bore the sin of many, and on our behalf he does pray.

samato@cfa.harvard.edu

Steve Amato
Waburn , MA

We are currently reviewing poems for March's Poem of the Month. Deadline for submission is March 15th. Themes should be selected from categories found in our web-site's submission guidelines.

Review for the Mother's Day Special Contest officially gets underway on March 16th. Please note that the new deadline for this special contest is April 15th. Winner will receive a $25 prize, a certificate, and the winning entry will be selected as May's Poem of the Month.

If none of the poems entered in special contests qualify as a winner, the cash award will be added to the next special contest award. In the event this should occur, either a non-member's poem or, at our discretion, a poem by the founders of this ministry or yours truly will be posted instead. Hopefully, this will lead to careful and prayerful preparation of future contest entries.

In lieu of a newly submitted poem, you may choose to send an e-mail to cpoets@adelphia.net requesting a review and reconsideration of a previously submitted entry. If you choose this option, please include your name and poem's title exactly as it appears in our Library of Poetic Expressions, otherwise, we will not be able to retrieve your poem.

Keep in mind, that time will not always permit us to search for potential special contest winners in our library. So, if you wish to be included in future special contests, it will be your responsibility to take advantage of the option I mentioned above.

Our Father's Day Special Contest review begins April 16th, and will continue till May 15th. Winner will receive a cash prize, a certificate, and the winning entry will be selected as June's Poem of the Month. In order to avoid the possibility of your entry being overlooked during the review process, it is highly recommended that you DO NOT send in your submission before review begins.

Our 2002 submission dates and deadlines are now posted on our website, but I recommend you make it a habit to check this section of "News & Reviews" once a month for possible date changes.

A hearty FOCP "Welcome!" to our newest volunteer staff member Larry Howland. He will be sharing years of "how to" knowledge in his article "Marketing Tips from the Parson's Pen."

Larry is a full-time poet, making a living marketing his own poetry. For more details, please see his bio on the volunteer staff page under "About Us."

I enjoyed reading his February's article and am looking forward to more. Thanks, Larry!

A Word From Reverend John Marinelli

We are embarking on a new project to promote our website among large churches. On or about February 15th, we began faxing a special invitation to over 1,000 Protestant churches in the United States. These churches are the largest in congregation size and scattered all over the country. We will be inviting them to visit our library as a resource for Christian poetry for use in bulletins, newsletters, and sermons. This will be one of many broadcast fax invitations to churches. There are over 500,000 possible but due to limited funds, we are focusing on the largest 10,000 for this year with the most potential for mass communication to members and use of poetry in church ministries. We will, with each broadcast fax, request that the receiving church include a blurb in their bulletins as a call to poets to join us in our being a blessing to others. The cost of each 1,000-broadcast fax is $100.We are looking for sponsors to expand and speed up the faxing process. Interested sponsors can e-mail me at john@adelphia.net.

From: jetate@juno.com
Date: Wed, 30 Jan 2002 12:03:56 -0600
To: elc@cfaith.com
Subject: February's article

Elsie, I just read John Marinelli's article "Poetry, the Language of Love." I found it delightful, and with an occasional humorous touch. In his and Marilyn's first year of marriage he wrote over 300 love poems to her. Commendable and maybe a tad too many, at least when compared with my three or four a year to my beloved Marie.

He also included a poem for us, titled "Fragile Flower Red." A good and meaningful poem, dedicated to God (I bloom for thee, oh God). Go to his "In Focus" article for February and read it all and be blessed. Here is one of the verses:

As a flower, I bloom for thee,
that passersby may stop and see.
Your fragrance and beauty I am,
flowered in grace as a man.

Sincerely,

James

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From: jetate@juno.com
Date: Thu, 31 Jan 2002 10:51:52 -0600
To: canadianpoets@poetic.com
Subject: Your article on FOCP

Ross Gardner, your voice from the north has been heard! It is heartening to read your article. I thought of many things as I read it. I love the early stories and rich heritage of the Klondike and far north. We visited your fair country a few years back and found a warm and cordial welcome near the Great Lakes region. Some day we may venture there again. Back to your article, the sincerity and love for our Savior came through very well. May your exhortations be read by many and may they be moved by them.

Be blessed.

James,
FOCP Guest Editorials

PS. I'm sending a copy to Elsie

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From: "Mary Jo Williams" hangingw@sat-co.net
To: poetryeditor@christianpoets.com
Sent: Saturday, February 02, 2002 9:43 PM
Subject: Using a poem

I would like to thank you for this site. I search for material for bulletins every week. It is a task. I enjoy yours very much and thank you for letting me use it to produce in our church bulletin. "Live What You've Learned" by Michael Stephen Mirides was perfect for our church right now. I have attached a copy of our bulletin that you may pass on to Mr. Mirides.

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From: "Noel Stalker" <more2this@yahoo.com>
To: <john@christianpoets.com>
Sent: Sunday, February 03, 2002 10:29 AM
Subject: Permission to use poems

To whom it may concern,

I would like to occasionally include a poem from your website in my weekly church newsletter. The author of the poem would be credited and your website's url would be given. This newsletter will also be sent out via E-mail. This is a non-profit service to the Body of Christ. Is this permissible? If you would like, I can send you a copy of the newsletter entitled "Christian Concepts".

Love in Christ,

Noel T Stalker
more2this@yahoo.com

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Date: Sun, 3 Feb 2002 12:26:19 -0500
From: "John Marinelli" <cpoets@adelphia.net>
To: <more2this@yahoo.com>
Cc: "Elsie Cuevas" <elc@cfaith.com>
Subject: [none]

Noel,

Feel free to use any poems you wish for your newsletter and e-mail list. Please include me on your e-mail list. God Bless.

Rev John

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From: "JOHN EVANS" <jjevans@mediaone.net>
Date: Tue, 5 Feb 2002 11:11:40 -0800
To: "Elsie Cuevas" <elc@cfaith.com>
Cc: "John Marinelli" <john@christianpoets.com>
Subject: News and Reviews column

Thanks, Elsie, for your column and the nice things there said about me in the February issue. If God has given me a talent, it's because I long ago said to Him, "God, I know I am nothing, but I also know you take 'the weak things of the world--the things that are really nothing--to confound the wise,' so as you give me the poems, I'll give you the glory." And that's what I do. He gives me the poems; I give Him the glory for them. God bless you in your good efforts for Christ. You are an inspiration!

John Evans

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From: Elsie Cuevas elc@cfaith.com
Date: 05 Feb 2002 19:42:50 PST
To: jjevans@mediaone.net
Cc: cpoets@adelphia.net, jetate@juno.com, jydehart@juno.com
Subject: Re: News and Reviews column

Dear Brother Evans,

First, permit me to use the remarkable quote by James E. Tate found in his February's "Editorial Comments."

Now, I would like to say I am so glad you allowed me to use the e-mail Juanita DeHart sent you and the poem she wrote in your honor in my February's "News and Reviews." Despite your initial reservation, I really believed God wanted me to share with the other poets and readers the joy as well as the honor we give one another when laboring for Him.

Brother James' timely comment serves as a confirmation to me, and hopefully to others, that I did the right thing. Our Lord put it very simply: "Give honor to whom honor is due." May the Lord continue to use all of us for His glory.

God bless you,

Elsie

From: "Jackie Cosgrove" <pojac_77@hotmail.com>
Date: Wed, 06 Feb 2002 19:51:53 +0000
To: Elc@cfaith.com
Subject: I had the wrong address the first time

Elsie, I really enjoy your "News and Reviews." I like seeing what God is doing with our poetry in others lives. I also like seeing in advance what poetry will be used in E-Word. I really enjoyed the article by Kate McVeigh, and it gave me the idea I was looking for to share at our ladies retreat later this month.

Also thank you for sharing what God is doing in your own life, I feel like I am part of very special family. But, I do miss you acutely as our editor, but I well know that you are doing a great job with News, and God will supply the editorial staff we need.

Blessings,

Jackie Cosgrove

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To: john@christianpoets.com
Sent: Thursday, February 07, 2002 5:55 PM
Subject: poems

I have printed out the following poems:

For I called upon Christ, From Tears to Smiles, A flower in God's Garden, and Jesus Missed Me. The person that is going use these is a lady of 94 who makes bookmarks and uses these poems on one side. She passes these out to whomever needs an encouraging word, so I know I will be back to get more. Thanks.

Blessings,

Diane Varady

Email: mtrinf1423@excite.com
Time: Thursday, February 7, 2002 10:10:42

I Love your website! The poetry is so inspiring- thank you!

Trin Brickner

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Email: 115angel girl
Org: salvation
Location: Chatham
Time: Wednesday, February 13, 2002 at 10:04:44

I loved all the poems in the category "Born Again"; it was really touching.

Amanda Caron

Ontario, Canada

Org: Westminster Presbyterian Church
Time: Friday, February 15, 2002 at 12:16:26

I truly love this site. It is a blessing and an answered prayer! I often look for Christian poems and encouragement to use in the church bulletin for Sunday worship. Thanks So Much!!!!

Annette Cooper

Birmingham,Alabama
MrsAC34@aol.com
westmtrs@bellsouth.net

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From: jetate@juno.com
Date: Sat, 16 Feb 2002 10:59:24 -0600
To: jjevans@mediaone.net
Cc: elc@cfaith.com
Subject: Remember This Old Tree

John, I agree with your selection for the February poem to spotlight. When I read Remember This Old Tree, by Linda J. Stevenson, I was amazed at its uniformity, yet freshness of thought, and its cogency of message reminding us of the purpose of trials in our lives.

You picked a winner and I loved every line. I will keep it as a pattern along with your analysis of good poetry.

James

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Email: <casarecov@aol.com>
URL: <http://hometown.aol.com/casarecov/myhomepage/business.html>
Org: C.A.S.A. RECOVERY MINISTRY
Address: c/o N.W. Praise Center, 4725 N.W. 10th st.
Time: Sunday, February 24, 2002 at 06:32:01

Your web-site is a real blessing to me. I really love Betty Jo Minigs poems.

Ricky Thompson
Oklahoma City, Oklahoma

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BELIEVE THAT YOU RECEIVE
By Pastor Mark Brazee

''Therefore I say unto you, What things soever ye desire, when ye pray, believe that ye receive them, and ye shall have them'' (Mark 11:24).

I remember when I first got saved, I'd pray, ''Oh Lord, I ask You to heal me in Jesus' name. I ask You for healing. Amen.''

Then when someone would ask, ''Did you get anything?''

I'd check and say, ''Well, no, I don't believe so.'' And according to my faith it would be done unto me. I'd pray and then I'd believe I wouldn't get anything, so I wouldn't get anything. My faith worked all the time!

Jesus did not say, ''When you pray, believe you don't receive anything, and you'll have it.'' It sounds funny, but a lot of us prayed that way for years. A lot of people still do. They pray and then check to see whether their bodies feel any better or whether the symptoms are gone. And if nothing is different, they don't believe they received anything.

That's not what Jesus said to do. If we want His results, we have to follow His instructions. He didn't say, ''When you pray, believe you didn't receive anything.'' He said, ''When you pray, believe you receive.''

Confession:

Source: Prescription for a Miracle by Mark Brazee
Excerpt permission granted by Harrison House Publishers

About the author: Since 1975, Mark Brazee has been teaching scriptural principles clearly and simply. With a vision to reach the nations with the Word and Spirit of God, Mark and his wife, Janet, have traveled throughout the world spreading the gospel. Today the outreaches of Mark Brazee Ministries include: DOMATA Bible schools throughout Europe with expansion into Asia; an International Ministers' Fellowship; DOMATA School of Missions, teaching tapes, music ministry, and a bi-monthly newsletter. Mark is also the author of several books available in various translations to take the power of the printed Word to the nations. For more information about Mark Brazee Ministries visit http://www.brazee.org/

Blessing Our Lord and Causing Him to Rejoice
By Elsie Cuevas

I never realized the depth of our Lord's words in Mark 11:24 until I read the article excerpt by Mark Brazee (see above). His perspective on this portion of God's Word, is so profound, I felt I had to share it with you. Please feel free to incorporate his teaching in your faith and healing poems.

When it comes to healing, I think we sometimes are our own worst enemy. I don't recall anywhere in Scripture where Jesus asked the sick to "get right" with God before He healed them. It says he healed all who came to Him. "He has NOT dealt with us after our sins, nor rewarded us according to our iniquities" (Psalm 103:10).

With the exceptions of those in His own hometown who had no faith in Him and a woman whose daughter had a devil, Jesus healed them all without question. But even the Syrophoenician woman, after being called a dog by our Lord (perhaps He was referring to her daughter), humbled herself, astounded the Lord with her faith, and received a deliverance for her demon-possessed daughter.

Psalm 103 shows us one way we can bless and express appreciation to our Lord: "Bless the Lord, O my soul, and all that is within me, bless His holy name. Bless the Lord, O my soul, and don't forget His benefits!" David is not telling himself to do two separate things, 1) bless the Lord, and 2) don't forget His benefits. If I were to tell my sons to bless me and straighten out their room, I'd simply mean that I would be blessed if they would straighten out their room--period.

It is my belief that David, who was writing under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit, was reminding himself to be a blessing to God by not forgetting His benefits. And the Holy Spirit through David extends the invitation to us.

What are some of these benefits? Let's read on: Who [He] forgives ALL your iniquities, heals ALL your diseases, redeems your life from destruction, crowns you with lovingkindness and tender mercies, satisfies your mouth with good things, so that your youth is renewed like the eagle's. . . .

In addition, Jesus knew divine healing would bring many, if not most, to repentance, compounding His own blessings--and Jesus is the same yesterday, today, and forever (Hebrews 13:8). After grabbing hold of His benefits, we can then with complete conviction make known His wondrous works to all who have ears to hear, that they too would remember the marvels He has done. What a wonderful way to bless and cause our Lord to rejoice. "Bless the Lord, oh my soul, and don't forget His benefits!"

elc@cfaith.com