Fellowship of Christian Poets

Throne Room Petitions is a portion of the ministry that will seek to stir our members and guests alike, to intercede for the needs of others, and take an unshakeable stance in the spirit realm, which proclaims,
“Thy Kingdom come, Thy Will be done, in earth as it is in Heaven.” - Matthew 6:10

Tsunami, Selah

Selah is a word that’s frequently found in the Book of Psalms. According to the dictionary, some interpret it as meaning the end, a pause, or silence; but the Amplified Bible translates Selah as, [pause, and calmly think of that]. Selah is an expression of emotion that often accompanies prayer, especially when there is no earthly explaination or solution for dramatic events that cause despair. A silent pause in prayer, gives homage to God’s “know it all” nature; we honor His sovereignty in stillness, in silence.

Zechariah 2:13 “Be silent, O all flesh, before the LORD: for He is raised up out of His holy habitation.”

I came across a photo which shows a tiny portion of the devastating aftermath from the December 26, 2004 tsunami; it literally left me speechless for days. View the photo at the following link: www.heartofdehart.com/Tsunami.htm

What could I say? What explaination could I offer as a follower of, and believer in Jesus Christ? In silence… I wept with the survivors, sighed for God to ease their suffering, and wondered about what number of victims were lost to hell or saved to heaven. Enwrapped in quiet questionings, I surrendered all my emotional wonderings to the fact that only God knows the answers. Comfort enveloped me when Psalms 46:10 came to mind, “Be still, and know that I am God: I will be exalted among the heathen, I will be exalted in the earth.”

As I witnessed this fleeting moment, now captured forever in photo; the reality of what really matters in this temporal life became the star attraction in this overwhelming scene. The other side of eternity took center stage in my mournful meditation. I realized that fleshly bodies of the liars and the loyal, the cowards and the courageous, the princely and the paupers, the thieves and the theologians, all floated helplessly upon 2004 tsunami’s tide. All efforts to obtain segregation through race or social class had been diminished with one fatal wave. A wave that deprived them all of an equally distributed gift… a gift that only God could have graced them with… the breath of life. Flesh now deprived and spirits released… the only segregation in status now, is eternal inhabitation of heaven or hell. I thought of the worthless involvement in power struggles, claim to fame, vain ambition, people pleasing, and countless categories of carnal cravings that had consumed the earthly time of most who floated there. I thought of how most had missed the daily opportunity to humbly walk and talk with their loving Creator. I thought of how selfishness had interrupted redeeming fellowship with God, for so many. Thinking of the opportunities I’ve missed, a tsunami of repentance rolled over my own heart; my spirit floated in a tide of hope filled sorrow.

1 Thessalonians 4:12-14 “But I would not have you to be ignorant, brethren, concerning them which are asleep, that ye sorrow not, even as others which have no hope. For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so them also which sleep in Jesus will God bring with him.”

As Godly sorrow led me to repentant change, I witnessed how God’s grace works it’s way into our heart’s through grief.
Now 2 Corinthians 7:10 means more so much more, “For godly sorrow worketh repentance to salvation not to be repented of: but the sorrow of the world worketh death.” I gained a better understanding of how good can come out of the most horrible events imaginable, if heartfelt repentance comes about.

Days passed and verbal intercession returned; it returned with inner resignation. My soul was settled by surrendering to the subtle reality of God’s universal ownership. The entirety of the forty-sixth chapter of Psalms, grew into a sobering prayer of praise. Selah is repeated three times in this sovereign chapter… for me, it symbolizes the Holy Trinity. The following is quoted from the King James versions, but please allow me to request that you read the Amplified Bible version also.

Dear intercessors, we dare not enter into speculation regarding God’s ways and thoughts which are infinitely higher, wider, deeper than our own. But we can make the most of every circumstance that He uses to create a contrite attitude in us. Be encouraged in prayer by keeping the eyes of your heart firmly focused on Jehovah’s wisdom and love for His people, on His planet. Prayerfully honor Him with reverence by uttering psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs of praise when answers are unknown. His Word is our indestructible weapon in spiritual warfare, wield it with intrepid trust in Him!

May our faith be fortified, our spirits strengthened, and our joy be full as we depend upon Him to receive and answer our sincere “Throne Room Petitions.”

Though February is mostly recognized for “Valentine’s Day” celebrations, it is also designated as “Black History” month.
So, in recognition of the African-American heritage, I’d like to share a short selection from a writer that I became
acquainted with about four years ago. I hope that you’ll be blessed by the history and poetry of this month’s praying poet,
Olivia Ward Bush. I can only imagine how wonderful it would have been to hear her personal testimony of circumstances and incidents that inspired her intercessory poem, ”The Nations Evil.” Her poem, "The Walk to Emmaus", is one of my favorite.

Olivia Ward Bush was born in 1869, in Sag Harbor; she celebrated both her heritages of Montauk Indian and African-American descent, in her poetry. When she was nine months old, her mother died, she was raised by her aunt, Maria Draper, in Providence, Rhode Island. Her poetic talents were widely recognized while she was in high school. Olivia Ward Bush married, divorced and become the mother of two daughters by 1895. Commuting between Providence and Boston, she worked whatever jobs she could find in order to care for her family. In spite of the trials and hardship she endured, she published her first book in 1899, called Original Poems. She moved to Chicago in 1916, where she published her second volume of poetry, called Driftwood. This was her most popular publication. Ms. Bush was a regular contributor to the Colored America magazine, and was an avid supporter of the "New Negro Movement." Her poetry expresses passion for the plight of her race, it also echoes her faith in God in a dramatic way. In her work, she courageously preserves regional dialect that might otherwise have been lost. Simple as she wrote, it still upholds and affirms traditional black values (political, cultural, and religious) in a diverse world. She established the Bush-Banks School of Expression, which became a haven for black artists and a forum for dramatic renditions and musical recitals. In 1930, she moved to New York and became arts editor for the New Rochelle Westchester Record-Courier. Olivia Ward Bush died in 1944.

A sound is heard throughout our land,
A moaning, yearning, pleading cry;
"O mighty Arm of Right stretch forth,
Crush out our hopeless misery.
I see a weary dark-skinned race
Bend low beneath Oppression's weight,
I hear their off-spring wailing out,
O, "Save us from our father's fate!"
-¦-
I see a fierce, blood-thirsty mob,
Add torture to a quivering frame.
I hear an agonizing cry
Hushed by the cruel fiery flame.
I see the home left desolate,
I see a father forced to die,
I hear a mother's anguished groan,
I hear their children's piteous cry.
-¦-
How long I ask shall these things be?
How long shall men have hearts of stone?
My soul grown sick and faint within,
Cries out in supplicating tone,
"Great God, send forth thy swift demand,
Declare this evil shall not be,
That man give justice unto man,
And cease this inhumanity."

We will issue a monthly call for prayer on behalf of fellow poets and their loved ones through a voluntary link of intercessors, who will dedicate themselves to a specific prayer need until victory is accomplished. If you have prayer request, or would like to be an active intercessor, either continuously or for a specific time limit, please click here. intercessors@christianpoets.com
Each month we will also share a personal poetic testimony called "The Birthplace of Inspiration" which will feature “Prayer Poems” that were birthed out of the experience. We encourage our members, guest, and friends of FOCP to share your testimonies and poems. If you wish to do so please, click here. testimony@christianpoets.com This link may also be used for praise reports in response to prayer request.