Monthly Archives: May 2015

MEDITATING ON GOD’S TRUTH

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May 30________________________________________
Oh, the joys of those who do not follow the advice of the wicked or stand around with sinners, or join in with mockers. But they delight in the law of the Lord, meditating on it day and night. –Psalm 1:1-2 (NLT)
MEDITATING ON GOD’S TRUTH
A poem and essay by ILMA
Do you live in awe of God and in his righteousness?
He will bless you with joy, love and holiness
Don’t follow the advice of the sinners and mockers
They will lead you to destruction and make you bitter.
Delight and meditate in the law of the Lord
If you obey him, you are bringing him laud
Think about his truth and you will be free
It will guide you and protect you from the enemy.
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What can meditating on God’s truth bring about in one’s life? When I started studying the bible instead of just reading, God showed me so many things that I didn’t understand before. The truths that I daily studied brought answers to questions I have asked that were never answered. I suddenly learned so many generational sins that I have unconsciously received. I didn’t even know that I was living with so much bondage to sin until I started reflecting and memorizing God’s word.
The bible warns us to not participate in the activities of sinners or mockers. The Lord delights in those who seek him and meditate on his commands and truth.
PRAYER
Give me a heart that obeys your commands and seek you.
REFLECTION
What verse or truth have specifically released you from slavery to sin.
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For more testimonials about God’s word, please go to YouTube and type ILMA’s poem devotional or go to www.ilmaarts.com posts. To receive emails of my poem devotionals, email me at ILMA.ARTS.STUDIO@gmail.com

KEEP WATCH! Poem Devotional

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May 29________________________________________
You too must keep watch! For you don’t know when the master of the household will return – in the evening, at midnight, before dawn or at daybreak. –Mark 13:35 (NLT)
KEEP WATCH
A poem and essay by ILMA
Do you always long for the truth and seek God?
Do you do everything to protect yourself from fraud?
Are you pursuing peace and walking in love?
Keep watch, to have a place in his kingdom up above.
We can’t predict when the Lord is coming again
We can prepare, remain in him and always abide
He may come in the evening, at midnight or daybreak
Keep watch and be ready for your own sake.
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I had a Canadian friend come over Manila, the capital city of my country of origin shortly before I migrated to Canada. He was amazed at how much security guards (holding guns or rifles) were in almost all the places I brought him in such as banks, restaurants, malls, schools, offices and even homes of those who are rich. It showed how people try to guard their wealth and even the safety of children who becomes target for kidnapping. Peace and safety was a novelty in that part of the world
The bible talks about the importance of being ready and watching always in order to be ready when Christ comes back because we don’t know when that would be. It can be anytime.
PRAYER
Lord, keep me ready for your coming.
REFLECTION
What have you done to ready yourself for Christ’s second coming?
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For more testimonials about God’s word, please go to YouTube and type ILMA’s poem devotional or go to www.ilmaarts.com posts. To receive emails of my poem devotionals, email me at ILMA.ARTS.STUDIO@gmail.com

KINDNESS VERSUS CRUELTY Poem Devotional

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May 28
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Your kindness will reward you but your cruelty will destroy you. -Proverbs 11:17 (NLT)
KINDNESS VERSUS CRUELTY
A poem and essay by ILMA
A kind word encourages everyone
A thoughtful act brings joy to someone
Your kindness will go a long way
It will surely make Satan go away.
When you are wicked and cruel to anybody
You are manifesting pride and being haughty
Any form of cruelty destroys you and others
It will bring death to your sisters and brothers.
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Have you ever been with someone cruel? It is exhausting to be around wicked people. They will always find something to bicker about. They take pleasure in putting down others. If you closely watch the lives of those who are wicked, you will notice that they live bitter, hopeless and discontented lives.
Kind people on the other hand encourages others and keeps a positive outlook in life. They go out of their way to help or bless someone just because they love God so much. Their kindness is always remembered by the recipient of their generosity. You will find out that kind people are always blessed by God and others. They inspire and draw people
to be closer to God and to praise and glorify him.
The bible tells us that kindness is always rewarded by the heavenly Father while cruelty ruins or destroys the person and those around him.
PRAYER
Lord, protect me from the temptation to be cruel.
REFLECTION
How would you respond to someone’s cruelty?
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For more testimonials about God’s word, please go to YouTube and type ILMA’s poem devotional or go to www.ilmaarts.com posts. To receive emails of my poem devotionals, email me at ILMA.ARTS.STUDIO@gmail.com

DISCIPLINE IS A SIGN OF GOD’S LOVE Poem Devotional

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May 27
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If God doesn’t discipline you as he does all of his children, it means that you are illegitimate and are not really his children at all. –Hebrews 12:8 (NLT)
DISCIPLINE IS A SIGN OF GOD’S LOVE
A poem and essay by ILMA
Do you love and discipline your own children?
Do you do it to protect and safeguard their well-being?
God corrects his own people with love and tenderness
He loves us like his own and wants us to live in righteousness.
If you get convicted by the Holy Spirit of God
He wants you to be victorious and rise above
Discipline is a sign that you belong to him
It guarantees all his promises to be redeemed.
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It is a challenge to discipline children, but it always brings out the best for them. If you have children or is taking care of a child, you know the importance of correction in their lives. If you do not correct a mistake, they will constantly do it until it hurts them badly. God is the same with us. Like a parent or a caregiver, he wants the best for his children. He watches over them ensuring that they are free from harm and danger.
The bible talks about the importance of being convicted and corrected by God. It is a good thing even though at the time of being disciplined, it feels like we are hurting so much. It pays off in the end.
PRAYER
Lord, thank you for correcting me.
REFLECTION
What was the hardest correction you got from God?
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For more testimonials about God’s word, please go to YouTube and type ILMA’s poem devotional or go to www.ilmaarts.com posts. To receive emails of my poem devotionals, email me at ILMA.ARTS.STUDIO@gmail.com

HOW TO LIVE IN THIS WORLD Poem Devotional

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May 26
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And we are instructed to turn from godless living and sinful pleasure. We should live in this evil world with wisdom, righteousness and devotion to God. – Titus 2:12 (NLT)
HOW TO LIVE IN THIS WORLD
A poem and essay by ILMA
Do you find it difficult to live in this world?
The enemy wants to distract us from God’s word
Turn from godless living and sinful pleasures
Embrace wisdom, seek God and be righteous.
The prince of this world is out to kill and destroy
Stick to God’s truth and you will know Satan’s ploy
Embrace wisdom and be faithful and dedicated
You will overcome this world when you are devoted.
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In Ephesians 6, we are told that we are not just physical beings but spiritual as well. That we don’t fight a physical battle but a battle with unseen forces. This is why so many times we get defeated living righteous lives because the enemy, who is unseen is able to manipulate us because he sees and knows us but half of the time, we don’t see him and he is able to deceive us because of that invisibility. But God is more powerful than the prince of this world, Satan.
We are instructed to turn from godless living and sinful pleasures, instead, we should live this evil world with wisdom, righteousness and devotion to God.
PRAYER
Lord, teach me how to live in godliness.
REFLECTION
What are your weaknesses that the enemy likes to target?
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For more testimonials about God’s word, please go to YouTube and type ILMA’s poem devotional or go to www.ilmaarts.com posts. To receive emails of my poem devotionals, email me at ILMA.ARTS.STUDIO@gmail.com

TROUBLES IN MARRIAGE Poem Devotional

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May 25
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However those who get married at this time will have troubles. I am trying to spare you those problems. -1 Corinthians 7:28(NLT)
TROUBLES IN MARRIAGE
A poem and essay by ILMA
Did you marry so you can be trouble free?
There is no running from them, you will see
When you vow to love someone forever
Satan will keep you apart and ruin each other.
Troubles will always be part of marriage
Let God take have control over your baggage
Make him the focus of your matrimony
Then you will find joy, peace and harmony.
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The world view perpetuates romantic love. The truth is that romantic love doesn’t last forever as media would want us to believe. The happy endings we watch in movies are not real as they chop the other part of life’s reality: “facing the challenges that marriage brings.” It is this discrepancy between the romantic notion of love and the reality of facing troubles together that has ruined so many marriages.
The bible tells us that marriage will have troubles. It is a fact of life. We can never avoid troubles in relationships, especially in marriage. How can two people of two genders and different upbringing be the same? The world views marriage as a romance that is trouble-free. The truth is, God created marriage so that we can make him in control of such differences.
PRAYER
Lord, watch over all marriages.
REFLECTION
What is the hardest challenge you faced in your marriage?
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For more testimonials about God’s word, please go to YouTube and type ILMA’s poem devotional or go to www.ilmaarts.com posts. To receive emails of my poem devotionals, email me at ILMA.ARTS.STUDIO@gmail.com

THOSE WHO HATE CORRECTION Poem Devotional

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May 24
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Mockers hate to be corrected so they stay away from the wise.
-Proverbs 15:12 (NLT)
THOSE WHO HATE CORRECTION
A poem and essay by ILMA
Pride is the source of those who hate correction
They don’t care about others and want isolation
They stay away from those who are wise
Mockers hate any evaluation or advice.
Scoffers do whatever they please which leads to ruin
They have no respect for others and wallow in sin
When you encounter them, be wise and stay away
All they are up to is to boast their own way.
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I used to know someone who hated correction. All he wanted to do is to tell everyone his own opinion. He never seeks advice, he just gives them and bullies others to do what he thinks should be done. He manipulates anyone who trusted him. He never wants to be told what to do but wants to be control everyone he had relations with.
The clear sign of a wise person is one who seeks advice and listens to others. The bible talks much about wisdom in the book of Proverbs. There are many chapters in this book that stresses the importance of embracing wisdom and warns us of the consequences that fools face.
We are warned to stay away from mockers in Proverbs. We are clearly given the signs of scoffers. One of them is that they never want to be corrected.
PRAYER
Lord, please let me accept your convictions.
REFLECTION
How can you protect yourself from scoffers?
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For more testimonials about God’s word, please go to YouTube and type ILMA’s poem devotional or go to www.ilmaarts.com posts. To receive emails of my poem devotionals, email me at ILMA.ARTS.STUDIO@gmail.com

HIGH PRICE OF FREEDOM Poem Devotional

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May 23
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God paid a high price for you so you won’t be enslaved by the world.
-1 Corinthians 7:23 (NLT)
HIGH PRICE OF FREEDOM
A poem and essay by ILMA
Can you imagine being constantly chased?
Relaxing is not something you can face
What if you are addicted to something?
Do you not constantly crave for that thing?
God paid a high price for you so you will be free
He doesn’t want you enslaved and not see
The world can corrupt you and entice you to sin
If you don’t obey God’s commands, you will find ruin.
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Many years of my life was spent running from something. I didn’t even know what I was running from. I was enslaved by my pursuit of human love, affection and attention. Anything or anyone that would compromise my ability to pursue these needs, I ran as fast as I could from them. Seeking for approval and doing things so I could fill in the emptiness I felt inside for many years became my coping mechanism. I mastered it so much that I actually believed so many lies resulting from the lack of love in my life. For over four decades, I was a slave to “busy”ness just to avoid confronting my loneliness and emptiness. It made me view life out of proportion because I didn’t focus on the cross of Christ. Now I know that God paid a high price for my freedom.
PRAYER
Thank you for the sacrifice on the cross, Lord.
REFLECTION
What would you sacrifice in order to maintain your freedom.
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For more testimonials about God’s word, please go to YouTube and type ILMA’s poem devotional or go to www.ilmaarts.com posts. To receive emails of my poem devotionals, email me at ILMA.ARTS.STUDIO@gmail.com

WITHOUT DISTRACTIONS Poem Devotional

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May 22
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I want you to do whatever will help you serve the Lord best, with as few distractions as possible. – 1 Corinthians 7:35 (NLT)
WITHOUT DISTRACTIONS
A poem and essay by ILMA
Do you find yourself overwhelmed with so much tasks?
Do whatever it takes to focus on the Lord and things that last
When your life is centered on God and his truth
You will find that his words bring joy and boosts.
Without distractions, you can have intimacy
Without it, you can be quiet and bring God glory
One of the enemy’s many tactics is to distract
He steals our time so we get derailed and lose track.
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How many times have you planned on doing something and discover later on that you never got to it? This is a very subtle trick of the devil. He steals your time so you won’t be able to do what you planned, especially if it will bring God the glory. He is a stealer, destroyer and a killer. Distractions can come in many forms. One of the ways I avoided getting distracted is having my journal and bible just beside my bedside so that when I wake up each morning, I can do it right away. The bible tells us to do whatever will help you serve the Lord best, with as few distractions as possible. Paul talks to the Corinthians and tells them the importance of being without distractions.
PRAYER
Lord, keep me away from distractions.
REFLECTION
What distracts you from being close to God?
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For more testimonials about God’s word, please go to YouTube and type ILMA’s poem devotional or go to www.ilmaarts.com posts. To receive emails of my poem devotionals, email me at ILMA.ARTS.STUDIO@gmail.com

PURSUED BY GOODNESS & UNFAILING LOVE Poem Devotional

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May 21
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Surely your goodness and unfailing love will pursue me all the days of my life, and I will live in the house of the Lord forever. –Psalm 23:6 (NLT)
PURSUED BY GOODNESS & UNFAILING LOVE
A poem and essay by ILMA
What would you do if someone chases you relentlessly?
How would you respond to unfailing love given freely?
Wouldn’t your heart leap for joy when you are wooed?
Won’t you eventually respond when you are pursued?
Jesus Christ hunts us unceasingly and faithfully
He will never stop loving us unconditionally
How do you respond to such passion and fervor?
Will you be able to resist such loving offer?
When someone wants to give you forever
Will you say no to a happily ever after?
When you are pursued by someone like Christ
How can you ever say no to a life full of light?
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Courtship is a very essential part of the relationship between a man and a woman. It is at this stage that they get to know each other and grow their closeness in preparation for a deeper commitment should their love for each other grow. Sadly, many people nowadays don’t put much value on this essential stage of a loving relationship.
The bible tells us how Jesus pursues us by his goodness and unfailing love. He doesn’t stop or give up on us. His unconditional love is amazing and incomparable to any human relationships.
PRAYER
Lord, I am thrilled that you pursue me unceasingly.
REFLECTION
How do you respond to Christ’s pursuit of your heart?
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For more testimonials about God’s word, please go to YouTube and type ILMA’s poem devotional or go to www.ilmaarts.com posts. To receive emails of my poem devotionals, email me at ILMA.ARTS.STUDIO@gmail.com