Monthly Archives: September 2015

WHEN YOU DON’T UNDERSTAND Poem devotional

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September 30________________________________________
You don’t understand now what I am doing, but someday you will. – John 13:7(NLT)
WHEN YOU DON’T UNDERSTAND
A poem and essay by ILMA
When times are rough and you don’t understand
Run to Scriptures and find out what God commands
When you don’t understand what you are doing
Seek wisdom from what the bible is saying.
When you don’t comprehend what is happening
Seek Christ, know his commands and keep on obeying
Someday when you don’t stop hungering for him
He will bring you wisdom and let you finally win.
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I always asked so many questions since I was a child. God gave us a mind so we can be motivated to pursue him and know more about him. He didn’t give us a brain so we can use it for our own personal gains. He gave us all that we have, so we can bring back to him the glory and praise that he alone is worthy of. The enemy used my mind and misled me to take the proud path to intelligence. I hoarded so much information and kept it to myself thinking that I know many things than other people. After many years of boasting, God convicted me that he gave me all so that I can glorify him and not myself.
The bible warns us to be careful when we start asking questions to gain approval or recognition. God wants us to be patient when we don’t understand.
PRAYER
Lord, help me to seek you first in everything.
REFLECTION
What kind of questions in your mind led you to frustration and hopelessness?
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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 NOT TO LOSE YOUR LIFE Poem Devotional

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September 29________________________________________
Those who love their life in this world will lose it. Those who care nothing for their life in this world will keep it for eternity. – John 12:25(NLT)
HOW NOT TO LOSE YOUR LIFE
A poem and essay by ILMA
When you desire the standards of the world
You are clearly misled and not following the word
Those who love their life in this world will lose it
If you don’t care for worldly ways, you will keep it.
Seek the kingdom of God and you will have wisdom
Follow God’s commands and you’ll experience freedom
If you don’t want to be in the dark or lose your life
Continually trust Christ and you will be full of his light.
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Have you ever held on to something and realized that you are losing it? Hold a handful of sand in your hands and notice that the more you grip it, the more it falls. Our life is no different. The more you cling to things in this world, the more likely you will lose it. I had an only child and he was my life. I focused so much on being a supermom that I actually missed out on so many things and enabled him that he became a procrastinator.
Those who love their life in this world will lose it, but those who don’t care much for worldly ways will keep it for eternity.
PRAYER
Lord help me never to be deceived by the world.
REFLECTION
What lies has the world deceived you with?
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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

YOU ALWAYS HEAR ME LORD

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September 28________________________________________
Father, thank you for hearing me. You always hear me, but I said it out loud for the sake of all these people standing here so they will believe you sent me. – John 11:41-42(NLT)
YOU ALWAYS HEAR ME LORD
A poem and essay by ILMA
Do you run to the Lord for guidance?
Do you know that he will give you assistance?
No matter what you are going through
He is always there to support you.
Father, thank you for hearing me
I don’t often run to you so I don’t see clearly
You always hear me Lord even when I disobey
Help me to seek you and follow what you say.
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When Jesus raised Lazarus from the dead, he prayed aloud amongst the witnesses in Lazarus’ tomb. He did this because the people didn’t believe that he can bring to life someone who is already dead. Jesus’ very word before he commanded Lazarus to come out of the tomb were “Father, thank you for hearing me. You always hear me, but I said it out loud for the sake of all these people standing here so they will believe you sent me.”
Jesus prayed aloud so people will believe that he is the one God sent and that he can raise even those who are dead already. Uttering out loud something has power especially if it is a request in the name of God.
PRAYER
Lord, thank you for being able to speak my heart.
REFLECTION
Relate an experience when speaking God’s truth and words brought power in your life.
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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

GIVING SIGHT TO THE BLIND Poem Devotional

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September 27________________________________________
I entered this world to render judgment-to give sight to the blind and to show those who think they see that they are blind. – John 9:39 (NLT)
GIVING SIGHT TO THE BLIND
A poem and essay by ILMA
Jesus came to give sight to the blind
He wants to restore their hearts and minds
He is the only one who can bring life
He alone can make them win their fight.
The Lord will bring judgment to all
This is why he doesn’t want us to fall
Sin can make us confused and wallow in evil
Christ came so we can overcome the devil.
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When Adam and Eve disobeyed God in the garden, they started feeling shame and confusion. That is what sin normally brings about in our lives. The enemy tempt us and sows lies in our minds, which later on penetrates in our hearts if we constantly do it and not confess and repent the sin, it builds up to more sins. This is why the bible always tells us to guard our hearts. An unguarded heart is an entry point to the enemy. A heart that seeks God will be much harder for the enemy to penetrate. King David was known as the man who seizes God’s heart. Jesus Christ came to give judgment, to bring back sight to those who are blind and show those who think that they see that they are blind.
PRAYER
Lord, thank you for saving the whole mankind.
REFLECTION
How has the enemy blinded you? What lies did he let you believe for so long?
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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

WAS BLIND AND NOW CAN SEE Poem Devotional

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September 26________________________________________
“I don’t know whether he is a sinner,” the man replied. I was blind and now I can see.
-John 9:25(NLT)
WAS BLIND AND NOW CAN SEE
A poem and essay by ILMA
Do you find yourself struggling to understand life?
When we live in sin for so long, we lose God’s insight
Whenever we decide to wallow in rebellion
We suffer the consequence of this decision.
Why do you continue to live in darkness?
God wants you to live in righteousness
Once we were blinded by the world
Christ saved us by his blood and his word.
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The bible says that those who are constantly living in sin will not be able to see things the way he sees it. As soon as we allow sin to live in our hearts, you open the door for the enemy to get you enslaved by different lies and sins. I remember the many years that I lived in darkness because of my choice to rebel. I was hurt and deprived of love in my growing years, but I had a choice to forgive and release all these people who traumatized me. Instead, I clung to the pain and carried it for many decades. It brought me to a constant state of panic and confusion. Satan entered my heart’s door and infiltrated it with so many lies. Only Christ can heal and make the blind see.
PRAYER
Thank you for healing those who are blind.
REFLECTION
What were the things you didn’t see when you were living in 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

DO WHAT PLEASES GOD Poem Devotional

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September 25________________________________________
And the one who sent me is with me-he has not deserted me. For I always do what pleases him. – John 8:29(NLT)
DO WHAT PLEASES GOD
A poem and essay by ILMA
If you do what pleases God, you will have peace
You will be free and will be able to see
When you obey what God has commanded
He will be faithful and never abandon.
Whenever you seek and follow Christ’s ways
You will have authority and never be swayed
Do what pleases the Lord for he never deserts you
He will always protect, correct, guide and renew.
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Have you ever suffered from doing the opposite of what God asks you to do? Many years of my life was spent following my own will. As a result, I became a very proud and confused person. I was lawless. I only followed my own desires and gratified my selfish ambitions. I did a lot of people pleasing but didn’t do much God-pleasing. In my selfishness, I reaped selfishness as well. Because I did things for my own pleasures, I didn’t sow faithfulness in others. Why would they want to have anything to do with someone who only thinks of herself?
The bible tells us that we ought to please only the Lord. We must never live for our own desires, but we must always think about others. Christ came to serve others. Shouldn’t we do the same?
PRAYER
Lord, let me serve others more than myself.
REFLECTION
Whom did you serve in the past that let you down?
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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

SPIRIT & LIFE Poem Devotional

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September 24________________________________________
The Spirit alone gives eternal life. Human effort accomplishes nothing. And the very words I have spoken to you are spirit and life. – John 6:63(NLT)
SPIRIT & LIFE
A poem and essay by ILMA
When we don’t have the spirit of God living in us
We usually seek approval, perform and lust
Human effort accomplishes nothing
It defies God’s power on everything.
The very words of God give us life
Believe him completely and you will have light
The spirit alone gives you victory and power
Without God’s spirit, we can’t make Satan cower.
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I’ve spent many years of my Christian life doing works of the flesh. I performed to please others so I can look good. I was enslaved seeking approval from people who don’t even believe in God. I chased human knowledge so that I would appear intelligent so people can look up to me and respect me. I did it all wrong. God convicted me of all these human effort. He wanted me to listen to his Spirit.
The bible tells us that the Spirit alone gives eternal life. Human effort accomplishes nothing and that the words of God is his spirit and life. All of Scriptures have the purpose of correcting, rebuking, guiding and teaching us. Without the truth that comes from God’s word, our lives will be dead and we won’t have the spirit alive in us.
PRAYER
Lord, please come live in my heart.
REFLECTION
Cite an instance when you can say that the Spirit clearly lives in 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

ONLY THROUGH CHRIST Poem Devotional

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September 23________________________________________
For no one can come to me unless the Father who sent me draws them to me, and at the last day I will raise them up. –John 6:44(NLT)
ONLY THROUGH CHRIST
A poem and essay by ILMA
When we desire to be closer to Christ
It will definitely change our life
It’s not from our own will that we come to him
It is the Father who calls us to be redeemed
Only through Christ can we be called to believe
Only through the begotten Son we will receive
We are not worthy of God’s grace and mercy
Yet he pours blessings to all believers faithfully.
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Many Christians think that they make the choice to believe in God. What most believers don’t realize is that we can only be saved because God chose us first. Just like God loved us first before we loved him, he already knew from the start who will be his followers.
I strived and worked hard many years of my Christian life to earn my salvation. I was too ignorant to know that by doing so, I was not giving much value to what Christ already did to me when he died on the cross for my sins. It is sad to watch believers perform to achieve redemption. It totally denies the essence of the sacrifice of Christ on the cross. The bible tells us that only through Christ can we be saved.
PRAYER
Lord, cover me with your blood.
REFLECTION
When did God reveal to you the importance of his Son’s death on the cross?
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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

THE ONLY WORK GOD WANTS Poem Devotional

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September 22________________________________________
This is the only work God wants from you. Believe in the one he has sent. – John 6:29(NLT)
THE ONLY WORK GOD WANTS
A poem and essay by ILMA
What things do you normally do for God?
Do you face life’s challenges to rise above?
Do you perform so others would consider you good?
Do you have peace and joy or do you brood?
The only work God wants from you is to believe
He has sent his son so you’ll be free and receive
He has your best interest at heart so no need to perform
He wants you to fully trust him so you can be transformed.
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There are many believers who try to accomplish and do so many things to earn their salvation. It is not wrong to want to do good things, but it shouldn’t be to perform or earn a reward. God has given us his Son to die on the cross so that we would all be saved and enjoy the promises he has given us. I wasted so many years of my life trying to be approved by others and God. I was so concerned with what others thought of me or if I pass their standards. I thank God that he has delivered me from this approval addiction and performance based life. The bible says that the only work God wants from us to do is to believe in Jesus Christ.
PRAYER
Lord, help me continually believe even if I don’t see results.
REFLECTION
How deep is your trust in Jesus?
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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

THE ONLY SOURCE Poem Devotional

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September 21________________________________________
No one will receive anything unless God gives it from heaven. – John 3:27(NLT)
THE ONLY SOURCE
A poem and essay by ILMA
Do you believe that all things come from only one source?
He is all powerful, all giving and our only resource
Your blessings may be manifested in many ways
God uses every little thing to make us all obey.
No one will receive anything unless God gives it
He knows what is best and what fits
Never forget that we are on our own
Without His power, we will all be broken and torn.
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It is amazing how many people live to think that their jobs, wealth, possessions, fame, money and positions come from their hard work or other sources. They boast about what they went through in order to land a job, accumulate wealth, show off their possessions and reach where they are. Most people have forgotten that they won’t have what they got if not for the blessings and grace that God has given them.
The bible tells us that there is only one source of all things on earth and in heaven. God created everything. Many people forget that we all came from him. He is the alpha (the beginning) and the omega (the end). All things comes from him and they will all return to him. He alone has the power to give and also the power to take it back.
PRAYER
Lord, help me to be grateful to you always.
REFLECTION
What are the most precious things God has blessed you with?
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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