Monthly Archives: December 2015

SOURCE OF HOPE, JOY AND PEACE Poem Devotional

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December 10________________________________________
I pray that God, the source of hope will fill you completely with joy and peace because you trust in him. Then you will overflow with confident hope through the power of the Holy Spirit. – Romans 15:13(NLT)
SOURCE OF HOPE, JOY AND PEACE
A poem and essay by ILMA
What is weighing you down in life these days?
Is it the suffering and trials that bother you today?
What stops you from experiencing peace?
What is distracting you which doesn’t allow you to see?
The only source of hope is to seek God’s truth in the word
Why are you believing the lies propagated by this world?
Trust in the Lord and in the power of the Almighty
Then you will have hope, joy and tranquility.
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When we are bombarded with so much distractions and desires, we will have difficulty navigating through life in peace. I didn’t have peace for many years in my life because I was a very needy person. I gauge my happiness in my achievements, circumstances and in the knowledge that other people loves me truly. Because of these human cravings, it took me a while to experience joy. When I depended much on the results of my hard work, my thirst for human love and approval was insatiable. No wonder, I felt very hopeless as well. The bible tells us that the only source of hope, joy and peace is God.
PRAYER
Lord, let me always run to your throne and follow you.
REFLECTION
What things distract you from experiencing God’s love, peace and joy?
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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.ARTSTUDIO@gmail.com

TOO WONDERFUL FOR WORDS Poem Devotional

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December 9________________________________________
Thank God for this gift too wonderful for words! – 2 Corinthians 9:15 (NLT)
TOO WONDERFUL FOR WORDS
A poem and essay by ILMA
When someone gives you something incredible
Are you awed and consider it a miracle?
Do you express gratitude for the gift that you received?
Do you pass on the blessing to others and give?
Thank God for the gift of his Son, Jesus Christ
Without his blood, we will never be right
The cross is too wonderful for words
God saved mankind from this impure world.
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Are you a grateful person? Do you realize how God loves you so much? There were many years of my life that I didn’t know how loved I am by my heavenly Father. My mind cannot fathom unconditional love because the rejection I experienced clouded my ability to receive and view love without conditions. It didn’t come second nature to me to be thankful. I was bitter for so many years of my life because I didn’t know how to get my needs met. After over two decades of pessimism, I finally heeded to God’s conviction to change me into a grateful believer.
The bible tells us to thank God for the gift of his Son, Jesus Christ. Without God’s generosity we will still be prisoners of sin. While we were still sinful, he gave his only begotten son so that we will be free. He forgave us and gave us a clean slate.
PRAYER
Lord, thank you for your gift of love in Christ’s blood.
REFLECTION
How can you express gratitude 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.ARTSTUDIO@gmail.com

WRAPPED IN STRIPS OF CLOTH Poem Devotional

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December 8________________________________________
The Savior – yes, the Messiah, the Lord – has been born today in Bethlehem, the city of David. And you will recognize him by this sign: You will find a baby wrapped snugly in strips of cloth, lying in a manger. – Luke 2:11-12(NLT)
WRAPPED IN STRIPS OF CLOTH
A poem and essay by ILMA
The Savior was born in Bethlehem
After his birth, the world was never the same
He chose to come wrapped in strips of cloth
He wants to show us that we have so much worth.
He came to give us freedom from bondage to sin
He knows what we endure and where we’ve been
He wants to save especially those who are lost
This is the true essence of his blood and the cross.
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Why did God use poor and ordinary people to bring Jesus into this world? Why was Jesus wrapped in strips of cloth and born in a manger instead of being in a palace and surrounded by all the comforts? This is God’s way of shocking the world with the simplicity and the peace that comes from a silent night when Mary gave birth in a trough wrapped snugly in improvised blanket. God chose a baby, a vulnerable being to be the entry of Christ in this world. We will never experience God’s magnificence unless we are humble, weak and poor. God works best in our weaknesses.
PRAYER
Lord, let me never be dazzled by opulence and materialism.
REFLECTION
Share how God has worked in your weaknesses and poverty?
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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.ARTSTUDIO@gmail.com

GOD NEVER CHANGES Poem Devotional

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December 7________________________________________
Whatever is good and perfect comes down to us from God our Father, who created all the lights in the heavens. He never changes or casts a shifting shadow. –James 1:17(NLT)
GOD NEVER CHANGES
A poem and essay by ILMA
Are you afraid of changes in your life?
Do you fear that you will be compromised?
Whatever is good and perfect comes from the Father
God never changes, he is always after our welfare.
You can be reassured that God loves us without conditions
It doesn’t matter if we are imperfect; he still gives provisions
He never casts a shifting shadow, he loves you constantly
He doesn’t waiver in his character; he waits for you faithfully.
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Have you ever experienced being tossed around by someone’s instability? Have you ever felt insecure because someone never reassures you of their love for you? I was raised in a very unstable home where you one walks on eggshells daily. I was always a very hopeful person but after many years of exposure to so much negativity and criticism, I learned to defend myself and ensure I will never be hurt again. Even before someone can be close to me, I stay away from them as soon as I feel a need to be dependent on them. It took many years until I got revelations from God that he has me covered.
The bible says that God never changes. He is love and light.
PRAYER
Lord, help me to be like you.
REFLECTION
Why is constancy important in relationships and in our lives?
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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.ARTSTUDIO@gmail.com

GOD LOOKS DOWN FROM HEAVEN Poem Devotional

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December 6________________________________________
God looks down from heaven on the entire human race, he looks to see if anyone is truly wise, if anyone seeks God. – Palms 53:2(NLT)
GOD LOOKS DOWN FROM HEAVEN
A poem and essay by ILMA
Keep a close guard on what you do
God looks down from heaven to look at you
He looks to see if anyone is truly wise
He wants to know if you’d take his advice.
He is concerned when you don’t walk in love
You are important to him or he won’t watch from above
He longs for you to seek him and hunger for his word
That is the only way you can be a victor and conquer the world.
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Have you ever felt safe when someone you love looks after your welfare? Babies and young children cannot be safe in the world if their parents and caregivers do not provide a safe environment for them in their vulnerability. The reason why a lot of people who suffer from mental illness or depression and other disorders is because they weren’t provided a safe environment to go through the different stages of development from their birth up to their adolescence.
The bible tells us that God looks down from heaven on the entire human race, he looks to see if anyone is truly wise and if anyone seeks him at all. He pines for us to long for him and hunger to follow his word.
PRAYER
Lord, thank you for looking out for me.
REFLECTION
When have you ever felt abandoned by God? Did he truly leave you?
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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.ARTSTUDIO@gmail.com

WHITER THAN SNOW Poem Devotiional

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December 5________________________________________
Purify me from my sins, and I will be clean; wash me, and I will be whiter than snow.
-Psalm 51:7(NLT)
WHITER THAN SNOW
A poem and essay by ILMA
Lord, cleanse me from my sins so I can be renewed
Help me to follow your word so I can change my views
Forgive me for all my sins and my wrong choices
Help me to always hear you so I can mute other voices.
Purify me from my sins so I can be clean
Protect me from selfishness and all cravings
Wash me so I can be whiter than snow
Bless me in everything so I can have an overflow.
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I come from a family of compulsive cleaners. I grew up with people who were meticulously clean. It was very hard to live up to the expectations of these people because it kills all the joy of being a child. I understand we all need to learn to be clean, tidy and organized. I learned from these compulsive clean people also to be so detailed when it comes to cleanliness. When I was raising my son 25 years ago, I realized that it is not just all about making everything clean outwardly. The bible tells us that God can purify us if we confess our sins and repent and can make as whiter than snow. He alone can cleanse us from sins and be born again.
PRAYER
Lord, thank you for forgiving me and making me clean again.
REFLECTION
What sins and strongholds still lurks in your life that you need cleansing from?
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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.ARTSTUDIO@gmail.com