Monthly Archives: February 2016

A KIND AND FAIR GOD Poem Devotional

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February 9________________________________________
He does not punish us for all our sins; he does not deal harshly with us, as we deserve.
-Psalm 103:10(NLT)
A KIND AND FAIR GOD
A poem and essay by ILMA
Have you done someone wrong that merited a consequence?
Have you done something to make someone react with much offense?
God never punishes you for your sins, he forgives when you confess
He does not deal harshly with you even when you don’t pass the test.
God is kind and fair to all those who believe him
He gave his only Son so we can be redeemed
He expects you to treat each other the same way
He wants you to be strong and never turn astray.
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Have you ever been treated unfairly by someone? How did you feel when there was an unjust act done to you? I have experienced many forms of maltreatment and discrimination in my young life and it has scarred me so deeply. It has stunted my brain to grow and made me see things in the filter of pain and abuse. It is terrible to survive traumas. I have always felt insecure and never had the confidence that someone really loves me. Somehow I felt that I don’t deserve to be loved. There was much shame and guilt in my heart for many years. The bible tells us that God does not punish or treat us harshly even though we deserve it.
PRAYER
Lord, thank you for being such a fair and kind father.
REFLECTION
Relate an instance when you treated someone kindly despite their hostility.
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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

AS WHITE AS WOOL Poem Devotional

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February 8________________________________________
Though your sins are like scarlet, I will make them as white as snow. Though they are red as crimson, I will make them as white as wool. Isaiah 1:18 (NLT)
AS WHITE AS WOOL
A poem and essay by ILMA
By the blood of Jesus, you are purified from your sins
He sacrificed his life so you can be free and redeemed
Though our sins are like scarlet, it is now white as snow
Though they are red as crimson, now it’s as white as wool.
Come to the throne of God and be renewed in your mind
He never wants you to be perplexed and blind
Abide and seek him always all the days of your life
Then you will discover the true joy and peace in his light.
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As a painter using watercolors, I know that it is impossible to make white from something that is red. The addition method is used in watercolor where you plan to work from light colors to dark and maintain a wash effect on the paper while water runs with the colors that you use. You either use a white paper and leave it white then color the different parts of the painting progressively from light to dark hues.
The bible compares our sins to the color crimson red. Jesus’ blood which is another shade of red is the one that turned as white as snow or wool.
PRAYER
Lord, thank you for your sacrifice to purify me.
REFLECTION
What sins have you been cleansed when you committed to Christ as your Lord and Savior?
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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

FOLLOWING THE SPIRIT

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February 7________________________________________
He did this so that the just requirement of the law would be fully satisfied for us, who no longer follow our sinful nature but instead follow the Spirit. -Romans 8:4(NLT)
FOLLOWING THE SPIRIT
A poem and essay by ILMA
Are you living to satisfy your own desires?
Do you realize how God’s love for you is on fire?
He gave his only Son to save you from sin
He would do anything to ensure you are redeemed.
Follow the Spirit instead of your sinful nature
It will make you grow and be spiritually mature
Living in his will brings about the Spirit’s fruits
It will keep you continually seeking his truth.
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There are some Christians who do not believe in the Spirit of God. Some only believe in God and Jesus Christ, but make it hard for them to acknowledge the Spirit. I knew the Holy Spirit living in me since I was a young child even though no one taught me about him. Someone inside me taught me many things that I never really heard from my parents or my caregivers. He taught me to be hopeful even in my most painful and helpless experiences. He told me to continue to talk with Jesus and depend on him.
The bible says that God sent us his Son so that we will conquer sin and follow his Spirit instead of being ruled by our sinful nature.
PRAYER
Lord, teach me to be childlike to hear your Spirit.
REFLECTION
How has God’s Spirit manifested in your life lately?
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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

AN END TO SIN Poem Devotional

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February 6________________________________________
God did what the law could not do. He sent his own Son in a body like the bodies we sinners have. And in that body God declared an end to sin’s control over us by giving his Son as a sacrifice for our sins. -Romans 8:3 (NLT)
AN END TO SIN
A poem and essay by ILMA
Do you find it hard to follow God’s commands?
What hinders you from following his instructions and demands?
God did what the law could not do when he sent Jesus in a body
He declared an end to sin, so we can bring him glory.
He loved us first by giving his Son as a sacrifice for our sins
He wants us to exercise authority over Satan and win
When Christ sacrificed his life on the cross, sin ended
Living a holy and righteous life is how we can be mended.
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The sacrifice of Christ on the cross has already put an end to sin. Why can’t some Christians understand that the blood of Jesus has already redeemed us from sin? For a very long time in my Christian life, I never really understood one of the last words of Jesus when he was dying on the cross: “It is finished” (John 19:30). I thought Jesus was just foreshadowing his death. As I studied in-depth the word of God, I learned that it means that redemption is already done.
PRAYER
Lord, help me never to think I can redeem myself by doing good works.
REFLECTION
How can you put an end to sin in your own way?
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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 TRUE BELIEVER Poem Devotional

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February 5________________________________________
You are truly my disciples if you remain faithful to my teachings. And you will know the truth and the truth will set you free. John 8:31-32 (NLT)
THE TRUE BELIEVER
A poem and essay by ILMA
A true believer is someone who abides in Christ
He serves only one true God and he lives in the light
He is hungry to know Jesus and follow his ways
He reveres the Lord and is not easily tempted or swayed.
A true disciple remains faithful to Christ’s teachings
He never doubts or waivers; he focuses on praising
He seeks the truth so he is never corrupted by the world
He is wise because he constantly feed on God’s word.
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Christianity is ranked the largest religion in the world today. According to the Pew Forum on Religion and Public Life, in 2010 there were 2.18 billion Christians around the world, nearly a third of the global population. How much of these Christian population are true believers?
I have been a believer for five decades, but I couldn’t claim I was a true disciple during these years. I came from a religion that didn’t really instill a hunger for God’s word. It taught me to just follow rules. God set me free and showed me what a true believer is. The bible says that if you remain faithful to the truth and his teachings, then you are a true disciple.
PRAYER
Lord, give me a heart that will seek you and serve you only.
REFLECTION
How can one be a true disciple in this corrupted world?
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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

AN END TO CURSES Poem Devotional

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February 4________________________________________
No longer will there be a curse upon anything. For the throne of God and of the Lamb will be there and his servants will worship him. Revelations 22:3 (NLT)
AN END TO CURSES
A poem and essay by ILMA
Are you tired of life’s struggles and suffering?
Focus on all that God offers and his blessings
Christ’s second coming brings an end to curses
It is the day of fulfillment of all his promises.
The throne of God will be there so all can praise Him
It will be a joyful event for all those who believed
No longer will there be tears, sorrow or pain
It will be the day when all will proclaim his name.
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Curse is defined as a solemn utterance intended to invoke a supernatural power to inflict harm or punishment on someone or something. Some of our families might have passed on to us some curses that have been there for many generations without even being aware of it. Deuteronomy 28 discusses in detail the curses that may occur when we disobey God. A lot of many teachings of the apostle Paul focuses on warning us about the consequences of disobedience and sin. God has equipped us with commandments so that we don’t fall out of his grace and mercy. The bible talks about the end times when there will no longer be a curse upon anything. Something to really look forward to.
PRAYER
Lord, break all the curses in my family.
REFLECTION
How can you break curses 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