HARVEST OF GENEROSITY Poem Devotional

Posted on May 12, 2016 by ilmaarts

May 12
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For God is the one who provides seed for the farmer and then bread to eat. In the same way, he will provide and increase your resources and then produce a great harvest of generosity in you. -2 Corinthians 9:10(NLT)
HARVEST OF GENEROSITY
A poem and essay by ILMA
Whenever you are blessed with bounty
God expects you to give generously
He provides all that you need in this life
He increases your means so you can abide.
He will shower you with blessings
Do you live your life as an offering?
He plants different seeds of kindness
So you can reap a harvest of goodness.
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Do you have any idea why God provides for your needs despite all kinds of disobedience and ungratefulness from his people? Because that is who he is. He cannot act out of character and be unloving or stingy to his children. Just like our earthly parents would die for their children just to provide for all their needs, God would do the same and more. He loves us unconditionally and gave his own Son to free us from sin.
Paul tells us that God provides for all our needs just as he provides seed for the farmer and bread for them to eat. He promises an increase in resources to those who are faithful and a bounty and overflow of harvest of generosity is what he expects from his people.
PRAYER
Lord, thank you for your provision and blessings.
REFLECTION
Why do you think God gives us more when we give to others?

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 MORE THAN WHAT YOU CAN Poem Devotional

Posted on May 11, 2016 by ilmaarts

May 11
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For I can testify, they gave not only what they could afford, but far more. And they did it of their own free will. – 2 Corinthians 8:3(NLT)
GIVING MORE THAN WHAT YOU CAN
A poem and essay by ILMA
God is pleased with those who give generously
He wants you to prioritize him faithfully
Those who give far more than they can afford
They will have blessings and have an overflow.
The Lord wants someone who gives cheerfully
For it shows that you love him dearly
When you give beyond what you have
It will multiply many times when you get it back.
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There was a movie a long time ago entitled “Pay it Forward.” The boy decided to give back what he got to two or three more kids and asked them to pay it forward to three others. The network grew so big and eventually the act of one kid who gave beyond what he had became a chain of love for all those who participated in that giving circle.
2 Corinthians 9:7 says that we shouldn’t give reluctantly or in response to pressure for God loves a person who gives cheerfully. The next verse gives us the blessings and bounty we can reap from such generous giving. Paul stressed and gave credit to those who gave far more that what they could afford. He was astounded that they gave from their own free will.
PRAYER
Lord, help me to remember that I’m giving to you when I give to others.
REFLECTION
What do you feel whenever you give beyond what you have?
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

PROMISE OF COMPLETION OF KNOWLEDGE Poem Devotional

Posted on May 9, 2016 by ilmaarts

May 10
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Now we see things imperfectly as in a cloudy mirror, but then we will see everything with clarity. All that I know now is partial and incomplete but then I will know everything completely, just as God now knows me completely. – 1 Corinthians 13:12(NLT)
PROMISE OF COMPLETION OF KNOWLEDGE
A poem and essay by ILMA
When I was a child, I spoke, and reasoned like one
When I grew up, I learned new ways and gave up fun
Now I see things imperfectly as in a mirror that’s cloudy
But when Christ comes, I will have knowledge completely.
All that I know now is partial and inadequate
If I read God’s word it can temporarily satiate
While I’m still in this world, I won’t be perfect
But Christ ensures if I believe that I’ll be faultless.
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Children, especially toddlers like to pretend that they are adults. They love to sound like their mothers or fathers. They mimic almost all the adults around them. That is why we must be watchful how we talk or behave in front of a child. Their favorite word is “why?”
They feel frustrated when they don’t get answers. Then we grow up and try to look for answers on our own, yet we still feel empty a lot of time inside.
Paul explains in his book to the Corinthians that we will partially know things but Christ promises complete knowledge when he comes back.
PRAYER
Lord, give me patience to look forward to your promise of knowledge completion.
REFLECTION
Why do we get impatient when we don’t know things fully?
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

OBEDIENCE MAKES US RIGHT Poem Devotional

Posted on May 8, 2016 by ilmaarts

May 9
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For merely listening to the law doesn’t make us right with God. It is obeying the law that makes us right in his sight. – Romans 2:13(NLT)
OBEDIENCE MAKES US RIGHT
A poem and essay by ILMA
When you hear God’s truth, do you obey and adhere to it?
Do you hear God’s voice and heed his Spirit?
For merely listening to the law doesn’t make us right
It is in obedience that we receive blessings and God’s light.
Obedience makes us ready to go the next step to God’s will
It makes us right in his sight and not be ruled by what we feel
When we obey, we build protection for our hearts to stay pure
When we rebel, it brings chaos and allows the enemy to lure.
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The bible says in James 1:22 that we don’t just listen to the God’s word, we must do what it says. I heard a bible preacher define sin as doing what is right even when you don’t feel like doing it. Another definition I heard from another bible teacher was that when we know something is wrong and continue to do it despite the knowledge. Disobedience was a stronghold in my family of origin and it was second nature for me to rebel. God freed me from it when I learned to obey.
The bible tells us what is right and true, it is up to us to obey so we can follow his will.
PRAYER
Help me to obey in little and big ways.
REFLECTION
Share how obedience to God blessed you.
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

TEACH YOURSELF! poem devotional

Posted on May 8, 2016 by ilmaarts

May 8
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You think you can instruct the ignorant and teach children the ways of God. For you are certain that God’s law gives you complete knowledge and truth. Well then, if you teach others, why don’t you teach yourself? – Romans 2:20-21(NLT)
TEACH YOURSELF!
A poem and essay by ILMA
Do you think you can instruct the ignorant about the truth?
Only you have the choice to take God’s word and let it take root
Who are you to insist on others to follow the law and be legalistic?
Your actions reveal either your humility or tendencies to be egoistic.
Why teach others what you cannot follow or put into action?
Doesn’t that breed lies, confusion and lots of distortions?
Teach yourself to be true and obedient to God’s word
It is the only way you can set an example to this fallen world.
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I had many wrong notions about teaching when I began as a teacher. I thought that teachers were supposed to command and tell them what to do. What I realized later on in my teaching career was that it was I who became the student because they were teaching me something about myself and were motivating me to become a more excellent person. I learned to teach by example, not by words and instructions alone. We are asked to live by God’s truth and not pound it on others through words and the law.
PRAYER
Lord, show me how to set an example to be like you.
REFLECTION
How do you teach yourself something you are struggling with?
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

HEAVEN REJOICES

Posted on May 7, 2016 by ilmaarts

May 7
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In the same way, there is more joy in heaven over one lost sinner who repents and returns to God than over ninety-nine others who are right and haven’t strayed away.
-Luke 15:7(NLT)
HEAVEN REJOICES
A poem and essay by ILMA
When a sinner repents and returns to the Father
Heaven rejoices because each person matters
God rejoices when one sinner returns to him
It is all He longs for; He wants us free from sin.
There is more joy in heaven over one lost sinner repenting
Than over ninety-nine others who are right and not straying
Remember that you are very precious to your Lord and Savior
He sent his own Son so you can be free and an overcomer.
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If you are a parent, you will understand how God feels when one his children repents and comes back to him. When my son was around two years old and he disobeyed something I asked him not to do, I taught him to apologize right away and not let it stay long inside him. He eventually got the habit of apologizing quickly but sometimes I felt it was just an automatic act he does out of fear of the consequences rather than out of love.
The bible says that heaven rejoices over one lost repentant sinner than over ninety-nine who have never gone astray. He longs for us to love him back the way he loves us.
PRAYER
Lord, help me to listen to your voice when I go astray.
REFLECTION
Why does God values so much those who are repentant?
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 WIPE YOUR SINS AWAY Poem Devotional

Posted on May 5, 2016 by ilmaarts

May 6
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Repent of your sins and turn to God, so that your sins may be wiped away.
-Acts 3:19(NLT)
HOW TO WIPE YOUR SINS AWAY
A poem and essay by ILMA
Do you have sins lurking in your heart?
Confess and repent so you can have a new start
You need not live in guilt and condemnation
He sent Jesus so we can hear his convictions.
Allow yourself to be moved by his word
Listen to the Spirit so you can conquer the world
Turn to God and never let sin rule your life
Your sins will be wiped away if you stay in his light.
________________________________________In the Hebrew of the Old Covenant two words are used in the concept of repentance, they are: NAHUM – to lament, to grieve (describing the emotions that are aroused when motivated to take a different course of action and SHUB – expresses a radical change of mind toward sin and implies a conscious moral separation from sin and a decision to forsake it and agree with God. There are three Hebrew words that are translated “Sin” in the Old Testament: iniquity, perversity, depravity and guilt. So, when we sin, we can choose to just grieve or take action and give up the sin.
The bible commands us to repent of our sins and turn to God so that our sins may be wiped away. Without God’s grace, there can be no repentance.
PRAYER
Lord, help me to have a genuine repentance when I disobey you.
REFLECTION
What was the result when you gave up sin that you have been keeping for so long?

GOD ISN’T SLOW, JUST PATIENT Poem Devotional

Posted on May 5, 2016 by ilmaarts

May 5
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The Lord isn’t really being slow about his promise, as some people think. No, he is being patient for your sake. He doesn’t want anyone to be destroyed, but wants everyone to repent. -2 Peter 3:9 (NLT)
GOD ISN’T SLOW, JUST PATIENT
A poem and essay by ILMA
Have you been waiting for so long to get results?
Do you think God is slow to grant and solve?
How much faith do you really have?
Do you rely on his wisdom from above?
God isn’t slow, he is just patient
He wants you to be persistent
He protects you from falling
He wants you to win instead of failing.
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How many of your prayers and requests have been answered? Don’t we all get impatient when we don’t get the expected answers we want to see? For all you know, he has already answered your prayer. You just don’t see it because you are so focused on your own idea of the results. There was a time that I kept praying for a job and a career that I will be able to use all of my skills. I applied to over 3,000 job positions, only to be turned down. Sometimes I would almost make it to two interviews and then still not get hired. What I didn’t realize was God was directing me to be a writer for him. He wasn’t slow, he was patient and wanted me to work for him.
PRAYER
Lord, let me see with your eyes.
REFLECTION
Why do we sometimes miss God’s answers to our prayers?
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

COMMAND TO REPENT Poem Devotional

Posted on May 2, 2016 by ilmaarts

May 4
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God overlooked people’s ignorance about these things in earlier times, but now he commands everyone to repent of their sins and turn to him. – Acts 17:30(NLT)
COMMAND TO REPENT
A poem and essay by ILMA
The Lord forgives you seventy times seven
He is merciful but you need to aim for heaven
He can overlook some of your weaknesses
He wants you to repent of your trespasses.
He is a god who loves and cares for you
He wants your heart pure and mind renewed
Turn to him and give up all forms of evil
He will ensure that you’ll win over the devil.
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Human nature wants us to be independent and follow our own will. When we do this, we are compromising our relationship with the Lord. He created us so that we will completely depend on him for everything. Whenever we think we can accomplish things with our own independence, the enemy brings on more temptations to strive and use your own effort to draw you farther away from the Lord.
The bible talks about how God has overlooked people’s ignorance about idolatry and other sins, but now, he has commanded everyone to repent of their sins and turn to him. Why did God give us this command? In order to be able to fulfill all that he planned for us. He wants us to be close to him because independence blocks spiritual intimacy.
PRAYER
Lord, draw me close to you always.
REFLECTION
How often do you confess your sins and repent? Do you recognize sin at early onset?
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.co

HELP US LORD! Poem Devotional

Posted on May 1, 2016 by ilmaarts

May 3
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I have heard all about you Lord. I am filled with awe by your amazing works. In this time of our deep need, help us again as you did in years gone by. -Habakkuk 3:1(NLT)
HELP US LORD!
A poem and essay by ILMA
When I am sad, lonely and feeling beaten
Will you help me Lord, so I can be strengthened?
In times of my deepest need for comfort and reassurance
Will you be there to grant me mercy and patience?
You have delivered me many times from many afflictions
Will you listed to my cries for help in all my tribulations?
I am filled with awe by your amazing works and power
Will you lift up my spirit, so I can let the enemy cower?
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Many people fear the word “pray.” They have no idea that when they acknowledge God in their weaknesses and trials and use the word “help me!”, they are actually intimately praying. Praying is an act of humility that acknowledges the presence of God and that you need him. How often do you say “Help me, Lord?” If you have never asked help from anyone or from God, you are in serious trouble.
The bible says that we only need to say the magic words, “Help me, Lord.” He wants us to acknowledge our need for his forgiveness, blessings, grace and mercy. When was the last time you asked God for help?
PRAYER
Lord, show me how to ask help from you always.
REFLECTION
Why do you think it is hard for some people to ask help from God?
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

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Monthly Archives: May 2016