Monthly Archives: March 2017

WEALTH CAN’T BRING TRUE HAPPINESS Poem Devotional

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April 1________________________________________
Those who love money will never have enough. How meaningless to think wealth brings true happiness. -Ecclesiastes 5:10(NLT)
WEALTH CAN’T BRING TRUE HAPPINESS
A poem and essay by ILMA
Many people envy the wealthy
They think they live lives happily
Those who have much possessions
They become enslaved by their obsessions.
Those who love money will never have enough
They will always find something they lack
Store up treasures in heaven, not on earth
Commit to Jesus and always make him first
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Our society dazzles us with materialism. The world’s standard of beauty is based on external looks not the inside. The rich get more powerful and they are looked up to for their luxurious lifestyles. Some wealthy people become richer because of their love for money. Yet, the bible says that those who love money are never satisfied. They want more. Money in itself is not bad, but to obsess about it is what will lead you to greed and selfishness. There is no point in thinking that wealth can bring about happiness. On the contrary, there are very many wealthy people who are the loneliest. They do not have that priority for others because they are protecting their treasures all the time. Since money is their idol, they probably don’ have time for God either. We are reminded in Scriptures that it is meaningless to think that wealth can bring happiness.
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PRAYER
Lord, don’t let me be dazzled by material wealth.
REFLECTION
How can you protect yourself from the love of money?
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

BENEFIT OF LOVING OTHERS Poem Devotional

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March 31________________________________________
We are confident that you are meant for better things, things that come with salvation. For God is not unjust. He will not forget how hard you have worked for him and how you have shown your love to him by caring for other believers. -Hebrews 6:9-10 (NLT)
BENEFIT OF LOVING OTHERS
A poem and essay by ILMA
The Lord created us for better things
He did not make us so we can wallow in sin
He will not forget if you work hard to love others
He will reward your faithfulness to your brothers.
God considers all his children very precious
He is fair and is very merciful and gracious
By caring for others, you prove that you love him
You will reap the fruits of his spirit and win over sin.
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When the apostles asked Jesus what the greatest commandment is, he summed it up in loving God above all and loving others as you love yourself. The Christian’s life must be focused on walking in love. Since God is love and we are all made in his image, our default setting is to love. This is probably why we get in trouble when we don’t love. Just like when you buy an appliance and you don’t follow the manual how to maximize it’s use, you may accidentally destroy it. But God promises us that if we love him through loving others, he will reward us.
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PRAYER
Lord, give me a generous and loving heart.
REFLECTION
What do you think is the reward that God has in store for those who love 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

ON TEACHING GOD’S WORD

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March 30________________________________________
You have been believers so long now that you ought to be teaching others. Instead, you need someone to teach you again the basic things about God’s word. -Hebrews 5:12(NLT)
ON TEACHING GOD’S WORD
A poem and essay by ILMA
How long have you committed to Christ?
Have you been faithful to follow his light?
Believers are expected to grow in the word
The gospel has to reach all the parts of the world.
Are you doing your part in spreading the Good News?
Are you living your life anchored on his truth?
Don’t delay your responsibility to teach
All believers are expected to preach.
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As a Christian, we are all expected to spread the Good News of Christ, who came to sacrifice his life for us. We are to preach the gospel of the grace. God gave his only begotten Son to pay for our sins. He forgave and cleared us from all sins when Jesus died on the cross. Some believers think that they need to have a degree in bible studies to be able to teach the word of God. I used to have the same mentality until the Lord revealed to me in 2 Timothy 3:16 that all Scripture is God-breathed and is supposed to teach us what we ought to do and correct us when we are wrong. All believers are commissioned to spread the word of God to all the ends of the earth.
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PRAYER
Lord, remind me to bring your gospel to as much people as I can.
REFLECTION
What have you done to obey the commission to teach God’s word?
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

ENTERING GOD’S REST Poem Devotional

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March 29________________________________________
For only we who believe can enter his rest. As for the others, God said: “In my anger I took an oath: They will never enter my place of rest” even though this rest has been ready since he made the world. -Hebrews 4:3(NLT)
ENTERING GOD’S REST
A poem and essay by ILMA
The Lord gave us rest since he made the world
He created the heavens and earth just by his word
He made different creatures and things each day
He rested one day, we ought to follow his way.
To enter God’s rest, we need to believe
When we rest, we begin to be free and receive
Without resting, we can’t see God’s grace and mercy
When we are too busy, we fail to see his goodness and glory.
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Have you ever worked so hard that at the end of the day, you just dropped wherever you were and slept? I remembered just recently that I had this experience. I got so busy that I forgot to make God my priority. I was so distracted with so many things and by the end of the day, I just slumped on the bed. I felt so tired. My mind still wanted to work, but my body couldn’t anymore.
We are invited daily to rest in God. Only by entering it can we show that we believe and trust that he is taking care of us.
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PRAYER
Lord, teach me how to enter your rest daily.
REFLECTION
Why is it important to take breaks and meditate on God’s goodness during the day?
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

DISCIPLES PRIORITIZE GOD Poem Devotional

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March 28________________________________________
If you want to be my disciple, you must hate everyone else by comparison-your father and mother, wife and children, brothers and sisters- yes even your own life.
-Luke 14:26(NLT)
DISCIPLES PRIORITIZE GOD
A poem and essay by ILMA
When you decide to follow Christ
Changes happen when you prioritize
You will make him first in all you do
You will be transformed and renewed.
The world will seem not as important anymore
God’ word will guide you through trials and storms
No one else including your own needs matter much
Following God’s will become top priority in your life.
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When I was a teacher of speech and visual arts, there were some students who chose to follow the lessons I taught to advance their skills. You will clearly see the difference of those who chose to be disciples of my methods. They excelled through hard work and constant practice. I emphasized on discipline and dedication plus constant practice. This formula became my life’s theme and I shared to students how it brought me success in the field of communications and visual arts.
The bible tells us what God requires of his disciples in Luke 14:16. One of the things God wants us to do is to make him our priority in everything. He asks us not to let any of our love for anyone, not even our own life will come first than him. He becomes top priority.________________________________________
PRAYER
Lord, remind me when I don’t prioritize you.
REFLECTION
Why do you think God wants to be the top on our list if we become followers?
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 BE FREE FROM FEAR Poem Devotional

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March 27________________________________________
I prayed to the Lord and he answered me. He freed me from all my fears. -Psalm 34:4(NLT)
HOW TO BE FREE FROM FEAR
A poem and essay by ILMA
Are you afraid of someone or something?
Run to the Lord and keep on praying
If you listen to his truth, you will know
Believe and heed his commands in order to grow.
To be free from fear, you must focus on Christ
He alone can set you free and give you insight
Ask him to reveal to you the origin of your fear
He will bring to your recollection so very clear.
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Fear that is out of proportion can be very crippling. One of my fears was claustrophobia (fear of small spaces). It debilitated me so much that I hyperventilated and had panic attacks when I get into elevators. I was a worrier and always thought about the future and wanted to ensure that I provide a happy life for my son. I dreaded people rejecting me and was constantly out to seek approval. I was apprehensive of being a failure which led me to chase perfection at all cost. These fears totally incapacitated me for many decades. I followed all kinds of self-help books but they were all just temporary relief.
The bible tells us that if we run to the Lord and ask him to free us from our fears, he is faithful to do so.
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PRAYER
Lord, remind me to ask your help when I am fearful.
REFLECTION
What fears have God released you from?
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

MAN’S RESPONSIBILITY Poem Devotional

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March 25________________________________________
The heavens belong to the Lord, but he has given the earth to all humanity.
-Psalm 114:16(NLT)
MAN’S RESPONSIBILITY
A poem and essay by ILMA
When God made all creatures
He gave dominion for man to rule
The heavens belong to the Lord
But he gave man authority over the world.
All humans are responsible for the earth
They need to nurture it and constantly care
Without taking ownership, it will deteriorate
Without love, this world will disintegrate.
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One of the skills needed to succeed in running a theater performance is to delegate to others some of the things that you cannot all simultaneously do. As a stage manager for over two decades, I learned to hold others responsible for some things. I can’t do it all. Just like any other managers in any other field or sector, one has to be the leader. When there is no leader, there is chaos because everyone will try to assume roles that are not theirs. Boundaries are essential in relationships because if there are no set parameters, there will be overlapping and conflicts.
The bible tells us that the Lord owns everything, yet he gave mankind dominion over all creatures in the world. Because he created man in his image, he is well aware that all man possesses all that he has. So, he made humans rule over all things here on earth. Are we taking responsibility for the authority God gave us?
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PRAYER
Lord, show me how to be a godly leader and steward?
REFLECTION
Why do you think God gave humans the authority over all creation?
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

UNGRATEFUL Poem devotional

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March 24________________________________________
I trained them and made them strong, yet now they plot evil against me. They look everywhere except to the Most High. – Hosea 7:15-16(NLT)
UNGRATEFUL
A poem and essay by ILMA
Look around you and see how much blessings you got?
The enemy doesn’t want you to see it, that’s his plot
You were freed from sin when Jesus died on the cross
He gave you life so you won’t go astray or be lost.
Are you giving the Lord tribute for all his gifts?
Do you get consumed by life or do you always seek him?
Be thankful for every little thing you have received
It will please the Lord if you continue to praise and believe.
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Don’t you find it offensive if someone you have mentored and developed into a skilled person is actually plotting evil against you? They never give you credit, instead they ignore you. This is exactly the case of God against the Israelites. He brought them to the Promised Land and delivered them from harm and the Egyptians, yet, they turned against him and never thanked him for all that he did for them. If you are a parent, you could probably sympathize with God’s reaction. In fact, parents often pose very high expectations on their children and assume that they will be grateful for all the things they do for them. So, why can’t we give the same gratitude to God?
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PRAYER
Lord, always convict me when I forget to thank you.
REFLECTION
How can gratitude change a person’s attitude?
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

UNGRACIOUS Poem Devotional

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March 23________________________________________
I myself taught Israel how to walk, leading him along by the hand. But he doesn’t’ know or even care that it was I who took care of him. -Hosea 11:3(NLT)
UNGRACIOUS
A poem and essay by ILMA
Are you someone who is thankful?
Are you gracious enough to be grateful?
The Lord God gave us much blessings
Do we take time to give him thanksgiving?
When we do not care about his faithfulness
We will miss out on his gift of fruitfulness
Don’t be ungracious for he has given us all
Ingratitude will lead us to constantly fall.
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Gracious is defined as courteous, kind and pleasant. The opposite of being gracious is an entitled attitude, tactless and rude. How do you react to ungrateful and tactless people? Don’t you just want to stay away from them? You would on the other hand always want to be with gracious and kind people, won’t you?
When I became a born again Christian, God replaced all whiny and entitled people in my life with a bounty of gracious Christians. It is just such a joy to be with those who do not live in resistance and conflicts. Ingratitude can usually be detected easily. Ungrateful people live very difficult lives and don’t have much blessings. They live bitter lives and always want to take control. The Lord calls us to be gracious and grateful because it hurts him when we are uncaring.
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PRAYER
Lord, thank you for giving me a heart like yours.
REFLECTION
How can you live a grateful life?
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 MORE I CALL, THE FARTHER THEY MOVED Poem Devotional

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March 22________________________________________
But the more I called to him, the farther he moved from me, offering sacrifices to the images of Baal and burning incense to idols. – Hosea 11:2(NLT)
THE MORE I CALL, THE FARTHER THEY MOVED
A poem and essay by ILMA
Do you hear God’s voice calling you back to him?
Are you heeding his call or are you stuck in sin?
When God calls some people moved farther away
They choose to live in bondage and continue to stray.
Why don’t his followers stay faithful and true?
Why do we usually choose to stay in trouble and rue?
Follow the voice that comes from God’s nudging
It will bring victory over the enemy’s tempting
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Why did the Israelites choose to turn their backs on God after they were delivered and brought to the Promised Land? It sounds like the relationship between a parent and a rebellious child. The more parents ask them to obey, the more they rebel, just like the more God called the Israelites to him, the farther away they moved from him. They defied God instead and offered sacrifices to the images of Baal, another pagan god and burned incense to idols. They knew that the very first commandment that God asked from them to obey is not to have any other gods before him but to love him above all. So, they deliberately followed the spirit of rebellion and idolatry.
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PRAYER
Lord, deliver me from any idols that I have carved for myself and other gods.
REFLECTION
What kind of idols today do we worship that we are unaware of?
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