Monthly Archives: August 2017

WHEN GOD IS FOR US Poem Devotional

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August 21
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If God is for us, who can ever be against us? – Romans 8:31(NLT)
WHEN GOD IS FOR US
A poem and essay by ILMA
The moment we accept God, we are given power
We can overcome evil and let the devil cower
If God is for us, who can be against us?
Fear nothing! Seek God and constantly trust.
Why do you worry about many things?
He’ll never leave you, he wants you to win
Hold on to your strength that comes from Jesus
He loves you much; To him, you are precious.
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There are many things that we are afraid of. The bible says that the opposite of love is not hate but fear. It also says that we were not given a spirit of fear and timidity, but of love and power. So, how come that even some Christians do not live a life of love and power?
Have you ever been enslaved by fears that kept you from trusting the Lord’s faithfulness? I used to fear the unknown and what the future is going to bring. It made me become obsessively controlling, trying to beat what lies ahead and analyzing and presuming that I can always handle things for my benefit. Sadly, life doesn’t work that way. There was always something that I cannot control like the weather, other people’s decision and choices or even my own emotions. If God is for us, who else can beat us?
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PRAYER
Lord, thank you for staying by my side always.
REFLECTION
How can you focus on who is for you rather than fear?
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

GREATEST ADVOCATE

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August 20
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But if anyone does sin, we have an advocate who pleads our case before the Father. He is Jesus Christ, the one who is truly righteous. – 1 John 2:1(NLT)
GREATEST ADVOCATE
A poem and essay by ILMA
Have you been supported by someone all the way?
Does anyone ensure that you don’t go far and stray?
Is there someone passionate about your concerns?
Give up your worries for Jesus is your faithful friend.
When you sin, an advocate pleads for your case
He is passionate to fight for you each and every day
The greatest advocate who is so faithful, is Jesus Christ
He wants you to know that he is concerned for your life.
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When you have been exposed to much traumas, you will be able to comprehend the degree of helplessness that may be brought about by the painful experiences. One of the hardest thing to deal with when traumatized is the fact that many don’t feel the pain you are going through and have no compassion or understanding of the effect it has on your total being. This can be very discouraging. A support system is vital when we go through much suffering but it may be hard to find this kind of help.
The bible tells us that the greatest advocate is Jesus Christ. He totally understands what you are experiencing and he is there to plead for your case to God.
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PRAYER
Thank you for your support all the way in all my trials and tribulations.
REFLECTION
How can the presence of Jesus in your life change your perspective on suffering?
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

PURIFICATION THROUGH JESUS’ BLOOD Poem Devotional

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August 19
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For the life of the body is in the blood. I have given you the blood on the altar to purify you, making you right with the Lord. It is the blood given in exchange for a life, that makes purification possible. -Leviticus 17:11(NLT)
PURIFICATION THROUGH JESUS’ BLOOD
A poem and essay by ILMA
If you want to be right with Jesus Christ
You must purify your entire life
Believe in the blood that was sacrificed for you
Christ’s blood canceled your sins and made you new.
For the life of the body is in the blood
The death of his Son was a proof of God’s love
Believe in the sacrificial offering of Jesus
And you will be guaranteed a life that’s victorious.
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There were many years of my Christian life that I didn’t focus on the blood of Jesus and what it really did for me. I didn’t value the sacrifice that the heavenly Father did when he allowed his one and only son to die for us so we can be redeemed from our sins. If you are a parent, would you allow your child to be slaughtered as a sacrifice to ransom someone? I am quite sure that it would be heart-breaking to see your child die just so someone else will be free. Since the life of the body is in the blood, we need to remember that Jesus paid a high price to set us free.
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PRAYER
Lord, thank you for your blood that gave me salvation.
REFLECTION
What have you sacrificed in your life that made you right with 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

ON SPEAKING IN TONGUES Poem Devotional

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August 18
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For if you have the ability to speak in tongues, you will be talking only to God, since people won’t be able to understand you. You will be speaking by the power of the Spirit, but it will all be mysterious. -1 Corinthians 14:2 (NLT)
ON SPEAKING IN TONGUES
A poem and essay by ILMA
When you embrace God’s will and not run
You will have the ability to speak in tongues
Speaking in foreign language is incomprehensible
But the Spirit will make you see what’s inexplicable.
When you speak in tongues, it is your spirit that knows
Your mind won’t be able to grasp; it is mysterious
Even though others won’t know what you are saying
God knows each and every bit of what you are uttering.
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I was in my late twenties when the Spirit of God gave me the ability to speak in tongues. It was an overwhelming experience. I felt so warm in my heart even though I didn’t understand what I was saying. Something inside me felt so connected with the Lord. I didn’t cultivate this stirring in my spirit because I was blinded by so much worldly stuff. Thirty years later, I had another speaking in tongue experience. By this time, I was a born again Christian. My mind can’t fathom what the spirit of God is telling me, but my spirit knows it. If you stay close to the Lord, he will give you discernment too.
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PRAYER
Lord, thank you for your Spirit’s work in me.
REFLECTION
Why do we need to speak in tongues in our lives as Christians?
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

BY HIS POVERTY, WE WERE MADE RICH

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August 17
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You know the generous grace of our Lord Jesus Christ. Though he was rich, yet for your sakes, he became poor, so that by his poverty, he could make you rich.
-2 Corinthians 8:9(NLT)
BY HIS POVERTY, WE WERE MADE RICH
A poem and essay by ILMA
Jesus Christ was born from a poor family
He could have been rich, but he chose poverty
We all know that he is the richest person
Yet he sacrificed comforts for our redemption.
By his poverty, we were made rich
By his death, he ransomed us from sin
Do you appreciate the sacrifice he made for you?
Do you praise him after he gave you a life that is new?
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In my late twenties, I read the story of St. Francis of Assisi. He came from a wealthy family and squandered his father’s money. Sounds almost like the story of the prodigal son. He enlisted in the army and later on became a captive for a year. It probably was during those times of captivity that he found his spiritual awakening. He had visions and later on he embraced poverty and begged for other poor people. He started preaching the gospel on the streets and later on had many followers. He founded the Franciscan order who embraced poverty to build God’s church and help the poor. Christ chose a life of discomfort rather than a life of prosperity to give us a rich life.
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PRAYER
Lord, forgive me when I complain from discomfort and inconvenience.
REFLECTION
How can poverty draw you closer to Jesus?
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

MINDS FULL OF DARKNESS Poem Devotional

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August 16
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Their minds are full of darkness, they wander far from the life God gives because they have closed their minds and have hardened their hearts against him.
– Ephesians 4:18(NLT)
MINDS FULL OF DARKNESS
A poem and essay by ILMA
When your mind is pre-occupied with selfishness
Chances are that you have deviated from righteousness
When you constantly dwell on worldly matters
You are likely to run from your heavenly father.
Those who wander away from the life God gives
They forfeit their blessings; they fail to receive
Their minds close and their hearts hardened
Darkness draw them further away from the Father.
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When I was in my twenties, I turned my back on God. I was dazzled by the world and what it offered. Because I had no knowledge about the truth that comes from God’s word, I became an easy prey for the enemy to target. My mind was full of darkness and I drowned in the sea of confusion and pain. I sank deep into the bottom of hopelessness and desperation. I stayed there for over three decades until I re-committed my life to Christ in my early fifties. After that, the veil of darkness was removed and God led me to hunger for him and his word. Little by little, the chains of strongholds and sins were dealt with and I became bold to apply God’s word to light the darkness in my heart and mind.
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PRAYER
Lord, thank you for constantly guiding me through your word.
REFLECTION
What things contributed to your emotional and spiritual demise?
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

WHAT SEPARATES US FROM GOD Poem Devotional

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August 15
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This includes you, who were once far away from God. You were his enemies, separated from him by your evil thoughts and actions. – Colossians 1:21(NLT)
WHAT SEPARATES US FROM GOD
A poem and essay by ILMA
Whenever you choose to do wrong
You won’t have peace for very long
Your evil thoughts and actions
Will lead to bad decisions.
Whenever you focus on your “self”
It will hinder you to making progress
Evil thoughts lead to wicked way
It prevents you from giving God praise.
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God always longs for our friendship, loyalty and love. It is hard for him to watch us veering away from him which becomes an obstacle for us to fulfill his plans for our lives. I used to be attracted to people who abuse me. I grew up in an environment where love does not thrive. I was used to being mistreated and minimized. It was something I was comfortable with because I already knew what to expect because it became part of me. I related with people who were evil and you can predict the outcome of my life just from the wrong choices I made. I didn’t realize that when I chose evil ways, I separated myself from God automatically. I became his enemy without even being aware of it. When God changed me after I became born again, I learned to choose the right way even though it wasn’t comfortable for me.
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PRAYER
Lord, help me to never entertain evil thoughts and actions.
REFLECTION
How can one avoid falling into pessimism and wrong decisions?
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
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NO EXCUSE FOR NOT KNOWING GOD Poem Devotional

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August 14
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For ever since the world was created, people have seen the earth and sky. Through everything God made, they can clearly see his invisible qualities-his eternal power and divine nature. So they have no excuse for not knowing God. -Romans 1:20(NLT)
NO EXCUSE FOR NOT KNOWING GOD
A poem and essay by ILMA
Have you looked at the blue skies today?
Are you not able to wake up breathing every single day?
Since time began, God created the earth and sky
You can see God’s power by just looking up high.
The mountains, ocean, animals and flowers
Are they not enough to realize God’s eternal power?
There is no excuse for not knowing God; look around
He is manifest in all creation and his love abounds.
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There are many excuses that people give to disprove God’s divine nature and eternal power. Science is one of the reasons that people justify that not all things come from God. But these scientists have no idea that they are just given a glimpse of what is unknown so that they can further glorify the Lord. But what do people do instead? They magnify their knowledge and boast about it. They do not point to the source of it all. They deny that all these things came from one supreme being, God. All they need to do is watch his creation, the sun, the landscapes, the oceans, and all creatures.
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PRAYER
Lord, thank you for manifesting yourself through nature around me.
REFLECTION
What happens when we make up excuses not to know God’s existence?
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

WHEN TRUTH IS SUPPRESSED Poem Devotional

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August 13
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But God shows his anger from heaven against all sinful, wicked people who suppress the truth by their wickedness. – Romans 1:18(NLT)
WHEN TRUTH IS SUPPRESSED
A poem and essay by ILMA
Those who are suppressing truth through evil
Their minds have been corrupted by the devil
When truth is suppressed by wickedness
The Lord’s anger will eventually manifest.
Defend the truth and allow it to spread
When you do, you let God be your head
The truth sets you free and makes you see
Never permit anyone to tarnish and suppress it.
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John 10:10 says that the enemy’s purpose is to kill, steal and destroy. Satan will do anything and everything to distort the truth and blind people. He uses wickedness to stop the truth from being exposed. Instead, he lies to us or gives us half-truths so that we will be confused and not know it. He can use situations, hurts and people to suppress the truth through wickedness. The devil keeps people from knowing the truth. The more we listen to the enemy’s lies, the further away he will keep us from God’s perspective. When truth is suppressed, there will be a consequence to those who stops others from knowing the truth. For as long as we embrace wickedness, the wrath of God is not far. He is a forgiving God but the bible also says that he will judge all evil and wickedness rightfully.________________________________________
PRAYER
Lord, deliver me from people who suppress the truth.
REFLECTION
How can one stand up for truth and be bold to declare it?
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

MY WORDS IN YOUR MOUTH Poem Devotional

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August 12
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And I have put my words in your mouth and hidden you safely in my hand. I stretched out the sky like a canopy and laid the foundations of the earth. I am the one who says to Israel, ‘You are my people!’” – Isaiah 51:16(NLT)
MY WORDS IN YOUR MOUTH
A poem and essay by ILMA
I, the Lord have put my words in your mouth
Are you using it to ward off evil out?
My truth will expose lies and set you free
Do you seek it so you will always see?
My words in your mouth has power
Do you speak it out to make the enemy cower?
I have given you my words so you can overcome sin
They are there to protect you from evil and win.
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I was a Speech teacher for 15 years in my country of origin. I taught the importance of verbalizing thoughts and ideas and be an effective communicator. It is amazing how many people do not realize the power in spoken words. We set high expectations on others to understand us without us saying a single word. No wonder, there is a breakdown of communication in relationships.
God created the word by speaking the phrase “Let there be…” and so it happened. How often do we say out loud God’s word in order to break lies that we are bombarded each day? God have us a mouth to proclaim his word.
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PRAYER
Lord, help me to meditate on your word so I can declare it.
REFLECTION
Share an instance when God’s word showed power?
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