Monthly Archives: November 2017

KEY TO LEARNING poem devotional

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November 20
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To learn, you must love discipline; it is stupid to hate correction. – Proverbs 12:1(NLT)
KEY TO LEARNING
A poem and essay by ILMA
Do you want to be a wise person?
You must not just rely on human reason
To learn, you must love discipline
It is the key to progress and to win.
If you hate correction, you are foolish
When you don’t want it, you will be losing
Discipline is the key to learning
It teaches you to keep on persevering.
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One of the values that I learned from my family is “discipline.” Though I didn’t like it when I was being corrected at the beginning of my young life, I learned to appreciate it later when I became an adult. Most of my classmates and friends struggled at following deadlines and implementing a structure to follow through when they take on a task or project. It made me learn to obey even if I didn’t want to or had no idea why I needed to do it. When I was a high school teacher, it was rare to see students living disciplined lives.
Discipline made me become a self-taught artist which later on bore fruit with over 400 painting sales. “Mistakes” was also a good teacher to me because when I commit an error, it makes me do better the next time. The bible says that discipline is key to learning and it is foolish to hate correction.
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PRAYER
Lord, teach me to always choose a disciplined life.
REFLECTION
Why do you think discipline can bring wisdom and blessings?
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
November 20
________________________________________
To learn, you must love discipline; it is stupid to hate correction. – Proverbs 12:1(NLT)
KEY TO LEARNING
A poem and essay by ILMA
Do you want to be a wise person?
You must not just rely on human reason
To learn, you must love discipline
It is the key to progress and to win.
If you hate correction, you are foolish
When you don’t want it, you will be losing
Discipline is the key to learning
It teaches you to keep on persevering.
________________________________________
One of the values that I learned from my family is “discipline.” Though I didn’t like it when I was being corrected at the beginning of my young life, I learned to appreciate it later when I became an adult. Most of my classmates and friends struggled at following deadlines and implementing a structure to follow through when they take on a task or project. It made me learn to obey even if I didn’t want to or had no idea why I needed to do it. When I was a high school teacher, it was rare to see students living disciplined lives.
Discipline made me become a self-taught artist which later on bore fruit with over 400 painting sales. “Mistakes” was also a good teacher to me because when I commit an error, it makes me do better the next time. The bible says that discipline is key to learning and it is foolish to hate correction.
________________________________________
PRAYER
Lord, teach me to always choose a disciplined life.
REFLECTION
Why do you think discipline can bring wisdom and blessings?
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

FEEBLE STRENGTH Poem Devotional

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November 19
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When the wicked die, their hopes die with them, for they rely on their own feeble strength. – Proverbs 11:7(NLT)
FEEBLE STRENGTH
A poem and essay by ILMA
Do you rely on your own feeble strength?
You cannot do things without God’s presence
If you do it without him, you will feel hopeless
It will be difficult to experience some progress.
When you are weak, you are actually strong
Ask and he will answer your prayers not for long
He loves it when you depend on his power
He makes your enemy bow down and cower.
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Strength is defined as the quality or state of being strong or a good or beneficial quality or attribute of a person or thing. The world views strength in terms of external power manifested in position or authority. Strength must be seen according to the standards set by society. In God’s economy, strength is more inner rather than an outward manifestation. The bible says that when you are weak, then you are strong in 2 Corinthians 9:11. The strength is relying on God and doing this would mean that one acknowledges some weakness or powerlessness that can only be covered by God’s grace. It is not like the feeble strength that we see exhibited by worldly people. The bible also says that those who are wicked will experience a hopelessness because they depend on their own strength which is very limited.
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PRAYER
Lord, remind me to never do things on my own strength.
REFLECTION
When was your weakest moment that you felt God strengthened you immensely?
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 GIVING FREELY POEM DEVOTIONAL

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November 18
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Give freely and become more wealthy; be stingy and lose everything.
-Proverbs 11:25 (NLT)
ON GIVING FREELY
A poem and essay by ILMA
Do you easily share what you have with others?
Or are you stingy to your sisters and brothers?
The Lord blesses those who give freely
He gives them favor and make them wealthy.
To those who are selfish and greedy
They lose what they have easily
Give generously and cheerfully
He expects you to serve others selflessly.
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There are many people who only think of themselves and never go out of their ways to give to someone. My mother was a very giving person. She had over 50 godchildren and they all come to see her on Christmas for gifts. That was a tradition in t.he Philippines. Most godchildren would come and kiss the hands of their godparents and they’d get gifts. This was how I learned to wrap presents because she taught me how to giftwrap properly. By the time I became an expert gift wrapper at age 9, I would be asked to stay in a room full of her gifts for almost all her godchildren, her children and all her relatives. She was almost like a Santa Claus. This was how I learned to become generous and give gifts freely. I thought all mothers were like her and I was shocked to find that only few were. The bible tells us to give freely.
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PRAYER
Lord, help me to think of others more than myself.
REFLECTION
Why do you think God blesses those who give freely and generously?
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

PRAYER FOR A CLEAR HEAD Poem DEvotional

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November 16
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But let us who live in the light be clearheaded, protected by the armor of faith and love and wearing as our helmet the confidence of our salvation. – 1 Thessalonians 5:8(NLT)
PRAYER FOR A CLEAR HEAD
A poem and essay by ILMA
Lord, please grant me a clear head at all times
Protect me from all thoughts of evil and crime
Let me never forget to wear the helmet of salvation
Allow the armor of faith to shield me from temptations.
Let me discern whenever I am being attacked
Let me pursue peace and love to fight back
Give me a clear head and cleanse my heart always
I receive the wisdom you give to those who obeys.
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How often do you ask the Lord to give you a clear head? Sometimes when I forget do to so, my mind can spin and listen to all the lies being thrown at me by the enemy. In Ephesians 6, we are warned that we are not dealing with enemies that we can see and touch but with unseen forces and powers. The battlefield starts in the mind and if we are not aware of it and not exercise our authority over the devil, our soul and spirit can be literally attacked. The apostle Paul tells us to clear our head at all times and wear the armor of faith and love. We must protect our minds with the confidence we have in Christ.
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PRAYER
Lord, always give me a clear mind.
REFLECTION
What can cloud a person’s mind?
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

STAY AWAKE Poem Devotional

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November 15
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So be on guard, not asleep like the others. Stay alert and be clearheaded.
-1 Thessalonians 5:6(NLT)
STAY AWAKE
A poem and essay by ILMA
Are you going through life conscious of your surroundings?
Do you give thanks to the Lord for all his gifts and blessings?
Be on guard, stay awake and alert for the enemy’s attacks
He is there to keep you defeated; be aware of his tactics.
Meditate on God’s word daily so you can be aware
It is a weapon to speak the truth when you are scared
Guard your heart and your mind; stay holy and pure
This way, the enemy cannot enter or get you lured.________________________________________
Many people live zombie lives. They go through life asleep. They don’t even know their purposes. Some have been spiritually dead for many years and do not find a reason to live. I, too, lived a dead life for many years because I was hypnotized by the enemy to believe so many lies that kept me blinded and dead to so many things. I grinded to work to satisfy my own desires and to prove that I was worth something. I didn’t realize that God was always there for me, just waiting to be asked for help. I made my own decisions without consulting him or his truth. I lived a life that catered only to my physical body and mind. I failed to feed my spirit.
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PRAYER
Lord, keep me awake always with your truth.
REFLECTION
How can we stay awake and be clearheaded in 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

GOD’S WILL Poem Devotional

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November 14
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God’s will is for you to be holy, so stay away from all sexual sin. Then each of you will control his own body and live in holiness and honor-not in lustful passion like the pagans who do not know God and his ways. – 1 Thessalonians 4:3-5(NLT)
GOD’S WILL
A poem and essay by ILMA
Do you know the will of the Lord?
He clearly instructs you in his word
God’s will is for you to stay holy
He wants your heart fully.
Stay away from all sexual sin
Control all your cravings within
Those who are God’s holy people
They don’t behave like fools.
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Many people live their lives without even knowing their destinies. It is a sad thing to witness someone who behaves like a little innocent child when they are already in the prime of their lives. Some people get stuck with experiences in their lives that hampered their growth. They still behave like little kids, lost and running around in circles. God’s will is very clearly stated in his word. He wants us to be holy and stay pure. One of the admonitions he gives us is to stay away from all sexual sins and to control our own bodies. The world has tainted our view of God’s authority over our whole being, including our bodies. God made everything including our bodies. If we succumb to lust, we are no different from the pagans.
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PRAYER
Dear Lord, let us live in your will always.
REFLECTION
What can derail us from God’s will?
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

SPIRITUAL CLOTHES Poem Devotional

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November 13
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Since God chose you to be the holy people he loves, you must clothe yourselves with tender-hearted mercy, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience. -Colossians 3:12(NLT)
SPIRITUAL CLOTHES
A poem and essay by ILMA
When God chose you as his people
He expects you to be kind and gentle
Clothe yourselves with tender-hearted mercy
Follow a life of patience and humility.
Put on all of God’s armor so you’ll be victorious
For shoes, put on peace that comes from the Good News.
Hold up the shield of faith to stop the attacks of the devil
Take the Spirit’s sword from God’s word to ward off evil.
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What do clothes do for you? They protect you from the elements around you. They adorn your body and represent your style and personality. They identify the roles that you play in life. Clothes also exhibit your ideology or lifestyle. What kind of clothes do you wear that clearly identify your beliefs?
The bible tells us that when God chose his holy people, he had specific spiritual clothes that He requires his people to wear. He wants his children to be forgiving, understanding, merciful, kind, humble, gentle and patience. If you go to Galatians 5, you will find that these spiritual clothes God requires is also the Holy Spirit’s fruits. In other words, if we claim that we are believers, we will use these holy clothes that will eventually mirror God’s character.
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PRAYER
Lord, thank you for showing us what to spiritually wear.
REFLECTION
What amongst these spiritual clothes have you trouble wearing?
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

FORGIVE AS YOU ARE FORGIVEN Poem Devotional

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November 12
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Make allowance for each other’s faults, and forgive anyone who offends you. Remember, the Lord forgave you, so you must forgive others. – Colossians 3:13(NLT)
FORGIVE AS YOU ARE FORGIVEN
A poem and essay by ILMA
Do you easily get offended with others’ fault?
Make allowance for one another’s mistakes
Forgive others as you were forgiven by God
Don’t hold on to resentment, indifference or hate.
Remember that Christ has died on the cross
He sacrificed his life so you won’t be lost
He grants you fresh mercy each morning
Don’t give in to offense; count your blessings.
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When people experience abuse and was treated harshly, they either become abusive or embrace the victim role. In my case, I assumed the victim role for many years. I got attracted to abusive people and somehow allowed myself to be victimized over and over again. When the Lord revealed to me the stronghold of violence in my life and healed me from the pain, I learned to receive his mercy. I was very easily offended before I became a born again Christian. I saw things in the filter of the abuses I went through.
The bible tells us that we need to make allowances for each other’s faults and forgive anyone who offends us. Paul reminds us to meditate on how God forgave our sins so we can emulate his generosity to grant mercy right away.
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PRAYER
Lord, grant me a heart that easily forgives.
REFLECTION
Why is forgiveness essential in relationships?
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

GOD’S POWER AND JUSTICE Poem Devotional

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November 11
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The Lord is slow to get angry, but his power is great, and he never lets the guilty go unpunished. – Nahum 1:3(NLT)
GOD’S POWER AND JUSTICE
A poem and essay by ILMA
Do you faithfully seek the Lord?
Are you meditating on his word?
God is slow to anger but is fair
Do not test him or disobey.
The Lord deals with sin fairly
So don’t treat others unjustly
He won’t allow the guilty go unpunished
Confess and repent so he can give you mercy.
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Some people think that because God is merciful and loving, they can get away with sin. He hates sin. He loves us all but he doesn’t want us to participate in any form of evil or lawlessness. That is why he gave us Christ so that we can believe in him and be new. We need not go back to our old self which is by nature sinful. If we committed ourselves to Christ, we have the privilege to be forgiven right away and be cleansed by his blood. Some lax Christians think that God loves them and will forgive them easily, so they can just do the evil they planned and ask forgiveness. In the book of Nahum, we are warned that he never lets the guilty go unpunished. Though God is slow to anger, it doesn’t mean that he is partial. He advocates the law of sowing and reaping.
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PRAYER
Lord, remind me always how sin can draw us away from you.
REFLECTION
How can you avoid being a lax Christian?
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

GOD’S FORGIVENESS Poem Devotional

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November 10
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Lord, if you kept a record of our sins, who, O Lord, could ever survive? But you offer forgiveness, that we might learn to fear you. – Psalm 130:3-4(NLT)
GOD’S FORGIVENESS
A poem and essay by ILMA
Can you ever understand God’s forgiveness?
No matter how much we sin, his mercy is endless
He doesn’t keep a record of wrongs like we do
He longs for us to keep our hearts always pure.
He gives us grace despite our wickedness
He is worthy to be praised for his faithfulness
His forgiveness is generous and boundless
Why do you take for granted such forgiveness?
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Have you ever met anyone who would totally forgive you without keeping a record of what you did? The saying “Forgive and forget” is easier said than done. Some people say they forgive but cannot forget. How does the Lord forgive? In Micah 7:18-19, we are given a clear picture of how God overlooks the sins of his people. He doesn’t stay angry forever because he delights in showing his unfailing love. He shows us compassion and tramples our sins under his feet and throws them into the depths of the ocean. He is patient with us, understanding and easily gives mercy if we confess and repent of our sins. Isn’t he worthy of being given that reverence and praise for such generosity to allow us to start new all the time? His mercy is fresh each morning.
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PRAYER
Lord, teach me how to forgive like you do.
REFLECTION
What hinders us from granting forgiveness to someone?
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