Monthly Archives: December 2017

HUMBLE KING COMES poem devotional

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December 21
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O people of Jerusalem! Look, your king is coming to you. He is righteous and victorious, yet he is humble, riding on a donkey. -Zechariah 9:9(NLT)
HUMBLE KING COMES
A poem and essay by ILMA
Rejoice! There’s good news to mankind!
A king comes very humble, riding in a donkey
He has been born from a poor family
Yet he is righteous and brings us victory.
The Lord Jesus Christ was given to us
God wants to free us from sin very fast
There is no time to waste, let’s abide in Him
It is the only way we can overcome sin.
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Jesus came to this world and defied all traditions. He didn’t follow the ways of all the kings in the world. He chose to be born of a poor family instead of living in a palace and having all the worldly riches. No king has ever been born in a feeding trough for animals. No king was wrapped in swaddling cloths. No king had shepherds and lowly people witness his birth. Most of all, no other king was born of a virgin mother. That was a big dishonor for the traditions of his time. 1 Corinthians 1:27 says that, God chose things the world considers foolish in order to shame those who think they are wise. And he chose things that are powerless to shame those who are powerful. What a humble king we have in Jesus.
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PRAYER
Lord, help me not to be afraid to go against human traditions.
REFLECTION
Why do you think God breaks traditions?
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 GIFT OF AUTHORITY poem devotional

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December 20
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They will have the same authority I received from my Father, and I will also give them the morning star. -Revelations 2:28(NLT)
THE GIFT OF AUTHORITY
A poem and essay by ILMA
When you commit a life to Jesus Christ
You will begin to see things through his eyes
God will grant you authority as He gave Jesus
He blesses the faithful; to him they are precious.
They will have authority in Jesus’ name
The Lord will protect and provide for his children
Use your authority to overcome the enemy
He will grant if you ask and you’ll have victory.
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So many believers are living lives of defeat instead of victory because most of them do not know the gift of authority given to them as soon as they commit to Jesus Christ. I used to be one of these ignorant Christians. I allowed the devil to toss and turn me around. I had the authority but since I didn’t know it, I never used it. I praise God that he has revealed to me that I do have dominion over the enemy. Luke 10:19 says “Look, I have given you authority over all the power of the enemy, and you can walk among snakes and scorpions and crush them. Nothing will injure you.”. What a promise for all those who love him. When I got this revelation, I began to use and exercise my authority in Jesus’ name.
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PRAYER
Thank you Lord for the authority you gave me as you gave Jesus.
REFLECTION
How can we exercise dominion over the enemy in this modern age?
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

TO THE OBEDIENT Poem Devotional

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December 19
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To all who are victorious, who obey me to the very end. To them I will give authority over all the nations. -Revelations 2:26(NLT)
TO THE OBEDIENT
A poem and essay by ILMA
When you choose a path of obedience to God
You are showing your devotion and bringing him laud
God promises victory to all who obey his instructions
He gives them authority over all the nations.
Continue to follow all of God’s commands
You will find favor in going through life’s demands
Stay faithful to the truth that will set you free
The Lord will anoint you and you will have peace.
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One of the strongholds in my family of origin is rebellion and stubbornness. I learned to be a rebel since I was a young girl. I didn’t know it was a sin that my whole family struggled with because no one was a born again Christian. No one read the bible to know the truth that will set us free. We all followed our own desires and ambitions without any reverence to what the Lord wants for us. Disobedience made my life very challenging because I didn’t even count all the blessings I was receiving. I was blinded by my selfish nature and was just concerned with satisfying my cravings. The bible promises victory to the obedient and God gives them dominion over all nations. When we obey, we show that we love the Lord.
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PRAYER
Lord, let me never be disobedient to your will.
REFLECTION
Who were the best example in the bible of obedience? How did God repay their faithfulness?
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

PARTNERING IN GOD’S MINISTRY Poem Devotional

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December 18
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They are traveling for the Lord and they accept nothing from people who are not believers. So we ourselves should support them so that we can be their partners as they teach the truth. -3 John 1:7-8 NLT)
PARTNERING IN GOD’S MINISTRY
A poem and essay by ILMA
Whenever you meet someone who works for the Lord
Give them your support so they can spread his word
They sacrifice to bring the Good News to all
We need to be there to support them in their cause.
Let’s partner in God’s ministry
It paves the way for victory
Be generous in sharing all that you can
The Lord will bless you and give you a hand.
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During Jesus’ time, there were no means of transportation except by horses, camels and donkeys. Most of Jesus’ ministry were done in foot. They walked from one place to another to preach the gospel. They were full of integrity and wouldn’t take anything from unbelievers as per God’s instruction. John was explaining to believers that we need to partner and support the cause of God. Those who are doing kingdom work are giving their best to ensure that the word of God is preached in all the ends of the earth.
There was a time that I partnered with a big international ministry to bring the gospel to those countries that were very poor, I felt blessed doing such support for God’s kingdom.
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PRAYER
Lord, thank you for all those who do work for your kingdom.
REFLECTION
How can you give support to the work of the Lord?
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

CARING FOR GOD’S TEACHERS Poem Devotional

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December 17
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You are being faithful to God when you care for the traveling teachers who pass through, even though they are strangers to you. Please continue providing for such teachers in a manner that pleases God. – 3 John 1:5, 6(NLT)
CARING FOR GOD’S TEACHERS
A poem and essay by ILMA
To all who want to stay faithful to the Lord
Take care of all teachers of God’s word
Those who are given the gift of teaching
They are obedient and they are sacrificing.
Believers are called to care for these teachers
They spread God’s word and teach the gospel
It pleases God if you provide for their needs
It brings him praise when you openly care and give.
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Matthew 28:19-20 instructs us to make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that God has commanded. All believers of God are called to teach his word and his commands. Not all believers follow this commission. Those who take this instruction from God seriously to all the ends of the earth (Mark 16:15), God will never forsake them. Romans 12:6-7 mentions some of the spiritual gifts we can receive from the Holy Spirit. It mentions the teacher who ought to teach well. In 3 John 1:5,6, the faithful ones need to care for these teachers even though we don’t personally know them.
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PRAYER
Lord, help us to provide care for your teachers.
REFLECTION
Why do you think teachers of his word have a special place in God’s heart?
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

PROOF OF BEING WITH GOD Poem Devotional

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December 16
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Anyone who wanders away from this teaching has no relationship with God.
-2 John:9 (NLT)
PROOF OF BEING WITH GOD
A poem and essay by ILMA
Committing yourself to Jesus Christ
Means that you are emulating his life
The proof of your relationship is obedience
It also manifests in your humble endurance.
Anyone who wanders away from his teaching
It shows that they are turning their back and rebelling
It clearly exhibits a breach of their vow to believe him
The proof is in the Sprit’s fruits and in turning from sin.
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Has anyone vowed to love you and got into relationship with you but never showed it in actions? Many people get into relationships for selfish reasons. Some delve into commitments just so they can have someone meet their needs. This clearly is the worst reason why you should get involved with someone. It will definitely end badly. Many marriages end up in divorce because of unrealistic expectations. No one can meet anyone else’s needs except the Lord. He created us to crave for him. We were made to love because God is love. When we do things out of selfish reasons, we do not love.
John, the apostle whom Jesus loved explains what is the real sign that we love the Lord. Most of the books of the bible that John wrote focuses on “love”. We show love to Christ when we obey and follow his teachings.
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PRAYER
Lord, let me never wander away from your truth.
REFLECTION
What causes a believer to turn away from God’s teachings?
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

THOSE WHO HATE THE LIGHT Poem Devotional

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December 15
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All who do evil hate the light and refuse to go near it for fear their sins will be exposed. But those who do what is right come to the light so others can see that they are doing what God wants. – John 2:20-21(NLT)
THOSE WHO HATE THE LIGHT
A poem and essay by ILMA
Those who do evil will fear the light
It will expose what they’re not doing right
The wicked hates light; they don’t want change
They like to remain doing what keeps them in bondage.
The righteous on the other hand, comes right into the light
They walk into it to shine Jesus and show they obey what’s right
Stay away from those who hate the truth and life
They will pull you down into evil ways and you’ll soon die.
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I know someone who don’t like the light literally. He’d prefer to be in the dark. He turns off anything that will bring in light and work in the dark. I didn’t realize that there was something deeper than just not wanting any form of light. As I got to know him deeper, I found out that there were many secrets he kept and the psychological and spiritual things that he hid caught up with him.
The bible has always referred to Jesus as the source of light and life. Where there is darkness, there is death. In him, there is no darkness at all.
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PRAYER
Lord, deliver me from those who hate the light that comes from your truth.
REFLECTION
Why is light essential in life both literally and spiritually?
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

STAIR TO HEAVEN Poem Devotional

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December 14
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I tell you the truth, you will see heaven open and the angels of God going up and down on the Son of Man, the one who is the stairway between heaven and earth.
-John 1:51(NLT)
STAIR TO HEAVEN
A poem and essay by ILMA
Do you want to be with your Father in heaven?
I tell you the truth, there is a stair for the brethren
When Jesus comes back, you will see heaven open
The angels of the Lord going up and down often.
Jesus Christ is the only way to the Father
He is the stair to heaven, don’t look further
If you follow him and obey his commands
You will receive the fulfillment of his big plan.
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My piano teacher’s brother taught me to play “Stairway to Heaven” by Led Zeppelin. It was a very hard piece for a beginner to learn but he was relentless for me to learn it. Because no one in my family was a Christian, I didn’t know any better. This rock music was one of the most popular in the last forty years, but if you play it backwards, you might find satanic messages in it.
In John 1:51, he refers to a different stair to heaven. He refers to Jesus Christ as the only way, the truth and the giver of eternal life.
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PRAYER
Lord, help me to take the only stair that leads to your kingdom.
REFLECTION
How can we ensure that we are taking the right stair to heaven?
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 WORD OF LIFE Poem Devotional

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December 13
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He is the word of life. This one who is life itself was revealed to us and we have seen him. And now we testify and proclaim to you that he is the one who is eternal life. He was with the Father and then he was revealed to us. – 1 John 1:1-2(NLT)
THE WORD OF LIFE
A poem and essay by ILMA
In the beginning, the Word already existed
The Word was with God and together they created
The Word gave life to everything he made
And his life brought light to all of humankind.
The Father manifested himself in the Word
This is to show his love for the entire world
The Word became life and in him we will have eternity
The Word of Life is Jesus himself who brings us victory.
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I’d like to quote a part of John Mark Hicks commentary on 1 John 1:1-4. This is such an astounding claim that John interrupts his sentence in order to elaborate what he means by the “Word of Life.” When Word becomes flesh (what we saw, heard, and touched), “eternal life” was revealed. The incarnation is the revelation of God’s own life within the creation as a creature.
When I read 1 John’s book, it was such a deep truth that I had to pray to the Lord to reveal to me what it really means. The apostle John witnesses to the personified Christ who gave us life.
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PRAYER
Lord, let me always remember that you alone can give eternal life.
REFLECTION
How have you testified to the Word of 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

CHRIST REVEALED GOD TO US Poem Devotional

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December 12
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No one has ever seen God. But the unique One, who is himself God is near to the Father’s heart. He has revealed God to us. – John 1:18(NLT)
CHRIST REVEALED GOD TO US
A poem and essay by ILMA
When Christ was born as a human
God was revealed to all of mankind
We may not have seen God visually
But he manifested himself in Christ’s body.
Jesus Christ is God himself
He gave us Jesus to die to ourselves
Follow Christ and you will know God
Seek his truth and constantly bring him laud.
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Has anyone seen God with their own eyes? The old testament in the bible talks about encounters with God. Did they really see him? The bible tells us that God is a spirit in John 4:24 and we should worship him in spirit. In Exodus 3 we have an account of Moses’ encounter with God in the burning bush. It wasn’t a face to face encounter as we humans might think. In verse 2, it said that an angel of the Lord appeared to Moses in a blazing fire from the middle of the bush. In verse 4-5, we learn that Moses wanted to take a closer look at the burning bush but when the Lord saw Moses coming, he told him in verse 5 not to come any closer. In Jesus’ birth, we actually see God himself through the Son.
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PRAYER
Lord, help me never to lose sight of your presence.
REFLECTION
How do we know if we have seen 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