Monthly Archives: February 2018

GOD HATES HYPOCRISY Poem Devotional

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February 8
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I hate all your show and pretense- the hypocrisy of your religious festivals and solemn assemblies. -Amos 5:21(NLT)
GOD HATES HYPOCRISY
A poem and essay by ILMA
In every show and pretense
Lies guilt and shame
When you do religious festivals
God is jealous, he doesn’t want rivals.
God hates all forms of hypocrisy
It hampers you from getting victory
Be honest and live a life of integrity
He will reward those who lives by honesty.
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According to Easton’s bible dictionary, a “hypocrite” is one who puts on a mask and pretends himself to be what he is not. Our Lord severely rebuked the scribes and Pharisees for their hypocrisy ( Matthew 6:2,5,16) and in Job 8:13, he warns that they shall perish. The Hebrew word here rendered “hypocrite” means the “godless” or “profane,” as it is rendered in Jeremiah 23:11, polluted with crimes.
How come a lot of religious rituals and traditions are still widely practiced in the present? If the Lord hates hypocrisy, why is it very prevalent in our society. John 10:10 says that the enemy’s purpose is to steal, kill and destroy. One of his tactics to destroy our relationship with the Lord is through religious rituals, traditions and festivals. It distracts us from actually having a personal relationship with the Lord. The bible tells us that God hates hypocrisy. The lies they live is an abomination to God’s character.
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PRAYER
Lord, deliver me from all forms of hypocrisy.
REFLECTION
How can one know that someone is pretending to be someone they’re not? How do you deal with hypocrites in your 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

HOW TO BE ALIVE AGAIN Poem Devotional

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February 7
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Come back to me and live! – Amos 5:4(NLT)
HOW TO BE ALIVE AGAIN
A poem and essay by ILMA
Do you want to live a life that is full?
Run to the Lord for he is faithful
He asks you to come back to him
You won’t thrive if you live in sin.
Come back to the Lord right now
If you have sinned, repent and bow
It is the only way you can come to the light
Only the Lord can save you and give you life.
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For many years I didn’t realize that I was spiritually dead. Everything I did revolved around my wants, desires, ambitions and dreams. I thought that success had to do with getting all my goals met and being looked up to. I never consulted God’s will or plan in my life. I lived like a strong-willed child, insisting on doing things my way and scheming for things. You will likely have guessed correctly. I didn’t get far. I lost joy, peace and living a full life. The Lord loves me so much. He didn’t give all that I wanted because they were not all good for me. If he granted all that I asked for, I wouldn’t learn to hunger for him. I will continue to be distracted and focus my attention on things of this world. The bible says that the only way we can be alive is through Christ.
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PRAYER
Lord, thank you for the life you gave us through your son Jesus.
REFLECTION
What are the manifestations that you are compromising your 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

TWO IS BETTER THAN ONE Poem Devotional

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February 6
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Can two people walk together without agreeing on the direction? – Amos 3:3(NLT)
TWO IS BETTER THAN ONE
A poem and essay by ILMA
When two people are beside each other
They can easily agree and consider
When two people walk together
They become united and stronger.
Two is better than one
Care for another human
You were made for another
Be with others and don’t be a loner.
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Ecclesiastes 4:9-12 states the benefits of being with someone. It says that two people are better off than one, for they can help each other succeed. If one person falls, the other can reach out and help. But someone who falls alone is in real trouble. Likewise, two people lying close together can keep each other warm. But how can one be warm alone? A person standing along can be attacked and defeated, but tow can stand back to back and conquer. Three are even better for a triple-braided cord is not easily broken. God wants us to fellowship or be with others and not isolate ourselves. Proverbs 18:1 cautions us about isolation because it doesn’t make us make sound judgments. Isolation also opens the door for the enemy to throw lies to you and tempt you to sin since you don’t have to be accountable for anyone.
In the book of Amos, we see that two people cannot walk together unless they agree which direction to go.
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PRAYER
Lord, thank you for creating us for others and not just for ourselves.
REFLECTION
Have you ever isolated yourself from people? What was the result of such hibernation?
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

NO OTHER GOD LIKE YOU Poem Devotional

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February 5
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Where is another God like you, who pardons the guilt of the remnant, overlooking the sins of his special people? – Micah 7:18(NLT)
NO OTHER GOD LIKE YOU
A poem and essay by ILMA
There is no other God like you my Lord
You pardon those who repent and plead you
You overlook all the sins of those who love you
You grant them grace so they can again be new.
Where is another God like you who easily grant mercy?
You are the only giver of life and victory
We praise and glorify your unending faithfulness
Show us how to tread the path to righteousness.
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According to some estimates, there are roughly 4,200 religions in the world. In an article answering the question “What makes Christianity different?” Here are some answers that make it different from other religions. Christianity makes several claims that others do not. All other religions encourage man to reach up to God and grasp hold of Him through their own efforts. Christianity is the only religion where God reaches down to man. Other religions are systems of do’s and don’ts to appease God; whereas Christianity is a relationship with God. Christianity looks to the Bible as the singular source of Truth. and is based upon truly the most amazing event in all of human history—the resurrection.
The prophet Micah stresses how uniquely different our God is, he is full of mercy and compassion.
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PRAYER
Thank you my Lord for your great mercy and grace.
REFLECTION
How can we repay God’s loving kindness and mercy?
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 GODLY ARE RARE Poem Devotional

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February 4
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The godly people have all disappeared; not one honest person is left on the earth. They are all murderers, setting traps even for their own brother. – Micah 7:2(NLT)
THE GODLY ARE RARE
A poem and essay by ILMA
These day and age, righteous people are a novelty
Evil predominates and there’s so much cruelty
Many wicked people set traps for their own brothers
It’s a pity there are very few honest and godly people.
Why would anyone want to turn their backs to God?
Violence everywhere prevails; good deeds are gone
Turn your back on evil and confess to God and repent
It is never late to believe in the only Son God has sent.
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In the past, there were probably more honest people than in our current world. With the proliferation of evil, the godly are becoming a novelty. Even those who claim to be Christians sometimes find it hard to live their faith because of the demands of society and this corrupt world.
I am so glad that I moved to Canada to a very small town with a 30,000 population as compared to the 21 million population of the city area in the Philippines. In a dense population, there are very few opportunities to even connect to someone. Much crimes are almost like a normal occurrence. I find it so refreshing to find more righteous and honest people in a town rather than in a big city.
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PRAYER
Lord, let me keep living in integrity so I can shine for you.
REFLECTION
How can we change the world in our own small way?
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 LORD BY MY SIDE Poem Devotional

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February 3
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The Lord will bring me into the light, and I will see his righteousness. Then my enemies will see that the Lord is on my side. -Micah 7:9-10(NLT)
THE LORD BY MY SIDE
A poem and essay by ILMA
What are you going through right now?
Does it make you run to God and bow?
The Lord will also lead you to his glory light
He will show you righteousness manifested in your life.
Your enemies will cower when God is on your side
You have authority over them and God will shine his light
Be brave for the Lord promises never to abandon you
He will make sure that you are safe from any troubles or rue.
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Have you ever had an ally who was so strong that when the enemy saw him, he retreated? That is the picture of how powerful and strong our Lord and Saviour is. We can always conquer anything that come against us if we have the Lord by our side. Romans 8:31 says that if God is for us, who can ever be against us. What a wonderful promise that God has given those who belong to him. He will ensure that we are protected and that victory is at hand because he already has given his Son to us who rescued us from sin. Run to the Lord and ensure that you are his faithful follower and he will take care of you.
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PRAYER
Lord, thank you for your faithfulness to protect me.
REFLECTION
Why do people fail to remember the promise that God is always on our side?
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 HEARS US CERTAINLY Poem Devotional

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February 2
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As for me, I look to the Lord for help. I wait confidently for God to save me, and my God will certainly hear me. – Micah 7:7(NLT)
GOD HEARS US CERTAINLY
A poem and essay by ILMA
When you look for the Lord for help incessantly
He will listen and answer, that’s a certainty
When you confidently believe that the Lord saves
You will receive that faith, so always be brave.
The Lord God hears us unquestionably
Don’t ever tire of asking, he loves you faithfully
We may not get the answers we want immediately
It doesn’t mean he doesn’t hear us certainly.
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One of the hardest situation to be in is when the person you are talking to does not hear a thing you say. You can feel ignored or minimized that your words are falling on deaf ears. There is one person who will certainly hear you. The Lord God listens to our desire to connect with him. Whether that hunger for communication is for a favor, intercession, a plea or just an honest conversation, God hears us surely. It is hard for humans to sometimes assess the answers to prayers. We are very result oriented beings and we want answers right away. Sometimes the Lord has already answered but we don’t get it because the answer we want is not the thing we get. Have confidence to tell him anything and he will definitely hear you.
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PRAYER
Thank you Lord for hearing an insignificant person like me.
REFLECTION
Why do you some people think that the Lord doesn’t hear them?
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 RESPECTING ALL Poem Devotional

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February 1
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Respect everyone, and love the family of believers. Fear God, and respect the king.
-1 Peter 2:17(NLT)
ON RESPECTING ALL
A poem and essay by ILMA
We were all created out of love by the Lord up above
How come we don’t always follow the path to love?
Revere the Lord by respecting and obeying his commands
He will shower you with blessings; Go now and seek his Son.
The Lord God expects you to respect all people
We were all made the same, so let’s treat everyone as equal
Respect all believers and the ones he puts in authority
You will find favor and be blessed and you’ll have victory.
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The dictionary defines “respect” as a feeling of deep admiration for someone or something elicited by their abilities, qualities, or achievements. This is a worldly notion because in God’s economy, we are all expected to respect all people. They do not have to prove their worth in terms of abilities, qualities or achievements. Just because they are humans like us, we need to revere them as we respect the Lord. In Genesis, we know that we are all made in his image and likeness. So, if we are all designed with his own imprint in us, aren’t we all entitled to be respected? I cringe and my heart cries out when I see someone disrespects somebody, especially if they are those who have been discriminated and marginalized.
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PRAYER
Lord, teach me to respect all people as I would revere you.
REFLECTION
Why do you think God wants us to respect all people, especially those in authority?
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