Monthly Archives: March 2018

UNRECOGNIZED Poem Devotional

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March 10
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My people don’t recognize my care for them. – Isaiah 1:3(NLT)
UNRECOGNIZED
A poem and essay by ILMA
Are you able to show appreciation for your blessings?
When you count them, you are praising him
Take time to look at the flowers and smell them
God made creation so you will remember him.
He is there whether you are having a good or bad day
He rescues all those who love him in every way
He grants your requests and provide for your needs
Do you praise him and do you constantly believe?
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When children reach their teen years, they sometimes pull away from the parents. They can be vulnerable in their search for identity if they get into the wrong company. For the first 13 years of my son’s life, we were very close and open with each other. I was a single parent and we were inseparable. By the time he was 11, he started rebelling and did his best to stay away from me. He did the opposite of what we used to do, praising the Lord and praying to him daily. I didn’t realize that was going on but after his father died, I found out that his own father was teaching him the ways of the world and contradicting all the values I taught him. It was that time that he didn’t recognize my love for him. Sometimes our heavenly father may feel the same way with us.
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PRAYER
Lord, remind me to always focus on your love for me.
REFLECTION
How can you consciously know how much God loves you?
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

SEARCH AND YOU’LL FIND Poem Devotional

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March 9
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I love all who love me. Those who search will surely find me. – Proverbs 8:17(NLT)
SEARCH AND YOU’LL FIND
A poem and essay by ILMA
When you seek the Lord with all your heart
You will find him, he will stay and never depart
He loves all those who love faithfully seek him
He shows himself to them and grants them peace.
Whenever you hunger for knowing Jesus
You will know that he considers you very precious
Search and you will find, ask and it will be given
If you follow his will, you’ll have a taste of heaven.
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Have you ever lost something and had a hard time finding it? Many times I struggle to remember where I put something. I am usually a very organized person but when I get overwhelmed with “busy-ness” and lack of sleep, I fail to have a mind that is clear and focused.
The bible tells us that God is love and that he loves us all. Proverbs 8:17 gives us more reassurance that when we search or seek him, he will show himself to us. Though God loves us unconditionally, he also rewards those who faithfully loves him and manifest their devotion by hungering for him and having a personal relationship with him and the people around them. How many times did we fail to see the Lord’s will in our lives because we were so busy chasing other things instead of seeking him?
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PRAYER
Lord, help me prioritize you first in all that I do.
REFLECTION
How come some believers struggle knowing their purpose 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

TRUTH IS SIMPLE AND CLEAR Poem Devotional

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March 8
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My words are plain to anyone with understanding, clear to those with knowledge.
– Proverbs 8:9(NLT)
TRUTH IS SIMPLE AND CLEAR
A poem and essay by ILMA
The word of God is truth
It frees us from what is untrue
Truth is simple, clear and not complex
It brings us freedom and is never fuzzy.
Scriptures is plain to those with understanding
It is vague to the lawless and those living in sin.
Truth exposes lies and sets a person free
Sin makes us blind and bound to slavery.
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Some people find it hard to read the bible and get something out of it. One of the reasons they fail to benefit from Scriptures, is because they are treating it like any other ordinary book. They fail to see that it extraordinary and has life in itself. 2 Timothy 3:16 tells us that all Scriptures is God-breathed and is there to guide us, teach us, correct us when we do wrong and provide a way out. In other words, it is like a map so that we can navigate effectively this corrupt world. Since it is unlike any other book, it should be read differently. It is through God’s word that we learn more about the character of God and how he wants us to live. He reveals to us many things in this powerful book. Only those who seek him will hear his voice and will understand it.
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PRAYER
Lord, let your Holy Spirit never depart from my heart and mind.
REFLECTION
Why do you think it is hard for unbelievers to comprehend Scriptures?
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

GRACIOUS TO THE HUMBLE Poem Devotional

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March 7
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The Lord mocks the mockers but is gracious to the humble. – Proverbs 3:34(NLT)
GRACIOUS TO THE HUMBLE
A poem and essay by ILMA
To those who put down their brothers and sisters
The Lord isn’t please how you treat others
There is no room for mockers in God’s kingdom
He won’t allow oppression to all his children.
God is gracious to the humble
He guides them so they won’t stumble
When one lives in humility
They are living in sanctity.
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The problem with our world today is that it propagates selfishness and pride. We boast about our abilities, possessions, power, fame and many things and fail to recognize that we are nothing without God. We take credit for all the gifts and blessings that the Lord has bestowed upon us. We perform and show off all that we have without praising the Lord for whatever we were endowed with. Sometimes, we do it unknowingly or at times we purposely do it.
When Christ was among us during his lifetime here on earth, he set an example for us to follow. He wants us to live in humility. The fact that even though he was God, he didn’t brag about it. He always pointed back to the Father who sent him and yet, he was equal with God. He never flaunted his power and authority. He used it to give God glory. God is gracious to the humble.
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PRAYER
Lord, give me humility so I can point to you always.
REFLECTION
Why is it easy for us to boast about things we have?
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

CHOOSE PEACE OVER CONFLICT Poem Devotional

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March 6
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Don’t pick a fight without reason, where no one has done you harm. -Proverbs 3:30(NLT)
CHOOSE PEACE OVER CONFLICT
A poem and essay by ILMA
A true believer pursues peace at all times
Conflicts or arguments, he doesn’t find
When someone has done you wrong
Pray and gently confront the person.
Don’t pick a fight without reason
Jesus will never overreact to treason
He kept silent instead of retaliating
He chose peace over all kinds of fighting.
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Psalm 34:14 asks us to turn from evil and do good, to seek peace and pursue it. Hebrews 12:14 says that we must make every effort to live in peace with everyone and to be holy.
Romans 14:19 tells us to aim for harmony in the church and try to build each other up. James 3:18 states that those who are peacemakers will plant seeds of peace and reap a harvest of righteousness. Why do you think God asks us to choose peace over conflict?
In English, the word peace means an absence of civil disturbance or hostilities or a personality free from internal or external strife. The bible meaning of peace is deeper than this English definition. The Hebrew root “slm” means to be complete or whole or to be well. No wonder we are commanded to pursue it. Peace is not just a passive result of not having conflicts. It is a state of wholeness that God wants us to always be experiencing.
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PRAYER
Lord, show me whenever my peace is being compromised.
REFLECTION
How can a person literally pursue peace on a daily basis?
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

WISEST THING TO DO Poem Devotional

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March 5
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Getting wisdom is the wisest thing you can do! And whatever you do, develop good judgment. -Proverbs 4:7(NLT)
WISEST THING TO DO
A poem and essay by ILMA
It is good to ask the Lord for understanding
He knows how to help you in your suffering
He sees everything and can direct your life
Don’t rely on human counsel, they are finite.
Getting wisdom from God is the wisest thing to do
It will give you knowledge because it is all true
You won’t gain good insight when you follow this world
The fountain of knowledge can only be found in God’s word.
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There are many people who pursue knowledge without wisdom. These two concepts are oftentimes interchanged. Some people could be educated and have all the intelligence in the world, but that doesn’t make them wise.
Wisdom is the quality or state of being wise. It is understanding what is true or right coupled and making good judgment to act upon it. Knowledge is facts, information, and skills acquired by a person through experience or education. It may be theoretical or practical understanding of a subject. In knowledge, we have the data we need stored in our brain while in wisdom, we apply an act of choosing and making the right decision to act or apply what we know.
The bible recommends that the wisest thing to do is to get wisdom and develop good judgment.
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PRAYER
Lord, help me discern what is true always.
REFLECTION
Can intelligence be a sign of wisdom? Why or why not?
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

EXUDE YOUR LIGHT Poem Devotional

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March 4
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Let your light shine for all to see. For the glory of the Lord rises to shine in you.
– Isaiah 60:1(NLT)
EXUDE YOUR LIGHT
A poem and essay by ILMA
When you exude the light that comes from Christ
Your heavenly Father is going to transform your life
Let your light shine for all the people to see
It will glorify your Lord and he will set you free.
Darkness can never hide in God’s light
He exposes all evil as he shines so bright
Radiate your love for it will bring many to Christ
Jesus’ radiance manifests in all of believers’ lives.
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I’ve been a photographer for almost three decades now. The camera lens consists of one or more precisely shaped pieces of glass or plastic called elements. Its main function is to focus and direct the incoming light. The light coming through the elements is “bent” or directed to the image sensor where the information about the light is captured
The camera lens is an extremely important part of the camera. That is because the type of lens and the quality of the lens being used will contribute greatly to the sharpness and overall appearance of the picture.
I’d like to compare the role of light in producing great pictures through the lens. Just like how important light is in photography, we also need to exude God’s light so we can affect other’s lives and make a difference.
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PRAYER
Lord, help me to always exude your light to everyone I meet.
REFLECTION
How can a believer exude God’s light in practical ways?
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 SERVING WELL Poem Devotional

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March 3
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You must show appreciation to all who serve well. -1 Corinthians 16:18(NLT)
ON SERVING WELL
A poem and essay by ILMA
Those who serve the Lord and others devotedly
They show how much they love God faithfully
When we do it to others as we would do it for the Lord
We are following his command and bringing him laud.
Let us applaud those who serve faithfully
They are exuding love and humility
Only by serving others can we prove we love Jesus
It shows that we value others as very precious.
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One of the most taken for granted job is the service industry. Many people look up to higher positions in their chosen field because it pays more money and gives them prestige and power. Somehow the idea that leading others by being in top positions will make others respect them more. We live in a world where “service” is something to be ashamed of. Power and positions are given value while serving others are for those who are poor and uneducated.
In God’s economy, it is the opposite. Jesus’ ministry focused on serving others. Jesus was the epitome of “servant leadership.” He didn’t flaunt his power and authority. Even though he was God, he served his own disciples. He shepherded his flock by guiding them and catering to their needs. He championed serving others. We must show appreciation to those who faithfully serve others with much love.
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PRAYER
Lord, show me never to miss an occasion to serve others.
REFLECTION
How can serving others be a ministry for 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

WHEN TO GIVE Poem Devotional

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March 2
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On the first day of each week you should put aside a portion of the money you have earned. -1 Corinthians 16:2(NLT)
WHEN TO GIVE
A poem and essay by ILMA
To give is more blessed than to receive
We honor the Lord when we give
On the first day of each week
A portion of our wage we must give.
When you cheerfully give, you are praising him
It keeps you from selfishness and all kinds of sins
God is generous to provide us all our needs
Why don’t we make him first when we give?
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Billy Graham said “We have found in our own home, as have thousands of others, that God’s blessing upon the nine-tenths, when we tithe, helps it to go farther than ten-tenths without His blessing. Other Christians who tithe do so simply because they respect the Old Testament principle and find it a helpful place to begin in their giving. The matter of your giving is between you and God, and He always takes into account our circumstances. He knows when they are beyond our power to direct and control. The important thing is that we see giving as a privilege and not a burden. It should not be out of a sense of duty, but rather out of love for the Lord and a desire to see His kingdom advanced.”
When you prioritize giving to God’s kingdom, you are honoring him.
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PRAYER
Lord, give me a cheerful heart to give.
REFLECTION
What hampers people from giving generously to God’s kingdom?
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

SAVED FROM EMPTINESS Poem Devotional

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March 1
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God paid a ransom to save you from the empty life you inherited from your ancestors.
– 1 Peter 1:8(NLT)
SAVED FROM EMPTINESS
A poem and essay by ILMA
Are you still living an empty life?
If you want to be free, run to Jesus Christ
He ransomed us from this emptiness and isolation
He rescued us from desolation and brought us salvation.
We can walk away from bondage into freedom
Why not believe him instead and choose his kingdom?
God paid a high price so you can live a life that is free
Seek him, you ‘ll have peace and never feel empty.
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There were five decades of my life spent feeling empty. I tried to fill the desolation through achievements, performance, seeking approval and finding love in the wrong places. Because of the degree of the pain that came with this emptiness, I made many wrong choices and decisions which kept me in bondage to sin for many years. When I hit rock bottom, that’s when I finally heard God’s call to me. The Lord revealed to me the cause of such loneliness. In 1 John 4:8, I learned that God is love and those who do not live in love does not know God. I realized that I felt empty because I wasn’t seeking him and was disobedient to his will. He showed me that I have been freed from emptiness when Jesus died on the cross for me.
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PRAYER
Lord, show me how to share the miracle when you freed me from emptiness.
REFLECTION
Why do you think so many people feel empty inside 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