Monthly Archives: April 2018

WHEN STRESSED AND PRESSURED Poem Devotional

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April 30________________________________________
As pressure and stress bear down on me, I find joy in your commands.
-Psalm 119:143 (NLT)
WHEN STRESSED AND PRESSURED
A poem and essay by ILMA
Are you feeling so much pressure with the difficulties of life?
Run to Jesus, he will guide you and radiate his light
As stress brings you down, find joy in his commands
He has given you a gift to cope with life’s demands.
When stressed and pressured, remember to focus on him
He will lead you to the way and let you win over sin
Lift up all your anxieties and sufferings in prayer
He will comfort you and give you peace amidst struggles.
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We live in a world full of chaos. The enemy wants to blind us and keep us in confusion so we will not fully fulfill God’s will in our lives. Remember that his purpose is to steal, kill and destroy us (John 10:10). He will keep us unaware of the privileges we have as children of God. Joy, peace and love are usually the things he wants to steal from us. This is why it is very important to stay focused on God and have a relationship with him daily. We learn to see things the way he does when we are intimate with him through Scriptures. It is through God’s word that he speaks to us and bring us guidance, comfort and resolutions to our challenges.
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PRAYER
Lord, keep me calm when challenges come my way.
REFLECTION
How can stress and pressures test our intimacy with 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

GUIDED BY THE WORD Peom Devotional

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April 29________________________________________
Guide my steps by your word, so I will not be overcome by evil. – Psalm 119:133(NLT)
GUIDED BY THE WORD
A poem and essay by ILMA
Are you overwhelmed and confused by circumstances?
Don’t worry, God uses his word to give us answers
He guides our steps by the truth that comes from his word
It helps us thrive and navigate through this corrupt world.
Do not depend on human advice, run to the truth
The Lord has solution and his words soothe
He comforts you through Scriptures
He leads you to his plans for your future.
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Many decades of my life were spent on taking care of myself and figuring out how to go through this world successfully. I didn’t care how God wanted things for me because I was busy making it on my own. I was wrapped up in my traumas and consumed by the desire to fix things so I could make a name for myself and be respected by others. I wanted to prove to everyone that I had worth. I never read the bible until I was in my late twenties. I consulted many books to help myself make it as a self-made woman.
When I became born again, I started reading and studying the bible. It opened my eyes and heart and learned so many mistakes I made because I never let God guide my steps. No wonder I was overcome by evil.
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PRAYER
Lord, guide me and let me follow your word as you reveal them to me.
REFLECTION
Why is it important to let the Lord guide 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

SIMPLICITY OF GOD’S WORD Poem Devotional

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April 28________________________________________
The teaching of your word gives light, so even the simple can understand.
– Psalm 119:130(NLT)
SIMPLICITY OF GOD’S WORD
A poem and essay by ILMA
God’s word is simple enough for all to understand
It brings about light and wisdom to all humans
It pierces the heart of everyone who seeks it
Correction and teaching comes from the Holy Spirit.
Seek it and you will find clarity and peace
It leads you to freedom from attacks of the unseen
Consume and meditate on it day and night
You will find wisdom, blessings and insight.
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Why are some books hard to read or study? When I was in high school, I hated history because of the memorization that went along with it. It was something that I didn’t take pleasure in. I loved Mathematics in grade school up until high school. Though there are formulas to memorize, I was challenged because my brother and I were tutored by my mother’s friend. She is s smart and pretty lady, so, her personality brought inspiration to learning Math skills. When I went to college, a history professor, changed my perspective about the subject. She made me see history as compilation of stories and not just dates and people’s name. I began to see it very differently after that.
The bible may be hard for some to read, but if you allow the Holy Spirit to guide you, it is the simplest to understand.
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PRAYER
Lord, give me a heart and mind like yours as I study your word.
REFLECTION
Why do you think some people find the bible complex?
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 YOU SEARCH AND SEEK GOD Poem Devotional

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April 27________________________________________
Search for the Lord and for his strength; continually seek him. -Psalm 105:4(NLT)
WHEN YOU SEARCH AND SEEK GOD
A poem and essay by ILMA
Do you have a heart that searches to know the Lord?
Do your priorities include seeking God’s word?
When you search for him, you will know him
When you seek him first, you will win over sin.
Whenever you give your loyalty to our faithful God
You will have life, harvest his Spirit’s fruit and be glad
When you seek his truth, you will be set free
When you search for him, he will make you see.
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The trouble with our world today is that we don’t even know our priorities or if we do, they are based on our human desires. No wonder we live in chaos and confusion. How do we live a life of clarity and peace? So many different religions offer many different ways to achieve such happiness. In God’s economy, we are commanded to seek him first and everything will be given to us. Christianity does not offer a fixed answer to trials and sufferings. God gave us his son Jesus to redeem us from the corrupt world we live. He did this by being born among us and experiencing the deepest and gravest kind of persecution, pain and death. He sampled us a man who, even though he was God did nothing to prove it. He prioritized God’s will over his.
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PRAYER
Lord, give me a heart that seeks you and your will.
REFLECTION
Why do you think God commands us to seek him first?
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 GOD WHO RESCUES AND PROTECTS Poem Devotional

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April 26________________________________________
They will not conquer you, for I am with you to protect and rescue you. I, the Lord, have spoken. -Jeremiah 15:20(NLT)
THE GOD WHO RESCUES AND PROTECTS
A poem and essay by ILMA
We live in a world of chaos, violence and confusion
Do we rely on human strength or run to God for protection?
When you have faith like King David’s, you are covered by Christ
Though suffering and pain may be present, his light still shines.
Believe that your Lord and Savior’s is in the business of restoration
No matter what happens, he will never leave or abandon
He is our stronghold, he will never be defeated by the devil
Run to your only Lord and master, so you can overcome evil.
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Have you ever feared something or someone that kept you running away from that person or situation? You can only run so much or avoid what you fear. One day, you will eventually cave in to stop it and confront that person or circumstance or object that you fear. I kept running away from the fear of rejection and abandonment and from being taken cared of. These fears kept me from having good healthy relationships. It made me unconsciously sabotage a relationship to self-protect.
The bible tells us that we need not fear for we have a God who is in the business of rescue, protection and restoration. Run to him.
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PRAYER
Lord, let me always run to you instead of running away from you.
REFLECTION
From what bondages have God rescued you? How has he protected 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

DEVOUR GOD’S WORD Poem Devotional

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April 25________________________________________
When I discovered your words, I devoured them. They are my joy and my heart’s delight, for I bear your name, O, Lord God of Heaven’s Armies. – Jeremiah 15:16(NLT)
DEVOUR GOD’S WORD
A poem and essay by ILMA
When you become a believer, you begin to crave for the Lord
You will only know him deeper if through devouring his word
It is the food for the spirit that keeps us spiritually healthy
It brings all lies into the light and gives us the victory.
When we eat the food for our spirits, we become wise
It clears our minds and hearts and exposes ill advice
Consume the word so you can experience a life of peace
It brings us comfort, corrects, convicts and makes us see.
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I don’t know of anyone who does not like eating. In fact, one of the hardest to control in our senses is “taste.” With the explosion of the culinary arts in the last decades, it has become harder to control ourselves from cravings. How we consume food and how the food industry has brainwashed us to think that we are being fed good food, when we are actually slowly poisoned.
We can look at how the enemy also poisons our spirit with all kinds of lies and tricks. The word of God is our weapon and shield. It can deliver us from bondage to sin and addictions.
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PRAYER
Lord, thank you for your word that gives us life.
REFLECTION
How often must a believer consume the word of 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

WHEN YOU LONG FOR IDOLS Poem Devotional

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April 24________________________________________
Longing after idols has made them foolish. They have played the prostitute, serving other gods and deserting their God. – Hosea 4:12(NLT)
WHEN YOU LONG FOR IDOLS
A poem and essay by ILMA
When you long for idols, you are compromised
You risk your life and you’ll pay a high price
You are committing adultery to your creator
When you serve other gods, you defy your Father.
Don’t give your loyalty to idols who cannot save
Be faithful only to the Lord and he’ll make you brave
Don’t ever long for idols, they have no power
Your faith in Christ will make the devil cower.
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In the book of Hosea, we are given a detailed account of how the Israelites played a prostitute role by serving other gods and turning their backs on the Lord Jesus Christ. After the Lord delivered them from the Egyptians in the Red Sea and giving them manna in the desert, they started complaining and pining for what they had when they were slaves in Egypt. They started to lose patience and demanded Moses why God has made them to suffer in the desert. It took an eleven-day journey in the Promised Land forty years because of their disobedience, stubbornness and idolatry. The bible tells us that we commit spiritual adultery when we turn to other gods. God is a jealous god and he doesn’t’ want competition. He created us for himself, not for other gods.
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PRAYER
Lord, take away from me anything that will become an idol.
REFLECTION
Why does God hate the sin of idolatry?
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

WINNING US BACK Poem Devotional

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April 23________________________________________
But then I will win her back once again. I will lead her into the desert and speak tenderly to her there. -Hosea 2:14(NLT)
WINNING US BACK
A poem and essay by ILMA
The Lord loves us unconditionally
Even when we behave lawlessly
He forgives us our sins when we repent
He comforts our hearts when we lament.
He wins us back when we rebel and disobey
He lets the Spirit convict us when we go astray
He speaks to us wisely and gives us discernment
If we depend on him, he will give us enlightenment.
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When I lost someone’s love because of a wrong decision I made, I began to pursue to win back his trust. I asked for forgiveness and became accountable for what I did. Forgiveness can be granted easily, but sometimes, trust may take a while to happen. If the person repeatedly changed his behavior, then the other party may start to build the trust again and the relationship may be repaired. But if the offending partner do not follow through his or her word, there may be consequences that will ensue from the lack of accountability.
The bible tells us an account of God’s great love for Israel. Despite his people’s unfaithfulness, he still wins her back and brings her to a place where they initially became lovers. He shows how much he grants us grace and mercy despite all our sins.
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PRAYER
Lord, thank you for loving me unconditionally.
REFLECTION
How do you respond to God’s winning you back when you turn your back on him?
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

NOT EVEN IN DARKNESS Poem Devotional

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April 22________________________________________
But even in darkness, I cannot hide from you. To you, the night shines as bright as day. Darkness and light are the same to you. – Psalm 139:12(NLT)
NOT EVEN IN DARKNESS
A poem and essay by ILMA
The Lord pursues us even in our sinful mess
He gives grace whether we when sin or at our best
Not even in darkness can we hide from him
He shines his light and convicts us to confess our sins.
He sees what is in our hearts, he knows us very well
Why do we continue to allow the darkness to dwell?
He can see the big picture and also the details
Let us not allow the enemy to trick us or ensnare.
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In the dark, many unseen things can happen. Some survey says that sixty-three percent of sexual and rape crimes happen during the night. Why do you think evil lurks at night? At night, humans tend to be tired from the work or events of the whole day. So, they tend to be less alert. We start to get ready for resting our bodies and mind. I think this is when the enemy chooses to steal, kill and destroy. He knows that we are more likely to loosen our guard.
The bible says that despite the darkness, God still pursues us. He shines his light to us so we need not lurk in darkness or be afraid of it.
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PRAYER
Lord, thank you for being there for me especially in the midst of darkness.
REFLECTION
How can you avoid to be victimized by the tactics of the enemy?
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

RELENTLESS PURSUIT

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April 21________________________________________
You go before me and follow me. You place your hand of blessings on my head. Such knowledge is too wonderful for me, too great for me to understand. -Psalm 139:5-6(NLT)
RELENTLESS PURSUIT
A poem and essay by ILMA
Who is there to keep on pursuing someone like me?
Who can continue to love me despite all my sins?
The Lord relentlessly pursue his beloved children
They want them all to eventually join him in heaven.
Lord, you go before me and follow me
You never leave me or abandon me
Such knowledge makes my heart glad
I am forever grateful to you, my God!
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Have you ever been pursued relentlessly by someone who loves and cares for you much? In my forties, I met someone who would do anything for me. He came to meet me from another part of the world just to show his deep desire to get to know me. He even came to my country of origin, the Philippines from Canada despite the breakout of severe acute respiratory syndrome(SARS) which was a contagious respiratory illness. He took the risk of going to a place where he had never been just to take care of me during my surgery. I have never been pursued in my life so persistently. I felt very blessed and loved.
The bible tells us that there is only one other person who will never stop pursuing us despite our unworthiness.
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PRAYER
Thank you for chasing me even though at times I am not worthy.
REFLECTION
How can we relentlessly pursue God the same way he persistently does?
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