Monthly Archives: October 2018

LASTING FAVORS TO THE GODLY

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October 30________________________________________
Sing to the Lord, all you godly ones! Praise his holy name. For his anger lasts only a moment but his favor lasts a lifetime. -Psalm 30:4-5(NLT)
LASTING FAVORS TO THE GODLY
A poem and essay by ILMA
Praise to the king of kings
Declare your love as you sing
Do not avoid his discipline
It will let you avoid sin.
He may be angry at you momentarily
Repent and confess and he forgives infinitely
He showers the godly with lifetime favors
He treasures deeply those who are faithful.
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Have you ever asked someone a favor? Wasn’t it great when they respond to your request? We don’t usually approach strangers or just anyone to ask for favors. We want to make sure that we have a relationship with that person already so that we are assured that we won’t be turned down. I think it is just courtesy to ask something from someone we know either by acquaintance, friendship or kinship. Otherwise, we would fall in the category of “entitled” persons.
In Psalm 30:4-5, we get to have a glimpse of how God loves those who are his people, especially those who worship him in spirit and truth. In these two verses, we see the generosity and mercy that God so easily gives to those who confess and repent of their sins. He showers them with much blessings and favors. So, why don’t all believers avail of these wonderful opportunities?
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PRAYER
Thank you for your generosity to all those who faithfully praise and worship you.
REFLECTION
How can you avail of such favors from a generous 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

IDOLS COMPETE WITH GOD Poem Devotional

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October 29________________________________________
How foolish to trust in your own creation-a god that can’t even talk. – Habakkuk 2:18(NLT)
IDOLS COMPETE WITH GOD
A poem and essay by ILMA
When one trusts his own creations
It is an impediment to receive salvation
God is the only one who has infinite wisdom
How foolish to turn away from God’s kingdom!
When you turn to idols created by mere creatures
You are competing with God’s sovereignty and power
Anything man-made is fleeting and temporary
Trust only in the Lord who can bring you eternity.
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According to the international bible society, Habakkuk is somewhat unique among the prophetic writings in that it includes no oracle addressed to Israel. It contains, rather, a dialogue between the prophet and God. This account of wrestling with God is, however, not just a fragment from a private journal but that it was composed for Israel. No doubt it represented the voice of the godly in Judah, struggling to comprehend the ways of God. God’s answers therefore spoke to all who shared Habakkuk’s troubled doubts. And Habakkuk’s confession became a public expression—as indicated by its liturgical notations. Anything that distracts us from having a relationship with God or making him first in our lives is a form of idol. Habakkuk warns us not to rely on idols because it is not going to bring us eternal life. It is actually allowing competition to hinder our pure relationship with God.
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PRAYER
Help me Lord to never allow any idols to come between us.
REFLECTION
How can idols become a way of competing with 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

GOD SATISFIES EVERY NEED Poem Devotional

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October 28________________________________________
He himself gives life and breath to everything and he satisfies every need.
– Acts 17:25(NLT)
GOD SATISFIES EVERY NEED
A poem and essay by ILMA
Are you always longing to meet your needs?
Does it lead you to desperation and greed?
If you look for someone to fulfill it
You’ll be disillusioned, no one can give it.
Only God can give life and breath
He is the answer for your quest
Turn to Jesus so you can be contented
He is faithful to provide, have you requested?
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Many years of my life was a quest to have someone provide for my needs. I was desperate in my search because I thought another person could actually fill in all the unfulfilled needs I had. I felt empty and alone for many decades because I didn’t know that no human being can ever fill that void.
When I became born again six years ago, God revealed to me that no one but him can satisfy every need I have. I began seeing everything different. I had always set up very high expectations from the people I have relationships with. Because I lived a life of neglect growing up, I became an anxious person.
When I got deep into studying God’s word, he showed me how to rely on him and not on others or myself. I began to live under his grace and mercy and it was awesome.
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PRAYER
Lord, thank you for meeting all my needs.
REFLECTION
What need has God satisfied in your life lately?
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

ETERNAL WEALTH Poem Devotional

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October 27________________________________________
Yes, a person is a fool to store up earthly wealth but not have a rich relationship with God.
– Luke 12:21(NLT)
ETERNAL WEALTH
A poem and essay by ILMA
Do you like to gather wealth and material things?
These are all fleeting and will only tempt you to sin
You are a fool if your life focuses on what do not last
Gather the wealth that is eternal, seek Jesus Christ.
Build a relationship with God and make him always first
You will benefit from focusing your life on Christ
Prioritize him and you will receive a life that does not end
Make him last and you have just made the world your friend.
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How would you like to be a spiritual millionaire? It is sad to watch people who spend their lives accumulating wealth, power, fame, possessions and not give the Lord even a tiny bit of time and attention. We humans get all hyped up and obsessed with the things that belong to this world. In Ephesians 6, we are all warned that we are not just dealing with physical things but with unseen forces. Life is not all about this world. James warned us that we cannot be friends of this world and retain our relationship with God. We cannot serve two masters.
Luke warns us that we need to gather eternal wealth rather than physical things because this is the one that will give us a life that lasts forever. ¬________________________________________
PRAYER
Lord, help me to always maintain making you first in my life.
REFLECTION
How can you maintain a rich relationship with 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

WARNING TO THE WORLDLY poem devotional

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October 26________________________________________
And what do you benefit if you gain the whole world but are yourself lost or destroyed.
– Luke 9:25 (NLT)
WARNING TO THE WORLDLY
A poem and essay by ILMA
Are you focused much on following this world’s system?
Do you only care to satisfy your pleasures and cravings?
Be warned! If you do so, you will lose yourself
You may be let down and not even get help.
When you are consumed by the ways of the world
You will suffer its consequences according to God’s word
There is no benefit in seeking approval from mankind
Seek the Lord and you won’t be swayed to stay blind.
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Many decades of my life was spent on following the ways of this world. Gaining knowledge, having control over others and situations, aiming to reach my goals to be recognized and looked up to, idolizing myself and the talents I had were just some of the ways I lived before I became a born again Christian. I didn’t know any better because I didn’t read the word of God even though I thought I have already been saved when I was baptized as an infant. That’s what I was taught. Ambition, success, earning money, hard work to gain others’ approval where some of the systems I anchored my life on. No wonder I was so confused, got lost, and eventually destroyed. Now that God has released me from such bondage, I am forever grateful.
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PRAYER
Lord, always convict me when I get corrupted by this world.
REFLECTION
How can the world system sneak and steal your joy and peace?
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

OUTSMARTING SATAN Poem Devotional

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October 25________________________________________
When I forgive whatever needs to be forgiven, I do so with Christ’s authority for your benefit, so that Satan will not outsmart us. For we are familiar with his evil schemes.
-2 Corinthians 2:10-11(NLT)
OUTSMARTING SATAN
A poem and essay by ILMA
Do you know that you have a hidden enemy who attacks you?
You need to live in God’s truth and have your minds renewed
Satan’s out to destroy and create havoc and confusion in your life
Un-forgiveness gives a foothold to the devil and snuffs off God’s light.
When you harbor resentment and do not forgive others
You are the one who will actually be affected and suffer
To outsmart the enemy, you need to forgive right away
Abide in Jesus and you will never be corrupted and swayed.
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How do you strategize so you can win a contest, a battle or competition? First, you have to know your enemy or the other people involved in the competition if it was one. Then you have to equip yourself so that you have a big chance to win it. Next, you exercise and build up your discipline and bodies if it was a marathon or physical contest. Not knowing your enemy’s tactics, capabilities and schemes will not ensure a winning stance.
The bible says that one of the biggest ways we can outsmart Satan is by forgiving others who have wronged us. This keeps him out of our heart’s door.
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PRAYER
Lord, give me a repentant and forgiving heart always.
REFLECTION
How can forgiveness keep our heart’s door shut towards the devil?
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 PREFERED WORSHIP Poem Devotional

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October 24________________________________________
But the time is coming—indeed it’s here now—when true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and in truth. The Father is looking for those who will worship him that way.
-John 4:23(NLT)
GOD’S PREFERED WORSHIP
A poem and essay by ILMA
Are you bringing the Lord all the praise?
Is it a kind of worship that focuses on his grace?
God prefers you to worship him in spirit and truth
He values those who allow His word to take root.
God is looking for those who will worship Him this way
He doesn’t care about religion; he wants you to pray
Pray in the spirit at all times and on every occasion
Obey and follow his will to overcome temptation.
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Some Christians don’t know how to worship God, so they concoct their own way of doing so. I used to do my own religious rituals before I became born again. I went to hear mass, prayed to different saints and Mary, received sacraments, prayed novenas and the rosary for four decades. What I didn’t do was to pray in the spirit at all times and in truth. I knew at some moments in my life that I was led by the Spirit but I didn’t always follow what I was led to do. I didn’t know the truth. I thank God that He freed me now and I can worship him in truth and spirit.
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PRAYER
Thank you Lord for your truth and setting me free.
REFLECTION
Why do you think God prefer to be worshiped in spirit and in truth?
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

PRODUCE LASTING FRUIT Poem Devotional

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October 23________________________________________
You didn’t choose me. I chose you. I appointed you to go and produce lasting fruit so that the Father will give you whatever you ask for using my name. – John 15:16(NLT)
PRODUCE LASTING FRUIT
A poem and essay by ILMA
God chose us first to be his people
He wants us to abide in Him to be fruitful
He appointed us to produce lasting fruit
We will reap a harvest if we live in his truth.
To produce the fruits of the Spirit
We need to seek his word and follow it
We can ask anything in His name when we have fruits
He will grant our heart’s desires if His word is taking root.
________________________________________When we become believers, we think that we chose Jesus to be our Lord and Savior. What some Christians often to fail to remember is that He chose us first. Nothing we do is really from our own. His plans are already clear to Him from the beginning of time. He knows everything including our heart, our desires, our dreams and the health of our spirits.
We are called to produce lasting fruit so that the Father will grant our requests in Jesus’ name. It sounds like it a condition for us to be able to have an outpouring of blessings from the heavenly Father. A lot of people misinterpret the “give you whatever you ask in my name” verse. Anything outside of God’s will, He definitely won’t grant.
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PRAYER
Lord, help me to focus on growing my faith to produce your Spirit’s fruits.
REFLECTION
What fruits have you received lately?
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

CALLING ALL REPENTANT SINNERS Poem Devotional

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October 22________________________________________
I have come to call not those who think they are righteous, but those who know they are sinners and need to repent. – Luke 5:32(NLT)
CALLING ALL REPENTANT SINNERS
A poem and essay by ILMA
Jesus didn’t come for self righteous people
He came for all the repentant sinners
He’ll be there for those who have humility
Those who confess their sins will have victory.
Calling all those who need eternal life
You’ll have it if you believe in Jesus Christ
You need to confess your sins to receive it
If you do, your heart will be the host for His Spirit.
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Each person is invited to partake of the gift of salvation. Just like a regular invitation that you receive, you have the option to come or not to come. God gave us all a free will to decide whether we want eternal life or not. It is sad to know why some people would reject or take for granted this grand invitation to the most important thing for us all, salvation.
Some of us are held captive by the enemy to dwell on those sins so we will not receive the greatest gift of freedom. Jesus came for all the repentant sinners. He didn’t come for those who think they are perfect and sinless because unless they repent and confess their sins, they won’t be transformed in Christ. He came for those who acknowledge their sins and repent.
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PRAYER
Lord, help me to always repent and confess when I sin.
REFLECTION
Why do you think Jesus wants us to confess our sins and repent?
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

GET DEEPER TO CATCH FISH Poem Devotional

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October 21________________________________________
Now go out where it is deeper and let down your nets to catch some fish. – Luke 5:4(NLT)
GET DEEPER TO CATCH FISH
A poem and essay by ILMA
When you commit your life to the Lord Jesus Christ
You are expected to get deeper in in truth in your life
The more you hunger to know and be close to him
The more you are responsible to get serious in following.
He commanded us all to get intimate with him and walk in love
We are also commissioned to make disciples of all nations
Are you living the truth in love and service to others?
Are you getting deeper to catch men for Jesus?
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My grandfather was a fisherman and sometimes he took me with him fishing in the middle of the night. I didn’t quite understand when I was small why he fished at night instead of during the day. So he told me that at night, is low tide and the fishes are in the deeper waters rather than in the shallow area. So he goes to the deeper area to get a good catch.
According to Wikipedia, the Philippine sea is a marginal sea and its sea plate forms a portion of the western North Pacific Ocean. It has deep sea trenches, among them containing the deepest point on the planet.
No wonder Jesus asked us to get into deeper water to catch men.
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PRAYER
Thank you for giving me an opportunity to get deeper into your word Lord.
REFLECTION
How can getting to know the Lord bring us a big catch?
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