Monthly Archives: October 2018

GOD PRUNES US Poem Devotional

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October 20________________________________________
He cuts off every branch of mine that doesn’t produce fruit, and he prunes the branches that do bear fruit so they will produce even more. – John 15:2(NLT)
GOD PRUNES US
A poem and essay by ILMA
When you are a child of God, you are cared for
Your needs he will grant, that is for sure
He prunes that part of you that doesn’t produce
He trims parts that do so you can reap fruits.
God is the gardener who nurtures his garden
He waters and throws out dead leaves
He wants his plants and trees to bear fruits
He will never allow them to die but thrive.
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According to Wikipedia, “pruning” is a horticultural and silvicultural practice involving the selective removal of certain parts of a plant, such as branches, buds, or roots. Reasons to prune plants include deadwood removal, shaping (by controlling or redirecting growth), improving or sustaining health, reducing risk from falling branches, preparing nursery specimens for transplanting, and both harvesting and increasing the yield or quality of flowers and fruits. The practice entails targeted removal of diseased, damaged, dead, non-productive, structurally unsound, or otherwise unwanted tissue from crop and landscape plants.
The bible says in the book of John that God prunes all those he loves. He removes all the things that will not bear fruits in our lives. However, He also trims those that produces good things in our lives so it will reproduce more.
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PRAYER
Thank you Lord for pruning me.
REFLECTION
What things did the Lord prune 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

ON CHOOSING GOOD Poem Devotional

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October 19________________________________________
Oh the joys of those who do not follow the advice of the wicked or stand around with sinners or join in with mockers. – Psalm 1;1(NLT)
ON CHOOSING GOOD
A poem and essay by ILMA
Those who choose to do good are blessed
They do the right thing and knows what’s best
They do not follow the advice of the wicked
They don’t stand around sinners and join mockers.
Blessed are those who guard their hearts and do right
They will have joy overflowing in their lives
They will prosper from the good deeds they do
And will reap the Spirit’s fruit as they live the truth.
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Psychiatrist William Glasser distinguished between survival and psychological needs in his 1996 book Choice Theory. He postulated that unhappiness results from bad relationships with relatives and friends, which in turn suffer as a result of making misguided choices. He believed that by making better choices, we can maintain better relationships which will help us to lead a more fulfilled lives. I have no idea what Glasser’s theory was based on or if he was influenced by some truths that comes from God’s word. But the truth presented in Psalm 1:1 about avoiding the counsel of the wicked and not following their ways must have been either a conscious or unconscious source in his formulation of this theory. When we choose do to right thing, joy will be overflowing.
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PRAYER
Lord, deliver me from evil and corruption of this world.
REFLECTION
How can hanging around with evil people influence what you do?
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

JOY SUSTAINER poem devotional

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October 18________________________________________
If your instructions hadn’t sustained me with joy, I would have died in my misery.
-Psalm 119:82 (NLT)
JOY SUSTAINER
A poem and essay by ILMA
What could bring joy to you?
Could it be money or a change of view?
The truth will set you free and make you glad
There is freedom when you follow God’s commands.
I would have died in my suffering and misery
If God didn’t rescue me and gave me full recovery
I never would have experienced joy overflowing
If not for God’s unfailing love and blessings.
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Many different things can bring happiness to some people. We traverse this life in pursuit of that momentary pleasure to be happy. Sadly, many of us don’t experience it because we try to find it in the wrong things such as material wealth, fame, a relation or a career. I am a testament to this quest. Many decades of my life was wasted on chasing the wrong things that will bring me happiness. In the end, all these things made me feel even more empty than I already was. I kept looking for answers as to what could fill up that void inside me. What I didn’t realize was that I didn’t have to go far. I found it eventually when I heed to God’s call for me to come back to him and follow his commands. When I obeyed, it sustained my joy.________________________________________
PRAYER
Thank you for your commands that bring much joy to us.
REFLECTION
What would happen if you constantly seek God and obey his commands?
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

SUFFERING’S LESSON Poem Devotional

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October 17________________________________________
My suffering was good for me, for it taught me to pay attention to your decrees.
– Psalm 119:71(NLT)
SUFFERING’S LESSON
A poem and essay by ILMA
When I went through much suffering
I learned many ways of enduring
It wasn’t pleasant during the experience
But later on, it made me strong and resilient.
God convicted me to heed his commands
I began to learn to cope with life’s demands
I realized Jesus died a horrible death for me
My pain is no comparison to what he did.
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Human tendency is to avoid pain. We want to ensure that we are comfortable and safe. When we get in trouble, the flight or fight mode kicks in so we can survive. When I was about young girl, there was an earthquake in the Philippines that killed many people in a building that collapsed. It was early morning when it happened so many people died because they were asleep when it happened. I watched on television how the victims where being pulled out from the ruins of the building. After seeing those dead people on the news, I began getting nightmares. Many years later, I still fear disasters especially earthquakes. Several painful events ensued after that disaster. Many years later, the Lord convicted me and assured me from his word that he was always with me and that he died for all those who are in pain and oppressed.
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PRAYER
Lord, let me discern what to learn when I suffer.
REFLECTION
How can suffering make us resilient and strong?
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

LIFE THROUGH THE WORD Poem Devotional

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October 16________________________________________
Turn my eyes from worthless things, and give me life through your word.
-Psalm 119:37 (NLT)
LIFE THROUGH THE WORD
A poem and essay by ILMA
Each time you consult the word
You will find out more about the world
It makes you see things clearly
It guides you to live life righteously.
Turn your eyes from worthless things
God’s word will make you overcome sin
You will be alive when you obey his commands
It makes you learn to deal with life’s demands.
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When I became born again and started studying his word, my whole life changed. I didn’t realize that all the years before that, I was dead. It wasn’t a physical death. I was dead because I was living in sin and out of God’s will. I had no peace or joy because I didn’t know how much loved I was. I wasn’t aware of all of God’s promises until I got to the word of God. It was Scriptures that convicted me of all the wrong things I have done. It was also in His truth that he changed my point of view about the things that really matters in life. I realized how shallow I was. I lived in the world’s standard instead of living a spiritual life.
The bible taught me what are more important while we live in this world. It taught me how to live the life God wants me to live.
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PRAYER
Lord thank you that you gave us your word so we can be alive and not dead.
REFLECTION
What worthless things have you been distracted with?
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

UNTIL GOD DISCIPLINES YOU Poem Devotional

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October 15________________________________________
I used to wander off until you disciplined me; but now I closely follow your word.
– Psalm 119:67 (NLT)
UNTIL GOD DISCIPLINES YOU
A poem and essay by ILMA
I used to rebel and live a life of reckless abandon
Until the Lord called my full attention
He convicted me as I read his word
He asked me to let go of the system of this world.
I began to study and follow his will
His word calmed me and made me still
His only Son Jesus died so I can be saved
Until I obeyed him, I wasn’t bold and brave.
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I have wandered off from the Lord almost four decades of my life. I accepted Jesus when I was seven years old as a result of being neglected and ignored. I was desperate for attention. I felt invisible and minimized by the people I lived with. I couldn’t understand why I wasn’t provided with love. As a result, I started talking aloud to Jesus on my way to my kindergarten class. The Holy Spirit guided me all those first fourteen years of my life even though no one from my family guided me.
I began to deepen my relationship with God, but the enemy snatched that wonderful relationship by using the abandonment and lack of love in my family. I became rebellious towards my family. Until God disciplined me and asked me to turn to him again, I lived in anger.
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PRAYER
Lord, help me to never resist your discipline.
REFLECTION
How can rebellion derail you from God’s will?
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

MY CONSTANT GUIDE Poem Devotional

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October 14________________________________________
Your commands make me wiser than my enemies, for they are my constant guide.
– Psalm 119:98(NLT)
MY CONSTANT GUIDE
A poem and essay by ILMA
The love of the Lord protects me
His commands bring me peace
His instructions guide me as I live
I can win the battle if only I believe.
The Lord’s guidance makes me wiser
I don’t have to live being a loser
I will obey his word and his instructions
It leads me to the path to salvation.
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It is unwise to be a Christian and not be guided by the Lord’s instructions. Our lives will bring troubles and confusion if we do not follow the Lord’s commands. I’d like to liken his instructions to the rules made my parents for their babies and toddlers to learn to follow. We tell them to keep out of electrical outlets, appliances that would hurt them or to watch where they are going. As they grow up and learn to do things on their own, often, they cease to follow the parent’s regulations because they are experimenting with having their own independence. Once they go their own way and forget how these rules have protected them, they can be in trouble.
It is almost like our Father in heaven, who lays down rules for us to follow. It is to ensure that we are guided and protected against evil attacks of the enemy and the world’s corruption.
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PRAYER
Lord, help me to be wiser by following your commands.
REFLECTION
How can obedience to God make us wise?
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

PUT YOUR HOPE IN THE WORD Poem Devotional

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October 13________________________________________
I cry out for help and put my hope in your words. Let me be revived by following your regulations. -Psalm 119:145 & 149(NLT)
PUT YOUR HOPE IN THE WORD
A poem and essay by ILMA
I thank God that when I cry out for help, His word is there
He hears me and responds even before I ask for help
How amazing that He is way ahead of all situations
He already knows and provides the solutions.
I put my hope in God’s word because they are truth
Lord, grant me obedience to all your loving rules
Without your word, we will be lost and confused
Guide me constantly and never allow me to refuse.
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What makes Christianity different from other religions? We have a God who is alive. He is the only God who came in human form and was risen after he died. Another distinct difference is how God inspired forty different writers of the bible spread in many periods of years. Yet, if you read it, it flows like there is only one writer. That is magnificent and amazing. Our Lord can create anything and use anyone or everything according to His plan. Another distinct difference from other religions is that He lives in our heart. He watches and knows every little detail of what is going on in our hearts, mind, body and spirit. When you put your hope in his word, he will revive you.
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PRAYER
Thank you Lord for the hope that you give us in your word.
REFLECTION
How can living in this world’s standard make us hopeless?
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

INCOMPARABLE poem devotional

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October 12________________________________________
Yes, everything else is worthless when compared with the infinite value of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord. – Philippians 3:8(NLT)
INCOMPARABLE
A poem and essay by ILMA
If only people will discover Jesus’ value
They will surely obey and live his truth
The desire to know Christ is priceless
It is incomparable with all the world’s riches.
Gather spiritual treasures instead of worldly things
Seeking God first is the only key to overcome sin
You’ll be transformed and reap fruits in your life
All things become incomparable to knowing Christ. ¬¬
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So many people have been captured by the world system. We are surrounded by lies that trick us to focus our lives on the material things of this world. We get so busy with so many things that we put God last in our list of things to do (if it is at all included in our list). Romans 12:2 tells us not to conform to the patterns of this world but be transformed by the renewing of our minds. In Matthew 31:33, we are instructed to seek God’s kingdom first and his righteousness and all these things will be given to us.
The world has commercialized the value of knowing Christ and replaced it with seeking to gratify the desires of the flesh. We became idolaters of the “self.” Paul reminds us that nothing is comparable to the infinite value of knowing Christ as our Lord and Savior.
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PRAYER
Lord, let me never remove my focus on you.
REFLECTION
How is seeking and knowing Christ incomparable to anything and everything in this world?
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

PRAY LONG Poem Devotional

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October 11________________________________________
One day soon afterward, Jesus went up on a mountain to pray and he prayed to God all night. – Luke 6:12(NLT)
PRAY LONG
A poem and essay by ILMA
When we find time to pray to the Lord
We are manifesting our praise and giving Him laud
When we hunger to be intimate with Jesus Christ
We are going to long to be with him and stay in his light.
When we love someone, we don’t count the time
We want to be with that person always
When we pray long, we show that we hunger for him
Don’t put a limit to someone who can free us from sin.
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It was once during my divorce that I prayed all night long. I felt led to pray until my pain was gone. Divorce was one of the worst thing anyone could ever experience It is like you yourself died. The dream to be loved and cherish, the loss of being with the person you vowed to be with forever, the brokenness and betrayal of someone who wants out from the commitment. The Holy Spirit pulled me out of the abyss of pain. He nudged me to pray all night long so I can be comforted and get closer to him. Christ championed praying incessantly. He is inviting us not to put limits to praying because that is how we can be intimate with him and grow.
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PRAYER
Lord, let me never put limits on time when I pray to you.
REFLECTION
Why is it hard for many of us to pray all night or all day long?

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