Monthly Archives: November 2018

IF YOU LOVE OTHERS MORE THAN GOD Poem Devotional

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November 28________________________________________
If you love your father or mother more than you love me, you are not worthy of being mine; or if you love your son or daughter more than me, you are not worthy of being mine. – Matthew 10:37 (NLT)
IF YOU LOVE OTHERS MORE THAN GOD
A poem and essay by ILMA
If you spend hours with someone and don’t have time for God
You are not worthy to be called His people, you don’t give laud
When you prioritize your family than Jesus
You are showing that they are more precious.
If you claim to be a believer of Christ
You must manifest it in your life
Investing time to praise and worship Him
Must be your priority so you won’t sin.
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In Luke 2:39-52, we are given an account when Jesus and his family went to Jerusalem for the Feast of Passover. Jesus and Mary didn’t realize that Jesus wasn’t with them when they came back home and they looked for him and came back to Jerusalem. When Mary found him, she said “Son, why have you treated us like this? Your father and I have been anxiously searching for you.” Jesus replied with “Why were you searching for me?” he asked. “Didn’t you know I had to be in my Father’s house?” His parents didn’t understand what he meant. This story clearly tells us that Jesus prioritized God the Father and his purpose for his kingdom.
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PRAYER
Lord, help all of us to remember that you come first than anyone else if we claim to love you.
REFLECTION
How can family be idols?
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 GOD SHOWS UP Poem DEvotional

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November 21________________________________________
He looked up and noticed three men standing nearby. When he saw them, he ran to meet them and welcomed them, bowing low to the ground. -Genesis 18:2(NLT)
WHEN GOD SHOWS UP
A poem and essay by ILMA
Have you ever felt God’s presence in your life?
He is always with you and shedding you His light
Are you able to let go of whatever you are doing?
Do you recognize His spirit as your day is going?
Do you notice when God is just nearby and hovering?
What do you do when he overwhelms you with his loving?
Abraham bowed low to the ground to give him reverence
How do you acknowledge the Lord God Almighty’s presence?
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According to the Blue Letter Bible.org website, During the period of the Old Testament God appeared to certain people in a physical form. This form was not the essence of God but rather a physical representation of God for the benefit of those to whom He was speaking. Nobody has seen God or can see God for, by nature, He is an invisible spirit. In Genesis 17, we clearly read that the Lord appeared to Abram when he was ninety-nine years old telling him that he was “El Shaddai” – ‘God Almighty.’ He instructed Abram to serve him faithfully and live a blameless life and made a covenant with him to guarantee countless descendants coming from him (Genesis 17:1-2).
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PRAYER
Lord, teach me how to magnify you whenever you make me feel your presence.
REFLECTION
Share a moment when you literally experienced God’s powerful presence.
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

FOLLOWERS WILL BE DESPISED Poem Devotional

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November 27________________________________________
And all nations will hate you because you are my followers. But everyone who endures to the end will be saved. – Matthew 10:22(NLT)
FOLLOWERS WILL BE DESPISED
A poem and essay by ILMA
If you believe in Jesus Christ
You must be ready to be despised
When you join Jesus’ flock
You will be antagonized and blocked.
If you continue to endure all the rejection
You will be a recipient of his salvation
If you want to be approved by everyone
You won’t find it by believing in God’s Son.
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It is shocking to find some Christians who live compromised lives. They claim that they want to follow Jesus, but are not ready to take up the cross. Luke 14:27 says that whoever does not carry their cross cannot be Jesus’ disciple. So, I don’t understand how one can say that they are a follower of Jesus and expect to be approved and accepted by others. The bible also says that we cannot serve two masters. We cannot please others and follow the ways of the world and at the same time claim to be a disciple of Christ.
In fact, we are told that if we take the path that leads to salvation, we will be despised and rejected. So how come some believers expect to be treated like queens and kings when our king Jesus came to serve and not be served?
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PRAYER
Lord, please remind me to always take the narrow path to salvation.
REFLECTION
How can rejection from others be an upside of 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

A TENTH OF GOD’S PROVISION Poem Devotional

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November 26________________________________________
And this memorial pillar I have set up will become a place for worshiping God, and I will present to God a tenth of everything he gives me.” – Genesis 28:22(NLT)
A TENTH OF GOD’S PROVISION
A poem and essay by ILMA
Do you praise God with a tenth of his provision?
He will multiply and prosper your giving
Remember that he owns everything
Honor the Lord with your received blessings?
Jacob set up a place to worship God’s generosity
Do you do the same to praise the Lord Almighty?
He only asks a tenth of what he provides
Be generous, follow him and always abide.
________________________________________Many Christians do not honor what God instructs us so we could abound in life. It took me many years to do tithing because in the religion I was born into, it wasn’t taught. People gave scraps and coins to the church and expect that God will prosper them. There is a story in the bible that clearly explains this requirement by God in Genesis 4. Cain and Abel were the offspring of Adam and Eve. Abel became a shepherd, while Cain was a farmer. At harvest, Cain presented some of his crops as a gift to the LORD. Abel gave the best portions of the firstborn lambs from his flock. God accepted Abel’s gift but not Cain which angered him and motivated him to kill his brother. God is honored when we give him the best of what we have.
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PRAYER
Lord, let me always honor you with the first best of what I got.
REFLECTION
What are tithing’s benefits?
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

GIVE IN PRIVATE Poem Devotional

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November 22________________________________________
Give your gifts in private and your Father, who sees everything will reward you.
– Matthew 6:4(NLT)
GIVE IN PRIVATE
A poem and essay by ILMA
When you want to supply and help someone in need
Make sure that you do in secret your good deeds
Your Father in heaven don’t want you to boast
You’ll forfeit your reward from Him when you do so.
Give your gifts in private and you’ll be rewarded in heaven
Announce it and you will lose your points in the kingdom
Give a lending hand but do it out of love and be discreet
Don’t make it about you, it will not be pleasing to his Spirit.
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It is easy to make a big deal out of every good deed we do. Only God’s Spirit can give us the humility to make it about Him and not about us. The enemy wants to trap us into thinking that it is always a venue to show off our actions, especially when it is doing good. The gospel of Matthew cautions us to watch out that we don’t make a performance of the things we do for others or for God.
When I came to Canada, I was surprised to see a gift giving tradition of reading aloud the cards we receive and to open the gifts that we get. For me, it seems like waiting for the person to thank me for what I got them.
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PRAYER
Lord, let me have discretion whenever I do a thoughtful or generous act to someone.
REFLECTION
Why are we cautioned from showing off our generosity?
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

RANKING IN HEAVEN Poem Devotional

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November 20________________________________________
So if you ignore the least commandment and teach others to do the same, you will be called the least in the Kingdom of Heaven. But anyone who obeys God’s laws and teaches them will be called great in the Kingdom of Heaven. – Matthew 5:19(NLT)
RANKING IN HEAVEN
A poem and essay by ILMA
Do you wonder where you rank when you reach heaven?
God gives us a guideline to follow for all of his brethren
If we ignore the least of his instructions and commands
We are not teaching or shining Jesus’ light to all of mankind.
If anyone obeys God’s laws and teaches them to others
They are going to be the greatest in the kingdom of heaven
Don’t ignore God’s truth! Follow it and you will be the greatest
Seek his kingdom first and you will be showered with his Spirit.
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In my country of origin, the Philippines, CAT (Citizen Army Training) is a course that is part of the fourth year high school curriculum. It is compulsory for senior students to undergo rigorous training four hours per week. The ranking of the officials is based on performance and obedience to commands by their officers. I was a platoon leader for a while and became a company commander based on how I obeyed rules and perform in the training. Like military ranking system, ranking in heaven will be based on obedience and allegiance to God.
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PRAYER
Lord, thank you for giving me a chance to raise my ranking in heaven.
REFLECTION
What guarantees a good ranking in heaven based on God’s standard?
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

FOODS GOD GAVE Poem Devotional

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November 19________________________________________
I have given them to you for food, just as I have given you grain and vegetables. But you must never eat any meat that still has the lifeblood in it. – Genesis 9:3-4(NLT)
FOODS GOD GAVE
A poem and essay by ILMA
God thought of everything for man’s benefit
He made us into his image and gave us His Spirit
He created plants so we can have grains and veggies
Some trees give us fruits and some are just decorative.
We are given animals so we can have meat to eat
Just make sure they don’t have lifeblood in it
Let’s thank the Lord for all the foods he gave us
He wants us nourished in order to make us whole.
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There are people who restrict themselves to all kinds of various foods. Some are vegan, vegetarians, carnivorous, raw food eaters and many other kinds. There was a time I was vegan for about six years. I don’t know how and when I decided to end that choice of pure vegetable diet. As of now, my husband decided to be vegetarian for better health purposes. He realized that he didn’t eat healthy foods for many years.
God gave us all kinds of food, meat, veggies, fruits, grains. He only prohibits us from lifeblood on the meat. What is important is not what we put in our mouths but what really comes out of it. He says that it is what defiles us.
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PRAYER
Lord, thank you for all the provision to nourish our bodies.
REFLECTION
What could be a good guideline to enjoy all foods?
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

FOODS GOD GAVE Poem Devotional

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November 19________________________________________
I have given them to you for food, just as I have given you grain and vegetables. But you must never eat any meat that still has the lifeblood in it. – Genesis 9:3-4(NLT)
FOODS GOD GAVE
A poem and essay by ILMA
God thought of everything for man’s benefit
He made us into his image and gave us His Spirit
He created plants so we can have grains and veggies
Some trees give us fruits and some are just decorative.
We are given animals so we can have meat to eat
Just make sure they don’t have lifeblood in it
Let’s thank the Lord for all the foods he gave us
He wants us nourished in order to make us whole.
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There are people who restrict themselves to all kinds of various foods. Some are vegan, vegetarians, carnivorous, raw food eaters and many other kinds. There was a time I was vegan for about six years. I don’t know how and when I decided to end that choice of pure vegetable diet. As of now, my husband decided to be vegetarian for better health purposes. He realized that he didn’t eat healthy foods for many years.
God gave us all kinds of food, meat, veggies, fruits, grains. He only prohibits us from lifeblood on the meat. What is important is not what we put in our mouths but what really comes out of it. He says that it is what defiles us.
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PRAYER
Lord, thank you for all the provision to nourish our bodies.
REFLECTION
What could be a good guideline to enjoy all foods?
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

Repent and Be Transformed poem devotional

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November 18________________________________________
Prove by the way you live that you have repented of your sins and turned to God. Don’t just say to each other, ‘We’re safe, for we are descendants of Abraham.’ That means nothing. – Matthew 3:8-9 (NLT)
REPENT & BE TRANSFORMED
A poem and essay by ILMA
How long have you been a believer?
Have fruits manifested in your life as a Christian?
Prove by the way you live that you have repented
Only when you turn to God will you be rehabilitated.
Don’t think that you can continue with your old ways
When you believed, God will bring about change
Repent and be transformed by his mercy and grace
Without repentance, redemption will be in vain.
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Some Christians think that when they believed in Jesus Christ, they are automatically saved. That may be partly true. When they become born again, their lives should manifest the new creation that God had promised all those who love him. Are there some Christians who may not enter God’s kingdom? Being a believer poses some responsibilities. The bible says in Ephesians 5:11 that we should not take part in any evil and darkness. So, if one claims they are a Christian and still continue to live in sin and not turn to God, would you consider that person really saved? Can you say that one is a believer and yet do not totally seek the Lord and heed to his will?
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PRAYER
Lord, help me to manifest in my life the new creation you made me to be.
REFLECTION
What are the manifestations of a true believer of Jesus?
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

BEAR FRUIT AND MULTIPLY Poem Devotional

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November 17________________________________________
Be fruitful and multiply. – Genesis 1:28 (NLT)
BEAR FRUIT AND MULTIPLY
A poem and essay by ILMA
As we are given the gifts by God
We must use it to give him laud
Man was instructed to bear fruits
Are you putting your gifts to use?
To those who are given much
More is also expected from them¬
Be fruitful and multiply what you are given
The Lord expects you use it for His kingdom.
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When the Lord created animals and the first man and woman He specifically told them to be fruitful and multiply. As he instructed them, we are also given that command. It may not be literally to propagate human lives, but it means that we are to make use of whatever was given to us and reproduce it.
I was taught by my father to do the best I can with whatever talents or skills and gifts I have. He always wanted me to academically excel in school and groomed me to be an orator and a dancer. When I got to high school, I became one of the best dancers and was team captain of volleyball and basketball. I was also platoon leader in our citizen’s army training. I was one of the best teachers when I got into the academe. As a painter, I became prolific and sold much artworks. I believe I lived the life God wanted, to be fruitful and multiply.
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PRAYER
Lord, help us to be good stewards of your gifts.
REFLECTION
What gifts have God given you that you have multiplied?
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