Monthly Archives: December 2018

GOD KNOWS AND DECIDES Powm Devotional

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December 8________________________________________
Who makes a person’s mouth? Who decides whether people speak or do not speak, hear or do not hear, see or do not see? Is it not I, the LORD? Exodus 4:11(NLT)
GOD KNOWS AND DECIDES
A poem and essay by ILMA
Whatever you are struggling with today
Trust that the Lord will always have his way
You might think that it is you who makes decisions
He is behind every thought and all choices and actions.
Sometimes we boast and take credit for success or weakness
He allows things to work out for good in the bleakest times
God knows and decides what we are going to do or say
Why resist his power when we can go the right way?
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When Moses questions God’s command for him to go to the Pharaoh to deliver the Israelites from slavery from the Egyptians, he argued with God because he didn’t think he was capable of speaking and being heard by the powerful ruler of Egypt. We see a spirit of resistance and complaining in Moses. But aren’t we all like this too? Whenever God leads us to do something of our comfort zones, we resist and question what God wants us to do. Even though God shows Moses how to convince the Egyptians with the miraculous signs he showed him, he still questioned his abilities. God reminds us that he knows and decides all things, but he wants our obedience first.
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PRAYER
Lord, help me to never question your plans but follow instead.
REFLECTION
How can one overcome a habit of questioning God’s will and 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

THE GOOD GARDENER Poem Devotional

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December 7________________________________________
Every plant not planted by my heavenly Father will be uprooted. – Matthew 15:13(NLT
THE GOOD GARDENER
A poem and essay by ILMA
God the Father is like the good gardener
He plants seeds and ensure they are watered
He sees to it that they get all the nutrients they need
He plants them where they would thrive and breed.
When weeds invade the garden of our heavenly Father
He uproots each of them that wants to take over his garden
He sorts out all those that he didn’t’ intend to be there
He cares for all that he planted and watches their progress.
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Have you ever gardened or even take care of one plant? If you have, I am sure you understand how much care is needed for that plant to grow. I always loved trees and meadows and gardens but where I originally came from, the Philippines, we didn’t have much space to mostly have a garden. I lived in the city so it was very congested. My first boyfriend got me interested in plants and fishes in aquariums. As early as a young teenager, I have always been caring for houseplants and fishes or sometimes birds. I remember an old friend was amazed how I cared for fishes, birds and plants. When I moved to Canada, my 20 -year old plants were still alive. God uproots any weeds from his
people to ensure his will transpires.
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PRAYER
Lord, thank you for nurturing and caring for me.
REFLECTION
What weeds have popped out in your life that needs to be uprooted by 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

WORDS CAN DEFILE Poem Devotional

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December 6________________________________________
The words you speak come from the heart-that’s what defiles you. – Matthew 15:18(NLT)
WORDS CAN DEFILE
A poem and essay by ILMA
What have you been saying lately?
Does it edify or hurt someone immensely?
The words you speak come from the heart
It can defile you or it can make others glad.
Guard your mouth for it reflects what is inside you
Ensure that you are the person Jesus made new
Words can destroy or edify; it is powerful
Do you use it to encourage others to stay faithful?
________________________________________Many people have been defiled by what they have said. The bible says that the one thing that can tarnish our person is the words that come out of our mouths. In Proverbs 18:21, we are warned that death and life lies in the power of the tongue and those who love it will eat its fruits. Proverbs 21:23 says that whoever keeps his mouth and his tongue keeps himself out of trouble. The book of James gives us a good lesson on restraining our tongues. He reminds us that we all stumble in many ways and if anyone does not stumble in what he says, he is a perfect man, able also to control his whole body.
What we say is a reflection of the condition of our hearts. If we encourage and help, we have stayed pure, but if we criticize and put down someone, we have defiled ourselves.
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PRAYER
Lord help me to guard my mouth and keep my heart pure.
REFLECTION
What have you said that has defiled 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

FEAR CAN MAKE US IMAGINE THINGS

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December 5________________________________________
When the disciples saw him walking on the water, they were terrified. In their fear, they cried out, “It’s a ghost.” – Matthew 14:26(NLT)
FEAR CAN MAKE US IMAGINE THINGS
A poem and essay by ILMA
When fear creeps in, it can mess our perspective
It filters our viewpoint and focus on the negative
We fail to see the beautiful and the lessons
We only focus on controlling the unknown.
The Lord didn’t give us a spirit of fear but of love
He wants us to seek him and keep our focus above
When terror hits you, that is the time to run to him
He will ease and comfort you so you can be free.
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In Matthew 14, we witnessed how terrified the disciples were when they saw Jesus walking on water. Because of their terror, they failed to recognize him and saw a ghost instead. Don’t we do this in our lives as well? When God brings us someone to convict us of a sin or a weakness in our lives, we fail to see that God wants us to learn something from that person. When the Lord brings us a miracle, we don’t see it as such because we try to analyze and theorize with our minds so our hearts fail to hear or see what God is actually working on us. We need to keep focusing on him so that fear will be converted to faith and hope.
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PRAYER
Lord, keep us looking at you so we won’t let fear creep in.
REFLECTION
What fears have kept you from seeing the 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

NEW GEMS OF TRUTH Poem Devotional

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December 4________________________________________
Every teacher of religious law who becomes a disciple in the Kingdom of Heaven is like a homeowner who brings from his storeroom new gems of truth as well as old.
– Matthew 13:52(NLT)
NEW GEMS OF TRUTH
A poem and essay by ILMA
When you believe in the Lord Jesus Christ
You will experience a lot of changes in your life
You are promised a life that is eternal
This is God’s promise to all his followers.
A disciple is likened to a homeowner who brings new gems
The truth of God’s word are jewels that we must treasure
When you live for God, you will abound in wisdom
He reveals to you new truth and keep you in freedom.
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The years that I lived as an immature Christian versus the six years that I was born again is such a big gap. Before I accepted Jesus as my Lord and Savior, I relied on human and worldly wisdom. I read all kinds of books under the sun to be intelligent and looked up to. It was very important to me to have the knowledge because it gave me power.
When I became born again, my life was changed. I was never the same. The one thing I discovered was the treasury of wealth that God’s word can give a Christian. It is sad to know that many believers stay immature and not grow as disciples because they haven’t obeyed and seek him.
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PRAYER
Thank you Lord for the fountain of knowledge found only in your word.
REFLECTION
How can we get spiritually rich in this 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

LIKE A TREASURE Poem Devotional

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December 3________________________________________
The Kingdom of Heaven is like a treasure that a man discovered hidden in a field. In his excitement, he hid it again and sold everything he owned to get enough money to buy the field. – Matthew 13:44(NLT)
LIKE A TREASURE
A poem and essay by ILMA
What things do you value most in your life?
Are they going to bring you closer to God’s light?
God’s kingdom is like a treasure that is so precious
Don’t love the world, instead, seek the Lord Jesus.
When you reflect on the sacrifice of the Son of Man
You will feel so loved; it will touch your heart
There is nothing else more valuable than this
Stay focused on Jesus and you will find eternal bliss.
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Many people live without joy and hope. They get so wrapped up in the hunt for happiness and wealth. They barely have time to spend with their loved ones because of this obsession to be happy and be rich. Happiness is fleeting but joy isn’t. This two concept gets interchanged. Happiness usually come from the pleasure that is derived from something or someone we have craved for. Joy is a fruit of the Spirit which is a result of something you have done for someone. Happiness is more self-seeking while joy is from filling others’ needs.
Jesus likens the kingdom of heaven to a discovered treasure in a field. We would give up all to hide it and protect it.
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PRAYER
Lord, help us to understand what needs to be prioritized in our lives.
REFLECTION
What do you treasure most 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

HARDENED HEARTS HINDER GROWTH Poem Devotional

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December 2________________________________________
When you hear what I say, you will not understand. When you see what I do, you will not comprehend. For the hearts of these people are hardened.
– Matthew 13:14-15 (NLT)
HARDENED HEARTS HINDER GROWTH
A poem and essay by ILMA
People who live in un-forgiveness and offense
They are very vulnerable and lose their defense
This opens door for them not to hear what God says
It keeps them blind and waylaid to another easy way.
A hardened heart makes us unable to have joy
One becomes mistrusting and always on guard
Hardened hearts hinder growth and relations
It brings about chaos, conflict and isolation.
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There were many years of my life spent in un-forgiveness and offense. I thank the Lord that he has released me from a hardened heart. It was shocking to discover that even though I thought I was a forgiving person. It took me many years to uncover that it was “me” that I never forgave. I didn’t realize that I blamed myself for allowing abuse to permeate my life. I couldn’t understand how God allowed bad things to happen to me. I wasn’t aware that even bad events can be used by God for good. One of the hindrances to a person’s spiritual growth is a hardened heart. Try to teach someone who is un-forgiving and he only hears his pain and being victimized. Let go of the hardness of your heart so you can grow spiritually.
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PRAYER
Lord, forgive me when I succumb to pride.
REFLECTION
How is pride usually the source of a hardened heart?
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 IS WITH YOU Poem Devotional

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December 1________________________________________
The LORD was with him and caused everything he did to succeed. – Genesis 39:23(NLT)
WHEN GOD IS WITH YOU
A poem and essay by ILMA
When you form a relationship with the Lord
He will never leave you; he’ll be there for you
As soon as you commit to Jesus Christ
You will encounter many challenges in life.
When God is with you, you have his blessings
Stay faithful to him and you will overcome evil
When God is with you, he can give you favors
Keep growing your faith and your life will be full.
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The story of Joseph the dreamer in the bible is a clear example of how God is with the people whom he loved and have plans for. His brothers plotted to kill him and sold him later to slavery because they were jealous of how their father Jacob treated him. He was his favorite son. The Lord allowed all the bad things that Joseph experienced to be a way for him to succeed in life. After being sold to the Egyptians, years later, he ended up working for the Pharaoh. Because God was with him all the time, everything he did was blessed and anointed. Potiphar, the Pharaoh found Joseph so good at everything he did and so he promoted him and trusted him with everything he got. Later on, he helped his relatives during the worst famine in the land despite what they did to him.
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PRAYER
Lord, thank you for all your blessings and keep me faithful to you.
REFLECTION
How can you be more grateful for your blessings?
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 NAME THAT BRINGS HOPE Poem Devotional

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November 30________________________________________
And his name will be the hope of all the world. – Matthew 12:21(NLT)
THE NAME THAT BRINGS HOPE
A poem and essay by ILMA
Have you lost your joy and passion?
What have you lately been focusing on?
If you listen to all the lies that the enemy says
You will loose hope and get trapped in his ways.
God gave us his only Son to bring salvation
Call on his name so you can come out of oblivion
Jesus’ name is the only one that brings hope and joy
Say it out loud and you’ll enjoy a life that is full.
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There was probably over two decades of my life that I was desperately hopeless and lonely. I wasn’t loved for who I was but for how I can live up to the unrealistic expectations set before me. It was a very tiring life because I was always walking on eggshells, fearing that if I didn’t follow what I was told to do, I will be punished and more pain from the rejection and criticism will ensue. At a very young age, I learned to cope with this impossible life. They wanted me to be perfect, to perform all the talents they want me to excel in, and to academically outshine all of my classmates. If I didn’t, they will withdraw their attention and love. I learned to call on Jesus at age seven and his name brought me hope and comfort.________________________________________
PRAYER
Lord, thank you for your most powerful name.
REFLECTION
Share an instance when Jesus’ name brought you joy and hope.
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

PRAYER TO BE CHILDLIKE Poem Devotional

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November 29________________________________________
O Father, Lord of heaven and earth, thank you for hiding these things from those who think themselves wise and clever and for revealing them to the childlike.
-Matthew 12:25(NLT)
PRAYER TO BE CHILDLIKE
A poem and essay by ILMA
O Lord of heaven and earth, help all believers
Remind us how precious to you all the little children
Help us to guard our hearts and stay pure and childlike
You have created all human beings in your likeness.
Like children, let us constantly depend on you for everything
Don’t allow the enemy to corrupt us and be tempted to sin
Keep us always amazed by you and make us always grateful
Like children, let us always be excited to talk about the Good News.
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These verse in Matthew is a prayer of Jesus to the heavenly Father thanking him for revealing truth to the innocent and childlike. In Matthew 18: 3-4, Jesus calls a little child and placed that child in front of all of them, saying “Truly I tell you, unless you change and become like little children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven. Therefore, whoever takes the lowly position of this child is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven. This latter verse of Matthew has been my life verse since my late twenties. It made me validated and valued even though I grew up traumatized as a child. Childlikeness is a passport to heaven.
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PRAYER
Lord, keep me innocent and pure, always depending on you.
REFLECTION
What hinders people from being childlike and pure?
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