EVEN BEFORE YOU CALL Poem Devotional

September 14________________________________________
I will answer them before they even call to me. While they are still talking about their needs, I will go ahead and answer their prayers. – Isaiah 65:24 (NLT)
EVEN BEFORE YOU CALL
A poem and essay by ILMA
Do you know that God answers even before you call?
You can count on him to save you from your fall
He is always waiting on you to come to him
This is the only way you can overcome sin.
The Lord sees everything at all times
While you are still talking, he provides
Even before you call, he already answered
Run to your faithful God, your heavenly Father.
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I was a telephone operator for a couple of years in the Directory Assistance and Overseas Calls Departments. It was a job that I had right after graduating from Mass Communication Arts degree. I got many compliments as a teenager how my voice sounded well on the telephone. This was way back before computers became popular. We referred to a more complete yellow pages than the public were given. As one of our responsibilities, we were encouraged to memorize frequently asked queries such as hotels, big companies and to facilitate giving them answers. Sometimes, we operators would bet on what is going to be asked to amuse ourselves from boredom and routine.
The bible tells us that even before we call, our God already answered. He doesn’t guess. He knows and responds quickly.
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PRAYER
Lord, thank you for your knowing our needs.
REFLECTION
Why do we still need to pray knowing that God answers even before we call?

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 RESPECTING CHILDREN Poem Devotional

June 7________________________________________
Anyone who welcomes a little child like this on my behalf welcomes me, and anyone who welcomes me also welcomes my Father who sent me. – Luke 9:48 (NLT)
ON RESPECTING CHILDREN
A poem and essay by ILMA
Do you treat children with much respect?
There is no way you should treat them any less
They are loved so much by our Lord Jesus
You should consider them also very precious.
You must be like these little children
So you can have a piece of heaven
Anyone who respects God’s little ones
They are also honoring him and his only Son.
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Many adults do not treat children with honor and respect. I am glad that it has come a long way from those generations when children were totally treated like they don’t have rights. I come from such periods when corporal punishment was the norm and children are mostly abused, neglected or minimized. Even the time of Jesus, the apostles were setting aside the children to get out of their way as they were doing ministry. They were rebuked by the Lord and told that they have to let the children come to him because anyone who welcomes a child welcomes him. He further said that if they are not like little children, they won’t enter the kingdom of God. It seems to me that these little ones are very precious to God just as we adults are.
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PRAYER
Lord, give me a childlike spirit so that I can remain pure.
REFLECTION
How can you respect children more in this very busy world we live in?
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

CONSEQUENCE OF A RECKLESS LIFE Poem Devotional

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September 30
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He will die for lack of self-control; he will be lost because of his great foolishness.
-Proverbs 5:23(NLT)
CONSEQUENCE OF A RECKLESS LIFE
A poem and essay by ILMA
When you decide to go on a road to selfishness
You will find it easy to do all kinds of wickedness
It may seem enticing to satisfy all your selfish desires
But you will suffer the consequences of it later on in life.
When you don’t exercise self-control; you’ll suffer penalties
Relationships will end because of your selfishness and cruelty
When you live a life of lawlessness and abandon
You may lose your inheritance in God’s kingdom.
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When you drive your vehicle without following any rules or speeding as much as you want to, what happens? You may get a ticket for speeding, collide with another vehicle and cause an accident, or you may destroy your vehicle during the reckless ride. The most fatal thing that can happen is you die or someone else dies because of your lawless driving. Isn’t the same thing true with the way we live our lives? We all go through teenage years and when we do, we almost always do many foolish things because we are reckless. Eventually, when we have had enough loses because of these reckless living, we may learn wisdom from our mistakes. A foolish person doesn’t think far back to the future. They live without limits causing downfall.
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PRAYER
Lord, help me to consult you in all things so I don’t make foolish decisions.
REFLECTION
What was the consequence of a reckless decision you made in the past?
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