February 4
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PSALM 111
Praise the LORD! I will give thanks to the LORD with my whole heart,
in the company of the upright, in the congregation.
2 Great are the works of the LORD, studied by all who delight in them.
3 Full of splendor and majesty is his work, and his righteousness endures forever.
4 He has caused his wondrous works to be remembered;
the LORD is gracious and merciful.
5 He provides food for those who fear him; he remembers his covenant forever.
6 He has shown his people the power of his works,
in giving them the inheritance of the nations.
7 The works of his hands are faithful and just; all his precepts are trustworthy;
8 they are established forever and ever, to be performed with faithfulness and uprightness.9 He sent redemption to his people;
he has commanded his covenant forever. Holy and awesome is his name!
10 The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom;
all those who practice it have a good understanding. His praise endures forever!
– Psalm 111:1-10
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PSALM 111 THE FEAR OF THE LORD LEADS TO WISDOM
A poem inspired by this psalm by ILMA
Do you wonder where wisdom comes from?
Every good and perfect gift comes from God
When we honor and revere the Lord, we begin to understand
If we rebel against him, we remain careless, wicked and dumb
Our purpose in life is to praise and glorify the Lord God Almighty
When we defy that calling, we fail in all our ways and understanding
Since wisdom is a gift coming from the Lord, let us fear him to have it
Our nature is sinful so if we do not worship God, we will forever be foolish
Can you imagine what life would be without fearing the Lord?
Chaos, confusion, conflicts, division and deception will abound.
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REFLECTION
• Why do you think the world will be in shambles if we do not fear the Lord?
Tag Archives: Christian
GOD ISN’T SLOW ABOUT HIS PROMISE ILMA’S VLOG
June 23
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GOD ISN’T SLOW ABOUT HIS PROMISE
7 But by His word the present heavens and earth are being reserved for fire, kept for the day of judgment and destruction of ungodly people. 8 But do not let this one fact escape your notice, beloved, that with the Lord one day is like a thousand years, and a thousand years like one day. 9 The Lord is not slow about His promise, as some count slowness, but is patient toward you, not willing for any to perish, but for all to come to repentance.
– 2 Peter 3:7-9
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In this letter, Peter gives us a clear illustration of the current heavens and earth which are both going to be judged. The “fire” he mentioned in verse 7 is hell which are reserved for those who are wicked and unrepentant of their sins. Once again, Peter warns the family of believers to clearly see the consequence of sins. This is how we know that Peter was a great leader and a good shepherd who doesn’t want any of his sheep to be lost. In John 21, Peter was asked by the Lord “Do you love me?” three times. Jesus had three commands to him after he answered “yes” three times. Jesus instructed Peter to: Feed his lamb, take care of my sheep, feed my sheep. In this conversation, we clearly see how impatient and insecure Peter was. He was impatient about why Jesus asked him three times. When Jesus gave him a glimpse of his coming death, he turned to John and asked Jesus if John will also die.
In verses 8-9, we saw how Peter have grown from the time Jesus asked him if he loves him. He wants the believers to keep being patient about waiting for the fulfillment of Jesus’ promise. He knows how impatient he was, so he gives the believer a clear picture that human viewpoint is very different from God’s. He assured them that God is never slow about His promises as some people think. It is His “patience” that we cannot fathom. It is amazingly astounding and different from us. No words can describe how God can wait for us to repent because he doesn’t want anyone to perish. In Peter’s description of God’s patience, it is a manifestation of his love. In other words, we can only have patience if we love as much as God does. When we are impatient, there is something inside us that wants to cater to our nature. By nature, we are selfish. But by God’s grace, we can let go of this tendency towards sin. This is why God instructs us to follow Jesus. It is only through Christ that we can bear the fruit of patience. It is a clear sign that we are walking in the God’s Spirit when we can give patience to others and to ourselves.
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REFLECTION
• Why do some people think God is slow to fulfill His promises?
THE DOG RETURNS TO ITS OWN VOMIT ILMA’S VLOG
June 21
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THE DOG RETURNS TO ITS OWN VOMIT
17 These are springs without water and mists driven by a storm, for whom the black darkness has been reserved. 18 For, while speaking out arrogant words of no value they entice by fleshly desires, by indecent behavior, those who barely escape from the ones who live in error, 19 promising them freedom while they themselves are slaves of corruption; for by what anyone is overcome, by this he is enslaved. 20 For if, after they have escaped the defilements of the world by the knowledge of the Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, they are again entangled in them and are overcome, the last state has become worse for them than the first. 21 For it would be better for them not to have known the way of righteousness, than having known it, to turn away from the holy commandment handed on to them. 22 It has happened to them according to the true proverb, “A DOG RETURNS TO ITS OWN VOMIT,” and, “A sow, after washing, returns to wallowing in the mire.” – 2 Peter 2:17-22
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In this letter, Peter once again addresses those deceivers who have been inching their way in to corrupt the church. Peter describes these false prophets who preys on the believers as springs that are dried up for whom the darkness is reserved for. In verse 18, Peter exposes their tactic. They speak false arrogant and erroneous words to lie and get the believers to be derailed from their faith. They promise false freedom when they are not free themselves. In verse 20, Peter says that even if they have escaped the worlds’ judgment, they won’t be able to run away from God’s judgment and wrath.
In verse 22, Paul repeats Proverbs 26:11. This proverb means that fools are likened to dogs. It means that fools are stubborn and unable to adapt or be resilient. The simile “the dog eats its vomit again, even though this may be poisonous for him. In biblical times, dogs were considered unclean because they scavenge the dead and they are described as repugnant creatures which symbolizes evil. The vomit represents the result of extreme indulgence which is disgusting. In Proverbs 27:22, we get a better glimpse of fools when it says “Though you grind a fool in a mortar, grinding them like grain with a pestle, will not remove their folly from them.” They are people lacking moral behavior or discipline. There are many verses in the book of Proverbs that describes what fools are. They are despicable and oftentimes contrasted with the wise, who are prudent, disciplined and walk in the truth that comes from the word of God.
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REFLECTION
• Do you think foolishness is a sin? Why or why not?
THE INJUSTICES OF LIFE Poem Devotional
September 9
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THE INJUSTICES OF LIFE
A poem by ILMA
I noticed that under the sun there is evil and corruption in the courtroom “In due season God will judge everyone, both good and bad, for all their deeds.”
I also thought about how God proves to people that they are like animals
For people and animals share the same fate, both breathe and both must die.
So, people have no real advantage over the animals; how meaningless
Both go to the same place—they came from dust and they return to dust
For who can prove that the human spirit goes up and animals goes down
So, I saw that there is nothing better for people than to be happy in their work.
That is our lot in life; no one can bring us back to see what happens after we die
Again, I observed all the oppression that takes place under the sun
I saw the tears of the oppressed, with no one to comfort them
The oppressors have great power, and their victims are helpless.
So I concluded that the dead are better off than the living
But most fortunate of all are those who are not yet born
For they have not seen all the evil that is done under the sun
Then I saw most people want success because they envy others.
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MEMORY VERSE
Then I observed that most people are motivated to success because they envy their neighbors. But this, too, is meaningless—like chasing the wind. – Ecclesiastes 4:4
Read: Ecclesiastes 3:16- 4:6
As long as we are alive, we will be witnesses to the many injustices in this world. This chapter of Ecclesiastes tells us how meaningless life can be and how chasing success is futile and worthless.
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REFLECTION
• Why do people chase success in this life?
• Why do you think God allows injustices to happen even in the lives of good people?
• What should be the focus of a believer’s life?
SEVEN MEN CHOSEN TO SERVE Poem Devotional
June 2
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SEVEN MEN CHOSEN TO SERVE
A poem by ILMA
As the believers rapidly multiplied, there were rumblings of discontent
Greeks complained about the Hebrews and how there are discrimination
So the twelve apostles called a meeting of all the believers
They said to the believers that they should spend more time teaching.
The apostles think that they need not run a food program
So the brothers selected seven men who are well respected
They are all full of the Spirit and wisdom and are responsible
They are there to let the apostles spend time praying and teaching.
Everyone like this idea and they chose Stephen to lead these men
These seven were presented to the apostle who prayed over them
Philip, Procorus, Nicanor, Timon, Parmenas and Nicolas were the rest
These seven men brought the numbers up of believers in Jerusalem.
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MEMORY VERSE
So the Twelve called a meeting of all the believers. They said, “We apostles should spend our time teaching the word of God, not running a food program. And so, brothers, select seven men who are well respected and are full of the Spirit and wisdom. We will give them this responsibility. – Acts 6:3
Read: Acts 6
It was great to know that the Apostles had the humility to admit that they needed more people so they could concentrate on praying and teaching. Oftentimes, we don’t confess that we really need help. In this selfish world, we need more meekness to be able to acknowledge that we can delegate other things to other people.
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REFLECTION
• Have you ever admitted that you needed help?
• What can we learn from the apostles acknowledging that they have a need for support in their ministry?
• How is prioritizing and delegating important in our walk as believers?
• What is the importance of being prayed over by believers?
FORGIVENESS ONLY THROUGH CHRIST Poem Devotional
September 3________________________________________
“Brothers, listen! We are here to proclaim that through this man Jesus there is forgiveness for your sins.” – Acts 13:38(NLT)
FORGIVENESS ONLY THROUGH CHRIST
A poem and essay by ILMA
If you think you can forgive others easily
You’re wrong, only Christ can grant mercy
Without faith in him, it is impossible to forgive
Go and request his grace and learn to receive.
Jesus died on the cross to pardon our sins
No other gods have conquered death and win
Through his blood, we can have grace to forgive
Commit your life to him, and constantly believe.
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The hardest thing to do is to forgive someone you love who has betrayed you. I have been betrayed by many loved ones. It was many years before I realized that it took a while for me to forgive others. Just saying “I forgive them Lord” didn’t really mean I wasn’t going to go through the process of healing the pain it inflicted on me. It took even longer to forgive myself for allowing these people to abuse, minimize and neglect me. When I became born again, I suddenly got revelations that I was forgiving the “worldly” way. I learned that when I have forgiven someone, I have already discarded the list of wrongs they have done to me.
The bible tells us that we can only forgive because God loved and forgave us first. Without him, it’s impossible to forgive.
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PRAYER
Lord, grant me grace to forgive easily.
REFLECTION
Who was that person who was most challenging to forgive? How did you eventually grant that person forgiveness?
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
GREATER SPIRIT LIVING IN YOU
June 9________________________________________
But you belong to God, my dear children. You have already won a victory over those people, because the Spirit who lives in you is greater than the spirit who lives in the world.
– 1 John 4:4(NLT)
GREATER SPIRIT LIVING IN YOU
A poem and essay by ILMA
When you decided to commit to Christ
The Holy Spirit will live inside your heart
If you belong to God, then you have already won
It doesn’t matter what the world’s spirit has sown
The Lord is greater than he who is in the world
Use the sword of the Spirit which is God’s word
Declare it out loud to stop the lies from coming
The devil will cower if you are constantly confessing. ________________________________________
There are so many myths about Satan that the movies have spread to the public that are really lies. The film industry sensationalizes how much power the enemy has but in reality, they have very little power. Once a person becomes a believer, the Holy Spirit dwells in them, so the enemy’s ability to attack us is very limited. The only way he can defeat us is when we turn our backs to God through sin and do not have a relationship with him.
The bible says that if you are a believer, you have already won the victory and nothing can ever defeat you. The Spirit who lives in you is greater than the spirit who lives in the world.
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PRAYER
Thank you for letting your Spirit lives in me.
REFLECTION
How can a believer stand up against evil?
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
DISHONESTY TEST Poem Devotional
April 10________________________________________
If you are faithful in little things, you will be faithful in large ones. But if you are dishonest in little things, you won’t be honest with greater responsibilities. – Luke 16:10(NLT)
DISHONESTY TEST
A poem and essay by ILMA
What occupies your heart and mind?
Do you feed on God’s word or are you blind?
Do you do good only when someone is watching?
Are you honest to always choose the right thing?
Your trustworthiness can be tested in little things
So does deceit show also in bigger responsibilities
Live a life full of integrity and you will thrive
Continue to live in lies and you will surely die.
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East Anglia research on honesty found that people’s honesty varies significantly between countries. The study examined whether people from different countries were more or less honest and how this related to a country’s economic development. More than 1500 participants from Brazil, China, Greece, Japan, Russia, Switzerland, Turkey, the United States, Argentina, Denmark, the United Kingdom, India, Portugal, South Africa, and South Korea – were chosen to provide a mix of regions, levels of development and levels of social trust. The four least honest countries resulting from their quiz were China, Japan, South Korea and India.
The bible tells us that the test for integrity is in little things. If one is honest in little things, they will also be honest in large ones and in bigger responsibilities.
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PRAYER
Lord, convict me when I compromise my integrity.
REFLECTION
Why do you think some people choose dishonesty over integrity?
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