CARRY YOUR OWN CROSS Poem Devotional

April 18________________________________________
And if you do not carry your own cross and follow me, you cannot be my disciple.
-Luke 14:27(NLT)
CARRY YOUR OWN CROSS
A poem and essay by ILMA
Do you constantly complain about your sufferings?
As a Christian, you ought to hope and keep on believing
You cannot be Christ’s disciple if you can’t endure
It grows your faith when you quietly suffer.
Like Jesus, we are encouraged to carry our burdens
It makes us know him and brings us closer to heaven
Why do you continue to complain about your predicament?
Embrace it and do it for Jesus and you won’t lament.________________________________________
Did you watch the movie “The Passion of Christ?” It was one of the most powerful movies I have seen in my life. It was about how Jesus Christ carried the cross which bore all our sins and how he was abused, rejected, spitted on and nailed on the cross. To be crucified in the time of Jesus was the death penalty for someone who committed a grave crime. Yet, the bible says that he was innocent. Mel Gibson directed this movie in order to give the viewers a chance to get into the shoes of Christ. It was probably the closest film that really depicted the way he suffered in order to free us from the penalty of sin. The bible says that if we want to be his disciple, we must carry our own cross.
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PRAYER
Lord, give me strength to carry on all the trials and sufferings.
REFLECTION
Why do you think God allows humans to suffer?
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 MESSAGE OF THE CROSS Poem Devotional

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February 15
The message of the cross is foolish to those who are headed for destruction. But we who are being saved know it is the very power of God.
–1 Corinthians 1:18(NLT)
THE MESSAGE OF THE CROSS
A poem and essay by ILMA
What is the message of the cross?
Has it been in your heart and embossed?
The meaning of the cross is foolish to the wicked
They choose to head for destruction instead.
For the believer, it is the very power of God
It is the symbol of His absolute love
The cross is Christ who loves us and gave
It is the only act of love that we can rave.
Some Christians do not really comprehend the depth of the meaning of the cross. They do not realize that it was the cross that freed them from debt and death. I didn’t fully understand the message of the cross, until a few years back when God revealed to me that I didn’t have to do anything to save myself. The sacrifice of Christ’s life on the cross was fulfilled according to Scriptures many years after it was prophesied by many generations before Christ was born.
For those who choose to live in their sinful nature, the message of the cross is foolish but for those who are being saved, they know that it is the very power of God.
PRAYER
Lord, keep me focused on the cross.
REFLECTION
What has the cross freed you from?
For more testimonials about God’s word, please go to YouTube and type ILMA’s Poem Devotionals, or go to www.ilmaarts.com or to receive emails of the poem devotionals, email me at ILMA.ARTS.STUDIO@gmail.com