December 6
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DANIEL PRAYS FOR WISDOM
A poem by ILMA
Nebuchadnezzar had such disturbing dreams during his second year as king
He called in his magicians, enchanters, sorcerers, and astrologers
He demanded that they tell him what he had dreamed I will for it troubled him
Then the astrologers told him, “Tell us the dream, so we can tell its meaning.
But the king said to the astrologers, “I am serious about this
If you don’t tell what my dream it means you will be torn limb from limb
if you tell me what I dreamed and what the dream means I’ll reward you
They all begged the king to tell them the dream so they can interpret it.
The astrologers replied to the king, “No one on earth can tell the king his dream! The king’s demand is impossible. No one except the gods can tell you your dream
Nebuchadnezzar was furious when he heard this and ordered them all executed
Because of the king’s decree, men were sent to find and kill Daniel and his friends.
Daniel went at once to see the king and asked more time to interpret the dream
Then he told his friends Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah what had happened
He urged them to ask the God to show him mercy by knowing the dream
That night the secret was revealed to Daniel in a vision and he praised God.
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MEMORY VERSE
One night during the second year of his reign, Nebuchadnezzar had such disturbing dreams that he couldn’t sleep. – Daniel 2:1
Read: Daniel 2:1-19
This chapter in the book of Daniel is another way that God provided to save Daniel and his friends from the decree of Nebuchadnezar to execute them. We see how crazy this king was who expects human beings to be able to guess and interpret his dreams. In the next part of this chapter, we see God’s provision and mercy to use this situation to bring glory to the only God who knows everything.
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REFLECTION
• How faithful was God to his people in this chapter?
Tag Archives: dreams
AS YOU REST Poem Devotional
February 24
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He speaks in dreams, in visions of the night, when deep sleep falls on people as they lie in their beds. – Job 33:15(NLT)
AS YOU REST
A poem and essay by ILMA
As you lie down in your bed to sleep
God sorts your problems while you rest
Keep still and know that he is there
Don’t live in anxiety and fear.
As you rest and replenish your strength
The Lord straightens everything that is bent
As you relax and trust him, he will give you answers
He wants you to have faith for he is the best provider.
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There are many bible characters that have been given visions and prophecies while they sleep. Joseph, the husband of Mary was given instructions to marry his fiancée even though she was pregnant already. Daniel was able to interpret Nebuchadnezzar’s dream which made him part of the king’s counsel.
Sadly, in our modern age, we sometimes get little time to sleep or rest. There are so many stimulants to give us time to relax. Even planning a vacation becomes work in itself and fail to be a source of replenishing the mind and body. Researchers say it does seem clear that sleep is key to the brain’s ability to reorganize itself — a feature called plasticity.
I think that God designed us to sleep so he can help us solve our issues and regenerate our minds, bodies and spirits.
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PRAYER
Thank you Lord for giving us time to rest.
REFLECTION
Why is sleep or rest crucial in our existence?
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
ROAD TO FULFILLED DREAMS Poem Devotional
October 21
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Until the time came to fulfill his dreams, the Lord tested Joseph’s character.
– Psalm 105:19(NLT)
ROAD TO FULFILLED DREAMS
A poem and essay by ILMA
Are you going through tests and trials in your life?
Do you have things that are not going right?
Sometimes we experience tests to build character
It brings out the best when we are tried by our Maker
Do not stop until you get right to your dream
It pays to be patient rather than being grim
Don’t be afraid of suffering for it makes you strong
It will make your dreams come true not for very long.
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The story of Joseph in Genesis 37 is a good testimony about how the Lord tested Joseph’s character. When Joseph was seventeen years old, he often tended his father’s flocks. He worked for his half brothers, the son’s of his father’s wives. Jacob loved Joseph more than any of his other children because Joseph had been born to him in his old age. So one day, Jacob had a special gift made for Joseph, a beautiful robe. He dreamed about bundles of grain that bowed low before his. Another dream was that the sun, moon and eleven stars bowed low before him. When he told his brothers, the more they hated him and they plotted to kill him. Joseph was sold as a slave to the Egyptians, but later made ruler of Egypt. A dream fulfilled.
PRAYER
Lord, let me never give up when I am faced with trials?
REFLECTION
How can character be built out of suffering and trials?
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
MAKING CERTAIN DREAMS COME TRUE Poem Devotional
October 20
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Our great desire is that you will keep on loving others as long as life lasts, in order to make certain that what you hope for will come true. – Hebrews 6:12(NLT)
MAKING CERTAIN DREAMS COME TRUE
A poem and essay by ILMA
What are the dreams that you’ve hope for?
Do they make you closer to God and faithful?
For wishes to be come true, keep on believing
To realize them, you also need to keep on loving.
Walk in love for as long as life lasts
It is the secret to fulfilling dreams fast
Living a life full of love makes anything possible
Satisfying selfish pleasures make it improbable.
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What dreams have come true for you already? What other wishes have not come to fruition yet? When I was three years old, I was captivated by paintings and wished I was a painter. That dream didn’t come true until I was thirty-two years old. What took it that long? I was living in rebellion and disobedience many years of those era of my life. When I decided to turn to God again at age twenty-nine and became celibate and more loving to those around me, he made the impossible dream come true. I became a self-taught or rather God-taught painter. I sold over 75 artworks by the time I had my very first solo exhibit. Our dreams will be realized if we keep on loving others.
PRAYER
Lord, help me to never live out of love.
REFLECTION
What dreams are being hindered to happen because of your unloving ways?
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
IN PURSUIT OF DREAMS Poem Devotional
April 15
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It is pleasant to see dreams come true, but fools refuse to turn from evil to attain them.
-Proverbs 13:19 (NLT)
IN PURSUIT OF DREAMS
A poem and essay by ILMA
Do you dream of spiritual or worldly things?
Does it parallel God’s truth; is it within his will?
Do you do your part to make your dreams come true?
Or do you refuse to turn from evil like other fools?
It is pleasant to see dreams come into fruit
Are we seeking God and living in his truth?
Wise people pursue their dreams pro-actively
While fools just wait passively and impatiently.
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When I was three years old, I wanted to be a nun and later on a saint. I think I wanted to be a nun because I thought they were really closer to Jesus and I was surrounded by them in school I know now that it was the Holy Spirit that really drove me to pursue this dream. I read the book of saints to know them but no one pointed me to the bible. I had a very long journey searching what was missing in my life but I always longed to be close to God. That voice inside me was the Holy Spirit guiding me to pursue God which is the main purpose in my life. I thank God that even without direct human supervision, he still led me to him.
PRAYER
Thank you for living in my heart Lord and letting my dreams come true.
REFLECTION
What dreams have you realized in your 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