ALCOHOL CAN MAKE FOOLS OF US Poem Devotional

December 16________________________________________
Wine produces mockers; alcohol leads to brawl. Those led astray by drink cannot be wise.
– Proverbs 20:1(NLT)
ALCOHOL CAN MAKE FOOLS OF US
A poem and essay by ILMA
It is foolish to consume alcohol without limits
When we drink too much, we open ourselves to sin
Wine produces mockers and alcohol leads to fights
Alcohol makes fools of us and it makes us unwise.
When you drink without restraint, you are compromised
It opens the door to all kinds of temptations and surprises
You may end up saying things you didn’t mean
You may do something that you will later regret.
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I was in a wedding celebration just recently. My husband and I traveled so far to attend this wedding. We were looking forward to meeting friends and relatives, but what we expected wasn’t what happened. As the reception started, many of the guests began drinking and the room where we were in began to almost shake like an earthquake as each of the guests started getting so loud. I felt like all those who were drinking became deaf because they all started yelling and topping each other’s voice. My eardrums seemed like it was going to explode. Then I just realized that I was surrounded with unbelievers, people who loved the world and all that it offered. They only pleased themselves and satisfied their craving. They don’t know how alcohol have been making fools of them.
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PRAYER
Lord, deliver me from worldly people and their ways.
REFLECTION
How can misuse of alcohol lead to sin?
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

TONGUE OF THE WISE Poem Devotional

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July 23
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The tongue of the wise makes knowledge appealing, but the mouth of a fool belches out foolishness. – Proverbs 15:2(NLT)
TONGUE OF THE WISE
A poem and essay by ILMA
Do you use your tongue to speak the truth?
Have you allowed God’s word to take root?
The tongue of the wise makes knowledge appealing
The mouth of a fool belches out many forms of lying.
Use your mouth only to utter only what will encourage
To dwell on the negative will make others discouraged
The wise will make your life better and not bitter
The fool will find a way to always criticize and belittle.
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Have you ever been with an emotional vampire? They are those who suck out the energy off you. They drain your positive outlook and progress. They usually focus on the negative and find fault and someone to blame. They do not take responsibility for any mistake or fault they have. Instead, they project all their weaknesses on others because they are not brave enough to admit their imperfections. I have had relationships with a few emotional vampires and it was really tiring to be around these people. No matter how optimistic you are, they will find a way to dampen it. I used to be affected by these kind of people, but when I learned to set boundaries on them, I learned not to engage in their foolishness. The wise always encourages.
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PRAYER
Lord, deliver me from negative people.
REFLECTION
Why must we avoid critical and pessimistic people?
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 DEALING WITH FOOLS AND ARGUMENTS

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July 6
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Don’t answer the foolish arguments of fools, or you will become as foolish as they are. Be sure to answer the foolish argument of fools or they will become wise in their own eyes.
-Proverbs 26:4- 5(NLT)
ON DEALING WITH FOOLS AND ARGUMENTS
A poem and essay by ILMA
Don’t answer senseless arguments of fools
It is one of the enemy’s tactics and tools
He wants you to engage in foolishness
It will surely derail you from righteousness.
Learn to confront fools with truth from God’s word
If you do, they won’t be able to drag you into this world
They’ll think highly of themselves if you don’t expose them
They will create more havoc if you don’t rebuke them.
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According to a commentary by Paul Koptak on the NIV application, these two contradictory verses are actually a form of parallelism where one idea builds upon another. Verse 4 warns against arguing with a fool on his own terms or we stoop to his level and become as foolish as he is. Verse 5, on the other hand, tells us that there are times when a fool has to be addressed so that his foolishness will not go unchallenged. This way, we are exposing his foolishness so he will see his folly. He may despise and reject the wisdom, but for truth’s sake and for those who are listening, we need to bring it out in the open. so they may see the difference between wisdom and folly and be instructed.
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PRAYER
Lord, deliver me from foolishness.
REFLECTION
How do you deal with fools?
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

ONE WHO CAN FORESEE Poem Devotional

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October 14
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A prudent person foresees danger and take precautions. The simpleton goes blindly on and suffers the consequences. – Proverbs 27:12(NLT)
ONE WHO CAN FORESEE
A poem and essay by ILMA
The wise person is able to foresee danger and be warned
They are tuned in to what they do and never hurry or run
They are observant and creative of their surroundings
They can tell if there is evil and wickedness lurking.
The Holy Spirit guides them and makes them wise
They listen to God’s spirit for guidance or advise
That is why they can foresee what will transpire
They hear God’s voice, they heed and they abide.
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Have you ever been with someone who is so careless and reckless at the same time? I knew someone who just don’t care what they do or how it affects others. He is physically present yet his heart and mind is somewhere else. He says something and pretend he cares but deep inside, he has no concern for anything but to get what he wants or follow his routines. It is like watching a dead person walking and doing things. They have no life. They are physically alive but spiritually dead. They live life just for the sake of living. They don’t dream big, they live in a box and trapped there.
The bible says that the one who can foresee are the wise while fools just go through life recklessly.
PRAYER
Dear Lord, please give me wisdom to foresee danger.
REFLECTION
What do you do when the Holy Spirit warns you about something?
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 FOOLS REPEAT THEIR FOOLISHNESS Poem Devotional

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July 24

As a dog returns to its vomit, so a fool repeats his foolishness. There is more hope for fools than for people who think they are wise. -Proverbs 26:11-12(NLT)

WHEN FOOLS REPEAT THEIR FOOLISHNESS

A poem and essay by ILMA

Do you commit the same mistakes over again?

Doesn’t foolishness make you self-centered and vain?

When you do again the same wrong, it makes you foolish

Why repeat something that brings you anguish?

As a dog returns to its vomit, fools repeat their foolishness

They cannot help their vanity and selfishness

There is no hope for those who think they are wise

If you listen to God’s words, you will be like Christ.

Do you know someone who repeatedly does the same mistake? It is sad to watch people commit the same wrong over and over again. I did this too in the past because of my arrogance and haughtiness. The Lord allows us to commit mistakes but he is expecting us to listen to his word so that we will know how to grow and not do the same things that do not bring progress in our lives. Seeking his wisdom and understanding is one of the best things we can do for ourselves and our own family. It protects us from foolishness and wasting time and effort.

The bible describes to us arrogant people. They are like dogs returning to their vomit when they repeatedly commit mistakes.

PRAYER

Lord, protect me from haughtiness.

REFLECTION

What mistakes have you done repeatedly in the past? What did it cost 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

IN PURSUIT OF DREAMS Poem Devotional

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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

WHAT FOOLS AND WISE PEOPLE FEED ON Poem Devotional

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March 20________________________________________
A wise person is hungry for knowledge, while the fool feeds on trash.
-Proverbs 15:14(NLT)
WHAT FOOLS AND WISE PEOPLE FEED ON
A poem and essay by ILMA
Fools talk about trivial matters
They like delaying things much later
The foolish person makes fun of others
They don’t listen to their sisters or brothers.
A wise person is always seeking the truth
They rely on God’s words to take root
They don’t waste their time on selfish yearnings
They work hard to please God and that is their longing.
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I used to be in a work environment where people criticize each other and openly say nasty things to each other. It was always a competition to prove who is right or to show who is better. It was stressful to be around people who constantly criticize and who would make fun of others’ weaknesses. I stayed in that place for almost 2 decades of my life. No wonder I was such a mess because all I did was to feed on trash and gratify myself.
The bible tells us that a wise person is hungry for knowledge while fools feed on trash. I used to tell my students that not all educated and intelligent people are wise. Wisdom comes from an insatiable hunger for knowing the truth and applying all the things you know in reality. Fools have no desire to seek the truth because they don’t want change.
PRAYER
Lord, never let me feed on trivial matters.
REFLECTION
Why should believers avoid fools especially in their beginnings as a Christian?
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 FOOL AND THE WISE Poem Devotional

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April 17
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Doing wrong is fun for a fool, but living wisely brings pleasure to the sensible.
– Proverbs 10:23 (NLT)
THE FOOL AND THE WISE
A poem and essay by ILMA
There is a man who loves so much fun
He satisfies himself of all things under the sun
He thinks of everything he could get to please himself
He couldn’t care less to give someone help.
Another man loves to seek the Lord and obey
He will do anything to serve others as God says
He is thankful for all the gifts and use it for God’s glory
He manages his time, resources and energy wisely.
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There are two kinds of people in our world: the fool and the wise. Are you a wise person or a fool? The bible says that the fool’s hobby is to do wrong. They get so much kick out of wickedness. On the other hand, the wise person brings pleasure to those who are sensible.
I was a fool the first half of my life. I did so many wrong things as a result of feeding my desires to please myself. I got so wrapped up in surviving a life that was full of unmet needs and being unloved by my own family. I thank the Lord that he has delivered me from foolishness and granted me wisdom finally.
PRAYER
Lord, thank you for putting some sense into me.
REFLECTION
What foolishness are you still hanging on? What hampers you from embracing wisdom?
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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