September 12
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THE FUTILITY OF WEALTH
A poem by ILMA
Don’t be surprised if you see someone being oppressed by the powerful
Or if justice is being miscarried throughout the land
All officials takes orders from the higher up
Matters of justice get lost in red tape and bureaucracy.
Even the king milks the land for his own profit
Those who love money will never have enough
How meaningless to think that wealth brings true happiness!
The more you have, the more people come to help you spend it.
So, what good is wealth—except perhaps to watch it slip through your fingers!
People who work hard sleep well, whether they eat little or much
But the rich seldom get a good night’s sleep; hoarding riches harms the saver
Money is put into risky investments that turn sour, and everything is lost.
In the end, there is nothing left to pass on to one’s children
We all come to the end of our lives as naked as on the day we were born
People leave this world no better off than when they came
All their hard work is for nothing—like working for the wind.
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Those who love money will never have enough. How meaningless to think that wealth brings true happiness! The more you have, the more people come to help you spend it. So, what good is wealth—except perhaps to watch it slip through your fingers.
– Ecclesiastes 5:10-11
Read: Ecclesiastes 5:8-15
The world has twisted our value system by putting so much emphasis on wealth. Many people desire to be rich so they can have the respect of others. Many people chase money and they don’t realize the danger of this obsession.
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REFLECTION
• What happens to people who is in pursuit of money?
• Why does the book of Ecclesiastes think that wealth is meaningless?
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ON ACCEPTING EACH OTHER Poem Devotional
August 1
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ON ACCEPTING EACH OTHER
A poem by ILMA
Accept other believers who are weak in faith
Don’t argue with them about what they think is wrong or right
If one person believes it’s all right to eat anything and if one eats only vegetables
Those who feel free to eat anything must not look down on those who don’t.
Those who don’t eat certain foods must not condemn those who do
Who are you to condemn someone else’s servants and judge?
Their own master will judge whether they stand or fall
With the Lord’s help, they will stand and receive his approval.
Some think one day is more holy than another day
When other people think every day is alike
Those who worship the Lord on a special day do it to honor him
Those who eat any kind of food do so likewise.
We don’t live for ourselves or die for ourselves
If we live, it’s to honor the Lord. And if we die, it’s also to respect him
Whether we live or die, we belong to the Lord
Christ died and rose again to be Lord both of the living and of the dead.
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MEMORY VERSE
Accept other believers who are weak in faith, and don’t argue with them about what they think is right or wrong. – Psalm 14:1
Read: Psalm 14:1-9
Being accepted by others is one of a basic desire of most people. Rejection is an aftermath of either a criticism or minimization. Someone, we humans desire to be accepted in order for us to function well. Paul teaches the Romans that acceptance is essential in loving someone.
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REFLECTION
• Share an experience when you felt rejected when you were not accepted?
SOURCE OF SATISFACTION Poem Devotional
July 6
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Satisfy us each morning with your unfailing love, so we may sing for joy to the end of our lives. – Psalm 90:14(NLT)
SOURCE OF SATISFACTION
A poem and essay by ILMA
Have you been discontented in your life?
Has someone let you down so outright?
If you rely on humans for satisfaction
You will not be able to find gratification.
Only the Lord Jesus Christ will fill your thirst
You will find joy when you make him first
No one else can satisfy and make you content
Only the Lord can release you from torment.
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There are many things that people resort to in order to feel contented in their lives. They try to cover up their discontent with material things such as wealth, knowledge, fame, achievements and many other fleeting things. What they don’t know is that the more they crave to cover up their displeasure, the more they feel empty. I can attest to this because during those dark moments in my life, I also resorted to some of these things I mentioned. When I became born again, the Lord revealed to me that the source of my discontent was because I didn’t run to him. I chose the material things of this world that will never be able to fill up what was missing in my life.
The bible says that when we focus on God’s unfailing love, we become satisfied and joyful.
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PRAYER
Lord, show me how to always focus on your unfailing love.
REFLECTION
Why do you think material things won’t fill our discontent?
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
WHO KNOWS CHRIST Poem Devotional
September 5________________________________________
Anyone who continues to live in him will not sin. But anyone who keeps on sinning does not know him or understand who he is. -1 John 3:6 (NLT)
WHO KNOWS CHRIST?
A poem and essay by ILMA
Do all Christians know Christ?
Are they able to follow his life?
Anyone who continues to live in him will not sin
Those who keep on sinning do not really know him.
To know Jesus is to follow the example he sets
Those who have intimacy with him never frets
If you really know Christ, you’ll seek him first
You won’t live in worldly standard but in his light.
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There are believers who don’t really know Christ. They continually live in worldly standards. There were almost a decade of my life that I went to various bible studies and I got discouraged meeting a few Christians who do not act like believers. I have quite a few traumatic experiences with some elders in one church because they are forming cliques that excludes others. They discriminated others especially new believers.
God doesn’t wants us to behave opposite of what he created us to be. When we do unloving things, we really cannot claim that we know God well.
There is a gauge to know someone who is intimate with Christ. Their lives are examples of a life of humility, service and praise for God.
PRAYER
Lord, let me never stop following you.
REFLECTION
How intimate are you with Christ? Would you say that you follow Jesus’ example?
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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
WITH PURPOSE Poem Devotional
June 8________________________________________
So I run with purpose in every step, I am not just shadow boxing. I discipline my body like an athlete, training it to do what it should. Otherwise, I fear that after preaching to others, I myself might be disqualified. – 1 Corinthians 9:26-27 (NLT)
WITH PURPOSE
A poem and essay by ILMA
Do you know, where you are going to?
Focus on God who gives what is true
Do you have a goal that you’d like to reach?
Does it align with what Scriptures teach?
Live life with determination and tenacity
It will give you strength and bring you victory
A purposeful life will draw you closer to Christ
It will keep you focused on him and win the fight.
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Shadow boxing is to spar with an imaginary opponent. It is used in the training for combat sports, especially as its name implies, in boxing. It aims to prepare the muscles before the person training engages in stronger physical activity. I used to do this when I did boxing fitness. It engages all your muscles to be lively and keep your reflexes up and about.
Paul talks to the Corinthians about the importance of a life with purpose. He tells them the significance of not just physical training but emphasized that spiritual training is valuable. He doesn’t want people to do shadow boxing in their lives, but he tells them to run with purpose in every step.
PRAYER
Lord, take my hand in every step I make.
REFLECTION
What is your spiritual purpose in life?
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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