June 29
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GOD CHOSE THE FOOLISH, WEAK AND INSIGNIFICANT
26 For consider your calling, brothers and sisters, that there were not many wise according to the flesh, not many mighty, not many noble; 27 but God has chosen the foolish things of the world to shame the wise, and God has chosen the weak things of the world to shame the things which are strong, 28 and the insignificant things of the world and the despised God has chosen, the things that are not, so that He may nullify the things that are, 29 so that no human may boast before God. 30 But it is due to Him that you are in Christ Jesus, who became to us wisdom from God, and righteousness and sanctification, and redemption, 31 so that, just as it is written: “LET THE ONE WHO BOASTS, BOAST IN THE LORD.” – 1 Corinthians 1:26-31
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In this letter, Paul summons the believers to examine their calling. This letter encourages those who feel weak, foolish and those who feel insignificant. Paul is clearly addressing the problem of arrogance of those who are powerful and try to manipulate to rule the church. The weaker members of the body of Christ must have been discouraged by this power hungry and arrogant members. In this letter, Paul stresses the preference of God to choose the foolish, weak and insignificant. Why would God choose them instead of the elite, educated, rich and powerful? Remember the parable of the young rich man in Matthew19:16-22? A young rich man approached Jesus and asked what good deed must he do to have eternal life. Jesus corrects this young man because his concept of good by doing something to grant everlasting life is twisted. In verse 17, Jesus says there is only one who is good. Then Jesus told him to follow all the commands and the proud young man says that he has already done that. When Jesus finally told him, to sell all that he has and give it to the poor, the young man was so sad because he owned a lot. This is probably why it is hard for the rich, the powerful and the wise to let go of their attachments. They have too much to lose. Whereas the foolish, the weak and those that are insignificant have nothing more to lose. It is easier for them to receive the invitation of God to enter his kingdom. Paul further confronts the proud members of the church with their boasting because he reminds them that nothing they have comes from their own. Everything they have belongs to God, so what is the point of boasting? God did it all so why would they take credit for something they never did on their own? Once again, we see how Paul challenges the all member to care for one another especially the weak and vulnerable.
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REFLECTION
• Why is it dangerous to aim to be intelligent, strong and powerful, and important?
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ONLY THOSE WHOM GOD HELPS Poem Devotional
December 12________________________________________
If this is the case, it is better not to marry! Not everyone can accept this statement, Jesus said “Only those whom God helps.” – Matthew 19:10-11(NLT)
ONLY THOSE WHOM GOD HELPS
A poem and essay by ILMA
God created us to serve Him and with others
We can only stay single with God’s precious help
It is only possible to be alone with his assistance
Only if we seek Him first will we discern his guidance.
Celibacy is possible only if you’ll commit to serve Christ
Otherwise, you won’t be able to make it alone in this life
You will only survive being single if you serve the Lord
You won’t stay pure in your own strength or effort.
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There was a whole decade of my life that I stayed celibate. Prior to that ten years, I was a prisoner of sexual sins. That was one of my addiction, a love addict. When I decided to raise my son alone after being in an abusive relationship, I promised the Lord that I will stay pure for him. I wanted to be a good mother and role model to my son. I couldn’t have done it if God didn’t help me. I vowed to make him first in my life and the center of my life. I made Christ my husband and the perfect father for my son. Because I was faithful to Christ, He made it possible for me to pure for a decade.
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PRAYER
Lord, hep those who are staying single to serve you.
REFLECTION
How can celibacy be possible in this corrupt world?
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 SPEAKING IN TONGUES Poem Devotional
August 18
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For if you have the ability to speak in tongues, you will be talking only to God, since people won’t be able to understand you. You will be speaking by the power of the Spirit, but it will all be mysterious. -1 Corinthians 14:2 (NLT)
ON SPEAKING IN TONGUES
A poem and essay by ILMA
When you embrace God’s will and not run
You will have the ability to speak in tongues
Speaking in foreign language is incomprehensible
But the Spirit will make you see what’s inexplicable.
When you speak in tongues, it is your spirit that knows
Your mind won’t be able to grasp; it is mysterious
Even though others won’t know what you are saying
God knows each and every bit of what you are uttering.
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I was in my late twenties when the Spirit of God gave me the ability to speak in tongues. It was an overwhelming experience. I felt so warm in my heart even though I didn’t understand what I was saying. Something inside me felt so connected with the Lord. I didn’t cultivate this stirring in my spirit because I was blinded by so much worldly stuff. Thirty years later, I had another speaking in tongue experience. By this time, I was a born again Christian. My mind can’t fathom what the spirit of God is telling me, but my spirit knows it. If you stay close to the Lord, he will give you discernment too.
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PRAYER
Lord, thank you for your Spirit’s work in me.
REFLECTION
Why do we need to speak in tongues in our lives as Christians?
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 OIL OF JOY
June 16________________________________________
You love justice and hate evil. Therefore, God, your God, has anointed you, pouring out the oil of joy on you more than on anyone else. -Psalm 45:7(NLT)
THE OIL OF JOY
A poem and essay by ILMA
Whenever you treat others with love and kindness
God will bless you with the oil of joy; you’ll have gladness
When you choose love over wickedness, you will have peace
If you wallow in all kinds of evil, you’ll open doors to slavery.
When you love justice and hate evil, you have God’s anointing
He will pour out his joy on you and grant you all kinds of blessings
Let the oil of joy remain with you always the rest of your life
He chose you to shine for him; He will lead you to his light.
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I lived many years of my life in regret and never really knew how to enjoy life. I wallowed in self-pity and played over and over again the voices of those who treated me harshly and unjustly. As a result of this bad choice, I opened doors to the enemy to take over my entire life for over four decades. I was a prisoner of my emotions and pain. I let the “bad” in instead of the good. We can choose the life God wants for us. When we do,
God anoints us with the oil of joy and make us free.
PRAYER
Lord, thank you for your anointing.
REFLECTION
What things block people from experiencing the joy of the Lord?
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
MEN EQUALS WOMEN Poem Devotional
March 10________________________________________
But among the Lord’s people, women are not independent of men and men are not independent of women. For although the first woman came from a man, everything comes from God. -1 Corinthians 11:11(NLT)
MEN EQUALS WOMEN
A poem and essay by ILMA
Men have gifts of physical strength and provision
Women are to nurture and have compassion
Men are to love their wives just as they love themselves
Women are to respect husbands and submit and serve.
For although the first woman came from a man
Men do not have greater power over women
Everything comes from God and both are equal
They both have different calling which are not identical.
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So many books have been written about gender differences. Some authors may write about the superiority of the male over the gender specie. Society have limited and stereotyped the roles and abilities that men and women can and cannot do. These messes up a lot of relationships and even identity roles that people play. There are many lies that the enemy perpetuates to destroy human relationships especially between two different genders.
The truth is that women and men are equal in the eyes of God. Although it says that Eve was taken out from Adam’s bones, it doesn’t mean that he is superior over her. Everything comes from God and he made all human different and distinct they all have different calling in his kingdom.
PRAYER
Lord, teach me to accept those differences I see in others.
REFLECTION
Why do you think God created man and woman equally?
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