Tag Archives: love

HARVESTING THE CROP OF LOVE Poem Devotional

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June 5
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I said, “Plant the good seeds of righteousness, and you will harvest a crop of love. Plow up the hard ground of your hearts, for now is the time to seek the Lord, that he may come and shower righteousness upon you.” – Hosea 10:12(NLT)
HARVESTING THE CROP OF LOVE
A poem and essay by ILMA
What acts do you sow in your life?
Are they good; do they bring light?
Plant good seeds of righteousness
You will find love and happiness.
Plow up the hardness of your heart
The Lord wants you to be new and start
Seek the Lord that he may bring righteousness
Then you’ll experience his love and faithfulness.
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It is spring now, the season for gardening. What do gardeners do first of all to prepare to plant and sow seeds in the garden? They try to dig and till the soil that have hardened through the past winter season so they can put new soil and nutrients in the ground in preparation for the new seeds to get in it. There are lots of things to do so that a good harvest of crops or fruits and flowers will ensue.
The book of Hosea instructs us to plow up the hard ground of our hearts so we can prepare to sow seeds of righteousness and later on harvest the crop of love. Like the ground that gardeners plant on, our hearts can also be hardened.
PRAYER
Lord, help me to never give in to hardness of heart.
REFLECTION
How can you harvest love in your relationships?
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

LET LOVE RULE poem devotional

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April 27
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Three things will last forever; faith, hope and love-and the greatest of these is love. Let love be your highest goal. -Corinthians 13:13-14:1 (NLT)
LET LOVE RULE
A poem and essay by ILMA
Whenever you are not able to get your way, let love rule
When things are unclear and hazy, let love rule
When someone abuses or neglect you, let love rule
When you lose someone and feel sad, let love rule
Whenever you see injustice and oppression, let love rule
When someone offends you and brings you down, let love rule
When someone you love is difficult and disrespectful, let love rule
When you are ostracized or marginalized, let love rule.
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Love is the most used and abused word in the English language. People use it to mean a strong liking to something or someone. In weddings, the famous Corinthians 13 chapter is widely used. Why do you think God puts so much emphasis on love than anything else? The bible says that God is love in 1 John 4:8. Genesis mentions that man is made in God’s image. Therefore, we could surmise that we are also made of love. When we do not do things out of love, we defy what our true character is. Whenever we don’t love, we suffer and experience pain. That is why God commanded us to love him first, then others as we love ourselves.
PRAYER
Lord, help me to operate in love.
REFLECTION
When should we exercise love?
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

SINCERE LOVE FOR EACH OTHER Poem Devotional

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December 28________________________________________
You were cleansed from your sins when you obeyed the truth, so you must show sincere love to each other as brothers and sisters. Love each other deeply with all your heart.
-1 Peter 1:22(NLT)
SINCERE LOVE FOR EACH OTHER
A poem and essay by ILMA
Do you love your brothers and sisters like yourself?
Do you go out of your way to bless them and be of help?
We were all commanded to love one another
There is no excuse for not caring for each other.
Christ died so you can be cleansed from sin
You must also sincerely love others so you can be free
Love each other deeply with all your heart
It is the only way we can have a brand new start.
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I have been a Christian for many years but took many decades before I actually found a spiritual family who sincerely loved each other. Having been born raised in a very populated Asian country, I didn’t experience intimacy with fellow believer for many years. I don’t know if it is just a cultural thing or is it because of so many people that you constantly deal with that hinders the growth of fellowship in the congregation. I even became active in the group activities to have direct contact and friendship with other believers. Yet, it took many years before I found the body of Christ who sincerely care and love each other as Christ loves us.
PRAYER
Thank you for leading me to my church family Lord.
REFLECTION
How do you show sincere love for your fellow believers?
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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

HOW YOU LOVED ME Poem Devotional

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October 14________________________________________
I remember how eager you were to please me, as a young bride long ago, how you loved me and followed me even through the barren wilderness. –Jeremiah 2:2(NLT)
HOW YOU LOVED ME
A poem and essay by ILMA
I remembered you swore to love me completely
You followed me everywhere I go faithfully
As a young bride pleases her groom
You meekly followed me into our room.
How you loved me so passionately
Even in the wilderness you followed me
You were so eager to know me well
Now your love diminished I can tell.
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One of the most romantic moment one can ever experience is being married. Right after the wedding vows have been exchanged, both the groom and the bride are beaming with love and passion. This is probably why all brides are beautiful. It is the act of being singled out to make a commitment to be loved and cherished forever. The wedding night is the most memorable in the romantic lives of married people.
In Jeremiah 2, the Lord recalls how much his people loved him immensely. God’s people loved him so much and obey whatever he said. They followed him even when he brought him in the barren wilderness. The love of the people didn’t last long. They grumbled and about many things. They couldn’t wait any longer and started losing trust in the promises that was given by God in his covenant with them.
PRAYER
Lord, keep me passionately in love with you.
REFLECTION
When have you ever turned your back to God?

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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

WATCH YOUR OWN LIVES Poem Devotional

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October 6________________________________________
Keep a close watch on how you live and on your teaching. Stay true to what is right for the sake of your own salvation and the salvation of those who hear you.
-1 Timothy 4:16 (NLT)
WATCH YOUR OWN LIVES
A poem and essay by ILMA
If you claim that you are a believer
Ensure that you’re not following the deceiver
Watch your own lives and your teaching
Be an example to what you are preaching.
Stay true to what is right so you will be saved
For your own sake and others’, be bold and be brave
Don’t just say things but live what you believe
It will help others from being tempted and deceived.
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What happens if we aimlessly drive without looking? We crash, don’t we? It is the same way when we don’t examine our lives, we fail and fall and get defeated by the enemy.
There are many people who live unexamined lives. Socrates said that an unexamined life is not worth living. The world gave credit to Socrates and Plato for this saying, but the bible talks about examining yourself in more or less 18 bible verses (Haggai 1:5-7; Lamentations 3:40; 2 Corinthians 13:5; Galatians 6:4). So you tell me, who is the origin of this saying.
The bible says that we should watch our lives and ensure that we stay righteous in order to stay saved and bring others to God.
PRAYER
Lord, thank you for convicting me to examine my life.
REFLECTION
What benefit do we get when we examine our lives?
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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

ATTRIBUTES OF LOVE Poem Devotional

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February 14
Love never gives up, never loses faith, is always hopeful, and endures through every circumstance. – 1 Corinthians 13:7(NLT)
ATTRIBUTES OF LOVE
A poem and essay by ILMA
Love is a commitment you undertake with someone
It doesn’t give up easily when romance is gone
Even in desperate moments of frustration
Love never loses faith in all situations.
Love is always hopeful even when things are bleak
It endures through trials; it doesn’t focus on the weak
It continues to trust in every circumstance
Believing, giving and forgiving are “love’s” stance.
The world has romanticized the meaning of love. It has corrupted its true meaning by highlighting more on what one can receive from someone rather than what one can give to the loved one. The world sees love as a business transaction. They only give if they are guaranteed something back in return. When they don’t gain anything, they sever their relationship with the one who can’t live up to their criteria.
In God’s economy, love never gives up, never loses faith, is always hopeful and endures through every circumstance. It is like God because God is love. He is faithful and never gives up on us. He’s always there even if we turn from Him. He waits for us patiently to come back and reunite with him. This is the true meaning of love.
PRAYER
Lord, teach me to love like you do.
REFLECTION
What worldly view of love do you need to give up?
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

WHAT LOVE IS

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February 10
Love is patient and kind. Love is not jealous or boastful or proud or rude. It does not demand its own way. It is not irritable, and it keeps no record of being wronged. -1 Corinthians 13:4-5 (NLT)
WHAT LOVE IS
A poem and essay by ILMA
Love is giving up your life for someone
It is dying to self and serving a loved one
Love is patient, kind and is humble
It does not put down or grumble.
It doesn’t keep a record of being wronged
It doesn’t dwell on past mistakes for long
Love does not demand its own way
It is never offensive in what it says.
“Love” is the most abused word in our world. Society has used this word in whatever way and form without really understanding the true meaning of it. It is loosely used as a synonym for a want or for something a person might like. You often hear people saying “Oh! I love that dress or car, or house.”
The bible defines the true meaning of love in 1 Corinthians. Love is patient, kind, not jealous, not boastful, not proud, and not rude. It doesn’t demand its own way. It is not irritable and keeps no record of wrongs. So when someone is being demanding, unkind, cruel, controlling, disrespectful, irritable or angry, you wouldn’t really call them “walking in love.” Christ is the epitome of love.
PRAYER
Lord, teach me how to love.
REFLECTION
Are you a loving person?
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

STAY FREE FROM SLAVERY Poem Devotional

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January 10
So Christ has truly set us free. Now make sure that you stay free, and don’t get tied up again in slavery to the law. – Galatians 5:1 (NLT)
STAY FREE FROM SLAVERY
A poem and essay by ILMA
When you believed Christ, he made you free
Don’t get tied up again in any form of slavery
Make sure you are regularly seeking God’s Word
It makes you have victory over this corrupt world.
Humanity brings about many forms of bondage
If you are a true believer, you have an advantage
The law that used to enslave you has no more power over you
Love rules your life and the Spirit helps you see God’s view.
When you become a born again Christian, you are given the promise of freedom from any fear or form of slavery. That is the reason why Christ died for you. He gave you freedom so you can use it to exercise love and care for each other and not to serve your own purpose.
The bible tells us that Christ has truly set us free. He wants us to stay free and not tied up again in slavery to the law. It means that we don’t have to be legalistic and strictly following it just to appear good. That’s why he summed all laws to “Love God above all, then love your neighbor as yourself.”
PRAYER
Lord, help me when I am being legalistic.
REFLECTION
How can you enjoy freedom God’s way?
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

FAITH EXPRESSED IN LOVE Poem Devotional

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December 26                                                                         The Power of God’s Word
For when we place our faith in Christ Jesus, there is no benefit in being circumcised or being uncircumcised. What is important is faith expressing itself in love. – Galatians 5:6 (NLT)
FAITH EXPRESSED IN LOVE
A poem and essay by ILMA
Do you express your faith in loving ways?
When you believe, you need to show care
Faith without love is pretending
Love is the expression of believing.
For when we place our faith in Christ
We are no longer bound by the regulations
Faith expressed in love brings us close to light
Love will always bring you close to salvation.
Do you know why a lot of people have lost their faith? So many Christians walk only in faith and not by expressing them in loving ways. James specifically challenges believers not just to be hearers of the word, but also doers. He also poses questions regarding our responsibility to those who need our help, those who are poor and vulnerable.
Paul talks about the importance of faith expressed in love in his letter to the Galatians. He urged them to free themselves from the law, because as soon as Christ died on the cross, the only thing we are bound to follow is the law of love. It is through the expression of love that we can actually manifest our faith in Christ.
PRAYER
Lord, thank you for your sacrifice on the cross.
REFLECTION
How do you manifest your faith to others?
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

UNIFYING ELEMENT IN THE BODY Poem Devotional

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December 3                                                                          The Power of God’s Word
He makes the whole body fit perfectly. As each part does its own special work. It helps the other parts grow so that the whole body is healthy and growing and full of love. – Ephesians 4:16 (NLT)
UNIFYING ELEMENT IN THE BODY
A poem and essay by ILMA
A man vows to marry his wife and become one
Believers commit to be united with God’s Son
Married people have roles to carry out for their love to grow
Just like each of the members of the body of Christ has to sow.
The unifying element in the church is the love of the Lord
Without love, no one can be victorious and soar
Every believer has their own special work to accomplish
When each faithful servant does his part, the church will flourish.
What makes a relationship, an organization or a church successful? Why are there marriages that end up in divorce or separation? Why have some companies made it to the top and others closed down? There must clearly be a unifying element that makes a relationship or some companies prosper.
The bible tells us that “love” is essential in all relationships and in all organizations. Each part of the body of Christ has a role given to them to accomplish so that there will be spiritual growth in the church. That’s why God commanded us all to love.
PRAYER
Lord, help me walk in love.
REFLECTION
What hinders you from loving others?
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