Tag Archives: Poem devotional

GENESIS 7 THE EARTH’S PURIFICATION

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November 7

GENESIS 7

Then the Lord said to Noah, “Go into the ark, you and all your household, for I have seen that you are righteous before me in this generation. 2 Take with you seven pairs of all clean animals, the male and his mate, and a pair of the animals that are not clean, the male and his mate, 3 and seven pairsof the birds of the heavens also, male and female, to keep their offspring alive on the face of all the earth. 4 For in seven days I will send rain on the earth forty days and forty nights, and every living thing that I have made I will blot out from the face of the ground.” 5 And Noah did all that the Lord had commanded him.6 Noah was six hundred years old when the flood of waters came upon the earth. 7 And Noah and his sons and his wife and his sons’ wives with him went into the ark to escape the waters of the flood. 8 Of clean animals, and of animals that are not clean, and of birds, and of everything that creeps on the ground, 9 two and two, male and female, went into the ark with Noah, as God had commanded Noah. 10 And after seven days the waters of the flood came upon the earth. – Genesis 7:1-10

GENESIS 7 THE EARTH’S PURIFICATION

A poem inspired by these verses by ILMA

The Lord God prepared the righteous family of Noah for the flood

By the time Noah got ready for the flood, he was 600 years old

Before seven days to the rain, God instructed him to take in the animals

Seven pairs of all clean and seven pairs of unclean animals as well.

Because of the corruption and wickedness of humans, God will redo mankind

It will take God forty days and forty nights to destroy these created beings

But the Lord preserved all kinds of species to go inside the ark

The earth will be purified and cleansed from sin through blameless Noah.

There is one interesting verse that kept me wondering about the story of Noah’s ark. Verse 7 says that Noah was 600 years old when they were gathering all the animals just before the flood was to happen. In Genesis 6:32, it stated that he had his sons when he was 500 years old. Since his sons had their own wives here, I would surmise that it is probably between 50-75 years that he built the ark. The point I’m making is that God gave

Humans enough time to repent before the flood, yet they all laughed at Noah’s prophecy.

REFLECTION

  • Why do you think God used 40 days and 40 nights for the flood to happen?

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GENESIS 6 GOD’S INSTRUCTION FOR THE ARK

November 5

GENESIS 6

14 Make yourself an ark of gopher wood. Make rooms in the ark, and cover it inside and out with pitch. 15 This is how you are to make it: the length of the ark 300 cubits, its breadth 50 cubits, and its height 30 cubits. 16 Make a rooffor the ark, and finish it to a cubit above, and set the door of the ark in its side. Make it with lower, second, and third decks. 17 For behold, I will bring a flood of waters upon the earth to destroy all flesh in which is the breath of life under heaven. Everything that is on the earth shall die.

                                                                    – Genesis 6:14-17

GENESIS 6 GOD’S INSTRUCTION FOR THE ARK

A poem inspired by these verses by ILMA

When the Lord God saw evil surrounding the earth

He decided to blot out everything that has breath

But Noah and his family was spared of the wrath of God

Because of their blameless lives and devotion to the Lord.

Noah was given specific instructions to build the ark

It was to be made of a certain kind of wood

God also gave instructions how long and high it should be

For he wanted to ensure their safety during the big flood.

What an architect God is as depicted in this account of him giving Noah instructions for the ark! Even the material and measurements were specific and detailed. We have another glimpse of God’s creativity in his functional designing of this boat that would ensure the safety of Noah and his family and all the different animal and bird species that would go with them in the ark. Just as Moses narrates this instruction to Noah, he begins to follow through with God’s ingenious creativity from the creation account. God is a master planner and designer with utmost consideration for his masterpieces.

Can you imagine if Noah didn’t have an obedient nature and started arguing with God with the designing and building the ark? It would be a disaster just like we see in many cases when architects, clients and builders do not see eye to eye on a project they are doing. Noah was carefully selected by God to carry out his plan to blot out evil on earth.

REFLECTION

  • What amazes you with this following account on the instructions to build the ark?

GENESIS 6 BLAMELESS NOAH & HIS GENERATION

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November 4

GENESIS 6

9 These are the generations of Noah. Noah was a righteous man, blameless in his generation. Noah walked with God. 10 And Noah had three sons, Shem, Ham, and Japheth.11 Now the earth was corrupt in God’s sight, and the earth was filled with violence. 12 And God saw the earth, and behold, it was corrupt, for all flesh had corrupted their way on the earth. 13 And God said to Noah, “I have determined to make an end of all flesh, for the earth is filled with violence through them. Behold, I will destroy them with the earth.   – Genesis 6:9-13

GENESIS 6 BLAMELESS NOAH & HIS GENERATION

A poem inspired by these verses by ILMA

God regretted having made man for they became so corrupt

He wanted to put an end to the evil that became so rampant

The Lord grieved over the sinfulness of those he made in his image

So, he planned to destroy this world that was so evil and twisted.

Noah was the only man who was uncorrupted and blameless

God found hope in restoring mankind through his righteous heart

The Lord will destroy the wicked world that it had become

Noah’s family would be the hope for a new world to come.

In this account, God focused on one man who was the only one who remained faithful in the original image that he created. Though Noah was not sinless, he and his family led a life of praise and worship to the Lord. Here, we are given a glimpse of the merciful nature of God. Despite all the evil going on in the world, he would use one single family to re-do what damage was done to his original plan in creation.

Like a virtuoso in art, God would not stop at doing everything to perfect and re-make whatever it takes if something goes wrong with his masterpiece. He found just one person to build up a world that has gone awry. The Lord God used one blameless person to start again his original purpose for mankind and his entire creation.

REFLECTION

GENESIS 6 GOD’S REGRET & GRIEF OVER MAN’S WICKEDNESS

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November 3

GENESIS 6

When man began to multiply on the face of the land and daughters were born to them,

2 the sons of God saw that the daughters of man were attractive. And they took as their wives any they chose. 3 Then the Lord said, “My Spirit shall not abide inman forever, for he is flesh: his days shall be 120 years.” 4 The Nephilim were on the earth in those days, and also afterward, when the sons of God came in to the daughters of man and they bore children to them. These were the mighty men who were of old, the men of renown. 5 The Lord saw that the wickedness of man was great in the earth, and that every intention of the thoughts of his heart was only evil continually.

6 And the Lord regretted that he had made man on the earth, and it grieved him to his heart. 7 So the Lord said, “I will blot out man whom I have created from the face of the land, man and animals and creeping things and birds of the heavens, for I am sorry that I have made them.” 8 But Noah found favor in the eyes of the Lord. – Genesis 6:1-8

GENESIS 6 GOD’S REGRET & GRIEF OVER MAN’S WICKEDNESS

A poem inspired by these verses by ILMA

As humans grew after the fall of Adam and Eve, the curse continues

The Lord God regretted creating man for he progressed in wickedness

But He was also grieving over the image he placed on them that was defiled

Sin changed that make that God created and corrupted his mind and heart.

The Lord couldn’t bear living with man as he watched them wallow in sin

He created them so that he can walk with them, but they never did

Except for one man named Noah, who found favor in God’s eyes

The Lord decided to annihilate mankind and cleanse the world of evil.

In verses 7, we hear a God who regrets and grieves over his own creation. It is beyond my mind how a God who is in control can be affected by man’s wickedness. It only shows God’s righteousness and hatred for evil. Only someone who loves can grieve over the death of righteousness and the proliferation of evil. Can you imagine how you would feel if you created something and that thing tried to destroy your original purpose for making them? I think, we would go berserk and mad and destroy that thing we made, wouldn’t you?

REFLECTION

  • What are your thoughts on God’s decision to blot out mankind in this chapter?

GENESIS 4 MORE DESCENDANTS FOR ADAM & EVE

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October 31

GENESIS 4

17 Cain knew his wife, and she conceived and bore Enoch. When he built a city, he called the name of the city after the name of his son, Enoch. 18 To Enoch was born Irad, and Irad fathered Mehujael, and Mehujael fathered Methushael, and Methushael fathered Lamech. 19 And Lamech took two wives. The name of the one was Adah, and the name of the other Zillah. 20 Adah bore Jabal; he was the father of those who dwell in tents and have livestock. 21 His brother’s name was Jubal; he was the father of all those who play the lyre and pipe. 22 Zillah also bore Tubal-cain; he was the forger of all instruments of bronze and iron. The sister of Tubal-cain was Naamah.23 Lamech said to his wives: “Adah and Zillah, hear my voice;you wives of Lamech, listen to what I say: I have killed a man for wounding me, a young man for striking me.24 If Cain’s revenge is sevenfold, then Lamech’s is seventy-sevenfold.”25 And Adam knew his wife again, and she bore a son and called his name Seth, for she said, “God has appointed for me another offspring instead of Abel, for Cain killed him.” 26 To Seth also a son was born, and he called his name Enosh. At that time people began to call upon the name of the Lord. – Genesis 4:17-26

GENESIS 4 MORE DESCENDANTS FOR ADAM & EVE

A poem inspired by these verses by ILMA

When Cain left Eden and settled in the land of Nod

He bore Enoch and also built a city which ha named after his son

Enoch bore Irad and then Mehujael fathered Methushael

Lamech was born from Methushael and his wife

Lamech had two wives and one of them gave him Jabal and Jubal

While the other wife gave birth to Tubal-cain and daughter, Naamah

At this time Eve gave birth to another son, Seth who also bore Enosh

This was the beginning of people calling upon the name of the Lord.

It is interesting to hear an account of the first people after Cain and Abel and what the aftermath of Cain’s murder brought about.  Humans were multiplying in number and yet the aftermath of Cain’s murder of Abel is being carried out to his descendants. The sinful nature is passed on to his children.

REFLECTION

  • Why do you think genealogies are included in the bible?
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GENESIS 4 THE FIRST OFFSPRINGS

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October 29

GENESIS 4

Now Adam knew Eve his wife, and she conceived and bore Cain, saying, “I have gottena man with the help of the Lord.” 2 And again, she bore his brother Abel. Now Abel was a keeper of sheep, and Cain a worker of the ground. 3 In the course of time Cain brought to the Lord an offering of the fruit of the ground, 4 and Abel also brought of the firstborn of his flock and of their fat portions. And the Lord had regard for Abel and his offering, 5 but for Cain and his offering he had no regard. So Cain was very angry, and his face fell. 6 The Lord said to Cain, “Why are you angry, and why has your face fallen? 7 If you do well, will you not be accepted?  And if you do not do well, sin is crouching at the door. Its desire is contrary to you, but you must rule over it.”  – Genesis 4:1-7

GENESIS 4 THE FIRST OFFSPRINGS

A poem inspired by these verses by ILMA

After Adam and Eve were oust in the garden of Eden

They bore their first offsprings: Cain and Abel

Abel was a shepherd and Cain worked tending the land in agriculture

They both gave God an offering from the fruit of their labor.

Abel chose the best of his sheep to offer to the Lord

But Cain just took his harvest without even selecting the best

As a result, the Lord rejected Cain’s offering which made him mad

But God received Abel’s well selected the first born of his flock.

In the following account, we witness the birth of Eve and Adam’s first children, Cain and Abel. One tended sheep and the other cultivated the field. They both gave an offering to the Lord, but interestingly, God only accepted Abel’s offering. If you don’t know the character of God, you will not understand why God had preference as to which offering to accept. But if you know that God is the Creator and Maker of all things and deserves all the honor and the best of what you have received from him, then you will understand why the Lord rejected Cain’s offering. When Cain didn’t care to give the best to God, he didn’t honor the Lord with what he received. God doesn’t need anything, but Abel’s act of selecting the best for the offering manifests his love and honor and praise for God.

REFLECTION

  • Why is it important for us to offer to the Lord our best harvest from our work?

GENESIS 3 THE NAMING OF EVE & AFTERMATH OF THE FALL

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October 28
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GENESIS 3
20 The man called his wife’s name Eve, because she was the mother of all living.21 And the LORD God made for Adam and for his wife garments of skins and clothed them. 22 Then the LORD God said, “Behold, the man has become like one of us in knowing good and evil. Now, lest he reach out his hand and take also of the tree of life and eat, and live forever—” 23 therefore the LORD God sent him out from the garden of Eden to work the ground from which he was taken. 24 He drove out the man, and at the east of the garden of Eden he placed the cherubim and a flaming sword that turned every way to guard the way to the tree of life. – Genesis 3:20-24
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GENESIS 3 THE NAMING OF EVE & AFTERMATH OF THE FALL
A poem inspired by these verses by ILMA
After our first parents fell into sin, Adam called his wife Eve
Despite their disobedience, God still covered them with grace
Rather than destroying them, he made garments to cover them
But after believing the lies of the serpent, things have changed.
Adam named his wife Eve as it means “mother of the living”
He hoped that someday God will restore their former status before sinning
The fear of not knowing when they will see God again was shattering
What used to be freedom and life now seems bondage and death.
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The name Eve is literally the word “living” in Hebrew, haw’wāh. Do you ever wonder how Adam came up with that name when their disobedience caused them death (a separation from God and his paradise). Even though we assume that Eve had her name when she was made from Adam’s ribs, it was only after the fall that she was given her name Eve. Female and helper were the names alluding to her before the fall.
According to some commentaries, the naming of Eve is a declaration of faith of Adam. That after their disobedience, he hoped that one day, they can have life restored again. In giving her this name, she is looking at future generations of humans to come. It sounds like a prophetic statement that foresees that the virgin birth will restore man’s status with God as he provides the solution for the appeasement of his wrath over their sin.
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REFLECTION
• How do you think Adam and Eve feel when verse 24 was happening?

CALL TO SPIRITUAL GROWTH Poem Devotional

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October 20
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CALL TO SPIRITUAL GROWTH
A poem by ILMA
You have been believers for long and yet you are spiritually dull
You don’t seem to listen and ought to be teaching others now
Instead, you need someone to teach you again the basics of God’s word
You are like babies who need milk and cannot eat solid food.
Those who lives on milk is still an infant and doesn’t know how to do what’s right
Solid food is for the mature, who through training recognize between truth and lies
So, let’s stop going over the basic teachings about Christ again and again
Instead, grow up and mature in your understanding.
Surely you don’t need to start again with the fundamental importance of repenting
You don’t need further instruction about the resurrection and eternal judgment
And so, God willing, we will move forward to further understanding
For it is impossible to bring back to repentance those who were once enlightened.
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MEMORY VERSE
You have been believers so long now that you ought to be teaching others. Instead, you need someone to teach you again the basic things about God’s word. You are like babies who need milk and cannot eat solid food. – Hebrews 5:12
Read: Hebrews 5:11- 6:4
There are some believers who have been Christians for so long and yet got stuck in their growth. They are still where they were when they first were called to commit to Jesus. They rely on the body of Christ to grow themselves instead of building intimacy with Jesus and growing in knowing his word. They get satisfied with what they’re used to have and never take a deeper walk with the Lord.
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REFLECTION
• Why do some people stay spiritual babies?
• What is the role of the church in making Christians stay the way they are?
• What is the responsibility of a believer in making himself grow spiritually?
• How can reading God’s word be a big step in maturing?

PAUL’S ARREST Poem Devotional

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July 3
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PAUL’S ARREST
A poem by ILMA
The whole city was rocked by the accusations to Paul and a riot ensued
Paul was grabbed and dragged out of the Temple and gates closed
As they were trying to kill him, word reached the commander
The Roman commander of the regimen heard of the uproar.
He immediately called out his soldiers and officers and ran the crowd
When the mob saw the commander and the troops, they stopped beating Paul
Then the commander arrested Paul and ordered him bound in chains
He asked the crowd who he was and what he has done.
Since he couldn’t find out the truth in all the uproar the confusion
He ordered Paul to be taken to the fortress but the mob was so violent
The soldiers had to lift him to their soldiers to protect him
The crowd followed behind, shouting “Kill him, kill him!”
As Paul was about to be taken inside, he asked to commander for a word with him
The commander asked if he was the Egyptian who led a rebellion
Paul replied “I am a Jew and a citizen of Tarsus in Cilicia
He asked the commander to talk to the people and he agreed.
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MEMORY VERSE
As Paul reached the stairs, the mob grew so violent the soldiers had to lift him to their shoulders to protect him. – Acts21:35
Read: Acts 21:30-38
The reaction of the crowd to Paul was so unthinkable. For someone who has done nothing wrong but to follow the Holy Spirit, it is evident how corrupt Jerusalem has become. They needed someone to blame and condemn and just like they did to Jesus, they are actually repeating it on Paul
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REFLECTION
• Why do you think the crowd was so violently and vehemently adamant to kill and persecute Paul? What ticked them off?

YOU ARE NOT ALONE Poem Devotional

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May 5________________________________________
Stand firm against him and be strong in your faith. Remember that your family of believers all over the world is going through the same kind of suffering you are. -1 Peter 5:4(NLT)
YOU ARE NOT ALONE
A poem and essay by ILMA
When you are being pressed with so much suffering
Run to Jesus, he will give you strength to keep you enduring
Stand firm against him and be strong in your faith
Remember that you are not alone in your walk.
There are your family of believers all over the world
They are going through the same things, you’re not alone
The Lord will never forsake or abandon you
He has covered you, so run to his truth.
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One of the ways that the evil one attack us is being isolating us from others. He wants us to think that we don’t need anyone, especially God. He makes us believe that our case is the worst and that there is no way out. He will discourage us with many lies so that we cannot move forward to the next assignment God is planning for us.
The bible tells us that God never leaves us or forsakes us. He also wants us to be among other believers. When we fellowship with others, we learn that we are not alone in whatever we are going through. This is what the devil doesn’t want us to know.
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PRAYER
Thank you Lord for not leaving us alone.
REFLECTION
What happens when we isolate ourselves from others?
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