July 30
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WHAT IT MEANS TO REALLY LOVE
A poem by ILMA
Don’t just pretend to love other, really love them
Hate what is wrong and hold tightly to what is righteous
Love each other with genuine affection and honor each other
Never be lazy but work hard and serve the Lord enthusiastically.
Rejoice in the confident hope, be patient in trouble, and keep on praying
When God’s people are in need, be ready to help all believers
Always be eager to practice hospitality and bless those who persecute you
Don’t curse them; pray that God will bless them and be happy with them.
Weep with those who weep; live in harmony with each other
Don’t be too proud to enjoy the company of ordinary people
And don’t think you know it all or ponder you’re better than anyone
Never pay back evil with evil; do things in a way that’s honorable.
Do all that you can to live in peace with all people and don’t take revenge
Leave that to the righteous anger of God for he will do it for them
Instead feed even your enemies and by doing this you’ll be rewarded
Don’t let evil conquer you, but conquer evil by doing good.
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MEMORY VERSE
Don’t just pretend to love others. Really love them. Hate what is wrong. Hold tightly to what is good. – Romans 12:9
Read: Romans 12:9-21
Love is one of the most abused word in this world. In God’s economy, the word “love” is very different from how the world views it. It is not focused on “self” but more on others. It is genuine affection and generous hospitality to others. It is being with others and empathizing with what people are going through, whether happy or sad. It is treating even your enemy with respect.
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REFLECTION
• How do you view love and what are your challenges seeing it like God does?
Tag Archives: unconditional love
AS GREAT AS THE HEIGHT OF THE HEAVEN Poem Devotional
August 22
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For his unfailing love toward those who fear him is as great as the height of the heaven’s above the earth. -Psalm 103:12(NLT)
AS GREAT AS THE HEIGHT OF THE HEAVEN
A poem and essay by ILMA
Have you ever been loved so much unconditionally?
There is no greater than a love that lasts infinitely
Your heavenly Father values you as a prized possession
Are you able to reciprocate his great devotion?
God’s unfailing love to those who revere him
It is as great as the height of the heaven
He has proven his love through the sacrifice of Jesus
Why do you doubt that you are valued and precious?
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The word “doubt” is derived from Latin dubitare or dubius from which we get “dubious.”
Doubt is defined as unbelief, rejection, denial, agnosticism, faithlessness, reservation, skeptical, questioning, wavering, indeterminate. If we go back in Genesis, we will be reminded that the first sin was to instill doubt in Eve’s mind about the character of God. Genesis 3:1 tells us that the serpent asked this question to Eve to make her doubt God: “Did God really say you must not eat the fruit from any of the trees in the garden?” This question made Eve start getting dubious. She now couldn’t obey God without question. She started to waver in her loyalty. The bible tells us how much we are loved by God and that his love is as great as the heavens. So, why do we usually tend to doubt instead of believe?
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PRAYER
Lord, please free me from any form of unbelief.
REFLECTION
How can doubts corrupt one’s heart?
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
A WORD OF COMFORT Poem Devotional
June 29
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“Comfort, comfort my people,” says your God. “Speak tenderly to Jerusalem. Tell her that her sad days are gone and her sins are pardoned. – Isaiah 40:1-2(NLT)
A WORD OF COMFORT
A poem and essay by ILMA
Have you been concerned about troubles?
God will speak tenderly and grant you his power
He will whisper a word of comfort to calm you
Fear not; He will change you and make you new.
He forgives you infinitely, so run and confess it
He loves you so much and forgives quickly
Your sad days will be gone; He brings comfort
Rejoice, the Lord will make you come through.
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According to Baker’s Evangelical dictionary, the basic concept for comfort in both the Old and New Testaments is encouragement, whether by words or the presence of another to help in time of need. Synonymous words are console, help, give relief, cheer up, exhort, and fear not. In the English dictionary, it is defined as the easing or alleviation of a person’s feelings of grief or distress. Comfort is a much needed relief for anyone who is going through something beyond their control. We learn to give comfort because we were given comfort at a very young age since we were a baby. Like how you got comfort from your mother when you were hungry or fearful, the Lord also brings you comfort by accepting you for who you are and forgiving you no matter what you’ve done.
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PRAYER
Lord, thank you for your comforting unconditional love.
REFLECTION
When was the last time you gave comfort to someone in need?
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
UNCONDITIONAL HELP Poem Devotional
December 11
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Give to anyone who asks; and when things are taken away from you, don’t try to get them back. -Luke 6:30(NLT)
UNCONDITIONAL HELP
A poem and essay by ILMA
Do you respond quickly when someone’s in need?
Give to anyone who asks; don’t give in to greed
Find out how you can be of assistance to the needy
Be sensitive to others’ difficulty and always be ready.
Unconditional love gives help without expectations
It is extending one’s self without gratification
Unconditional help manifests God’s true love
We are expected to give it out by our Father up above.
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I was in a thrift store one day and this lady was having a hard time carrying a small coffee table that she purchased. It was a winter snowy day that afternoon. I held the door open for her so she could squeeze it out without much difficulty. I didn’t wait for her to ask help but I saw she needed it. As she struggled to walk and carry it in the snow, I offered to help her carry it to her car. She said she didn’t have any and was going to walk to her house with the purchase. I had my van just right in front of the store, so I offered to bring her home. She was shocked that a total stranger would do that for her. Giving unconditional help to those in need is required from believers.
PRAYER
Lord, give me opportunities to give assistance to those in need.
REFLECTION
Should you be careful who to help these days or should you help anyone who asks?
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 CASTS OUT FEAR Poem Devotional
Nov 28
Such love has no fear, because perfect love expels all fear. If we are afraid, it is for fear of punishment, and this shows that we have not fully experience his perfect love.
– 1 John 4:18(NLT)
WHAT CASTS OUT FEAR
A poem and essay by ILMA
What kinds of fears have kept you enslaved?
The enemy brings insecurities so we won’t be saved?
If we are afraid, it is usually for fear of punishment
It may also be fear of rejection or abandonment.
God’s faithful love for us is perfect and total
The kind of love that casts out fear is unconditional
Such perfect love expels all kinds of anxiety
It brings us peace, joy and tranquility.
There are many things that people fear. Fear of rejection, being unloved, abandoned, ostracized, misjudged, laughed at, belittled, and many more are just some of the many kinds of fear we experience. I used to have claustrophobia. It probably resulted from being confined in a sack when I was a small child. It took many years before I got over the fear of small spaces. One friend exposed me slowly and assured me of being confined in tiny places. He first stayed with me to walk me through overcoming it. Because he built that trust, I felt safe to go through it.
The bible says that perfect love casts out fear. Only God is the source of this perfect love.
PRAYER
Lord, always let me cast my fears on you.
REFLECTION
How has unconditional love freed you from fear?
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