Author Archives: ilmaarts

DEVOUR GOD’S WORD Poem Devotional

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April 25________________________________________
When I discovered your words, I devoured them. They are my joy and my heart’s delight, for I bear your name, O, Lord God of Heaven’s Armies. – Jeremiah 15:16(NLT)
DEVOUR GOD’S WORD
A poem and essay by ILMA
When you become a believer, you begin to crave for the Lord
You will only know him deeper if through devouring his word
It is the food for the spirit that keeps us spiritually healthy
It brings all lies into the light and gives us the victory.
When we eat the food for our spirits, we become wise
It clears our minds and hearts and exposes ill advice
Consume the word so you can experience a life of peace
It brings us comfort, corrects, convicts and makes us see.
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I don’t know of anyone who does not like eating. In fact, one of the hardest to control in our senses is “taste.” With the explosion of the culinary arts in the last decades, it has become harder to control ourselves from cravings. How we consume food and how the food industry has brainwashed us to think that we are being fed good food, when we are actually slowly poisoned.
We can look at how the enemy also poisons our spirit with all kinds of lies and tricks. The word of God is our weapon and shield. It can deliver us from bondage to sin and addictions.
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PRAYER
Lord, thank you for your word that gives us life.
REFLECTION
How often must a believer consume the word of God?
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

WHEN YOU LONG FOR IDOLS Poem Devotional

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April 24________________________________________
Longing after idols has made them foolish. They have played the prostitute, serving other gods and deserting their God. – Hosea 4:12(NLT)
WHEN YOU LONG FOR IDOLS
A poem and essay by ILMA
When you long for idols, you are compromised
You risk your life and you’ll pay a high price
You are committing adultery to your creator
When you serve other gods, you defy your Father.
Don’t give your loyalty to idols who cannot save
Be faithful only to the Lord and he’ll make you brave
Don’t ever long for idols, they have no power
Your faith in Christ will make the devil cower.
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In the book of Hosea, we are given a detailed account of how the Israelites played a prostitute role by serving other gods and turning their backs on the Lord Jesus Christ. After the Lord delivered them from the Egyptians in the Red Sea and giving them manna in the desert, they started complaining and pining for what they had when they were slaves in Egypt. They started to lose patience and demanded Moses why God has made them to suffer in the desert. It took an eleven-day journey in the Promised Land forty years because of their disobedience, stubbornness and idolatry. The bible tells us that we commit spiritual adultery when we turn to other gods. God is a jealous god and he doesn’t’ want competition. He created us for himself, not for other gods.
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PRAYER
Lord, take away from me anything that will become an idol.
REFLECTION
Why does God hate the sin of idolatry?
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

WINNING US BACK Poem Devotional

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April 23________________________________________
But then I will win her back once again. I will lead her into the desert and speak tenderly to her there. -Hosea 2:14(NLT)
WINNING US BACK
A poem and essay by ILMA
The Lord loves us unconditionally
Even when we behave lawlessly
He forgives us our sins when we repent
He comforts our hearts when we lament.
He wins us back when we rebel and disobey
He lets the Spirit convict us when we go astray
He speaks to us wisely and gives us discernment
If we depend on him, he will give us enlightenment.
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When I lost someone’s love because of a wrong decision I made, I began to pursue to win back his trust. I asked for forgiveness and became accountable for what I did. Forgiveness can be granted easily, but sometimes, trust may take a while to happen. If the person repeatedly changed his behavior, then the other party may start to build the trust again and the relationship may be repaired. But if the offending partner do not follow through his or her word, there may be consequences that will ensue from the lack of accountability.
The bible tells us an account of God’s great love for Israel. Despite his people’s unfaithfulness, he still wins her back and brings her to a place where they initially became lovers. He shows how much he grants us grace and mercy despite all our sins.
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PRAYER
Lord, thank you for loving me unconditionally.
REFLECTION
How do you respond to God’s winning you back when you turn your back on him?
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

NOT EVEN IN DARKNESS Poem Devotional

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April 22________________________________________
But even in darkness, I cannot hide from you. To you, the night shines as bright as day. Darkness and light are the same to you. – Psalm 139:12(NLT)
NOT EVEN IN DARKNESS
A poem and essay by ILMA
The Lord pursues us even in our sinful mess
He gives grace whether we when sin or at our best
Not even in darkness can we hide from him
He shines his light and convicts us to confess our sins.
He sees what is in our hearts, he knows us very well
Why do we continue to allow the darkness to dwell?
He can see the big picture and also the details
Let us not allow the enemy to trick us or ensnare.
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In the dark, many unseen things can happen. Some survey says that sixty-three percent of sexual and rape crimes happen during the night. Why do you think evil lurks at night? At night, humans tend to be tired from the work or events of the whole day. So, they tend to be less alert. We start to get ready for resting our bodies and mind. I think this is when the enemy chooses to steal, kill and destroy. He knows that we are more likely to loosen our guard.
The bible says that despite the darkness, God still pursues us. He shines his light to us so we need not lurk in darkness or be afraid of it.
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PRAYER
Lord, thank you for being there for me especially in the midst of darkness.
REFLECTION
How can you avoid to be victimized by the tactics of the enemy?
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

RELENTLESS PURSUIT

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April 21________________________________________
You go before me and follow me. You place your hand of blessings on my head. Such knowledge is too wonderful for me, too great for me to understand. -Psalm 139:5-6(NLT)
RELENTLESS PURSUIT
A poem and essay by ILMA
Who is there to keep on pursuing someone like me?
Who can continue to love me despite all my sins?
The Lord relentlessly pursue his beloved children
They want them all to eventually join him in heaven.
Lord, you go before me and follow me
You never leave me or abandon me
Such knowledge makes my heart glad
I am forever grateful to you, my God!
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Have you ever been pursued relentlessly by someone who loves and cares for you much? In my forties, I met someone who would do anything for me. He came to meet me from another part of the world just to show his deep desire to get to know me. He even came to my country of origin, the Philippines from Canada despite the breakout of severe acute respiratory syndrome(SARS) which was a contagious respiratory illness. He took the risk of going to a place where he had never been just to take care of me during my surgery. I have never been pursued in my life so persistently. I felt very blessed and loved.
The bible tells us that there is only one other person who will never stop pursuing us despite our unworthiness.
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PRAYER
Thank you for chasing me even though at times I am not worthy.
REFLECTION
How can we relentlessly pursue God the same way he persistently does?
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

EVEN BEFORE WE SAY IT Poem Devotional

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April 20________________________________________
You know what I am going to say even before I say it, Lord. -Psalm 139:4(NLT)
EVEN BEFORE WE SAY IT
A poem and essay by ILMA
Can someone know what you are about to say?
Can a person see your heart’s condition in every way?
No human can comprehend what’s in the mind of a man
Only our heavenly Father can see through every human.
We cannot hide from God; he knows us inside and out
He recognises in vivid details what we are all about
Even before we say it, he already recognizes it
Why not seek his truth so you can hear his Spirit?
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Is it really possible to discern what someone else is thinking? If you are very intimate with a person you are in relationship with, there may be instances that you can foresee what they are about to say or guess their thoughts. But, I am sure that you can’t always know at all times what these thoughts are.
Only the Lord knows everything and can see all things before, during and after a person says something. He even sees the condition of our hearts. He can discern our motives or intentions, our desires and our schemes. Despite his omniscience and omnipotence, he still respects us and gave us free will? What will it take to be open and honest with Jesus?
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PRAYER
Lord, please give me a heart that is open and honest.
REFLECTION
How can a believer establish an intimate relationship with God where he or she can honestly pour his or her hearts to Jesus?

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

GOD EXAMINES THE HEART Poem Devotional

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April 19________________________________________
O Lord, you have examined my heart and know everything about me. – Psalm 139:1(NLT)
GOD EXAMINES THE HEART
A poem and essay by ILMA
O Lord, please examine my heart
Look closely and help me never to brag
Your love for me is unconditional and true
Help my heart to be cleansed and renewed.
Convict me when I am inclined to do wrong
Show me how to be patient and endure long
Help me never to allow my heart to harden
Heal me when it gets corrupted or broken.

Heart surgery is done to correct problems with the heart. The most common type of heart surgery for adults is coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG). During CABG, a healthy artery or vein from the body is connected, or grafted, to a blocked coronary (heart) artery. The grafted artery or vein bypasses (that is, goes around) the blocked portion of the coronary artery. This creates a new path for oxygen-rich blood to flow to the heart muscle. CABG can relieve chest pain and may lower the risk of having a heart attack. Traditional heart surgery, often called open-heart surgery, is done by opening the chest wall to operate on the heart. This allows the surgeon to operate on a heart that isn’t beating and that doesn’t have blood flowing through it.
Spiritual heart surgery happens when God examines our hearts and rebukes us if it’s been corrupted by sin. He revives us through his word.
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PRAYER
Lord, always examine and cleanse my heart.
REFLECTION
Why do we need to allow hearts to be examined by God?
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

CARRY YOUR OWN CROSS Poem Devotional

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April 18________________________________________
And if you do not carry your own cross and follow me, you cannot be my disciple.
-Luke 14:27(NLT)
CARRY YOUR OWN CROSS
A poem and essay by ILMA
Do you constantly complain about your sufferings?
As a Christian, you ought to hope and keep on believing
You cannot be Christ’s disciple if you can’t endure
It grows your faith when you quietly suffer.
Like Jesus, we are encouraged to carry our burdens
It makes us know him and brings us closer to heaven
Why do you continue to complain about your predicament?
Embrace it and do it for Jesus and you won’t lament.________________________________________
Did you watch the movie “The Passion of Christ?” It was one of the most powerful movies I have seen in my life. It was about how Jesus Christ carried the cross which bore all our sins and how he was abused, rejected, spitted on and nailed on the cross. To be crucified in the time of Jesus was the death penalty for someone who committed a grave crime. Yet, the bible says that he was innocent. Mel Gibson directed this movie in order to give the viewers a chance to get into the shoes of Christ. It was probably the closest film that really depicted the way he suffered in order to free us from the penalty of sin. The bible says that if we want to be his disciple, we must carry our own cross.
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PRAYER
Lord, give me strength to carry on all the trials and sufferings.
REFLECTION
Why do you think God allows humans to suffer?
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

JESUS COMES FIRST Poem Devotional

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April 17________________________________________
If you want to be my disciple, you must hate everyone else by comparison – your father and mother, wife and children, brothers and sisters, even your own life. Otherwise, you cannot be my disciple. – Luke 14:26(NLT)
JESUS COMES FIRST
A poem and essay by ILMA
When you commit to be a follower of Jesus
Nothing or no one else is very precious
Jesus must always be your priority
Otherwise, you won’t have the authority
Only through Christ can we be brave
Jesus must come first, then you can be saved
If you want to be his disciple, focus on him
It will make you overcome temptations to sin.
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“Blood is thicker than water” is a saying that means that the ties that bind are stronger when it comes to family than people outside the family. However, in the bible, Luke 8:21 says that our mother and brothers are those who hear God’s word and put it into practice. Our spiritual family isn’t necessarily our blood kin. It may be any believer who applies God’s word in their lives.
It was very difficult for me to believe this old saying that blood is thicker than water because I didn’t feel that I belonged to my own family. I am so blessed now to have found a family of believers where I belong. You can’t be a disciple of Jesus if you don’t make him first in your life.________________________________________
PRAYER
Lord, help me to never prioritize anyone but you.
REFLECTION
Why do people sometimes make their family first than God? What’s wrong with that?
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

GIVE UP ALL FOR JESUS Poem Devotional

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April 16________________________________________
So you cannot be my disciple without giving up everything you own. – Luke 14:33(NLT)
GIVE UP ALL FOR JESUS
A poem and essay by ILMA
When you decide to be Jesus’ disciple
You are required to follow him and give up all
You can’t serve other gods but only your creator
You must give up the world and all other idols.
Surrender everything you own when you follow Christ
Nothing else should take your focus on him in this life
Relinquish all things that might take his place
This way, you can guard your heart all of your life’s days.
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When you get married, you give up your single life and embrace a life with your spouse. You are no longer two separate individuals, but you are now two in one. In other words, you are two-in-one. You cannot be removed from each other’s presence unless one of you goes astray and decides that they now want to go back to their former single life.
Just like changing your status from single to married, being a disciple of Christ also means that there are things that you need to give up in order to make the union thrive. The bible tells us that there are some pre-requisites to being a disciple. Jesus Christ must be the center of your life and that you must give up anything that will compete with your attention to focus only on him.
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PRAYER
Lord, let me learn to surrender everything for you.
REFLECTION
How is relinquishing all to Jesus essential for spiritual maturity?
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