Author Archives: ilmaarts

TROUBLES PRODUCE GLORY Poem Devotional

Posted on by

Sept 20th 103

June 11                                                                         The Power of God’s Word
That is why we never give up. Though our bodies are dying our spirits are being renewed every day. For our present troubles are small and won’t last very long. Yet they produce for us a glory that vastly outweighs them and will last forever.
–2 Corinthians 4:16-17(NLT)
TROUBLES PRODUCE GLORY
A poem and essay by ILMA
Does trouble bring you down?
Do you constantly feel consumed and bound?
When we are beset by tribulations
We need to focus on God’s love and salvation.
Though our bodies are dying
God is constantly renewing
Troubles may seem disheartening
Yet it produces for us a glory that is astounding.
I grew up surrounded by people who constantly complained. It was a common thing to hear criticisms and demands from members of my family. It seems like there is never enough one can do to satisfy the expectations of someone. The worst thing is that these expectations were all unspoken and hidden. Thus, trouble and conflicts thrived greatly in our household. Yet, something inside me told me to never give up. I didn’t realize then that it was God’s spirit who walked me through my life’s troubles.
The bible tells us that we must never give up when we encounter troubles. It is so small in comparison to the glory that is awaiting us when we die for Christ.
PRAYER
Lord, let me see trouble as a stepping stone to glory.
REFLECTION
How can troubles strengthen us?

HOW TO RECEIVE GOD’S MERCY Poem Devotional

Posted on by

rockwood and alines bday 284

June 10                                                                                   The Power of God’s Word

But I will be merciful only if you stop your evil thoughts and deeds and start treating each other with justice; only if you stop exploiting foreigners, orphans and widows; only if you stop your murdering; and only if you stop harming yourselves by worshiping idols.  -Jeremiah 7:5,6(NLT)     

HOW TO RECEIVE GOD’S MERCY

A poem and essay by ILMA

Are you in need of God’s grace and mercy?

What does it take to receive his promises and be happy?

If you despise unfair treatment and advocate justice

The Lord will keep his promises and grant you peace.

If you treat orphans, widows and foreigners kindly

He will meet all your needs and bring your prosperity

If you stop harming yourselves by worshipping idols

He will fill your life with bounty and make you very capable.

“Mercy is like a judge finding you guilty, but then withholding any punishment. Grace is getting something you could never have imagined; an unfathomable gift.!” – I was struck by this in Acts 17:11 article on the web. It clearly defines the word mercy and grace.

God talks to Jeremiah in chapter 7 how we are to receive God’s mercy. He gave a list of requirements to fulfill to be able to access it:

  • Stop evil thoughts and deeds
  • Treat each other justly
  • Stop killing
  • Stop worshipping idols

PRAYER

Lord, grant me mercy.

REFLECTION

Why do you think God gave requirements to grant mercy?

CLEANSED BY CHRIST’S BLOOD Poem Devotional

Posted on by

milcroftnand a, 003

June 9                                                                               The Power of God’s Word
Let us go right into the presence of God with sincere hearts fully trusting him. For our guilty consciences have been sprinkled with Christ’s blood to make us clean and our bodies have been washed with pure water.–Hebrews 10:22 (NLT)
CLEANSED BY CHRIST’S BLOOD
A poem and essay by ILMA
Do your sins make you remorseful and wallow in guilt?
All you need to do is confess them and let Christ clean it
Because of grace, mercy and the love of God
Our guilty consciences have been sprinkled with Christ’s blood.
Let us go right into his presence with sincere hearts
As we believe, he renews our mind to have a fresh start
Our bodies have been washed with pure water
We will be redeemed and join his kingdom that lasts forever.
Are you guilt ridden most of the time? Are you hard on yourself and others? Are you critical and judgmental of yourself and others? If you say yes to these three questions, you must be living in guilt. One of the devil’s tactics is to make you stay guilty and not confess your sins. He likes to steal our peace and joy.
The bible tells us that Christ’s blood have been sprinkled on us when we believe. There is no reason for us to stay in guilt because Christ paid for our sins at the cross.
PRAYER
Lord, keep me free from guilt.
REFLECTION
How can guilt be an invitation to the enemy?

ANTIDOTE TO GREED Poem Devotional

Posted on by

stormy clouds 2012 109

June 8                                                                         The Power of God’s Word
Greed causes fighting trusting the Lord leads to prosperity–Proverbs 28:25 (NLT)

A poem and essay by ILMA
Whenever you cater to your selfish nature
You compromise your integrity and stature
Greed causes conflicts and trouble
Trusting the Lord gets you out of the rubble.
Trust the Lord for it leads to prosperity
Seek him first and you will live in honesty
Bring to him all that you have and he will multiply
The Lord is faithful, all your needs, he will supply.
Greed has been the cause of many conflicts in people’s lives. Sadly, the world has propagated the concept of selfishness in many ways. We are bombarded by marketing strategies disguises wants as needs in order to feed our egos. If our lives are not focused on God, we will easily fall prey to these temptations.
The bible tells us that greed causes fighting but trusting the Lord leads to prosperity. There are many stories in the bible that shows this truth. Cain killed his brother Abel, Saul plotted to kill David; David desired another woman so badly that he killed the husband; Judas sold Jesus because of greed. Many nations have been at war because of greed. The love for control and power is so prevalent in our society. Faithfulness in the Lord will break all poverty.
PRAYER
Lord, keep me away from greed and let me trust you more.
REFLECTION
How can you avoid greed?

POUR OUT YOUR HEARTS Poem Devotional

Posted on by

evoi lunch out 154

June 7                                                                                    The Power of God’s Word
Pour out your hearts like water to the Lord. Lift up your hands to him in prayer, pleading for your children. –Lamentations 2:19 (NLT)

A poem and essay by ILMA
Pour out your hearts like water to the Lord
Be humble and ask him to replace the old
Lift up your hands in prayer for your children
Allow God to help you carry your burdens.
Your tears will cleanse your fears
You will be protected from the enemy who steals
Pray and pour out your hearts incessantly
Until something happens, keep praying faithfully.
Do you have children who have lost their way and turned their backs to God? It is one of the most painful experiences when you watch our own children turn their backs to God. I did the same thing when I was a teenager. I disobeyed my parents because I was living in pride. I thought I knew better. I rebelled constantly which pained my parents so badly. Now, the wheels have turned in on me.
The bible tells us to pour out your hearts like water to the Lord. Lift up your hands to him in prayer, pleading for your children. Prayer is the most powerful way for changes to happen. It cleanses our souls when we pour out our hearts to God.
PRAYER
Lord, hear our pleas for our children.
REFLECTION
How is praying for our children the best gift we can give them?

GOD PRUNES US Poem Devotional

Posted on by

012

June 6                                                                                       The Power of God’s Word
He cuts off every branch of mine that doesn’t produce fruit and he prunes the branches that do bear fruit so they will produce even more.
–John 15:2 (NLT)

A poem and essay by ILMA
Are your activities geared on God’s kingdom?
Does your life exhibit peace, love and freedom?
Whenever we are unproductive in life
God wants you to believe in him and sit tight.
He cuts off every branch that doesn’t produce
He wants you to acknowledge his gifts and use
God prunes the branches that do not bear fruit
His words make us grow; it is our soul’s food.
Pruning is cutting undesired twigs, branches, or roots from; it is to rid or clear of anything superfluous or undesirable. It is an important aspect of gardening. If you want your trees, shrubs or plants to bear fruit and be healthy, pruning is essential.
The bible likens God to a gardener who cuts off every branch that doesn’t produce fruit in our lives. He prunes those areas in our lives that already bear fruits so that they will produce more. He removes things in our lives that is unproductive and trims our excesses so that we can be fruitful even more. He allows only what will be good for our lives and cuts off anything that will hurt us or disconnect us with him.
PRAYER
Lord, thank you for pruning me.
REFLECTION
What has God pruned in your life?

SIN WHISPERS TO THE WICKED Poem Devotional

Posted on by

canadablooms 139

June 5                                                                                      The Power of God’s Word
Sin whispers to the wicked deep within their hearts. They have no fear of God at all. In their blind conceit, they cannot see how wicked they really are.
–Psalm 36:1-2 (NLT)

A poem and essay by ILMA
Are your thoughts pure or awful?
Is your heart clean and faithful?
Sin whispers to the wicked deep inside
They do not follow God and abide.
They have no fear of the Lord
They only care to give themselves applaud
They cannot see how wicked they really are
Sin has allowed them to be isolated and far.
Have you ever experienced the cruelty of wicked people? They can easily hurt someone so pure. They have no reverence for the Lord. All they care about is to cater to their desires and cave in to sin. They have no idea that they are sinning because they have totally been blinded by the enemy to live in the lie that they are their own gods. Pride had been deeply indoctrinated in their hearts to give an objective evaluation of their evil ways.
The bible tells us that sin whispers to the wicked within their hearts. They have no fear of God. In their blind conceit, they cannot even see how wicked they really are. They have been blinded by their pride.
PRAYER
Lord, give me a pure and humble heart that seeks you.
REFLECTION
Why is humility our greatest tool to combat sin?

WALK IN FREEDOM Poem Devotional

Posted on by

stormy clouds 2012 073

June 4                                                       The Power of God’s Word
I will walk in freedom, for I have devoted myself to your commandments.
–Psalm 119:45(NLT)

A poem and essay by ILMA
Do you walk in love or in fear?
Is your mind constantly stirred?
Do you allow the Spirit to bring you wisdom?
Are you faithful to walk in love to gain freedom?
The commandments will release you from bondage to sin
Obedience to his commands keeps you strong and empowers you within
Walk in freedom by devoting yourself to God’s truth
It frees you from slavery to anything that has taken root.
Generational sins, curses and patterns are attitudes, actions, beliefs, behaviors, and/or habits that we have inherited from our family or relatives. We then “enter into” the same sin pattern and make it our own. It is usually repeated throughout our life as well as by individuals in successive generations. It took many decades before I was released from generational sins passed on in my family of origin. I am thankful to God for breaking the patterns in my family through me. It didn’t exempt me from the effects of these generation sins, but God used it to reclaim me and my entire clan. The bible tells us that freedom is the result of devoting our lives to following God’s commands. Obedience will protect us from the bondage to sin.
PRAYER
Lord, help me to obey you always.
REFLECTION
Why is obedience an integral part in our salvation?

JESUS’ FRIENDS Poem Devotional

Posted on by

guelphriverbikeride 126

June 3                                                                                  The Power of God’s Word
You are my friends if you do what I command. I no longer call you slaves because a master doesn’t confide in his slaves. Now you are my friends, since I have told you everything the Father told me.–John 15:14-15 (NLT)

A poem and essay by ILMA
Do you live your life following his commands?
Do you constantly ask and demand?
Do you know God intimately?
Do you seek his word daily?
You are a friend of Jesus when you abide in him
He confides his father’s will so you can be redeemed
You are his friend when you align your life in his will
You’ll hear his voice when you are constantly still.
Have you ever had friends that lasted for a very long time? What did it take to last that long? Friendships take time and effort. You do not just have them and keep them without investing your time and care for them. It takes love, patience and kindness to be able to sustain friendships.
The bible says that we are called Jesus’ friends if we follow his commands. God confides everything to us through his son Jesus, who shared God’s word and his will. What are you going to do with what Jesus intimately shared with you?
PRAYER
Lord, I am honored that you call me a friend.
REFLECTION
How do we nurture the friendship we have with Jesus?

A PLEA FOR ANSWERS Poem Devotional

Posted on by

photo by ILMA

June 2 The Power of God’s Word
Answer my prayers, O Lord, for your unfailing love is wonderful. Take care of me for your mercy is plentiful– Psalm 69:16 (NLT)

A poem and essay by ILMA
Lord, where are you when I am in need?
How long will my heart bleed?
I am surrounded by people who don’t show affection
How long will you heal them from their deep affliction?
Oh, how I long to be heard and be seen
Why do unbelievers reject love and chose sin?
Please renew my mind and cease my exhaustion?
Will you show me mercy in all my tribulations?
Have you ever prayed for a long time for someone or something to happen and yet see no answers to your incessant requests? The hardest thing to visually see is the change of heart of people. Only God can see someone’s heart and intentions. We will never be able to know or sense if someone’s heart and mind is being renewed by God. Their actions or circumstances may give us a clue as to what God has done to them. We can never really see or know what is in their hearts.
The bible tells us that God’s love is unfailing and that he takes care of us because he is full of mercy. He lavishes us with mercy and grace always.
PRAYER
Lord, give me wisdom to know when you have answered my prayers.
REFLECTION
Why is it important to never lose hope?