PROOF OF LOVE Poem Devotional

December 31
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All who love me will do what I say. My Father will love them, and we will come and make our home with each of them. Anyone who doesn’t love me will not obey me.
– John 14:23-24(NLT)
PROOF OF LOVE
A poem and essay by ILMA
When you love Jesus Christ with all your heart
You will prove it by obeying his truth in your life
It will manifest in actions not just words that you utter
You show love by obeying Christ and loving your brother.
All who love Jesus will follow what he says
They look up to his promises and continually pray
Anyone who doesn’t love the Lord will not obey
They will be defeated because they do not really care.
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When someone claims they love another person, one of the best proof of this claim is obedience. Between parents and children, we know that those who obey what we say as parents actually shows that they love us. Between lovers, obeying and respecting what the other person believes or requests is a manifestation that they love each other. The bible tells us that Jesus sets the standard for true love to all his people. Obedience is his pre-requisite for proof of love. Following what he says harvests the fruits of the spirit such as joy, love, kindness, gentleness, goodness, faithfulness and self-control. Those who do not love Jesus will be disobedient and rebellious.
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PRAYER
Lord, help me to always be devoted to you by obeying your commands.
REFLECTION
How can you overcome man’s natural bent to disobedience?
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

THE MYSTERY OF GOD’S SPIRIT poem devotional

December 29
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Soon the world will no longer see me, but you will see me. Since I live, you also will live. When I am raised to life again, you will know that I am in my Father, and you are in me, and I am in you. – John 14:19-20(NLT)
THE MYSTERY OF GOD’S SPIRIT
A poem and essay by ILMA
When God the Father sent his Son to save
He wants to give us a clean slate
When Christ was born in the world
God’s Spirit was manifest in the Word.
When Christ died, they can no longer see him
He sacrificed his life to free us from sin
God promised his Spirit to live in our hearts
He wants us to believe his promises from the start.
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The greatest miracle on earth is when Jesus was born of a virgin birth and when he died and was resurrected as promised in Scriptures many years before he was born. His disciples were worried when Christ was about to be crucified. They were saddened thinking that they are losing their master whom they have followed all those years. They were almost disillusioned that he will soon leave them. Jesus reassured them that despite his absence, they will be able to do things through God’s Spirit. He will live in their hearts and that his resurrection will indicate that He is with God and yet he is in each one of all those who believe him.
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PRAYER
Thank you for dying for me and empowering me through your Spirit.
REFLECTION
How can you ensure the Spirit lives in you?
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

SAME OR EVEN GREATER WORKS Poem Devotional

December 28
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I tell you the truth, anyone who believes in me will do the same works I have done, and even greater works, because I am going to be with the Father. -John 14:12(NLT)
SAME OR EVEN GREATER WORKS
A poem and essay by ILMA
To those who believe in the Lord Jesus Christ
They will do the same works as he did in his life
Because they are committed and faithful
They will have blessings and will be fruitful.
The Lord promises them that they can do even better
He even said that they can do more things greater
Believe that the Lord is with you when you commit
He is faithful and true so you need to submit.
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What is the greatest manifestation of a believer? Is it what he says or how he lives his life? Many have turned their backs to God because of hypocrites. They don’t live the life that Jesus sampled for them. They don’t obey his commands or even walk in love. They do lip service and do not take the gospel and apply it in their lives. No wonder, they are fruitless and defeated in their lives.
The bible tells us that Jesus promised us that if we believe in him, we can be able to do the same works he did or even greater. Why don’t some Christians believe this promise of greater works through God’s spirit?
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PRAYER
Lord, help me to be able to follow your ways always.
REFLECTION
How can we faithfully lead a life like Christ?
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

THOSE WHO LIVE IN TRUTH AND LOVE Poem Devotional

December 26
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Grace, mercy and peace, which come from God the Father and from Jesus Christ – the Son of the Father- will continue to be with us who live in truth and love. – 2 John 1:3(NLT)
THOSE WHO LIVE IN TRUTH AND LOVE
A poem and essay by ILMA
To all those who live in truth and love
You will receive grace from the Father up above
Mercy and peace will be granted to you as well
It shows how God is faithful to those who dwell.
Continue to live in God’s will and you will have deep roots
Don’t ever compromise your heart and you’ll harvest fruits
The Father will abide to those who follow and obey
He will live in your heart if you do what he says.
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There is a big reward to those who are faithful in abiding in God’s truth and love. Grace is underserved favor. It is true that we automatically receive grace when we believe in Christ, but he also rewards those who faithfully abides and follow his commands. Some Christians lack an understanding about how God sees faithfulness. Devotion is one of his characteristics, so if you show faithfulness and steadfastness, he will surely grant you this undeserved favor, forgiveness and peace. There were times in my life that I didn’t live in truth and love. It opened the door to many sins and deprived me of peace and joy.
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PRAYER
Lord, thank you for being faithful and merciful to a sinner like me.
REFLECTION
Why is living out God’s truth and love essential in a Christian’s life?
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

NEWBORN KING Poem Devotional

December 24
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About that time, some wise men from eastern lands arrived in Jerusalem, asking, “Where is the newborn king of the Jews? We saw his star as it rose, and we have come to worship him.” – Matthew 2:1-2(NLT)
NEWBORN KING
A poem and essay by ILMA
There were three wise men who searched
They humbled themselves to give Christ praise
Who would ever think that they would bow down?
This baby in swaddling cloths they finally found.
“Where is the newborn king?”, they asked
They followed God’s instructions through the star
They kneeled and gave him gifts in adoration
They were humbled by this story of salvation.
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Many stories about the wise men were said for thousands of years. These stories focused on the gifts they gave to the baby Jesus: gold, frankincense and myrrh. These valuable items were standard gifts to honor a king or deity in the ancient world: gold as a precious metal, frankincense as perfume or incense, and myrrh as anointing oil. The Book of Isaiah, when describing Jerusalem’s glorious restoration, tells of nations and kings who will come and “bring gold and frankincense and shall proclaim the praise of the Lord” (Isaiah 60:6).
The great thing about these wise kings is that they travelled far to come and give this baby Jesus the honor and praise that he so deserved. They followed God’s lead through the star and witnessed God’s promise of salvation.
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PRAYER
Lord, let me never forget giving you honor.
REFLECTION
How can we show others that we honor the Lord 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

LET US WITNESS! Poem Devotional

December 23
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When the angels had returned to heaven, the shepherds said to each other, “Let’s go to Bethlehem! Let’s see this thing that has happened which the Lord has told us about.
-Luke 2:15(NLT)
LET US WITNESS!
A poem and essay by ILMA
The Lord called on the lowly shepherds to witness
They became part of the story of the birth of Jesus
When the angels came to tell them of this big event
They immediately ran to behold this magnificence.
They said to each other “Let’s witness to this birth”
It is the good news that brings us joy and peace
They watched in awesome wonder this baby
They praised the Lord for being part of history.
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If you were given a chance to be witness to an event which would be historical, would you miss it at all? I am so blessed that in my lifetime, I have had many occasions to observe the many changes in our world today. In my country of origin, the Philippines, I was able to partake of the changes in the political corruption that had been going on for many years. I saw the transition of our word to technology and information eras. I also am witnessing the explosion of God’s word and the Good News these days.
When the shepherds were invited to come and see the greatest thing that will happen, they didn’t have second thoughts. They witnessed and shared it to others.
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PRAYER
Lord, let me never turn down an occasion to witness for you.
REFLECTION
Why is witnessing an integral part of our Christian life?
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

SMALL YET BIG Poem Devotional

December 22
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But you, O Bethlehem Ephrathah, are only a small village among all the people of Judah. Yet a ruler of Israel, whose origins are in the distant past, will come from you on my behalf.
– Micah 5:2 (NLT)
SMALL YET BIG
A poem and essay by ILMA
Not all good things come in big parcels
Some may be hidden in small packages
Christ came from a very insignificant town
Yet there it was where the ruler of Israel was found.
He may have come from small beginning but big ending
His purpose in mankind is to grant them salvation and mercy
Do not look down on what is small and inconsequential
It may be used for the things that are most reverential
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Our society look down on poor people, simpletons, uneducated, weak people. Yet, God chose a very insignificant small town such as Bethlehem to bring Jesus to us. Why would he do such thing? In 1 Corinthians 1:27, God chose things that the world considers foolish in order to shame those who think they re wise and chose things that are powerless to shame those who are powerful. He wants to show us all that he is the only one who is powerful and that no one can fully understand how he is and how he operates. If we do, then there is no more need for faith. Don’t look down on small things for they may deliver something really big.
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PRAYER
Lord, thank you for putting us in our humble place.
REFLECTION
Why do you think God chose small things to grant us big things?
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

HUMBLE KING COMES poem devotional

December 21
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O people of Jerusalem! Look, your king is coming to you. He is righteous and victorious, yet he is humble, riding on a donkey. -Zechariah 9:9(NLT)
HUMBLE KING COMES
A poem and essay by ILMA
Rejoice! There’s good news to mankind!
A king comes very humble, riding in a donkey
He has been born from a poor family
Yet he is righteous and brings us victory.
The Lord Jesus Christ was given to us
God wants to free us from sin very fast
There is no time to waste, let’s abide in Him
It is the only way we can overcome sin.
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Jesus came to this world and defied all traditions. He didn’t follow the ways of all the kings in the world. He chose to be born of a poor family instead of living in a palace and having all the worldly riches. No king has ever been born in a feeding trough for animals. No king was wrapped in swaddling cloths. No king had shepherds and lowly people witness his birth. Most of all, no other king was born of a virgin mother. That was a big dishonor for the traditions of his time. 1 Corinthians 1:27 says that, God chose things the world considers foolish in order to shame those who think they are wise. And he chose things that are powerless to shame those who are powerful. What a humble king we have in Jesus.
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PRAYER
Lord, help me not to be afraid to go against human traditions.
REFLECTION
Why do you think God breaks traditions?
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

TO THE OBEDIENT Poem Devotional

December 19
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To all who are victorious, who obey me to the very end. To them I will give authority over all the nations. -Revelations 2:26(NLT)
TO THE OBEDIENT
A poem and essay by ILMA
When you choose a path of obedience to God
You are showing your devotion and bringing him laud
God promises victory to all who obey his instructions
He gives them authority over all the nations.
Continue to follow all of God’s commands
You will find favor in going through life’s demands
Stay faithful to the truth that will set you free
The Lord will anoint you and you will have peace.
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One of the strongholds in my family of origin is rebellion and stubbornness. I learned to be a rebel since I was a young girl. I didn’t know it was a sin that my whole family struggled with because no one was a born again Christian. No one read the bible to know the truth that will set us free. We all followed our own desires and ambitions without any reverence to what the Lord wants for us. Disobedience made my life very challenging because I didn’t even count all the blessings I was receiving. I was blinded by my selfish nature and was just concerned with satisfying my cravings. The bible promises victory to the obedient and God gives them dominion over all nations. When we obey, we show that we love the Lord.
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PRAYER
Lord, let me never be disobedient to your will.
REFLECTION
Who were the best example in the bible of obedience? How did God repay their faithfulness?
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

PARTNERING IN GOD’S MINISTRY Poem Devotional

December 18
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They are traveling for the Lord and they accept nothing from people who are not believers. So we ourselves should support them so that we can be their partners as they teach the truth. -3 John 1:7-8 NLT)
PARTNERING IN GOD’S MINISTRY
A poem and essay by ILMA
Whenever you meet someone who works for the Lord
Give them your support so they can spread his word
They sacrifice to bring the Good News to all
We need to be there to support them in their cause.
Let’s partner in God’s ministry
It paves the way for victory
Be generous in sharing all that you can
The Lord will bless you and give you a hand.
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During Jesus’ time, there were no means of transportation except by horses, camels and donkeys. Most of Jesus’ ministry were done in foot. They walked from one place to another to preach the gospel. They were full of integrity and wouldn’t take anything from unbelievers as per God’s instruction. John was explaining to believers that we need to partner and support the cause of God. Those who are doing kingdom work are giving their best to ensure that the word of God is preached in all the ends of the earth.
There was a time that I partnered with a big international ministry to bring the gospel to those countries that were very poor, I felt blessed doing such support for God’s kingdom.
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PRAYER
Lord, thank you for all those who do work for your kingdom.
REFLECTION
How can you give support to the work of the Lord?
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