GOD’S WORD IS A SHIELD

Posted on May 5, 2017 by ilmaarts

May 6________________________________________
Every word of God proves true. He is a shield to all who come to him for protection. Do not add to his words, or he may rebuke you and expose you as a liar.
– Proverbs 30:5-6(NLT)
GOD’S WORD IS A SHIELD
A poem and essay by ILMA
In this world of chaos and confusion
We need a shield from all kinds of temptations
Every word of God proves true
It teaches, convicts and rebukes.
When you read his word and ask the Holy Spirit
It comes to life and shortly, wisdom is released
Do not add to his words or he may reprove you
Allow the Lord to transform and let your mind be renewed.
________________________________________
As a trauma survivor, I learned to manage the anxiety, helplessness and emotional pain that sometimes debilitates me. Complex trauma is an accumulation of various exposure to repeated abuse which can be emotional, physical or sexual or even neglect. Diane Langberg a trauma specialist from the Global Trauma Recovery Institute, used a term that really struck me. She said that people with complex trauma is like being “marinated in pain and confusion.” This is an accurate description of what I experienced. When I became a born again Christian, I was freed from so many lies and learned God’s truth. In his word, I found comfort, relief and freedom. The word shields me from all temptations and trauma memories and taught me how to forgive and let go.
________________________________________
PRAYER
Lord, thank you for giving us your word that shields us from evil.
REFLECTION
Share an experience how God’s word shielded you from evil.
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

UNBRIDLED TONGUE Poem Devotional

Posted on May 5, 2017 by ilmaarts

May 5________________________________________
There is more hope for a fool than for someone who speaks without thinking.
-Proverbs 29:20(NLT)
UNBRIDLED TONGUE
A poem and essay by ILMA
Whenever a thought starts hovering in your mind
Do you filter it so that you won’t sound harsh or unkind?
Do you guard your heart so that nothing impure will be spoken?
Do you say encouraging words to release others from being broken?
There is more hope for a fool than an unbridled tongue
When your speech is unfiltered, is sounds like a grunt
When you think first before saying something,
You allow the Lord to prevent you from sinning.
________________________________________
How many times have you released a word without even thinking? We usually do this when we are reacting to something said or insinuated. I learned for many years that when I don’t filter my thoughts, words can just sneak out of our mouths. Sometimes, people may miss the uncalled statements but other times, it could compromise your friendships or relationships. The bible tells us to guard our mouths and our lips in Proverbs 141:3. It also tells us to guard what we think in Philippians 4:8 Only these thoughts should be entertained: whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things. So if our thoughts are these, then your tongue will be bridled.________________________________________
PRAYER
Lord, help me to think first before I speak. Let my thoughts only be what you want it to be.
REFLECTION
How can we avoid an unbridled tongue?
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

MESSENGERS APPROVED BY GOD Poem Devotional

Posted on May 3, 2017 by ilmaarts

May 4________________________________________
For we speak as messengers approved by God to be entrusted with the Good News. Our purpose is to please God, not people. He alone examines the motives of our hearts.
1 Thessalonians 2:4(NLT)
MESSENGERS APPROVED BY GOD
A poem and essay by ILMA
We are all instructed to spread the Good News
Do you realize that you are part of his crew?
We must speak as messengers of the Most High
Our purpose is to bring the gospel and spread his light.
The Lord watches over his faithful believers
Rest assured that he knows each of his follower
Preach the good news all over the world
Evangelize to all by using his word.
________________________________________
A messenger is a person who carries a message or is employed to carry messages. Before the boom of social media, the mailman is usually the bringer of letters and correspondences. They played a very vital role in small towns. Now, the messages we get are mostly through social media like cell phones, facebook, gmail, twitter, and many more.
The bible instructs us to be messengers approved by God and he entrusts us with the Good News that Christ died to save us from sins. Are you doing your commission to spread the gospel to all the ends of the earth? Isn’t it a privilege to be part of his camp? Be bold and spread to everyone how much God loves us.
________________________________________
PRAYER
Lord, help me to be able to carry your Good News to many people.
REFLECTION
Why is God’s approval essential in carrying out his good news?
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

SYMPTOMS OF JEALOUSY Poem Devotional

Posted on May 2, 2017 by ilmaarts

May 3________________________________________
For wherever there is jealousy and selfish ambition, there you will find disorder and evil of every kind. -James 3:16(NLT)
SYMPTOMS OF JEALOUSY
A poem and essay by ILMA
When there is insecurity in someone’s heart
That’s an opening for the enemy to start
Longing to have something others possess produces envy
It breeds contempt, anger, bitterness and folly.
Wherever there is jealousy and selfish ambition
There you will find disorder, chaos and division
Whenever there is discontent and comparison
There’ll be unkind and evil things beyond reason.
________________________________________
Baker’s Evangelical dictionary defines “envy” as the sin of jealousy over the blessings and achievements of others, especially the spiritual advancement that is being done for God’s kingdom. Envy certainly leads to disorder and all kinds of evil, affecting one’s physical, spiritual, and emotional well-being. Unchecked, it slowly leads to a detrimental and regretful way of life ( Proverbs 27:4 ), and eventually, to estrangement from God ( Roman 1:28-32 ). Envy manifests the treacherousness of sin and human wickedness apart from God’s redeeming grace. If you are a believer, it is wise to avoid the company of such envious, godless people ( Proverbs 24:1 ). Envy is listed among the sins of the flesh that must be conquered through the power of the Holy Spirit (1 Peter 2:1 ). Where there is jealousy and selfish ambition, you will find chaos, stagnation and proliferation of other sins.
________________________________________
PRAYER
Lord, heal the hearts of those who are in bondage of the spirit of envy.
REFLECTION
Why do you think the bible instructs us to stay away from envious people?
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

JEALOUSY IS LIKE CANCER Poem Devotional

Posted on May 2, 2017 by ilmaarts

May 2________________________________________
A peaceful heart leads to a healthy body; jealousy is like cancer in the bones.
-Proverbs 14:30(NLT)
JEALOUSY IS LIKE CANCER
A poem and essay by ILMA
Whenever your heart desires what others have
Be careful! That is not totally walking in love
When you fail to give the Lord thanksgiving
You are going to miss out on many blessings.
Jealousy is like cancer in the bones
Selfishness and Pride is where it comes from
If you think the world owes you something
You lose peace opens the door to continuously sin.
________________________________________
Jealousy is defined as an unhappy or angry feeling of wanting to have what someone else has. Notice the presence of unhappiness and anger in the definition. The origin of jealousy dates back to our first parents, Adam and Eve. The fall of man was an offshoot of jealousy of Adam and Eve. They want to have the all-knowing character of God. Their desire to want to be like him led them to disobey his command not to eat from the fruit from the tree of good and evil. Prior to their sin, they had everything they could ever want. They were well provided for and had no need to toil. After the fall, all sins came about. The mother of all sins is pride. It centers on the “self” rather than others. A peaceful heart leads to a healthy body but jealousy is like cancer. It poisons and kills.
________________________________________
PRAYER
Lord, deliver me from jealous people.
REFLECTION
How do you know that you or someone you know manifests jealousy or envy?
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

PRAYER FOR STUBBORN HEARTS Poem Devotional

Posted on April 30, 2017 by ilmaarts

May 1

And I will give you a new heart, and I will put a new spirit in you. I will take out your stony, stubborn heart and give you a tender, responsive heart – Ezekiel 36:26(NLT)

PRAYER FOR STUBBORN HEARTS

A poem and essay by ILMA

Lord, we lift up to you all those hearts are stubborn

Give them someone who can lead them to the right direction

Let them know that they can run to you and not be condemned

Provide a repentant heart so they’ll stop the tendency to blame.

Replace their hearts of stone to one that is responsive and tender

Change the way they look at things so they’ll know your character

Heal them from past hurts and abuse they have gone through

Release them from the enemy and help them discern your truth.

The world is full of hearts that have turned into stone. This epidemic has caused many failed relationships and even physical death to many people. When hearts are stubborn, people fail to see God’s goodness and faithfulness. Pride is the root cause of a hard heart. Hurts and abuses can usually turn a person’s heart into stone. The bible tells us about God’s promise to change our stony stubborn hearts and replace it with a tender and responsive hearts. Before he can do that, we need to let him in and do his job. He is the only one who can change it.

PRAYER

Lord, show me how to seek your heart always.

REFLECTION

What blocks people God’s invitation to have a relationship with 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

PRAISE TO A GREAT KING Poem Devotional

Posted on April 29, 2017 by ilmaarts

April 30________________________________________
Come, let us sing to the Lord! Let us shout joyfully to the Rock of our salvation. Let us come to him with thanksgiving. Let us sing psalms of praise to him. For the Lord is a great God, a great King above all gods. -Psalm 95:1-3(NLT)
PRAISE TO A GREAT KING
A poem and essay by ILMA
Lift up your hands and shout joyfully to Jesus, our great king
Let us come with a humble heart and much thanksgiving
Let us sing psalms and hymns for he is worthy of all praise
He is faithful grant us forgiveness and constantly give us grace.
The Lord is a great God who looks after his own people
He grants us mercy and never wants us to be crippled
The Lord is all-powerful, all-knowing and full of wisdom
Praise to a great king, who redeems and grants us freedom.
________________________________________
Praise means to express admiration or approval of the achievements or characteristics of a person or thing. It has seven Hebrew words for praise.
1. “Halal” means to rave or celebrate
2. “Yadah” means worshiping with extended hands
3. “Towdah” means acceptance
4. “Shabach” means to shout out
5. “Barak” means to kneel down
6. “Zamar” means to sing or pluck an instrument
7. “Tehillah” means to involve music and hymns
Doesn’t it amaze you how much depth of meaning is into this word? We are asked to praise a great king, Jesus Christ.
________________________________________
PRAYER
Lord, I praise and glorify your most precious name.
REFLECTION
What is your preferred form of praising 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

A HUNGER TO KNOW THE LORD Poem Devotional

Posted on April 29, 2017 by ilmaarts

April 29________________________________________
I want you to show love not offer sacrifices. I want you to know me more than I want burnt offerings. – Hosea 6:6(NLT)
A HUNGER TO KNOW THE LORD
A poem and essay by ILMA
Do you desire to have a deep relationship with Christ?
Does your life become a reflection of God’s light?
Do you hunger and thirst for a spiritual intimacy?
Do you crave to know him more daily?
Do you show love not just by burnt offerings?
He wants you to love more than anything
The Lord reveals himself to those who hunger for him
He will fulfill his promises to them who are free from sin.
________________________________________
King David was someone who has a heart for seeking God. He, among all the bible characters have a hunger to know the Lord longed much to be intimate with him. God chose this man because he cried out to him. Though he sinned much and was weak, God still chose him to be part of Jesus’ lineage. David’s honesty, humility and dependence on God is clearly depicted in the book of Psalms. He bares his whole heart just so he can understand the Lord’s plan when things do not go the way he thinks it should go. God didn’t choose a perfect person, but an ordinary man, who have an extraordinary hunger for him. God requires us to love much rather than burnt offerings and sacrifices.
________________________________________
PRAYER
Lord, let me never stop hungering for you.
REFLECTION
What benefits can you gain when you are constantly hungry to know 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

A WAY TO WORSHIP Poem Devotional

Posted on April 27, 2017 by ilmaarts

April 28________________________________________
In every place of worship, I want men to pray with holy hands lifted up to God, free from anger and controversy. And I want women to be modest in their appearance.
– 1 Timothy 2:8-9(NLT)
A WAY TO WORSHIP
A poem and essay by ILMA
Do you love the Lord with all your heart, soul and mind?
Are you committed to stay in his light and not be blind?
One way to worship is to lift your hands up to the Lord
Let go of anger and all controversies so you can give him laud.
Women must be modest in their appearance and attitude
They ought to submit to their husbands yet have fortitude
God gave us everything, so we must give him all the glory
Be godly and pure of heart and you’ll never be sorry.
________________________________________
In 1 Timothy 2:8-9, there is a requirement from God how to do worship. We are asked to lift our holy hands to God. This may seem like an outward posture, but I think that there is an underlying meaning to this stance. It symbolizes an act of submission, acknowledgment and thanksgiving to him who created everything. It shows honor to a holy God. With this stance, we must also be free from anger and any controversy. The women were specifically instructed to be modest in their appearance. I’d like to think that this includes her demeanor and gentle speech.
________________________________________
PRAYER
Thank you for guiding us how we must give you honor, Lord.
REFLECTION
Why is it important for a Christian woman to be modest in her appearance?
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 MOST IMPORTANT THING Poem Devotional

Posted on April 26, 2017 by ilmaarts

April 27________________________________________
There is only one thing worth being concerned about. Mary has discovered it and it will not be taken away from her. -Luke 10:42(NLT)
THE MOST IMPORTANT THING
A poem and essay by ILMA
What things do you consider valuable in life?
Is it to be looked up to or to stay in God’s light?
Seeking and obeyin¬¬g Christ’s teaching is essential
Those who discover it, they will find it beneficial.
Only by depending on Jesus will we be victorious
It is by focusing on others that we become less oblivious
There is no other way but to follow Jesus
Come to the only one who is worthy and glorious.
________________________________________
Many of us seem to be distracted by things that are not really that important. Sometimes we get caught up in the details and chaos in our lives and we miss out what is really valuable in life. I taught Art for many decades and one of the hardest things to do is to choose the subject you want to draw or paint. It may take awhile before one can decide which one to select. I usually give only a ten-minute time frame for my students to decide from a few choices. The more choices, the longer it takes to decide.
Just like in painting, we also need to make choices in life in order to grow. Following Jesus and obeying his teachings are essential to live a victorious life.
________________________________________
PRAYER
Lord, keep me away from all sorts of distractions and focus only on you.
REFLECTION
Why is seeking God the most important thing in life?

ILMA ARTS STUDIO

Where Visual & Literary Arts Thrives

Tag Archives: Christian poem