WORDS REFLECT YOUR HEART Poem Devotional

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November 22________________________________________
Luke 6:45 –What you say flows from what is in your heart. (NLT)
WORDS REFLECT YOUR HEART
A poem and essay by ILMA
Do you hear what comes out of your mouth?
Does it resonate God’s truth aloud?
Did you say something to encourage someone?
Or did you hurt somebody and made them run?
What you say flows from what is in your heart
When you speak lies, you are living in the dark
When you align your mouth with God’s word
You will be able to win over sin and the world.
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Do you ever listen to what comes out of your mouth? Despite my analytical mind, it took me a while to actually objectively hear what I say. One day, when I caught myself on a video that I was preparing for a performance for a show, I saw my attitude towards my husband. I was shocked to hear and see what kind of a haughty person I was when I get so much into perfecting a performance. I was rude, unkind and demanding. It was ugly. I played it again and again. I felt the Holy Spirit convict me of that spirit of pride and performance that kept me in bondage for so many years. My words and attitude reflected the condition of my soul and heart. I was hurting and angry. What I say and how I act was coming from my deeply wounded soul.
PRAYER
Lord, help me to keep my mind and heart pure.
REFLECTION
How can we guard what we say and do?
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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

SON OF GOD Poem Devotional

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November 21
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The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you. So the baby to be born will be holy and he will be called the Son of God. –Luke 1:35(NLT)
SON OF GOD
A poem by ILMA
A virgin mother will give birth to the promised Savior
She will conceive a baby because God gave him favor
The power of the most high will overshadow humanity
This child will be the Son of God and will have all the glory.
When Christ was born, the Star in Bethlehem shone so bright
It led the kings to give honor to Mary’s child, Jesus Christ
The Holy Spirit protected the Son of God from danger
They ensured that he is warm in swaddled cloths in the manger.
He was the king of kings but chose to be born in a feeding trough
He had a life full of ridicule, rejection and was very rough
Why did God choose ordinary people to bring Jesus in the world?
He wants to show his power in weakness and through his word.
As we remember the Son of God born in humble origin
Let us follow his example; reject wickedness and sin
Christmas is the day the Son of God was given to us sinners
It is the day to proclaim God’s majesty and be a true believer.
PRAYER
Lord, use me to proclaim your glory by humility this season of love.
REFLECTION
How can we illumine the darkness in this world this Christmas?
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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

SHARING IMMANUEL Poem Devotional

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November 20________________________________________
Look! The virgin will conceive a child! She will give birth to a son, and they will call him Immanuel, which means “God is with us.” – Matthew 1:23 (NLT)
SHARING IMMANUEL
A poem by ILMA
Mary will give birth to a son and call him Immanuel
Christ saved his people from sin and made them well
He is the gift that God gave man so we can be redeemed
He is the sacrifice that was promised so we can be free from sin.
God is with us from the beginning of life until the end of time
He is present even when we turn our backs on him and think we are fine
Christmas is a reminder of God’s unconditional love to his children
Imagine sacrificing his only begotten son so we can be saved and risen.
What would it take for us to understand the essence of Christ’s death?
Will we close our hearts forever and later on regret?
Forgive, repent and confess your sin so you can be free
You will get revelations of his unconditional love and finally see.
Let us give the gift of our presence to our sisters and brothers
This way we will honor and bring the glory to the heavenly father
The spirit of Christmas is an invitation to love and be there for others
It is sharing Immanuel to all believers and even those you think don’t matter.
PRAYER
Lord, help me share Immanuel to others.
REFLECTION
How can you clearly manifest that “God is with you” this Christmas?
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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

PRESENCE IS THE BEST PRESENT Poem Devotional

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November 19________________________________________
You hide them in the shelter of your presence, safe from those who conspire against them. You shelter them in your presence, far from accusing tongues. –Psalm 31:20(NLT)
PRESENCE IS THE BEST PRESENT
A poem by ILMA
The real essence of Christmas is in God’s presence
It is not found in how many or what kind of presents
Jesus’ birth is the manifestation of God’s unconditional love
He gave us his only begotten son so we can rise above.
God’s presence in our hearts is Christmas’ true essence
His spirit lives inside those who believe and listen
We can hide in the shelter of his love and faithfulness
He protects us from all wickedness and darkness.
Give the gift of your presence to someone this Christmas
Go and share stories of how the Son manifest in all of us
He wants us all to tell others the changes God made in our lives
It will bring him glory and will make us all victorious and thrive.
Wrap yourself in the glory light of the heavenly Father
Decorate your hearts with purity and faithfulness to our Maker
Bind your mind with the word that comes only from the truth
You will be the best present to all who believe and stay true.
Even those who do not know the Lord, Jesus Christ
Will be touched when you present his glory light
It will dazzle them like the star when Christ was born
And lead them to God and then they will eventually belong.
PRAYER
Thank you for the joy of your presence, Lord.
REFLECTION
Why do you think your presence is the best present you can give this Christmas?
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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

WORK WITH YOUR HANDS

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November 18________________________________________
Make it your goal to live a quiet life, minding your own business and working with your hands. -1 Thessalonians 4:11(NLT)
WORK WITH YOUR HANDS
A poem and essay by ILMA
Live a quiet life and mind your own business
It is one of the keys to peace and happiness
Make it your goal to work with your hands
It eases your soul and life’s demands.
Use your hands to build and repair
You can create many things that are rare
Without hands, you cannot write or even eat
Without it, you are not able to get things or reach.
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Have you ever imagined what it would be like without your hands? How difficult it would be to write or even browse through a book. Hands is only a part of the body, but without it, we will miss out on many things that we usually do in life. I come from a family where I was surrounded with people who mostly worked with their hands. My Aunt was a seamstress and my mother loved to clean and do crafts. My father loves geology and would always be picking and inspecting rocks and soil. My grandfather was a fisherman and a farmer too. My grandmother cooked a lot and all these things require to have hands. I became the first painter in our family and the first guitarist as well. The bible tells us to make it our goal to live quiet lives and work with our hands.
PRAYER
Thank you Lord for my hands.
REFLECTION
How do you think working with your hands can bring peace?
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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

ON BLAMING Poem Devotional

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November 17________________________________________
Don’t point your fingers at someone else and try to pass the blame. – Hosea 4:4 (NLT)
ON BLAMING
A poem and essay by ILMA
What do you do when someone points their finger at you?
Do you react and defend yourself or assess their point of view?
When you blame somebody about something
They only resort to defending or reacting
Blaming is a cowardly way of facing reality
It shows that someone doesn’t want to take responsibility
Blaming is not taking the log out of your own eye
It will only create conflicts and generate more lies.
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Blaming is defined as assigning responsibility for a fault or a wrong. Who wants to accept a blame? I think no one would readily admit that they want to take the blame. Humans automatically wants to veer away from looking bad. They always want to look good especially in public. What is the result of blaming? It usually ends up in defense and fights. One person points a finger and the response would be to point back at another fault of that other person. It is a never-ending cycle of who is right. Blaming is a toxic act. It fuels people into destroying unity and harmony. It is very tiring to be with people who always blames and never take responsibility for anything. The bible warns us not to point our fingers on someone or try to pass the blame. It shows irresponsibility and immaturity.
PRAYER
Lord, help me never to blame.
REFLECTION
Why do you think the bible warns us not to blame? What does it do to others?
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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 AT START OF DAY Poem Devotional

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November 14________________________________________
Listen to my voice in the morning, Lord. Each morning I bring my requests to you and wait expectantly. – Psalm 5:3(NLT)
PRAYER AT START OF DAY
A poem and essay by ILMA
Lord, I call on you each morning
Bring me joy and alleviate my suffering
I lay down my burdens on your cross
Do what you need to do so I could come across
I bring my requests to you and wait expectantly
I believe that you have my best interest at heart faithfully
I am hopeful that you will hear my prayer today
Grant me an opportunity to bless someone this very day.
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What time of day do you usually pray? I do my best to do it in the morning. Unless something really comes up that is unusual, I want to start my day with my “God time.” I noticed that when I do, I usually am able to manage whatever the day brings. During the odd times that I am not able to prioritize my time with the Lord, I still think of him and tell him that I will find time for him definitely. I never usually pass a day without praying to him.
The bible tells us that King David brought his requests to the Lord in the morning and waited expectantly for the answers to the prayer. We can learn from King David to faithfully start our day with a time for God.
PRAYER
Help me to start my day with you always
REFLECTION
What are the benefits of morning prayers for a believer?
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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

HOPE FOR THE NEEDY Poem Devotional

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November 13________________________________________
The needy will not be ignored forever; the hopes of the poor will not always be crushed.
–Psalm 9:18(NLT)
HOPE FOR THE NEEDY
A poem and essay by ILMA
Have you ever been neglected by anyone?
Are you often minimized by someone?
There is hope for those whose needs are never met
The needy will not be ignored forever as the bible says.
Rejoice to those among you whose spirits were crushed
It won’t be long when the enemy will be defeated and hushed
There is hope for the needy and the broken hearted
Christ came so they too, like him will be victorious and resurrected.
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As a result of growing up in a dysfunctional family, I became a very needy person. When I studied the stages of development of a child, I realized that there were so many stages that I skipped because of many unmet need. Erik Erikson’s psychoanalytical theory focuses entirely on personality formation. Erikson suggested eight “ages” individuals progress through from birth to adulthood in order to feel self-fulfilled. Erikson looks at each age or stage as a struggle between one positive and one negative emotional state. I am a survivor of childhood complex traumas which let me to God directly.
The bible says that the needy will not be ignored forever and the hopes of the poor will not always be crushed. Christ died for people like those who are crushed and needy.
PRAYER
Lord, thank you for dying for me.
REFLECTION
What do you usually do when you can’t get your needs met?
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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

HEAVEN’S REGISTRY Poem Devotional

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November 9________________________________________
Look I have given you authority over all the power of the enemy. But don’t rejoice because evil spirits obey you; rejoice because your names are registered in heaven.
– Luke 10:19, 20 (NLT)
HEAVEN’S REGISTRY
A poem and essay by ILMA
The cross of Christ has given us authority over the enemy
Remember to exercise it so the devil will flee
Love one another especially your sisters and brothers
Remember what Jesus did so you can serve others.
Those who believe will be in heaven’s registry
Rejoice all you faithful ones, you’ll have victory
The evil spirits will tremble as soon as you obey Christ
He knows that he is defeated by those who have new life.
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Have you ever been invited in an important social function? I remember when my son was nine years old and we were invited at the palace where the president of the Philippines resided. He was to play the violin for the delegates for an international world convention. As soon as we entered the gates, they had to check the registry of visitors to come. It was such an honor and a privilege to be included in the list. It is almost the same in heaven. Our names will be in the registry if we believe that Jesus Christ is our Lord and Savior. The bible tells us that we have to rejoice because our names are registered in heaven.
PRAYER
O Lord my God, thank you for including me in heaven’s registry.
REFLECTION
Why do you think you deserve to be in heaven’s registry?
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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

SELF-EXAMINATION Poem Devotional

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November 7________________________________________
That is why you should examine yourself before eating the bread and drinking the cup.
-1 Corinthians 11:28 (NLT)
SELF-EXAMINATION
A poem and essay by ILMA
What thoughts and ideas do you have?
Do you ponder on the Lord up above?
Do you reflect how you treat others?
Do you think of the welfare of one another?
Examining yourself guides where you are going
It monitors how much you are progressing
Self-examination helps you spiritually mature
It makes you understand life and endure.
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I am a born analytic and sometimes I can go overboard with over-analyzing things. I thank God that he has given me the capacity to monitor how I think and what my motives are on a regular basis.
Socrates said that an unexamined life is not worth living. Lamentations 3:40 says that we must test and examine our ways and must turn back to the Lord. Why is self-examination crucial in our lives especially in our faced paced world? Without introspecting on our lives, we will lose control or have the ability to go on as planned.
The bible tells us that self-examination is crucial in partaking of the body of Christ. Paul stressed to the Corinthians the importance of preparing ourselves to be one with Christ or one with our sisters and brothers. We must be able to watch our own lives so that we are actually following and reflecting Christ in our lives.
PRAYER
Lord, than you for giving me a mind that can process things.
REFLECTION
How often do you examine yourself? What happens when you don’t?
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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