Tag Archives: ILMA ARTS STUDIO

ENTERING GOD’S REST Poem Devotional

Posted on by

canadablooms 019 (2)

March 29________________________________________
For only we who believe can enter his rest. As for the others, God said: “In my anger I took an oath: They will never enter my place of rest” even though this rest has been ready since he made the world. -Hebrews 4:3(NLT)
ENTERING GOD’S REST
A poem and essay by ILMA
The Lord gave us rest since he made the world
He created the heavens and earth just by his word
He made different creatures and things each day
He rested one day, we ought to follow his way.
To enter God’s rest, we need to believe
When we rest, we begin to be free and receive
Without resting, we can’t see God’s grace and mercy
When we are too busy, we fail to see his goodness and glory.
________________________________________
Have you ever worked so hard that at the end of the day, you just dropped wherever you were and slept? I remembered just recently that I had this experience. I got so busy that I forgot to make God my priority. I was so distracted with so many things and by the end of the day, I just slumped on the bed. I felt so tired. My mind still wanted to work, but my body couldn’t anymore.
We are invited daily to rest in God. Only by entering it can we show that we believe and trust that he is taking care of us.
________________________________________
PRAYER
Lord, teach me how to enter your rest daily.
REFLECTION
Why is it important to take breaks and meditate on God’s goodness during the day?
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

DISCIPLES PRIORITIZE GOD Poem Devotional

Posted on by

barrie visit 2011 356

March 28________________________________________
If you want to be my disciple, you must hate everyone else by comparison-your father and mother, wife and children, brothers and sisters- yes even your own life.
-Luke 14:26(NLT)
DISCIPLES PRIORITIZE GOD
A poem and essay by ILMA
When you decide to follow Christ
Changes happen when you prioritize
You will make him first in all you do
You will be transformed and renewed.
The world will seem not as important anymore
God’ word will guide you through trials and storms
No one else including your own needs matter much
Following God’s will become top priority in your life.
________________________________________
When I was a teacher of speech and visual arts, there were some students who chose to follow the lessons I taught to advance their skills. You will clearly see the difference of those who chose to be disciples of my methods. They excelled through hard work and constant practice. I emphasized on discipline and dedication plus constant practice. This formula became my life’s theme and I shared to students how it brought me success in the field of communications and visual arts.
The bible tells us what God requires of his disciples in Luke 14:16. One of the things God wants us to do is to make him our priority in everything. He asks us not to let any of our love for anyone, not even our own life will come first than him. He becomes top priority.________________________________________
PRAYER
Lord, remind me when I don’t prioritize you.
REFLECTION
Why do you think God wants to be the top on our list if we become followers?
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

HOW TO BE FREE FROM FEAR Poem Devotional

Posted on by

canadablooms 118

March 27________________________________________
I prayed to the Lord and he answered me. He freed me from all my fears. -Psalm 34:4(NLT)
HOW TO BE FREE FROM FEAR
A poem and essay by ILMA
Are you afraid of someone or something?
Run to the Lord and keep on praying
If you listen to his truth, you will know
Believe and heed his commands in order to grow.
To be free from fear, you must focus on Christ
He alone can set you free and give you insight
Ask him to reveal to you the origin of your fear
He will bring to your recollection so very clear.
________________________________________
Fear that is out of proportion can be very crippling. One of my fears was claustrophobia (fear of small spaces). It debilitated me so much that I hyperventilated and had panic attacks when I get into elevators. I was a worrier and always thought about the future and wanted to ensure that I provide a happy life for my son. I dreaded people rejecting me and was constantly out to seek approval. I was apprehensive of being a failure which led me to chase perfection at all cost. These fears totally incapacitated me for many decades. I followed all kinds of self-help books but they were all just temporary relief.
The bible tells us that if we run to the Lord and ask him to free us from our fears, he is faithful to do so.
________________________________________
PRAYER
Lord, remind me to ask your help when I am fearful.
REFLECTION
What fears have God released you from?
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

MAN’S RESPONSIBILITY Poem Devotional

Posted on by

barrie visit 2011 356

March 25________________________________________
The heavens belong to the Lord, but he has given the earth to all humanity.
-Psalm 114:16(NLT)
MAN’S RESPONSIBILITY
A poem and essay by ILMA
When God made all creatures
He gave dominion for man to rule
The heavens belong to the Lord
But he gave man authority over the world.
All humans are responsible for the earth
They need to nurture it and constantly care
Without taking ownership, it will deteriorate
Without love, this world will disintegrate.
________________________________________
One of the skills needed to succeed in running a theater performance is to delegate to others some of the things that you cannot all simultaneously do. As a stage manager for over two decades, I learned to hold others responsible for some things. I can’t do it all. Just like any other managers in any other field or sector, one has to be the leader. When there is no leader, there is chaos because everyone will try to assume roles that are not theirs. Boundaries are essential in relationships because if there are no set parameters, there will be overlapping and conflicts.
The bible tells us that the Lord owns everything, yet he gave mankind dominion over all creatures in the world. Because he created man in his image, he is well aware that all man possesses all that he has. So, he made humans rule over all things here on earth. Are we taking responsibility for the authority God gave us?
________________________________________
PRAYER
Lord, show me how to be a godly leader and steward?
REFLECTION
Why do you think God gave humans the authority over all creation?
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

UNGRATEFUL Poem devotional

Posted on by

port elgin camping 2012 224

March 24________________________________________
I trained them and made them strong, yet now they plot evil against me. They look everywhere except to the Most High. – Hosea 7:15-16(NLT)
UNGRATEFUL
A poem and essay by ILMA
Look around you and see how much blessings you got?
The enemy doesn’t want you to see it, that’s his plot
You were freed from sin when Jesus died on the cross
He gave you life so you won’t go astray or be lost.
Are you giving the Lord tribute for all his gifts?
Do you get consumed by life or do you always seek him?
Be thankful for every little thing you have received
It will please the Lord if you continue to praise and believe.
________________________________________
Don’t you find it offensive if someone you have mentored and developed into a skilled person is actually plotting evil against you? They never give you credit, instead they ignore you. This is exactly the case of God against the Israelites. He brought them to the Promised Land and delivered them from harm and the Egyptians, yet, they turned against him and never thanked him for all that he did for them. If you are a parent, you could probably sympathize with God’s reaction. In fact, parents often pose very high expectations on their children and assume that they will be grateful for all the things they do for them. So, why can’t we give the same gratitude to God?
________________________________________
PRAYER
Lord, always convict me when I forget to thank you.
REFLECTION
How can gratitude change a person’s attitude?
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

UNGRACIOUS Poem Devotional

Posted on by

port elgin camping 2012 223

March 23________________________________________
I myself taught Israel how to walk, leading him along by the hand. But he doesn’t’ know or even care that it was I who took care of him. -Hosea 11:3(NLT)
UNGRACIOUS
A poem and essay by ILMA
Are you someone who is thankful?
Are you gracious enough to be grateful?
The Lord God gave us much blessings
Do we take time to give him thanksgiving?
When we do not care about his faithfulness
We will miss out on his gift of fruitfulness
Don’t be ungracious for he has given us all
Ingratitude will lead us to constantly fall.
________________________________________
Gracious is defined as courteous, kind and pleasant. The opposite of being gracious is an entitled attitude, tactless and rude. How do you react to ungrateful and tactless people? Don’t you just want to stay away from them? You would on the other hand always want to be with gracious and kind people, won’t you?
When I became a born again Christian, God replaced all whiny and entitled people in my life with a bounty of gracious Christians. It is just such a joy to be with those who do not live in resistance and conflicts. Ingratitude can usually be detected easily. Ungrateful people live very difficult lives and don’t have much blessings. They live bitter lives and always want to take control. The Lord calls us to be gracious and grateful because it hurts him when we are uncaring.
________________________________________
PRAYER
Lord, thank you for giving me a heart like yours.
REFLECTION
How can you live a grateful 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

THE MORE I CALL, THE FARTHER THEY MOVED Poem Devotional

Posted on by

butterfly mother's day event 033

March 22________________________________________
But the more I called to him, the farther he moved from me, offering sacrifices to the images of Baal and burning incense to idols. – Hosea 11:2(NLT)
THE MORE I CALL, THE FARTHER THEY MOVED
A poem and essay by ILMA
Do you hear God’s voice calling you back to him?
Are you heeding his call or are you stuck in sin?
When God calls some people moved farther away
They choose to live in bondage and continue to stray.
Why don’t his followers stay faithful and true?
Why do we usually choose to stay in trouble and rue?
Follow the voice that comes from God’s nudging
It will bring victory over the enemy’s tempting
________________________________________
Why did the Israelites choose to turn their backs on God after they were delivered and brought to the Promised Land? It sounds like the relationship between a parent and a rebellious child. The more parents ask them to obey, the more they rebel, just like the more God called the Israelites to him, the farther away they moved from him. They defied God instead and offered sacrifices to the images of Baal, another pagan god and burned incense to idols. They knew that the very first commandment that God asked from them to obey is not to have any other gods before him but to love him above all. So, they deliberately followed the spirit of rebellion and idolatry.
________________________________________
PRAYER
Lord, deliver me from any idols that I have carved for myself and other gods.
REFLECTION
What kind of idols today do we worship that we are unaware of?
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

DON’T SLIP BACK

Posted on by

burks falls 2014,barrie,erin, stanley hoop 098

March 21________________________________________
So you must live as God’s obedient children. Don’t slip back into your old ways of living to satisfy your own desires. You didn’t know any better then. But now you must be holy in everything you do, just as God who chose you is holy. – 1 Peter 1:14-15NLT)
DON’T SLIP BACK
A poem and essay by ILMA
When you have been touched by God’s grace
Don’t slip back into your old worldly ways
You were blind and didn’t know any better then
You were lost and now you’re found and unbent.
You didn’t know the truth before but now you must be holy
You need to give your whole being to the Lord fully
Don’t slip back or you open doors for the enemy
Live and obey God’s commands to gain victory.
________________________________________
There were many years of my life that was wasted on slipping back and forth to my old ways and old stinking thinking. I would obey and then I would rebel. It was wavering faith that hindered my spiritual growth. It delayed many blessings and fruits of the Spirit. I made it impossible for God to do miracles in my life when I didn’t totally trust him.
The bible says that we must live as obedient children and not slip back into our old ways that focused much on self-preservation. Now that we are born again, we need to chose to live a holy life.
________________________________________
PRAYER
Lord, help me to never waver in my faith.
REFLECTION
How can obedience contribute to growing your faith?
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 CRITICISM Poem Devotional

Posted on by

stormy clouds 2012 094

March 20________________________________________
Don’t speak evil against each other, dear brothers and sisters. If you criticize and judge each other, then you are criticizing and judging God’s law. But your job is to obey the law, not to judge whether it applies to you. – James 4:11(NLT)
ON CRITICISM
A poem and essay by ILMA
When was the last time you judged or criticized?
Did you realize it was wrong; did you apologize?
Don’t speak evil against one another
You are all made into the image of your Father.
When you find fault with another person
You are judging God’s law with human reason
Obey the law and you will be free from judgment
God gave you these commands for your atonement.
________________________________________
Criticism is defined as the expression of disapproval of someone or something based on perceived faults or mistakes. Notice the word “perceived” in the definition? The one judging is actually applying his perception to the person’s behavior. Perception is usually colored by beliefs, experiences, culture and traditions. When you start thinking that someone’s behavior or attitude. You see it in the light of your own belief system and experiences. It is not necessarily true.
The bible cautions us on criticizing or judging others. We are all made in God’s image, so when we judge others, we are actually judging God himself. Our duty is to obey the commands set by God, not to justify ourselves and find fault in others.
PRAYER
Lord, deliver me from a critical spirit.
REFLECTION
What should you do when you feel the urge to judge someone?
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

UNGODLY SOUL TIES Poem Devotional

Posted on by

halloween 2011 and sunrises 060

March 19________________________________________
But most of all, my brothers and sisters, never take an oath, by heaven or earth or anything else. Just say a simple yes or no, so that you will not sin and be condemned.
-James 5:12(NLT)
UNGODLY SOUL TIES
A poem and essay by ILMA
When you swear that you will never do something
Watch out! The enemy will challenge you into sinning
Never take an oath by heaven or earth or anything else
It will open doors for you to experience vignettes of hell.
Just say a simple yes or no, so that you will not sin
Anything vague and unclear makes the devil win
Do not vow that you will do something, just do it
Say only what’s true and what you hear from the Spirit.
________________________________________A soul tie is an emotional bond or connection that unites you with someone else. You can become bound to a person through your soul. If you have been anguished, obsessed or extremely thinking or worrying about someone, you may have soul ties. If you have grieved and never gotten over a severed relationship, you may have been tied with this person’s soul. Soul ties may be an offshoot of close friendships or blood-relations through oaths and promises, and through physical intimacy. Not all soul ties are bad. God wants us to have healthy relationships that build us up, provide wisdom, and give godly counsel.
The bible warns us of any ungodly soul ties.
________________________________________
PRAYER
Lord, help me discern any ungodly soul ties I have and release it to you.
REFLECTION
How can you break ungodly soul ties?
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