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

WHY ARE YOU AFRAID? Poem Devotional

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November 16________________________________________
The Lord is my light and my salvation, so why should I be afraid? –Psalm 27:1(NLT)
WHY ARE YOU AFRAID?
A poem and essay by ILMA
When you declared God as your Redeemer
Have you set aside fears that usually takes over?
The Lord is your light and your salvation
There is no need to fear for he brings all solutions.
Why are you afraid of things that has no power?
God will grant you victory and make the devil cower.
Do not be afraid for he is right beside you
God never abandons, he saves and renews.
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What scares you in life? The biggest fear I have is that the end times will come and my family still do not know the Lord. I fear that they are losing their souls to this world we live in. The bible mentions the word fear or afraid about 365 times. God is awesome, he gives us a caution “Do not fear” and we can reflect on one each day of the year. This is how much God wants us never to live in fear. Fear is the opposite of love, not hate. When we fear, we are living in bondage. We are always catastrophizing and never at peace.
When I renewed my vow to Christ some time ago, he gave me courage to face any circumstance. The Lord is my light and salvation. I need not fear.
PRAYER
Lord, free me from “fear” of anything.
REFLECTION
Share an instance how God worked in one of your fears.
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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

WHEN YOU LOVE Poem Devotional

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November 15________________________________________
For a man who loves his wife actually shows love for himself. – Ephesians 5:28 (NLT)
WHEN YOU LOVE
A poem and essay by ILMA
When you love God, loving yourself comes easy
When you turn your back on him, you will have difficulty
When you love someone unconditionally
You are following Christ who loves you faithfully.
When you love only because you want to gain something
It will eventually corrupt your heart and leave you with nothing
For a person who loves someone actually shows love for himself
And those who cannot love cannot stop prioritizing themselves.
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What is the true gauge of love? Our world has corrupted many hearts of people by dictating that love is something we give so we can get back something in return. God, on the other hand teaches us perfect love which is called “agape.” It is to love someone unconditionally. Agape is selfless, sacrificial, unconditional love, the highest of the four types of love in the Bible.
In Ephesians 5:28, the husbands are instructed to love their wives as a manifestation of their love for themselves. I often wonder how many wives feel so unloved by their husbands. Could it be because these men did not receive love at all in the past and therefore not able to give love to others and to their wives? Or could it be that they don’t actually love themselves that’s why they can’t show it?
PRAYER
Lord, help me manifest my love to others clearly.
REFLECTION
How can you love someone who is not giving back the love you give?
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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

OUR SHIELD Poem Devotional

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November 12________________________________________
God is my shield, saving those whose hearts are true and right.-Psalm 7:10 (NLT)
OUR SHIELD
A poem and essay by ILMA
Is there anyone who has violated you and treated you bad?
Are there people who rejoice when you are not glad?
He knows what we think of and he discerns the condition of our hearts
He understands our dilemmas and challenges even from the very start
God is our protector, our deliverer, our redeemer and our shield
If we don’t run to him, we will be tempted and easily yield.
The Lord saves those whose hearts are true and right
Have you already committed your entire life to Jesus Christ?
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A shield is something that protects someone or something from danger or getting hurt. How many times have you resorted to using different kinds of things and tactics to protect yourself from being hurt or maligned? It is our human nature to defend ourselves especially when we are being attacked. It is supernatural for us to run to God and let him be our shield, our protector.
The bible talks about how King David depended on God solely as his shield and how important it is for us to have our hearts true and right for our heavenly Father. With a heart that is always after the Lord, he will definitely ensure our safety. He will protect us from all evil around us.
PRAYER
Lord, remind me to always run to you for shield.
REFLECTION
Who do you usually run to for protection when you are being attacked?
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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

MY HELPER, MY SAVIOR Poem Devotional

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November 11________________________________________
As for me, since I am poor and needy, let the Lord keep me in his thoughts. You are my helper and my savior, O my God; do not delay. –Psalm 40:17 (NLT)
MY HELPER, MY SAVIOR
A poem and essay by ILMA
Who is always there for you through thick or thin?
God is with you constantly even when you have sinned
Run to him, he will faithfully send you his helper
The Holy Spirit lives inside your heart to make you better.
Ask the Lord’s assistance for he saves you from your sin nature
Plead him to keep you in his thoughts so you will be a victor
No other god can surpass Christ’s mercy and salvation
Let us trust him completely and depend for his provision.
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There are many people I have relationship with who are not dependable because they are just too busy with their own lives to even find out what is happening with me or don’t really care. It is only God who have proven himself to be there in all situations I am in. Whether in my successes and failures, he is always there for me. He answers all my prayers when he deemed it good for me. He protects me and he constantly understands what I am going through. The bible tells us to run to God for he is our helper and our savior. Only God can faithfully respond to us.
PRAYER
Lord, I plead for your healing.
REFLECTION
Why is seeking God for help an act that all Christians should 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