Tag Archives: ILMA ARTS STUDIO

GOD PRUNES US Poem Devotional

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June 6                                                                                       The Power of God’s Word
He cuts off every branch of mine that doesn’t produce fruit and he prunes the branches that do bear fruit so they will produce even more.
–John 15:2 (NLT)

A poem and essay by ILMA
Are your activities geared on God’s kingdom?
Does your life exhibit peace, love and freedom?
Whenever we are unproductive in life
God wants you to believe in him and sit tight.
He cuts off every branch that doesn’t produce
He wants you to acknowledge his gifts and use
God prunes the branches that do not bear fruit
His words make us grow; it is our soul’s food.
Pruning is cutting undesired twigs, branches, or roots from; it is to rid or clear of anything superfluous or undesirable. It is an important aspect of gardening. If you want your trees, shrubs or plants to bear fruit and be healthy, pruning is essential.
The bible likens God to a gardener who cuts off every branch that doesn’t produce fruit in our lives. He prunes those areas in our lives that already bear fruits so that they will produce more. He removes things in our lives that is unproductive and trims our excesses so that we can be fruitful even more. He allows only what will be good for our lives and cuts off anything that will hurt us or disconnect us with him.
PRAYER
Lord, thank you for pruning me.
REFLECTION
What has God pruned in your life?

SIN WHISPERS TO THE WICKED Poem Devotional

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June 5                                                                                      The Power of God’s Word
Sin whispers to the wicked deep within their hearts. They have no fear of God at all. In their blind conceit, they cannot see how wicked they really are.
–Psalm 36:1-2 (NLT)

A poem and essay by ILMA
Are your thoughts pure or awful?
Is your heart clean and faithful?
Sin whispers to the wicked deep inside
They do not follow God and abide.
They have no fear of the Lord
They only care to give themselves applaud
They cannot see how wicked they really are
Sin has allowed them to be isolated and far.
Have you ever experienced the cruelty of wicked people? They can easily hurt someone so pure. They have no reverence for the Lord. All they care about is to cater to their desires and cave in to sin. They have no idea that they are sinning because they have totally been blinded by the enemy to live in the lie that they are their own gods. Pride had been deeply indoctrinated in their hearts to give an objective evaluation of their evil ways.
The bible tells us that sin whispers to the wicked within their hearts. They have no fear of God. In their blind conceit, they cannot even see how wicked they really are. They have been blinded by their pride.
PRAYER
Lord, give me a pure and humble heart that seeks you.
REFLECTION
Why is humility our greatest tool to combat sin?

WALK IN FREEDOM Poem Devotional

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June 4                                                       The Power of God’s Word
I will walk in freedom, for I have devoted myself to your commandments.
–Psalm 119:45(NLT)

A poem and essay by ILMA
Do you walk in love or in fear?
Is your mind constantly stirred?
Do you allow the Spirit to bring you wisdom?
Are you faithful to walk in love to gain freedom?
The commandments will release you from bondage to sin
Obedience to his commands keeps you strong and empowers you within
Walk in freedom by devoting yourself to God’s truth
It frees you from slavery to anything that has taken root.
Generational sins, curses and patterns are attitudes, actions, beliefs, behaviors, and/or habits that we have inherited from our family or relatives. We then “enter into” the same sin pattern and make it our own. It is usually repeated throughout our life as well as by individuals in successive generations. It took many decades before I was released from generational sins passed on in my family of origin. I am thankful to God for breaking the patterns in my family through me. It didn’t exempt me from the effects of these generation sins, but God used it to reclaim me and my entire clan. The bible tells us that freedom is the result of devoting our lives to following God’s commands. Obedience will protect us from the bondage to sin.
PRAYER
Lord, help me to obey you always.
REFLECTION
Why is obedience an integral part in our salvation?

JESUS’ FRIENDS Poem Devotional

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June 3                                                                                  The Power of God’s Word
You are my friends if you do what I command. I no longer call you slaves because a master doesn’t confide in his slaves. Now you are my friends, since I have told you everything the Father told me.–John 15:14-15 (NLT)

A poem and essay by ILMA
Do you live your life following his commands?
Do you constantly ask and demand?
Do you know God intimately?
Do you seek his word daily?
You are a friend of Jesus when you abide in him
He confides his father’s will so you can be redeemed
You are his friend when you align your life in his will
You’ll hear his voice when you are constantly still.
Have you ever had friends that lasted for a very long time? What did it take to last that long? Friendships take time and effort. You do not just have them and keep them without investing your time and care for them. It takes love, patience and kindness to be able to sustain friendships.
The bible says that we are called Jesus’ friends if we follow his commands. God confides everything to us through his son Jesus, who shared God’s word and his will. What are you going to do with what Jesus intimately shared with you?
PRAYER
Lord, I am honored that you call me a friend.
REFLECTION
How do we nurture the friendship we have with Jesus?

A PLEA FOR ANSWERS Poem Devotional

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photo by ILMA

June 2 The Power of God’s Word
Answer my prayers, O Lord, for your unfailing love is wonderful. Take care of me for your mercy is plentiful– Psalm 69:16 (NLT)

A poem and essay by ILMA
Lord, where are you when I am in need?
How long will my heart bleed?
I am surrounded by people who don’t show affection
How long will you heal them from their deep affliction?
Oh, how I long to be heard and be seen
Why do unbelievers reject love and chose sin?
Please renew my mind and cease my exhaustion?
Will you show me mercy in all my tribulations?
Have you ever prayed for a long time for someone or something to happen and yet see no answers to your incessant requests? The hardest thing to visually see is the change of heart of people. Only God can see someone’s heart and intentions. We will never be able to know or sense if someone’s heart and mind is being renewed by God. Their actions or circumstances may give us a clue as to what God has done to them. We can never really see or know what is in their hearts.
The bible tells us that God’s love is unfailing and that he takes care of us because he is full of mercy. He lavishes us with mercy and grace always.
PRAYER
Lord, give me wisdom to know when you have answered my prayers.
REFLECTION
Why is it important to never lose hope?

LOVE GOD ABOVE ALL Poem Devotional

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May 31                                                                                 The Power of God’s Word
If you love your father or mother more than you love me, you are not worthy of being mine; or if you love your son or daughter more than me, you are not worthy of being mine. –Matthew 10:37 (NLT)
LOVE GOD ABOVE ALL
A poem by ILMA
Do you spend more time honoring your father and mother?
Do you take time to pray and be with your heavenly father?
What preoccupies your mind and heart?
Do you invest in spending time with God or stay apart?
If you love your sons or daughters more than the Lord
You do not deserve to be worthy of his love and his word
Love God above all else and you will reap a harvest
He promised all will be will if you make him first.
There are many kinds of things that we can idolize such as a house or a car that we love so much, but what if it is a loved one that is your idol? When you have a family, it is good to be in a healthy relationship with them, but when you prioritize your parents or children more than God, then you are not worthy of being called God’s people. The bible says that we must put God first in all. His command says that we love him first, then our neighbors as ourselves.
PRAYER
Lord, help me to make you first in everything.
REFLECTION
Why should we prioritize God?

DO TO THEM AS YOU DO UNTO ME Poem Devotional

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May 30 The Power of God’s Word
I tell you the truth, when you did it to one of the least of these my brothers and sisters you were doing it to me. –Matthew 25:40 (NLT)
DO TO THEM AS YOU DO UNTO ME
Do you treat people with kindness?
How often do you grant forgiveness?
Do you allow others to be in pain or suffer?
Do you go out of your way to help and offer?
I tell you the truth, when you do it to your brothers
You are a doing it unto your heavenly father
He wants us to cherish and love one another
That is the only way our life gets better.
How often do you think of Jesus when you do something for someone? Many people do things without even realizing that when they do so, they are actually doing it to the Lord too. How we relate to others is how we relate to God. How we treat someone is also how we treat ourselves. When someone is so angry, he or she is also angry with himself/herself and probably with God as well.
The bible tells us that what we do to the least of our brothers and sisters, we are doing to God. If we ignore others, we also ignore God. If we hate ourselves, we probably hate others and God as well.
PRAYER
Lord, help me to walk in love.
REFLECTION
Why do you think God wants us to love?

FAITH MAKES YOU RECEIVE THE SPIRIT

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May 28                                                                           The Power of God’s Word
You received the Spirit because you believed the message you heard about Christ. –Galatians 3:2 (NLT)
FAITH MAKES YOU RECEIVE THE SPIRIT
When you received Christ as your savior
You also got his spirit living inside your heart and soul
Faith makes your heart the home of Christ
It protects you from the devil’s tactics and lies.
The spirit of God will teach and guide you
It helps your mind to be aware and renewed
It protects you from going against God’s will
It defends you from the enemy’s ploy to steal.
Ephesians 6:12 says: For we are not fighting against flesh and blood enemies but against evil rulers and authorities of the unseen world, against mighty powers in this dark world, and against evil spirits in the heavenly places. This means that there is a constant spiritual war that we don’t visually see, but is real. How can we win a battle when we don’t know how the enemy’s strategies? The devil has kept many people living in lies that gave him a foothold on their hearts. They became his slaves.
The bible tells us that faith makes us receive the Spirit of God. It is the first step to allowing the spirit to work and strengthen us to win the spiritual battle of unseen forces. It is the spirit that corrects us and teaches us to do right.
PRAYER
Lord, let your spirit stay in my heart.
REFLECTION
Why is faith essential in salvation?

EXAMINE YOUR WAYS

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May 27                                                                             The Power of God’s Word
Instead, let us test and examine our ways. Let us turn back to the Lord. Let us lift our hearts and hands to God in heaven. –Lamentations 3:40-41 (NLT)
When things don’t go well in your life
Do you examine your ways or continually fight?
Do you resort to blaming and pitying yourself?
Why not confess instead and ask God for help.
When rebellion and disobedience dominate your heart
Everything is a struggle no matter where you start
Lift your heart and hands to God in heaven
He will protect and provide you with a haven.
Do you examine your ways on a daily basis? Many people do not reflect on what they think and do. Actions speak out our minds and hearts. Our decisions and reactions are greatly influenced by what preoccupy our minds. If we constantly think of negative things, the results will be destructive choices. On the other hand, if we renew our minds and feed it with the truth that comes from God, we will reap all the promises he has made to us. We will harvest the fruits of the spirit and have peace and joy.
In Lamentations, we are summoned to examine and test our ways and turn back to the Lord. We must lift our hearts and hands to God in prayer and supplication.
PRAYER
Lord, hold captive my heart and mind.
REFLECTION
Why is it important to examine our thoughts and ways regularly?

WISDOM BUILDS, FOOLISHNESS DESTROYS Poem Devotional

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eugenia falls and chasing clouds 579May 26                                                                         The Power of God’s WordA wise woman builds her home but a foolish woman tears it down with her own hands. –Proverbs 14:1 (NLT)Does love and kindness live in your home?Is perseverance and trust your goals during a storm?A wise woman builds her home with faith and hard workShe’s a foundation that makes this life a better world.Are you obsessed with power and ambition?Does it bring you happiness and more possessions?A foolish woman prioritizes material things that doesn’t lastShe tears down her home with her own hands in a blast.If you have met someone who is very wholesome and intact, that person probably comes from a home where wisdom prevailed. She or he might have been raised by either a wise mother or grandmother. On the other hand, look at the story behind delinquents or criminals. Behind their stories you will probably discover a foolish woman who controlled their lives which contributed to their destructive tendencies.The bible presents to us two kinds of women, the wise one and the foolish one. The wise woman is nurturing and walks in love. She thinks of her family’s welfare. The foolish one is only concerned with herself. She couldn’t care less about other people’s needs. Her independent behavior leads to her home’s destruction and chaos.PRAYERLord, please guide all women to be nurturers and lovers of God.REFLECTIONWhat is the role of women in our society?