Tag Archives: ILMA BARAYUGA-DOHERTY

GOD STOOD BY ME Poem Devotional

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October 10
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But the Lord stood with me and gave me strength so that I might preach the Good News in its entirety for all the Gentiles to hear. And he rescued me from certain death.
-2 Timothy 4:18 (NLT)
GOD STOOD BY ME
A poem and essay by ILMA
Have you ever been in very difficult situations?
The Lord will stand by you especially in temptations
He gives strength so you might preach the gospel
He is faithful to bring you his own Spirit as your helper.
No matter how bleak the circumstances are
He will never leave you alone at any hour
He will make a way for you to spread his Good News
Press on! He will ensure that all your gifts are used.
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There were many times in my life that I was beset by obstacles to discourage me from preaching the Good News. Sometimes I give in to the distraction and temptations. When I allowed the Lord to discipline my body and spirit, he transformed me and gave me strength. It is amazing that no matter how hard the situations were, he carried me through all of them. The bible tells us to preach the Good News that Jesus was given to us to save us from sin and that we need to believe that his sacrifice gives us new life. He promised to rescue us and never forsake us so we can fulfill our purpose.
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PRAYER
Lord, help me to remember your faithfulness.
REFLECTION
Cite an instance when you felt God was there in the hardest and crucial times of your 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

LIVE IN PEACE AND THANKFULNESS Poem Devotional

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October 9
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And let the peace that comes from Christ rule in your hearts. For as members of one body, you are called to live in peace. And always be thankful. – Colossians 3:15(NLT)
LIVE IN PEACE AND THANKFULNESS
A poem and essay by ILMA
Peace can only come by allowing Christ to rule your life
It is a fruit that is given to those who commit to Christ
As members of one body, you are called to live in peace
Be thankful in all things and constantly seek God and heed.
The Lord will provide for all your needs; trust him completely
He will never forsake you, he loves you faithfully
Pursue peace and always have a thankful heart
It will protect you from all evil and let Satan depart.
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What do you have to thank for today? It is amazing how many of us forget to give thanks to the Lord for big or little things we receive from him. Do we really praise the Lord for all that we have no matter what it is? It is easy to thank him for something we have wanted to have, but do we also thank him for the trials, the suffering, the losses, the illnesses? We forget to thank him for stretching our patience, having strength, enduring and being resilient to face all our struggles. We are summoned in the bible to pursue peace at all cost and give thanks.
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PRAYER
Grant me a thankful heart and attitude Lord.
REFLECTION
How can we really show gratitude to God on a daily basis?
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

CROWN OF RIGHTEOUSNESS PRIZE Poem Devotional

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October 8
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And now the prize awaits me-the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will give me on the day of his return. And the prize is not just for me but for all who eagerly look forward to his appearing. – 2 Timothy 4:8(NLT)
CROWN OF RIGHTEOUSNESS PRIZE
A poem and essay by ILMA
What awaits those who love Jesus Christ?
Is it worth all the suffering you experience in life?
Look forward to the crown of righteousness
Be eager for this is the prize of your faithfulness.
Look forward to Christ’s coming like a child
Be excited for that honor, always abide
Don’t lose hope for he will take care of all believers
Press on and focus on that promised life, that is eternal
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Have you ever joined a contest where you aim to win that prize when you finish that criteria set for you? I don’t usually join a competition to get the prize, but I usually use it to develop discipline and set deadlines for myself. The prize that I look forward to is knowing that I had the courage to join it and have the ability to go through the process of the challenge. It also is way for me to improve my skills and abilities and test myself to face changes that will improve me. We have the crown of righteousness to look forward to when Jesus Christ comes back for us.
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PRAYER
Lord, keep me in the path of righteousness constantly.
REFLECTION
What have you done in your life that brings you closer to receive the crown of righteousness?
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

KEEP A CLEAR MIND Poem Devotional

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October 7
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But you should keep a clear mind in every situation. Don’t be afraid of suffering for the Lord. Work at telling others the Good News and fully carry out the ministry God has given you. – 2 Timothy 4:5(NLT)
KEEP A CLEAR MIND
A poem and essay by ILMA
A follower of Christ keeps his mind clear
He is to walk in love so he can overcome fear
When he constantly focuses on his commands
He will successfully manage life’s demands.
Don’t be afraid to suffer for the Lord
He gives strength as you struggle in this world
Work at telling the Good News to one another
Fully carry out your ministry to your sisters and brothers.
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It is a novelty these days to have a clear mind. With the rise of social media and many different companies that try to sell their products to us, we are bombarded with so much information and images. These doesn’t help our minds, body and spirit. The enemy wants to distract us from focusing on what the Lord wants us to do. The bible says in 1 Corinthians 14:33 that we don’t have a god of confusion but of peace. So when our minds are confused, Satan is surely working on us to steal our peace.
The antidote to a cluttered mind is to read Scriptures and allow it to speak to you. God renews your mind when you let him.
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PRAYER
Lord, remind me to always focus on you and your word.
REFLECTION
What do you usually do when you start to get confused and doubtful?
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

GOD EQUIPS HIS PEOPLE Poem Devotional

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October 6
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God uses it to prepare and equip his people to do every good work. – 2 Timothy 3:17(NLT)
GOD EQUIPS HIS PEOPLE
A poem and essay by ILMA
When you became a believer
His word guides you to be a victor
God equips his people to do good works
Scriptures is a map for us to navigate this world.
When God chose you to be one of his
He will give you all the tools you need
Trust in the Lord so you can spiritually mature
He wants you to have a heart that is pure.
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As a high school teacher fifteen years ago, my goal is to make sure that the learning process happens. Teachers were expected to write detailed weekly lesson plans targeting cognitive, affective and psychomotor objectives. Since we all have different learning styles, we were given the responsibility to cater to the different learning styles of students so we can hit the maximum literacy. We have to give our students tools to equip them to do whatever it takes to acquire skills and aptitudes.
The bible tells us in 2 Timothy 3:16 that God gave us the Scriptures so we can use it to teach us what is true. It makes us realize what is wrong in our lives, corrects us when we do wrong and teaches us to do what’s right. It is the tool that equips us to do every good work.
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PRAYER
Thank you for giving me your words so I can stay righteous.
REFLECTION
How can we take advantage of the tool God gave us to do good works?
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 GRIEVING THE HOLY SPIRIT Poem Devotional

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October 5
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Ananias, why have you let Satan fill your heart? You lied to the Holy Spirit and you kept some of the money to yourself. – Acts 5:3(NLT)
ON GRIEVING THE HOLY SPIRIT
A poem and essay by ILMA
If you are a believer, you don’t want to grieve God’s Spirit
The Lord wants you to heed his commands and always believe
Live a life of obedience, love and persistent humility
Then you will keep the Holy Spirit inside you constantly.
Do not bring sorrow to God’s spirit by the way you live
Get rid of all bitterness, follow his word and so you can see
Be kind to others and forgive them just as God has forgiven you
Be mindful of his presence and your mind will be renewed.
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This verse gives us a picture how Ananias grieved the Holy Spirit. He lied and allowed Satan to corrupt his heart with the love of money. Acts 5 tells us the detailed story how Ananias and Sapphira conspired to test God’s Spirit and as a result, they bought paid a high price by their deaths. They lied about how much money they got from selling their land. They thought they were just lying to the people but were actually lying to God.
Ephesians 4:30-31 tells us what can bring sorrow to the Holy Spirit: bitterness, anger, harsh words, slander and all types of evil behavior. Verse 32 tells us how to please God’s Spirit.
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PRAYER
Lord, let me never grieve your Spirit.
REFLECTION
How can you ensure that you don’t bring the Holy Spirit sorrow?
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

THROUGH THE HOLY SPIRIT Poem Devotional

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October 4
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Now all of you can come to the Father through the same Holy Spirit because of what Christ has done for us. -Ephesians 2:18(NLT)
THROUGH THE HOLY SPIRIT
A poem and essay by ILMA
Through the Holy Spirit, we can come to the Lord
He made this possible when Christ died on the cross
All of you who believe in God have the Spirit inside you
In faith, he transforms you and make your life new.
Through the Holy Spirit, you can get revelations
Without his help, you will succumb to temptations
Through God’s Spirit, you are given authority
It is only by accepting him will you have victory.
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I have been guided and directed by the Holy Spirit since I accepted Jesus when I was seven years old. It may seem unreal to some people about how I was literally pulled out from many occasions of traumas and abuse by God’s Spirit. Even at that very young age, I was given instructions through my regular talking with Jesus. I believe that even when I didn’t read the bible until I was in my late twenties, the Holy Spirit kept watch over me and taught me how to thrive despite the circumstances surrounding me. He built me up and if not for his guidance, I will not be where I am today.
Paul speaks about our right standing with God through Jesus’ blood which allowed him to live inside us.
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PRAYER
Lord, thank you for welcoming us through your Spirit.
REFLECTION
Do you hear the Spirit’s voice when he tells you something? Relate an experience.
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

GOD KNOW HIS PEOPLE Poem Devotional

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October 2
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The Lord knows those who are his, and all who belong to the Lord must turn away from evil. -2 Timothy 2:19(NLT)
GOD KNOW HIS PEOPLE
A poem and essay by ILMA
Before you were born, God has a plan for you
He created each part of your being for his glory
Allow him to transform you and make you new
Turn away from evil so you can have victory.
You can not run away from his purpose for your life
Maybe you should pursue the way of Jesus Christ
God loves you immensely and longs for your company
Do you spend precious moments to create intimacy?
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We all know the story of the Israelites, the people whom God calls as his own. In the book of Exodus, we discover that an eleven-day journey to the promised land took them forty long years to reach it. What made it that long? Many sins and strongholds kept them from focusing on the promises of the Lord. They are stubborn, complaining, dissatisfied, unfaithful, ungrateful, didn’t trust the Lord enough. When they crossed the Red Sea and God delivered them from the Egyptians who enslaved them, it didn’t take long when they started to grumble to Moses that they should have stayed as slaves in Egypt. God forgave them and was faithful. It took a long time to reach their destination because they focused on selfish and worldly things.
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PRAYER
Lord, give me a heart that doesn’t easily get corrupted by this world.
REFLECTION
What can hinder you from fulfilling God’s purpose in your 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

YOU DON’T OWN YOURSELF Poem Devotional

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October 1
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You do not belong to yourself. For God bought you with a high price. So you must honor God with your body. – 1 Corinthians 6:19-20 (NLT)
YOU DON’T OWN YOURSELF
A poem and essay by ILMA
God created you for his kingdom plan
He bought you with the sacrifice of his Son
You don’t belong to yourself, he owns you
Honor your body and let your mind be renewed.
Stop thinking you can do anything with your body
Honor him by focusing to him all of your abilities
You bring him praise by sharing the gifts he gave you
He is gloried when you acknowledge him and heed the truth.
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How often have you thought that your body is your own? For many years, I thought that way. As a result of this kind of thinking, I did many things to my body that didn’t really honor the Lord. I used it so I can edify my own self. I honed my skills and gifts to get attention from others and prove I was worthy. I was vain and shallow in adorning myself with superficial things. I didn’t realize that true beauty lies in following the truth of God’s word and living a life of integrity. I thank God that he revealed to me this stinking thinking and made me realize how much he bought me back with a high price. Now, I do my best to honor him with my body.
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PRAYER
Lord, always remind me that I don’t own my whole being.
REFLECTION
What things have you done that doesn’t honor God?
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

CONSEQUENCE OF A RECKLESS LIFE Poem Devotional

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September 30
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He will die for lack of self-control; he will be lost because of his great foolishness.
-Proverbs 5:23(NLT)
CONSEQUENCE OF A RECKLESS LIFE
A poem and essay by ILMA
When you decide to go on a road to selfishness
You will find it easy to do all kinds of wickedness
It may seem enticing to satisfy all your selfish desires
But you will suffer the consequences of it later on in life.
When you don’t exercise self-control; you’ll suffer penalties
Relationships will end because of your selfishness and cruelty
When you live a life of lawlessness and abandon
You may lose your inheritance in God’s kingdom.
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When you drive your vehicle without following any rules or speeding as much as you want to, what happens? You may get a ticket for speeding, collide with another vehicle and cause an accident, or you may destroy your vehicle during the reckless ride. The most fatal thing that can happen is you die or someone else dies because of your lawless driving. Isn’t the same thing true with the way we live our lives? We all go through teenage years and when we do, we almost always do many foolish things because we are reckless. Eventually, when we have had enough loses because of these reckless living, we may learn wisdom from our mistakes. A foolish person doesn’t think far back to the future. They live without limits causing downfall.
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PRAYER
Lord, help me to consult you in all things so I don’t make foolish decisions.
REFLECTION
What was the consequence of a reckless decision you made in the past?
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