Tag Archives: ILMA BARAYUGA-DOHERTY

WISE WORDS AND HARD WORK Poem Devotional

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March 15________________________________________
Wise words bring many benefits, and hard work brings rewards. -Proverbs 12:14(NLT)
WISE WORDS AND HARD WORK
A poem and essay by ILMA
If you heed to God’s wisdom and truth
You will receive blessings and the Spirit’s fruits
Wise words bring about many advantages
Scriptures will show you to get out of danger.
While the Lord provides, hard work is essential
You will find rewards as a result; it is beneficial
Wise words and hard work is a formula for success
It brings you to a place of victory and constant progress.
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If you talk to a successful person, you will discover that the reason behind their success is wisdom and hard work. The secret sauce to success of ultra successful people are the following: they read a lot, they organize lessons learned for future use, they wake up early, they are not couch potatoes, they discipline themselves, they meditate and know how to quiet their minds and bodies, they try to minimize distractions by managing their time well, they donate or give, they deliberately practice and work hard, and lastly, they don’t break the chain of their progress.
Without my awareness, God has really progressed me as a result of all the wisdom and hard work I’ve put in my life. Even at a young age of seven, I was hungry to learn more about the Lord and he has rewarded me with a very fruitful life.
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PRAYER
Thank you for your wisdom and blessings Lord.
REFLECTION
Who has inspired you to become a successful person? What is success like for you?
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

BLESSINGS TO PROSPER Poem Devotional

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March 14________________________________________
And may the Lord our God show us His approval and make our efforts successful. Yes, make our efforts successful. -Psalm 90:17(NLT)
BLESSINGS TO PROSPER
A poem and essay by ILMA
Whatever we do, we mustn’t forget to bring laud
We should always seek the approval of the Lord
Remember that our efforts will only succeed
If we constantly hunger for him and believe.
May the Lord our God show you his approval
May we live in obedience instead of denial
May he anoint us and make our efforts successful
May he guide us in his truth and make us fruitful.
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When you plan, do you usually consult the Lord? It wasn’t until I became so deprived and deep down in a terrible mess that God brought me on my knees to depend on him. I was a very self-sufficient and independent person. In the past, It never occurred to me to consult anyone when I want to make a major decision. I always thought that I carve my own destiny. “Live in God’s will” was a statement alien to me for many decades of my life, until he called me to live a life seeking his’ instead of man’s approval. I stopped being an approval addict, instead I pursued to do everything to please the Lord.
The bible tells us that if we want to prosper, we need to consult God in everything so that our efforts will succeed.
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PRAYER
Thank you for all your desire to prosper and bless me, Lord.
REFLECTION
What was the result when you consulted God in a plan?

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

ANNOUNCE THE GOOD NEWS poem devotional

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March 13________________________________________
Jesus travelled throughout the region of Galilee teaching in the synagogues and announcing the Good News about the kingdom. And he healed every kind of disease and illness. – Matthew 4:23(NLT)
ANNOUNCE THE GOOD NEWS
A poem and essay by ILMA
When you committed to Jesus Christ as your Savior
Did you have that hunger for him and his word?
Jesus travelled to preach the Good News
Do you emulate Christ and allow yourself to be used?
Announce the Good News to all the ends of the earth
This is why he gave his Son so you can witness his birth
All believers are called to preach the gospel of Jesus’ coming
We need to shout out loud and praise God who is all-forgiving.
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Are you a kind of Christian who is unashamed? Are you bold to declare the Good News to anyone you are given an opportunity to share with? I used to be an ignorant Christian who didn’t know any better because I didn’t seek the Lord with all my heart, my soul and my strength. I didn’t know that he required believers to follow the examples he set during his time on earth. We were encouraged to be a light to this dark world by sharing the gospel about Jesus’ coming and his sacrifice to save us from sin. Jesus travelled everywhere to preach and teach about God’s kingdom. Are you doing the same?
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PRAYER
Lord, always equip me with courage and boldness to announce the Good News.
REFLECTION
Why do you think God requires us to share his gospel everywhere?
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 BLAME GOD Poem Devotional

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March 12________________________________________
People ruin their lives by their own foolishness and then are angry at the Lord.
-Psalm 19:3(NLT)
WHY BLAME GOD?
A poem and essay by ILMA
Why do people tend to blame others?
It ruins us when we do it to one another
When we point to someone to blame
It just reinforces the feelings of shame.
Why blame God for something you did?
Why do the things he actually forbids?
Don’t destroy your life by fault-finding
Live in his truth; choose to stop sinning.________________________________________
It is human nature to point fingers to someone and not be responsible for the consequences of our own choices. It takes humility to be able to admit the wrong we’ve done and move forward with a mistake that we caused ourselves to experience. Ownership to material things is very easy to do but taking responsibility for our own actions involves a spiritual maturity which only comes from having a deep relationship with the Lord. I find it childish to blame God for things that we are dissatisfied or angry about. It is a picture of a spoiled brat having a tantrum fit to get his or her way. But, I am sure that if we can be honest, we probably have thrown fits ourselves maybe once or even more in our lifetime. The bible says that if we blame God and get angry with him, we are only ruining our lives.
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PRAYER
Lord, give me the humility to admit and take responsibility when I am wrong.
REFLECTION
When was the last time you blamed God or someone? What resulted from it?
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

REAL FRIENDS Poem Devotional

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March 11________________________________________
There are “friends” who destroy each other, but a real friend sticks closer than a brother.
-Proverbs 18:24(NLT)
REAL FRIENDS
A poem and essay by ILMA
Who do you call friends these days?
Do they listen to what God says?
Do they stand by you especially during hard times?
Are they leading you to live under God’s light?
There are friends who destroy each other
A real friend sticks closer than a sister or brother
They follow the truth and seek only Jesus Christ
They accept you and help you during trials in life.
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I had never had a problem finding friends since I was seven years old. I always had two or more best friends as I was growing up. I was hungry for connecting and communicating with people since I was a young child. It wasn’t hard to make new friends. As a result of my hunger for love and affection, Jesus became my constant friend through daily writing and praying at age seven. It was also that time that I met Marivic, my very first best friend. Because Jesus knew that I also need human friends, he always provided me with an abundance of them during my life. When I migrated to Canada, I had difficulties finding new friends. I didn’t realize that God was overhauling my friendships. When I became a born again Christian, he gave me authentic loving believers.
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PRAYER
Thank you for new friendships from your body of Christ.
REFLECTION
Why is it important that your friends build you up instead of destroying you?
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

FEAR CRIPPLES Poem Devotional

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March 10________________________________________
My heart pounds in my chest. The terror of death assaults me. Fear and trembling overwhelm me, and I can’t stop shaking. -Psalm 55:4-5(NLT)
FEAR CRIPPLES
A poem and essay by ILMA
What are you afraid of these days?
Do you get consumed hear what God says?
Are you focusing much on your apprehensions?
Take a break and give up your trepidations.
Fear cripples you from your potentials
This is why running to the Lord is essential
Perfect love casts out all forms of fear
Live in his truth and all things will be clear.
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Have you ever feared someone or something that literally made you sick? There was almost one decade of my life that I lived in fear. I was afraid that the little love I got from someone will be gone one day. This person was actually violating me physically, emotionally and spiritually and yet I clung to him. I could have just run away and left him, but I allowed him to do the most terrible and undignified things to me. Eventually, God put some sense into me and pulled me out of that relationship. I was literally sick with all kinds of unexplained illnesses. Years later God showed me how that fear crippled me. I realized that I need not subject myself to torturous reactions and I can count on Jesus to help me. We were cautioned 365 times not to fear by God.
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PRAYER
Lord, do not let me be consumed with apprehensions.
REFLECTION
How can you overcome being fearful of someone or something?
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

GIVE IN TO GOD’S DISCIPLINE Poem Devotional

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March 9________________________________________
But God says to the wicked: “Why bother reciting my decrees and pretending to obey my covenant? For you refuse my discipline and treat my words like trash.”
-Psalm 50:16-17(NLT)
GIVE IN TO GOD’S DISCIPLINE
A poem and essay by ILMA
When you encounter difficulties and trials
Do you confront them or run in total denial?
Do you pretend to obey but ignore his teachings?
Are you following his truth or do you keep on arguing?
Give in to God’s discipline and you will enjoy this life
Succumb to his guidance and you will live in his light
Treat his words with respect and guard it with your heart
Allow God’s spirit to transform and give you a good start.________________________________________
When I was in high school, I joined the Citizen’s Army Training as a requirement of our secondary education. Just like in military, we were trained and taught skills in handling some weapons that we can use to defend ourselves in the battlefield. We were given orders and rules to follow strictly and bear consequences when we don’t obey them. Just like military discipline, we also need spiritual discipline in order for us to mature spiritually.
There were many years of my early adult life that I turned my back on God’s discipline because I was too stubborn to heed to his correction. As a result, I suffered the consequences of my insolence. We are encouraged to heed to God’s discipline.
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PRAYER
Lord, help me to be resilient and bend to your correction.
REFLECTION
Why do you think is discipline an integral factor in growth?
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

I’LL PUT MY HOPE IN GOD poem devotional

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March 8________________________________________
Why am I discouraged? Why is my heart so sad? I will put my hope in God! I will praise him again-my Savior and my God. -Psalm 43:5(NLT)
I’LL PUT MY HOPE IN GOD
A poem and essay by ILMA
Whenever I feel down and discouraged
I will put my hope in God so I’ll have the courage
When things seem bleak and hopeless
I will look beyond feeling frustrated and helpless.
Why is my heart so sad when my mind can’t fathom?
I need to praise the Lord with complete abandon
I will put my hope in Christ for he is full of grace
I will focus on my God so I will continue to be amazed.
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Was there ever a time in your life when you were frustrated, desperate, helpless and hopeless? I am sure at some point you were in this predicament. There were many dark periods in over 5 decades of my life. I even came to a point when I argued and battled with the Lord over many things I did not understand. I manipulated and made vows and deals with him just so I can have my way. I was a controlling woman who’d do anything to get her wishes and dreams fulfilled. I thank God that he delivered me from this desperation, manipulation and rebellion that enslaved me. I will put my hope in my God and I will completely trust him.
PRAYER
Lord, teach us humility and obedience when we get discouraged.
REFLECTION
What do you do or who do you run to when you feel helpless?
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 DETESTS VIOLENCE Poem Devotional

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March 7________________________________________
The Lord still rules from heaven. He watches everyone closely, examining every person on earth. The Lord examines both the righteous and the wicked. He hates those who love violence. – Psalm 11:4-5(NLT)
GOD DETESTS VIOLENCE
A poem and essay by ILMA
The Lord watches everyone each moment of each day
He knows what we are thinking and what we’re about to say
Whether people are wicked or godly, he examines them
He patterned man’s hearts to his and so we can be like him.
God detests violence among other wickedness
He didn’t design our hearts for unrighteousness
Give up any forms of evil and violence
God considers it as an act of insolence.
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Proverbs 6:16-19 enumerates the seven things that God detests: haughty eyes, a lying tongue, hands that kill the innocent, a heart that plots evil, feet that race to do wrong, a false witness who pours out lies, a person who sows discord in a family. If you closely look at each of these detestable things the Lord hates, they all involve a violation of another person. Why does God hate these things? Remember that the Lord has made us all in his image. God is love, therefore, our make is “to love.” We were not designed by God to destroy someone or to hurt others. This is why his greatest command is summed up in loving God above all and loving others as you love yourself.
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PRAYER
Lord, help me to hear your convictions whenever I do any of these things you detest.
REFLECTION
How can one avoid all the things that God hates?
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

SIGNS OF END TIMES Poem Devotional

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March 6________________________________________
Help, O Lord, for the godly are fast disappearing! The faithful have vanished from the earth! Neighbors lie to each other speaking with flattering lips and deceitful hearts.
-Psalms 12:1(NLT)
SIGNS OF END TIMES
A poem and essay by ILMA
There is so much violence around us today
Many hearts are hardened and many are astray
The godly are fast disappearing
The faithful have been vanishing.
Help, O Lord! The signs of end times are here
Deliver us from evil; the final days is near
There is so much deceit and corruption in this world
Give us the strength to continue to live by your word.
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No one really knows when the second coming of Christ will happen. The bible tells us in details what the last days would look like in 2 Timothy 3:1-5. He explicitly says that there will be very difficult times. People will love only themselves and their money. They will be boastful and proud, scoffing at God, disobedient to their parents, and ungrateful. They will consider nothing sacred. They will be unloving and unforgiving; they will slander others and have no self-control. They will be cruel and hate what is good. They will betray their friends, be reckless, be puffed up with pride and love pleasure rather than God. They will act religious, but they will reject the power that could make them godly. Aren’t these signs all happening now?
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PRAYER
Lord, help us to focus on you especially these end of days that we actually witness.
REFLECTION
What can you do to bring someone to Jesus in this end times?
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