Tag Archives: ILMA BARAYUGA-DOHERTY

OBEDIENCE: SHIELD AGAINST EVIL Poem Devotional

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April 18
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I have followed your commands, which keep me from following cruel and evil people.
– Psalm 17:4(NLT)
OBEDIENCE: SHIELD AGAINST EVIL
A poem and essay by ILMA
Whenever we defy the truth and God’s will
We are opening the door to the devil
To disobey is to question God’s sovereignty
To obey is to bow to his power and glory.
The first sin is an act of rebellion and idolatry
It is an outright insolence against God’s authority
Pride is the source of all disobedience
Love is the results in humility and patience.
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For over five decades, I was a rebel. I disobeyed my parents and God as well. No wonder I led a very tumultuous life. Honor your father and your so things would go well with you is a command that has a condition. If children do not obey their parents, they are in for trouble. I could attest to this because I didn’t get it for many years. I didn’t understand why my life was full of tragedies and pain. It is ironic that God used my disobedience to reveal to me this stronghold in my family. Pride and idolatry was the source of the disobedience. When God revealed to me that the consequences of my disobedience was pain and suffering. When I re-committed my life to Jesus six years ago, he showed me the shield against evil which is obedience.
PRAYER
Lord, help me to be able to say yes to you when you ask me something.
REFLECTION
What were the results of obedience to God’s will 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

BLAMELESS LIVING Poem Devotional

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April 17
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Who may enter your presence on your holy hill? Those who lead blameless lives and do what is right, speaking the truth from sincere hearts. -Psalm 15:1-2(NLT)
BLAMELESS LIVING
A poem and essay by ILMA
Are you an authentic believer of Christ?
Do you live a blameless life free of strife?
Do you choose to do the right thing?
Are you able to repent and confess your sins?
Speak the truth in love and be encouraging
Stop proving, testing, envying or mocking
Think only what is pure, honorable and true
It will protect you from evil and all kinds of rue.
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There is a big misconception about being holy or living a blameless life. They mistake it for religiousness or external piety. Amos 5:21 says “I hate all your show and pretense, the hypocrisy of your religious festivals and solemn assemblies.” Even God himself hated religion. He did not die on the cross for us to have a religion but a relationship. As Christians, we are urged and summoned to live blameless lives. In James 1:27 it says that pure and genuine religion in the sight of God the Father means caring for orphans and widows in their distress and refusing to let the world corrupt you.
The bible tells us that only those who live blameless lives, doing what is right and speaking the truth with sincere hearts will enter his kingdom.
PRAYER
Lord, convict me when I don’t live a blameless life.
REFLECTION
Why are we commanded to live holy lives? What does it do to us and to others?
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.

WALK WITH THE WISE Poem Devotional

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April 16
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Walk with the wise and become wise; associate with fools and get in trouble.
-Proverbs 13:20(NLT)
WALK WITH THE WISE
A poem and essay by ILMA
Who do you spend time with these days?
Are they reflecting Jesus in many ways?
Walk with the wise and you will become wise
If you associate with fools, you will hear many lies.
The Lord wants you to follow him always
If you associate with fools, you will learn their ways
Those who are wise usually bear fruits in their lives
Fools on the other hand end up in stagnation and dies.
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I’ve spent many years of my life associating and even living with fools. During the time I was living in or friends with foolish people, I lived a very unproductive and chaotic life. It is very stressful and tiring to live with fools. They drain you of your energy and drag you into their pessimism and passivity. The enemy has used these unwise persons in my life to keep me from realizing dreams and goals I have set for myself. Just recently, God convicted me of my boundary issues. I didn’t know what they were since I grew up in a family were most of my boundaries were violated. I thank God that he delivered me from such bondage to dwelling in the past and walking with fools. When I learned to set boundaries, I know better to set myself apart from fools.
PRAYER
Lord, thank you for warning me about the way of the fools.
REFLECTION
Why is boundary setting important in relationships?
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

IN PURSUIT OF DREAMS Poem Devotional

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April 15
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It is pleasant to see dreams come true, but fools refuse to turn from evil to attain them.
-Proverbs 13:19 (NLT)
IN PURSUIT OF DREAMS
A poem and essay by ILMA
Do you dream of spiritual or worldly things?
Does it parallel God’s truth; is it within his will?
Do you do your part to make your dreams come true?
Or do you refuse to turn from evil like other fools?
It is pleasant to see dreams come into fruit
Are we seeking God and living in his truth?
Wise people pursue their dreams pro-actively
While fools just wait passively and impatiently.
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When I was three years old, I wanted to be a nun and later on a saint. I think I wanted to be a nun because I thought they were really closer to Jesus and I was surrounded by them in school I know now that it was the Holy Spirit that really drove me to pursue this dream. I read the book of saints to know them but no one pointed me to the bible. I had a very long journey searching what was missing in my life but I always longed to be close to God. That voice inside me was the Holy Spirit guiding me to pursue God which is the main purpose in my life. I thank God that even without direct human supervision, he still led me to him.
PRAYER
Thank you for living in my heart Lord and letting my dreams come true.
REFLECTION
What dreams have you realized 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

GOD’S GUARANTEE FOR INHERITANCE Poem Devotional

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April 13________________________________________
The Spirit is God’s guarantee that he will give us the inheritance he promised us and that he has purchased us to be his own people so that we will praise and glorify him.
-Ephesians 1:14 (NLT)
GOD’S GUARANTEE FOR INHERITANCE
A poem and essay by ILMA
When Jesus died on the cross, God purchased us
He gave his only Son so we can believe, yet we lack trust
God guaranteed us an inheritance through his Spirit
We need to open up our hearts so he can live in it.
He also gave us the power to use his name to gain
He wants us to have victory and not wait in vain
As heirs to his kingdom, must we not be thankful?
As children of God, shouldn’t we be hopeful?
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When someone gets an announcement that they inherited money or a property unexpectedly, that person must feel so special. It may come as a blessing specially if it never occurred to them that they’ll be handed such legacy. They would be grateful and hopeful if they are people of goodwill. If they are foolish, they would probably mismanage the gift they have received and splurge it recklessly.
The bible tells us that God purchased us to be his children and gave us a guarantee of our inheritance through his Spirit. He chose our hearts to live in so he can be with us always.
PRAYER
Lord, show me how to be open to your Spirit always.
REFLECTION
What can block the Spirit to live in our hearts?
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

LEARN TO DO GOOD Poem Devotional

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April 12________________________________________
Learn to do good. Seek Justice. Help the oppressed. Defend the cause of orphans. Fight for the rights of widows. – Isaiah 1:17(NLT)
LEARN TO DO GOOD
A poem and essay by ILMA
We are summoned to always do the right thing
It protects us from the enemy and from sin
Seek justice, comfort the poor and help the oppressed
Defend those who are lost and confused; help them find rest.
Learn to do good always by obeying God’s commands
He equipped us to be able to cope with life’s demands
Fight for the right of widows and take care of them
It is the only way we can be free and cleansed.
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Man is naturally inclined to do wrong. Notice how effortless it is for us be bad. It seems automatic to do so. It didn’t use to be this way until Adam and Eve sinned and made it easy for us to be sinful. It usually takes effort and help from God to be able to do good. When we raise a child, we want him or her to be able to function well in society and do good in life. We show them slowly how to be able to learn things in the different stages of their early development up until they are grown enough to live by themselves. The bible wants us to learn to do good always, seek justice and care for orphans and widows.
PRAYER
Lord, help me to always do and choose the good.
REFLECTION
How can we have a conscious awareness to do good instead of evil?
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

SPIRIT POWERED Poem Devotional

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April 11________________________________________
I pray that from his glorious unlimited resources, he will empower you with inner strength though his Spirit. – Ephesian 3:16(NLT)
SPIRIT POWERED
A poem and essay by ILMA
Are you able to face all of life’s challenges?
God has much glorious unlimited resources
If you believe and seek him, he will empower you
He cares and loves you; he wants you changed and renewed.
There is a way man can be powered by God’s Spirit
It is by believing him that you will receive it
He will endow you with inner strength to face life
He will lead you to do what is God’s will and right.
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Have you ever experienced and felt the Holy Spirit in your life? I lived a very difficult and painful life yet somehow, there is a power inside me that kept me going, held my head up high and made me press on with life. I wasn’t sure what it was until I was baptized by the Spirit in my late twenties. That is when I was able to realize that God never left me and despite all the disobedience and rebellion, he still looked after me. It was powerful to keep on living amidst all the circumstances I have experienced.
The bible tells us that God has glorious unlimited resources and that heh empowers us with inner strength through his Spirit. We are Spirit powered when we commit to him faithfully.
PRAYER
Lord, thank you for living in my heart.
REFLECTION
Do you have a relationship with God’s Spirit? How well do you know him?
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

GREED: ROBBER OF LIFE Poem Devotional

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April 10________________________________________
These people set an ambush for themselves; they are trying to get themselves killed. Such is the fate of all who are greedy for money; it robs them of life. – Proverbs 1:18-19(NLT)
GREED: ROBBER OF LIFE
A poem and essay by ILMA
Are you being robbed of your life?
Do you always stay in God’s light?
When you are greedy, you set traps for yourself
Such appetite doesn’t bring you much help.
Selfishness and greed is the key to all evil
It opens your heart’s door to the devil
Give up covetousness and you’ll be blessed
Be generous and God will do the rest.
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I have observed many greedy and selfish people in my life. I lived with some of these covetous persons and it really was a challenge to watch their lives robbed of peace, joy and contentment. They become so obsessed with hoarding things, wealth, money and other possessions. They work and toil so hard to get what they want and never want to share these things they have. All they do is boast about them and use it to gain power and control of many aspects of their lives. They have no idea that they are being robbed of time, relationships and fellowship with others. They are constantly suspicious of others motives because they think they will be robbed of their material possession. What they don’t realize is that the enemy has stolen their peace and joy.
PRAYER
Lord, help me to be generous.
REFLECTION
How can greed be removed in man’s heart?
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

WHERE YOUR HEART IS Poem Devotional

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Wherever your treasure is, there the desires of your heart will also be. – Luke 12:34(NLT)
WHERE YOUR HEART IS
A poem and essay by ILMA
What occupies your mind these days?
Do you think of pursuing God’s ways?
What is in your heart lately?
Is it pure or is it worldly?
Watch out what is in your mind and heart
It’s your treasure that you won’t want to depart
Wherever your treasure is, there your heart will be
Seek the Lord first and you will always be free.
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Here is a quote the Pursuit of Happiness article:
Optimism is a trait that should become more common, judging by Winston Churchill’s famous quote that “a pessimist sees the difficulty in every opportunity; an optimist sees the opportunity in every difficulty.” Optimism has been proven to improve the immune system, prevent chronic disease, and help people cope with unfortunate news. Gratitude is associated with optimism and has been determined that grateful people are happier, receive more social support, are less stressed, and are less depressed. Recent research indicates that optimists and pessimists approach problems differently, and their ability to cope successfully with adversity differs as a result.
The bible tells us that wherever your treasure is, there the desires of your heart will also be. If we pursue God daily, we will learn what he wants for us, we can have joy. If we chase the world’s standards, we won’t be free.
PRAYER
Lord, help me to dwell on the spiritual riches and not material wealth.
REFLECTION
How can gratitude help us to gather spiritual wealth?
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

REJOICE AND BE GLAD Poem Devotional

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April 5________________________________________
This is the day the Lord has made. We will rejoice and be glad in it. -Psalm 118:24(NLT)
REJOICE AND BE GLAD
A poem and essay by ILMA
Are you grateful for all the things you have?
God provides for our needs; so rejoice and be glad
He brings us the sunshine so we can be warm
He gave us the rain to grow crops in our farm.
He brought people to love us so we can feel special
He wants us to know that he will always be loyal
Rejoice and be glad that he gave us this day
Enjoy and live it to the fullest everyday
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I have been with so many people who do not know how to enjoy their lives. Their pessimism can affect others around them and I admit that I became joyless for many years. Somehow, the Holy Spirit took hold of my heart early when I was in my teens and whispered to me to enjoy life despite all the pain I was going through. This led me to become hungry for knowledge. I learned to channel all my energies to sports, the performing arts and reading books. I discovered that pursuing and training myself with things that interests me took my mind off all the suffering. I began to enjoy life from all that God gave me. So I learned to rejoice and be glad.
PRAYER
Lord, thank you for each day, help me enjoy it and rejoice.
REFLECTION
How can you maintain joy in our lives on a regular 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