Tag Archives: ilmaarts.com

ROAD TO FULFILLED DREAMS Poem Devotional

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October 21
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Until the time came to fulfill his dreams, the Lord tested Joseph’s character.
– Psalm 105:19(NLT)
ROAD TO FULFILLED DREAMS
A poem and essay by ILMA
Are you going through tests and trials in your life?
Do you have things that are not going right?
Sometimes we experience tests to build character
It brings out the best when we are tried by our Maker
Do not stop until you get right to your dream
It pays to be patient rather than being grim
Don’t be afraid of suffering for it makes you strong
It will make your dreams come true not for very long.
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The story of Joseph in Genesis 37 is a good testimony about how the Lord tested Joseph’s character. When Joseph was seventeen years old, he often tended his father’s flocks. He worked for his half brothers, the son’s of his father’s wives. Jacob loved Joseph more than any of his other children because Joseph had been born to him in his old age. So one day, Jacob had a special gift made for Joseph, a beautiful robe. He dreamed about bundles of grain that bowed low before his. Another dream was that the sun, moon and eleven stars bowed low before him. When he told his brothers, the more they hated him and they plotted to kill him. Joseph was sold as a slave to the Egyptians, but later made ruler of Egypt. A dream fulfilled.
PRAYER
Lord, let me never give up when I am faced with trials?
REFLECTION
How can character be built out of suffering and trials?
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

ENDURANCE LEADS TO PERFECTION Poem Devotional

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October 19 ________________________________________
For you know that when your faith is tested, your endurance has a chance to grow. So let it grow, for when endurance is fully developed, you will be perfect and complete needing nothing. – James 1:3-4(NLT)
ENDURANCE LEADS TO PERFECTION
A poem and essay by ILMA
Are you being challenged to press against all odds?
Your strength and patience is being stretched by God
Don’t give up, don’t hinder it while it is progressing
It will make you perfect, complete and needing nothing.
Don’t resist while pressures against you builds up
Press on and continue to focus on God’s only Son
Wait a little longer and you will reap a harvest
Don’t worry, stay faithful and you’ll be blessed.
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Back in my early 40’s, I was a member of a cycling club and was the only woman in a group of over fifty members. I needed to practice on my own daily, at least 30 kilometers per day to keep up with the boys. I also had to ensure that I slowly pace myself up to a certain speed so I can catch up with all these strong men during our weekend bike marathons with distance goal of 200 kilometers in a span of 2-3 hours. When we reach that height of the climb, I almost want to give up, but I press on and I did it. The bible encourages us to keep on enduring so we can reach perfection.
PRAYER
Lord, give me strength to endure even when I can’t understand.
REFLECTION
What is the most challenging test that God allowed 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

LIVING IN GOD’S WILL Poem Devotional

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October 18
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How do you know what your life will be like tomorrow? Your life is like the morning fog-it’s here a little while, then it’s gone. What you ought to say is “If the Lord wants us to, we will live and do this or that. – James 4:14-15(NLT)
LIVING IN GOD’S WILL
A poem and essay by ILMA
I don’t know what tomorrow may bring
I need not hold on to material things
My life is like a fog, it is here now
It can easily be dissolved and gone.
If the Lord wants me to do this
I must obey and rejoice in it
Living in God’s will is my destiny
It is the only way I can have victory.
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There are many people who plan so much for tomorrow. Nothing wrong with that. It is good to have a plan and aim to get closer to your dreams. Some people become too obsessed with their future. It robs them of joy and peace and they keep on worrying about tomorrow. The bible tells us in Matthew 6 that we shouldn’t be worried about anything because God already knows our needs even before we can actually figure out what they are. He wants us to focus on him and put him above all things, live righteously and all our needs will be given to us. He wants us to live in his will and be close to him.
PRAYER
Lord, help me build an intimate relationship with you.
REFLECTION
What has worrying about the future brought into 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

STUBBORNNESS DESTROYS Poem Devotional

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October 16
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Whoever stubbornly refuses to accept criticism will suddenly be destroyed beyond recovery. -Proverbs 29:1(NLT)
STUBBORNNESS DESTROYS
A poem and essay by ILMA
Is your life full of hardships and suffering?
Have you been obstinate in following?
Those who can’t take criticism
All they want to do is to argue and win
They will be destroyed beyond recovery
The devil will continually con them into slavery
The Lord detests defiance and rebelliousness
He considers it witchcraft when you are lawless.
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The life of Christ is full of obedience and humility. This is the reason why he was able to save humankind from our folly and sin. Christians are summoned to live a life like Jesus in order to thrive in this life. The world on the other hand offers us a very different way to live. The world focuses on material gain, power and winning by disobedience and disrespect.
I was a very stubborn person for many decades of my life and I can attest to this verse because it surely destroyed me and led me to more sins. Each act of lawlessness was equivalent to endless troubles and sufferings. This stronghold was one of those many that God delivered me from. I thank him that he pulled me out of it. It took over 50 years to get out of it which was a result of my resistance and denial. Learn to accept criticism and learn from it.
PRAYER
Lord, help me to have an openness to your convictions.
REFLECTION
Why do you think stubbornness is considered witchcraft or divination according to 1 Samuel 15:23?

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

ONE WHO CAN FORESEE Poem Devotional

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October 14
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A prudent person foresees danger and take precautions. The simpleton goes blindly on and suffers the consequences. – Proverbs 27:12(NLT)
ONE WHO CAN FORESEE
A poem and essay by ILMA
The wise person is able to foresee danger and be warned
They are tuned in to what they do and never hurry or run
They are observant and creative of their surroundings
They can tell if there is evil and wickedness lurking.
The Holy Spirit guides them and makes them wise
They listen to God’s spirit for guidance or advise
That is why they can foresee what will transpire
They hear God’s voice, they heed and they abide.
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Have you ever been with someone who is so careless and reckless at the same time? I knew someone who just don’t care what they do or how it affects others. He is physically present yet his heart and mind is somewhere else. He says something and pretend he cares but deep inside, he has no concern for anything but to get what he wants or follow his routines. It is like watching a dead person walking and doing things. They have no life. They are physically alive but spiritually dead. They live life just for the sake of living. They don’t dream big, they live in a box and trapped there.
The bible says that the one who can foresee are the wise while fools just go through life recklessly.
PRAYER
Dear Lord, please give me wisdom to foresee danger.
REFLECTION
What do you do when the Holy Spirit warns you about 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

SUPPLIER OF NEEDS Poem Devotional

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October 13
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And this same God who takes care of me will supply all your needs from his glorious riches which have been given to us in Christ Jesus. -Philippians 4:19(NLT)
SUPPLIER OF NEEDS
A poem and essay by ILMA
Are you desperately looking for someone to satisfy your needs?
There is not a person who can actually supply you with this
Only our heavenly Father can satisfy and give us provision
He gave us his only Son to share his riches and give us redemption
Through Christ Jesus, we can be assured of all blessings
It is through him that we can be alleviated from sufferings
God is the one who can generously supply all our needs
He is fountain of goodness and the source of all things.
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When I got married, I had this notion at the back of my mind that my husband is going to supply all my needs. Several years later, I got more frustrated each day because he couldn’t supply and meet my needs. When I started reading and studying God’s word, I finally had to give up this worldly and romantic notion that my spouse can fill all those needs. After all, he is as broken as I am himself.
The bible tells us that God is the only one who can supply all our needs. It is unrealistic to expect from people we love what only God can supply.
PRAYER
Lord, help me to only expect from you.
REFLECTION
What happens to relationships when we have very unrealistic expectations from those we are in relationship with?
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 CAN DO ANYTHING Poem Devotional

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October 12
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I know you can do anything and no one can stop you. – Job 42:2(NLT)
GOD CAN DO ANYTHING
A poem and essay by ILMA
Do you ever doubt if God can deliver his promises?
Do you trust him fully in times of crisis?
Faith in him may benefit you during difficulties
God can do anything; he has no weaknesses or frailties.
Are you assured that he will be faithful to give provision?
You must believe in him and not trust human intuition
Never question God’s will or you will be frustrated
Rely on him for anything and ask so you will be provided.
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What do you think is the difference between someone who have faith and a person who do not believe in God? Blessings and contentment are clearly seen among those who are authentic believers. Bitterness, complaining and not having enough are the clear manifestations of an unbeliever’s life.
There were years of unbelief during my early teen years. I became bitter and whiny because I relied more on my own efforts to get my goals and needs met. I didn’t have enough faith in the Lord that he will provide for me. I was proud and never really cared about God those years and I really had a hand to mouth existence. I was like the proud Job who forgot that God can do anything and no one can stop him.
PRAYER
Lord, let me remember how powerful and merciful you are always.
REFLECTION
What has God done in your life that manifested his power and might?
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 CAN’T LIE Poem Devotional

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October 11
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God is not a man, so he does not lie. He is not human, so he does not change his mind.
-Numbers 23:19(NLT)
GOD CAN’T LIE
A poem and essay by ILMA
Have you been betrayed by someone’s lies?
There is one who never lies and that is Jesus Christ
He became human but he is supreme over all man
He is not weak like us, he is majestic and grand.
Christ’s very nature is love so he can’t engage in lies
He sees all things and always do what is right
God is love so he is can only do loving things
He is faithful and perfect and will never engage in lying.
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According to mentalfloss.com, in a 2002 study conducted by the University of Massachusetts, 60% of adults can’t have a ten-minute conversation without lying at least once. We lie to everyone. Our parents get the worst of it, according to The Day America Told the Truth, with 86% of us lying to them regularly, followed by friends (75%), siblings (73%), and spouses (69%). But in general we lie about things that aren’t important.
I think the first lie ever told is when Adam and Eve committed the original sin and was asked what they have done. Both of them lied, pointing at each other. Our fallen nature makes us lie, but we can avoid lying supernaturally by God’s power alone.
PRAYER
Lord, keep me from all kinds of lies.
REFLECTION
How do lies affect relationships? How can we avoid lying?
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

UNCHANGEABLE GOD

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October 9
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I am the Lord and I do not change. – Malachi 3:6 (NLT)
UNCHANGEABLE GOD
A poem and essay by ILMA
Have you been let down by someone’s indecision?
Are you tossed and turn by some situations?
Have you been heartbroken by someone’s unreliability?
Are there broken promises resulting from instability?
The Lord, your God never changes
You can depend on him to face all challenges
He is always faithful and merciful to his children
His unchanging love and character, he has freely given.
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Have you ever been with someone who is so unstable that your life became compromised? I once lived with someone who constantly changed his mind and can never come up to a decision. He is always seeking to satisfy himself and expects everyone around him to succumb to gratify himself. You’ll never know what he is thinking or feeling. He can be nice one moment and flip into a monster the next second. I walked on eggshells living with this person. I started to doubt myself and became more insecure and unstable as a result of being around him. I felt unloved, belittled and neglected. I felt non-existent because everything was about him and he never cared for anyone else except to get what he wants from those around him.
The bible describes God as someone who is unchangeable. He is constantly loving, merciful and faithful. He is the epitome of love and stability.
PRAYER
Lord, thank you that I can rely on you at all times for you never change.
REFLECTION
How has God’s faithfulness shaped your life as a Christian?
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

FAITH MAKES US RIGHTEOUS Poem Devotional

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October 8
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He was fully convinced that God is able to do whatever he promises. And because of Abraham’s faith, God counted him as righteous. – Romans 4:21-22(NLT)
FAITH MAKES US RIGHTEOUS
A poem and essay by ILMA
Do you believe that God keeps his promises?
Do you continue to trust and have peace?
Are you convinced that God is faithful?
What do you do to show him you are grateful?
Faith makes us right with the Lord
Believing him brings him glory and laud
Press on and continue to grow your faith in Jesus
You are loved so much; to him, you are precious.
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One of the ways that the enemy traps us is by making us focused on the self. Human nature desires to gratify the self. The only way we can be focused on others is by the grace of God. Otherwise, we can fall into the pit of showing off or performing to get approval. I grew up thinking that I could work my way to being righteous. I followed the ten commandments religiously but the more I do, the more I sinned. The bible tells us that we were freed from the law when Christ died on the cross. If you believe in Christ, you are under his grace.
We are made righteous only through faith just like Abraham. Romans 3:22 declares us righteous by our faith in Christ.
PRAYER
Lord, show me how to grow my faith in you.
REFLECTION
Why do you think faith in Jesus is essential in our lives?
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