Tag Archives: ilmaarts.com

WORSE THAN UNBELIEF Poem Devotional

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September 14
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Those who won’t care for their relatives, especially those in their own household, have denied the true faith. Such people are worse than unbelievers. -1 Timothy 5:8(NLT)
WORSE THAN UNBELIEF
A poem and essay by ILMA
If you are a believer of Jesus, you will heed his instructions
Obeying his commands will let you overcome temptations
He also called you to love others as you love him and yourself
That includes loving all your relatives and giving them help.
When you do not care for your immediate family members
You are worse than the wicked and those who are unbelievers
You can show your faith in God by loving your sisters and brothers
Best of all, prioritize those who are closest to you than any other.
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We are all created in God’s image. God is love therefore we can also be love like him. Pain and suffering result from a life that is not ruled by love. I know we can also experience physical pain from illnesses and accidents. The enemy wants to steal, kill and destroy our relationship with God so he comes up with all kinds of strategies to keep us from loving.
The apostle Paul talks to Timothy about God’s instructions to love and care for our relatives, especially those in our own household. He compares these unloving people to unbelievers and considers them worse than them. This is a command for us to be stewards of our kin.
PRAYER
Lord, help me to be a loving family member to my relatives.
REFLECTION
Why does God command you to care for your family?

THROUGH FAITH ALONE Poem Devotional

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pinery camping 2014 and others 598September 12
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Can we boast then that we have done anything to be accepted by God? No, because our acquittal is not based on obeying the law. It is based on faith. -Romans 3:27(NLT)
THROUGH FAITH ALONE
A poem and essay by ILMA
What can we do to be accepted by Jesus Christ?
Can we boast that we have overcome difficulties in life?
Can we show off that we have done many good deeds?
Can following the rules be a good way to overcome sin?
There is no way we can work at our salvation
Only through faith alone we can be granted redemption
Our exoneration from sin is possible through faith
Only by trusting God can miracles be part of our fate.
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I spent many years of my life performing. I did my best to live up to my parents’ expectation to be academically excellent. I became obsessed being a good parent to my only son. I proved my worth to everyone by being a painter, a stage actress, manager, photographer and teacher. I didn’t know that it was futile to do so because God already loves me anyway. It was all that should have mattered but I was so busy fixing myself and others around me that I missed out on what really God requires from us.
The bible tells us that we cannot boast of anything we have done to be approved by God. Only faith alone matters to him.
PRAYER
Lord, thank you for just loving me the way I am.
REFLECTION
Why do you think God requires faith for us to be saved?
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

ONLY ONE’S SPIRIT KNOWS Poem Devotional

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September 11
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No one can know a person’s thoughts except that person’s own spirit and no one can know God’s thoughts except God’s own Spirit -1 Corinthians 2:11(NLT)
ONLY ONE’S SPIRIT KNOWS
A poem and essay by ILMA
There is a danger when we pry into other’s thinking
It is not our business to understand or to be assuming
No one can know someone’s thoughts except his own spirit
So there is no point in finding out or guessing what it is.
Presuming other people’s motives and thoughts leads to sin
Only God knows their hearts so don’t let the devil win
No one can comprehend God’s point of view or thoughts
Only the Holy Spirit knows it, don’t be confused or lost.
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When I was a stage actress, we were trained to learn to read the minds of the characters we are portraying based on the facts given in the script. One of our responsibility as actors is to go through the stream of consciousness of the character based on what was given in the play or possibly add more to it. We observe how they would react to certain situations so it would help us bring to life the nuances of the person we were playing. As a result of professionally working onstage for over 20 years, it became second nature for me to presume and assume. The bible says only one’s spirit knows what that person is thinking.
PRAYER
Lord, do not allow me to assume anything.
REFLECTION
Why do you think presumption leads to sin?
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

BELIEVE NOW Poem Devotional

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September 10
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Don’t be faithless any longer. Believe -John 20:27(NLT)
BELIEVE NOW
A poem and essay by ILMA
Are you still being tossed here and there?
Believe and don’t be faithless any longer
The Lord wants you free, bold and tougher
Have faith like Abraham and you will be stronger.
Anything is possible to those who believe him
They will be renewed and be victorious over sin
Even if you don’t see results, continue to believe
Faithful followers will be amazed at what they’ll receive.
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Mark 9:23 says that anything is possible to those who believe. I know many Christians who say they believe and yet don’t act like they do. When they ask God for something, they are expecting a result. When they don’t see what they expect, they panic and act on it. This is not faith; it is working at getting what you want.
Hebrews 11:1 defines faith as the confidence that what we hope for will actually happen; it gives us assurance about things we cannot see. In Hebrews 11 chapter we see great examples of faith such as Abel, Enoch, Noah, Abraham, Sarah, Jacob, Moses, Joseph, Rahab, and many more. Faith is a key ingredient to one’s salvation. In Isaiah 7:9, God says that unless your faith is firm, he cannot make you stand firm. In other words, without faith, God cannot work miracles in our lives. So, what are you waiting for? Believe!
PRAYER
My heavenly Father, please grow my faith in you.
REFLECTION
Why do you think God requires faith in order to bring what we ask for?
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

MESSAGE CLOSE AT HAND Poem Devotional

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September 8
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The message is very close at hand. It is on your lips and in your heart. And that message is the very message about faith that we preach. – Romans 10:8(NLT)
MESSAGE CLOSE AT HAND
A poem and essay by ILMA
Are you aware of the good news that saved you?
If you believe in Jesus Christ, your mind will be renewed
The message is close at hand, no need to search far
It is on your lips; declare what is in your heart.
Believe and say that you accept Jesus as your Savior
This message needs to be preached with fervor
Remember to speak it out and live under his grace
You’ll experience much joy if you continue to be amazed.
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We have heard people say Good News or the Message. What is the message that the Gospel preaches? Why do we need to be aware of it and spread it?
Many years of my life was spent following religious rituals that didn’t really focused on the message of the cross. Following these traditions and not heeding the Holy Spirit’s prodding to choose righteousness have opened the door for the enemy to keep me in bondage to idolatry, pride and other sins.
John 19:30 described the last word of Jesus. He said after tasting the sour wine soaked on a sponge, “It is finished.” This is the message. The work of salvation was finished when he died on the cross.
PRAYER
Thank you for dying for me so I can be free.
REFLECTION
How often do you speak out the message 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.com

TRUST IN GOD’S POWER Poem Devotional

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September 7
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I did this so you would trust not in human wisdom but in the power of God.
1 Corinthians 2:5(NLT)
TRUST IN GOD’S POWER
A poem and essay by ILMA
Do you rely on your own strength and understanding?
Remember that your mind has limits comprehending
God on the other hand has boundless wisdom and power
Why won’t you trust him so that the enemy will cower.
He gave us his presence when we believed in him
We need to trust his Spirit’s prodding so we can win
Depending on human strength and knowledge is foolish
It will lead to failures and make us impoverished.
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Many people put so much premium on their intelligence and knowledge. They take pride in knowing things that not other people possess. I used to be this kind of people. I read books and keep myself updated with information so I can have something to say to others whenever I get into conversations with them. I loved to argue and win a discussion, but thanks be to God that he freed me from such trivialities. It just showed how shallow I was and how immature it is to show off things that don’t really matter to God much.
The bible tells us that human understanding is limited but God’s wisdom is boundless. God designed this so that humans will find strength in their weaknesses and depend on God’s wisdom and power.
PRAYER
Lord, help me remember that I can only have strength through you.
REFLECTION
When was the last time you witnessed to man’s limited understanding compared to God’s boundless wisdom?
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

HOW TO KNOW WHEN YOU ARE SINNING Poem Devotional

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September 6
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If you do anything you believe is not right, you are sinning. -Romans 14:23(NLT)
HOW TO KNOW WHEN YOU ARE SINNING
A poem and essay by ILMA
Are you bothered by a decision to do evil?
It surely is a mark of the work of the devil
When you start to focus on self preservation
You will start to do prioritize your own satisfaction.
If you do anything you believe is not right
It is one sign that you are not winning the fight
If you continue to ignore the Holy Spirit’s convictions
You will be easily fall into Satan’s tactics and temptations.
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How do we know if we are sinning? The bible defines sins as breaking God’s law, for all sin is contrary to the law of God (1 John 3:4). Deuteronomy 9:7 also says that sin is rebelling against God. Adam and Eve introduced to us all the concept of sin when he desired to be like God in Genesis 3:5. The desire to be like God, knowing both good and evil was the origin of sin. It is the disobedience to get out of what God provided for them. Sin is missing the mark that God has given us. Whenever we decide satisfy our own human desires, we become easy target for the enemy to entice us to sin. The apostle Paul says that if you do anything you believe is right, you are sinning.
PRAYER
Lord, help me to never want to be separated from you and your will.
REFLECTION
What are the signs that you are sinning?
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

HELPING THE POOR Poem Devotional

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September 5
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Those who oppress the poor insult their Maker, but helping the poor honors him.
-Proverbs 14:31(NLT)
HELPING THE POOR
A poem and essay by ILMA
Are you aware of those who live in poverty?
Do you go out of your way to help them generously?
The Lord wants you to bless your sisters and brothers
It pleases him when you think less of yourself and help others.
Those who oppress the poor insult their Maker
Those who help them glorifies your heavenly Father
Helping the poor and the oppressed is pure religion
It builds up the body of Christ when you are in relations.
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Jesus summed up all the ten commandments in this one in John 13:34-35. It says: “So now I m giving you a new commandment: Love each other. Just as I have loved you, you should love each other. Your love for one another will prove to the world that you are my disciples.” If you look at the ten commandments closely, each of them will lead to the pre-requisite to love each other as you love God. If you love God as you love one another, you will not misuse God’s name. You will remember to keep holy the Sabbath, honor your parents, not murder or kill anyone, not be unfaithful to your spouse, not steal, not falsely testify against others, not covet anyone or anything that is not yours.
PRAYER
Lord, thank you for simplifying the law into loving you as we love ourselves and others.
REFLECTION
Share an experience when that shows love conquers all?

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

CHOOSE THE RIGHT PATH

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September 4
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Those who follow the right path fear the Lord; those who take the wrong path despise him. – Proverbs 14:2(NLT)
CHOOSE THE RIGHT PATH
A poem and essay by ILMA
Are you a believer of Jesus Christ?
Are you following him as he leads you to his path?
Those who do righteous things fear the Lord
They live life so they can bring him laud.
Those who do not heed his commands
They will find it hard to cope with life’s demands
Those who choose to follow Jesus daily
They will find joy and have tranquility.
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There were many years of my life spent rebelling and doing things that do not give God glory. I was in bondage to sin and to lawlessness. I could have chosen to follow the right path by revering the Lord and living in his will. Many of us in our youth have done many things we are not proud of. When we are not modelled a life for Jesus, it is difficult to navigate through life with choosing the right path that leads to God. Sometimes our experience with our biological parents influences us to view God as we experienced from them. That is not how God is. He loves us unconditionally and wants always the best for us.
The bible tells us that how we live our lives reveal how we love the Lord. If we do righteous things, we revere him.
PRAYER
Lord, let me never choose to be lawless.
REFLECTION
Why does the bible say that when we choose the bad, we show that we despise 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

ANYTHING IS POSSIBLE Poem Devotional

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September 3
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Anything is possible if a person believes. -Mark 9:23NLT)
ANYTHING IS POSSIBLE
A poem and essay by ILMA
If you believe that you are a true child of God
Anything is possible to those who bring him laud
If you ask the Lord Jesus in his mighty name
You will get answers and receive his grace.
If you have faith even just like a mustard seed
Even the most hardened heart will give in and you’ll win
To those who are doubtful, hopeless and have no faith
They will never move mountains or change their fate.
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Faith is easy to find to those who live in third world countries. They have no one else to run to but the Lord. They learn to live day by day and watch how God provides. It is amazing to find those living in poverty can even smile in the midst of such suffering. Their faces light up when even very little comfort is added in their usual difficult lives. They are so grateful. Those who live in first world countries and have everything they need sometimes find it hard to be appreciative of little blessings they receive.
The bible says that anything is possible to those who believe. This is why Abraham became the father of all nations. At the age of almost 100, they bore a child as God promised. Because of his faith, he became father of all nations.
PRAYER
Lord, help me to increase my faith daily.
REFLECTION
How much faith do you have? How has God grown your belief?
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