Tag Archives: ilmaarts.com

PROOF OF REPENTANCE Poem Devotional

Posted on by

IMG_2199

June 20
________________________________________
Prove by the way you live that you have repented of your sins and turned to God.
– Matthew 3:8 (NLT)
PROOF OF REPENTANCE
A poem and essay by ILMA
What is the e the indication that you have repented?
Are you able to recognize the sin you have committed?
Have you confessed to God and asked for forgiveness?
Are you willing to turn to him and live in faithfulness?
Prove by the way you live that you are sorry for your sins
Mere words and talk is not enough to be redeemed
Show others that you have been transformed and cleansed
Take the straight path and you’ll never again be bent.
________________________________________
Mere words such “I am sorry” does not necessarily mean that you have repented and turned to God. Sometimes people become sorry just because they don’t want to suffer the consequence of sin. They don’t have a true contrition and repentant heart. They just want to avoid discomfort or suffering. The bible says that if we confess our sins with our mouth and repent, we will be forgiven. The Holy Spirit shows us what we do wrong and guides us to the way out and ask forgiveness. All Scriptures teach us to do what is right and gives us a solution to our circumstances. The bible tells us to prove our repentant heart by the way we live and by turning to God.
PRAYER
Lord, thank you for guiding me back to you when I fall.
REFLECTION
When was the last time the Holy Spirit stirred you and corrected 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

RIGHTEOUS LIPS BRING NOURISHMENT Poem Devotional

Posted on by

tulipfestival 092

June 18
________________________________________
The lips of the righteous nourish many, but fools die for lack of judgment.
-Proverbs 10:21 (NIV)
RIGHTEOUS LIPS BRING NOURISHMENT
A poem and essay by ILMA
What comes out of your lips?
Does your word give good tips?
The lips of the righteous nourish
But fools say things that diminish.
Righteous lips declare God’s word
It asserts authority over the world
Those who are good lead others to truth
They bring Scriptures to take root and have fruits.
________________________________________
I have experienced many harsh speaking people in my life for many years. When I entered adulthood, I made a decision to surround myself with positive speaking people. It was very hard to come by when you don’t align your will with God. If you surround yourself with unbelievers and sinners, there is no way that you can be nourished and be encouraged. They will always make you little, oppressed, ridiculed or minimized.
The bible tells us that the lips of the righteous nourish many but fools die for lack of judgment. Those who open their mouths to use it to benefit others will make a big difference in other people’s lives. They bring life and light, order and peace in their brothers and sisters. However, those who are wicked will not have wisdom and understanding and will always be unable to have the truth that sets them free and make them decipher Satan’s tactics and lies.
PRAYER
Lord, deliver me from those who do not speak life.
REFLECTION
Why is it important to filter our mouths with words that encourage?
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

BENEFITS OF PATIENCE Poem Devotional

Posted on by

IMG_1884

June 17
________________________________________
Through patience a ruler can be persuaded and a gentle tongue can break a bone.
-Proverbs 25:15(NIV)
BENEFITS OF PATIENCE
A poem and essay by ILMA
Do you struggle waiting and being still?
Run to the word so you can learn his will
He wants us to have the fruit of the Spirit
He blesses us with gifts so we can enjoy it.
Through patience we can persuade anyone
Through gentle speech we can encourage someone
Patience opens up the floodgates of heaven
It can bring understanding to all our brethren.
________________________________________
One of the fruits of the spirit is patience. This gift has often been set aside because so many people have turned to instant gratification for everything in their lives. Not many people know how to wait or to persevere. There is a tendency to easily give up when they don’t get right away their wants or desires. I used to be a very impatient person, but when my son was born, I needed to learn this virtue. It was very essential when you are raising a child. If you don’t have patience, you will not make it through rearing children. Marriages can also benefit from having this gift from God. Without patience, the marriages can turn into a battlefield.
The book of Proverbs emphasizes the importance of patience in our lives. It can persuade rulers and authorities and win over any weaknesses.
PRAYER
Lord, show me how to harvest patience in my life.
REFLECTION
How has impatience impacted your life? How did God reveal to you the essence of patience?
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

GIVING CREDIT TO GOD Poem Devotional

Posted on by

IMG_8656

June 16
________________________________________
It is God who works in you to will and to act according to his good purpose.
-Philippians 2:13 (NIV)
GIVING CREDIT TO GOD
A poem and essay by ILMA
Are you able to achieve the things you dream about?
Do you give credit to God by opening your mouth?
Speak to others what he has done in your life
It will give him glory and will bring you light.
It is God who works in you to will and act accordingly
Without him, you won’t be able to do things righteously
He is the only reason why you have life and blessings
He alone must be given praise for his goodness and mercy.
________________________________________I volunteered to help in curating an exhibit for an art contest where I live in. Because I had many years of curating experiences, I thought that I could do the town a favor by helping. They only had one day of set up for about 100 paintings in a very small room at the town library. I came in early to help and saved them about an estimate of four hours work because they needed to open the show that same day. To my surprise, when acknowledgements were mentioned, the two people I helped took credit for my work.
The bible tells us that it is God who gave us the will to act according to his good purpose. Without it, we can’t do good.
PRAYER
Lord, please let me always give you praise for what you do for me.
REFLECTION
Why is it important to give God the credit in everything?
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

THOSE WHO ARE QUICKLY PROVOKED

Posted on by

canadablooms 118

June 15
________________________________________
Do not be quickly provoked in your spirit, for anger resides in the lap of fools.
-Ecclesiastes 7:9(NIV)
THOSE WHO ARE QUICKLY PROVOKED
A poem and essay by ILMA
When there is a spirit of offense
There is temptation to use defense
Those who are quickly provoked
Their spirits have been hurt and broke.
For anger resides in the lap of fools
Their fury or rage can make them cruel
Watch out when you are reactive and explosive
A hardened heart can make you be very impulsive.
________________________________________
One of the generational sins that I inherited from my family of origin is the spirit of offense. Most of the people who raised me had anger issues. Some of them are explosive but others are implosive. I learned at a very young age to guard what I do or say because it might get me in trouble and be deprived of love and attention. I literally walked on eggshells because I don’t even know why they get to be so easily angered even when I just ask simple questions. It was inevitable that I learned their ways because I was too young to process and understand why they behave in such impulsive and reactive ways. I learned it the hard way when I became a high school teacher. Some of my students got my implosions and on some occasions my explosions as well. The bible tells us not to be easily angered.
PRAYER
Lord, forgive me for my spirit of offense.
REFLECTION
When have you regretted an explosion, irritability or implosion?
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

DANGER OF TOO MUCH WORDS Poem Devotional

Posted on by

monocliff 2011 308

June 13
________________________________________
When words are many, sin is not absent, but he who holds his tongue is wise.
-Proverbs 10:19 (NIV)
DANGER OF TOO MUCH WORDS
A poem and essay by ILMA
Whenever you ask for something, be concise!
More words are not always right and precise
When words are many, sin is not absent
Hold your tongue and there’ll be no lament.
Use few words when you communicate
It lessens confusion and mistakes
Hold your tongue so you don’t open doors to sin
Lesser words will give your more chances to win.
________________________________________
I love words. I think most writers do. But writers need to be wise in using lesser words than more. I find it difficult to use fewer words so I decided to take the route of writing poetry. The beauty of this genre is that you can use the least words and yet convey so much meaning in these fewer words. The challenge with writing poetry is to find the appropriate words that could rhyme or stir the readers’ attention through imagery and the different figures of speech. When I started reading the bible especially Proverbs, I learned that there is too much danger in too much words. It opens up more avenue to misunderstandings or misinterpretations.
The bible says that too much words put you at risk to sin. When you hold your tongue and think carefully what to say with few words, you learn prudence.
PRAYER
Lord, help us to communicate with less words.
REFLECTION
When have you used much words and led you to sin or confusion?
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

ENTRY TO THE NARROW DOOR

Posted on by

halloween 2011 and sunrises 060

June 12
________________________________________
Work hard to enter the narrow door to God’s Kingdom for many will try to enter but will fail. -Luke 13:24(NLT)
ENTRY TO THE NARROW DOOR
A poem and essay by ILMA
Do you always choose the easy way to do things?
Do you avoid inconveniences at all cost to achieve?
Watch out, for the gate to hell is wide and open
But narrow is the door that leads to God’s kingdom.
You must work hard to enter this challenging gate
Many will try but will fail because they lose faith
Persist and never give up for it will welcome you
God will be waiting patiently till you get through.
________________________________________
In this day and age of convenience, most individuals want a piece of comfort. If anyone will be given an opportunity to take the short cut and the easy way, they would. In the past, I would always take that choice, to do the easiest way at doing something. The path to God’s kingdom is not always an easy road to take. In fact, the bible says that it is a narrow door that leads to God’s kingdom and not all people who take the road are able to get through. Why do you think God makes it harder for people to get into his kingdom? That’s because our world is not God’s kingdom. He has different prerequisite to enter it.
PRAYER
Lord, never let me choose the easy way, but have patience to see what you are teaching me.
REFLECTION
Why do you think people choose the wider door rather than the narrow door to heaven?
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

Little things can grow big Poem Devotional

Posted on by

canadablooms 118

June 11
________________________________________
It is like the yeast, a woman used in making bread, even though she put only a little yeast in three measures of flour, it permeated every part of the dough. -Luke 13:21(NLT)
LITTLE THINGS CAN GROW BIG
A poem and essay by ILMA
Just like a baby can grow into a big man or woman
Small tiny steps toward faith can save humans
Making one decision to move towards Christ
Will go a long way to improve your life.
Like a yeast that makes the dough grow
We can make a difference to change tomorrow
Little things done consistently according to God’s will
It will reap a big harvest of fruit and make us healed.
________________________________________
When my son was born, I was a single parent who had no idea how I will be able to survive raising a family on my own. I used to worry a lot about what’s going to happen, it made me sick literally because I wanted to take care of my future very much and it robbed me of joy and peace. The bible says tomorrow will take care of itself in Matthew 6:34. Little steps we make is likened to a dough used for making bread. Only a little yeast is needed and it goes a long way to permeate every part of the dough, which makes the bread grow in size. We can do little things which will eventually grow.
PRAYER
Lord, don’t let me underestimate the importance of little steps of faith.
REFLECTION
When did you make little steps that led to a breakthrough 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

HEIRS OF GOD’S KINGDOM Poem Devotional

Posted on by

p

June 9
________________________________________
God blesses those who are poor and realize their need for him, for the Kingdom of heaven is theirs. – Matthew 5:3(NLT)
HEIRS OF GOD’S KINGDOM
A poem and essay by ILMA
Do you live an impoverished existence?
Do you have a need for God’s providence?
God blesses those who ask his guidance and help
He blesses those who don’t focus on themselves.
Those who are poor and realize God in their lives
They will be heirs of the Kingdom of Christ
They’ll be rich because heaven will be theirs
The Lord grants as soon as he hears their prayers.
________________________________________
Many people get stuck in this worldly place we live in not knowing that this is not our destiny. The world we inhabit is only a temporary place or a “stopover” so we can continue to reach our real purpose in life which is to be one with our creator in heaven. Whenever someone receives an inheritance, there’s usually a condition that is tied up with such legacy being handed down to them. It may be because they are a dearly loved one or they are someone special to the deceased.
The Lord promised those who are poor (meaning those who are actually living undignified lives or do not know the Lord) and realize their need for God that they will have his Kingdom. Those who acknowledge their brokenness and need for him will surely inherit his kingdom.
PRAYER
Lord, let me never deny my need for you.
REFLECTION
Why do you think poverty and humility is the gateway to heaven?
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

DON’T TEST THE LORD YOUR GOD Poem Devotional

Posted on by

wasaga 3rd anniv picnic & beatrice 3rd visit 124

June 8
________________________________________
Jesus responded, “The Scriptures also say, ‘You must not test the Lord your God.”
-Matthew 4:7(NLT)
DON’T TEST THE LORD YOUR GOD
A poem and essay by ILMA
Whenever you rebel against authority and force your demands
You are actually testing and questioning the Lord and his commands
When you are selfish, arrogant and think you know everything
You are challenging the Lord for a fight over something.
Don’t test the Lord your God for he knows what’s best for you
His thoughts are not your thoughts because he knows the truth
Whenever you don’t believe in his goodness and his character
You are asking for a fight that you will surely end up as the loser.
________________________________________
The book of Matthew chapter 4 narrates the temptation of Jesus by the devil during his forty days of fasting. The devil used all kinds of tricks to entice Jesus to prove that he is the Son of God. The devil tempted Jesus to turn stone to bread, then to give Jesus the glory of his worldly kingdom if Jesus will worship him, then ask Jesus to jump off the cliff so he can be saved by God’s angels from falling. All of Jesus’ response started with “The Scriptures say” and in the end he says “Don’t test the Lord your God.”
We can test the Lord by unbelief, asking him to prove himself, slandering his character and grieving his spirit.
PRAYER
Lord, forgive me when I allow the enemy to use me to test you.
REFLECTION
When have you ever tested the Lord your 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