Tag Archives: ilmaarts.com

SIN BRINGS DEATH Poem Devotional

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September 17________________________________________
You were dead because of your sins and because your sinful nature was not yet cut away.
Colossians 2:13(NLT)
SIN BRINGS DEATH
A poem and essay by ILMA
To live out of God’s will brings darkness
It deprives us of all God’s promises
While you continually live in rebellion
You won’t be able to resist temptations.
Sin brings death, gloom and pain
Obedience brings God’s truth and gain
When you are not born again in Christ
Your sinful nature lingers in your life.
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Death means a separation of two things. Physical death is a separation of body and soul (Ecclesiastes 12:7). Spiritual death is a separation between God and man (Isaiah 59:1-2). Dead to sin is a separation between Christians and sins (Romans 6:2,11). Dead to law is separation between Christians and the law (Romans 7:4). Marriage dissolved by death is a separation between the husband and the wife (1 Corinthians 7:39). What forms of death are you experiencing in life today?
The bible tells us that when we become believers and born again in Christ, we are automatically separated from sin. When we are born again, all our past sins were erased and we get a clean slate again. We are like newborn, pure and innocent. As soon as we believe in Christ, his light shines on us and no darkness lives in us. Those who still are living in the dark, they haven’t committed to Christ.
PRAYER
Help me to rely on your strength, Lord.
REFLECTION
What sins have Christ clearly cut in your life?
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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

FREE INDEED Poem Devotional

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September 16________________________________________
So if the Son sets you free, you are truly free. – John 8:36(NLT)
FREE INDEED
A poem and essay by ILMA
What is stopping you from being free?
Is it your love for this world or idolatry?
Do you enslave yourself with works of the flesh?
Are you performing so you could be blessed?
God gave us his son so we can be free
He loved us so dearly and so faithfully
Christ died on the cross to cleanse our sins
We will all be free indeed if we believe him.
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I was bonded to so many sins for over four decades of my life. I did everything I can to gain my own salvation. I didn’t know any better until I became a born again Christian. There were many things I was a slave to. Religion was one of my prisons. I was raised to be very materialistic and ambitious which led to many idols in my life. My mind was also another enslavement in my life. I constantly want to be in control and know as much as I can so I could manage whatever difficulties come my way. Pride and arrogance was another prison I struggled with for many years. Until God revealed to me his great love for me despite all my rottenness, I would still be a slave to all these sins. The bible tells us that when Christ died for us, we are truly free
PRAYER
Lord, thank you for freeing me.
REFLECTION
What current bondages are you still enslaved with?
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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

WISDOM SOFTENS HARSHNESS Poem Devotional

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September 15________________________________________
How wonderful to be wise, to analyze and interpret things. Wisdom lights up a person’s face, softening its harshness. –Ecclesiastes 8:1(NLT)
WISDOM SOFTENS HARSHNESS
A poem and essay by ILMA
Do you oftentimes wonder about things?
Do you like analyzing and interpreting?
Whenever you seek knowledge and wisdom
You open up your mind to God’s kingdom.
Seek the Lord and you will be filled with insight
Know his truth and he will bring you light
Wisdoms softens our face removing its harshness
It brings us out of darkness into his righteousness.
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Have you ever observed how a wise person looks like? Their face literally shines. They have a peaceful look. On the other hand, a fool looks the opposite. They usually exude a tinge of darkness or confused look. It is not hard to know a person full of wisdom. Most people who believe in God and knows Christ have a certain calm and joy in them. Whereas an unbeliever doesn’t have that joy and peace that only comes in knowing God.
The bible tells us how wonderful it is to be wise, to analyze and interpret things. Wisdom lights up a person’s face, softening its harshness. When we examine our lives and try to emulate the life God wants for us to have, we become wise. When we live reckless and unexamined lives, we fall into traps and temptations that veer us away from God’s truth and love.
PRAYER
Lord, help me to meditate on your words daily.
REFLECTION
Would you consider your face softened by God’s wisdom?
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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

FINISHING VERSUS STARTING Poem Devotional

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September 14________________________________________
Finishing is better than starting, patience is better than pride. –Ecclesiastes 7:8 (NLT)
FINISHING VERSUS STARTING
A poem and essay by ILMA
What drives you to start something?
Isn’t it a passion for producing?
When something compels you to begin
Never give up until you finish and win.
Finishing is better than starting
Patience is better than boasting
A wise person persists to finish
A fool gives up and never commits.
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Procrastination is the action of delaying or postponing something. In an article written by Eric Jaffe in the Association for Psychological Science he says that “True procrastination is a complicated failure of self-regulation: experts define it as the voluntary delay of some important task that we intend to do, despite knowing that we’ll suffer as a result. A poor concept of time may exacerbate the problem, but an inability to manage emotions seems to be its very foundation.”
I can attest to the validity of this scientific observation. There was a time in my life when I procrastinated getting out of an abusive relationship. There was fear that I will lose the chance to be loved. I was desperate and unable to control my emotions.
The bible tells us that finishing is much better than starting and patience is better than pride. We are also encouraged to work and to be responsible for our own selves. Starting is easy but finishing can only be done with God’s grace and our diligence.
PRAYER
Lord, grant me the courage to finish.
REFLECTION
What causes you to delay finishing something you started?
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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

UNDESERVED CURSE Poem Devotional

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September 12________________________________________
Like a fluttering sparrow or a darting swallow, an undeserved curse will not land on its intended victim. –Proverbs 26:2 (NLT)
UNDESERVED CURSE
A poem and essay by ILMA
Those who are righteous will be blessed
God will always bring them the best
Like a fluttering sparrow or a darting swallow
A curse won’t bring believers much sorrow.
God’s children are protected from curses
He takes care of the plots of the accusers
Any undeserved curse will recoil back
They rebound to the evil and the bad.
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When I was still in my country of origin, I used to be scared of curses. There were superstitious beliefs that was passed on to me that I accepted as normal for many years of my life. Our culture dictated so many erroneous concept about blessings and curses. It was only a few years ago that God gave me revelations about curses. Gossip, idolatry, poverty and sexual sins were handed down to me through many generations from both sides of my parents. I thank God that he freed me from all these strongholds and generational sins. After attending a seminar on curses and blessings, I realized that no curse will have any effect on the faithful servants of God. Just in the last four years, I have witnessed that the curses thrown at me bounced back to the one who cursed me. The bible says that these curses don’t land on the godly.
PRAYER
Lord, thank you for protecting your people.
REFLECTION
Share an instance when you were cursed and God took care of it.
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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

ON TELLING LIES Poem Devotional

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September 11________________________________________
Telling lies about others is as harmful as hitting them with an ax, wounding them with a sword, or shooting them with a sharp arrow. –Proverbs 25:18 (NLT)
ON TELLING LIES
A poem and essay by ILMA
Do you ever resort to hiding the truth?
Telling lies never bring good fruit
When you attack someone else’s reputation
You are hurting others and your salvation.
Lying is as harmful as hitting others with an ax
You have no right to change the facts
Telling lies is like wounding them with a sword
Doing it is living in the standards of the world.
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Satan lied at the beginning of mankind when he enticed Eve to eat the fruit from the forbidden tree. He conned and tempted her to defy God so she can have the wisdom and power that he has. He made God appear bad by defying the boundary that he gave for Adam and Eve to follow (to refrain from eating from the Tree of Knowledge). By violating the boundary, they started lying too to cover up their disobedience.
Lies breed more lies and other sins. When we decide to cover up or make up a story that is untrue, we hurt ourselves and others.
The bible tells us how detrimental lying is. If you tell lies about others, you are almost like hitting them with an ax, wounding them with a sword, or shooting them with a sharp arrow.
PRAYER
Lord, protect me from lying.
REFLECTION
What was the biggest lie you ever told someone that hurt others?
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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

FRIENDS OF GOD Poem Devotional

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September 10________________________________________
So now we can rejoice in our wonderful new relationship with God because our Lord Jesus Christ has made us friends of God. – Romans 5:11(NLT)
FRIENDS OF GOD
A poem and essay by ILMA
Do you know God enough to say that he is your friend?
Abraham was called his friend because his faith didn’t bend?
What characteristics do you have that is like Christ?
Do you know him personally and his sacrifice?
Do you empathize with all his concern for the world?
Does his blood shed make you love his truth and his word?
So now rejoice in your wonderful status of friendship
It is an honor to be part of his perfect family and kinship.
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How is God different from the Old Testament to the New Testament? In the Old Testament, we see God as the Almighty and powerful person. He loved his people so much that he delivered them from bondage and slavery. He promised them a land flowing with milk and honey. We also see how he punished the idolaters and those who turned their backs on Him. In the New Testament, the sacrifice on the cross totally changed our relationship with God. Because of Jesus’ perfect obedience and humility, God’s grace and mercy poured a million times more than before Christ became human. We became friends of God because of Jesus’ death on the cross. We can now rejoice in our wonderful new relationship with God.
PRAYER
Make me worthy to be your friend, Lord.
REFLECTION
What kind of friendship do you have with God?
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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

RESTORED FRIENDSHIP Poem Devotional

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September 9________________________________________
For since our friendship with God was restored by the death of his Son while we were still his enemies, we will certainly be saved through the life of his Son. -Romans 5:10 (NLT)
RESTORED FRIENDSHIP
A poem and essay by ILMA
What did the sacrifice on the cross bring about?
Didn’t it cancel all your sins and doubts?
Christ’s death restored our friendship
With his blood, we remain in his kinship.
Jesus saved us while we were still his enemies
He set the example for obedience and humility
We will certainly be saved through Jesus’ life
Abide in him and you will enjoy his peace and light.
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A friend is defined as a person attached to another by feelings of affection or personal regard. They are people who you enjoy and like to be with. They are there for you through thick or thin. They support you, your beliefs and would protect you from harm and encourage you to grow. When I was in the Philippines I had many friends. When I came to Canada, my notion of friendship have changed because God changed me too.
The bible tells us that our friendship with God was restored by the death of his Son while we were still his enemies. It is through Jesus’ life that we will be saved. His death on the cross restored our relationship with God. Isn’t it a privilege to be called the friend of God?
PRAYER
Jesus, thank you for your sacrifice on the cross.
REFLECTION
How intimate is your friendship with God?
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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

CHOICES Poem Devotional

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September 8________________________________________
Follow only what is good. Remember that those who do good prove that they are God’s children, and those who do evil prove that they do not know God. -3 John 11 (NLT)
CHOICES
A poem and essay by ILMA
Do your actions prove you belong to God’s camp?
Is your life shining of goodness like a lamp?
Follow only what is good and righteous
If you are his child, you will follow Jesus.
Remember that those who do good will have life
Those who do otherwise are in bondage and blind
Will you take the right path to salvation?
Will you continue to take the road to damnation?
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Choice is defined as an act of selecting or making a decision when faced with two or more possibilities. Most people who live peaceful and happier lives have made choices that brought them to where they are. There are some people who never make choices. Their lives are full of confusion, conflicts and irresponsible behavior. They procrastinate as a result of not wanting to make a decision. It is very unhealthy not to make choices because our lives are defined by the choices we make.
I am still suffering consequences of many wrong choices I made when I was not aligning my life to God’s will. The bible warns us to make a choice to be righteous or do evil. Our actions result from the choices we make or we don’t make.
PRAYER
Lord, keep me in your will always.
REFLECTION
What consequence have you suffered as a result of a wrong choice?
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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

ON LOVING OTHERS Poem Devotional

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September 7________________________________________
Dear friends, let us continue to love one another, for love comes from God. Anyone who loves is a child of God and knows God. But anyone who does not love does not know God, for God is love. 1 John 4:7-8(NLT)
ON LOVING OTHERS
A poem and essay by ILMA
Anyone who is a child of God never ceases to love
But anyone who doesn’t love is not of God’s
Love dissolves doubts, fear and conflicts
It brings contentment, harmony and peace
It doesn’t reject or discriminate someone
Love forgives and brings about joy and fun
God’s children choose to love always
Loving is the final path and the only way.
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How can you know a real Christian? A believer is usually known by how much they love. One cannot say that they love God if they do not love anyone else apart from themselves. What is love? It is not just a gooey feeling you get when you are attracted to someone. It is deeper than that. Love is a commitment and a decision. It is a choice to give and serve someone in order to assure them that they are important and that they matter.
The bible describes children of God as loving people. Anyone who loves is a child of God. God is love, so those who believe him are expected to be following him. Those who find it hard to love are not children of God.
PRAYER
Thank you for being a loving God.
REFLECTION
How can you show love to unloving people?
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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