GOD IN NATURE Poem Devotional

Posted on May 24, 2014 by ilmaarts

May 24 The Power of God’s Word
Only fools say in their hearts, ”There is no God.” They are corrupt and their actions are evil; not one of them does good! Psalm 53:1(NLT)
GOD IN NATURE
Tulips gracefully rising, cupping the sun’s light coming out
What a beautiful spring sunny day where birds come about
Leaves sprouting out from the branches of some trees
They finally come to life and survive the severe winter freeze.
Only fools say “There is no God”
The trees, birds and flowers give him laud
God cares and nourishes all his creatures
He manifests himself in all of nature.
Many unbelievers claim that there is no god. They make all kinds of theories of how the universe and everything came about. They concoct all kinds of stories to disprove the existence of God. The enemy has blinded them with lies that appear like truth to them. Their choice to believe these lies deprive them to see that there is a God who is magnificent and has created everything we can’t explain and understand.
Psalm 53 talks about fools that claim there is no God. They are corrupt and choose evil deeds. What will it take for people to believe that there is a higher being who made everything? Just watch the birds, the trees, the flowers, the river, the seas, and the skies. Who can create such magnificence?
PRAYER
Lord, thank you for your presence in nature!
REFLECTION
Soak yourself in nature and feel God’s presence.

SPIRITUAL NOURISHMENT Poem Devotional

Posted on May 23, 2014 by ilmaarts

May 23 The Power of God’s Word
My nourishment comes from doing the will of God who sent me and from finishing his work. –John 4:34 (NLT)
SPIRITUAL NOURISHMENT
Do you feed on God’s truth and his word?
Are you contented with what is in this world?
Spiritual nourishment comes from doing God’s will
Starving your spirit brings havoc and makes you ill.
Just as your body needs food to keep alive
So does your spirit needs truth to break the lies
Feed your spirit with what will make you see
Seeking and following God’s will is what sets you free.
It is amazing how so many people put so much emphasis on their physical well being. They spend much money being a member of a health club or a gym just so they can look good and stay fit. Sadly, the mental and spiritual health is often neglected by many of us. This is one of the reasons why so many people are mentally or spiritually ill. Because we see our bodies and not our minds and spirit, it is often ignored.
The bible tells us that our nourishment must come from doing God’s will who gave us life. Our purpose in life is not just to care for our bodies, but also to put priority to the real reason for our existence. We were created to fit in God’s big plan.
PRAYER
Lord, help me keep spiritually fit.
REFLECTION
Why do we need to feed our spirits?

LIVING BY GOD’S POWER Poem Devotional

Posted on May 21, 2014 by ilmaarts

May 21 The Power of God’s Word
For the kingdom of God is not just a lot of talk; it is living by God’s power.
–1 Corinthians 4:20 (NLT)
LIVING BY GOD’S POWER
Do you live in the standards set by this world?
Do you depend on God’s power shown in his word?
For the kingdom of God is not just a lot of talk
It is about believing and following Jesus’ walk.
Can you discern the wisdom that God provides?
Do you listen to all the things he reveals and confides?
Living by God’s power is accepting the spirit within
It is by walking in love that we can be free and redeemed.
The world we live in puts much emphasis on “power.” Everyone wants a bite of this power. The clamor for recognition, success, wealth, possessions have all led to a life of corruption and conflict. Each one wants to prove who is better at something. In God’s economy, power is only granted to those who seek the Lord.
It is the power to let go and surrender every need, craving and desire our hearts yearn for.
The bible tells us to live in God’s power. How can we live by his power? We can look at how Jesus lived amongst us. He was the son of God, yet he did not exercise any of his powers, he surrendered to his father’s will.
PRAYER
Lord, show me how to humbly surrender.
REFLECTION
Why is humility essential in salvation?

SERVE GOD NO MATTER WHAT Poem Devotional

Posted on May 18, 2014 by ilmaarts

May 17 The Power of God’s Word
We serve God whether people honor us or despise us, whether they slander us or praise us. – 2 Corinthians 6:8(NLT)
SERVE GOD NO MATTER WHAT
A poem by ILMA
Do you serve God to bring glory and praise?
Continue to be loyal to him, that’s what the bible says
Do you expect honor and recognition for doing so?
The more you must press on when people despise you.
We serve a faithful and loving heavenly father
We ought to bring love to our sisters and brothers
Catering to our agenda is the opposite of serving him
It is by selflessly following his commands that we are redeemed.
The bible tells us that we cannot serve two masters (Matthew 6:24), either you will hate the one or love the other. Sadly, there are so many people who are confused who to serve. Some try to serve both money and God. No wonder their lives are messed up.
We are asked to serve God whether people honor or despise us, whether they slander us or praise us. If we are so concerned to take credit for what we do for God, then we are only fooling ourselves because that is really not serving God but ourselves. Real servants of God are selfless and always points to the source of mercy and grace, the Lord almighty.
PRAYER
Lord, please help me to serve you only.
REFLECTION
Why is it important to be aware who we really serve?

WALK IN LOVE Poem Devotional

Posted on May 16, 2014 by ilmaarts

May 16 The Power of God’s Word
The Lord has told you what is good, and this is what he requires of you: to do what is right, to love mercy, and to walk humbly with your God.
–Micah 6:8 (NLT)
WALK IN LOVE
A poem by ILMA
Whenever you show impartiality
You are walking rightly
Whenever you forgive quickly
You are choosing to give mercy.
Walking in love and humility
Wipes out all conflicts and hostility
It breaks all forms of sins and strongholds
It makes us access God’s promises and grow.
The Mechanicsville paper published an article on the statistics of the effects of broken homes. “Did you know that more than three in ten children grow up in broken homes and children from broken homes account for 70% of those in juvenile detention; 57% of all prison inmates; 63 % of teen suicides; 71% of teen pregnancies; 90% of homeless juveniles and runaways; 71% of high school dropouts; 75% of all drug users; and 85% of behavioral disorders. This is the sad truth about the lack of love in our society.
The bible tells us through the prophet Micah what God requires of us. The message is for all of us to do what is right, to love mercy and to walk humbly with him. If we follow these guidelines, we can avoid social diseases in our society.
PRAYER
Lord, help me to walk in your love.
REFLECTION
How can walking in love contribute to a healthy society?

THE GREATEST TEACHER Poem Devotional

Posted on May 15, 2014 by ilmaarts

May 15 The Power of God’s Word
I am the Lord your God, who teaches you what is good for you, and leads you along the paths you should follow. –Isaiah 48:17(NLT)
THE GREATEST TEACHER
A poem by ILMA
Do you rely on others to teach and tell you what to do?
There is no one else who knows you through and through
God alone sees your heart, thoughts and intentions
He knows how to handle your trials and tribulations.
The greatest teacher leads you along paths you should follow
He has your best interest at heart and hears your sorrow
Do not lose hope, come to him and he will show you the way
He will confront all your enemies and he will make them pay.
There are many people who can tell you what to do and how to live your life. Do they really know what is good for you? Only God knows our thoughts, feelings and heart. He knows us be name, even before we were born. He knows every strand in our hair (Luke 12:7).
God is all-knowing and all seeing. He invites us to allow him to teach us and lead us to the paths we should take. He is the greatest teacher. When we rely on him for guidance, we are guaranteed a life full of promises and fruits of his spirit.
PRAYER
Lord, help me to consult with you always.
REFLECTION
Why does God want us to seek guidance from him?

FAITH HEALS Poem Devotional

Posted on May 12, 2014 by ilmaarts

May 12 The Power of God’s Word
“Daughter, be encouraged! Your faith has made you well.” And the woman was healed at that moment. –Matthew 9:22(NLT)
FAITH HEALS
A poem by ILMA
Do you believe that faith can save you?
Trust completely in the Lord and he will renew
Your confidence in him will bring healing
It will lead you to freedom and rejoicing.
When you have a weakness or an illness
Be encouraged, faith will bring hopefulness
If you surrender anything to God’s power
He will bring a miracle right at that hour.
Do you realize how faith can actually save you from darkness and illnesses? I have seen actual healing happen when I went to a faith healer who got his spiritual gift of healing from the Lord. He received God’s gift to heal and he was used by the Lord so God will be glorified. Millions of people followed him and I actually saw cripples and bed ridden cancer patients literally standing up and walking as he laid his hands and prayed on them. The first thing he asks from them is if they totally believe that God will free them from their predicament. The moment they declare their faith, they were instantly healed. The bible has many faith stories that would attest to healing as an offshoot of faith. Matthew mentions the woman who instantly received healing by trusting Jesus.
PRAYER
Lord, help me to grow in faith.
REFLECTION
Why is faith essential in healing?

LIKE A MOTHER Poem Devotional

Posted on May 12, 2014 by ilmaarts

May 11 The Power of God’s Word

I will comfort you there in Jerusalem as a mother comforts her child.

Isaiah66:13(NLT)

LIKE A MOTHER

A poem by ILMA

Who can ever provide a love that is unconditional?

Women are gifted with instincts that are maternal

A mother provides all she can to protect her family

She will do everything to bring them up righteously.

Like a mother, God comforts his children daily

He gives them hope and loves them completely

He promises his beloved children great riches

His faithfulness endures forever which brings fullness.

Motherhood is one of the hardest roles a person could ever handle. I think God gave mothers special gifts and the power to press on in life. From the time of conception, it is amazing how mothers are given the strength to handle the changes in their bodies and their emotions. When women are pregnant, they go through major hormonal changes in their bodies, which often times are hard to deal with. If you are a woman, you probably know what I am talking about. The cravings, the mood swings, the heightened sensitivities to different things. God has equipped women to have emotional strength to bear difficulties. How awesome is our God who designed women to have the capacity to nurture and care. The bible tells us that God is like a mother who constantly comforts her child.

PRAYER

Lord, make me more caring and nurturing.

REFLECTION

Why do you think God likens himself to a mother?

GOD ANSWERS Poem Devotional

Posted on May 8, 2014 by ilmaarts

May 8 The Power of God’s Word
I will answer them before they even call to me. While they are still talking about their needs, I will go ahead and answer their prayer. –Isaiah 65:24(NLT)

A poem by ILMA
Pray whenever you have a need
It will be answered when you heed
Call upon the Lord when you are in pain
He will hear your prayers; it will not be in vain.
Even before you ask, he knows already what you’ll say
He loves you so much and he will always find a way
While you are still requesting in prayer
He has already granted and answered.
How often do you pray? The prophet Daniel is a perfect example of the power of prayer. In chapter 9:4-19, he confessed and pleaded God to forgive the sins of Israel. He used the word “we” even though he has not sinned. Unlike the Pharisees who prayed lifting themselves up and putting down other sinners in Luke 18:11, Daniel’s heart cried out for his people. He wasn’t righteous like the Pharisee. He interceded for Israel and believed that God will have mercy as he has shown the prophet Jeremiah. Daniel quoted scriptures and believed it.
The bible tells us that God answers prayer while we are still praying. Sometimes we don’t hear or see the answers because we don’t want the answers.
PRAYER
Lord, grant me a humble heart that prays always.
REFLECTION
Why do you think God wants us to pray?

LIVING GODLY LIVES Poem Devotional

Posted on May 7, 2014 by ilmaarts

May 7 The Power of God’s Word
Yes, and everyone who wants to live a godly life in Christ Jesus will suffer persecution. –1 Timothy 3:12(NLT)

A poem by ILMA
The moment you accept Christ as your savior
Let your actions reflect righteous behavior
Every believer who wants to live a godly life
Be ready to avoid all forms of strife
It is easy to give in to temptation and sin
It takes grace and trust to be redeemed
Each person who wants to serve the Lord
Press on the challenges to bring him laud.
There are many challenges a Christian face. One of them is persecutions or discrimination. Most unbelievers test you or question your faith and beliefs. In fact, the more you follow Christ, the more the enemy would want to steal your peace, joy and your heart.
When I chose Christ as my Lord and Savior, I wasn’t exempt from suffering. The difference between a believer and an unbeliever lies in knowing that one is not alone when they go through challenges and trials. As they humbly admit their weakness, Christ strengthens them.
The bible tells us that persecution will be part of a godly life. Just as Christ suffered when he was on earth, those who claim to be his followers must face these challenges that are inevitable when they embrace righteousness living.
PRAYER
Lord, bring me strength to face challenges.
REFLECTION
Why do you think suffering is inevitable in a Christian’s life?

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