Tag Archives: ILMA’s Poem Devotional

WHEN YOU NEGLECT THE LORD Poem Devotional

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January 17________________________________________
Why are you living in luxurious houses while my house lies in ruins? – Haggai 1:4 (NLT)
WHEN YOU NEGLECT THE LORD
A poem and essay by ILMA
When you are always busy working to prosper yourself
You are neglecting your creator, the Lord God Himself
Whenever you prioritize other things instead of Him
You are opening the door for the enemy to win.
When you surround yourself with all the comforts in life
And then miss out God’s truth that brings us light
You are neglecting the Lord’s house by letting it lie in ruins
Don’t turn your back on the only one who can free you from sins.
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There are many people who get so busy accumulating wealth and hoarding comforts and conveniences in life. They have no time to read the word of God or even pray because they are so wrapped up in getting what they want in life. “Busy-ness” is a trick of the enemy to veer us away from our Lord Jesus Christ. Christ. The devil wants to create wants in life and make it appear like needs. Then we start to aspire and desire that thing which becomes a never ending goal to get. Then he creates more things for us to be busy with so we won’t have time for praising the Lord and building his kingdom. We should watch out that we don’t neglect the Lord and his kingdom.
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PRAYER
Lord, help me to never neglect my priority which is to serve you first.
REFLECTION
What have you done to build God’s kingdom?
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

LIKE THE YEAST Poem Devotional

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January 16________________________________________
The kingdom of heaven 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.
–Matthew 13:33 (NLT)
LIKE THE YEAST
A poem and essay by ILMA
God’s kingdom is like the yeast used to make breads
Even a small amount is used, it permeates and spreads
Each verse in the bible will make us grow spiritually
No matter how small it is, it will help us continually.
The word of God is useful for us to mature
It makes us see things clearly in a big picture
Like the yeast that helps to make the bread grow
The kingdom of heaven eases all trials and sorrows.
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Yeast is a microscopic fungus consisting of single oval cells that reproduce by budding., and are capable of converting sugar into alcohol and carbon dioxide. The main purpose of yeast is to serve as a catalyst in the process of fermentation, which is essential in the making of bread. The purpose of any leavener is to produce the gas that makes bread rise. Yeast does this by feeding on the sugars in flour, and expelling carbon dioxide in the process. It is amazing how this little fungus is responsible for producing bread that is the staple food of some cultures. God’s kingdom is likened to a yeast that produces bread which brings life.
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PRAYER
Lord, allow me to be like a yeast in spreading your word.
REFLECTION
How often do you reflect on God’s truth and allow it to grow?
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

BRING US BACK LORD Poem Devotional

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January 14________________________________________
Joy has left our hearts; our dancing has turned to mourning. Restore us, O Lord, and bring us back to you again! Give us back the joys we once had. – Lamentations 5:15,21 (NLT)
BRING US BACK LORD
A poem and essay by ILMA
Lord, bring us back to you so we can stop mourning
You created us so we can enjoy life and stop sinning
Restore us, O Lord, and give us back the joys we once had
Free us from lamenting and show us how to be glad.
Bring us back and pull us out from darkness
Help us to recover from this feeling of emptiness
Show us how to become more like you each day
Help us to prioritize you and regularly pray.
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Have you had a loss that caused you to grieve? Has this loss made you bitter and angry? Do you know the many phases of grief? There are many ways people deal with losses. Some avoid thinking about it. Others get stuck in bitterness and anger. Some continually blame someone or the Lord for that thing or person they lost. We can wallow in self-pity and lose our joy if we don’t focus on the Lord.
It took me many decades to even realize that I had many loses that got me stuck in anger and bitterness. When God revealed them to me, he restored my grief into joy.
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PRAYER
Lord, help me to choose joy even in the most adverse situations.
REFLECTION
How can one bring back the joy once it is gone?
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

WEALTH BY UNJUST MEANS Poem Devotional

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January 13________________________________________
Like a partridge that hatches eggs she has not laid, so are those who get their wealth by unjust means. At midlife, they will lose their riches; in the end, they will become poor old fools. – Jeremiah 17:11(NLT)
WEALTH BY UNJUST MEANS
A poem and essay by ILMA
Those who get their wealth by unjust means
Are dishonest and are actually sinning
Like a partridge that hatches eggs she has not laid
They are actually stealing and will have to pay.
At midlife, they will lose their riches
They will become poor and have no resources
Gaining wealth dishonestly will drag you to ruin
They will eventually suffer the consequences of their sins.
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In my country of origin, graft and corruption is rampant. It was one of the reasons why I decided to migrate to Canada. I just had too much of it. Poverty does many things to people. When one is surrounded by so much dishonesty, it either makes you participate or totally turn away from the system. Struggling with being poor can become a lifestyle of striving. One can be desperate and use measures that can quickly alleviate the deficiency they are experiencing. Survival mode becomes a lifestyle. Cheating to get easy wealth can be another option. These are all worldly ways that we cope with mediocrity.
The bible warns us not to get wealth by unjust means because we will eventually lose them.
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PRAYER
Lord, help me never to lose my integrity.
REFLECTION
Why is dishonest ways to be rich discouraged in God’s people?
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

DISGRACE COMES TO DECEIVERS Poem Devotional

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January 8________________________________________
No one who trusts in you will ever be disgraced, but disgrace comes to those who try to deceive others. – Psalm 25:3 (NLT)
DISGRACE COMES TO DECEIVERS
A poem and essay by ILMA
When someone trusts in the Lord, they will receive grace
To those who try to deceive others, they will be disgraced
Shame will result from a habit to trick your sisters and brothers
Guilt will be a consequence of doing evil to others.
Live in righteousness and integrity so you won’t feel shame
Apply God’s truth in your life and stop putting blame
If you continue to discredit God for all that He is
You will be judged by him and will not experience bliss.
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Shame is defined as a painful feeling of humiliation or distress caused by the consciousness of wrong or foolish behavior. We oftentimes feel shame when we have done something that we know is not right. We also experience shame when we believe a lie that is told to us and twist God’s truth. Shame doesn’t come from God. It is the enemy that is the origin of shame. In Genesis, we are given an illustration of the shame that Adam and Eve felt after disobeying God and allowing themselves to be tempted by the devil. The bible says that we will be free from shame or disgrace if we trust in the Lord.
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PRAYER
Lord, let me never be tempted to do anything that is not right.
REFLECTION
Why do you think some people think that shame is a form of punishment by 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

LIKE TREES IN AUTUMN Poem Devotional

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January 6________________________________________
When these people eat with you in your fellowship meals commemorating the Lord’s love, they are like dangerous reefs that can shipwreck you. They are like shameless shepherds who care only for themselves. They are like clouds blowing over the land without giving any rain. They are like trees in autumn that are doubly dead, for they bear no fruit and have been pulled by the roots. – Jude 12 (NLT)
LIKE TREES IN AUTUMN
A poem and essay by ILMA
There are people who are dangerous
They are shameless and oblivious
They cunningly worm themselves into your fellowships
Their purpose is to bring havoc and destroy relationships.
They are like trees in autumn that are doubly dead
They bear no fruit and are not Spirit-led
Like shameless shepherds only caring for themselves
They give no assistance to anyone or give any form of help.
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I know someone who live only for themselves. They couldn’t care less about others and are unaware of their surroundings or even the people they live with. It is dangerous to have a relationship with people who are like dead trees. They can’t produce fruit. They are not growing anymore and can make your life seem hopeless and empty.
The bible warns us about people who are like shameless shepherds who care only for themselves. They are like clouds blowing over the land without giving any rain.
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PRAYER
Lord, please deliver me from spiritually dead people.
REFLECTION
Why should we stay away from those who only care for themselves?
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

SHOW MERCY TO OTHERS Poem Devotional

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January 4________________________________________
And you must show mercy to those whose faith is wavering. Rescue others by snatching them from the flames of judgment. Show mercy to still others, but do so with great caution hating the sins that contaminate their lives. – Jude 22-23 (NLT)
SHOW MERCY TO OTHERS
A poem and essay by ILMA
Show mercy to those whose faith is wavering
Rescue them from judgment and keep on helping
When you show understanding and compassion
You help them from falling into temptation.
Whenever you see a believer sinning
Don’t hate them, but continue forgiving
Remember what Jesus did to show us an example
He gave mercy and grace to all of God’s people.
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I know someone who never forgives. Her motto in life is never to show mercy to those who have done something wrong to her. I never understood why it was difficult for her to forgive until I learned all the abuses she underwent even as a young child. She allowed her circumstances to harden her heart. Later on, she was beset by cancer which was probably an aftermath of her heart’s un-forgiveness.
The bible tells us to show mercy to those whose faith is wavering and to snatch them from the flames of judgment. We have to be careful when we show forgiveness and understanding so that we don’t fall into the danger of contaminating our own lives. Keep a close relationship with the Lord.
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PRAYER
Lord, help me to follow your example of generously granting mercy.
REFLECTION
Why do you think God requires us to give mercy 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

WHEN YOU LIVE TO SATISFY YOUR DESIRES Poem Devotional

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January 2________________________________________
These people are grumblers and complainers, living only to satisfy their desires. They brag loudly about themselves, and they flatter others to get what they want. – Jude 16 (NLT)
WHEN YOU LIVE TO SATISFY YOUR DESIRES
A poem and essay by ILMA
When you live to satisfy your desires
You don’t have the heart that God requires
He wants us all to be pure and free from selfishness
You will be saved only if you accept and embrace righteousness.
Selfish people are complainers and grumblers
They brag loudly about themselves and flatter others
They live only to get instant gratification
They defy God and refuse to accept salvation.
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There have been many years of my life that I was only concerned about getting what I want. I react and get angry even with myself when I am not able to hit the goal I set. As a result, I grumble at times. I didn’t know any better because I didn’t read the bible then. I didn’t realize then that if I complain, I lose the blessings from God. The Holy Spirit revealed to me how to combat my negative thinking and replaced it with a grateful attitude. When I started to count my blessings by having a “Thank You” diary, I was totally transformed. It took many years but it shifted my mind and heart to God instead of focusing on me. Let’s not live for ourselves but for God.
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PRAYER
Lord, please let me be thankful for all my blessings always.
REFLECTION
How can a complaining attitude affect your whole being?
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

GIVE GLORY TO THE LORD Poem Devotional

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January 1________________________________________
Give glory to the Lord your God before it is too late. Acknowledge him before he brings darkness upon you, causing you to stumble and fall on the darkening mountains. For then, when you look for light, you will find only terrible darkness and gloom.
–Jeremiah 13:16 (NLT)
GIVE GLORY TO THE LORD
A poem and essay by ILMA
There is no time, give glory to the Lord now
You will be free from darkness if you bow
Acknowledge him before gloom prevails
He is the only one who can free you and unveil.
Give glory to the Lord before it is too late
You wouldn’t want to continue to live as slaves
Don’t wait until the wrath of God is here
Repent and run to his throne my dear.
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There are so many people who have no time to give God glory. They are so busy with their work, ambitions and other worldly pursuits and can’t be bothered to even have a relationship with the Lord. What happens when we are consumed with material stuff and continually obsess about power and fame? We become idolaters. One of the things that God abhors is idolatry (Jeremiah 1:16). He made us for himself. If we bow down to other gods or things and it steals the time we are supposed to give to him, we are idolaters. Give glory to God before it is too late.________________________________________
PRAYER
Lord, help me never to take my eyes off you.
REFLECTION
What or who are your gods that hinder or distract you from making God your first?
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

BUILDING A STRONG FOUNDATION Poem Devotional

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December 31________________________________________
But anyone who hears and doesn’t obey is like a person who builds a house without a foundation. When the floods sweep down against that house, it will collapse into a heap of ruins. – Luke 6:49(NLT)
BUILDING A STRONG FOUNDATION
A poem and essay by ILMA
Those who hear the word of God and obey
They are relying on his strength and might each day
Their foundation is solid and will not collapse
They will not be swept down and they will adapt.
Those who does not heed God’s guidance in his word
They will find it difficult to navigate this world
Building a strong foundation in God’s truth
Makes you strong and allows the Spirit to bear fruit.
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When people build their houses, they have to make sure that the foundation is strong enough so that they can ensure a house that will be stable to hold up in the midst of weather changes. Can it withstand storms, floods, earthquakes, fires and other disasters?
Building a strong foundation is crucial even in our spiritual lives.
The bible tells us that Jesus is the rock that we can build our lives on. Anyone who seeks God and obey him is actually building a strong foundation that will stand the most challenging trials and tests that will come their way. It cautions those who hear his word and not heed it. They will collapse and be ruined.
PRAYER
Lord, help me to never stop abiding in you and seeking you.
REFLECTION
What aspects of your life needs a strong foundation?
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