December 13
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JONAH’S ANGER ON GOD’S MERCY
A poem by ILMA
When God decided not to punish the Ninevites, Jonah was greatly upset
He complained to the LORD saying, “Didn’t I said that you will do this exactly?
That is why I ran away to Tarshish! I knew that you are going to show mercy
For you are a sympathetic God, slow to get angry and filled with unfailing love
Kill me now LORD! I’d rather be dead than to see what I’ve foretold won’t happen.”
The LORD replied, “Is it right for you to be angry about this?”
Jonah went out to the east side of the city and made a shelter to sit under
Then he sat there and waited to see what would happen to the city
And the LORD God arranged for a leafy plant to grow there
Soon it spread its broad leaves over Jonah’s head, shading him from the sun
This eased his discomfort, and Jonah was very grateful for the plant
The next morning the worm ate the stem of the plant then, it withered away.
When the sun grew hot, God arranged for the east wind to blow on Jonah
The sun beat down on his head until he grew faint and wished to die
“Death is certainly better than living like this!” he exclaimed
Then God said to Jonah, “Is it right for you to be angry because the plant died?”
God said, “You feel sorry about the plant, though you did nothing to put it there
Nineveh was in spiritual darkness, Shouldn’t I feel sorry for such a great city?”
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MEMORY VERSE
Nineveh has more than 120,000 people living in spiritual darkness, not to mention all the animals. Shouldn’t I feel sorry for such a great city? – Jonah 4:11
Read: Jonah 4
It is interesting how Jonah reacted to how God gave Nineveh mercy and pardon. This was the reason why he didn’t want to go in the first place and he was so proud to accept God’s forgiveness.
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REFLECTION
• Why do you think some people don’t want others to be given mercy by God?
• What happens when we repent and confess our sins?
Tag Archives: poetry
WHEN JONAH OBEYED Poem Devotional
December 12
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WHEN JONAH OBEYED
A poem by ILMA
Once again the LORD spoke to Jonah and said “Go to Nineveh
Proclaim to the people the message I have given you.”
So, Jonah obeyed the LORD and went to the big city
It took three days to walk through the whole Nineveh
Jonah proclaimed, “In forty days Nineveh will be destroyed!”
The people of Nineveh believed God’s message
They decided all should fast from the greatest to the least
They put on sackcloth, each one of them, to show that they had repented
When the king heard about it, he got up from his throne
He took off his robe, put on sackcloth, and sat down in ashes.
He sent out a proclamation to the people of Nineveh
“This is an order from the king and his officials
No one is to eat anything; all persons are forbidden to eat or drink
Each person and animals must wear sackcloth
All must pray earnestly to God and give up their wickedness
Perhaps God will change his mind and stop being angry
Then the whole city will be saved and we will not die!”
God saw what they did, he saw that they had given up their wicked behavior
So, he changed his mind and did not punish them as he had said he would.
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MEMORY VERSE
So, Jonah obeyed the LORD and went to Nineveh, a city so large that it took three days to walk through it. – Jonah 3:3
Read: Jonah 3:1-10
When Jonah finally obeyed the Lord after he was spitted from the fish, a miracle happened. The wicked people of Nineveh, repented. All from the king and everyone.
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REFLECTION
• What stops people from walking in obedience?
• What happened when Jonah finally obeyed the Lord after running the first time?
WHEN WE RUN FROM GOD Poem Devotional
December 11
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WHEN WE RUN FROM GOD
A poem by ILMA
Jonah said to the crew of the ship, “I am a Hebrew
I fear the LORD God of heaven who made the sea and the dry land”
Then the men became extremely frightened and they said to him
How could you do this?” For the men knew he was fleeing from God’s presence.
They asked Jonah “What should we do to you that the sea may calm down?
He said to them, “Pick me up and throw me into the sea
I know that on account of me this great storm has come upon you
However, the men rowed desperately for the sea was becoming rougher.
Then they called on the LORD and said, “We earnestly pray, O LORD, do not let us perish
So, they picked up Jonah, threw him into the sea, and the sea stopped its raging
Then the men feared the LORD greatly, and they offered a sacrifice to God
God appointed a great fish to swallow Jonah, where he was 3 night and 3 days.
Jonah prayed earnestly while he was inside the stomach of the fish
He cried out to God and realized that he cannot run from the Lord
He needed to walk in obedience and do as the Lord says.
He proceeded to Nineveh and delivered the message to repent.
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MEMORY VERSE
I know that on account of me this great storm has come upon you. – Jonah 1:12
Read: Jonah 1:9-17
This story is a famous one that all Christian children probably knows. But there is much depth behind this story. When we run from God, we reach rock bottom or become trapped in our own foolish actions. We eventually fall on our knees and remember the Lord. It is ironic that God used a fish in the middle of a storm to swallow Jonah. It seems like thrown in the storm and yet quiet inside the fish. In the storm, we can still find peace.
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REFLECTION
• Why do you think the other passengers in the ship prayed to the Lord even though they have their own gods as well?
GET UP AND GO! Poem Devotional
December 10
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GET UP AND GO!
A poem by ILMA
The LORD gave this message to Jonah son of Amittai
“Get up and go to the great city of Nineveh
Tell them how I have seen how wicked its people are”
Jonah got up and went in the opposite direction instead,to avoid the LORD.
He went down to the port of Joppa and found a ship leaving for Tarshish
He bought a ticket to escape from the LORD by sailing at the opposite direction
But the LORD hurled a powerful wind over the sea, causing a violent storm
It threatened to break the ship apart and everyone in it feared for their lives.
The sailors shouted to their gods for help and threw the cargo overboard
All this time Jonah was sound asleep down in the hold
“How can you sleep at a time like this?” the captain told him
“Get up and pray to your god and maybe spare our lives.”
Jonah told them he was Hebrew, and serves the God of heaven
The sailors were scared and asked him how they can be spared from death
“Throw me into the sea,” Jonah said, “and it will become calm again”
I know that this storm is all my fault, so release me so you’ll be spared.”
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MEMORY VERSE
“Get up and go to the great city of Nineveh. Announce my judgment against it because I have seen how wicked its people are.” – Jonah 1:2
Read: Jonah 1-12
Get up and go is a usual command God gives those people He chose to participate in his plan for mankind. He said this to Abraham, to Moses and to other key characters in the bible. Notice that faith is an decision to get into action.
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REFLECTION
• Why does “inaction” debilitate us from God’s blessings and favor?
• Why is obedience and saying “yes” to God important in our walk as believers?
• How can we learn to literally act on what we believe regularly?
ALL BELIEVERS MUST TURN FROM EVIL Poem Devotional
December 9
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ALL BELIEVERS MUST TURN FROM EVIL
A poem by ILMA
Endure suffering along with me, as a good soldier of Jesus Christ
Soldiers don’t get tied up in the affairs of civilian life
Athletes cannot win the prize unless they follow the rules
Hardworking farmers should be the first to enjoy the fruit of their labor
Endure anything that will bring salvation to those chosen by God
If we die with him, we will also live with the Father’s Son
If we endure hardship, we will be victorious with Jesus
If we deny him, he’ll do the same, but if we are disloyal, he will remain faithful.
Work hard so you can present yourself to God and receive his approval
Be a good worker, one who correctly explains the word of truth
Avoid worthless, foolish talk that only leads to more godless behavior
This kind of talk spreads like cancer which turns people away from the faith.
God’s truth stands firm like a foundation stone with this inscription
The LORD knows those who are his, for they hear His voice
All who belong to the LORD must turn away from evil
Keep yourself pure and you will be ready for the Master’s use.
MEMORY VERSE
The LORD knows those who are his,” and “All who belong to the LORD must turn away from evil.” – 2 Timothy 2:20
Read: 2 Timothy 2:3-21
It is interesting how some believers deceive themselves from thinking that they can claim they are committed to Jesus and yet continue sinning. In this verse, Paul stresses the manifestation of a true Christian; they turn away from evil.
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REFLECTION
• Why can’t Christians continue to live evil live? What will become of them if they do?
• Why do people have a hard time admitting their sins and confront evil?
MAY GOD’S WILL BE DONE! Poem Devotional
December 8
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MAY GOD’S WILL BE DONE!
A poem by ILMA
During Elizabeth’s 6th month of pregnancy, God sent the angel Gabriel to Nazareth
It was in a village in Galilee to a virgin named Mary who was engaged to be married
She was engaged to be married to a man named Joseph, a descendant of King David
Gabriel appeared to Mary and said, “Greetings! favored woman! The Lord is with you!
Confused and disturbed, Mary tried to think what the angel could mean
“Don’t be afraid, Mary,” the angel told her, “for you have found favor with God!
You will conceive and give birth to a son, and you will name him Jesus
He will be very great and be called the Son of the Most High
He is the fulfillment of God’s promise to Abraham long ago.
The Lord God will give him the throne of his ancestor David
And he will reign over Israel forever; his Kingdom will never end!”
Mary asked the angel, “But how can this happen? I am a virgin.”
The angel replied, “The Holy Spirit will come upon you
The power of the Most High will overtake you; the baby will be the Son of God
What’s more, your relative Elizabeth has become pregnant in her old age
They say she was barren, but she has conceived and is now in her sixth month
For the word of God will never fail.” Mary answered, “I am the Lord’s servant
May everything you have said about me come true.” And then the angel left her.
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MEMORY VERSE
“I am the Lord’s servant. May everything you have said about me come true.” – Luke 2:38
Read: Luke 2:26-38
The promise of the coming of the Messiah became possible with Mary’s humility and obedience. What a blessing it is when we walk into the will of God. We open up heaven’s gates and bring heaven to come to realize here on earth.
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REFLECTION
• When was the last time you succumbed and surrender to God’s call in your life even though it didn’t make sense at that time he was inviting you to say “yes” to ¬¬him?
DANIEL TELLS NEBUCHADNEZAR HIS DREAM Poem Devotional
December 7
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DANIEL TELLS NEBUCHADNEZAR HIS DREAM
A poem by ILMA
Daniel talked to Arioch and told him, “Don’t kill the wise men
Take me to the king, and I will tell him the meaning of his dream”
Arioch quickly brought Daniel to the king and told him about Daniel
This captive from Judah will tell the king the meaning of his dream!”
The king asked him “Can you tell me what my dream was and what it means?”
Daniel replied, “There is no one else who can tell you your dream and its meaning
There is a God in heaven who reveals secrets who will show you your dream
Now I will tell you your dream and the visions you saw as you lay on your bed.
“In your vision, you saw standing before you a huge, shining statue of a man
The head of the statue was made of fine gold. Its chest and arms were silver,
Its belly and thighs were bronze, its legs were iron, and its feet were iron and clay
The whole statue was crushed into small pieces of iron, clay, bronze, silver, and gold
Then the wind blew them away without a trace, like chaff on a threshing floor
The rock that knocked the statue down became a mountain that covered the earth.
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MEMORY VERSE
“There are no wise men, enchanters, magicians, or fortune-tellers who can reveal the king’s secret. But there is a God in heaven who reveals secrets. – Daniel 2:27-28
Read: Daniel 2:24-35
In this chapter, Daniel asked Arioch, the one who was assigned to kill the wise men and the magicians who couldn’t identify the King’s dream to spare them their lives for he will tell the King himself his dream and interpret it as well. He made it clear to the king that no one could ever know his dream except his God, for he knows everything.
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REFLECTION
• How do you think the king responded to Daniel revealing his dream?
• Why do you think Daniel was choses by God to interpret dreams?
DANIEL PRAYS FOR WISDOM Poem Devotional
December 6
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DANIEL PRAYS FOR WISDOM
A poem by ILMA
Nebuchadnezzar had such disturbing dreams during his second year as king
He called in his magicians, enchanters, sorcerers, and astrologers
He demanded that they tell him what he had dreamed I will for it troubled him
Then the astrologers told him, “Tell us the dream, so we can tell its meaning.
But the king said to the astrologers, “I am serious about this
If you don’t tell what my dream it means you will be torn limb from limb
if you tell me what I dreamed and what the dream means I’ll reward you
They all begged the king to tell them the dream so they can interpret it.
The astrologers replied to the king, “No one on earth can tell the king his dream! The king’s demand is impossible. No one except the gods can tell you your dream
Nebuchadnezzar was furious when he heard this and ordered them all executed
Because of the king’s decree, men were sent to find and kill Daniel and his friends.
Daniel went at once to see the king and asked more time to interpret the dream
Then he told his friends Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah what had happened
He urged them to ask the God to show him mercy by knowing the dream
That night the secret was revealed to Daniel in a vision and he praised God.
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MEMORY VERSE
One night during the second year of his reign, Nebuchadnezzar had such disturbing dreams that he couldn’t sleep. – Daniel 2:1
Read: Daniel 2:1-19
This chapter in the book of Daniel is another way that God provided to save Daniel and his friends from the decree of Nebuchadnezar to execute them. We see how crazy this king was who expects human beings to be able to guess and interpret his dreams. In the next part of this chapter, we see God’s provision and mercy to use this situation to bring glory to the only God who knows everything.
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REFLECTION
• How faithful was God to his people in this chapter?
SIMPLE FOODS ADD VIBRANCE AND WISDOM Poem Devotional
December 5
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SIMPLE FOODS ADD VIBRANCE AND WISDOM
A poem by ILMA
Daniel was determined not to defile himself by eating the King’s food and wine
He asked the chief of staff for permission not to eat these unacceptable foods
God had given the chief of staff both respect and affection for Daniel
But he said, “I am afraid it is the King’s order for you to eat these meals
If you become pale and thin compared to the other youths your age,
Then I will be the one responsible and the king will have me beheaded.”
Daniel spoke with the attendant appointed by the chief of staff
He was assigned to look after Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah.
“Please test us for ten days on a diet of vegetables and water, then see what happens
See how we look compared to the other young men who are eating the king’s food
Then make your decision in light of what you see,” so the attendant agreed
At the end of the ten days, Daniel and his three friends looked healthier than all.
When the training period ordered by the king was over, they were all brought in
The king talked with them, and no one impressed him as much as these young men Whenever the king consulted them in any matter requiring wisdom and judgment
They found them ten times more capable than any of all magicians and enchanters.
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MEMORY VERSE
At the end of the ten days, Daniel and his three friends looked healthier and better nourished than the young men who had been eating the food assigned by the king. So after that, the attendant fed them only vegetables instead of the food and wine provided for the others. – Daniel 1:15-16
Read: Daniel 1:8-20
The vegan diet goes as far back as Daniel’s time. It proved that the simple vegetable and water diet didn’t compromised their decisiveness and knowledge. As compared to what others ate, they came out much wiser and had good judgment.
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REFLECTION
• Why do you think that a vegan diet can change your health and mind?
December 4
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PERFECT LOVE EXPELS ALL FEAR
A poem by ILMA
Dear friends, let us continue to love one another as God commands
Love comes from God and anyone who loves is God’s child and knows him
But anyone who does not love does not know God, for God is love
God showed how much he loved us by sending his only Son into this world.
Since God loved us that much, we surely ought to love each other
No one has ever seen God, but if we love each other, God lives in us
His love is brought to full expression in us when we operate in love
God has given us his Spirit as proof that we live in him and he in us.
All who declare that Jesus is the Son of God have God living in them
They live in God and we know how much God loves us and have to trust him
And as we live in God, our love grows more perfect and we won’t fear the day
Then we can face him with confidence since we live like Jesus here in this world.
Such love has no fear, because perfect love expels all fear
If we are afraid, it is for fear of punishment, and this shows we haven’t truly loved
If someone says, “I love God,” but hates a fellow believer, that person is a liar
For if we don’t love people we can see, how can we love God, whom we can’t see?
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MEMORY VERSE
Such love has no fear, because perfect love expels all fear. If we are afraid, it is for fear of punishment, and this shows that we have not fully experienced his perfect love.
– 1 John 4:18
Read: 1 John 4:7-20
Many of us do not realize the real meaning of how to live in perfect love. Even though we know that God is love, we are not able to live fearless lives. When we live in fear, we are not letting his Spirit live in us. When we are fearful, we fail to love. They can’t operate together.
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REFLECTION
• What deceives us from thinking that we can stay fearful and claim that we love?