Tag Archives: spoken word

AMEN ASCENDS TO GOD Poem Devotional

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September 26________________________________________
For all God’s promises have been fulfilled in Christ with a resounding “Yes” And through Christ, our “Amen” which means “Yes” ascends to God for his glory.
– 2 Corinthians 1:20(NLT)
AMEN ASCENDS TO GOD
A poem and essay by ILMA
Do you follow God’s commands?
Do you struggle with life’s demands?
Have you been saying “Amen” to the Lord?
It delights him and you bring him laud.
Amen is a big resounding “yes”
He loves you and gave you much promises
Say “yes” to him and you will not regret it
He will bless you and anoint you with his Spirit.
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Amen is derived from the Hebrew āmēn, which means “certainty,” “truth,” and “verily.” Jesus would often start a solemn statement by saying “Verily” or “Truly”. In John’s gospel (John 3:3) Jesus is recorded as using the word twice in succession, “Verily, verily, I say to you…”. This shows us that the underlying meaning of the word “Amen” is truth and verity. It is a solemn affirmation. However, in the New Testament, Amen can also mean “of a truth” at the start of something said, or, at the end, “so be it” or “may it occur”.
How often did you say “Amen” to what the Lord tells you to do? For a very long time, I didn’t even realize how this word was very important. The Lord wants us to says it so that we can bring him glory.
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PRAYER
Lord, help me to always say “Amen” to you.
REFLECTION
Why can it be a challenge for some people to say “Amen” to what the Lord?
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

CONSISTENT GOD Poem Devotional

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September 25________________________________________
For Jesus Christ, the Son of God, does not waver between “Yes” and “No”. He always does what he says. – 2 Corinthians 1:19(NLT)
CONSISTENT GOD
A poem and essay by ILMA
Have you been let down by someone’s words?
You can be discouraged by some people of this world
The Lord Jesus Christ however, does not vacillate
He always does what he says, he doesn’t hesitate.
Humans can be fickle, changeable and waver
But there is much constancy in our Creator
He always follows through his promises
He never changes, he is always consistent.
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If there is anything more confusing, it is when people around you flip-flops or waver. James 1:6 warns us about having doubts. He says that when you ask him, be sure that your faith is in God alone. Do not waver, for a person with divided loyalty is as unsettled as a wave of the sea that is blown and tossed by the wind. When one wavers, nothing is accomplished. No growth is possible.
Indecision is another form of wavering. When we go back and forth on something, we won’t go anywhere. It is actually a tactic of the enemy to keep us from growing or progressing and from fulfilling our dreams. The bible describes God as a very consistent God. He never changes his mind or waver. He always follows through what he says and ensures that he fulfills his promises.
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PRAYER
Thank you Lord for being a consistent God.
REFLECTION
How can we protect ourselves from wavering?
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

GOD ISN’T FICKLE Poem Devotional

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September 24________________________________________
You may be asking why I changed my plan. Do you think I make my plans carelessly? Do you think I am like people of the world who say “Yes” when they really mean “No”?
– 2 Corinthians 1:17(NLT)
GOD ISN’T FICKLE
A poem and essay by ILMA
Some people change their minds often
They can be indecisive and not open
Humans make choices out of their comfort zones
God sees all and decides without hesitation.
God isn’t fickle like most people
He doesn’t waver, he is faithful
He means what he says and follows through
He never goes against his nature and the truth.
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The hardest thing to deal with is to be with an indecisive and inconsistent person. I once lived with someone who never wanted to make any decisions about things. When you ask him, he never gives you a straight answer. “I don’t know yet” or “We will see” are the replies I usually get from him. Because I was in a relationship with him, it was very hard to make plans because he wouldn’t want to get involved in it. I think he feared that his time will be compromised when he commits to something. He just wanted it all for his convenience. When he finally gives an answer and sees that someone is benefitting, he would take it back. The bible describes God as a very decisive and consistent person.
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PRAYER
Lord, please help all believers to take responsibility for their decisions and choices.
REFLECTION
How would you help someone who doesn’t make a choice or decision about anything?
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

DEPEND ON GOD’S GRACE Poem Devotional

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September 23________________________________________
We have depended on God’s grace not on our own human wisdom.
– 1 Corinthians 1:12(NLT)
DEPEND ON GOD’S GRACE
A poem and essay by ILMA
Do you do things on your own understanding?
As a believer, God wants your dependence on Him
To live a life for Christ is to depend on God’s grace
It is not doing things on your own strength.
God created all things and we only live by his grace
Without it, there will be chaos among the human race
Rely only on the mercy and faithfulness from Jesus
He loves you so much and considers you very precious.
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Many people have lived lives of independence and self-reliance. I know some Christians who are totally blind to God’s grace. The world system has corrupted them in thinking that they can apply some worldly concept in truth. I used to go to a church that didn’t understand the truth of depending on God’s grace. It was a performance based church that propagated showing off good deeds and being complacent with growing in the word of God. Some people even use the church to get their own agenda fulfilled. Sad to say that even some pastors and leaders fall into this trap.
The bible tells us that we need to depend on God’s grace and not on our own understanding. When we do things or make decisions, do we allow God’s grace to flow through it?________________________________________PRAYER
Lord, help me to live under your grace and not on my abilities.
REFLECTION
How can a believer be more aware of God’s grace?
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

RELY ONLY ON GOD Poem Devotional

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September 20________________________________________
We expected to die. But as a result, we stopped relying on ourselves and learned to rely only on God, who raises the dead. – 2 Corinthians 1:9(NLT)
RELY ONLY ON GOD
A poem and essay by ILMA
Are you a self-sufficient and independent person?
God created us so that we can emulate his Son
When we rely on our own strength and capacity
We are putting him aside and it is hard to have victory.
The Lord is the only person who can raise the dead
Why don’t we follow what his command and word says?
When we constantly rely only on God for everything
We give him honor that is deserving of the Lord Almighty.
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One of the easiest sin we can fall into is being independent. My father taught me how to be self-reliant and ensuring that I rely on my own strength and abilities rather than on others. It was a good thing because it made me a hard working person. On the downside, I had a tendency not to ask for help. I tried to figure out things on my own without relying on anyone. The problem with this is that I became proud of what I accomplish and it got into my head. I didn’t realize that the Lord wanted me to constantly depend on him for everything and anything. Paul said that when we learn to rely on God, a miracle is always possible.
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PRAYER
Lord, guard me from independence and self-sufficiency.
REFLECTION
Why do you think God wants us to depend on him for 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

COMFORT BRINGS ENDURANCE Poem Devotional

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September 19________________________________________
For when we ourselves are comforted, we will certainly comfort you. Then you can patiently endure the same things we suffer. – 2 Corinthians 1:6(NLT)
COMFORT BRINGS ENDURANCE
A poem and essay by ILMA
When we go through pain and misery
You may want be alone or long for company
Don’t feel discouraged, reach out to others
Comfort brings strength and patient endurance.
Don’t hesitate to give others comfort
In doing so, you are going to go forth
By being generous to others who need you
It manifests Christ’s presence and a life renewed.
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I grew up in the Philippines where there is much openness and hospitality. It is a good thing and yet it can be an issue with boundaries. Filipinos have an open door policy with friends, neighbors and relatives. Anyone can just drop in your doorstep and regardless of what one is doing, they welcome these visitors and guests. You don’t need an appointment or notification to go visit someone. Filipinos are also very good at comforting others especially the sick, the grieving and those who are going through adversities. When I came to Canada, it was totally different. I learned boundaries because not all people have open door policy. I became more respectful of giving hospitality and comfort. I learned to adjust to the difference in culture and traditions.
The bible says that when we are comforted, we will also receive comforting. It helps us endure our suffering.
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PRAYER
Lord, help me to be sensitive when I give comfort to others.
REFLECTION
Why do some people feel uncomfortable receiving comfort from 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

UPSIDE OF SUFFERING Poem Devotional

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September 18________________________________________
For the more we suffer for Christ, the more God will shower us with his comfort through Christ. – 2 Corinthians 1:5(NLT)
UPSIDE OF SUFFERING
A poem and essay by ILMA
Are you going through a series of suffering?
Fear not! God will shower you with blessings
He uses all kinds of trials so you can come to Him
He strengthens you through it so you can win over sin.
Don’t be discouraged when things are going wrong
Let it be a reminder how God will keep you strong
He will never allow anything beyond your limits
For you to thrive, He gave his Son and His Holy Spirit.
________________________________________Have you ever been bombarded with adversity like it was never going to be over? I experienced unending misery in my late twenties. My son was just born then when I was going through all these painful situations and being surrounded by constant rejection and persecution from others. Many years later, I realized what those rainfall of suffering did to me. It made me strong and closer to the Lord. It made me run to him and depend on him because there was no one else to rely on.
In the book of James, we are encouraged to be joyful when we encounter trials and suffering because it will give us a chance to grow our faith. The more we suffer for Christ, the more God will shower us his comfort through him.
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PRAYER
Lord, remind me to thank you even for the suffering that can bring me strength and endurance.
REFLECTION
Why do people usually avoid suffering?
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

MERCIFUL & COMFORTING GOD Poem Devotional

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September 17________________________________________
All praise to God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ. God is our merciful Father and the source of all comfort. – 2 Corinthians 1:3(NLT)
MERCIFUL & COMFORTING GOD
A poem and essay by ILMA
To the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ
May all praise be given to Him all your life
He is the only god who forgives you infinitely
Turn your focus on Him who can grant you mercy.
There is no other human who can give you comfort
Only the Father and the Son will bring you forth
Remember to rely only on him for your well-being
He is the only God who can provide for anything and everything.
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¬When my husband and I went through marriage counseling, we bumped into the book “How we Love” by Milan and Kay Yerkovich. Our counselor used this book to address our marriage issues. It mainly focused on the principles of how we love based on the love and we got from our first caregivers. The first thing we were asked was “How were you comforted as a child?” My husband and I apparently couldn’t answer the question or recall any situation when we were given comfort as far back in our childhood that we can remember. It was obvious that we weren’t able to be provided with it. Thus we learned to be independent and self-sufficient. The bible tells us the source of all comfort who is our merciful God.
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PRAYER
Lord, thank you for comforting me in my pain and grief.
REFLECTION
Why do you think comfort giving is becoming a novelty today?
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

PRIDE DECEIVES Poem Devotional

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September 16________________________________________
You have been deceived by your own pride. – Obadiah 1:3(NLT)
PRIDE DECEIVES
A poem and essay by ILMA
Whenever you allow pride to control your life
You are going to be deceived and lose insight
Pride is a sin that will bring about many more
It is like cancer; it brings you down to your core.
Give up this deadly disease or you’ll die
Look up the cross so you can see the light
Jesus died so you can be free from wickedness
Pride roots from evil and selfishness.
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One of the many generational sins that the Lord has freed me from these past six years was pride. It was prevalent in our family and manifests in many different ways. Ambition was one way it showed in our lives. My father and mother worked hard so they can show others that they are better than them. It was almost like competing with others and the more they become good at what they do, the more my parents would ensure that we can live up to their lifestyle. They set such high standards for their children that destroyed them in terms of relational skills. All of my siblings and I struggled very hard in keeping relationships because we were all set up to reach an unreachable and unrealistic standard. Pride has deceived many people and the more we cling to it, the more we feel empty inside.
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PRAYER
Lord, show me how to choose humility instead of my selfish ambitions.
REFLECTION
How can pride sneak in your life? What ways can it show?
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

FAMINE ON HEARING SCRIPTURES Poem Devotional

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September 15________________________________________
“The time is surely coming” says the Sovereign Lord, “when I will send a famine on the land-not a famine of bread or water but of hearing the words of the Lord.
– Amos 8:11(NLT)
FAMINE ON HEARING SCRIPTURES
A poem and essay by ILMA
There will come a time when people won’t hear Scriptures
People will be focused on satisfying their whims and pleasures
We may have all kinds wealth and all of material possessions
Do we seek God’s word, listen and engage in meditations?
There is a famine on being unable to hear God’s word
The prince of darkness has captured much of this world
What are you doing to ensure that Scriptures is heard?
Do you ensure that the Good News is preached?
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There is much chaos going on in our world today primarily because many people have turned their backs on the Lord and His word. How far do you think would anyone go without nourishment? They would starve and eventually die. So much poverty is prevalent in many parts or the world. Many children die from malnourishment and sickness. Some people get out in the mission field to help these people and ensure that they are not forgotten.
There is another famine that the prophet Amos was prophesying to us. He saw the vision that people will experience a poverty of hearing the truth that comes from the word of God. Isn’t this currently going on now?
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PRAYER
Lord, help me never to be deaf to your word.
REFLECTION
What makes people unable to hear the truth that comes from Scriptures?
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