Tag Archives: spoken word

ANTIDOTE TO CRAVINGS Poem Devotional

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March 15
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So I say, let the Holy Spirit guide your lives Then you won’t be doing what your sinful nature craves. -Galatians 5:16(NLT)
ANTIDOTE TO CRAVINGS
A poem and essay by ILMA
It is human to have cravings
It is divine to be led by the Spirit
Let God’s Spirit guide your life
It is the antidote to all your desires.
Believe that Jesus died to grant you victory
You have the power to overcome the enemy
Have a connection with God and you will hear his voice
Stay faithful to Jesus, it benefits you and never comes void.
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Some people are addicted to chocolates. I love fruits, and I can crave for them almost anytime. Though they are good for my body, I should also watch out that I take it in moderation or I will have to suffer the consequence of not being able to control my longings. One of the fruits of the Spirit is self-control. A fruit is only harvested if the seed of that fruit was sowed. Self-control doesn’t happen in an instant. It is a result of cooperating with God’s will. We can’t discipline ourselves on our own because only the Holy Spirit can grant the grace to allow you to harvest his fruits. The bible tells us that the antidote to cravings is listening and being aware of what the Holy Spirit is guiding you to do. We can stifle him when we disobey and rebel.
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PRAYER
Lord, always guide me to follow your lead.
REFLECTION
How do you know if the spirit you hear is from 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

VICTORY THROUGH CHRIST Poem Devotional

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March 14
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Despite all these things, overwhelming victory is ours through Christ who loved us.
– Romans 8:37(NLT)
VICTORY THROUGH CHRIST
A poem and essay by ILMA
When you believe in the Lord Jesus Christ
Trials may come, but you’ll win and thrive in life
Despite what may seemingly be overwhelming
Don’t lose hope for victory is beaming.
Keep growing your faith and you will behold victory
The battle was already won by the blood of Jesus
Seek the only true God who can grant salvation
Jesus leads the way to victory over temptations.
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I used to bicycle at least 30-60 kilometers daily. It was almost fifteen straight years that I did it. I joined a national bicycle competition in my forties and was the only woman in the 300 cyclists run in the Philippines on our Independence day celebration. I just had a bike accident before the contest so I wanted to overcome my fear of riding again. Those men who competed were in their teens up to their thirties. I was in my early forties. I wanted to see how I’d survived the many other cyclists beside me in a velodrome set up. We needed to finish 50 laps and I did over half of that. I may not have won the contest, but I was victorious to overcome my fear and age factor. When we discipline ourselves to be devoted to seek Jesus faithfully, victory is not far.
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PRAYER
Thank you that I can be victorious when I abide in you.
REFLECTION
Why do some Christians fail to be victorious in their trials and sufferings?
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

LIVE IN CHRIST’S AUTHORITY Poem Devotional

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March 13
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And when I forgive whatever needs to be forgiven, I do so with Christ’s authority for your benefit, so that Satan will not outsmart us. For we are familiar with his evil schemes.
– 2 Corinthians 2:10-11(NLT)
LIVE IN CHRIST’S AUTHORITY
A poem and essay by ILMA
When we commit our lives to Christ
We receive his grace in our new life
We can only forgive when his spirit allows
We have no power if we don’t praise him and bow.
Live in the authority that Christ gave you
Don’ live in the old for you are already made new
Obedience to God’s will exposes Satan’s schemes
He will no longer be able to tempt us to sin.
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Some believers still find it difficult to forgive. I think one of the reasons why they struggle with granting forgiveness is because they don’t quite grasp the unfathomable love of God for all his children. Their views may have been influenced by their unpleasant experiences with authority figures and caregivers.
One of the ways we can keep the enemy away in our lives is through obedience and seeking God’s word and his will. Once we meditate on his words day and night, we will begin to comprehend why obedience is vital to growth. When we rebel, we miss out the promises he gave us and open doors for the enemy to plot against us. Let us declare the authority we have in Christ Jesus.
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PRAYER
Lord, thank you for the authority you have over my life.
REFLECTION
How can we exercise the authority of Christ especially in unpleasant circumstances?
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

THE WAY OF THE LORD Poem Devotional

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March 12
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The way of the Lord is a stronghold to those with integrity, but it destroys the wicked.
– Proverbs 10:29(NLT)
THE WAY OF THE LORD
A poem and essay by ILMA
Have you been following the way of the Lord?
If you haven’t, you will struggle in this world
God’s path is a stronghold for those with integrity
It destroys the wicked and all the tactics of the enemy.
There is power if you follow Jesus’ lead
He is always there to help and intercede
Only Jesus will lead us to eternal life
Follow him and you will never lose sight.
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It was a custom in the Philippines to do the Stations of the cross on Good Friday. Parishioners go through 12 stations depicting the various events that led to the cross. In some regions, some penitents willingly experience Jesus’ suffering themselves, from being whipped or lashed on the back (by himself or by others) to carrying the cross, and even up to being tied or nailed to the cross. The church is in a state of mourning after Jesus’ death. While this may sound “holy”, What is really in the hearts of believers? Do they receive the free life they have as a result Jesus’ sacrifice on the cross? Are they transformed by the renewal of their minds?
The way of the Lord focuses on following Christ’s example of a holy and righteous life through obedience and humility.
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PRAYER
Lord, guide me to follow your obedient and humble heart.
REFLECTION
How come the “wicked” are destroyed by the Lord’s ways?
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

WHY INVITE PUNISHMENT? Poem Devotional

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March 11
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Why do you continue to invite punishment? Must you rebel forever? Your head is injured and your heart is sick. – Isaiah 1:5(NLT)
WHY INVITE PUNISHMENT?
A poem and essay by ILMA
When you turn your back on Christ
You are surely endangering your life
When you rebel, you are inviting punishment
Lawlessness deprives you of God’s promises.
Confess and repent your disobedience
You must learn to give up resentment
Why do you live in chastisement?
Choose God and you will have enlightenment.
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Have you ever invited someone in your home who is totally opposed to your beliefs? In the past, I had many friends who were unbelievers and even those who claimed they were Christians, didn’t actually practice and obey God’s will and commands. It didn’t matter to me what they were before because I wasn’t born again that time. When the Lord freed me from all my strongholds and invited me to live a free life, I accepted it. Through the power of the Holy Spirit, I got convicted of rebellion. It was one of those strongholds that I inherited from my family. Almost the majority of my relatives were rebels in one way or another. There were those that defied their parents, others lived promiscuous lives. Some were always arguing with authority.
The bible tells us how the Lord warned the Israelites to stop rebelling for it invites punishment in their lives.
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PRAYER
Lord, deliver me from any form of rebellion.
REFLECTION
Why do you think rebellion opens door for 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

UNRECOGNIZED Poem Devotional

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March 10
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My people don’t recognize my care for them. – Isaiah 1:3(NLT)
UNRECOGNIZED
A poem and essay by ILMA
Are you able to show appreciation for your blessings?
When you count them, you are praising him
Take time to look at the flowers and smell them
God made creation so you will remember him.
He is there whether you are having a good or bad day
He rescues all those who love him in every way
He grants your requests and provide for your needs
Do you praise him and do you constantly believe?
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When children reach their teen years, they sometimes pull away from the parents. They can be vulnerable in their search for identity if they get into the wrong company. For the first 13 years of my son’s life, we were very close and open with each other. I was a single parent and we were inseparable. By the time he was 11, he started rebelling and did his best to stay away from me. He did the opposite of what we used to do, praising the Lord and praying to him daily. I didn’t realize that was going on but after his father died, I found out that his own father was teaching him the ways of the world and contradicting all the values I taught him. It was that time that he didn’t recognize my love for him. Sometimes our heavenly father may feel the same way with us.
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PRAYER
Lord, remind me to always focus on your love for me.
REFLECTION
How can you consciously know how much God loves you?
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

SEARCH AND YOU’LL FIND Poem Devotional

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March 9
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I love all who love me. Those who search will surely find me. – Proverbs 8:17(NLT)
SEARCH AND YOU’LL FIND
A poem and essay by ILMA
When you seek the Lord with all your heart
You will find him, he will stay and never depart
He loves all those who love faithfully seek him
He shows himself to them and grants them peace.
Whenever you hunger for knowing Jesus
You will know that he considers you very precious
Search and you will find, ask and it will be given
If you follow his will, you’ll have a taste of heaven.
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Have you ever lost something and had a hard time finding it? Many times I struggle to remember where I put something. I am usually a very organized person but when I get overwhelmed with “busy-ness” and lack of sleep, I fail to have a mind that is clear and focused.
The bible tells us that God is love and that he loves us all. Proverbs 8:17 gives us more reassurance that when we search or seek him, he will show himself to us. Though God loves us unconditionally, he also rewards those who faithfully loves him and manifest their devotion by hungering for him and having a personal relationship with him and the people around them. How many times did we fail to see the Lord’s will in our lives because we were so busy chasing other things instead of seeking him?
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PRAYER
Lord, help me prioritize you first in all that I do.
REFLECTION
How come some believers struggle knowing their purpose in life?
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

TRUTH IS SIMPLE AND CLEAR Poem Devotional

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March 8
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My words are plain to anyone with understanding, clear to those with knowledge.
– Proverbs 8:9(NLT)
TRUTH IS SIMPLE AND CLEAR
A poem and essay by ILMA
The word of God is truth
It frees us from what is untrue
Truth is simple, clear and not complex
It brings us freedom and is never fuzzy.
Scriptures is plain to those with understanding
It is vague to the lawless and those living in sin.
Truth exposes lies and sets a person free
Sin makes us blind and bound to slavery.
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Some people find it hard to read the bible and get something out of it. One of the reasons they fail to benefit from Scriptures, is because they are treating it like any other ordinary book. They fail to see that it extraordinary and has life in itself. 2 Timothy 3:16 tells us that all Scriptures is God-breathed and is there to guide us, teach us, correct us when we do wrong and provide a way out. In other words, it is like a map so that we can navigate effectively this corrupt world. Since it is unlike any other book, it should be read differently. It is through God’s word that we learn more about the character of God and how he wants us to live. He reveals to us many things in this powerful book. Only those who seek him will hear his voice and will understand it.
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PRAYER
Lord, let your Holy Spirit never depart from my heart and mind.
REFLECTION
Why do you think it is hard for unbelievers to comprehend 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

CHOOSE PEACE OVER CONFLICT Poem Devotional

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March 6
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Don’t pick a fight without reason, where no one has done you harm. -Proverbs 3:30(NLT)
CHOOSE PEACE OVER CONFLICT
A poem and essay by ILMA
A true believer pursues peace at all times
Conflicts or arguments, he doesn’t find
When someone has done you wrong
Pray and gently confront the person.
Don’t pick a fight without reason
Jesus will never overreact to treason
He kept silent instead of retaliating
He chose peace over all kinds of fighting.
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Psalm 34:14 asks us to turn from evil and do good, to seek peace and pursue it. Hebrews 12:14 says that we must make every effort to live in peace with everyone and to be holy.
Romans 14:19 tells us to aim for harmony in the church and try to build each other up. James 3:18 states that those who are peacemakers will plant seeds of peace and reap a harvest of righteousness. Why do you think God asks us to choose peace over conflict?
In English, the word peace means an absence of civil disturbance or hostilities or a personality free from internal or external strife. The bible meaning of peace is deeper than this English definition. The Hebrew root “slm” means to be complete or whole or to be well. No wonder we are commanded to pursue it. Peace is not just a passive result of not having conflicts. It is a state of wholeness that God wants us to always be experiencing.
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PRAYER
Lord, show me whenever my peace is being compromised.
REFLECTION
How can a person literally pursue peace on a daily basis?
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

EXUDE YOUR LIGHT Poem Devotional

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March 4
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Let your light shine for all to see. For the glory of the Lord rises to shine in you.
– Isaiah 60:1(NLT)
EXUDE YOUR LIGHT
A poem and essay by ILMA
When you exude the light that comes from Christ
Your heavenly Father is going to transform your life
Let your light shine for all the people to see
It will glorify your Lord and he will set you free.
Darkness can never hide in God’s light
He exposes all evil as he shines so bright
Radiate your love for it will bring many to Christ
Jesus’ radiance manifests in all of believers’ lives.
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I’ve been a photographer for almost three decades now. The camera lens consists of one or more precisely shaped pieces of glass or plastic called elements. Its main function is to focus and direct the incoming light. The light coming through the elements is “bent” or directed to the image sensor where the information about the light is captured
The camera lens is an extremely important part of the camera. That is because the type of lens and the quality of the lens being used will contribute greatly to the sharpness and overall appearance of the picture.
I’d like to compare the role of light in producing great pictures through the lens. Just like how important light is in photography, we also need to exude God’s light so we can affect other’s lives and make a difference.
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PRAYER
Lord, help me to always exude your light to everyone I meet.
REFLECTION
How can a believer exude God’s light in practical ways?
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