April 9________________________________________
But if you favor some people over others, you are committing a sin. You are guilty of breaking the law. – James 2:9(NLT)
THE SIN OF PREJUDICE
A poem and essay by ILMA
God created all men differently but equal
He is patient with us and he is always loyal
He doesn’t prefer someone else over another
He wants us to love all of our sisters and brothers.
If you have a prejudice over the weak or the poor
You are guilty of breaking the law, you are a fool
When you favor someone else over another
You are sinning against God and your neighbors.
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When I came to Canada, I never thought I would experience prejudice just because I came from Asia. Moving to a small town with thirty thousand people and with a majority of Caucasians, posed a challenge for me during the first eight years of my move here. In 2004, I would say that there might have been only a handful of Asians or Black people here, probably not even a hundred out of that population. I wasn’t even aware of it at the beginning, but then as months passed by, I encountered hostile looks, being treated like you are stupid and can’t understand them. Some did silent mockery by minimizing your capacity and skills or not giving you an opportunity to get the good job positions. The bible says that it is a sin to have prejudice over others.
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PRAYER
Lord, please help me never to mistreat anyone or be biased or judged someone different from me.
REFLECTION
Why does God hate prejudice?
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
Tag Archives: spoken word
IF YOU FAVOR SOME OVER OTHERS Poem Devotional
April 8________________________________________
My dear brothers and sisters, how can you claim to have faith in our glorious Lord Jesus Christ if you favor some people over others? – James 2:1(NLT)
IF YOU FAVOR SOME OVER OTHERS
A poem and essay by ILMA
The Lord made us in his own likeness
We can all live like him in righteousness
He wants us to love all our sisters and brothers
So, don’t favor someone else over others.
If you give preference to someone over another
You are doubting God’s creation and character
If you are a believer in our glorious Jesus
You will treat everyone as very precious.
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When God created the first man and woman, he patterned them in his own image. Let’s not forget that we are all seen by God equally. He is a fair and just God and he is not impartial to anyone. He loves all people. In Romans 5:8, he proved that he immensely loves us all. He sent his one and only Son while we were still sinners. God may hate the sins that we engage in, but he always loves the person he created. He is patient with all of us and can understand where we are all coming from. He gives grace and mercy equally to all but he will never force us to do what he says. The book of James challenges us to look into the issue of giving favor to some over others.
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PRAYER
Lord, help me never to give preference to others over another person.
REFLECTION
What do you think is the source of favoritism or discrimination?
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
GET UP AND WALK! Poem Devotional
April 6________________________________________
But Peter said, “I don’t have any silver or gold for you. But I’ll give you what I have. In the name of Jesus Christ, the Nazarene, get up and walk!” -Acts 3:6(NLT)
GET UP AND WALK!
poem and essay by ILMA
When you fail and everything seems dreary
Get up and walk towards Christ; don’t get weary.
He will do the impossible if you will only believe
So why not step up in faith, and openly receive.
When you are given the gift of healing
Share it to free others from all kinds of illness
Jesus is the greatest of all healers
Go to him, get up and accept your miracle.
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I grew up with many illnesses. I had constant headaches, tonsillitis, tuberculosis before I reached ten years old. When I was in my twenties, I had ulcers, terrible migraines and kidney stones. By the time I was in my thirties, I had hepatitis A, anemia, hypokalemia, mild scoliosis and the migraines were so severe that I would be hospitalized for several days. By the time I turned forty, I was diagnosed with asthma and emphysema, carpal tunnel syndrome, and arthritis. In my fifties, I had post traumatic stress disorder, panic attacks, vertigo, high blood pressure was borderline diabetic and heel pains.
When I became born again, I began to ask the Lord to heal all these diseases with his blood and he reminded me to get up and receive healing.
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PRAYER
Lord, thank you for your healing powers.
REFLECTION
What has the Lord recently healed you with?¬¬
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 LORD IS YOUR ANCHOR Poem Devotional
April 5________________________________________
I see that the LORD is always with me. I will not be shaken, for he is right beside me. No wonder my heart is glad, and my tongue shouts his praises! My body rests in hope.
-Acts 2:25-26(NLT)
THE LORD IS YOUR ANCHOR
A poem and essay by ILMA
When you go through trials and suffering
It may seem hopeless and debilitating
Remember that the Lord is your anchor
He is right there, reach out and be humble.
Do not be shaken, instead, your hope in him
If you rely on Jesus, you will eventually win
He is worth all of your praise and worship
Run to him when challenges start to creep.
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An anchor is a device, normally made of metal, used to connect a vessel to the bed of a body of water to prevent the craft from drifting due to wind or current. Anchors achieve holding power either by “hooking” into the seabed, via sheer mass, or a combination of the two. The purpose of an anchor is to give a stability and steadiness to the ship or boat. Just like how the anchor functions for vessels, the Lord Jesus Christ acts as the same for all of us who hooks up to him. The more weight and baggage we carry; the more stability Christ will give us. When life’s storms come, make sure that you are anchored on him ever so tightly.
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PRAYER
Lord, thank you for being my anchor during life’s challenges.
REFLECTION
How can we maintain a dependency on Jesus regularly?
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 POURS SPIRIT ON LAST DAYS Poem Devotional
April 3________________________________________
In the last days, God says, “I will pour out my Spirit upon all people. Your sons and daughters will prophesy. Your young men will see visions, and your old men will dream dreams. – Acts 2:17(NLT)
GOD POURS SPIRIT ON LAST DAYS
A poem and essay by ILMA
When you hear many Christians prophecy
God is pouring his Spirit to all he has assigned
Young men will see visions, old men will have dreams
While others who don’t believe, will live in fear.
On the last days, God will watch upon all people
He wants all to be saved, and no one falling
His mercy and love abound especially these last days
Watch out that you are able to receive his bountiful grace.
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Have you ever wondered what it would be like on the last days? Revelations 21:8 gives us a clear picture of what will happen to unbelievers, cowards, the corrupt, murderers, immoral and those who practice witchcraft, idolaters and liars. Their fate is in the fiery lake of burning sulfur. It is quite scary to think if you are among these enumerated in this verse.
Luke on the other hand, talks in the book of Acts of the Apostles about how the Lord will pour out his Spirit on all people. How sons and daughters of those who were listening to the apostle Paul will prophesy, see visions and how the elder men will dream dreams.
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PRAYER
Lord, help me to stay faithful to you until the end of days.
REFLECTION
Why is it important to stay faithful to the Lord always?
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 MY HEART LORD Poem Devotional
April 1________________________________________
O Lord, you know every heart. – Acts 1:24(NLT)
SEARCH MY HEART LORD
A poem and essay by ILMA
O Lord, you know everyone’s heart
Will you search mine and set it apart?
Let me only have righteous intentions
Convict me so I won’t give in to temptations.
Grant me a hunger to always seek your truth
Change my mind and heart so I can be renewed
Don’t allow me to be corrupted by this world
Let me always be guided by your holy word.
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How often would you let someone see you inside and out, without masks? Many people are afraid to get closer to others because they are scared that they will be exposed and others will see their weaknesses, faults and flaws. I am thankful that I am not afraid to be seen by others regardless of how much I fall short of God’s glory. The bible tells us that God allows us to experience these “thorns in the flesh” because he is honing us and refining us to be strong we can do what he has planned for us.
King David was known for a person who was after God’s heart. He was obsessed with getting closer to the Lord and he constantly leaned on him for everything. Despite his frailties and sins, the Lord chose him to be the root where the lineage of Jesus originated. Ask God to search your heart.
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PRAYER
Lord, let me never be afraid to be convicted by your Spirit if I have done wrong.
REFLECTION
How can we strengthen our desire to have our hearts changed righteously?
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
GET WISDOM AND LOVE UNDERSTANDING Poem Devotional
March 31________________________________________
To acquire wisdom is to love yourself; people who cherish understanding will prosper.
– Proverbs 19:8(NLT)
GET WISDOM AND LOVE UNDERSTANDING
A poem and essay by ILMA
Whenever you acquire wisdom, you are loving yourself
It brings you to a point where you’ll get help
People who cherish understanding will prosper
It will bring about healthy relationships with others.
Get as much wisdom as you can from God’s word
Scriptures is the fountain of knowledge and it is a sword
The word of God is alive and it guides and teaches what is true
Feed and meditate on it day and night and you will know truth.
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There is so much time wasted when people just do things without consulting the word of God. We usually end up in circles and life becomes a puzzle when we rely on our own human understanding. If we constantly ask God’s guidance by feeding on his truth and following it, we become equipped to navigate this world more successfully. But how come, a lot of people and sometimes even believers take for granted the benefits of seeking God and his word?
Because of our sin nature, we automatically want to do things on our own and when we do not put on our new nature in Christ consciously, we become prey to the tactics of the devil. Proverbs says that when we get wisdom and understanding, it shows that we love ourselves and become prosperous.
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PRAYER
Lord, help me to always consult you for wisdom.
REFLECTION
Cite an instance how has God showered you with his knowledge and understanding.
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
ON FEAR AND HOPE Poem Devotional
March 30________________________________________
The fears of the wicked will be fulfilled; the hopes of the godly will be granted.
-Proverbs 10:24(NLT)
ON FEAR AND HOPE
A poem and essay by ILMA
When evil people fear, it materializes
To constantly live in fear usually immobilizes
The hopes of the godly will be realized
When one focuses on the good, they can visualize.
Love casts away all kinds of fear
Walking in love makes fear disappear
Hope is believing when you don’t see
It is an expectation of what will be soon real.
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Most fear is a result of a traumatic experience either consciously or sub-consciously. The bible tells us in 1 John 4:18 that there is no fear in love. Love and fear cannot co-exist. When you fear, you are not living in love. Many people think that the opposite of love is hate, but it is actually fear. The antidote to fear is to love and to focus on the promises of God, so hope can bloom.
The bible says that the fears of the wicked are fulfilled but the hopes of the godly will be granted. The righteous people are given protection against fear. Even in times of fear, they still choose to believe and hope that God does everything for the good of those how love him. They cling to the promises even if they don’t see it yet.
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PRAYER
Thank you for giving us hope in your word.
REFLECTION
How can you overcome a fear that consistently comes up?
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 PROFIT OF WISDOM Poem Devotional
March 28________________________________________
Wisdom will multiply your days and add years to your life. -Proverbs 9:11(NLT)
THE PROFIT OF WISDOM
A poem and essay by ILMA
When you do not meditate on God’s word
You will struggle to navigate this world
The word of God is the source of all knowledge
Without it, you will be at a big disadvantage.
Wisdom will multiply your days and prolong your life
It will give you prudence to do what is right
When you rely on God’s true wisdom
You will have no fear and live in total freedom.
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There are people who go through life like they are actually dead. They have no awareness of where they are going or what their purpose in life is. They do not have dreams or visions of a bigger life. They are spiritually dead and have lost sight of what is important in their lives.
I have met a few people who are over ninety years old. Most of these people I’ve met who lived this long exhibits a certain wisdom. They have many stories to tell about how their lives was stretched to last that long. A common theme with these people is their wisdom and love for their God.
The bible tells us the profit of wisdom. It multiplies the number of your days and add years to your life. How come, many people do not take advantage of this benefit?
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PRAYER
Lord, please let me always walk in your wisdom.
REFLECTION
How do you think wisdom can prolong a person’s 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
EMBRACE WISDOM & INSIGHT
March 27________________________________________
Love wisdom like a sister; make insight a beloved member of your family.
-Proverbs 7:4(NLT)
EMBRACE WISDOM & INSIGHT
A poem and essay by ILMA
When you embrace wisdom in your life
You’ll thrive over struggles and never lose sight
When you have an insight to God’s goodness
He will lead you to walk in his righteousness.
Embrace insight and love wisdom like a sister
When you invite them, they will make your life better
Have a dose of wisdom and understanding from Jesus
Be intimate with him and he’ll show you how to be righteous.
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Family is an integral part of a person’s life. A family can make or break a person. You may choose to leave your family if they are toxic but you can never change the fact that you are part of them. Our family is our root or foundation. If the family is not anchored on Jesus, they will not be firmly standing through all the trials and adversities in life. On the other hand, if your family is fixed on living a life for Christ, you will be blessed with favors and gifts from the Lord himself.
The bible tells us to embrace wisdom and insight like a beloved member of our family. By doing so, we will be guided accordingly when we encounter difficulties and challenging circumstances in our lives. The absence of it makes us an easy prey to the enemy.
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PRAYER
Lord, thank you for your wisdom and giving us insight how to live our lives.
REFLECTION
How is wisdom a main ingredient in a victorious Christian 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








