Tag Archives: spoken word

A HEART FOR LEARNING Poem Devotional

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April 2________________________________________
It is senseless to educate a fool, since he has no heart for learning. -Proverbs 17:16(NLT)
A HEART FOR LEARNING
A poem and essay by ILMA
When you keep putting limits to your ability
You are missing out on discovering your full capacity
A wise person has openness to new things
A fool clings to old ways of doing and thinking.
It is senseless to educate a fool, they like resisting
Don’t waste your time or they will be arguing
The wise always keeps an open mind and heart
They hunger for explorations and getting a new start
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One of the joys of being a teacher is getting to know students who have the heart for learning. This is a novelty in our society today. We live in a world of information explosion. We are bombarded with many different views and it is not very easy to filter or monitor what we need to take in and throw out. There are much facts flying all over social media. We need to be wise to know which ones will benefit us or which ones will harm us. Those who are wise are like sponges, they hold all the things you teach them. The foolish are like rocks, you can not teach them anything because they are impenetrable. The bible says that it is useless to teach a fool because their stubbornness and pride keeps them from learning.
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PRAYER
Lord, show me how to be wise in your economy.
REFLECTION
What is the difference of knowledge and wisdom?
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

BENEFIT OF LOVING OTHERS Poem Devotional

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March 31________________________________________
We are confident that you are meant for better things, things that come with salvation. For God is not unjust. He will not forget how hard you have worked for him and how you have shown your love to him by caring for other believers. -Hebrews 6:9-10 (NLT)
BENEFIT OF LOVING OTHERS
A poem and essay by ILMA
The Lord created us for better things
He did not make us so we can wallow in sin
He will not forget if you work hard to love others
He will reward your faithfulness to your brothers.
God considers all his children very precious
He is fair and is very merciful and gracious
By caring for others, you prove that you love him
You will reap the fruits of his spirit and win over sin.
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When the apostles asked Jesus what the greatest commandment is, he summed it up in loving God above all and loving others as you love yourself. The Christian’s life must be focused on walking in love. Since God is love and we are all made in his image, our default setting is to love. This is probably why we get in trouble when we don’t love. Just like when you buy an appliance and you don’t follow the manual how to maximize it’s use, you may accidentally destroy it. But God promises us that if we love him through loving others, he will reward us.
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PRAYER
Lord, give me a generous and loving heart.
REFLECTION
What do you think is the reward that God has in store for those who love 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

ENTERING GOD’S REST Poem Devotional

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March 29________________________________________
For only we who believe can enter his rest. As for the others, God said: “In my anger I took an oath: They will never enter my place of rest” even though this rest has been ready since he made the world. -Hebrews 4:3(NLT)
ENTERING GOD’S REST
A poem and essay by ILMA
The Lord gave us rest since he made the world
He created the heavens and earth just by his word
He made different creatures and things each day
He rested one day, we ought to follow his way.
To enter God’s rest, we need to believe
When we rest, we begin to be free and receive
Without resting, we can’t see God’s grace and mercy
When we are too busy, we fail to see his goodness and glory.
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Have you ever worked so hard that at the end of the day, you just dropped wherever you were and slept? I remembered just recently that I had this experience. I got so busy that I forgot to make God my priority. I was so distracted with so many things and by the end of the day, I just slumped on the bed. I felt so tired. My mind still wanted to work, but my body couldn’t anymore.
We are invited daily to rest in God. Only by entering it can we show that we believe and trust that he is taking care of us.
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PRAYER
Lord, teach me how to enter your rest daily.
REFLECTION
Why is it important to take breaks and meditate on God’s goodness during the day?
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

HOW TO BE FREE FROM FEAR Poem Devotional

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March 27________________________________________
I prayed to the Lord and he answered me. He freed me from all my fears. -Psalm 34:4(NLT)
HOW TO BE FREE FROM FEAR
A poem and essay by ILMA
Are you afraid of someone or something?
Run to the Lord and keep on praying
If you listen to his truth, you will know
Believe and heed his commands in order to grow.
To be free from fear, you must focus on Christ
He alone can set you free and give you insight
Ask him to reveal to you the origin of your fear
He will bring to your recollection so very clear.
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Fear that is out of proportion can be very crippling. One of my fears was claustrophobia (fear of small spaces). It debilitated me so much that I hyperventilated and had panic attacks when I get into elevators. I was a worrier and always thought about the future and wanted to ensure that I provide a happy life for my son. I dreaded people rejecting me and was constantly out to seek approval. I was apprehensive of being a failure which led me to chase perfection at all cost. These fears totally incapacitated me for many decades. I followed all kinds of self-help books but they were all just temporary relief.
The bible tells us that if we run to the Lord and ask him to free us from our fears, he is faithful to do so.
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PRAYER
Lord, remind me to ask your help when I am fearful.
REFLECTION
What fears have God released you from?
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

MAN’S RESPONSIBILITY Poem Devotional

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March 25________________________________________
The heavens belong to the Lord, but he has given the earth to all humanity.
-Psalm 114:16(NLT)
MAN’S RESPONSIBILITY
A poem and essay by ILMA
When God made all creatures
He gave dominion for man to rule
The heavens belong to the Lord
But he gave man authority over the world.
All humans are responsible for the earth
They need to nurture it and constantly care
Without taking ownership, it will deteriorate
Without love, this world will disintegrate.
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One of the skills needed to succeed in running a theater performance is to delegate to others some of the things that you cannot all simultaneously do. As a stage manager for over two decades, I learned to hold others responsible for some things. I can’t do it all. Just like any other managers in any other field or sector, one has to be the leader. When there is no leader, there is chaos because everyone will try to assume roles that are not theirs. Boundaries are essential in relationships because if there are no set parameters, there will be overlapping and conflicts.
The bible tells us that the Lord owns everything, yet he gave mankind dominion over all creatures in the world. Because he created man in his image, he is well aware that all man possesses all that he has. So, he made humans rule over all things here on earth. Are we taking responsibility for the authority God gave us?
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PRAYER
Lord, show me how to be a godly leader and steward?
REFLECTION
Why do you think God gave humans the authority over all creation?
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

UNGRATEFUL Poem devotional

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March 24________________________________________
I trained them and made them strong, yet now they plot evil against me. They look everywhere except to the Most High. – Hosea 7:15-16(NLT)
UNGRATEFUL
A poem and essay by ILMA
Look around you and see how much blessings you got?
The enemy doesn’t want you to see it, that’s his plot
You were freed from sin when Jesus died on the cross
He gave you life so you won’t go astray or be lost.
Are you giving the Lord tribute for all his gifts?
Do you get consumed by life or do you always seek him?
Be thankful for every little thing you have received
It will please the Lord if you continue to praise and believe.
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Don’t you find it offensive if someone you have mentored and developed into a skilled person is actually plotting evil against you? They never give you credit, instead they ignore you. This is exactly the case of God against the Israelites. He brought them to the Promised Land and delivered them from harm and the Egyptians, yet, they turned against him and never thanked him for all that he did for them. If you are a parent, you could probably sympathize with God’s reaction. In fact, parents often pose very high expectations on their children and assume that they will be grateful for all the things they do for them. So, why can’t we give the same gratitude to God?
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PRAYER
Lord, always convict me when I forget to thank you.
REFLECTION
How can gratitude change a person’s attitude?
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

UNGRACIOUS Poem Devotional

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March 23________________________________________
I myself taught Israel how to walk, leading him along by the hand. But he doesn’t’ know or even care that it was I who took care of him. -Hosea 11:3(NLT)
UNGRACIOUS
A poem and essay by ILMA
Are you someone who is thankful?
Are you gracious enough to be grateful?
The Lord God gave us much blessings
Do we take time to give him thanksgiving?
When we do not care about his faithfulness
We will miss out on his gift of fruitfulness
Don’t be ungracious for he has given us all
Ingratitude will lead us to constantly fall.
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Gracious is defined as courteous, kind and pleasant. The opposite of being gracious is an entitled attitude, tactless and rude. How do you react to ungrateful and tactless people? Don’t you just want to stay away from them? You would on the other hand always want to be with gracious and kind people, won’t you?
When I became a born again Christian, God replaced all whiny and entitled people in my life with a bounty of gracious Christians. It is just such a joy to be with those who do not live in resistance and conflicts. Ingratitude can usually be detected easily. Ungrateful people live very difficult lives and don’t have much blessings. They live bitter lives and always want to take control. The Lord calls us to be gracious and grateful because it hurts him when we are uncaring.
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PRAYER
Lord, thank you for giving me a heart like yours.
REFLECTION
How can you live a grateful 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

THE MORE I CALL, THE FARTHER THEY MOVED Poem Devotional

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March 22________________________________________
But the more I called to him, the farther he moved from me, offering sacrifices to the images of Baal and burning incense to idols. – Hosea 11:2(NLT)
THE MORE I CALL, THE FARTHER THEY MOVED
A poem and essay by ILMA
Do you hear God’s voice calling you back to him?
Are you heeding his call or are you stuck in sin?
When God calls some people moved farther away
They choose to live in bondage and continue to stray.
Why don’t his followers stay faithful and true?
Why do we usually choose to stay in trouble and rue?
Follow the voice that comes from God’s nudging
It will bring victory over the enemy’s tempting
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Why did the Israelites choose to turn their backs on God after they were delivered and brought to the Promised Land? It sounds like the relationship between a parent and a rebellious child. The more parents ask them to obey, the more they rebel, just like the more God called the Israelites to him, the farther away they moved from him. They defied God instead and offered sacrifices to the images of Baal, another pagan god and burned incense to idols. They knew that the very first commandment that God asked from them to obey is not to have any other gods before him but to love him above all. So, they deliberately followed the spirit of rebellion and idolatry.
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PRAYER
Lord, deliver me from any idols that I have carved for myself and other gods.
REFLECTION
What kind of idols today do we worship that we are unaware of?
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

DON’T SLIP BACK

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March 21________________________________________
So you must live as God’s obedient children. Don’t slip back into your old ways of living to satisfy your own desires. You didn’t know any better then. But now you must be holy in everything you do, just as God who chose you is holy. – 1 Peter 1:14-15NLT)
DON’T SLIP BACK
A poem and essay by ILMA
When you have been touched by God’s grace
Don’t slip back into your old worldly ways
You were blind and didn’t know any better then
You were lost and now you’re found and unbent.
You didn’t know the truth before but now you must be holy
You need to give your whole being to the Lord fully
Don’t slip back or you open doors for the enemy
Live and obey God’s commands to gain victory.
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There were many years of my life that was wasted on slipping back and forth to my old ways and old stinking thinking. I would obey and then I would rebel. It was wavering faith that hindered my spiritual growth. It delayed many blessings and fruits of the Spirit. I made it impossible for God to do miracles in my life when I didn’t totally trust him.
The bible says that we must live as obedient children and not slip back into our old ways that focused much on self-preservation. Now that we are born again, we need to chose to live a holy life.
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PRAYER
Lord, help me to never waver in my faith.
REFLECTION
How can obedience contribute to growing your faith?
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 CRITICISM Poem Devotional

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March 20________________________________________
Don’t speak evil against each other, dear brothers and sisters. If you criticize and judge each other, then you are criticizing and judging God’s law. But your job is to obey the law, not to judge whether it applies to you. – James 4:11(NLT)
ON CRITICISM
A poem and essay by ILMA
When was the last time you judged or criticized?
Did you realize it was wrong; did you apologize?
Don’t speak evil against one another
You are all made into the image of your Father.
When you find fault with another person
You are judging God’s law with human reason
Obey the law and you will be free from judgment
God gave you these commands for your atonement.
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Criticism is defined as the expression of disapproval of someone or something based on perceived faults or mistakes. Notice the word “perceived” in the definition? The one judging is actually applying his perception to the person’s behavior. Perception is usually colored by beliefs, experiences, culture and traditions. When you start thinking that someone’s behavior or attitude. You see it in the light of your own belief system and experiences. It is not necessarily true.
The bible cautions us on criticizing or judging others. We are all made in God’s image, so when we judge others, we are actually judging God himself. Our duty is to obey the commands set by God, not to justify ourselves and find fault in others.
PRAYER
Lord, deliver me from a critical spirit.
REFLECTION
What should you do when you feel the urge to judge someone?
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