Tag Archives: spoken word

GENESIS 9 THE CURSE OF NOAH OVER CANAAN

Posted on by

November 16

GENESIS 9

18 The sons of Noah who went forth from the ark were Shem, Ham, and Japheth. (Ham was the father of Canaan.) 19 These three were the sons of Noah, and from these the people of the whole earth were dispersed. 20 Noah began to be a man of the soil, and he planted a vineyard.21 He drank of the wine and became drunk and lay uncovered in his tent. 22 And Ham, the father of Canaan, saw the nakedness of his father and told his two brothers outside. 23 Then Shem and Japheth took a garment, laid it on both their shoulders, and walked backward and covered the nakedness of their father. Their faces were turned backward, and they did not see their father’s nakedness. 24 When Noah awoke from his wine and knew what his youngest son had done to him, 25 he said,

“Cursed be Canaan; a servant of servants shall he be to his brothers.” 26 He also said,

“Blessed be the Lord, the God of Shem; and let Canaan be his servant. 27 May God enlarge Japheth, and let him dwell in the tents of Shem, and let Canaan be his servant.”

28 After the flood Noah lived 350 years. 29 All the days of Noah were 950 years, and he died. – Genesis 9:18-29

GENESIS 9 THE CURSE OF NOAH OVER CANAAN

A poem inspired by these verses by ILMA

After the flood, Noah and his sons followed through God’s mandate

Noah began to be busy with toiling the soil and planted a vineyard

One day, he became drunk with the wine that he harvested

And Ham, one of his sons saw him naked but did nothing.

Shem and Japheth, seeing their father without clothing

The two brothers got a garment to cover their father’s nakedness

They were very careful not to look at their father’s exposed body

Noah upon learning what happened gave a curse to Canaan, Ham’s son.

In our modern day, we would be confused by Noah’s reaction to Canaan seeing his grandfather’s naked body. In some commentaries, it was explained that Canaan neglecting to cover him up was a mockery of his authority. So, it wasn’t just mockery but a form of disrespect and insubordination to his grandfather’s elderly role over him. There was also a mention in the comments that when we get drunk, we are susceptible to abuse.

REFLECTION

  • What is our biggest lesson in these following verses?

GENESIS 9 THE RAINBOW IS A REMINDER OF GOD’S PROMISE

Posted on by

November 15

GENESIS 9

8 Then God said to Noah and to his sons with him, 9 “Behold, I establish my covenant with you and your offspring after you, 10 and with every living creature that is with you, the birds, the livestock, and every beast of the earth with you, as many as came out of the ark; it is for every beast of the earth. 11 I establish my covenant with you, that never again shall all flesh be cut off by the waters of the flood, and never again shall there be a flood to destroy the earth.” 12 And God said, “This is the sign of the covenant that I make between me and you and every living creature that is with you, for all future generations: 13 I have set my bow in the cloud, and it shall be a sign of the covenant between me and the earth. 14 When I bring clouds over the earth and the bow is seen in the clouds, 15 I will remember my covenant that is between me and you and every living creature of all flesh. And the waters shall never again become a flood to destroy all flesh. 16 When the bow is in the clouds, I will see it and remember the everlasting covenant between God and every living creature of all flesh that is on the earth.” 17 God said to Noah, “This is the sign of the covenant that I have established between me and all flesh that is on the earth.”  – Genesis 9:8-17

GENESIS 9 THE RAINBOW IS A REMINDER OF GOD’S PROMISE

A poem inspired by these verses by ILMA

As the Lord continue to mandate Noah and his sons after the flood

He continually reminds them of the covenant he makes with them

As a sign to solidify that promise, God gave them the rainbow

Each time that bow is set in the cloud, it will remind them of that vow.

God told them that he will never again bring a flood to destroy all flesh

And since God is a promise keeper, he wants us to remember that vow

Let us then think of that assurance from the Lord when we see a rainbow

We can dwell on God’s mercy as we focus our eyes on the colors of that bow.

What a beautiful visual sign of God’s covenant to humankind in the form of a rainbow in the sky. We don’t always see a rainbow daily but those who belong to the Lord can be assured of such promise because they know his word. It is such a beautiful sight to look at the various colors of that rainbow.

REFLECTION

  • How do you usually react when you see a rainbow?

GENESIS 9 GOD’S MANDATE TO INCREASE AND MULTIPLY

Posted on by

November 14

GENESIS 9

And God blessed Noah and his sons and said to them, “Be fruitful and multiply and fill the earth. 2 The fear of you and the dread of you shall be upon every beast of the earth and upon every bird of the heavens, upon everything that creeps on the ground and all the fish of the sea. Into your hand they are delivered. 3 Every moving thing that lives shall be food for you. And as I gave you the green plants, I give you everything. 4 But you shall not eat flesh with its life, that is, its blood. 5 And for your lifeblood I will require a reckoning: from every beast I will require it and from man. From his fellow man I will require a reckoning for the life of man. 6 “Whoever sheds the blood of man, by man shall his blood be shed, for God made man in his own image. 7 And you, be fruitful and multiply, increase greatly on the earth and multiply in it.”  – Genesis 9:1-7

GENESIS 9 GOD’S MANDATE TO INCREASE AND MULTIPLY

A poem inspired by these verses by ILMA

When Noah and his sons got out of the ark, God commanded them

“Be fruitful and multiply and all animals and birds will fear you”

“You can eat every moving thing that lives apart from the fruits of plants

“But you cannot eat flesh with blood in it for life is in the blood.”

The Lord prohibited them from shedding the blood of man

This is because all man were made from God’s own image

For if one man’s life is taken, they shall be answerable to God

Noah and his sons were mandated to increase greatly and fill the earth.

When Noah and his sons were given the mandate to increase and multiply, we remember also how God gave the same command to Adam to have authority over all the animals and living things and fill the earth and reproduce.

It is also interesting that in the post flood, God added to the foods that we are supposed to eat. Before the flood, it was just plants and fruits from the trees but after the flood, he allowed humans to have every living thing that is moving and creeping on the ground. But he had exempt us from taking anything that has blood in it and cautioned humans to take another man’s life for man is made in God’s image.

REFLECTION

  • After reading the changes of man’s food to eat after the flood, what can you say about people who limit their foods to either vegetarian or carnivore diets?

GENESIS 8 GOD’S RESPONSE TO NOAH’S OFFERING

Posted on by

November 13

GENESIS 8

20 Then Noah built an altar to the Lord and took some of every clean animal and some of every clean bird and offered burnt offerings on the altar. 21 And when the Lord smelled the pleasing aroma, the Lord said in his heart, “I will never again cursethe ground because of man, for the intention of man’s heart is evil from his youth. Neither will I ever again strike down every living creature as I have done. 22 While the earth remains, seedtime and harvest, cold and heat, summer and winter, day and night, shall not cease.”– Genesis 8:20-22

GENESIS 8 GOD’S RESPONSE TO NOAH’S OFFERING

A poem inspired by these verses by ILMA

After God delivered Noah and his family in the flood

His response was to built an altar for the Lord

He got some of every clean animal and clean bird

And he burnt them to give it as an offering to God.

God was pleased when the fragrance of the offering reached him

His heart was touched and as a response to it, he gave a promise

He made a covenant with Noah that won’t curse the ground

He won’t blot out every living thing as he had done in the flood

What a great relief it was for Noah and his family to safely come out of the ark and have their feet touch the ground once again. We could witness Noah’s faithfulness to the Lord after they were delivered from the annihilation of living things. His heart is full of thanksgiving and so he built an altar to honor and show gratitude to his Master, Creator and Deliverer. Then he picked out the clean animals and birds without being told by God to do so. He did it out of his own thankfulness.

When the fragrance of the burnt offering reached God, he was very pleased and that act of gratitude of Noah made him vow not to destroy the ground and every living thing once again as he did in the flood. This is how important thanksgiving is to the Lord. He wants to be honored and praised for everything that he has done for us. It manifests our devotion and love for him, just like Noah did.

REFLECTION

  • What could we do to honor God since we no longer burn animals as offering?

GENESIS 8 WHEN NOAH GOT OUT OF THE ARK

Posted on by

November 12

GENESIS 8

13 In the six hundred and first year, in the first month, the first day of the month, the waters were dried from off the earth. And Noah removed the covering of the ark and looked, and behold, the face of the ground was dry. 14 In the second month, on the twenty-seventh day of the month, the earth had dried out. 15 Then God said to Noah, 16 “Go out from the ark, you and your wife, and your sons and your sons’ wives with you. 17 Bring out with you every living thing that is with you of all flesh—birds and animals and every creeping thing that creeps on the earth—that they may swarm on the earth, and be fruitful and multiply on the earth.” 18 So Noah went out, and his sons and his wife and his sons’ wives with him. 19 Every beast, every creeping thing, and every bird, everything that moves on the earth, went out by families from the ark.

                                                                    – Genesis 8:13-19

GENESIS 8 WHEN NOAH GOT OUT OF THE ARK

A poem inspired by these verses by ILMA

It was the first day of the first month of the six-hundred and first year

That the Lord God dried out the waters from off the earth

It took the second month of that year that it totally dried out

Noah was instructed by God that they can now come out of the ark.

He was to lead his entire family and every living thing to come out

And they all came out so that they can be fruitful and multiply

What a glorious day that was when they finally are back on earth

No more isolation in the ark amidst all that was destroyed by the flood.

That big flood that swept the entire mankind apart from Noah and his family finally ended and now they can come out of that ark that protected them from being blotted out on earth. It must have been a joyful day for Noah’s family to be out from that containment and isolation. But at the same time, that ark was also their sanctuary and shield against the destruction of evil on earth. I could imagine that they were also honored that the Lord God had chosen them to begin a new world with evil erased in the world and that design of the ark which God planned himself was for their safety and comfort.

REFLECTION

  • What would have happened if Noah didn’t follow all of God’s instructions?

Posted on by

GENESIS 8 NOAH WITNESSES SIGNS OF LIFE ON EARTH AFTER FLOOD

November 11

GENESIS 8

6 At the end of forty days Noah opened the window of the ark that he had made 7 and sent forth a raven. It went to and fro until the waters were dried up from the earth. 8 Then he sent forth a dove from him, to see if the waters had subsided from the face of the ground. 9 But the dove found no place to set her foot, and she returned to him to the ark, for the waters were still on the face of the whole earth. So he put out his hand and took her and brought her into the ark with him. 10 He waited another seven days, and again he sent forth the dove out of the ark. 11 And the dove came back to him in the evening, and behold, in her mouth was a freshly plucked olive leaf. So Noah knew that the waters had subsided from the earth. 12 Then he waited another seven days and sent forth the dove, and she did not return to him anymore.  – Genesis 8:6-12

GENESIS 8 NOAH WITNESSES SIGNS OF LIFE ON EARTH AFTER FLOOD

A poem inspired by these verses by ILMA

After forty days, Noah opened the ark as he was instructed

He sent forth a raven to see if the waters have retreated

But unfortunately, it went back and forth so he knew it wasn’t dried yet

Then he sent a dove as well, and it returned to him in the ark again.

Noah waited another seven days and sent the dove out once more

That evening, the dove returned with an olive leaf in his mouth

That was the sign for Noah to know that life on earth was restored

He waited another seven days until the dove didn’t return anymore.

It must have been challenging to be inside the ark all those forty days and forty nights and be locked in those dark walls of the ark. Although, it must be pretty noisy and busy with all those animals around them. What irony it was that inside the ark was full of life and outside there were no living things. Amidst the isolation from other people that the family of Noah felt inside the ark, there was much life in the other animals, beasts, other crawling things and birds. It was dead all around the ark, but so much life inside the ark.

After waiting for the signs of life, Noah patiently followed God’s instruction. How many of us can patiently wait in this very noisy and distracted world we live in now?

REFLECTION

  • What can you surmise from this account about Noah’s character?

GENESIS 6 GOD’S COVENANT WITH NOAH

Posted on by

November 6

GENESIS 6

18 But I will establish my covenant with you, and you shall come into the ark, you, your sons, your wife, and your sons’ wives with you. 19 And of every living thing of all flesh, you shall bring two of every sort into the ark to keep them alive with you. They shall be male and female. 20 Of the birds according to their kinds, and of the animals according to their kinds, of every creeping thing of the ground, according to its kind, two of every sort shall come in to you to keep them alive. 21 Also take with you every sort of food that is eaten, and store it up. It shall serve as food for you and for them.” 22 Noah did this; he did all that God commanded him.   – Genesis 6:18-22

GENESIS 6 GOD’S COVENANT WITH NOAH

A poem inspired by these verses by ILMA

After Noah finished the ark, the Lord made a covenant with him

He further gave him instructions to bring every living thing

Each of them by two of every kind and to keep them alive

They shall be male and female each of their kind.

The Lord God asked Noah to stock up food for all of them

Including all the animals and every creeping thing

And Noah followed everything that the Lord told him

It was an honor that God made a covenant with him.

It is such an amazing illustration when Noah was instructed to bring all the animals and all living creatures in pairs in the ark. In this account, we witness how obedient and faithful Noah was. He asked no questions. He trusted the Lord God even though he had no idea what and how God was going to go through with his plan. He was as meek as a lamb who followed where his shepherd took him. Noah is the epitome of blamelessness and obedience. He is a foreshadowing of Jesus, who was humble, obedient and completely trust his Father. It is very rare to find a person like Noah in our very corrupt world nowadays. Perhaps our world is almost going back to those days when everyone was so corrupt to a point where God will blot us out. But the Lord is so good that he gave us his Son, to save us from this world’s corruption and evil. Let us cling to our Lord and Savior and repent and turn away from sin.

REFLECTION

  • Why do you think God chose Noah and made a covenant with him?

THOSE WHO SEEK THE LORD LACK NO GOOD THING ILMA’S VLOG

Posted on by

://www.ilmaarts.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/08/IMG_8723.jpg”>
May 25
________________________________________
THOSE WHO SEEK THE LORD LACK NO GOOD THING
I will bless the LORD at all times; his praise shall continually be in my mouth.
2 My soul makes its boast in the LORD; let the humble hear and be glad.
3 Oh, magnify the LORD with me, and let us exalt his name together!
4 I sought the LORD, and he answered me and delivered me from all my fears.
5 Those who look to him are radiant, and their faces shall never be ashamed.
6 This poor man cried, and the LORD heard him and saved him out of all his troubles.
7 The angel of the LORD encamps around those who fear him, and delivers them.
8 Oh, taste and see that the LORD is good! Blessed is the man who takes refuge in him!
9 Oh, fear the LORD, you his saints, for those who fear him have no lack!
10 The young lions suffer want and hunger;
But those who seek the LORD lack no good thing.11 Come, O children, listen to me;
I will teach you the fear of the LORD. – Psalm 34:1-11
________________________________________
This psalm enumerates the benefits of those who seek and fear the Lord. The psalmist never failed to forget to praise and bless the Lord at all times. He promised faithfulness in continually doing so with his mouth, making it a habit to speak to exalt the Almighty. When he sought the Lord, he answered and rescued him from all fears and troubles. What is amazing is the fact that the Lord assigns angels to encamp around those who seek him and those who revere him. They don’t lack any good thing. What amazing promises are given to those who stay faithful and incessantly give God glory! So, how come, many believers fail to continually seek the Lord, make him a priority and fear him?
________________________________________
ADORATION: Praise the Lord for providing protection and keeping his promises to those who love him. Hallelujah to our Lord and Savior.
CONFESSION: Forgive me for forgetting to always be expectant that you are my Deliverer.
THANKSGIVING: Thank you for your steadfast love despite my failure to be faithful to you.
SUPPLICATION: May all believers constantly be reminded of God’s promises and steadfast love. May they give the Lord all the glory and praise.
________________________________________
REFLECTION
• Share a testimony when the promise of lacking nothing good came upon you?
• How do you feel about knowing that angels are encamped around Christians?

WORLDLY MATTERS DON’T MATTER ILMA’S VLOG

Posted on by


May 7
________________________________________
WORLDLY MATTERS DON’T MATTER
Hear this, all peoples! Give ear, all inhabitants of the world,
2 Both low and high, rich and poor together!
3 My mouth shall speak wisdom; the meditation of my heart shall be understanding.
4 I will incline my ear to a proverb; I will solve my riddle to the music of the lyre.
5 Why should I fear in times of trouble,
When the iniquity of those who cheat me surrounds me,
6 Those who trust in their wealth and boast of the abundance of their riches?
7 Truly no man can ransom another, or give to God the price of his life,
8 For the ransom of their life is costly and can never suffice,
9 That he should live on forever and never see the pit.
10 For he sees that even the wise die; the fool and the stupid alike must perish
And leave their wealth to others. – Psalm 49:1-10
________________________________________
This psalm written by the sons of Korah is a great reminder for all mankind, low and high, rich and poor alike. We can never boast of our possessions or be consumed by wanting to have riches. In verse 4, we hear the psalmist suggests the importance of listening to wisdom instead of living in fear. Just like the book of Ecclesiastes says in the first chapter, everything is meaningless; everything is wearisome beyond description. No matter how much we see, we are never satisfied. No matter how much we hear, we are not content. The psalm talks about the fact that no one have guarantees in this life. They can never ransom another life. Both the poor and the wealthy, the wise and the fools all perish. The rich cannot bring their wealth when they die. Only dependence on God can bring them salvation. Eternal life is their only guarantee, so why depend on worldly matters instead of spiritual things?
________________________________________
ADORATION: Praise the Lord Almighty, the God of our salvation!
CONFESSION: Forgive me Lord, when I focus on worldly things and boast about it.
THANKSGIVING: Remind me to boast only of my dependence on you.
SUPPLICATION: May all believers remember that only in God will they have eternity.
________________________________________
REFLECTION
• Why is it important to remember that worldly matters won’t matter in eternity?

O LORD DELIVER MY LIFE Poem Devotional

Posted on by

February 16________________________________________
O LORD DELIVER MY LIFE
O LORD, rebuke me not in your anger, nor discipline me in your wrath.
2 Be gracious to me, O LORD, for I am languishing; heal me, O LORD,
For my bones are troubled. 3 My soul also is greatly troubled.
But you, O LORD—how long? 4 Turn, O LORD, deliver my life;
Save me for the sake of your steadfast love.
5 For in death there is no remembrance of you;
In Sheol who will give you praise? 6 I am weary with my moaning;
Every night I flood my bed with tears; I drench my couch with my weeping.
7 My eye wastes away because of grief; it grows weak because of all my foes.
8 Depart from me, all you workers of evil,
For the LORD has heard the sound of my weeping. 9 The LORD has heard my plea;
The LORD accepts my prayer.10 All my enemies shall be ashamed and greatly troubled;
They shall turn back and be put to shame in a moment. -Psalm 6:1-10
________________________________________
We hear King David’s penitent heart in this psalm. He pleads the Lord to correct him but not in anger. He asks for God’s grace to heal him as he acknowledges his sins and past mistakes. We hear the dependence of David to God in the midst of great trouble and physical ailments. What is amazing with this psalm is his humility to admit how weary and tired he was. It illustrates a picture of a king who bows down to a greater eternal King. We see in this psalm how David is intimate with the Lord and isn’t afraid to admit his need for God’s deliverance for him. He is full of hope that the Lord will deliver him. What a heart that really seeks God’s heart!
________________________________________
ADORATION: Praise to you Lord, full of grace and mercy. You are my deliverer and Savior.
CONFESSION: Forgive me each time I fail to repent and confess my sins.
THANKSGIVING: Thank you for never being stingy to reveal yourself to me.
SUPPLICATION: May all believers have a heart like David, who is humble, repentant and pursues God’s heart.
________________________________________
REFLECTION
• How do you relate with David’s circumstance in this psalm?
• How can he be depressed, tired, sick and yet hopeful at the same time?