December 8
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MAY GOD’S WILL BE DONE!
A poem by ILMA
During Elizabeth’s 6th month of pregnancy, God sent the angel Gabriel to Nazareth
It was in a village in Galilee to a virgin named Mary who was engaged to be married
She was engaged to be married to a man named Joseph, a descendant of King David
Gabriel appeared to Mary and said, “Greetings! favored woman! The Lord is with you!
Confused and disturbed, Mary tried to think what the angel could mean
“Don’t be afraid, Mary,” the angel told her, “for you have found favor with God!
You will conceive and give birth to a son, and you will name him Jesus
He will be very great and be called the Son of the Most High
He is the fulfillment of God’s promise to Abraham long ago.
The Lord God will give him the throne of his ancestor David
And he will reign over Israel forever; his Kingdom will never end!”
Mary asked the angel, “But how can this happen? I am a virgin.”
The angel replied, “The Holy Spirit will come upon you
The power of the Most High will overtake you; the baby will be the Son of God
What’s more, your relative Elizabeth has become pregnant in her old age
They say she was barren, but she has conceived and is now in her sixth month
For the word of God will never fail.” Mary answered, “I am the Lord’s servant
May everything you have said about me come true.” And then the angel left her.
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MEMORY VERSE
“I am the Lord’s servant. May everything you have said about me come true.” – Luke 2:38
Read: Luke 2:26-38
The promise of the coming of the Messiah became possible with Mary’s humility and obedience. What a blessing it is when we walk into the will of God. We open up heaven’s gates and bring heaven to come to realize here on earth.
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REFLECTION
• When was the last time you succumbed and surrender to God’s call in your life even though it didn’t make sense at that time he was inviting you to say “yes” to ¬¬him?
Tag Archives: spoken word
DANIEL TELLS NEBUCHADNEZAR HIS DREAM Poem Devotional
December 7
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DANIEL TELLS NEBUCHADNEZAR HIS DREAM
A poem by ILMA
Daniel talked to Arioch and told him, “Don’t kill the wise men
Take me to the king, and I will tell him the meaning of his dream”
Arioch quickly brought Daniel to the king and told him about Daniel
This captive from Judah will tell the king the meaning of his dream!”
The king asked him “Can you tell me what my dream was and what it means?”
Daniel replied, “There is no one else who can tell you your dream and its meaning
There is a God in heaven who reveals secrets who will show you your dream
Now I will tell you your dream and the visions you saw as you lay on your bed.
“In your vision, you saw standing before you a huge, shining statue of a man
The head of the statue was made of fine gold. Its chest and arms were silver,
Its belly and thighs were bronze, its legs were iron, and its feet were iron and clay
The whole statue was crushed into small pieces of iron, clay, bronze, silver, and gold
Then the wind blew them away without a trace, like chaff on a threshing floor
The rock that knocked the statue down became a mountain that covered the earth.
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MEMORY VERSE
“There are no wise men, enchanters, magicians, or fortune-tellers who can reveal the king’s secret. But there is a God in heaven who reveals secrets. – Daniel 2:27-28
Read: Daniel 2:24-35
In this chapter, Daniel asked Arioch, the one who was assigned to kill the wise men and the magicians who couldn’t identify the King’s dream to spare them their lives for he will tell the King himself his dream and interpret it as well. He made it clear to the king that no one could ever know his dream except his God, for he knows everything.
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REFLECTION
• How do you think the king responded to Daniel revealing his dream?
• Why do you think Daniel was choses by God to interpret dreams?
DANIEL PRAYS FOR WISDOM Poem Devotional
December 6
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DANIEL PRAYS FOR WISDOM
A poem by ILMA
Nebuchadnezzar had such disturbing dreams during his second year as king
He called in his magicians, enchanters, sorcerers, and astrologers
He demanded that they tell him what he had dreamed I will for it troubled him
Then the astrologers told him, “Tell us the dream, so we can tell its meaning.
But the king said to the astrologers, “I am serious about this
If you don’t tell what my dream it means you will be torn limb from limb
if you tell me what I dreamed and what the dream means I’ll reward you
They all begged the king to tell them the dream so they can interpret it.
The astrologers replied to the king, “No one on earth can tell the king his dream! The king’s demand is impossible. No one except the gods can tell you your dream
Nebuchadnezzar was furious when he heard this and ordered them all executed
Because of the king’s decree, men were sent to find and kill Daniel and his friends.
Daniel went at once to see the king and asked more time to interpret the dream
Then he told his friends Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah what had happened
He urged them to ask the God to show him mercy by knowing the dream
That night the secret was revealed to Daniel in a vision and he praised God.
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MEMORY VERSE
One night during the second year of his reign, Nebuchadnezzar had such disturbing dreams that he couldn’t sleep. – Daniel 2:1
Read: Daniel 2:1-19
This chapter in the book of Daniel is another way that God provided to save Daniel and his friends from the decree of Nebuchadnezar to execute them. We see how crazy this king was who expects human beings to be able to guess and interpret his dreams. In the next part of this chapter, we see God’s provision and mercy to use this situation to bring glory to the only God who knows everything.
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REFLECTION
• How faithful was God to his people in this chapter?
SIMPLE FOODS ADD VIBRANCE AND WISDOM Poem Devotional
December 5
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SIMPLE FOODS ADD VIBRANCE AND WISDOM
A poem by ILMA
Daniel was determined not to defile himself by eating the King’s food and wine
He asked the chief of staff for permission not to eat these unacceptable foods
God had given the chief of staff both respect and affection for Daniel
But he said, “I am afraid it is the King’s order for you to eat these meals
If you become pale and thin compared to the other youths your age,
Then I will be the one responsible and the king will have me beheaded.”
Daniel spoke with the attendant appointed by the chief of staff
He was assigned to look after Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah.
“Please test us for ten days on a diet of vegetables and water, then see what happens
See how we look compared to the other young men who are eating the king’s food
Then make your decision in light of what you see,” so the attendant agreed
At the end of the ten days, Daniel and his three friends looked healthier than all.
When the training period ordered by the king was over, they were all brought in
The king talked with them, and no one impressed him as much as these young men Whenever the king consulted them in any matter requiring wisdom and judgment
They found them ten times more capable than any of all magicians and enchanters.
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MEMORY VERSE
At the end of the ten days, Daniel and his three friends looked healthier and better nourished than the young men who had been eating the food assigned by the king. So after that, the attendant fed them only vegetables instead of the food and wine provided for the others. – Daniel 1:15-16
Read: Daniel 1:8-20
The vegan diet goes as far back as Daniel’s time. It proved that the simple vegetable and water diet didn’t compromised their decisiveness and knowledge. As compared to what others ate, they came out much wiser and had good judgment.
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REFLECTION
• Why do you think that a vegan diet can change your health and mind?
LOVE IN ACTION Poem Devotional
December 3
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LOVE IN ACTION
A poem by ILMA
If we love our brothers and sisters, it proves we have life
But a person who has no love for anyone has no life and is dead
Anyone who hates another brother or sister is really a murderer at heart
And you know that murderers don’t have eternal life within them.
We know what real love is because Jesus gave up his life for us
So, we also ought to give up our lives for our brothers and sisters
If someone has no concern for those in who are in need
They have no compassion so, how can God’s love be in them?
Let’s not merely say that we love each other; let’s show truth by our actions
Our actions will demonstrate that we belong to the truth and have confidence
Even if we feel guilty, God is greater than our feelings, and he knows everything
We will receive from God whatever we ask because we obeyed and followed him.
This is God’s command: “We must believe in the name of his Son, Jesus Christ”
He also wants us to love one another and whoever obeys will remain in him
So, seek to please the Lord and have fellowship with him so you can have life
When you do this, the Holy Spirit will dwell in you and you will stay in his light.
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MEMORY VERSE
We know what real love is because Jesus gave up his life for us. So, we also ought to give up our lives for our brothers and sisters – 1 John 3:16
Read: 1 John 3:11-24
The world has bombarded humans with a wrong notion of love. We live in a world that caters to self-seeking pleasures. There are few true lovers who would sacrificially give up their lives for others.
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REFLECTION
• What does “giving up” your life for others really means?
• Why did John say that someone who has no love in them is a dead person?
• Why is love not just a feeling but an action word? How can we grow acting it out?
THOSE WHO BELONG TO GOD Poem DEvotional
December 2
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THOSE WHO BELONG TO GOD
A poem by ILMA
See how very much our Father loves us; he calls us his children
Those who belong to this world don’t recognize us; they don’t know the Father
But we do know that we will be like him, for we will see him as he really is.
All who have this eager expectation will keep themselves pure, just as he is pure.
Everyone who sins is breaking God’s law, for all sin is contrary to God’s commands
Jesus came to take away our sins, and there is no sin in him
Anyone who continues to live in him will not sin
But anyone who keeps on sinning does not know who God is.
When people do what is right, it shows that they are righteous,
But when people keep on sinning, it shows that they belong to the devil
The Son of God came to destroy the works of the enemy
We will only have victory if we believe in the one who can really save us.
Those who have been born into God’s family do not make a practice of sinning
God’s life is in them that is why they cannot continue to do wrong
So now we can tell who are children of God and who are children of the devil
Anyone who do evil and does not love other believers does not belong to God.
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MEMORY VERSE
So now we can tell who are children of God and who are children of the devil. Anyone who does not live righteously and does not love other believers does not belong to God.
– 1 John 3:10
Read: 1 John 3:1-10
How can we tell the difference between those who are God’s people and those who don’t belong to him? This chapter in the book of 1 John tells us that we can know the difference between them when they do not choose to stay in sin. Making a habit of sinning is a sign that they belong to the devil.
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REFLECTION
• What gives God’s people the courage to avoid sinning?
• How is not loving other believers a sign that they are children of the devil?
WHEN YOU LOVE THE WORLD Poem Devotional
December 1
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WHEN YOU LOVE THE WORLD
A poem by ILMA
Do not love this world nor the things it offers you,
When you love the world, you don’t have the Father’s love
For the world offers only a craving for physical pleasure,
A craving for everything and to be proud of achievements and possessions.
These cravings are not from the Father, but are from this world
And this world is fading away, along with everything that people crave for
Anyone who does what pleases God will live forever and have eternal life
So, make it your goal to please God so you are ready when Christ returns.
As believers, you know the difference between truth and lies from his word
Watch out for anyone who says that Jesus is not the Christ for that is an antichrist
Anyone who denies the Father and the Son is an antichrist
Anyone who denies the Son doesn’t have the Father, either.
So, you must remain faithful and in fellowship with the Son and with the Father
And in this fellowship, we enjoy the eternal life he promised us long ago
You have received the Holy Spirit and he lives within you
You don’t need anyone to teach you for the Spirit teaches you that is true.
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MEMORY VERSE
Do not love this world nor the things it offers you. For when you love the world, you don’t have the Father’s love. – 1 John 2:15
Read: 1 John 2:15-27
It is interesting how some Christians think that they can coast along loving the world and being a Christian. They say they are believers but they still follow the world system so easily.
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REFLECTION
• Why can’t we love the world and the things it offers especially if we have committed our lives to Jesus?
• Why is it important to constantly be in relationship with God, Jesus and the Holy Spirit?
OBEDIENCE: SIGN THAT WE KNOW GOD Poem Devotional
November 30
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OBEDIENCE: SIGN THAT WE KNOW GOD
A poem by ILMA
I am writing this to you so that you will not sin, but you have a Helper
We have an advocate who pleads our case before the Father
He is Jesus Christ, the one who is truly righteous
He himself is the sacrifice that atones for the sins of the whole world.
We can be sure that we know him if we obey his commandments
If someone claims, “I know God,” but doesn’t follow what he says
That person is a liar and is not living in the truth
Those who obey God truly show how completely they love him.
Those who say they live in God should live their lives as Jesus did
We are commanded to love one another as has been told to us before
If anyone claims, “I am living in the light,” but hates a fellow believer
That person is still in the dark and has been blinded by the darkness.
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MEMORY VERSE
If someone claims, “I know God,” but doesn’t obey God’s commandments, that person is a liar and is not living in the truth. But those who obey God’s word truly show how completely they love him. That is how we know we are living in him. – 1 John 2:4-5
Read: 1 John 2:1-11
There is a big discrepancy between saying we know God and claiming we are believers and yet fail to obey God’s commands. Without the Holy Spirit, we cannot actually walk in truth and obedience. It is only the Spirit of the Lord that can convict us when we do wrong and show us a way out, or we get stuck in the sin. Those who say that they know God and yet don’t put into action the truth, they are only lying to themselves and are still living in darkness and does not live in the light.
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REFLECTION
• Why is obedience to God’s commands one of the hardest things to do in this world?
• Why is action an important part of being a Christian?
• What happens when we don’t do what we hear in the word of God?
• Why are we lying when we claim we are Christians and hate a fellow believer?
LIVE IN THE LIGHT Poem Devotional
November 29
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LIVE IN THE LIGHT
A poem by ILMA
We proclaim to you the one who existed from the beginning
We ourselves have heard and seen Him with our own eyes
We touched him with our own hands; He is the Word of life
This one who is life itself was revealed to us, and we have seen him.
Now we testify and proclaim to you that he is the one who is eternal life
He was with the Father, and then he was revealed to us
We proclaim to you what we ourselves have actually seen and heard
This way you may have fellowship with us, with the Father and with the Son.
We are writing these things so that you may fully share our joy.
This is the message we heard from Jesus and now declare to you
We are lying if we say we have fellowship with God
When we live in spiritual darkness; we are not practicing the truth.
But if we are living in the light, as God is in the light, then we have fellowship others
If we claim we have no sin, we are only fooling ourselves and not living in the truth
But if we confess our sins to him, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins
If we claim we haven’t sinned, we call God a liar shows no place for him in our hearts.
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MEMORY VERSE
So, we are lying if we say we have fellowship with God but go on living in spiritual darkness; we are not practicing the truth. – 1 John 1:6
Read: 1 John 1
Many believers have no idea how to live in the light. In this verse, John explains to us how to practically apply this concept in our lives. In verse 6, it is shown by how we relate to God and how we have fellowship with the body of Christ as well.
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REFLECTION
• How can we live in the light when we are isolating ourselves from God and others?
• Why is light and darkness not compatible?
• What happens when we continue to live in the dark and yet we say we believe?
CAUTION TO THE RICH Poem Devotional
November 28
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CAUTION TO THE RICH
A poem by ILMA
Listen carefully, all you who are rich: weep with anguish for what’s coming at you
There will be terrible troubles and suffering ahead of all those who are rich and famous
Your wealth will not last long, they will rot away and your clothes are like rags
Your gold and silver are corroded and that wealth will eat away your flesh like fire.
Those of you who are hoarders will face the day of judgment
Hoarding is clinging on to material possessions which you can’t bring anyway
You are born in this world without anything but naked
You will also return to the place you belong in the same way.
Hear the cries of those whom you have cheated so you can gain more
You have spent your years here on earth in luxury and convenience
You have fattened yourselves for the day of slaughter
You have fully satisfied yourselves instead of looking after other.
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MEMORY VERSE
Look here, you rich people: Weep and groan with anguish because of all the terrible troubles ahead of you – James 5:1
Read: James 5:1-6
This letter of James gives a very harsh warning to the rich people. Like the man in the parable of the rich fool in Luke 12, we see how greedy that man was storing up so much riches for himself instead of gaining riches in heaven. He had no idea that one day, all these things he stored up for himself will be gone for he doesn’t know when his life will be taken away from him.
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REFLECTION
• Why do you think the rich are cautioned vehemently here by James?
• Do you think that all rich people are not going to enter God’s kingdom?
• How can you be wealthy and yet enter the kingdom of God?
• Why is it very hard for the rich to really be true disciples? What stops them from being a true follower of God?