The Heavenly Manifest

So here we are starting a New Week but also wrapping up the month of November and getting ready to step into the last month of the Year which is December, but before we do lets take a moment to reflect on this month alone with these words of wisdom Read: Luke 10:17-24 Bible in a Year: Ezekiel 37-39; 2 Peter 2 Rejoice that your names are written in heaven. —Luke 10:20 At the Kenya Airways check-in counter, I presented my passport for verification. When the agents searched for my name on their manifest—the document that lists names of passengers—my name was missing. The problem? Overbooking and lack of confirmation. My hope of reaching home that day was shattered. The episode reminded me of another kind of manifest—the Book of Life. In Luke 10, Jesus sent His disciples on an evangelistic mission. On their return, they happily reported their success. But Jesus told them: “Do not rejoice that the spirits submit to you, but rejoice that your names are written in heaven” (v. 20). The focus of our joy is not merely that we are successful but that our names are inscribed in God’s book. But how can we be sure of that? God’s Word tells us, “If you declare with your mouth, ‘Jesus is Lord,’ and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved” (Rom. 10:9). In Revelation 21, John makes a breathtaking description of the Holy City that awaits those who trust Christ. Then he writes, “Nothing impure will ever enter it, nor will anyone who does what is shameful or deceitful, but only those whose names are written in the Lamb’s book of life” (v. 27). The Book of Life is God’s heavenly manifest. Is your name written in it? —Lawrence Darmani Father in heaven, thank You for the gift of Your Son, who promised to prepare a place for us. Thank You too, that You are preparing us for that place. God opens the gates of heaven to those who open their hearts to Him. INSIGHT: Two important concepts appear in today’s passage: Jesus is the one who gives us the authority to carry on His work on earth, and God is the one who writes our names “in heaven” (v. 20). Notice that in both cases it is not our doing but God’s. Salvation is a gift of God’s grace; our part is to accept this gift.

Help from the Outside

As we are wrapping up the end of the week on this Thankful Friday let's continue too be Thankful and Grateful for ALL God has done for us with these word of wisdom Read: Jeremiah 17:7-13 Bible in a Year: Ezekiel 30-32; 1 Peter 4 God is greater than our hearts, and he knows everything. —1 John 3:20 On a business trip, my husband had just settled into his hotel room when he heard an unusual noise. He stepped into the hall to investigate and heard someone yelling from a nearby room. With the help of a hotel worker, he discovered that a man had become trapped in the bathroom. The lock on the bathroom door had malfunctioned and the man trapped inside started to panic. He felt like he couldn’t breathe and began yelling for help. Sometimes in life we feel trapped. We are banging on the door, pulling on the handle, but we can’t get free. We need help from the outside, just like the man in the hotel. To get that outside assistance, we have to admit that we are helpless on our own. Sometimes we look inward for the answers to our problems, yet the Bible says “the heart is deceitful” (Jer. 17:9). In truth, we are often the source of our problems in life. Thankfully, “God is greater than our hearts, and he knows everything” (1 John 3:20). Because of this, He knows exactly how to help us. Lasting heart-level change and real progress with our problems originate with God. Trusting Him and living to please Him means we can flourish and be truly free. —Jennifer Benson Schuldt Heavenly Father, I humble myself before You. I can’t solve my problems on my own. Please help me to seek Your help and perspective. God helps those who know they are helpless. INSIGHT: The Bible describes the heart as the very basis of our character—the center of who we are and the source of our thoughts, feelings, and actions (see Prov. 4:23; 23:7). “The heart is deceitful above all things and beyond cure” (Jer. 17:9) is the consistent verdict of Scripture. This deceitfulness has made humanity incapable of knowing how sinful we really are, for only God knows the true condition of our heart (2 Chron. 6:30; Ps. 139:1-4; Jer. 17:10). We will not admit we are sinners apart from divine intervention, revelation, and conviction (John 6:65; Rom. 8:7-11; 2 Cor. 4:4). But God will redeem and give a new heart to all who humbly come to Him and accept His grace and mercy (Ps. 51:10; 2 Cor. 5:17).

HAPPY THANKSGIVING!

On this Thanksgiving I am taking a moment to be Grateful and Thankful for ALL God has done and is doing in my life I am Thankful on this Thanksgiving for ALL my Family and Friends. So on this Thanksgiving take a moment to reflect on the Thankfulness of God and ALL he has done for you. I want to wish everyone a HAPPY THANKSGIVING! May your day be filled with JOY, BLESSINGS & THANKFULNESS for ALL that GOD is doing in your life.

The Sounds of Silence

Starting a New week with alot to be Thankful for as we are gearing up this Thanksgiving week let's take a moment to reflect on these words Read: Proverbs 10:19-21 Bible in a Year: Ezekiel 20-21; James 5 The lips of the righteous nourish many. —Proverbs 10:21 A fishing buddy of mine observed, “Shallow streams make the most noise,” a delightful turn on the old adage, “Still waters run deep.” He meant, of course, that people who make the most noise tend to have little of substance to say. The flip side of that problem is that we don’t listen well either. I’m reminded of the line in the old Simon and Garfunkel song "Sounds of Silence" about folks hearing without listening. Oh, they hear the words, but they fail to silence their own thoughts and truly listen. It would be good if we all learned to be silent and still. There is “a time to be silent and a time to speak” (Eccl. 3:7). Good silence is a listening silence, a humble silence. It leads to right hearing, right understanding, and right speaking. “The purposes of a person’s heart are deep waters,” the proverb says, “but one who has insight draws them out” (Prov. 20:5). It takes a lot of hard listening to get all the way to the bottom. And while we listen to others, we should also be listening to God and hearing what He has to say. I think of Jesus, scribbling with His finger in the dust while the Pharisees railed on the woman caught in adultery (see John 8:1-11). What was He doing? May I suggest that He could have been simply listening for His Father’s voice and asking, “What shall we say to this crowd and this dear woman?” His response is still being heard around the world. —David Roper Father, today may Your Spirit remind us to seek the quiet so that we may listen first to Your voice and then understand the hearts of others. Teach us when to speak and when to be quiet. Well-timed silence can be more eloquent than words. INSIGHT: One of the major themes in Proverbs is our speech (Prov. 10:19-21; 15:1-4,23,28; 16:24,27-28; 18:7-8; 21:23). In Proverbs 10 Solomon contrasts the wise and the foolish person, noting it is our speech that reveals which one we really are (vv. 11,18-21). Those who are righteous and wise are restrained and judicious in their words and sometimes choose silence as the best response. If we keep silent, we will never say the wrong thing (v. 19), and we will even be thought to be wise (17:28). Jesus said that our words come from our heart and reveal whether we are good or evil. He warned that one day we shall give an account for the words we have spoken (Matt. 12:35-36).

Our Main Concern

WOW! Is the end of the week already well we have made it to FRIDAY! YES! It's about that time too reflect and be grateful for ALL that God has brought us through so let's take a moment to think and reflect on these words of wisdom Read: Galatians 1:6-10 Bible in a Year: Ezekiel 14-15; James 2 If I were still trying to please people, I would not be a servant of Christ. —Galatians 1:10 Peer pressure is part of everyday life. Sometimes we base our decisions on what other people will think or say rather than on our convictions and on what will please God. We’re worried that we’ll be judged or made fun of. The apostle Paul experienced his fair share of peer pressure. Some Jewish Christians believed that Gentiles should be circumcised to be truly saved (Gal. 1:7; see 6:12-15). However, Paul stood his ground. He continued to preach that salvation is by grace through faith alone; no further works are required. And for that he was accused of being a self-appointed apostle. They further asserted that his version of the gospel had never received the apostles’ approval (2:1-10). Despite the pressure, Paul was very clear about whom he served—Christ. God’s approval mattered most, not man’s. He made it his goal not to win the approval of people, but of God (1:10). Similarly, we are Christ’s servants. We serve God whether people honor or despise us, whether they slander or praise us. One day “each of us will give an account of ourselves to God” (Rom. 14:12). That doesn’t mean that we shouldn’t consider what people think or say, but ultimately, we make pleasing God our main concern. We want to hear our Savior say, “Well done, good and faithful servant!” (Matt. 25:23). —Jaime Fernández Garrido Dear Lord, no matter what others may say or do, give me the courage to be faithful to You today. Keep following Jesus. INSIGHT: Because the risen Christ called Paul to be an apostle on the Damascus Road (Acts 9:1-18; 22:1-15; 26:9-18), Paul acknowledges that his apostleship was different from the original 12 apostles (Gal. 1:11-17), but it was clearly accepted by them (1:18; 2:7-10). Because Christianity was birthed in Judaism, adhering to the Mosaic law became an issue as more Gentiles became believers. The Judaizers taught that Christians must follow Jewish laws and practices in order to be saved. Paul wrote this letter to counter and condemn this false teaching (vv. 8-9), affirming that salvation is by grace through faith in Jesus Christ, not by observing the law (Gal. 2:16,20-21; 3:11,24).

An easy way to help

Here is CCFA November 2015 Newsletter issue about ALL things Crohn's & Ulcerative Colitis A Letter from the President & CEO There are 1.6 million Americans living with Crohn's disease and ulcerative colitis, and that doesn't include the countless family members, friends, and others touched by these debilitating diseases. For Crohn's & Colitis Awareness Week (December 1-7), we want to make everyone #IBDAware – to understand that these diseases aren't limited to the bathroom or the gut – and that they affect every facet of a patient's physical and emotional well-being. We can't spread this message without YOU. Join our Thunderclap today, so we can raise our collective voices on December 3rd and give IBD the public attention it deserves and needs. Thank you in advance for joining us, Richard J. Geswell, CCFA President and CEO Thank you again, Michael Osso Michael Osso President & CEO Emily's Story On the outside, Emily is just like any other child; however, she fights a battle that many cannot see. Emily was diagnosed with Crohn's disease shortly after turning 13 – but despite coming face to face with many obstacles, she has shown strength, perseverance, and an amazing sense of humor. This September, Emily spoke about her experience with IBD at the Northwest Ohio Take Steps walk. You can read her story here ► Vote early! Vote often! CCFA is a finalist in DSW's Leave Your Mark contest – which will grant one organization a $75,000 donation. We were nominated by a DSW associate, whose wife and son both have Crohn's disease, and we need your vote to win. You can vote daily until November 24th. It only takes a second. Vote for CCFA here ► Join the movement! There is still time to join our new spin4 Crohn's and colitis cures event taking place on Saturday, December 5 in Atlanta, Chicago, Los Angeles, Maryland/DC, New York, Pittsburgh, San Diego, San Francisco, Seattle – or you can Ride Where You Live! To learn more, visit spin4.org. Learn more ► Take Steps for Cures in 2016 We have officially launched our 2016 Take Steps walk season! This year we want to EMPOWER our patients to live their fullest lives, INSPIRE newly diagnosed patients and their families or those living through a flare, and CONNECT the IBD community. We have exciting new changes planned and hope you will join us at one of the 120+ walks across the country in 2016. After you register, please take a moment to watch this inspiring new video featuring Aria and other IBD patients. Join us ► Support CCFA today Your tax-deductible donation will help fund important studies happening right now, including research that is leading to better therapies for kids and adults alike. Donate now Nutrition Webinar Don't miss CCFA's next educational webcast, “Nutrition in IBD: Making Healthy Choices,” to learn more about the role of diet and nutrition in IBD. It will be held on Thursday November 19th from 8 to 9 pm EST. Get tips from our experts for ensuring proper nutrition during social gatherings and the holidays. Sign up today!. Advocacy Awareness Day: Dec. 3rd Celebrate Crohn's & Colitis Awareness Week by joining a national call-in to the House of Representatives. Visit our Action Center to see how you can participate on December 3rd. Our Next Facebook Chat IBD can affect diet and nutrition in a variety of ways. Learn more about possible trigger foods, vitamin and mineral supplementation, and tips in our Facebook chat on Wednesday, November 18th at 5:00 pm ET with host Tina Patnode, RDN, LD from The Oregon Clinic. Sign up now! Sign up today! ► Search our resources Find your chapter IBD Clinical Trials and Other Studies CCFA provides a comprehensive database of studies, clinical trials and other research on Crohn's disease and ulcerative colitis. Some of the recently added studies include: Coping with Crohn's and Colitis – a randomized controlled trial of a self-help workbook versus a psychoeducational workbook by University of Pennsylvania. Deciding whether to participate in a clinical trial is an important personal decision, best made with a full understanding of the drug development process and a participant's role. Take Steps Team Challenge CCFA Facebook CCFA Twitter CCFA YouTube CCFA Pinterest Forward Donate to CCFA Crohn's and Colitis Foundation of America 7​33 Th​ird Av​en​ue, Sui​te 51​0, Ne​w Y​ork,​ N​Y 10​01​7 www.ccfa.org | 8​00-​93​2-​2​423

Emily's Journey: Using Drawing to Cope with IBD

Here is Emily's story of How she uses her drawing to help her and others Cope with IBD As told by her parents, Jim and Dianna Roberts Emily was diagnosed with Crohn’s disease in 2012 shortly after turning 13. Despite coming face to face with many obstacles she has shown strength that even we didn’t know she had. Since Emily's diagnosis we, like so many other families and their loved ones, have experienced the ebb and flow of Crohn's. We have prayed with folded hands during hospitalization, and we have celebrated with high fives after good lab work reports. The unchanging factor during these times has been Emily's perseverance and amazing sense of humor despite the fight. After Emily was first diagnosed, we joined Take Steps in Northwest Ohio where we met so many other families that understood our challenges. For that first walk, Emily designed her own t-shirt. She had indeed “survived her first butt scope.” Emily is an honor student at Whitmer High School, a member of her high school varsity soccer team, and a member of the high school marching band. On the outside, she is seen as any other child; however she fights a battle that many cannot see. While Emily has remarkable inner strength, medications like Remicade, her “superpower infusions,” and Humira have become necessary to keep her strong. She harnesses those superpowers day in and day out. She shares her experience and feelings with Crohn's disease through her doodles that she frequently posts on a Facebook page she created called Crohn's Disease Life. She has dedicated the page to patients and their loved ones currently living with Crohn’s. In 2015, Emily became ill but forged ahead, determined to fight through the pain. Gradually the pain grew intolerable, and after tests to rule out appendicitis, we were sent into the emergency room for more tests, and she was admitted to Children’s Hospital. They believed a bacterial infection had triggered a Crohn’s flare-up. Despite her stay in the hospital, Emily continued to find her inner superpowers. We think this experience strengthened her resolve to speak out about Crohn’s and colitis. This year (September 2015) at the Northwest Ohio Take Steps walk, Emily spoke and shared her story. We will Take Steps again this year - inspired by Emily - in hopes that our steps will cast ripples. We want to continue driving awareness of these diseases and fundraising so that Emily may experience a cure. Not just Emily, but the millions of other lives affected by these diseases, deserves a cure. Until then, we all need to find our own inner superhero and continue raising awareness for IBD. To join Emily and the thousands of other Taking Steps this year, register or join a team.

Shared Struggles

The weekend has come to an end and we are starting a New Week with Read: Galatians 6:1-10 Bible in a Year: Ezekiel 3-4; Hebrews 11:20-40 Share each other’s burdens, and in this way obey the law of Christ. nlt —Galatians 6:2 April 25, 2015, marked the 100th commemoration of Anzac Day. It is celebrated each year by both Australia and New Zealand to honor the members of the Australian and New Zealand Army Corps (ANZAC) who fought together during World War I. It marks a time when neither country had to face the dangers of war alone; soldiers from both countries engaged in the struggle together. Sharing life’s struggles is fundamental to the way followers of Christ are called to live. As Paul challenged us, “Share each other’s burdens, and in this way obey the law of Christ” (Gal. 6:2 nlt). By working together through life’s challenges we can help to strengthen and support one another when times are hard. By expressing toward one another the care and affections of Christ, the difficulties of life should draw us to Christ and to each other—not isolate us in our suffering. By sharing in the struggles of another, we are modeling the love of Christ. We read in Isaiah, “Surely He has borne our griefs and carried our sorrows” (Isa. 53:4 nkjv). No matter how great the struggle we face, we never face it alone. —Bill Crowder Thank You, Father, that I don’t have to walk my life’s journey alone. You are near. Read more about the nearness of God in The Lord Is My Shepherd at discoveryseries.org/hp952 We can go a lot further together than we can alone. INSIGHT: In Galatians 6:2 Paul instructs the Galatian believers to carry each other’s burdens. However, in verse 5 Paul says that each person should carry his own load. In the case of carrying each other’s burdens, we are to do so in the context of someone caught in sin (v. 1). However, in the case of carrying our own load, it is so that we do not compare ourselves to others and become unduly disheartened by our progress (or lack of it). J.R. Hudberg

The Big Stink

This is FRIDAY! We have made it to the end of the week with these words of wisdom Read: Genesis 3:6-13,22-24 Bible in a Year: Lamentations 1-2; Hebrews 10:1-18 God knows that when you eat from it your eyes will be opened, and you will be like God, knowing good and evil. —Genesis 3:5 In August 2013, large crowds gathered at the Phipps Conservatory in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, to witness the blooming of the tropical plant known as the corpse flower. Since the flower is native to Indonesia, and may flower only once every several years, its blooming is a spectacle. Once open, the huge spiky, beautiful, red bloom smells like rotten meat. Because of its putrid fragrance, the flower attracts flies and beetles that are looking for rotting meat. But there is no nectar. Like the corpse flower, sin holds out promises but in the end offers no rewards. Adam and Eve found this out the hard way. Eden was beautiful until they ruined it by doing the one thing God urged them not to do. Tempted to doubt God’s goodness, they ignored their Creator’s loving warning and soon lost their innocence. The God-given beauty of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil became like a corpse flower to them. The reward for their disobedience was alienation, pain, emptiness, toil, and death. Sin looks inviting and may feel good, but it doesn’t compare with the wonder, beauty, and fragrance of trusting and obeying God, who has made us to share His life and joy. —Marvin Williams What temptations are you facing today? Remember that God promises to help you fight against temptation. Ask Him to help you remember to rely on Him. God’s commands can overpower Satan’s suggestions. INSIGHT: Today’s passage records the entrance of sin into an innocent world. But it also records God’s grace in response to sin. Rather than let Adam and Eve eat from the tree of life and live forever in their sin, God graciously blocked the way to that tree (vv. 22-23). J.R. Hudberg

HAPPY VETERANS DAY!

Today we are taking a moment to reflect on ALL of our Men and Women who have served our country. Wishing every one a Happy Veterans Day! Celebrating and Honoring ALL who have served. President Obama complete remarks on Veterans Day 2015 President Obama at Tomb of the Unknown Soldier

Charity Island

The weekend has come to an end and we are starting a New Week with these words of wisdom Read: Psalm 107:23-32 Bible in a Year: Jeremiah 46-4; Hebrews 6 The Lord is good, a refuge in times of trouble. He cares for those who trust in him. —Nahum 1:7 Charity Island is the largest island in Saginaw Bay in the Michigan waters of Lake Huron. For many years the island has provided a lighthouse for navigational aid and a safe harbor for those sailing these waters. The island received its name because sailors believed it was there “through the charity of God.” Sometimes in life we have to navigate through seas of troubling circumstances. Like those sailors we need guidance and a place of safety; we might wish for our own Charity Island. The psalmist understood that God is the one who can bring tranquility to troubled waters and guide us to safe harbors. He wrote, “He stilled the storm to a whisper; the waves of the sea were hushed. They were glad when it grew calm, and he guided them to their desired haven” (Ps. 107:29-30). While no one asks for the storms of life, they can multiply our appreciation for the guidance and refuge God provides. He offers the light of His Spirit and His Word to guide us. It is the safe harbor of His love that we long for. He alone can be our ultimate “Charity Island.” —Dennis Fisher Father, help me to seek Your light to guide me through the storms of life. Share your story of how the Lord has been your light in the comments section below. The living God will always be our shelter. INSIGHT: Today’s psalm reminds us that God can indeed guide us to safe havens in the midst of life’s storms and trials. However, this psalm also reminds us that the same God who calms the storm and points the way to our “desired haven” (v. 30) is the God who sometimes stirs up the oceans in our lives. It is God who “stirred up a tempest” (v. 25) that caused the sailors to melt with fear and reel and stagger (vv. 26,27). Then “they cried out to the Lord . . . and he brought them out of their distress” (v. 28). The God who stirs the seas wants us to turn to Him for help. J.R. Hudberg

He Trains My Hands

The end of the week is here we have wrapped up a long week so hear are some words of encouragement to help us ALL reflect on Read: Exodus 4:10-17 Bible in a Year: Jeremiah 37-39; Hebrews 3 Praise be to the Lord my Rock, who trains my hands for war, my fingers for battle. —Psalm 144:1 When former NBA player David Wood was playing for Taugrés de Baskonia, I was with him at a Spanish Basketball Cup final. Before one game, he read Psalm 144:1: “Praise be to the Lord my Rock, who trains my hands for war, my fingers for battle.” He turned to me and said, “You see? It’s as if God has written this verse just for me! He trains my hands to catch rebounds and my fingers to shoot!” David felt called to play basketball and had learned that God takes us as we are and enables us to do what He calls us to do. We can easily dismiss ourselves as having little use to God because we feel we have nothing to offer. When God appeared to Moses and assigned him the task of telling the Israelites that He would deliver them from the Egyptians (Ex. 3:16-17), Moses felt inadequate. He said to the Lord, “I have never been eloquent . . . . I am slow of speech and tongue” (4:10). Perhaps Moses had some kind of speech impediment, or he was just afraid, but God overcame his inadequacy with His sufficiency. God said, “Now go; I will help you speak and will teach you what to say” (v. 12). All God wants from us is to follow His plans. He will sort out the rest. In His mighty hands, you can be a blessing to others. —Jaime Fernández Garrido Here I am, Lord, ready to serve You in whatever way You desire. Lead me. Dr. Jaime Fernández Garrido is director of the evangelical radio and television program Born Again God’s call to a task includes His strength to complete it. INSIGHT: When God called Moses to deliver the Jews from Egyptian bondage, Moses protested and offered various reasons why he was not the right candidate for the job (Ex. 3). He questioned his own identity (v. 11), his lack of authority (v. 13), and his credibility and acceptability (4:1). God responded by assuring Moses of His power and presence (4:1-9). Moses then continued his protest, saying he lacked eloquence and was “slow of speech and tongue" (v. 10). But God assured Moses He would enable him to speak powerfully and effectively (v. 12). Running out of excuses, Moses asked God to “send someone else” (v. 13). He was angry with Moses for his lack of trust and being unwilling to take up the assignment (v. 14). God told Moses that He would enable him to do what He called him to do. Sim Kay Tee

Words of the Wise

We have approached and entered into the 11th month of the New Year with only 60 more days until 2016 BOY TIME IS MOVING! so has we take a moment to reflect on this new month which is November let's have a sense of Gratitude for ALL that GOD has done for us with these words of wisdom Read: Ecclesiastes 9:13-18 Bible in a Year: Jeremiah 27-29; Titus 3 Words of the wise, spoken quietly, should be heard. nkjv —Ecclesiastes 9:17 My niece’s husband recently wrote these words on a social media site: “I would say a lot more online if it weren’t for this little voice that prompts me not to. As a follower of Jesus, you might think that little voice is the Holy Spirit. It isn’t. It’s my wife, Heidi.” With the smile comes a sobering thought. The cautions of a discerning friend can reflect the wisdom of God. Ecclesiastes 9 says that the “words of the wise, spoken quietly, should be heard” (v. 17 nkjv). Scripture warns us not to be wise in our own eyes or proud (Prov. 3:7; Isa. 5:21; Rom. 12:16). In other words, let’s not assume that we have all the answers! Proverbs 19:20 says, “Listen to advice and accept discipline, and at the end you will be counted among the wise.” Whether it is a friend, a spouse, a pastor, or a co-worker, God can use others to teach us more of His wisdom. “Wisdom reposes in the heart of the discerning,” declares the book of Proverbs (14:33). Part of recognizing the Spirit’s wisdom is discovering how to listen and learn from each other. —Cindy Hess Kasper Dear Lord, thank You for Your Word that teaches me how to love You and others. Thank You also for the people You place in my life to remind me of Your truth. True wisdom begins and ends with God. INSIGHT: The author of the book of Ecclesiastes is unknown. Many believe it to be Solomon, the legendary wise son of King David. However, we are only told that the author is “the Teacher, son of David, king in Jerusalem” (Eccl. 1:1). This description would fit King Solomon. J.R. Hudberg