Thanksgiving for a Father who Acts

How do you know you are loved by someone? Back in high school when I was dating Patty, I distinctly recall the first time I spoke the words “I love you!” It was a big moment. I will never forget her response, she hesitated for a moment and then replied, “I like you too!”  I remember driving home that night feeling foolish, I put myself out there and did not receive the response I was looking for.

Together we laugh about it now, but at the time it wasn’t so funny for an insecure 17 year old. Patty would later tell me that she thought I told other girls I dated the same line. She desired more than simply words, she wanted proof. Her love language was all about actions.

If you think about it love is much more than a sentiment or a feeling of butterflies bouncing around in your heart. The word “love” can be cheap if it is not followed through with actions that prove or back up the words.

If you survey Scripture from Genesis to Revelation you will notice the Words are all about a Good Father who is constantly showing His love through actions. A God who makes a promise to His Children and then in HIs perfect time fulfills it.

What is the most well known Scripture on love in the Bible? I would say John 3:16:

“For God so loved the world that He gave His only Son…”

The Father showed His love by giving His greatest gift to save us “His only Son.”

Romans 5:8 highlights this:

“But God showed His great love for us by sending Christ to die for us while we were still sinners.”

Even though my heart was filled with sin and rebellion, nothing good in me, the Father was so moved by love for me that He gave me His most precious gift. This is the source of true love flowing from the Father who acts to save His beloved children.  And His love does not stop there it continues to pursue us all the days of our lives eventually bring us to our everlasting home in heaven.

Thanksgiving time is always a great reminder to give praise and thanks to a Father who is always acting in love on our behalf. Take time this special week, (at least in the US) to stop and remember all His acts of love He has shown you this past year.

Maybe it has been an especially difficult year and you are finding Thanksgiving difficult, go back to to the two verses above and dwell there.  Let the Holy Spirit remind you of a Father who has acted on your behalf. I pray you will know and trust that you are His beloved child through the gift of Jesus and His active love will flow over you.

As we look back this past year we are overwhelmed by a Father who has acted through His beloved children to allow us in Africa and the US to make His love known. We praise and thank our Father for so many of you who have prayed, served along side, and provided so we can be apart of demonstrating His love to spiritual and physical orphans.

On behalf of the Oceans Team we thank and praise Abba for being agents of His active love.