John 16:25-33

25-28"I've used figures of speech in telling you these things. Soon I'll drop the figures and tell you about the Father in plain language. Then you can make your requests directly to him in relation to this life I've revealed to you. I won't continue making requests of the Father on your behalf. I won't need to. Because you've gone out on a limb, committed yourselves to love and trust in me, believing I came directly from the Father, the Father loves you directly. First, I left the Father and arrived in the world; now I leave the world and travel to the Father."

29-30His disciples said, "Finally! You're giving it to us straight, in plain talk—no more figures of speech. Now we know that you know everything—it all comes together in you. You won't have to put up with our questions anymore. We're convinced you came from God."

31-33Jesus answered them, "Do you finally believe? In fact, you're about to make a run for it—saving your own skins and abandoning me. But I'm not abandoned. The Father is with me. I've told you all this so that trusting me, you will be unshakable and assured, deeply at peace. In this godless world you will continue to experience difficulties. But take heart! I've conquered the world."

**************

We speak most plainly through our actions. That is how the world realized who Jesus Christ was. That is how others will realize where our eternal treasure is, also. If we act in ways that show who it is we truly love, then others will see our actions and wonder what it is that drives us to serve others, to love others, to reach out to those in desperate need of hearing about God's love. Over the Thanksgiving weekend, it is a challenge for us to be a thankful people, but also to be a people focused upon the needs of others, for this is a time of year when those needs are so apparent. Remember that as we give thanks, thousands all around us are in desperate need of warm food, a dry room and someone to show them they are loved. Perhaps, as Dan Sansbury says, 'you are the answer to their prayers.'

Blessings