I think it was Pastor Leonard Navarre of Valley View Christian Church in Edgewood, New Mexico who first told me about “Thanks-living”. I remember having a wonderful chicken dinner after I preached a few years ago in Grants, New Mexico for Pastor Mark and Juliet Tross at the Church of God and I was expressing how thankful I was for the meal and how delicious the fried chicken was! Juliet said to me, “You sure are thankful for everything, Dewey!” She meant that very sincerely. It got me thinking on how I grew up and what Mom and Dad taught me. Be thankful in everything. Live a life of thanks. Yesterday at Valley View Christian Church in Edgewood, New Mexico I witnessed first hand a lot of thankfulness. Words didn’t even have to be spoken, you could see it in the eye’s of so many, thankful for a meal and the love of Jesus Christ. Not only were people fed a thanksgiving meal, nearly 600 people!, 200 families were also supplied with food, including a turkey. It was a huge effort by Valley View Christian Church, the Edgewood Mobile Food Pantry, Shorty’s in Moriarty, employees of Smiths Supermarket, Girls and Boy Scouts and more.., I know I am leaving someone out, I am so sorry!….a community effort. I was blessed to be there and offer a little help, but once again I was the one blessed by witnessing and receiving the love of Jesus Christ. I’m big on consistency. I look for churches and people that are consistent in the works of God. I look for churches and people that are consistent in applying God’s Word to this world we live in. That would be Valley View Christian Church. On Monday Valley View held a Thanksgiving Dinner for ‘First Responders’, Police, Fire, Rescue and had 70 hero’s show up for dinner! Thanksgiving and Christmas go on 24/7 everyday of the year at Valley View, if people need help they call or come to Valley View. Last night an Edgewood Police officer showed up to get food for a family in need, he knew he would get help from Valley View. Valley View is the 911 Jesus Christ help line in the Edgewood area. Is your church the 911 Jesus Christ help line in your area? If not, why not? I know another Church like Valley View and it is in Grants, New Mexico, the 911 Jesus Christ help line is Immanuel Baptist Church led by Pastor Garland Moore. If the Police need help with an individual or family they call Pastor Garland. If a family is stranded off the interstate going through New Mexico, the police call Garland. I have seen Pastor Garland in action for Jesus Christ. I also preach once a month at the Reserve, New Mexico Baptist Church and when people in the area need prayer or help they call. You see, Thanksgiving and Christmas are not just a one or two day “celebration” at Valley View, Immanuel Baptist and Reserve Baptist Church, it is a 24/7, everyday of the year expression of the love of Jesus Christ. They apply the Word of God daily. These three Churches witness to me daily, they know no walls.
The communities of Edgewood, Grants and Reserve, New Mexico and the surrounding towns know where they can find Jesus 24/7…….there is always food, water and and lodging.
It really tells me something when I know who the Police look towards in their community for a helping hand.
Is your Church known as the ‘Jesus Hospital’?
This also shows us how important the Church is throughout America, in our smaller communities, in our rural areas……..but it is such a powerful testimony to all Churches, no matter the size of the community or Church.
This Thanksgiving I hold up these three Churches and their Pastor’s and wives and leaders and congregations as the way the Church is meant to be.
Make your Church known for the service you give to God’s people.
These three Churches serve not only their own congregation, they serve their entire community.
Lessons for us all to learn from.
I took these pictures last night at Valley View.
1 Corinthians 12: 26-27
Many Members, One Body
…26And if one member suffers, all the members suffer with it; if one member is honored, all the members rejoice with it. 27Now you are Christ’s body, and individually members of it.
Cross References
Romans 12:5
so in Christ we, though many, form one body, and each member belongs to all the others.
1 Corinthians 1:2
To the church of God in Corinth, to those sanctified in Christ Jesus and called to be his holy people, together with all those everywhere who call on the name of our Lord Jesus Christ–their Lord and ours:
1 Corinthians 6:15
Do you not know that your bodies are members of Christ himself? Shall I then take the members of Christ and unite them with a prostitute? Never!
1 Corinthians 10:17
Because there is one loaf, we, who are many, are one body, for we all share the one loaf.
1 Corinthians 12:12
Just as a body, though one, has many parts, but all its many parts form one body, so it is with Christ.
1 Corinthians 12:26
If one part suffers, every part suffers with it; if one part is honored, every part rejoices with it.
Ephesians 1:23
which is his body, the fullness of him who fills everything in every way.
Ephesians 4:12
to equip his people for works of service, so that the body of Christ may be built up
Ephesians 5:30
for we are members of his body.
Colossians 1:18
And he is the head of the body, the church; he is the beginning and the firstborn from among the dead, so that in everything he might have the supremacy.
Colossians 1:24
Now I rejoice in what I am suffering for you, and I fill up in my flesh what is still lacking in regard to Christ’s afflictions, for the sake of his body, which is the church.
Colossians 2:19
They have lost connection with the head, from whom the whole body, supported and held together by its ligaments and sinews, grows as God causes it to grow.
