New Melody Church

  A Child’s Prayer A small child was sitting beside his mother on the front porch of their unfinished home. She held a bleeding little boy. Bloody towels and rags littered the area. Blood streamed through the wrap around the smaller boy’s foot. She rocked him and cried. He was pale and listless. The father was away seeking work. Times were hard. Medical aid was not even a dream, much less a consideration. This younger sibling had suffered a severe cut to his bare foot. The cut had gone deep enough to slice a vein or an artery. Mother knew not God in a real sense. But, she cried: “God, he’s bleeding to death.” Scared, crying and bewildered, the older left the porch in a flash to the very spot where the cut had occurred. He fell on his face in the sand and cried a heart rendering prayer to God for his brother. Upon returning to the bloody scene, he discovered his brother sitting on his mother’s lap. The foot was unwrapped and there was no bleeding. God had heard the prayer of His chi...

  Looking Back Some folks, looking back to an evening some seventy years past, might recall a happening of some magnitude. Dusk was settling in across “The Valley,” when loud wailing resounded off the hills known as the Big Ridge. All the critters hunkered down and the night birds stopped their singing. It was a day of celebration dampened, for some, by the birthing of a man child to a lady in labor. The day was July forth. Independence day was being celebrated across the land. The hooting, pan rattling and firing off of guns had long been a tradition. Folks were honoring the victory, loses and freedom from oppression. There was cause for excitement but not for the child that arrived out of season. Nonetheless, the child grew and matured in wisdom and knowledge. God had a plan and it would run true until the finish. Farther back in time another wailing was heard; more powerful and more celebrated. A man child was born who would change the world until its end. Luke 2: 4 “ And Joseph...

  Crossing Jordan We have long referred to the crossing of the Jordan as the passing from life unto death. There is no real truth in the concept. It is true that when our time comes to join that “innumerable caravan” moving to some final destiny, we cross two thresholds. One, the body goes from life to ceasing to live. And, two, our spirit crosses into paradise or purgatory according to our spiritual state at death. The concept of not having to cross Jordan alone certainly is comforting to the dying. The nation of Israel crossed the River Jordan to enter their promised land. Many have crossed to and fro. Many, including Jesus was baptized in its chilly water. Dying comfort in the concept is an immeasurable commodity. We will wade into those chilly waters in our mind. Joshua 1: 1 “ Now after the death of Moses the servant of the LORD it came to pass, that the LORD spake unto Joshua the son of Nun, Moses' minister, saying,  2 Moses my servant is dead; now therefore ari...

  Chains There are chains of many forms, shapes and texture. Some chains cruelly bind. Some chains are visible, some are not. Seldom is the word chain associated with peace. There are trace chains, chains of darkness, chain gangs, chain letters, chains of bondage, chain reaction, leg chains, tire chains, gate chains, chains of fear, chains of pride, etc. on and on. Of all chains, fear is likely the most binding. Fear chills the soul and traps those it afflict with bonds stronger than steel. Fear demands fight or flight responses. Frustration and depression rides close on its tail. So many times, in God’s Word, we hear heavenly messengers repeating “be not afraid.” It is important for follows of Jesus to let him have their fear. Fear is paramount to doubt and a Christians entire relationship with the Savior is faith based. Psalms 73:6  “ Therefore pride compasseth them about as a chain;...” Jude 1:6  “ And the angels which kept not their first...

  Lifted Up How often do we lift up “holy” hands to praise God? Are we apt to lay the blame for our disease and infirmities to his charge? We might feel ourselves being dealt with unjustly. We lift up our withered frame on our death bed, raise up doubting hands and cry “why Lord, why.” Too often, as lifted up and trembling hands search the heavens we forget; “none the less thy will be done.” We can only ask these questions because Jesus was sacrificially lifted up for us. Luke 17: 11 “ And it came to pass, as he went to Jerusalem, that he passed through the midst of Samaria and Galilee.  12 And as he entered into a certain village, there met him ten men that were lepers, which stood afar off:  13 And they lifted up  their  voices, and said, Jesus, Master, have mercy on us. .. they were cleansed.  15 And one of them, when he saw that he was healed, turned back, and with a loud voice glorified God,  16 And fell down on  his  face at his feet, g...

  Unconquerable Soul “ In the fell clutch of circumstance I have not winced nor cried aloud Under the bludgeonious and fear My head is bloody, but unbowed.” William E. Henley 1888 Invictus (in part)   There’s so much pain and sorrow around us today, some shared-some not, all in keeping with the fall of Adam and Eve and the curse of death that followed. Could it be by chance that we find ourselves in harms way or the toying of the devil. Might God have plans for the calamities of this world and as suffering souls we are workers for His Glory? Whatever the purpose and the perpetrator of our scars, wounds and shadow of death, God is there. None has suffered more than our lord Jesus Christ and none will. The weight of our sins alone tortured Him unto death. Yet, He made no grumbling complaints. “Forgive then Father” was His example to us.    Isaiah 53:7  “ He was oppressed, and he was afflicted, yet he opened not his mouth: he is brought as a lamb to the slaugh...