Morning Manna by Rufus Parker - 2026 January 14

Train Your Children

“And, ye fathers, provoke not your children to wrath: but bring them up in the nurture and admonition of the Lord.” (Ephesians 6:4)

Today’s Morsel: How many times have you heard, or thought to yourself, “I wish I knew what I know now when I was much younger?” We don’t know everything about life while we are young. At those stages in life, we think that we are the sharpest knife in the drawer, and the wisest kid on the block. We think that old folks are uncaring, and don’t want us to have fun. We fail to realize that they have already encountered what we are heading into. And so, we continue-on, make mistakes, and make poor choices. We find ourselves in debt, in some cases painful relationships, broken promises, and working 10-12 hours a day trying to survive from our choices and decisions; when if we had sought the advice of our parents, or a godly counselor, or listened to our pastors and teachers, we possibly could have avoided some of our dilemmas. Solomon states: “Train up a child in the way he should go: and when he is old, he will not depart from it.” (Proverbs 22:6) And Paul calls for fathers to bring up their children in the ways of the Lord. As adults and parents, you must teach your children early what you learned late.  

Sing: Tell me the story of Jesus, write on my heart every word; Tell me the stories most precious, sweetest that ever was heard; Tell how the angels in chorus, sang as they welcomed His birth, Glory to God in the highest! Peace and good tidings to earth.

Thought For Today: “Keep my commandments, and live; and my law as the apple of thine eye.” (Proverbs 7:2)

Morning Manna by Rufus Parker - 2026 January 13

Go Beyond The Surface

“I commend unto you Phebe our sister, which is a servant of the church which is at Cenchrea: That ye receive her in the Lord, as becometh saints, and that ye assist her in whatsoever business she hath need of you: for she hath been a succourer of many, and of myself also.” (Romans 16:1-2)

Today’s Morsel: In the 60’s, the group, “The Temptations” sang a song entitled, “Beauty Is Only Skin Deep.” In other words, if you want to see the real person, you must look beyond that initial layer of skin. You want to look on the heart or one’s character. I think this may be why God told Samuel when He sent him to anoint David, King of Isreal, not to look on the outward appearance, as God looks on the heart. God knew David’s heart. Scripture says, “And when he had removed him, he raised up unto them David to be their king; to whom also he gave testimony, and said, I have found David the son of Jesse, a man after mine own heart, which shall fulfil all my will.” (Acts 13:22) George Washington says, “One of the signs of a beautiful person, is that they always see the beauty in others.” 

Sing: He gave me beauty for ashes, the oil of joy for mourning, the garment of praise for the spirit of heaviness; that we might be call trees of righteousness the planted of the Lord, that He might be glorified. 

Thought For Today: Always know the character of a person before you call them friend.

Morning Manna by Rufus Parker - 2026 January 12

Self-Respect

“Now I beseech you, brethren, mark them which cause divisions and offences contrary to the doctrine which ye have learned; and avoid them.” (Romans 16:17)

Today’s Morsel: Self-respect is about the respect that you have for yourself. It’s about what you think of your own self-worth. Not what someone else thinks. Just because others reject you and say evil things about you because you do not give-in nor participate in their evil and sinful ways, shouldn’t cause you to feel bad about who you are. You must realize that character counts. Paul said that we ought to mark them and avoid them which cause divisions and offenses. Life is too short to be concerned with what others think about us. You are the one that must stand before Christ and give an account of the things which you did in your life. If you don’t have respect for yourself, others won’t neither. You build respect by maintaining a high moral standard for yourself, doing things to the best of your ability, and fulfilling your obligations. You also gain respect by standing up for right and wrong, and treating others with respect regardless of their race, creed, color, or national origin. You should always look your best, do your best, and act your best. Respect for yourself and others ought to be firmly rooted in your life. The words that you use ought to be of high moral character. If you use foul language, swear and curse in public, throw trash on the ground, play loud music in the presence of other, put your feet on other’s furniture and tables, play on your cell phone when others are talking to you,  and you are compromising your integrity, you will lose your respect. Others will not respect you. And once you lose the respect that others have for you, it is nearly impossible for you to gain it back again. 

 

Sing: This little light of mine, I’m gonna let it shine. This little light of mine, I’m gonna let it shine. This little light of mine, I’m gonna let it shine, let it shine, let it shine, let it shine. 

Everywhere I go, I’m gonna let it shine. Everywhere I go, I’m gonna let it shine. Everywhere I go, I’m gonna let it shine, let it shine, let it shine. 

 

Thought For Today: “If you once forfeit the confidence of your fellow citizens, you can never regain their respect and esteem." (President Abraham Lincoln)

Morning Manna by Rufus Parker - 2026 January 10

Repeat

“O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, which killest the prophets, and stonest them that are sent unto thee; how often would I have gathered thy children together, as a hen doth gather her brood under her wings, and ye would not! Behold, your house is left unto you desolate: and verily I say unto you, Ye shall not see me, until the time come when ye shall say, Blessed is he that cometh in the name of the Lord.” (Luke 13:34-35)

Today’s Morsel: I don’t know if you ever noticed it or not in scripture, but Israel never seemed to get nor grasp God’s ways and words. And so they find themselves repeating the same mistakes repeatedly. The same is true for us. If we do not learn the lessons of life the first time, we will repeat the test. When I went to school, and even in my army days, I tried my very best to pass the test the first time. I didn’t need to repeat it. In scripture, Isreal is an example of folks who did not learn the lessons of life the first time. They just seem to like punishment and captivity.  If you will note, every time they rejected God, they had problems. You would think that somewhere the lightbulb would have gone on. But as Paul said, the things which were written were written for our learning. So, let me encourage you, don’t reject God to where you find yourself repeating life’s lessons over again. 

Sing: Where He leads me, I will follow. Where He leads me, I will follow. Where He leads me, I will follow; I’ll go with Him, with Him, all the way.

Thought For Today: Only a fool repeats the same mistakes twice.

Morning Manna by Rufus Parker - 2026 January 9

Smile

“Rejoice in the Lord alway: and again I say, Rejoice.” (Philippians 4:4)

Today’s Morsel: One of the best ways to keep a sweet disposition is to smile. Smiling helps you stay upbeat and focused. Frowns and evil looks cause stress and depression. We must get to the point, too, where we accept every situation with a smile. Anger doesn’t solve anything, it builds nothing. And it can destroy everything that you are trying to do. If the enemy can get you to see your situations as problem to hinder you, he will defeat you. But if you see them as something where you can learn and be able to use what you learn to help yourself and others, he probably won’t send them your way near as often. So, accept your situations with a smile and see what God will do with you through them.

Sing: Put on the garment of praise for the spirit of heaviness, lift-up your voice to God. Pray in the Spirit and with understanding, O’ magnify the Lord.

Thought For Today: Smile at others. It just might change their disposition. 

Morning Manna by Rufus Parker - 2026 January 8

Change Yourself

“Thus saith the LORD, Stand ye in the ways, and see, and ask for the old paths, where is the good way, and walk therein, and ye shall find rest for your souls. But they said, We will not walk therein.” (Jeremiah 6:16)

Today’s Morsel: According to George Washington, “Everyone wants to change the world, but no one thinks of changing themselves.” We can never change the world and its evil ways, not until we change ourselves first. Many can see the changes that others need to make in their lives, but few can see the changes that they need to make in their own life. In today passage, we see that apparently the people did not have rest. They must have been perplexed and in despair in some areas of their life, which was preventing them from have peace and contentment in themselves. So the Lord tells them what they needed to do to find rest for their souls. But apparently the answer He gave them was not the answer they wanted to hear. And so they said that we will not walk there in. When God tells you how to fix your problem, you must accept it and do it; because if nothing changes, nothing changes. You are not going to change anything else until you change you and your way of thinking. Folks who do not change when they see that they need to change aren’t hurting others, they are only hurting themselves. Look into yourself and ask the Lord to show you what needs to change.  

Sing: Change my heart O’ God make it ever true, change my heart O’ God, may I be like You.

Thought For Today: To make things better in your life, it starts with changing the man or woman in the mirror.

Morning Manna by Rufus Parker - 2026 January 7

When The Spirit Tells You Things

“Now the Spirit speaketh expressly, that in the latter times some shall depart from the faith, giving heed to seducing spirits, and doctrines of devils; Speaking lies in hypocrisy; having their conscience seared with a hot iron; Forbidding to marry, and commanding to abstain from meats, which God hath created to be received with thanksgiving of them which believe and know the truth. For every creature of God is good, and nothing to be refused, if it be received with thanksgiving: For it is sanctified by the word of God and prayer.” (1 Timothy 4:1-5)

Today’s Morsel: Jesus said, “Howbeit when he, the Spirit of truth, is come, he will guide you into all truth: for he shall not speak of himself; but whatsoever he shall hear, that shall he speak: and he will shew you things to come.” (John 16:13) Therefore, we must learn how to listen to the Holy Spirit when it speaks to us. God has our best interest at heart. Now is not the time to be ignorant. Living in today’s world calls for wisdom. Again, Jesus says in John 15:4, that the sheep follow Him: for they know His voice. When the Spirit starts telling you things which are to come, you need to be aware and start to take heed. The Holy Spirit which you received came with wisdom, knowledge, understanding, discretion, and instructions to lead you and guide you into all truth. We have already begun to see the great falling away. Some have already returned to the world and its ways. Now is not time to sit back and take a chill pill. Now is the time to be more attentive and alert to what the Spirit is saying to the church, or you may find yourself as the five foolish virgins, missing the bridegroom when He comes.

Sing: I’ll say yes, Lord, yes, to Your will and to Your way, I’ll say yes, Lord, yes, I will trust You and obey. When Your Spirit speaks to me, with my whole heart I’ll agree; and my answer will be yes, Lord, yes. 

Thought For Today: He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit is saying to the church.