Morning Manna by Rufus Parker - 2025 February 19

Which Way Is Your Tent Pitched?

“And the LORD appeared unto Abram, and said, Unto thy seed will I give this land: and there builded he an altar unto the LORD, who appeared unto him. And he removed from thence unto a mountain on the east of Bethel, and pitched his tent, having Bethel on the west, and Hai on the east: and there he builded an altar unto the LORD, and called upon the name of the LORD. And Abram journeyed, going on still toward the south.” (Genesis 12:7-9)

Today’s Morsel: When God called Abraham, scripture says that Abraham pitched his tent with Bethel (The House of God) on his west side, and Hai (heap of ruins) on the west side. Therefore, Abraham was heading south. On the other hand, scripture says of Lot, “Abram dwelled in the land of Canaan, and Lot dwelled in the cities of the plain, and pitched his tent toward Sodom. But the men of Sodom were wicked and sinners before the LORD exceedingly.” (Genesis 13:12-13) Before we put down roots, we need to know what is before us because there are many temptations that can draw us into hells doorway. “And there was a famine in the land, beside the first famine that was in the days of Abraham. And Isaac went unto Abimelech king of the Philistines unto Gerar. And the LORD appeared unto him, and said, Go not down into Egypt; dwell in the land which I shall tell thee of: Sojourn in this land, and I will be with thee, and will bless thee; for unto thee, and unto thy seed, I will give all these countries, and I will perform the oath which I sware unto Abraham thy father; And I will make thy seed to multiply as the stars of heaven, and will give unto thy seed all these countries; and in thy seed shall all the nations of the earth be blessed; Because that Abraham obeyed my voice, and kept my charge, my commandments, my statutes, and my laws.” (Genesis 26:1-5). Let God tell you where to pitch and you will be blessed. 

Sing: In sin I wandered sore and sad with bleeding heart and aching head, till Jesus came and sweetly said, “I’ll take your sins away.”

Thank God for the blood! Thank God for the blood! Thank God for the blood that washes white as snow.

Thought For Today: “Then Isaac sowed in that land, and received in the same year an hundredfold: and the LORD blessed him.” (Genesis 26:12)

Morning Manna by Rufus Parker - 2025 February 18

Give God Your Ear

“I will hear what God the LORD will speak: for he will speak peace unto his people, and to his saints: but let them not turn again to folly.” (Psalms 85:8)

Today’s Morsel: Are you receptive to spiritual things? When is the last time you’ve heard God’s voice speaking to you? You know, if we are not careful, we can allow many voices to speak into our lives and leave the most important voice, which is Christ’s, unnoticed. Jesus said, “My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me: And I give unto them eternal life; and they shall never perish, neither shall any man pluck them out of my hand.” (John 10:27-28) Samuel had listened to the voice of Eli, the high priest, for so long that when God called him, he thought that it was Eli. But when he went to Eli, Eli told him that the next time he heard the voice, to say, “Speak Lord for thy servant heareth.” (1 Samuel 3:9). Are you able to discern when God speaks to you? Don’t just let anyone speak into your life. You need to know the voice of God, so that you will obey Him and live.

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: If we are not receptive to spiritual things, we will miss the voice of God every time.

Morning Manna by Rufus Parker - 2025 February 17

What Are You Chasing?

“He that followeth after righteousness and mercy findeth life, righteousness, and honour.” (Proverbs 21:21)

Today’s Morsel: Some folks seem to be chasing after every new fad, new clothing, new phone, and even new vehicles. “Have all the workers of iniquity no knowledge? who eat up my people as they eat bread, and call not upon the LORD.” (Psalms 14:4) They fail to realize that satisfaction and contentment is not found in things and people. It is only found in Christ. Notice what Solomon says that we find when we follow righteousness and mercy; we find life, righteousness, and honor. Jesus tells us that if we will follow Him, that we will not walk in darkness but shall have the light of life. (John 8:12) He told Andrew and Peter, who were casting a net into the sea, follow me, and I will make you fishers of men. So, what are you chasing? Believe me, sooner or later you will catch up to what you are following after. Just make sure that before you do catch up to it, that it was really what you wanted.

Sing: Seek ye first the kingdom of God, and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added unto you, hallelu, hallelujah. 

Thought For Today: “Thou shalt not follow a multitude to do evil; neither shalt thou speak in a cause to decline after many to wrest judgment:” (Exodus 23:2)

Morning Manna by Rufus Parker - 2025 February 15

Times Up

“Now therefore fear the LORD, and serve him in sincerity and in truth: and put away the gods which your fathers served on the other side of the flood, and in Egypt; and serve ye the LORD. And if it seem evil unto you to serve the LORD, choose you this day whom ye will serve; whether the gods which your fathers served that were on the other side of the flood, or the gods of the Amorites, in whose land ye dwell: but as for me and my house, we will serve the LORD.” (Joshua 24:14-15)

Today’s Morsel: Joshua, who was the leader that led the children of Israel into the Promised Land and led them in battle, was now preparing to transition from life himself. Like Moses, who challenged the people at his death before they passed over into the Promised Land by telling them not to ever forget God and what He had done for them; Joshua tells them to choose whom they would serve. You see, your pastor can keep telling you to not forget what God has done for you, but there must come a time in your life that you must choose who you are going to serve. You must make up your mind for yourself and start acting and living like you believe that God’s word is true, which it is, and that God will do what He says He will do, and He will, for you. Times up for someone to keep prodding you along little doggie. It’s time for you to get your act together and serve God on your own. As the writer of Hebrews says: “For when for the time ye ought to be teachers, ye have need that one teach you again which be the first principles of the oracles of God; and are become such as have need of milk, and not of strong meat. For every one that useth milk is unskilful in the word of righteousness: for he is a babe. But strong meat belongeth to them that are of full age, even those who by reason of use have their senses exercised to discern both good and evil… “Therefore, leaving the principles of the doctrine of Christ, let us go on unto perfection; not laying again the foundation of repentance from dead works, and of faith toward God, Of the doctrine of baptisms, and of laying on of hands, and of resurrection of the dead, and of eternal judgment. And this will we do, if God permit.” (Hebrews 5;12-14, 6:1-3) Times up.  Choose you this day.

Sing: When He call me, I will answer; when He call me, I will hear. When He call me, I will answer; I’ll be somewhere working for my Lord. I’ll be somewhere working, I’ll be somewhere working, I’ll be somewhere working for my Lord. I’ll be somewhere working, I’ll be somewhere working, I’ll be somewhere working for my Lord.

Thought For Today: “And truly, if they had been mindful of that country from whence they came out, they might have had opportunity to have returned. But now they desire a better country, that is, an heavenly: wherefore God is not ashamed to be called their God: for he hath prepared for them a city.” (Hebrews 11:15-16)

Morning Manna by Rufus Parker - 2025 February 14

Love Never Fails

“Though I speak with the tongues of men and of angels, and have not charity, I am become as sounding brass, or a tinkling cymbal. And though I have the gift of prophecy, and understand all mysteries, and all knowledge; and though I have all faith, so that I could remove mountains, and have not charity, I am nothing. And though I bestow all my goods to feed the poor, and though I give my body to be burned, and have not charity, it profiteth me nothing. Charity suffereth long, and is kind; charity envieth not; charity vaunteth not itself, is not puffed up, Doth not behave itself unseemly, seeketh not her own, is not easily provoked, thinketh no evil; Rejoiceth not in iniquity, but rejoiceth in the truth; Beareth all things, believeth all things, hopeth all things, endureth all things. Charity never faileth: but whether there be prophecies, they shall fail; whether there be tongues, they shall cease; whether there be knowledge, it shall vanish away. For we know in part, and we prophesy in part. But when that which is perfect is come, then that which is in part shall be done away. When I was a child, I spake as a child, I understood as a child, I thought as a child: but when I became a man, I put away childish things. For now we see through a glass, darkly; but then face to face: now I know in part; but then shall I know even as also I am known. And now abideth faith, hope, charity, these three; but the greatest of these is charity.” (1 Corinthians 13:1-13)

Today’s Morsel: If someone were to ask you what your favorite love song is, what would it be? There have been many songs written about love. From country music, rock and roll, soul music, gospel music, to jazz music. When a heart is broken, people seek a song to sooth their emotions. Paul told the church at Corinth that love does not display attributes and actions that take away from God’s character. But true love displays his character in every situation and circumstance. And when that love isn’t displayed in the church the gifts of the spirit will cease because God’s love never fails. Today around the world millions will be spent on items to display love for others. But if you really want to show true love to others let Christ be magnified in your life.

Sing: I love you, I love you, I love you; What more can I say, but that I truly love you. And I will try to live my life, so that it says it to; I love you, I love; I truly love you.

Thought For Today: “And above all these things put on charity, which is the bond of perfectness.” (Colossians 3:14)

Happy Valentines Day!

Morning Manna by Rufus Parker - 2025 February 13

The Real Deal

“Let love be without dissimulation. Abhor that which is evil; cleave to that which is good. Be kindly affectioned one to another with brotherly love; in honour preferring one another;” (Romans 12:9-10)

Today’s Morsel: When we speak of being the real deal, we are talking about a person or thing that is genuine, or a good example. It’s not a copy or imitation. It is not fake or untruthful. You are seen by others as being very good and have the qualities that others say that you have. Paul said that our love must be without dissimulation. In other words, it must not be filled with hypocrisy. It’s has got to be the real deal because it represents God to others and God is love. Paul begins his 12^th chapter of Romans by calling for separation from the world and for holiness. He touches on the importance of the body of Christ as being one, and how we must wait on our callings. But then he shifts to show what bring these things and the body together in the church and in a Christian’s life. And that is love. And that love must stand at the head of every church and every life and be recognizable as God’ love and love that is true and genuine. If our love isn’t the real deal, it will soon be seen. 

Sing: Jesus loves me this I know, for the Bible tells me so. Little ones to Him belong, they are weak, but He is strong. 

 Yes, Jesus loves me; Yes, Jesus loves me. Yes, Jesus loves me, for the Bible tells me so.  

Thought For Today: “Charity never faileth: but whether there be prophecies, they shall fail; whether there be tongues, they shall cease; whether there be knowledge, it shall vanish away.” (1 Corinthians 13:8)

Morning Manna by Rufus Parker - 2025 February 12

The Proof of Discipleship

“A new commandment I give unto you, That ye love one another; as I have loved you, that ye also love one another. By this shall all men know that ye are my disciples, if ye have love one to another.” (John 13:34-35)

Today’s Morsel: Lately around the church we hear a lot about go and make disciples. What does that look like for you? Just how do we make disciples? Jesus said that others would know that we are His disciples by the love we have for one another based on the display of the love He has shown us. The display of His discipleship is seen by how we relate and treat others based on Christ’s love in us. This may not be as easy as it seems, if we are not rooted and grounded in His love. It’s very hard to share with someone else what we do not have within us. The fruit must be in the seed and the seed must be in the fruit. I’m not saying that you cannot make disciples. But it will be somewhat challenging if we are not one ourselves.

Sing:  Make me and instrument, an instrument of worship, I lift up my hands in Thy name. All glory and honor, to Jesus forever, I lift up my hands in Thy name.

Thought For Today: “Let no man despise thy youth; but be thou an example of the believers, in word, in conversation, in charity, in spirit, in faith, in purity…Take heed unto thyself, and unto the doctrine; continue in them: for in doing this thou shalt both save thyself, and them that hear thee.” (1 Timothy 4:12,16)