Morning Manna by Rufus Parker - 2025 August 30

Chosen For A Purpose

“But ye are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, an holy nation, a peculiar people; that ye should shew forth the praises of him who hath called you out of darkness into his marvellous light: Which in time past were not a people, but are now the people of God: which had not obtained mercy, but now have obtained mercy.” (1 Peter 2:9-10)

Today’s Morsel: One of the important things we must learn as the children of God is to what purpose He has chosen us for. Peter said that we are chosen to show others the marvelous light. Jesus is that light. And we have been chosen to know Him, and to make Him known. The gospel is our message to show others the light. It is also to be applied to our lives so that others can see that we, too, have been brought out of the darkness of this world. Unless we wear the gospel, it will make it hard for others to see the light. People ought to see Jesus in your life by your actions, behavior, and character. If your life does not display that you are a Christian, and that you belong to Christ, your light is dim. As the Lord asked Jeremiah, “How is the gold become dim! how is the most fine gold changed!” (Lamentations 4:1) How is it that one who has been called out of darkness to the light, can now become dim? The answer is that there is no oil of the Holy Ghost flowing in their lives. When the Holy Ghost is inactive in you, the light will go out. Ask Eli. And God will not be well pleased.  You are a chosen generation to show forth the praises of Him who has called you out of darkness unto His marvelous light. So shine on.

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.

Thought For Today: Don’t let the light go out.  

Morning Manna by Rufus Parker - 2025 August 29

Some Folks Just Don’t Get It

“The fool hath said in his heart, There is no God. Corrupt are they, and have done abominable iniquity: there is none that doeth good.” (Psalms 53:1)

Today’s Morsel: David says, “The heavens declare the glory of God; and the firmament sheweth his handywork.” (Psalms 19:1) And yet, some folks still do not believe that there is a God. He said that the fool hath said in his heart that there is no God. Solomon said, “The simple inherit folly: but the prudent are crowned with knowledge.” (Proverbs 14:18) When one lacks understanding and discernment, they will ultimately suffer the consequences of their foolishness, while those who are wise and thoughtful will be reward with knowledge and understanding. When one doesn’t believe in God, he will soon realize that he has no one to turn to in the time of trouble and hardship. Jesus said, “I am the way, the truth, and the life.” Without the way, you cannot go, without the truth, you cannot know, and without the life, you cannot live. Some of the most depressed and stressful people are those who do not believe that there is a God.

Sing: Who is this who comes with healing for the halt the blind the lame, bringing sunshine to the dark and shadowed life, always ready to forgive them and to make forgiveness known, who is this forever calling you and me.

It is Jesus, Jesus, sad one weep no more. He had healed the brokenhearted, opened wide the prison door, He is able to deliver evermore. 

Thought For Today: “Yea also, when he that is a fool walketh by the way, his wisdom faileth him, and he saith to every one that he is a fool.” (Ecclesiastes 10:3)

Morning Manna by Rufus Parker - 2025 August 28

Don’t Allow The Fear of Man To Bind You

“The fear of man bringeth a snare: but whoso putteth his trust in the LORD shall be safe.” (Proverbs 29:25)

Today’s Morsel: I knew this lady once, that was so fearful of man, that she lived in a state on continuous panic and depression. She was so afraid that she continually lived behind locked doors. I said to her, why are you so fearful? Aren’t you a Christian? She said, yes, but I am afraid. I said to her, did not Jesus tell us to not be afraid of him that can only kill the body but cannot kill the soul? I said to her, did not Paul tell Timothy that God did not give us the spirit of fear, but power, love, and a sound mind? She said, yes. I told her, so what are you afraid of? We can’t allow man to put us into a box and bind us that we live our lives in fear.  I can remember when I was asked to work inside the prisons to help counsel and encourage the men behind bars. Some folks looked at me, as if to say, you are going to do what? I said, yes, Jesus said, I was in prison, and you visited me. Some of my greatest times as a minister have been the times I spent in that prison and in the jails ministering to those men. Every one of them had a story. I have laughed with them, cried with them, preached to them, held their hands, and baptized them in the name of Jesus. I have even had some of them come to the church I pastored when they were released from behind those bars, because they saw someone who cared for them. When I see what looks like the one whom some would consider the worst guy or gal in Walmart, I go up to them and talk with them. Even our police officers. I’m not about to let fear put me in a box. And neither should you. Jesus said, I give you power. So, why are you going to let Satan, hinder your joy? Jesus has not given us the spirit of fear.  Yes, fear is a spirit and it does not come from Jesus.  

Sing: I’ve got the victory, over the enemy, and the world, can’t do me no harm; because I’ve got the victory, over the enemy, and the world, can’t do me no harm.

Thought For Today: “Let us hear the conclusion of the whole matter: Fear God, and keep his commandments: for this is the whole duty of man.” (Ecclesiastes 12:13)

Morning Manna by Rufus Parker - 2025 August 27

A Heart Transplant

“A new heart also will I give you, and a new spirit will I put within you: and I will take away the stony heart out of your flesh, and I will give you an heart of flesh. And I will put my spirit within you, and cause you to walk in my statutes, and ye shall keep my judgments, and do them.” (Ezekiel 36:26-27)

Today’s Morsel: Medical technology is amazing. When they can kill you, and keep you alive with a machine, remove your old heart because it’s about to kill you, and give you a new heart, and you can live again, that’s amazing. The Lord knew that our old hearts were corrupt and ready to kill us. Jesus said, “For from within, out of the heart of men, proceed evil thoughts, adulteries, fornications, murders, Thefts, covetousness, wickedness, deceit, lasciviousness, an evil eye, blasphemy, pride, foolishness: All these evil things come from within, and defile the man.” (Mark 7:21-23) And so, He’s come to give us a new heart. He said, “I will take away the stony heart out of your flesh, and I will give you a heart of flesh. And I will put my spirit within you, and cause you to walk in my statutes, and ye shall keep my judgments, and do them.” Do you need a heart transplant? Does it seem that your mind is troubled, perplexed, and you never seem to have any peace and contentment? Well, why not come to Jesus and allow Him, to give you a heart transplant, and put His Spirit in you so that you can live and not be continually troubled with the cares and ups and downs of this life.

Sing: He touched me, oh, oh, He touched me, and oh, the joy that floods my soul. Something happened, and now I know, Jesus touched me, and made me whole.

Thought For Today: “The law of his God is in his heart; none of his steps shall slide.” (Psalms 37:31)

Morning Manna by Rufus Parker - 2025 August 26

I’ve Come To Make Known The Vision

“And I Daniel alone saw the vision: for the men that were with me saw not the vision; but a great quaking fell upon them, so that they fled to hide themselves. Therefore I was left alone, and saw this great vision, and there remained no strength in me: for my comeliness was turned in me into corruption, and I retained no strength. Yet heard I the voice of his words: and when I heard the voice of his words, then was I in a deep sleep on my face, and my face toward the ground. And, behold, an hand touched me, which set me upon my knees and upon the palms of my hands. And he said unto me, O Daniel, a man greatly beloved, understand the words that I speak unto thee, and stand upright: for unto thee am I now sent. And when he had spoken this word unto me, I stood trembling. Then said he unto me, Fear not, Daniel: for from the first day that thou didst set thine heart to understand, and to chasten thyself before thy God, thy words were heard, and I am come for thy words. But the prince of the kingdom of Persia withstood me one and twenty days: but, lo, Michael, one of the chief princes, came to help me; and I remained there with the kings of Persia. Now I am come to make thee understand what shall befall thy people in the latter days: for yet the vision is for many days.” (Daniel 10:7-14)

Today’s Morsel: Throughout scripture, we see men having dreams and visions and they do not understand the meaning, and they become troubled. I’m sure some of you, reading this, have had dreams and did not understand the meaning and you are still waiting for an answer to see if they come to fruition. Peter, prophesying the vision of Joel said, “And it shall come to pass in the last days, saith God, I will pour out of my Spirit upon all flesh: and your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, and your young men shall see visions, and your old men shall dream dreams:” (Acts 2:17) Daniel’s vision was so troubling to him, that he said that he became physically weak and drained. This vision causes him to lose all strength, turning his face even pale and rending him powerless to do anything. This vision of the man he saw, caused him to faint. But a hand touches him and sat him up and tells him that he has come to give him an understanding and to make known to him the vision for it is for many days. Dreams and visions are the ways that God sometimes speaks to His people, Job said. (see Job 33:15-17) When we are quiet and at peace, God can make known to us His will and purpose and may even change our minds about something we may be about to do that will not reward us a good end state. Maybe, as I said, you are waiting for the answer to your vision or dream and it’s been troubling you. As the writer of Hebrews admonishes us, “Cast not away therefore your confidence, which hath great recompence of reward. For ye have need of patience, that, after ye have done the will of God, ye might receive the promise. For yet a little while, and he that shall come will come, and will not tarry. Now the just shall live by faith: but if any man draw back, my soul shall have no pleasure in him. But we are not of them who draw back unto perdition; but of them that believe to the saving of the soul. Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.” (Hebrews 10:35-11:1) Hold on, your answer in on the way.

Sing: Standing on the promises of Christ my King, through eternal ages let His praises ring, glory in the highest I will shout and sing, standing on the promises of God.

Standing, standing, standing on the promises of Christ my Savior; Standing, standing, I’m standing on the promises of God.

Thought For Today: “In a dream, in a vision of the night, when deep sleep falleth upon men, in slumberings upon the bed; Then he openeth the ears of men, and sealeth their instruction, that he may withdraw man from his purpose, and hide pride from man.” (Job 33:15-17)

Morning Manna by Rufus Parker - 2025 August 25

Your Last Night In The Grave

“Then he said unto me, Son of man, these bones are the whole house of Israel: behold, they say, Our bones are dried, and our hope is lost: we are cut off for our parts. Therefore prophesy and say unto them, Thus saith the Lord GOD; Behold, O my people, I will open your graves, and cause you to come up out of your graves, and bring you into the land of Israel. And ye shall know that I am the LORD, when I have opened your graves, O my people, and brought you up out of your graves, And shall put my spirit in you, and ye shall live, and I shall place you in your own land: then shall ye know that I the LORD have spoken it, and performed it, saith the LORD.” (Ezekiel 37:11-14)

Today’s Morsel: As a kid in high school, one of our history assignments was to walk through graveyards and see if we could locate grave sites of people who may have arrived and lived in America prior to the Civil War. It was an interesting assignment. When the Lord placed the Prophet Ezekiel in the midst of a valley of dry bones, He asked him if he thought that those bones could live again. The prophet is somewhat stung by the question. And so, to not appear dumb, and I think to give the answer like most folks would have, he said, Only you know Lord. After conversing with the Lord, and doing what the Lord instructed him to do, the bones are restored to life again and God tells him that the bones are the whole house of Israel. Because they had rebelled and did not do what God had instructed them to do, they found themselves in captivity and saw themselves as dry and dead. But the Lord tells the prophet that he would open-up their graves and cause them to come out and that He would put His Spirit in them and that they would live. In today’s world, if people remain in the world, they are dead in their trespasses and sins and are in the grave. And some of them, have been so long in that state that they feel that this is their lot. But God wants to bring them out. And He has given us the mission to go preach the gospel to every creature, so that their graves can be opened and they can come out and live again. God will bring them out and put His Spirit in them and they can live again and walk in newness of life. But we must do our part and tell them.  We may feel like the prophet, Only thou knowest.  Jesus has told us what to do, Go and tell them.  He will breathe into them the breath of life.  

Sing: I was sinking deep in sin, far from the peaceful shore, very deeply stained with sin, sinking to rise no more, but the Master of the sea, heard my despairing cry, and from the waters lifted me, now safe am I.

Love lifted me, love lifted me, when nothing else could help, love lifted me, love lifted me, love lifted me, when nothing else could help, love lifted me.

Thought For Today: “And when he thus had spoken, he cried with a loud voice, Lazarus, come forth.” (John 11:43)

Morning Manna by Rufus Parker - 2025 August 23

Rejoice Anyhow

“Although the fig tree shall not blossom, neither shall fruit be in the vines; the labour of the olive shall fail, and the fields shall yield no meat; the flock shall be cut off from the fold, and there shall be no herd in the stalls: Yet I will rejoice in the LORD, I will joy in the God of my salvation. The LORD God is my strength, and he will make my feet like hinds' feet, and he will make me to walk upon mine high places.” (Habakkuk 3:17-19)

Today’s Morsel: Many Christians lose their joy and excitement when they get bad news from the doctor, lose their job, are made fun of for being a Christian, or told by their employer that they must work on Sunday. But none of these things ought to be able to steal your joy and excitement. Paul tells us, “Rejoice in the Lord alway: and again I say, Rejoice. Let your moderation be known unto all men. The Lord is at hand. Be careful for nothing; but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God. And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus. Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things. Those things, which ye have both learned, and received, and heard, and seen in me, do: and the God of peace shall be with you.” (Philippians 4:4-9) Notice, rejoice. The verse emphasizes the importance of maintaining a joyful attitude rooted in one’s relationship with God. Regardless of our circumstances or situations, we are commanded to rejoice in the Lord always. It’s an attitude adjustment. It’s a mindset that must be learned and used always.  We just don’t rejoice when we are up on the mountain, we rejoice when we are in the valley, as the same God on the mountain is with us in the valley, too.  Habakkuk said that although the fig tree shall not blossom, neither shall fruit be in the vines; the labour of the olive shall fail, and the fields shall yield no meat; the flock shall be cut off from the fold, and there shall be no herd in the stalls: Yet I will rejoice in the LORD, I will joy in the God of my salvation. Bad times or good times, rejoicing must not cease from your lips.

Sing: But the God on the mountain, He’s still God in the valley, when things go wrong, He’ll make them right. And the God of the good times, is still God in the bad times, and the God of the day, is still God in the night.

We talk of faith, when we’re up on the mountain, but faith comes easy, when life is at its best. But down in the valley, of trials and temptations, oh friend that’s where your faith is really put to the test. 

But the God on the mountain, He’s still God in the valley, when things go wrong, He’ll make them right. And the God of the good times, is still God in the bad times, and the God of the day, is still God in the night.

Thought For Today: “My heart is fixed, O God, my heart is fixed: I will sing and give praise.” (Psalms 57:7)