Morning Manna by Rufus Parker - 2025 October 11

I Can Face Tomorrow

“Take therefore no thought for the morrow: for the morrow shall take thought for the things of itself. Sufficient unto the day is the evil thereof.” (Matthew 6:34)

Today’s Morsel: Some folks live their entire life worrying about tomorrow. “Take therefore no thought for the morrow: for the morrow shall take thought for the things of itself. Sufficient unto the day is the evil thereof.” (Matthew 6:34) Jesus said, “Don’t worry about tomorrow, tomorrow will worry about itself.” Each day has enough troubles of its own. And so, He encourages us to avoid anxiety about the future and keep our focus on Him. Again, Jesus tells us: “Therefore I say unto you, Take no thought for your life, what ye shall eat, or what ye shall drink; nor yet for your body, what ye shall put on. Is not the life more than meat, and the body than raiment? Behold the fowls of the air: for they sow not, neither do they reap, nor gather into barns; yet your heavenly Father feedeth them. Are ye not much better than they? Which of you by taking thought can add one cubit unto his stature? And why take ye thought for raiment? Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow; they toil not, neither do they spin: And yet I say unto you, That even Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these. Wherefore, if God so clothe the grass of the field, which to day is, and to morrow is cast into the oven, shall he not much more clothe you, O ye of little faith? Therefore take no thought, saying, What shall we eat? or, What shall we drink? or, Wherewithal shall we be clothed? (For after all these things do the Gentiles seek:) for your heavenly Father knoweth that ye have need of all these things. But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you.” (Matthew 6:25-33) You can face tomorrow, just don’t worry about what it may bring. 

Sing: I know the Lord will make a way for me. I know the Lord will make a way for me. If I live a holy life, shun the wrong and do the right, I know the Lord will make a way for me. 

Thought For Today: “Let your conversation be without covetousness; and be content with such things as ye have: for he hath said, I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee.” (Hebrews 13:5)

Morning Manna by Rufus Parker - 2025 October 10

God’s Got You

“Who remembered us in our low estate: for his mercy endureth for ever: And hath redeemed us from our enemies: for his mercy endureth for ever. Who giveth food to all flesh: for his mercy endureth for ever. O give thanks unto the God of heaven: for his mercy endureth for ever.” (Psalms 136:23-26)

Today’s Morsel: One of the things I find in the reciprocation of God’s goodness is that if you remember Him, He will remember you. If you reject Him, He will reject you. The Psalmist tells us that because of God’s mercy, which endures forever, that even in our lowest estate, God will remember us. In our times of hardship and oppression, His mercy endures. This whole passage shows you and I how faithful God truly is to us because of His mercy. If you are His sons and daughters, you have nothing to worry about. He can’t run out of His mercy. As He spoke to Isaiah: “For a small moment have I forsaken thee; but with great mercies will I gather thee. In a little wrath I hid my face from thee for a moment; but with everlasting kindness will I have mercy on thee, saith the LORD thy Redeemer. For this is as the waters of Noah unto me: for as I have sworn that the waters of Noah should no more go over the earth; so have I sworn that I would not be wroth with thee, nor rebuke thee. For the mountains shall depart, and the hills be removed; but my kindness shall not depart from thee, neither shall the covenant of my peace be removed, saith the LORD that hath mercy on thee.” (Isaiah 54:7-10) His kindness and peace aren’t going anywhere. God’s got you. So don’t sweat the small stuff.

Sing: Year’s I spent in vanity and pride, caring not my Lord was crucified, knowing not it was for me He died, on calvary.

Mercy there was great, and grace was free; pardon there was multiplied to me; and there my burden soul found liberty at Calvary.  

Thought For Today: “Behold, they shall surely gather together, but not by me: whosoever shall gather together against thee shall fall for thy sake.” (Isaiah 54:15)

Morning Manna by Rufus Parker - 2025 October 9

Don’t Fear Trouble

“Though I walk in the midst of trouble, thou wilt revive me: thou shalt stretch forth thine hand against the wrath of mine enemies, and thy right hand shall save me.” (Psalms 138:7)

Today’s Morsel: David was a man that knew God’s word was true and that God would not fail him. When he faced Goliath in the valley of Elah, David knew that he was not going to face him in his own strength and power, he knew that he was going to face him in the name of the Lord. I think that this may be why David wrote in Psalms 23, “That even in the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil.” I also think that David was aware of the suffering and troubles of Job. And like Job, he knew that God would come through for him. David said, “Though I walk in the midst of trouble, thou wilt revive me: thou shalt stretch forth thine hand against the wrath of mine enemies, and thy right hand shall save me.” No matter where we find ourselves, in trouble, trials, or afflictions, God is as close as the mention of His name, and He will be with us and save us. 

Sing: Trials dark on every hand and we cannot understand all the way that God will lead us to that blessed promised land, but He’ll guide us with His eye, and we’ll follow till we die. We will understand it better by and by.

By and by, when the morning comes, and all the saints of God gathering home. We will tell the story how we’ve overcome; and we’ll understand it better by and by.

Thought For Today: “For in the time of trouble he shall hide me in his pavilion: in the secret of his tabernacle shall he hide me; he shall set me up upon a rock. And now shall mine head be lifted up above mine enemies round about me: therefore will I offer in his tabernacle sacrifices of joy; I will sing, yea, I will sing praises unto the LORD.” (Psalms 27:5-6)

Morning Manna by Rufus Parker - 2025 October 8

Now Hiring

“Then saith he unto his disciples, The harvest truly is plenteous, but the labourers are few; Pray ye therefore the Lord of the harvest, that he will send forth labourers into his harvest.” (Matthew 9:37-38)

Today’s Morsel: Everywhere I go these days I see signs that says, ‘Now Hiring’. I can’t ever remember signs saying, ‘Now Hiring’ when I was a kid. We had to go out and look for work. And we usually took anything we could find. We picked cucumbers, strawberries, blueberries, tobacco, corn, and again taking any work we could find. Long hours, shift hours. Just trying to get funds to make ends meet. 

Jesus even tells the parable of the husbandman who went out looking for laborers until the eleventh hour, because he wanted to get his harvest in (Matthew 20). And in today’s parable, He told His disciples to pray to the Lord of the harvest, that He would send forth labors into His harvest. You would think that everyone would be running to work for the Lord in His harvest; especially, those who say that they are born-again. But usually all we hear are folks telling us how they are busy and how tired they are. And when you ask them what they are busying and tired from doing, they don’t know.  Jesus should not have to put out a sign that He is hiring labors. The fields ought to be filled with believers willing to labor because of what He has already done for us.

Sing: Jesus use me, oh Lord, don’t refuse me, for surely there’s a work that I can do. And even though it’s humble, Lord help my will to crumble. Though the cost be great I’ll work for You. 

Thought For Today: Working for Jesus might not pay much, but the retirement benefits are out of this world.

Morning Manna by Rufus Parker - 2025 October 7

Faith Comes By Hearing

“But they have not all obeyed the gospel. For Esaias saith, Lord, who hath believed our report? So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.” (Romans 10:16-17)

Today’s Morsel: Scripture tells us that without faith it is impossible to please God (Hebrews 11:6). Paul understood this, and so he tells us how to build our faith. He said that it comes by hearing and hearing by the word of God. The more we hear and read God’s word, it should keep igniting the flame inside of us and keep us burning bright. The more of God’s word which is inside of you, the brighter your countenance, and outward demeanor ought to be. Your faith ought to be running off the charts, because you have said that you love God and His ways. It’s an oxymoron when people say that they are Christians but never go to church or read their Bible. Don’t fall into that category. You can’t make it without faith.

Sing: Faith can move mountains, mountains of fear and of doubt. Faith can move mountains, so why don’t you try your faith out.

Thought for Today: “For we walk by faith, not by sight” (2 Corinthians 5:7)

Morning Manna by Rufus Parker - 2025 October 6

The Enemy of God

“For to be carnally minded is death; but to be spiritually minded is life and peace. Because the carnal mind is enmity against God: for it is not subject to the law of God, neither indeed can be. So then they that are in the flesh cannot please God.” (Romans 8:6-8)

Today’s Morsel: What does it mean to have a carnal mind. It means to focus one’s efforts and life on fleshly, sinful, and worldly ways. Paul lets us know that if we focus our thoughts and desires on worldly, sinful things, it will lead us to death and be spiritually separated from God. But if we focus our thoughts and actions on God and His ways, it will lead us to eternal life and peace. If we have a carnal attitude and carnal actions, it will make us the enemy of God. As Paul informs us, corruption cannot inherit incorruption, nor mortal, immortality. Don’t think that you can take a corrupt life into heaven. It’s not going to go in there. Only incorruption will make it through those gates. As the Lord spoke to us through the Prophet Isaiah: “Wash you, make you clean; put away the evil of your doings from before mine eyes; cease to do evil; Learn to do well; seek judgment, relieve the oppressed, judge the fatherless, plead for the widow. Come now, and let us reason together, saith the LORD: though your sins be as scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they be red like crimson, they shall be as wool. If ye be willing and obedient, ye shall eat the good of the land: But if ye refuse and rebel, ye shall be devoured with the sword: for the mouth of the LORD hath spoken it.” (Isaiah 1:16-20)You don’t want to be an enemy of God. You want to be a friend of God, as that is what He calls us. 

Sing: I am a friend of God, I am a friend of God, I am a friend of God, He calls me friend.

Thought For Today: Don’t make yourself an enemy of God, you will lose.  

Morning Manna by Rufus Parker - 2025 October 4

Have You Received The Holy Ghost Since You Have Believed?

“And it came to pass, that, while Apollos was at Corinth, Paul having passed through the upper coasts came to Ephesus: and finding certain disciples, He said unto them, Have ye received the Holy Ghost since ye believed? And they said unto him, We have not so much as heard whether there be any Holy Ghost. And he said unto them, Unto what then were ye baptized? And they said, Unto John's baptism. Then said Paul, John verily baptized with the baptism of repentance, saying unto the people, that they should believe on him which should come after him, that is, on Christ Jesus. When they heard this, they were baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus. And when Paul had laid his hands upon them, the Holy Ghost came on them; and they spake with tongues, and prophesied. And all the men were about twelve.” (Acts 19:1-7)

Today’s Morsel: The receiving of the gift of the Holy Ghost is the most important thing about being a Christian that you can receive. There are many who love the Lord, serve the Lord, and do their very best to live as His word says, but they are doing it all in their own strength and power, because they have never received the Holy Ghost. The Holy Ghost is a free gift from God. And yes, it is for everyone. But because some folks have been taught and told that it’s not for everyone, many have believed this lie from hell, and they have never received it nor sought for it. God said through the prophet Joel, “And it shall come to pass afterward, that I will pour out my spirit upon all flesh; and your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, your old men shall dream dreams, your young men shall see visions: And also upon the servants and upon the handmaids in those days will I pour out my spirit.” (Joel 2:28-29) After the 120 in the upper room in Acts chapters 1-2, received the Holy Ghost, the Bible said that they were all filled with the Holy Ghost and began to speak in tongues as the Spirit gave them the utterance. Speaking in tongues is your initial evidence that you have received the Holy Ghost. Jesus said, “See that no man deceives you.” God has not put anything in His word that is not for our learning and application for our life. So, if you have never received the Holy Ghost in your life, I encourage you to read Acts chapter 2, 8, 10, 19, 22, and see how they received it, and what others were told to do to receive it. You will not be disappointed. I promise you.

Sing: I’ve got the Holy Ghost down in my soul, just like the Bible said. I’ve got the Holy Ghost down in my soul, just like the Bible said. Well, I’ve been to the water, and I’ve been baptized in Jesus’ name, my soul got happy and I’m so satisfied. I wouldn’t take nothing for my journey now; just like the Bible, just like the Bible said. 

Thought For Today: “Can any man forbid water, that these should not be baptized, which have received the Holy Ghost as well as we?” (Acts 10:47)