Morning Manna by Rufus Parker - 2026 January 28

Stay Alert

“But I fear, lest by any means, as the serpent beguiled Eve through his subtilty, so your minds should be corrupted from the simplicity that is in Christ.” (2 Corinthians 11:3)

Today’s Morsel:  We know that according to scripture Eve was deceived by the serpent in the garden, and it brought sin into the world because of her disobedience. Paul tells the church at Corinth that he was afraid that the same way that Satan deceived Eve, their minds were being deceived from the ease and of Christ. Living for God isn’t hard. It’s easy. But if you allow deception and false doctrine to deceive you, life is going to be hard for you, and you will be drawn away by your own lust. You must obey what God’s word says or Satan will deceive you as He did Eve.

Sing: I’ve got my mind made up to serve the Lord. I’ve got my mind made up to serve the Lord. I’ve got my mind made up to serve the Lord. I got my mind made up to serve the Lord.

Thought For Today: Don’t get bushwhacked.

Morning Manna by Rufus Parker - 2026 January 27

Water Baptism

“And he said unto them, Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature. He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved; but he that believeth not shall be damned. And these signs shall follow them that believe; In my name shall they cast out devils; they shall speak with new tongues; They shall take up serpents; and if they drink any deadly thing, it shall not hurt them; they shall lay hands on the sick, and they shall recover.” (Mark 16:15-18)

Today’s Morsel: According to the apostle Peter, baptism doth now save us. Water baptism is for the remission of sins (Acts 2:38). You can’t be saved with sin in your life. So, baptism by emersion is being buried with Christ (Romans 6:3-4) into His death. You are burying the old man, so that you can rise and walk in newness of life. You are not saved if you have not been baptized in the name of The Lord Jesus Christ. As, “Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved.” (Acts 4:12) Have you been baptized in Jesus’ name? It is the saving name. 

Sing: Have you been to Jesus for your cleansing power? Are you washed in the blood of the lamb? Are you fully trusting in His grace this hour? Are you washed in the blood of the Lamb?

Are you washed, in the blood, in the soul cleansing blood of the Lamb? Are your garments spotless? Are they white as snow, are you washed in the blood of the Lamb?

Thought For Today: Life is too short to play around with your eternal salvation.

Morning Manna by Rufus Parker - 2026 January 26

The Faith of Abraham

“By faith Abraham, when he was called to go out into a place which he should after receive for an inheritance, obeyed; and he went out, not knowing whither he went. By faith he sojourned in the land of promise, as in a strange country, dwelling in tabernacles with Isaac and Jacob, the heirs with him of the same promise: For he looked for a city which hath foundations, whose builder and maker is God.” (Hebrews 11:8-10)

Today’s Morsel: By all accounts, Abraham was just an ordinary man who was living a life like everyone else in his day. But, like Noah, Abraham, seems to have found favor in the eyes of God. Scripture says, “Now the LORD had said unto Abram, Get thee out of thy country, and from thy kindred, and from thy father's house, unto a land that I will shew thee: And I will make of thee a great nation, and I will bless thee, and make thy name great; and thou shalt be a blessing: And I will bless them that bless thee, and curse him that curseth thee: and in thee shall all families of the earth be blessed. So Abram departed, as the LORD had spoken unto him; and Lot went with him: and Abram was seventy and five years old when he departed out of Haran.” (Genesis 12:1-4) If you were to tell folks today that God told you to do something, you would probably be questioned about your hearing. But not Abraham. The Bible even tells us, “He staggered not at the promise of God through unbelief; but was strong in faith, giving glory to God; And being fully persuaded that, what he had promised, he was able also to perform.” (Romans 4:20-21) All Abraham had was God’s word. And he departed home from his family based on God’s word. As Christians, we must have the same faith as Abraham and the patriarchs of old, so that when God says to us go, we must not allow the spirit of unbelief to get into our hearts to the point that we do not listen and respond.  We must walk by faith and not by sight.

Sing: Lead me Lord, I will follow, lead me Lord, I will go; You have called me, I will answer, lead me Lord and I will go.

Thought For Today: Faith requires action

Morning Manna by Rufus Parker - 2026 January 24

The Message

“This then is the message which we have heard of him, and declare unto you, that God is light, and in him is no darkness at all.” (1 John 1:5)

Today’s Morsel: How many text or email messages would you say that you receive each day? Probably more then you wish to receive. The novelty of texts and emails are wearing people thin. I looked at my email trash and junk folder and realized that I had over a thousand messages in them. Some of those messages may have been important while others were not.  John said this then is the message which we have heard of Him, and declare unto you, that God is light and in Him is no darkness at all. The message is clear. You can’t say that you know Christ and walk in darkness. As Paul asked the church at Corinth: “Be ye not unequally yoked together with unbelievers: for what fellowship hath righteousness with unrighteousness? and what communion hath light with darkness? And what concord hath Christ with Belial? or what part hath he that believeth with an infidel? And what agreement hath the temple of God with idols? for ye are the temple of the living God; as God hath said, I will dwell in them, and walk in them; and I will be their God, and they shall be my people. Wherefore come out from among them, and be ye separate, saith the Lord, and touch not the unclean thing; and I will receive you, And will be a Father unto you, and ye shall be my sons and daughters, saith the Lord Almighty.” (2 Corinthians 6:14-18) There must be a separation from the darkness if we are going to be believer and followers of Christ. That, my friend, is an important message.  

Sing: There shall be light in the evening time, the way to glory you will sure find; Through the waterway, it is the light today, baptized in Jesus’ name. Young and old repent of all your sin, and the Holy Ghost will enter in. The evening time, has come, it is a fact that God and Christ are One.

Thought For Today: Light is only greater than darkness when we allow it to shine. 

Morning Manna by Rufus Parker -2026 January 23

The Shocking Question

“And one of the Pharisees desired him that he would eat with him. And he went into the Pharisee's house, and sat down to meat. And, behold, a woman in the city, which was a sinner, when she knew that Jesus sat at meat in the Pharisee's house, brought an alabaster box of ointment, And stood at his feet behind him weeping, and began to wash his feet with tears, and did wipe them with the hairs of her head, and kissed his feet, and anointed them with the ointment. Now when the Pharisee which had bidden him saw it, he spake within himself, saying, This man, if he were a prophet, would have known who and what manner of woman this is that toucheth him: for she is a sinner. And Jesus answering said unto him, Simon, I have somewhat to say unto thee. And he saith, Master, say on. There was a certain creditor which had two debtors: the one owed five hundred pence, and the other fifty. And when they had nothing to pay, he frankly forgave them both. Tell me therefore, which of them will love him most? Simon answered and said, I suppose that he, to whom he forgave most. And he said unto him, Thou hast rightly judged. And he turned to the woman, and said unto Simon, Seest thou this woman? I entered into thine house, thou gavest me no water for my feet: but she hath washed my feet with tears, and wiped them with the hairs of her head. Thou gavest me no kiss: but this woman since the time I came in hath not ceased to kiss my feet. My head with oil thou didst not anoint: but this woman hath anointed my feet with ointment. Wherefore I say unto thee, Her sins, which are many, are forgiven; for she loved much: but to whom little is forgiven, the same loveth little. And he said unto her, Thy sins are forgiven. And they that sat at meat with him began to say within themselves, Who is this that forgiveth sins also? And he said to the woman, Thy faith hath saved thee; go in peace.” (Luke 7:36-50)

Today’s Morsel: The story of the woman with the alabaster box appears in all three of the synoptic gospels (Matthew, Mark, and Luke). But we find in the gospel of Mark and Luke whose house Jesus was in when this alabaster box of precious ointment was broken and used upon Jesus.  It was a man name Simon.  After Mary did what she did with her ointment upon Jesus, Simon stated within himself that if Jesus was a prophet, he would know that Mary was a sinner. He failed to realize that Jesus already knew who she was, and he knew Simon’s thoughts the same as he knows ours. And so when Jesus asked him a question about forgiveness to test his understanding of forgiveness, it took Simon by surprise. When Simon gave Jesus the answer to his question, Simon, probably felt good about himself. Especially when Jesus told him that He had rightly judged. But when Jesus explained Mary’s actions, what Simon failed to realize was that Jesus’ parable was questioning his forgiveness of others. The parable should also speak to us, that we must be ready to forgive others for their wrongs and actions when they come to Jesus.

Sing: He set me free, yes, He see me free; He broke the bars of prison for me. I’m glory bound my Jesus to see. Glory to God, He set me free.

Thought For Today: Forgiving someone 460 times for their wrong will increase your faith every time.

Morning Manna by Rufus Parker - 2026 January 22

Surprise Your Prayers Have Been Answered

“Now about that time Herod the king stretched forth his hands to vex certain of the church. And he killed James the brother of John with the sword. And because he saw it pleased the Jews, he proceeded further to take Peter also. (Then were the days of unleavened bread.) And when he had apprehended him, he put him in prison, and delivered him to four quaternions of soldiers to keep him; intending after Easter to bring him forth to the people. Peter therefore was kept in prison: but prayer was made without ceasing of the church unto God for him. And when Herod would have brought him forth, the same night Peter was sleeping between two soldiers, bound with two chains: and the keepers before the door kept the prison. And, behold, the angel of the Lord came upon him, and a light shined in the prison: and he smote Peter on the side, and raised him up, saying, Arise up quickly. And his chains fell off from his hands. And the angel said unto him, Gird thyself, and bind on thy sandals. And so he did. And he saith unto him, Cast thy garment about thee, and follow me. And he went out, and followed him; and wist not that it was true which was done by the angel; but thought he saw a vision. When they were past the first and the second ward, they came unto the iron gate that leadeth unto the city; which opened to them of his own accord: and they went out, and passed on through one street; and forthwith the angel departed from him. And when Peter was come to himself, he said, Now I know of a surety, that the Lord hath sent his angel, and hath delivered me out of the hand of Herod, and from all the expectation of the people of the Jews. And when he had considered the thing, he came to the house of Mary the mother of John, whose surname was Mark; where many were gathered together praying. And as Peter knocked at the door of the gate, a damsel came to hearken, named Rhoda. And when she knew Peter's voice, she opened not the gate for gladness, but ran in, and told how Peter stood before the gate. And they said unto her, Thou art mad. But she constantly affirmed that it was even so. Then said they, It is his angel. But Peter continued knocking: and when they had opened the door, and saw him, they were astonished.” (Acts 12:1-16)

Today’s Morsel: I am so glad that I learned at an early age as a Christian, that God’s ways are not my ways nor are His thoughts. In today’s passage, we see that Peter had been arrested and placed in prison by Herod, after he had killed the apostle James, and he was holding him to kill him at Easter. But prayers for Peter were being made by the church for his release. When God sent an angel and released him, Peter went to home of Mary, John Mark’s, mother. But when he knocked on the door, the people did not believe that it was him. To their surprise it was him, but they did not believe it even with him standing right before them. I have always questioned, and asked myself this, if they were praying for his release, why didn’t they believe he would be released? If we are going to pray and ask God to heal, deliver, provide for, and make a way, then we should not be faithless. We must get ready to receive His answer and see the outcome at the door! 

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: All things are possible to him that can believe.

Morning Manna by Rufus Parker - 2026 January 21

Let’s Go To Church

“I was glad when they said unto me, Let us go into the house of the LORD.” (Psalms 122:1)

Today’s Morsel: There seems to be a spirit that is stealing the joy of people and preventing them from wanting to go to church. Paul states: “And he gave some, apostles; and some, prophets; and some, evangelists; and some, pastors and teachers; For the perfecting of the saints, for the work of the ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ: Till we all come in the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, unto a perfect man, unto the measure of the stature of the fulness of Christ: That we henceforth be no more children, tossed to and fro, and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the sleight of men, and cunning craftiness, whereby they lie in wait to deceive; But speaking the truth in love, may grow up into him in all things, which is the head, even Christ:” (Ephesians 4:11-15) If Satan can stop your development and stability in Christ, he wins. The Psalmist informs us: “Thy way, O God, is in the sanctuary: who is so great a God as our God?” (Psalms 77:13) We learn God’s way when we go to church. And again David said, “One thing have I desired of the LORD, that will I seek after; that I may dwell in the house of the LORD all the days of my life, to behold the beauty of the LORD, and to enquire in his temple. 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 27:4-6) He only wanted one thing. To go to church. It’s in the church where we learn and understand the ways of God and get on the road to heaven. Jacob, while sleeping on a rock under his head, had a dream and he observed the angels of God ascending and descending on a ladder in heaven, and God was at the top of the ladder. And when he awakens, he said, this is none other than the house of God and the gateway to heaven. Let me encourage you, go to church, and get on the road that will lead you there.

Sing: In His presence, there’s fulness of joy, at His right hand, there’s pleasures forever more. O’ what fellowship divine, I am His, and He is mine.  In the presence of the Lord, there is fulness of joy.

Thought For Today:  A person who says that they are a Christian but does not go to church is fooling themselves.