Morning Manna by Rufus Parker - 2018 December 13

“For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given: and the government shall be upon his shoulder: and his name shall be called Wonderful, Counsellor, The mighty God, The everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace.” (Isaiah 9:6)

Today’s Morsel:  Sometimes when we read scripture, we can get sidetracked by the adjectives, adverbs, or nouns instead of whom the writer is writing about. Somewhat like when we read Matthew 28:19, which says, “Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost.”  If we are not careful, we can think that we are doing what was said and miss what we were commanded to do.  You know the old saying, “I know you think you understood what I said, but I’m not sure you understood what I meant.”  For example, Isaiah said "For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given: and the government shall be upon his shoulder: and his name shall be called Wonderful, Counsellor, The mighty God, The everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace."  If you will notice, both Isaiah and Matthew use the word, ‘name’ instead of the actual name of the person they were talking about.  Therefore, we must get an understanding of the one whom they are talking about when they say 'name'.  Well, the apostles John and Paul help us with our understanding. “But to us there is but one God, the Father, of whom are all things, and we in him; and one Lord Jesus Christ, by whom are all things, and we by him”  (1 Corinthians 8:6); “And we know that the Son of God is come, and hath given us an understanding, that we may know him that is true, and we are in him that is true, even in his Son Jesus Christ. This is the true God, and eternal life” (1 John 5:20).  His name is Jesus.  

Sing:  His name is Wonderful, His name is Wonderful, His name is Wonderful, Jesus my Lord. He's the Great Shepherd, the Rock of All Ages, Almighty God is He. Bow down before Him, love and adore Him. His name is Wonderful, Jesus my Lord.

Thought For Today: The truth shall make you free.

Morning Manna by Rufus Parker - 2018 December 12

“Even every one that is called by my name: for I have created him for my glory, I have formed him; yea, I have made him. Bring forth the blind people that have eyes, and the deaf that have ears. Let all the nations be gathered together, and let the people be assembled: who among them can declare this, and shew us former things? let them bring forth their witnesses, that they may be justified: or let them hear, and say, It is truth. Ye are my witnesses, saith the LORD, and my servant whom I have chosen: that ye may know and believe me, and understand that I am he: before me there was no God formed, neither shall there be after me. I, even I, am the LORD; and beside me there is no saviour.” (Isaiah 43:7-11)

Today’s Morsel:  Are you really a true witness for Christ?  John wrote, “That which was from the beginning, which we have heard, which we have seen with our eyes, which we have looked upon, and our hands have handled, of the Word of life; (For the life was manifested, and we have seen it, and bear witness, and shew unto you that eternal life, which was with the Father, and was manifested unto us;) That which we have seen and heard declare we unto you, that ye also may have fellowship with us: and truly our fellowship is with the Father, and with his Son Jesus Christ. And these things write we unto you, that your joy may be full” (1 John 1:1-4).  If we are His witnesses shouldn't we Him?  If we are His witnesses shouldn't we believe in Him?  If we are His witnesses, shouldn't we testify of Him before others?  If you know where the righteousness, goodness, truth, and salvation is, don’t hide it, tell it.  To me, Christmas is the best time to be His witnesses by all those who say that they know Him.   Let's go tell others about the Savior who they are celebrating this season.  

Sing: I love my Savior, He loves me too; I’ll seek His favor in everything that I do.

Thought For Today: The Day of Pentecost brought forth witnesses.

Morning Manna by Rufus Parker - 2018 December 11

"Then the people rejoiced, for that they offered willingly, because with perfect heart they offered willingly to the LORD: and David the king also rejoiced with great joy." (1 Chronicles 29:9) 

Today’s Morsel:  Do you ever wonder why there are so many scriptures about rejoicing for the Christian? Well, the answer lies in the fact that God has given you a garment of praise for the spirit of heaviness.  Take for example that your team is losing and in the last two minutes they come back and win.  Suddenly you are no longer disappointed, but excited.  You have a smile on your face and you are elated.  You feel good about yourself and your team.  You are on your feet celebrating and rejoicing!  Well, if you understand this, then you should understand why God wants you to offer praise continually with your lips.  You are not a loser, nor does your team lose.  We win.  We’ve read the back of the book.  So stop giving in to the spirit of defeat and learn to rejoice.  Scripture says that the people offered willingly.  Nobody made them do it.  They did it willingly and David rejoiced that they did.  When you offer praise willingly and rejoice willingly because you love God, He rejoices that you do.  Don’t you always want to please God?  Then put on the garment of praise and rejoice!  

Sing:  Rejoice for the steps of a righteous man they are ordered of God, they are ordered of God.  Rejoice for the step of a righteous man they are ordered of God.

Thought For Today:  Praise still works.

Morning Manna by Rufus Parker - 2018 December 10

“Therefore the Lord himself shall give you a sign; Behold, a virgin shall conceive, and bear a son, and shall call his name Immanuel” (Isaiah 7:14).

Today’s Morsel:  Throughout the Bible, when God spoke to men, many of them wanted a sign that He had talked with them.  Abraham’s servant prayed for God to honor the signs He had chosen to help him in the selection process for a wife for Isaac.  Gideon wanted a sign from God that he had been chosen by God to lead Israel.  Isaiah said, “Therefore the Lord himself shall give you a sign; Behold, a virgin shall conceive, and bear a son, and shall call his name Immanuel.”  From just reading this verse, there would be no indication of any kind of a sign given.  A virgin having a child would be no big deal, as that is how children are supposed to be born, by virgins and not fornicators.  But the sign is found in the phrase of what she would call his name. Immanuel, which being interpreted is God with us. What sign are you waiting for?  An evil and adulterous generation seeketh after a sign, Jesus said (Matthew 12:39).  “And we know that the Son of God is come, and hath given us an understanding, that we may know him that is true, and we are in him that is true, even in his Son Jesus Christ. This is the true God, and eternal life” (1 John 5:20).   There’s your sign.  He is all the sign we need.  

Sing:  Emmanuel!  Emmanuel!  His name is called, Emmanuel! God with us, revealed in us, His name is called Emmanuel.

Thought For Today:  Immanuel, God with us.

Morning Manna by Rufus Parker - 2018 December 8

“Behold, I will send my messenger, and he shall prepare the way before me: and the Lord, whom ye seek, shall suddenly come to his temple, even the messenger of the covenant, whom ye delight in: behold, he shall come, saith the LORD of hosts” (Malachi 3:1).

Today’s Morsel:  One of the things we learn from scripture is that we must become doers of God’s word and not just hearers.  We know that God will come again as the angels told the apostles (Acts 1:10-11).  As born-again believers, we have been commissioned to prepare the way for the coming of the Lord (Mark 16:165-18).  We are now the voices in the wilderness. We are now the ones that must make straight the highway in the desert for our God.  We are now the sons and daughters that must prophesy and prepare His way, to give knowledge of salvation to the people for the remission of their sins.   The apostolic message preached by Peter on the Day of Pentecostal hasn’t changed (Acts 2:38-42).  It’s the message that we must proclaim and that everyone must hear and obey if they are going to be ready when He comes.  Have you received the Holy Ghost since you have believed?  Be a doer of the word.  

Sing: He’s coming soon, He’s coming soon, with joy we welcome His returning.  It may be morn, it may be night or noon, we know He’s coming soon.

Thought For Today: Get ready, Jesus is coming to town.

Morning Manna by Rufus Parker - 2018 December 7

“This is the day which the LORD hath made; we will rejoice and be glad in it” (Psalms 118:24).

Today’s Morsel:  I think that one of the reasons most people hate Monday is because they do not rejoice in it. David said, 'This is the day that the Lord hath made; we will rejoice and be glad in it."  He didn’t identify which day was made by God, he knew that God made every day.  David knew that no matter what it was or what was taking place, whether it was a good day or an evil day, it was the day that God had made, and he was going to rejoice it.  I guess if we rejoice in the Lord always, we’ll enjoy the day.  Therefore, I conclude that whatsoever God does, whether it is to heal the sick or to allow to die, to break down or to build-up, to deliver, to provide for, or to give newness of life, it was already in His plan for that day and we should just rejoice in it.

Sing: This is the day!  This is the day! That the Lord hath made, that the Lord hath made.  We will rejoice, we will rejoice, and be glad in it, and be glad in it.  This is the day that the Lord hath made, we will rejoice and be glad in it.  This is the day, this is the day, that the Lord hath made.

Thought For Today: Rejoice in the Lord always and again I say rejoice.

Morning Manna by Rufus Parker - 2018 December 6

“O worship the LORD in the beauty of holiness: fear before him, all the earth. Say among the heathen that the LORD reigneth: the world also shall be established that it shall not be moved: he shall judge the people righteously. Let the heavens rejoice, and let the earth be glad; let the sea roar, and the fulness thereof. Let the field be joyful, and all that is therein: then shall all the trees of the wood rejoice Before the LORD: for he cometh, for he cometh to judge the earth: he shall judge the world with righteousness, and the people with his truth” (Psalms 96:9-13).

Today’s Morsel:  Paul Revere has been credited with giving the warning that the British were coming.  It was to alert the ‘Minutemen’ that the British forces were headed their way.  The Psalmist, many years before, had also given a warning to the people of the coming of the Lord.  His warning is repeated twice in the Psalm to show the certainty of Christ's coming and the importance of it, and the reason there was for joy and gladness because of it.  His coming was to save sinners, to procure peace, pardon, righteousness, and eternal life for all and therefore should be a source of great joy.  As Paul told Timothy, “This is a faithful saying, and worthy of all acceptation, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners; of whom I am chief” (1 Timothy 1:15).  Aren’t you glad that He forgave you of your sin?  “These things have I spoken unto you, that my joy might remain in you, and that your joy might be full” Jesus said (John 15:11).

Sing:  I have found His grace is all complete He supplies my every need.  While I sit and learn at Jesus’ feet, I am free, yes free indeed.

It is joy unspeakable and full of glory, full of gory, full of glory.  It is joy unspeakable and full of glory, and the half hath never yet been told.

Thought For Today:  The joy of the Lord is my strength.