Morning Manna by Rufus Parker - 2025 July 12

The Key to Right Living

“When wisdom entereth into thine heart, and knowledge is pleasant unto thy soul; Discretion shall preserve thee, understanding shall keep thee: To deliver thee from the way of the evil man, from the man that speaketh froward things; Who leave the paths of uprightness, to walk in the ways of darkness; Who rejoice to do evil, and delight in the frowardness of the wicked; Whose ways are crooked, and they froward in their paths: To deliver thee from the strange woman, even from the stranger which flattereth with her words; Which forsaketh the guide of her youth, and forgetteth the covenant of her God.” (Proverbs 2:10-17)

Today’s Morsel: Right living isn’t hard if you use the tools that God has prepared for us. As Christians, there are certain attributes and traits that ought to be visible in our lives. Things such as wisdom first and foremost, knowledge, understanding, and discretion. These things don’t just appear in you. They must be learned and taught. We can easily see how many lives that these things are missing from. There are folks that have been in church all their lives, and yet who have no clue why these things are important to them. Discretion is missing from many lives. When spiritual leaders do not understand that the pulpit is not for politics, but for preaching the gospel and bringing all races of people together for the unity and good for the kingdom, discretion is missing. When parents allow their teens to date and fornicate, discretion is missing. When credit cards are maxed out, discretion is missing. When Christians think that it’s okay to partake in the world and its ways and that it does not have an evil impact on them and their family’s life, discretion is missing. You say, how do you know that? Because I have been there and done that, because my life was without discretion.  But now I have learned it and teach it. Discretion is key to living and having a good and productive life, yet most people don’t consider it because the devil has camouflaged it from them and the church. Jails would be empty if people had discretion. There probably wouldn’t be teen pregnancy if children were taught discretion. Discretion is no more than having the ability to avoid words, actions, and attitudes which could result in undesirable consequence. Discretion should be seen as a sister of wisdom. 

Sing: Jesus hold my hand, Lord, I need Thee every hour, through this pilgrim land, protect me by Thy saving power; Hear my feeble plea, oh Lord, look down on me. When I knell in prayer, Lord I hope to meet You there, precious Jesus hold my hand. 

Thought For Today: Always consider the consequence for your actions. 

Morning Manna by Rufus Parker - 2025 July 11

Precious Thoughts

“How precious also are thy thoughts unto me, O God! how great is the sum of them! If I should count them, they are more in number than the sand: when I awake, I am still with thee.” (Psalms 139:17-18)

Today’s Morsel: Do you ever stop and think about how much God thinks about you? The Lord told Jeremiah to tell the people: “For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, saith the LORD, thoughts of peace, and not of evil, to give you an expected end.” (Jeremiah 29:11) What do you think that God is thinking about you about? God knows what He desires to do in our life from before conception.  He was thinking about Jeremiah before he was even born. He told Him, “Before I formed thee in the belly I knew thee; and before thou camest forth out of the womb I sanctified thee, and I ordained thee a prophet unto the nations.” (Jeremiah 1:5) God had already thought about him being a prophet and the purpose before he was ever formed in his mother’s womb. WOW! The psalmist said that God’s thoughts toward him were so precious that he couldn’t even count them. That they were more than the sand. And because God is no respecter of persons, that means that those same thoughts that God thinks are towards us as well. I’m sure the early church prayed for God to take Paul out. But God knew what He thought about Paul. “And there was a certain disciple at Damascus, named Ananias; and to him said the Lord in a vision, Ananias. And he said, Behold, I am here, Lord. And the Lord said unto him, Arise, and go into the street which is called Straight, and enquire in the house of Judas for one called Saul, of Tarsus: for, behold, he prayeth, And hath seen in a vision a man named Ananias coming in, and putting his hand on him, that he might receive his sight. Then Ananias answered, Lord, I have heard by many of this man, how much evil he hath done to thy saints at Jerusalem: And here he hath authority from the chief priests to bind all that call on thy name. But the Lord said unto him, Go thy way: for he is a chosen vessel unto me, to bear my name before the Gentiles, and kings, and the children of Israel: For I will shew him how great things he must suffer for my name's sake.” (Acts 9:10-16) God already knew what He was going to do with Paul. I think maybe God said, if he has that much zeal, I think I can us him for the advancement of my kingdom. And Paul did just that. Don’t be too quick to throw in the towel and write others off, God already knows what He is going to do with them. When you prayed for them, His thoughts went towards them. And His thoughts are towards you, too. 

Sing: When I think of the goodness of Jesus, and all He has done for me, my soul cries out hallelujah, praise God for saving me.

Thought For Today: “For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, saith the LORD.” (Isaiah 55:8)

Morning Manna by Rufus Parker - 2025 July 10

Don’t Lose Your Praise

“By the rivers of Babylon, there we sat down, yea, we wept, when we remembered Zion. We hanged our harps upon the willows in the midst thereof. For there they that carried us away captive required of us a song; and they that wasted us required of us mirth, saying, Sing us one of the songs of Zion. How shall we sing the LORD'S song in a strange land?” (Psalms 137:1-4)

Today’s Morsel: Trials, affliction, depression, anxiety, stress, despair, hurt, a lack of spiritual encouragement, feeling as though you are being beaten-up in every church service, being chastised and made to feel as though you are not given enough or being involved enough in church, and evil doctors reports, all can push you to the point of losing your praise. These things can push you to the point of giving up and throwing in the towel and walking away if we are not careful. Elijah found himself depressed and at the point of suicide when he was threatened by Jezebel. One minute he had a great church service with miracles, wonders, and signs, and the next minute his life is threatened, and he’s ready to call it quits. What happened? He lost focus. This can happen when we listen to and watch others instead of keeping our eyes on the Lord. Church isn’t about others; it’s about you and Jesus. You go to church for Jesus and yourself. Not others. If you focus on others and their mannerisms, you are probably going to lose your praise. So, don’t hang your harps on the willow, keep playing them for Him and let God take care of the rest.

Sing: I’m gonna praise the Lord anyway that I can. I’m gonna praise the Lord anyway that I can. I’m gonna praise in the morning, praise Him all day long; I’m gonna praise the Lord anyway that I can.

Thought For Today: Praise is comely!

Morning Manna by Rufus Parker - 2025 July 9

The Blessings of The Lord

“O house of Aaron, trust in the LORD: he is their help and their shield. Ye that fear the LORD, trust in the LORD: he is their help and their shield. The LORD hath been mindful of us: he will bless us; he will bless the house of Israel; he will bless the house of Aaron. He will bless them that fear the LORD, both small and great. The LORD shall increase you more and more, you and your children. Ye are blessed of the LORD which made heaven and earth.” (Psalms 115:10-15)

Today’s Morsel: One of the things that I have learned over the years serving and walking with God is that He will fulfill His promises, and bless you beyond measure, if you love Him and do what His word says. God is bound by His word, but only if we obey it and do what it says. The psalmist tells us that not only will God be our protector and bless us if we respect Him, and reverence Him, but that the LORD shall increase us more and more, and our children. Notice, it starts with me. If I trust God and do what He says, not only will I be blessed, but so will my children. God’s blessings are like a ripple effect. They just keep right on coming. 

Sing: My blessing in coming my way, it’s only a matter of time, until His purpose comes to pass, it’s only a matter of time. I’m waiting for my miracle, I’m waiting for my miracle, I’m waiting for my miracle, overtaken by a blessing.

Thought For Today: “Blessed is every one that feareth the LORD; that walketh in his ways.” (Psalms 128:1)

Morning Manna by Rufus Parker - 2025 July 8

You Can’t Escape God

“O LORD, thou hast searched me, and known me. Thou knowest my downsitting and mine uprising, thou understandest my thought afar off. Thou compassest my path and my lying down, and art acquainted with all my ways. For there is not a word in my tongue, but, lo, O LORD, thou knowest it altogether. Thou hast beset me behind and before, and laid thine hand upon me. Such knowledge is too wonderful for me; it is high, I cannot attain unto it. Whither shall I go from thy spirit? or whither shall I flee from thy presence? If I ascend up into heaven, thou art there: if I make my bed in hell, behold, thou art there. If I take the wings of the morning, and dwell in the uttermost parts of the sea; Even there shall thy hand lead me, and thy right hand shall hold me.” (Psalms 139:1-10)

Today’s Morsel: You know, I have traveled around the world, and I can tell you that everywhere that I have gone, God has always been right there with me. Can you imagine how shocked David must have been when the Prophet Nathan told Him that God had sent him to him, and that God was aware of the sin that He had committed with Bathsheba? David, however, does give us a glimpse of how he felt in Psalms 51. This exposure of his sin was a wakeup call for David. He now understands that there is nothing hidden from God, nor is there any escaping of His presence. He states that God knew everything about him. He states that no matter where we go or what we do, God is aware of it. “Philip findeth Nathanael, and saith unto him, We have found him, of whom Moses in the law, and the prophets, did write, Jesus of Nazareth, the son of Joseph. And Nathanael said unto him, Can there any good thing come out of Nazareth? Philip saith unto him, Come and see. Jesus saw Nathanael coming to him, and saith of him, Behold an Israelite indeed, in whom is no guile! Nathanael saith unto him, Whence knowest thou me? Jesus answered and said unto him, Before that Philip called thee, when thou wast under the fig tree, I saw thee. Nathanael answered and saith unto him, Rabbi, thou art the Son of God; thou art the King of Israel. Jesus answered and said unto him, Because I said unto thee, I saw thee under the fig tree, believest thou? thou shalt see greater things than these.” (John 1:45-50) There is no escaping God. He knows where we are at all-times, and in all places. Even the King of Syria found out that God knew his intentions (see 2 Kings 6) As the Psalmist says: “Whither shall I go from thy spirit? or whither shall I flee from thy presence? If I ascend up into heaven, thou art there: if I make my bed in hell, behold, thou art there. If I take the wings of the morning, and dwell in the uttermost parts of the sea; Even there shall thy hand lead me, and thy right hand shall hold me.” Not only is God omniscience, He’s also omnipresence.  

Sing: Why should I feel discouraged, and why should the shadows come, and why should my heart be lonely, and long for heaven and home? When Jesus is my portion, a constant friend is He, His eye is on the sparrow, and I know He watches over me.

Thought For Today: You cannot run from God so give up.

Morning Manna by Rufus Parker - 2025 July 7

Who Do You Trust?

“O give thanks unto the LORD; for he is good: because his mercy endureth for ever. Let Israel now say, that his mercy endureth for ever. Let the house of Aaron now say, that his mercy endureth for ever. Let them now that fear the LORD say, that his mercy endureth for ever. I called upon the LORD in distress: the LORD answered me, and set me in a large place. The LORD is on my side; I will not fear: what can man do unto me? The LORD taketh my part with them that help me: therefore shall I see my desire upon them that hate me. It is better to trust in the LORD than to put confidence in man.” (Psalms 118:1-8)

Today’s Morsel: Why is it that folks will trust man more than they do God? Is it because they cannot see God, but they can see man? Or is this the way they were brought up from childhood and they think that man has all the answers? The Psalmist states that it is better to trust in the Lord than to put confidence in man. Man will oftentimes fail you. Solomon states, “Confidence in an unfaithful man in time of trouble is like a broken tooth, and a foot out of joint.” (Proverbs 25:19) An unfaithful man can cause you much pain. Especially in times of trouble. We see from creation that man cannot be trusted. God gave Adam and Eve one tree to avoid, and they let God down. They proved that man is weak in times of temptation and cannot be relied on to do what they know that they ought to do or are told. They may have good intentions, but most of them will fail you sooner or later and let you down. But God will never forsake you nor let you down. May I suggest that you learn to put your trust in Him and not man. 

Sing: I trust in God, wherever I may be, upon the land or on the roaring seas; For come what may, from day to day, my Heavenly Father watches over, over me. 

And I trust in God, I know He cares for me; upon the land or out on the stormy seas; For come what may from day to day, my Heavenly Father watches over, over, me.

Thought For Today: Trust in the Lord with all thine heart.

Morning Manna by Rufus Parker - 2025 July 5

 Looking For Guidance

“For thou art not a God that hath pleasure in wickedness: neither shall evil dwell with thee. The foolish shall not stand in thy sight: thou hatest all workers of iniquity. Thou shalt destroy them that speak leasing: the LORD will abhor the bloody and deceitful man. But as for me, I will come into thy house in the multitude of thy mercy: and in thy fear will I worship toward thy holy temple. Lead me, O LORD, in thy righteousness because of mine enemies; make thy way straight before my face.” (Psalms 5:4-8)

Today’s Morsel: One of the things that we see in scripture is that those whom God had chosen to lead His people, often sought Him for guidance to do just that. When God asked Solomon to ask what he wanted, Solomon prayed, “Give therefore thy servant an understanding heart to judge thy people, that I may discern between good and bad: for who is able to judge this thy so great a people?” (1 Kings 3:9) When Paul was chosen on the road to Damascus by Jesus he prayed, “And he trembling and astonished said, Lord, what wilt thou have me to do? And the Lord said unto him, Arise, and go into the city, and it shall be told thee what thou must do.” (Acts 9:6) There are two questions that Paul asked the Lord. Who art thou Lord, and what will thou have me to do? You can never lead correctly if you don’t know who Jesus is and what He wants you to do. We can make all the plans and program that we want, but if it is not His will, we are just wasting time and resources in our own thinking and actions. If we really want God to lead us and be with us, then we need to seek Him and obey Him when He speaks to us. “Then came the word of the LORD unto Samuel, saying, It repenteth me that I have set up Saul to be king: for he is turned back from following me, and hath not performed my commandments. And it grieved Samuel; and he cried unto the LORD all night.” (1 Samuel 15:10-11) 

Sing: He leadeth me! He leadeth me! By His own hand He leadeth me. His faithful follower I will be, for by His hand he leadeth me.

Thought For Today: “But Jesus said unto him, Follow me; and let the dead bury their dead.” (Matthew 8:22)