Morning Manna by Rufus Parker - 21 September 2019

Phony

“Though he slay me, yet will I trust in him: but I will maintain mine own ways before him. He also shall be my salvation: for an hypocrite shall not come before him.” (Job 13:15-16)

Today’s Morsel:  Job seems to understand that sin will separate you from God.  I’ve heard people say that the reason they won’t go to church is that there are too many hypocrites in the church.  I find it amazing that those same folks can see the error in others, but not in themselves.  The mote in their eyes has blinded them to the truth.  Job said, I really don’t care about others, I care about me.  I must maintain my walk and way with God.  God will take care of the hypocrite as they shall not come before him. (my wording)  But God forbid if we miss the mark because we allow others to keep us from the house of God.

Sing: I was glad when they said unto me, I was glad when they said unto me, I was glad when they said unto me, come let us go unto the house of the Lord.

Thought For Today: Focus on Jesus and not the hypocrite. 

Morning Manna by Rufus Parker - 20 September 2019

Favoritism

“If ye fulfil the royal law according to the scripture, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself, ye do well: But if ye have respect to persons, ye commit sin, and are convinced of the law as transgressors.” (James 2:8-9)

Today’s Morsel:  I like to tease with this young girl at church.  She’s really starting to grow in the Lord, and I like to tease her a little to get her to laugh.  I tell her, “Jesus loves you, but I’m his favorite.”  She quickly replies, “No way! God is no respecter of persons.  If you are his favorite so am I.”  Isn’t it reassuring to know that God loves everyone equally?  John said, “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life. For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved.” (John 3:16-17)  If God is no respecter of persons neither should we be.  

Sing: Your my brother you’re my sister, so take me by the hand, together we will work until He comes. There’s no foe that can defeat us when we are walking side by side, for as long as there is love we can stand.

Thought For Today: Don't allow skin color to hinder your love.

Morning Manna by Rufus Parker - 19 September 2019

No Value

“But ye are forgers of lies, ye are all physicians of no value.” (Job 13:4)

Today’s Morsel:  When we lived in Asia, often times, our duties would take us to South Korea, where there is lots of shopping.  Vendors from around 3:30 pm to midnight each day would line the streets to sell their goods. Every vendor would try to lure you into their store or to their carts to get you to buy their products. Every so often, I would get asked by a vendor, “Do you want to buy a genuine imitation Rolex watch?”  I would just laugh and think to myself, Who would want to buy an imitation watch?  But sad to say, not only do we buy things that are an imitation, we buy things that are of no value at all.  Some people even settle for fake religion.  Nothing that is made in this world is real. Solomon states, “Is there anything whereof it may be said, See, this is new? it hath been already of old time, which was before us.” (Ecclesiastes 1:10)  Job told his friends that they were physicians of no value.  Their counsel to him wasn’t worth anything to help alleviate his pain and suffering.  If you’ve got folks in your life that keep leading you further away from Jesus, they are of no value to you, and you may want to discard them. Because the gospel is the only real thing in this world.  Buy the Truth and sell it not.  

Sing: It’s real! It’s real! I know it’s real, this Pentecostal blessing and I know, I know it’s real.  It’s real! It’s real! I know it’s real, this Pentecostal blessing and I know, I know it’s real.  

Thought For Today: The gospel is real.

Morning Manna by Rufus Parker - 18 September 2019

Out On A Limb

“And Absalom met the servants of David. And Absalom rode upon a mule, and the mule went under the thick boughs of a great oak, and his head caught hold of the oak, and he was taken up between the heaven and the earth; and the mule that was under him went away. And a certain man saw it, and told Joab, and said, Behold, I saw Absalom hanged in an oak.”
 (2 Samuel 18:9-10)

Today’s Morsel:  If someone goes out on a limb, they do something they strongly believe in, even though it is risky or extreme and is likely to fail or be criticized by other people.  We could say that Absalom went out on a limb. He tried to steal the kingdom from his father David, but his ploy failed because of poor counsel.  In Luke 14:28-32, Jesus said, “For which of you, intending to build a tower, sitteth not down first, and counteth the cost, whether he have sufficient to finish it? Lest haply, after he hath laid the foundation, and is not able to finish it, all that behold it begin to mock him, Saying, This man began to build, and was not able to finish. Or what king, going to make war against another king, sitteth not down first, and consulteth whether he be able with ten thousand to meet him that cometh against him with twenty thousand? Or else, while the other is yet a great way off, he sendeth an ambassage, and desireth conditions of peace.”   There are many that take chances and succeed in their quest, while others fail and lose all.  If you are going to go out on a limb, make sure you get wise and godly counsel, or you could find yourself hanging from the limb like Absalom.

Sing: If it had not been for the Lord on my side, tell me where would I be? Where would I be?

Thought For Today: Always count the cost as every decision has consequences.

Morning Manna by Rufus Parker - 17 September 2019

Initiative

“My little children, let us not love in word, neither in tongue; but in deed and in truth.” (1 John 3:18)

Today’s Morsel:  One of the things about initiative is acting in the absence of orders.  In other words, we see things that need to be done and we do it without being told or asked.  How many times have you seen the elderly trying to get to their seat and no one helps them?  Or that person in Walmart on the motor scooter that can’t reach the item that is on the top shelf?  What about the young mother trying to change her baby, and no one to help her with her other toddler?  Why don’t people take the initiative and help them?  Should not the ‘Golden Rule’ always be in operation in the lives of saints?  John said that we just don’t love in word, we love in action and in truth.  If I say I have truth and no initiative that’s an oxymoron.  Faith without works is dead.  Remember, you always reap what we sow.

Sing:  If I walk in the pathway of duty, if I work till close of the day, I shall see the Great King in all His Glory, oh yeah, when I’ve gone the last mile of the way.

Thought For Today: Faith without works is dead.

Morning Manna by Rufus Parker - 16 September 2019

Quiet

“He that hath knowledge spareth his words: and a man of understanding is of an excellent spirit. Even a fool, when he holdeth his peace, is counted wise: and he that shutteth his lips is esteemed a man of understanding.” (Proverbs 17:27-28)

Today’s Morsel:  If you’ve noticed, when you go to the library they want you to be quiet, or use your inside voice.  In other words, they want you to be quiet so that you do not disturb others.  One of the problems with cell phones is people think they must talk louder to be heard.  They yell louder and louder not realizing that others may not want to hear their conversation.  Solomon said that even a fool is counted wise when he’s quiet, and those that know how to keep their mouth closed, and not tell everything that they know is seen as one with understanding.  Shhhhhhh! Quiet please. Others are listening.

Sing: Softly and tenderly Jesus is calling, calling for you and for me;  See, on the portals He’s waiting and watching, watching for you and for me.

Come home, come home, ye who are weary come home. Earnestly, tenderly Jesus is calling, Calling, O sinner, come home!

Thought For Today: The wise in heart shall be called prudent.

Morning Manna by Rufus Parker - 14 September 2019

Cloak of Zeal

“For he put on righteousness as a breastplate, and an helmet of salvation upon his head; and he put on the garments of vengeance for clothing, and was clad with zeal as a cloke.” (Isaiah 59:17)

Today’s Morsel: If you have every watched a civil war movie, you will notice that those military leaders who are in authority, are sometimes clad with a cape or cloak. It was worn by military leader’s as a mantle that was thrown over the body, usually fastened on the right shoulder by a hook or clasp and suffered to flow in a graceful fold down to the feet. In battle, it would be laid aside, or secured by a girdle about the loins.  It could also be used for warmth during periods of cold or placed around the female shoulders during periods romance if she became cold. When Paul wrote to the church at Ephesus, to put on the whole armor of God, he doesn’t mention the cloak. Even though we are in a spiritual battle, the cloak is reserved for those in authority.  When the apostle John giving us a glimpse of the end time battle, he says, “And I saw heaven opened, and behold a white horse; and he that sat upon him was called Faithful and True, and in righteousness he doth judge and make war… And he was clothed with a vesture dipped in blood: and his name is called The Word of God. … And he hath on his vesture and on his thigh a name written, KING OF KINGS, AND LORD OF LORDS.” (Revelation 19:11-16) The word vesture, in the Greek, means cloak. And John says, that He, Jesus, is clothed with a vesture dipped in blood. The Captain of the Host is Jesus. And He will be clad with a cloak of zeal.  

Sing: For the Captain of the Host is Jesus, we’re following in His footsteps, no foe can stand against us in the fray.

Thought For Today: He will defend His saints?