Morning Manna by Rufus Parker - 21 January 2020

Banking Beyond Expectation

“Lay not up for yourselves treasures upon earth, where moth and rust doth corrupt, and where thieves break through and steal: But lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust doth corrupt, and where thieves do not break through nor steal: For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also.” (Matthew 6:19-21)

Today’s Morsel:  I hear a lot about investing.  The news media pounds the stock market, the economy, and jobs.  I am not saying that these things aren’t important, as I believe that we all should plan for that rainy day.  My pastor taught me, “Live like Jesus is coming at the next moment and plan as though He’s not coming for a hundred years.”  But are you banking beyond your expectations?  Jesus said, “Lay not up for yourselves treasures upon earth, where moth and rust doth corrupt, and where thieves break through and steal: But lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust doth corrupt, and where thieves do not break through nor steal: For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also.”  In other words, Jesus is saying, don’t bank for the here and now, bank for the future.   Bank with Jesus, Inc.  No bank on earth can match His dividends and returns.

Sing:  There’s a dream that I dream of my heavenly home.   I know that I’m going there one day, yes I am. Maybe morning, night or noon I don’t know just how soon.  That’s why I’m sending up my timber every day!

Thought For Today:  Bank beyond your expectations.

Morning Manna by Rufus Parker - 20 January 2020

The Offended Brother

“A brother offended is harder to be won than a strong city: and their contentions are like the bars of a castle.” (Proverbs 18:19)

Today’s Morsel:  The story is told of a man who went to church for the first time and he forgot to turn his cell phone off.  While the pastor was ministering, the phone went off and the pastor scolded the man.   Some of the parishioners shouted at him to turn it off.  On his way out of the church, people were still giving him dirty looks.  His wife nagged him all the way home telling him she was embarrassed by his action.  The man got home and was so upset that he decided to go to the local bar.   He ordered a drink.  He was still nervous and trembling and accidentally knocked it over.  The barmaid immediately cleaned up the spill and told him that we all make mistakes, don’t worry.  The janitor mopped up the floor and told him it was no big deal.  The owner of the bar told him not to worry, she gave him a hug and also assured him that we all make mistakes and she would give him another drink on the house.  The man was too embarrassed to ever return to church, but has never missed a Sunday at the bar.  

The moral of the story:  Sometimes our attitude as believers drives souls to hell.  You can make a difference by how you treat people especially when they make mistakes.   A brother offended is harder to be won than a strong city: and their contentions are like the bars of a castle, Solomon said. Never forget where you came from.

Sing: You’re 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, as long as there is love we can stand.

Thought For Today:  Never forget where you came from.

Morning Manna by Rufus Parker - 18 January 2020

What Did You Find?

“Whoso findeth a wife findeth a good thing, and obtaineth favour of the LORD.” (Proverbs 18:22)

Today’s Morsel:  A young lad came running into the house shouting, "Mommy, look what I found."  When the mother turned around, to her surprise the lad was carrying a skunk.  Solomon said that whoso findeth a wife findeth a good thing and obtain favor of the Lord. As my wife says, notice it doesn’t say she who findeth a husband findeth a good thing!  The man does the finding.  There is a big difference between finding a wife and finding a woman.   A wife looks well to her house. She’s not idle.  She is wise.  She is industrious.  She is faithful.  She is energetic.  She is her husband's helpmeet.  Solomon's mother told him that her price is far above rubies. In other words, a virtuous woman (wife) is few and far between and there is no gem that can compare to her.  She is a crown to her husband; her children rise up and call her blessed and her husband also.

Sing: I found a new way of living, I found a new joy divine, I have the fruit of the Spirit, I am abiding, abiding in the vine.  Abiding in the vine, abiding in the vine, love, joy, health, peace, He had made them mine.  I have prosperity, power and victory abiding, abiding, in the vine.

Thought For Today: “A virtuous woman is a crown to her husband: but she that maketh ashamed is as rottenness in his bones.” (Proverbs 12:4)  

Morning Manna by Rufus Parker - 17 January 2020

The Heart

"A sower went out to sow his seed: and as he sowed, some fell by the way side; and it was trodden down, and the fowls of the air devoured it. And some fell upon a rock; and as soon as it was sprung up, it withered away, because it lacked moisture. And some fell among thorns; and the thorns sprang up with it, and choked it. And other fell on good ground, and sprang up, and bare fruit an hundredfold. And when he had said these things, he cried, He that hath ears to hear, let him hear… Now the parable is this: The seed is the word of God.” (Luke 8:5-8;11)

Today’s Morsel:  I have come to realize that what we allow to enter into our hearts can have a major impact on our life.  What we listen to and watch can really be a hindrance to our spiritual growth and maturity.  Jesus lists four types of soil that the seed fell on, and why three did not produce and why only one did.  There was nothing wrong with the seed.  It all was predicated on the soil.  The heart. He that those by the wayside are they that hear; then comes the devil, and takes away the word out of their hearts, lest they should believe and be saved.  They on the rock are they, which, when they hear, receive the word with joy; and these have no root, (in other words there is no commitment) which for a while believe, and in time of temptation fall away. And that which fell among thorns are they, which, when they have heard, go forth, and are choked with cares and riches and pleasures of this life, and bring no fruit to perfection. But that on the good ground are they, which in an honest and good heart, having heard the word, keep it, and bring forth fruit with patience.  (Read Luke 8:12-15)  If we are going to bring forth the fruit that Jesus desires us to bear, then we must have the right heart. “I the LORD search the heart, I try the reins, even to give every man according to his ways, and according to the fruit of his doings.” (Jeremiah 17:9-10)

Sing: Create in me a clean heart, O’ God, and renew a right spirit within me.  Create in me a clean heart, O’ God, and renew a right spirit within me. Cast me not away from thy presence O’ Lord.  Take not Thy Holy Spirit from me.  Restore unto me, the joy of Thy salvation, and renew a right spirit with me.

Thought For Today: Keep a watch on your heart. (Parker)

Morning Manna by Rufus Parker - 16 January 2020

The Cure

“A merry heart doeth good like a medicine: but a broken spirit drieth the bones.” (Proverbs 17:22)

Today’s Morsel:  When is the last time you just stopped, sat and looked at yourself and your situation and just laughed.  Isn’t it amazing how much better you feel when you have been around people and all you did was laugh?  And every time you tried to stop laughing you laughed even more?  Then days after when you thought about what made you laugh so hard, you laughed some more.  I believe that God has given us the answer to our health problems.  Simply laugh more.  Do things that give you a merry heart.  Most people pray and ask God for a job, they get the job, then they are mad that they must go to work.   Or they dislike where they work.  If they would go to work and see it as fun and excitement, they might make a difference in their lives as well as someone else’s.  The devil can’t steal your joy, you must give it to him.  Notice, a merry heart doeth good like a medicine.  Maybe if we could get more people to be happy and excited about life, there would be less sickness and suffering.   Maybe it’s time we start listening to what God says in his word. Care to try?

Sing:  If you’re happy and you know it, say amen, say amen.  If  you’re happy and you know it, say amen, amen; cause when God’s spirit falls on you makes you shout hallelujah, if you’re happy and you know it, say amen.

Thought For Today: The devil can’t steal your joy, you have to give it to him.  

Morning Manna by Rufus Parker - 15 January 2020

The Seed

“But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, Meekness, temperance: against such there is no law.” (Galatians 5:22-23)

Today’s Morsel:  God created the fruit tree on the third day, “And God said, Let the earth bring forth grass, the herb yielding seed, and the fruit tree yielding fruit after his kind, whose seed is in itself, upon the earth: and it was so.” (Genesis 1:11)  Notice, the seed was in the fruit and the fruit was in the seed.  And it was to yield fruit after his kind.  In the parable of the sower, Jesus said the seed was the word of God.  John wrote, “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God … And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us, (and we beheld his glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father,) full of grace and truth.” (John 1:1,14)”  Notice, the seed is Jesus.  If we are not producing fruit after Him, (His Spirit) then we must ask ourselves what seed is in us, as no tree can produce two kinds of fruit.

Sing:  To be like Jesus, to be like Jesus, on earth I long to be like Him.  All through life’s journey from earth to glory, I only ask to be like Him.

Thought for today: “No tree can produce two kinds of fruit” (Parker)

Morning Manna by Rufus Parker - 14 January 2020

Don’t Touch

“Now the serpent was more subtil than any beast of the field which the LORD God had made. And he said unto the woman, Yea, hath God said, Ye shall not eat of every tree of the garden? And the woman said unto the serpent, We may eat of the fruit of the trees of the garden: But of the fruit of the tree which is in the midst of the garden, God hath said, Ye shall not eat of it, neither shall ye touch it, lest ye die. And the serpent said unto the woman, Ye shall not surely die: For God doth know that in the day ye eat thereof, then your eyes shall be opened, and ye shall be as gods, knowing good and evil.”
(Genesis 3:1-5)

Today’s Morsel:  If you have ever been to an art museum or a crystal factor, you may have noticed that there are numerous do not touch signs.  Because of the value of the items, they do not want them to be destroyed accidentally.  The serpent asked Eve if God had said that they should not eat of every tree of the garden.  She said to the serpent, "We may eat of the fruit of the trees of the garden: But of the fruit of the tree which is in the midst of the garden, God hath said, Ye shall not eat of it, neither shall ye touch it, lest ye die."  As far as we know God didn’t tell them that they should not touch it.  God told Adam of every tree of the garden thou mayest freely eat: But of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, thou shalt not eat of it: for in the day that thou eatest thereof thou shalt surely die. (Genesis 2:16-17)  But I like what Eve said.  Too bad she didn’t follow her own words.  You can’t eat it unless you touch it.  Even if someone forces it into your mouth you still must touch it.  Why do you think your parents warned you not to touch the hot stove?  You’ll get burned.  You touch sin and you will get burned.  If Eve would have held to her words not to touch the tree, she wouldn’t have gotten them expelled from the garden. Heed the warning, don’t touch the forbidden fruit.

Sing:  Touching Jesus is all that really matters, and your life will never be the same.  There is only one way to touch Him, just believe when you call on His name.

Thought For Today: Don’t touch the forbidden fruit.