Morning Manna by Rufus Parker - 28 May 2020

Our Little Effort Contributed So Much 

“When the Son of man shall come in his glory, and all the holy angels with him, then shall he sit upon the throne of his glory: And before him shall be gathered all nations: and he shall separate them one from another, as a shepherd divideth his sheep from the goats: And he shall set the sheep on his right hand, but the goats on the left. Then shall the King say unto them on his right hand, Come, ye blessed of my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world: For I was an hungred, and ye gave me meat: I was thirsty, and ye gave me drink: I was a stranger, and ye took me in: Naked, and ye clothed me: I was sick, and ye visited me: I was in prison, and ye came unto me. Then shall the righteous answer him, saying, Lord, when saw we thee an hungred, and fed thee? or thirsty, and gave thee drink? When saw we thee a stranger, and took thee in? or naked, and clothed thee? Or when saw we thee sick, or in prison, and came unto thee? And the King shall answer and say unto them, Verily I say unto you, Inasmuch as ye have done it unto one of the least of these my brethren, ye have done it unto me.” (Matthew 25:31-40)

Today’s Morsel:  You know, I have come to realize that more folks are saved by kindness than any other way.  I believe that the reason Jesus had so many followers was because He was so kind to everyone.  But of course, He couldn’t defy who He was.  He’s filled with lovingkindness.  If we say that we are Christians, and we do no kind deeds, who is going to believe that we are who you say that you are?  A card, a text, an email of kindness can really minister to the hearts of others.  The old saying, “People don’t care how much you know until they know how much you care” is true.  How can people be so educated and yet with no compassion? Kindness crosses all race lines and barriers.  A heart without kindness does not understand the ‘Golden Rule.’  We must do unto others as we would have them do unto us.  Jesus said that when we have fed the hungry, given drink to the thirsty, visited those who are sick and in prison, and helped cloth those that are without, we are doing it unto Him.  Believe me, it is the little things that you do for others that contribute so much for the kingdom.  And it is those little things that will touch the hearts of others for Him.  

Sing: Thy lovingkindness is better than life, Thy lovingkindness is better than life.  My lips shall praise Thee, thus will I bless Thee.  I will lift up my hand unto Thy name.

Thought For Today:  It the little things that you do for others that contribute so much for the kingdom. (Parker)

Morning Manna by Rufus Parker - 27 May 2020

Let’s Keep It Simple

“When the LORD thy God shall cut off the nations from before thee, whither thou goest to possess them, and thou succeedest them, and dwellest in their land; Take heed to thyself that thou be not snared by following them, after that they be destroyed from before thee; and that thou enquire not after their gods, saying, How did these nations serve their gods? even so will I do likewise. Thou shalt not do so unto the LORD thy God: for every abomination to the LORD, which he hateth, have they done unto their gods; for even their sons and their daughters they have burnt in the fire to their gods. What thing soever I command you, observe to do it: thou shalt not add thereto, nor diminish from it.”

(Deuteronomy 12:29-32)

Today’s Morsel:  Some folks have made serving and living for God so hard on themselves, that now they think that if they do one thing wrong, they will be lost forever.  Serving and living for God isn’t about rules and laws.  Serving and living for God is about love and righteousness.  These two things are our test of sonship.  “In this the children of God are manifest, and the children of the devil: whosoever doeth not righteousness is not of God, neither he that loveth not his brother.” John said (1 John 3:10)  When we love God with all our heart, mind, soul, and strength and our neighbor as ourselves, and do what is right, we’ll be alright.  You don’t want to get so heavenly minded that you are no earthly good.  You don’t want to tie a chain around your own neck.  As Solomon said, “A stone is heavy, and the sand weighty; but a fool's wrath is heavier than them both.”  (Proverbs 27:3)  Notice what James says, “For whosoever shall keep the whole law, and yet offend in one point, he is guilty of all.” (James 2:10)  In other words, if you violate one part of the law you are guilty of the whole thing.  This is the reason why, I believe, that when David sinned with Bathsheba, he didn’t just violate one part of the law, he violated the who thing.  You must keep living and serving God simple.  Because if you make it hard, you alone must bear it.  It's all about our love relationship with The One who loves us.  

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: “Let’s keep it simple saints” 

Morning Manna by Rufus Parker - 26 May 2020

If I Can Save Two or Three… I’ve Done my Job

“But ye, beloved, building up yourselves on your most holy faith, praying in the Holy Ghost, Keep yourselves in the love of God, looking for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ unto eternal life. And of some have compassion, making a difference: And others save with fear, pulling them out of the fire; hating even the garment spotted by the flesh.”

(Jude 1:20-23)

Today’s Morsel:  Abraham Lincoln said, “When you reach the top, turn around and help someone else up.”  One of the reasons Jesus saved us, I believe, is so that we may help others to come into the knowledge and a relationship with Him, too.  Paul asked the church at Ephesus to pray for him,  “That utterance may be given unto me, that I may open my mouth boldly, to make known the mystery of the gospel, For which I am an ambassador in bonds: that therein I may speak boldly, as I ought to speak.” (Ephesians 6:19-20)  No, we can’t save anyone.  We can only offer them a hand by showing them what they need to do to save themselves. Jesus said, “The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he hath anointed me to preach the gospel to the poor; he hath sent me to heal the brokenhearted, to preach deliverance to the captives, and recovering of sight to the blind, to set at liberty them that are bruised, To preach the acceptable year of the Lord.” (Luke 4:18-19)  Paul said that if this gospel is hidden to a person, they are lost.  If we do not share the truth of the gospel, people will remain lost and we have not done our job.

Sing:  Go tell it on the mountain, over the hills and everywhere.  Go tell it on the mountain, that Jesus Christ is born.

Thought For Today: And of some have compassion, making a difference: And others save with fear, pulling them out of the fire; hating even the garment spotted by the flesh.

Morning Manna by Rufus Parker - 25 May 2020

All I Had To Do Was Run

“Know ye not that they which run in a race run all, but one receiveth the prize? So run, that ye may obtain.” (1 Corinthians 9:24)

Today’s Morsel:  One of the major events in the Olympic games is racing.  And one of the things about racing is only one person can win and receive the prize. When we understand this from a spiritual standpoint, we must run to obtain.  There comes a time that each of us must run from those things that can harm us or hinder us from winning the race and obtaining the prize that Christ has set before us.  Paul told his protege Timothy, “Flee also youthful lusts: but follow righteousness, faith, charity, peace, with them that call on the Lord out of a pure heart.” (2 Timothy 2:22) Paul’s desire to encourage and inspire on the Corinthian believers was to use the Olympic event of racing to challenge them, as they were well-aware of this event.  He told them, “Know ye not that they which run in a race run all, but one receiveth the prize? So run, that ye may obtain.”  He wanted this church to obtain the prize that God has laid up for them.  He told them that this Christian life is a race, so run it well.  Solomon said, “I returned, and saw under the sun, that the race is not to the swift, nor the battle to the strong, neither yet bread to the wise, nor yet riches to men of understanding, nor yet favour to men of skill; but time and chance happeneth to them all.” (Ecclesiastes 9:11) We all have the same chance to win.  But if we do not run, we cannot obtain.  Paul again admonishes us, “Wherefore seeing we also are compassed about with so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which doth so easily beset us, and let us run with patience the race that is set before us, Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God. For consider him that endured such contradiction of sinners against himself, lest ye be wearied and faint in your minds.” (Hebrews 12:1-3) Don’t miss the prize because you didn’t run !

Sing:  I’m running for my life; I’m running for my life. I’m running for my life; I’m running for my life.  If anybody asks you, what’s the matter with me, tell them that I’m saved, sanctified, Holy Ghost filled and water baptized, I've got Jesus on my mind and I’m running for my life.

Thought For Today: All I had to do was run (Parker)

Morning Manna by Rufus Parker - 23 May 2020

Opportunity

“The soul of the sluggard desireth, and hath nothing: but the soul of the diligent shall be made fat.” (Proverbs 13:4)

Today’s Morsel:  Every time I hear someone say, “I wish I had that.” or “I wish I could do that.”  I think to myself, then why not go after it.  Opportunities, like wisdom, are everywhere.  About wisdom, Solomon said, “She standeth in the top of high places, by the way in the places of the paths. She crieth at the gates, at the entry of the city, at the coming in at the doors. Unto you, O men, I call; and my voice is to the sons of man.”… They are all plain to him that understandeth, and right to them that find knowledge. Receive my instruction, and not silver; and knowledge rather than choice gold. For wisdom is better than rubies; and all the things that may be desired are not to be compared to it. I wisdom dwell with prudence, and find out knowledge of witty inventions.”(Proverbs 8:2-4;9-12) Even though someone said that opportunities knock once, how many knocks have you not open the door to?  You have an opportunity to have anything that you want if you put forth the effort to get it.

Sing: He’s changing me, my blessed Savior, I’m not the same person that I use to be.  Well, it's been slow going but there’s a knowing, that someday perfect I will be.

Thought For Today: The doors of opportunity are marked “push” and “pull.”

Morning Manna by Rufus Parker - 22 May 2020

Busyness

“Now it came to pass, as they went, that he entered into a certain village: and a certain woman named Martha received him into her house. And she had a sister called Mary, which also sat at Jesus' feet, and heard his word. But Martha was cumbered about much serving, and came to him, and said, Lord, dost thou not care that my sister hath left me to serve alone? bid her therefore that she help me. And Jesus answered and said unto her, Martha, Martha, thou art careful and troubled about many things: But one thing is needful: and Mary hath chosen that good part, which shall not be taken away from her.” (Luke 10:38-42)

Today’s Morsel:  I am often perplexed at the number of people who are always so busy doing nothing.  When I ask them how they are doing, they tell me, “Oh I’m so busy.”  I ask them doing what?  And they can never tell me.  We must not mistake activity for achievement.  And we must realize that busyness does not equal productivity.  When Jesus came to the house of His friends Martha and Mary, scripture says, “A certain woman named Martha received him into her house. And she had a sister called Mary, which also sat at Jesus' feet, and heard his word. But Martha was cumbered about much serving, and came to him, and said, Lord, dost thou not care that my sister hath left me to serve alone? bid her therefore that she help me. And Jesus answered and said unto her, Martha, Martha, thou art careful and troubled about many things: But one thing is needful: and Mary hath chosen that good part, which shall not be taken away from her.” How many times has Jesus came to your house, and you didn’t have time for Him because you were so busy doing nothing?  Maybe if we started to be more industrious rather than busy we could get back to the model of the early church, and we could accomplish more in our lives and for Jesus.  “And they, continuing daily with one accord in the temple, and breaking bread from house to house, did eat their meat with gladness and singleness of heart, Praising God, and having favour with all the people. And the Lord added to the church daily such as should be saved.” (Acts 2:46-47)  What does your day hold?  Are you busy or are you productive?  

Sing:  I lean on You Lord. I lean on You Lord. For the things that I need I lean on You.  When I don’t know just what to do, I’ve got the faith You’re going to see me through.  You supply my every need and I lean on You.

Thought For Today: “Busyness does not equal productivity”

Morning Manna by Rufus Parker - 21 May 2020

What Do You Believe?

“And, ye fathers, provoke not your children to wrath: but bring them up in the nurture and admonition of the Lord.” (Ephesians 6:4)

Today’s Morsel:  Someone said that no man ever really finds out what he believes in until he begins to instruct his children.  Paul informs fathers not to provoke their children to wrath, but to bring them up in the education or training of the Lord and to give them warnings and rebuke when needed to keep them in the ways of the Lord.  The responsibility to raise children is the father's, not the church.  The church is just an extension of the home.  What do you believe dad?  Are you well-grounded in your faith and truth?  The greatest heritage you can give to your children is the truth of God’s word.  As Jesus asked Nicodemus, “Art thou a master of Israel, and knowest not these things?”  (John 3:10)   The truth of God’s word is the only thing that will never change and that will keep your children protected and safe from all harm.  The next generation must be given a chance to live.  And it falls in the sandbox of every father to make it happen!

Sing: Tell me the story of Jesus, write on my heart every word.  Tell me the story most precious, sweetest that ever was heard.  Tell how the angels in chorus sang as they welcomed His birth, Glory to God is the highest! Peace and good tidings to earth.

Thought For Today:  The next generation must be given a chance to live. (Parker)