Morning Manna by Rufus Parker - 2018 November 21

“Let us therefore follow after the things which make for peace, and things wherewith one may edify another” (Romans 14:19).

Today’s Morsel:  When you get into an argument with someone, do you ever stop and consider what you are in an argument about when you are supposed to be representing Christ?  How can so many born-again believers, who are supposed to be walking in the Spirit, find themselves so quickly walking in the flesh?  Aren’t we supposed to be the ones that know the Prince of Peace?  Aren’t we supposed to be the ones that are following after those things that make peace?  We aren’t supposed to be involved in strife.  Strife is of the devil. So the next time you feel as though your discussion with someone is about to turn into an argument, stop, walk away, and take a praise break so that you aren’t offended.

Sing:  I’m learning to lean, I’m learning to lean, I’m learning to lean on Jesus.  Finding more power than I ever dreamed.  I’m learning to lean on Jesus.

Thought For Today: Take a praise break so that you are not offended.

Morning Manna by Rufus Parker - 2018 November 20

“Ye have heard that it hath been said, An eye for an eye, and a tooth for a tooth: But I say unto you, That ye resist not evil: but whosoever shall smite thee on thy right cheek, turn to him the other also. And if any man will sue thee at the law, and take away thy coat, let him have thy cloke also. And whosoever shall compel thee to go a mile, go with him twain. Give to him that asketh thee, and from him that would borrow of thee turn not thou away” (Matthew 5:38-42).

Today’s Morsel:  A man came to church once, and after service, he asked if I could give him a ride home.  I told him sure.  When we arrived where he lived, he asked me if I would be willing to take him to another house to meet a friend, to which I agreed. Then on our way, he asked me if I would be willing to take him to Walmart so that he could buy some food.  Again, I agreed.  I know what some of you may be thinking.  You probably would have said, “No way.”  I will be honest with you.  I did think to tell him that, but something inside of me just kept saying, “Do unto others as you would have them do unto you.”  No, he didn’t pay me.  But with a big smile on his face when I took him back home he said, “Pastor, thank you so much for doing this for me.  This has meant a lot to me. May God bless you very much ”  Jesus said, “Whosoever shall compel thee to go a mile, go with him twain. Give to him that asketh thee, and from him that would borrow of thee turn not thou away.” Are you willing to go the extra mile?  Go in Jesus name.  

Sing:  When I’ve gone, the last mile of the way, I shall rest, at the close of the day.  For I know that there is joy that waits my heart and my soul; when I’ve gone the last mile of the way.

If I walk, in the pathway of duty; if I seek for His sheep that’s already gone astray. I shall see, the Great King in all His Glory; O’ Lord, when I have gone the last mile of the way.

Well, when I’ve gone, the last mile of the way, I shall rest, at the close of the day.  For I know that there is joy that waits my heart and my soul; when I’ve gone the last mile of the way.

Thought For Today: We never know what awaits us at the end of the journey (Parker)

Morning Manna by Rufus Parker - 2018 November 19

“There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit” (Romans 8:1).

Today’s Morsel:  There’s an old saying that when you point a finger at someone else’s wrong, you have four more pointing back at yourself.  It is easy to see the faults of others.  But how do we deal with our own?  Paul said that there is no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus.  When we have been born again of the water and the spirit, we don’t look for the wrongs in others to condemn and chastise them, we look for how we may bring them out of darkness into His marvelous light. When we realize what Jesus said, “For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved” (John 3:17); we are less likely to condemn ourselves and won’t condemn others.  We seek to help and build others, not condemn.  

Sing:  Create in me a clean heart, O’ God, and renew a right spirit with me.  Create in me a clean heart, O’ God, and renew a right spirit with 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 within me.

Thought For Today:  Don’t ever condemn yourself. It’s not of God. 

Morning Manna by Rufus Parker - 2018 November 17

“Will a man rob God? Yet ye have robbed me. But ye say, Wherein have we robbed thee? In tithes and offerings. Ye are cursed with a curse: for ye have robbed me, even this whole nation. Bring ye all the tithes into the storehouse, that there may be meat in mine house, and prove me now herewith, saith the LORD of hosts, if I will not open you the windows of heaven, and pour you out a blessing, that there shall not be room enough to receive it. And I will rebuke the devourer for your sakes, and he shall not destroy the fruits of your ground; neither shall your vine cast her fruit before the time in the field, saith the LORD of hosts. And all nations shall call you blessed: for ye shall be a delightsome land, saith the LORD of hosts” (Malachi 3:8-12).

Today’s Morsel: I have seen so many people who say that they are Christians yet they will not tithe their income to God.  You know, I hear many of those same people complaining about how Satan is always doing this and doing that to them.  Many of them have little or no joy, and they are often without contentment.  And so I often wonder if this is the reason for their dilemma?  The Lord said if we tithe, will I not open you the windows of heaven, and pour you out a blessing, that there shall not be room enough to receive it. And I will rebuke the devourer for your sakes.  (Malachi 3:10)   "And all the tithe of the land, whether of the seed of the land, or of the fruit of the tree, is the LORD'S: it is holy unto the LORD” (Leviticus 27:30).  We can’t pick and choose which scripture we want to live by as a Christian. We must be doers of all of God’s word and not just hearers only.  Want to be blessed?  Live by the word.  

Sing: Give and it shall be given, good measure pressed down shaken together and runneth over.  Give and it shall be given, when you give, you give to the Lord.

Thought For Today: The tithe is the Lord’s. 

Morning Manna by Rufus Parker - 2018 November 16

“Then Peter said unto them, Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost. For the promise is unto you, and to your children, and to all that are afar off, even as many as the Lord our God shall call. And with many other words did he testify and exhort, saying, Save yourselves from this untoward generation. Then they that gladly received his word were baptized: and the same day there were added unto them about three thousand souls. And they continued stedfastly in the apostles' doctrine and fellowship, and in breaking of bread, and in prayers”

(Acts 2:38-42).

Today’s Morsel:  According to church history, over 2,000 years ago on the Day of Pentecost Peter preached his first message to the people in Jerusalem, and over 3000 people were baptized that day when they heard what he preached.  His message, as far as we can tell, was no more then the gospel of Jesus Christ.  Christ's death, burial, and resurrection.  Some folks received it, and others rejected it.  And if we follow history, it would be this same message, about Christ, that would cost these apostles their lives.  What do you think was so bad about Jesus that it caused some to be so upset, that they were willing to kill people for sharing with others about a man who was willing to die, so that others could live and have eternal life?  It really wasn’t the message, it was the name associated with the message.  As Jesus said, “And ye shall be hated of all men for my name's sake” (Luke 21:17).

Sing:  There’s just one, one, one; one way to God. There’s just one, one, one; one way to God. There’s just one, one, one; one way to God, baptized in Jesus name.

Thought For Today: “Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me” (John 14:6).

Morning Manna by Rufus Parker - 2018 November 15

“In the beginning God created the heaven and the earth. And the earth was without form, and void; and darkness was upon the face of the deep. And the Spirit of God moved upon the face of the waters. And God said, Let there be light: and there was light. And God saw the light, that it was good: and God divided the light from the darkness. And God called the light Day, and the darkness he called Night. And the evening and the morning were the first day” (Genesis 1:1-5).

Today’s Morsel:  Do you remember the day that God called you out of darkness to His marvelous light?  Really if you focus on the first five verses of Genesis chapter 1, you can see God’s plan for implementing the new birth experience.  Notice, “And the earth was without form, and void; and darkness was upon the face of the deep.” Notice it was without form and void.  That is like so many lives today.  They are empty and confused, and they see themselves as worthless.  There is darkness everywhere we turn.  There is ignorance, sorrow, wickedness, and obscurity in so many lives.  But notice, God moved upon the face of the deep and said let there be light and there was light.  Every life is empty and void without God’s Spirit being upon and in it.  Yet once you are filled with His Spirit, “Ye are all the children of light, and the children of the day: we are not of the night, nor of darkness” (1 Thessalonians 5:5).  Jesus is the light that will get you out of darkness.

Sing:  Send the light, the blessed gospel light.  Let it shine from shore to shore.  Send the light, the blessed gospel light.  Let it shine forever more.

Thought for today: Jesus is the light that will get you out of darkness (Parker).

Morning Manna by Rufus Parker - 2018 November 14

“And if it seem evil unto you to serve the LORD, choose you this day whom ye will serve; whether the gods which your fathers served that were on the other side of the flood, or the gods of the Amorites, in whose land ye dwell: but as for me and my house, we will serve the LORD” (Joshua 24:15).

Today’s Morsel:  If someone were to ask you what does it mean to serve the Lord, what would you tell them? Joshua was saying to the people, If this is going to be troublesome, a burden, a weariness, and not a pleasure and delight to you to serve the Lord, then, choose you this day whom you will serve.  He said to them:  If you have found a better Lord and Master, a better Savior and Friend, a better Father and God whom serving him will be more pleasant and profitable to you, then move out and draw fire. But, he said, As for me and my house I haven’t found nor located such a one, and so I’m sticking with what I know is good and profitable for me and my family (My wordings).  What about you?  Is Jesus the best thing that has ever happened to you?  If so, then serve Him with a pure heart and serve Him fervently.

Sing:  I never had it so good before.  I never had it so good before.  Looking back on how things used to be, God has really been good to me.

Thought For Today: The ball is in your court.  It is your turn to serve!