Morning Manna by Rufus Parker - 2025 July 18

Seize The Initiative

“Therefore they that were scattered abroad went every where preaching the word. Then Philip went down to the city of Samaria, and preached Christ unto them. And the people with one accord gave heed unto those things which Philip spake, hearing and seeing the miracles which he did. For unclean spirits, crying with loud voice, came out of many that were possessed with them: and many taken with palsies, and that were lame, were healed. And there was great joy in that city. But there was a certain man, called Simon, which beforetime in the same city used sorcery, and bewitched the people of Samaria, giving out that himself was some great one: To whom they all gave heed, from the least to the greatest, saying, This man is the great power of God. And to him they had regard, because that of long time he had bewitched them with sorceries. But when they believed Philip preaching the things concerning the kingdom of God, and the name of Jesus Christ, they were baptized, both men and women. Then Simon himself believed also: and when he was baptized, he continued with Philip, and wondered, beholding the miracles and signs which were done.” (Acts 8:4-13)

Today’s Morsel: The story is told of a man who was sitting at home one day, just chilling out when there was a knock on his door. The man was known for his rashness and bluntness each time he answered his door. And so this day was no exception. When he opened his door ,the man said to the stranger, Who are you? The man replied, I am opportunity. The man slams the door in his face and went back in the house and sat down. About 10 minutes later, he heard the knock on his door again, the man went back to the door and opened it and said to the stranger, Who are you? The stranger said, I am opportunity. The man said to the stranger, I thought you only knocked once, the stranger replied, Yeah, usually I do, but today is a slow day!

Opportunity may come your way only once and you must seize it, or it may never come your way again. We read in Luke 18, that there was a multitude following Jesus, but none of them seem to seize the opportunity that He was able to provide for them. But at the end of town, as He was exiting, a blind man cried out to Jesus to have mercy on him. This man seems to realize that he may never get another chance for Jesus to meet his need. And so, he called out. When Jesus stopped to see what he wanted, it confounded many. When Jesus asked the blind man what he wanted, the man said, Lord that I might receive my sight. And Jesus tells him to receive his sight as his faith had made him whole. This man seized upon the opportunity. When the spirit is moving in your church services, that might be a good time to seize upon what your needs are. The woman with issue of blood didn’t care what she had to do to reach Jesus. She just knew that she could not let the opportunity pass her by. Are you going to keep letting your opportunity pass you by?

Sing: He touched me, oh, oh, He touched me, and oh, the joy that floods my soul. Something happened, and now I know, Jesus touched me and made me whole.

Thought For Today: “And after he had seen the vision, immediately we endeavoured to go into Macedonia, assuredly gathering that the Lord had called us for to preach the gospel unto them.” (Acts 16:10)

Morning Manna by Rufus Parker - 2025 July 17

Do You Know What It Takes To Be Saved?

“And at midnight Paul and Silas prayed, and sang praises unto God: and the prisoners heard them. And suddenly there was a great earthquake, so that the foundations of the prison were shaken: and immediately all the doors were opened, and every one's bands were loosed. And the keeper of the prison awaking out of his sleep, and seeing the prison doors open, he drew out his sword, and would have killed himself, supposing that the prisoners had been fled. But Paul cried with a loud voice, saying, Do thyself no harm: for we are all here. Then he called for a light, and sprang in, and came trembling, and fell down before Paul and Silas, And brought them out, and said, Sirs, what must I do to be saved?” (Acts 16:25-30)

Today’s Morsel: Have you ever had someone ask you what it takes for them to be saved? Sad to say, there are many Christian denominations in the world, and each one of them will tell you that their way is the way to be saved. I find that hard to believe when in most cases we read the same Bible, believe in the same Jesus, worship the same God, and say that we are all born again. If this is true, then why do we have so many ways of salvation? Isn’t Jesus Christ the same, yesterday, today, and forever? Did He not say, “For I am the LORD, I change not...” (Malachi 3:6); and “Ye are my witnesses, saith the LORD, and my servant whom I have chosen: that ye may know and believe me, and understand that I am he: before me there was no God formed, neither shall there be after me. I, even I, am the LORD; and beside me there is no saviour. I have declared, and have saved, and I have shewed, when there was no strange god among you: therefore ye are my witnesses, saith the LORD, that I am God.” (Isaiah 43:10-12). So, as His witnesses, do you know what it takes to be saved? “Now when they heard this, they were pricked in their heart, and said unto Peter and to the rest of the apostles, Men and brethren, what shall we do? 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.” (Acts 2:37-41); “Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved.” (Acts 4:12) What do you tell folks it takes to be saved?  Let’s all stick with the Bible for our doctrine.

Sing: Born-again, there has been a change in me; Born-again just like Jesus said. Born-again and all because of Calvary. I’m so glad that I been born-again.

Thought For Today: “If there come any unto you, and bring not this doctrine, receive him not into your house, neither bid him God speed:” (2 John 1:10)

Morning Manna by Rufus Parker - 2025 July 16

Speak Softly

“A soft answer turneth away wrath: but grievous words stir up anger.” (Proverbs 15:1)

Today’s Morsel: Why is it that folks who think that they need to get their point across to others and to their children oftentimes feel a need to yell and scream? Shouldn’t a kind voice tone, especially for Christians, be able to get their point across. Do they want to yell and scream to incite fear? Or is this what they have learned from their parents, coaches, teachers, pastors, leaders, and mentors? Scripture tells us: “Death and life are in the power of the tongue: and they that love it shall eat the fruit thereof.” (Proverbs 18:21) Sticks and stone do break bone and more importantly, words sure do hurt. In some cases, evil words, and yelling and screaming have caused much fear, depression, stress, hate, and anxiety in marriages, spouses, children, and employees, and relationships; some that will never recover from it without the help of God. A soft answer turns away anger. Kind words ought to produce for you the same end state that you want without having to scream and yell, or perhaps even a better end state. If it doesn’t keep doing it until it works. “Keep thy tongue from evil, and thy lips from speaking guile.” (Psalms 34:13)

Sing: Say the name of Jesus, say the name so precious, no other name I know, that can calm your fears, and dry your tears; and wipe away your pain; When you do know what else to pray, when you can’t find the words to say, Just say the name of Jesus.

Thought For Today: “A word fitly spoken is like apples of gold in pictures of silver.” (Proverbs 25:11)

Morning Manna by Rufus Parker - 2025 July 15

God Is With Us

“Though the LORD be high, yet hath he respect unto the lowly: but the proud he knoweth afar off. Though I walk in the midst of trouble, thou wilt revive me: thou shalt stretch forth thine hand against the wrath of mine enemies, and thy right hand shall save me.” (Psalms 138:6-7)

Today’s Morsel: A few days ago, I wrote that we cannot escape God. I don’t know why anyone would want to go away from a loving and caring God. Yet some folks do. But as Paul admonished the church at Galatia: “Are ye so foolish? having begun in the Spirit, are ye now made perfect by the flesh?” (Galatians 3:3) From the time that God led the children of Israel out of bondage, God desired to be with them. He told Moses: “Speak unto the children of Israel, that they bring me an offering: of every man that giveth it willingly with his heart ye shall take my offering…And let them make me a sanctuary; that I may dwell among them.” (Exodus 25:2,8). God wanted to be with them. For as long as the Ark of the Covenant was present, Israel knew that God was present with them, and so did their enemies. David said that even in the valley of the shadow of death he would fear no evil because he knew that God was with him. The psalmist states: Though I walk in the midst of trouble, thou wilt revive me: thou shalt stretch forth thine hand against the wrath of mine enemies, and thy right hand shall save me. Keeping that in mind, do you remember what Paul said, if God be for us, who can be against us?

Sing: If God be for us, who can be against us. If God be for us, who can be against us. If God be for us, who can be against us, just have faith in the power of the Lord.

Thought For Today: “For I the LORD thy God will hold thy right hand, saying unto thee, Fear not; I will help thee.” (Isaiah 41:13)

Morning Manna by Rufus Parker - 2025 July 14

Do You Hear Wisdom When She Calls You?

“Doth not wisdom cry? and understanding put forth her voice? 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. O ye simple, understand wisdom: and, ye fools, be ye of an understanding heart. Hear; for I will speak of excellent things; and the opening of my lips shall be right things. For my mouth shall speak truth; and wickedness is an abomination to my lips. All the words of my mouth are in righteousness; there is nothing froward or perverse in them. 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.” (Proverbs 8:1-11)

Today’s Morsel: As a kid living on the farm in North Carolina, I could easily recognize my mom’s voice from my dad’s. But no matter which one called, I knew that I needed to respond with a yes ma’am or yes sir. There was no, “yeah, or what” allowed in my family. Proper address was given, or you would suffer the consequence. When Samuel was a young boy, he heard a voice calling to him which he thought was Eli the prophet. But he soon learned how to response to the voice of God’s calling from the prophet. Eli told him to say, “Speak Lord for Thou servant heareth.” Paul informs us that Jesus Christ is the wisdom of God and the power of God. When Jesus calls, do you hear Him? Solomon says that wisdom cries at the gates, at the entry of the city, at the coming in at the doors. Can you discern the voice of wisdom from the voice of the enemy when he calls. Why do you need to heed the voice of wisdom? “For wisdom is a defense, and money is a defense: but the excellency of knowledge is, that wisdom giveth life to them that have it.” (Ecclesiastes 7:12); “Wisdom strengtheneth the wise more than ten mighty men which are in the city.” (Ecclesiastes 7:19); “Wisdom is better than weapons of war: but one sinner destroyeth much good.” (Ecclesiastes 9:18); “If the iron be blunt, and he do not whet the edge, then must he put to more strength: but wisdom is profitable to direct.” (Ecclesiastes 10:10); “He that getteth wisdom loveth his own soul: he that keepeth understanding shall find good.” (Proverbs 19:8) There are more benefits for listening to the call of wisdom then listening to the voice and call of fools.

Sing: When He call me, I will answer, when He call me, I will hear, when He call me, I will answer, I’ll be somewhere listening for my name. 

I’ll be somewhere listening, I’ll be somewhere listening, I’ll be somewhere listening for my name. I’ll be somewhere listening, I’ll be somewhere listening, I’ll be somewhere listening for my name. 

Thought For Today: “It is better to hear the rebuke of the wise, than for a man to hear the song of fools.” (Ecclesiastes 7:5)

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)