Morning Manna by Rufus Parker - 20 July 2019

When You Pray

“And when the servant of the man of God was risen early, and gone forth, behold, an host compassed the city both with horses and chariots. And his servant said unto him, Alas, my master! how shall we do? And he answered, Fear not: for they that be with us are more than they that be with them. And Elisha prayed, and said, LORD, I pray thee, open his eyes, that he may see. And the LORD opened the eyes of the young man; and he saw: and, behold, the mountain was full of horses and chariots of fire round about Elisha.” 

(2 Kings 6:15-17)

Today’s Morsel:  Prayer is not about how loud you can shout or how demonstrative you think you must be to get God’s attention.  God doesn’t have a hearing loss. The last time I checked, He could hear pretty good.  I think our prayers should be more of a one-on-one communication and conversation with God.  I think if we yell and scream, God may not hear what we are asking of Him.  When children are screaming and hollering, trying to get their parents attention, the parent usually tries to calm them down first so that can understand what they are wanting.  How do you pray for lost loved ones?  The best way I have found to pray for them is to ask God to open their eyes and their understanding that they might see.  This has been my approach for all backsliders, those who have taken the name of the Lord in vain, and for those who do things that go against His word.  I just ask God to open their eyes that they might be able to see their wrong and change.  I don’t need to stand along the road holding a sign pointing out peoples' wrong.  I let God open their eyes.  My road sign, evil posts on social media, and blatant public comments may keep them blinded to the truth.  Elisha simply asked God to open his servant's eyes that he might see.  Take the calm approach and watch God work.  

Sing: Let us have a little talk with Jesus, tell Him about our troubles, He will hear our faintest cry, He will answer by and by.  When you feel a little prayer wheel turning, you’ll know a little fire is burning, you’ll find a little talk with Jesus makes it right.

Thought For Today: Prayer still work when done right.

Morning Manna by Rufus Parker - 19 July 2019

No Limit

“Not that I speak in respect of want: for I have learned, in whatsoever state I am, therewith to be content. I know both how to be abased, and I know how to abound: every where and in all things I am instructed both to be full and to be hungry, both to abound and to suffer need. I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me.” (Philippians 4:11-13)

Today’s Morsel:  May I ask you a question?  Do you have the strength to be content?  Why are so many Christians not content when they say that they have Christ in their lives?  Why are they not satisfied with who they are, what they have, and where they live?  Paul said that he had learned that no matter his state, to be content.  He knew how to use the power of the Holy Ghost that God had given him.  He knew how to live. Having this understanding from Paul, we too should know how to live and be content.  We should know how to regain our strength, love others, walk in peace toward those that are without, and be filled with His joy.  We should even know how to behave in our adversities, infirmities, necessities, reproaches, distresses, persecutions, and weakness.  We should be able to do all things through the one that has all Power and lives in us.  Be content!

Sing: I’ve got Jesus on the inside, working on the outside, oh what a change in my life.  I’ve got Jesus on the inside, working on the outside, oh what a change in my life.  I’ve got Jesus on the inside, working on the outside, oh what a change in my life; oh what a change… in my life.

Thought For Today: Contentment…letting Jesus work. (Parker)

Morning Manna by Rufus Parker - 18 July 2019

Self-Loved

“This know also, that in the last days perilous times shall come. For men shall be lovers of their own selves, covetous, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy, Without natural affection, trucebreakers, false accusers, incontinent, fierce, despisers of those that are good, Traitors, heady, highminded, lovers of pleasures more than lovers of God; Having a form of godliness, but denying the power thereof: from such turn away. For of this sort are they which creep into houses, and lead captive silly women laden with sins, led away with divers lusts, Ever learning, and never able to come to the knowledge of the truth.” (2 Timothy 3:1-7)

Today’s Morsel:  One of the things I find in scripture is that Paul states in the last days men would be lovers of themselves.  I know he uses this phrase in an evil and negative way, and we see it on display everywhere we turn in the world.  Sadly, it’s creeping its way into the church in the same evil and negative way as well.  But it should not be.  It should be exploding in the church, but not in an evil or negative way, but in a good and positive way.  Every born-again believer should be lovers of themselves.  You should love yourself so much that you do everything that you can to ensure you do not miss the rapture and your eternal home in glory.  You should love yourself so much that the thought of being tainted by the world or anything of this world that could cause you to miss out on what Jesus has for you would make you cringe.  You see, Paul wrote, “For no man ever yet hated his own flesh; but nourisheth and cherisheth it, even as the Lord the church” (Ephesians 5:29).  The same way that Peter preached on the Day of Pentecost, "Save yourselves from this untoward generation," we should all being doing everything we can to save ourselves.  I don’t know about you, but I love myself enough to do everything that I can to be well pleasing to Christ and ready for His soon coming. What about you? 

Sing: I’m getting ready to leave this place, I’m getting ready for those gates of pearls.  Keeping my record right, watching both day and night; I’m getting ready to leave this place.

Thought For Today: “For no man ever yet hated his own flesh; but nourisheth and cherisheth it, even as the Lord the church."  (Ephesians 5:29)

Morning Manna by Rufus Parker - 17 July 2019

Holiness Becometh Thine House

“The LORD reigneth, he is clothed with majesty; the LORD is clothed with strength, wherewith he hath girded himself: the world also is stablished, that it cannot be moved. Thy throne is established of old: thou art from everlasting. The floods have lifted up, O LORD, the floods have lifted up their voice; the floods lift up their waves. The LORD on high is mightier than the noise of many waters, yea, than the mighty waves of the sea. Thy testimonies are very sure: holiness becometh thine house, O LORD, for ever.” 

(Psalms 93:1-5)

Today’s Morsel:  One of the biggest fallacies about holiness in the church is the lack of understanding and its meaning.  Holiness means to be set apart, to be consecrated to God; Morally pure, holy, blameless.  Ask yourself, if Jesus came back right now for you, would you be able to go with Him?  Many churches are not teaching saints the importance of holiness and separation.  The Psalmist said, "Holiness becometh thine house."  Paul wrote that we are the Temple of God.  "Know ye not that ye are the temple of God, and that the Spirit of God dwelleth in you? If any man defile the temple of God, him shall God destroy; for the temple of God is holy, which temple ye are.” (1 Corinthians 3:16-17)  And he said if we defile this temple, God will destroy us.  You are not one of Robin Hood's Knights in tights and spandex in the Sherwood Forrest; nor are you some advertisement for a cosmetic company.  You are the church of the living God, the temple of the Highest.  Therefore, you must give unto the LORD the glory due unto his name and worship the LORD in the beauty of holiness (Psalms 29:2).  We must remain morally pure and holy.  

Sing: To worship You I live, to worship You I live, I live to worship You. 

Thought For Today: You are the temple of God.

Morning Manna by Rufus Parker - 16 July 2019

Watch Your Step?

“Wherefore he saith, Awake thou that sleepest, and arise from the dead, and Christ shall give thee light. See then that ye walk circumspectly, not as fools, but as wise, Redeeming the time, because the days are evil.” 

(Ephesians 5:14-16)

Today’s Morsel:  If you have ever walked on the moving walkways in the airport, you will hear these words repeatedly, “You are approaching the end of the walkway, please watch your step.”  There are many pitfalls, snares, and traps that are being laid for us by the enemy of our souls.  Therefore, we must walk cautiously in these last days.  Solomon states that a man’s heart deviseth his way, but the Lord directs his steps.  If God isn’t orchestrating your steps, you may want to consider and ask yourself why not.  You can’t see every pitfall, but God can.  You must take heed to your walk.  Your walk is both inward and outward.  Your inward walk is by faith in Christ, and your outward walk is your behavior among men.

Sing: Let me walk with You, Jesus.  Don’t ever leave me alone. For without You I couldn’t never, no never make heaven my home.

Thought For Today: Watch your step, you are approaching the end of the walkway.

Morning Manna by Rufus Parker - 15 Jul 2019

His Likeness

“Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus: Who, being in the form of God, thought it not robbery to be equal with God: But made himself of no reputation, and took upon him the form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of men: And being found in fashion as a man, he humbled himself, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross.” 

(Philippians 2:5-8)

Today’s Morsel:  In today's world, it doesn’t seem as though anyone wants to be a servant.  Every life seems to be driven by dollar signs.  Many say that they are Christians, but few walk in Christ’s likeness.  Jesus took on the form of a servant.  If we do not strive to obtain a servant’s heart, we will never become like Him.  To be a true servant, one must set self aside for others.  If we do not think like Christ, we will not take on His nature. What do you see when you look in the mirror?  Do you see a servant or a boss?  Servant leadership is a leader who serves others.  And Jesus modeled that for us.

Sing: Down from His glory, every living Story, my God and Savior came, and Jesus was His name.  Born in a manger, to His own a stranger, a man of sorrow, tears, and agony.

O how I love Him! How I adore Him! My breath, my sunshine, my all in all!  The great Creator became my Savior, and all God’s fullness dwelleth in Him.

Thought For Today: Are you like Him?

Morning Manna by Rufus Parker - 13 July 2019

Hold On

“Grace be unto you, and peace, from God our Father, and from the Lord Jesus Christ. I thank my God upon every remembrance of you, Always in every prayer of mine for you all making request with joy, For your fellowship in the gospel from the first day until now; Being confident of this very thing, that he which hath begun a good work in you will perform it until the day of Jesus Christ” (Philippians 1:2-6)

Today’s Morsel:  When God chooses us, we do not know what He has planned for our lives other than taking us to heaven to be with Him forever.  That’s one of the only things I find mentioned in scripture.  But what He will do with our lives isn’t really mentioned. Yes, we are all chosen to share our faith and to make Him known, but what He will do through our lives isn’t. When He chose Joshua to succeed Moses in leadership, he was told to not allow the word to depart out of his mouth and that he would be strong and have good success (Joshua 1:8).  I don’t know what God has planned for us in this new chosen journey.  I just know that all things do work together for good to them that love Him, and those who are the called according to His purpose.  S0 hold on and see what God will do through you.

Sing:  By and by when the morning comes, and all the saints of God gathering home; we will tell the story how we've overcome, and we’ll understand it better by and by.

Thought For Today: Hold on, God has a plan for your life.