Morning Manna by Rufus Parker - 2016 January 8

The words of Nehemiah the son of Hachaliah. And it came to pass in the month Chisleu, in the twentieth year, as I was in Shushan the palace, That Hanani, one of my brethren, came, he and certain men of Judah; and I asked them concerning the Jews that had escaped, which were left of the captivity, and concerning Jerusalem. And they said unto me, The remnant that are left of the captivity there in the province are in great affliction and reproach: the wall of Jerusalem also is broken down, and the gates thereof are burned with fire. And it came to pass, when I heard these words, that I sat down and wept, and mourned certain days, and fasted, and prayed before the God of heaven, And said, I beseech thee, O LORD God of heaven, the great and terrible God, that keepeth covenant and mercy for them that love him and observe his commandments: Let thine ear now be attentive, and thine eyes open, that thou mayest hear the prayer of thy servant, which I pray before thee now, day and night, for the children of Israel thy servants, and confess the sins of the children of Israel, which we have sinned against thee: both I and my father's house have sinned. We have dealt very corruptly against thee, and have not kept the commandments, nor the statutes, nor the judgments, which thou commandedst thy servant Moses. Remember, I beseech thee, the word that thou commandedst thy servant Moses, saying, If ye transgress, I will scatter you abroad among the nations: But if ye turn unto me, and keep my commandments, and do them; though there were of you cast out unto the uttermost part of the heaven, yet will I gather them from thence, and will bring them unto the place that I have chosen to set my name there. Now these are thy servants and thy people, whom thou hast redeemed by thy great power, and by thy strong hand. O Lord, I beseech thee, let now thine ear be attentive to the prayer of thy servant, and to the prayer of thy servants, who desire to fear thy name: and prosper, I pray thee, thy servant this day, and grant him mercy in the sight of this man. For I was the king's cupbearer.

(Nehemiah 1:1-11)

Today's Morsel:  One of the things about unexpected bad news is that it can rip your heart apart.  When Nehemiah asked about his brethren and the status of his homeland, he was not expecting the news that he received.   His heart was ripped.  The wind was taken out of his sail.  He had that gut wrenching feeling that says, now what do we do.  All he could do at the moment was to sit down and weep.  But while he was weeping, he felt a need to intercede to God for His forgiveness and for help for his people and his homeland.  Through Nehemiah we can learn how to deal with bad news.  We learn to pray to God.  Nehemiah went to the king after he went to God.  If Nehemiah had gone to the king first, the king's heart may not have been softened to help him.  But because he went to God first, I believe God moved upon the heart of the king to make previsions for him to rebuild and to restore the wall at Jerusalem.  So let me encourage you, always seek God first in the time of trouble and give Him first shot to move in your situation and your problem.

Sing: Hear my cry O' God, attend unto my prayer, from the end of the earth will I cry unto Thee; when my heart is overwhelmed, lead me to the Rock that is higher than I, so much higher than I.

Thought For Today:  Prayer not only changes you, it can change others on your behalf.

Morning Manna by Rufus Parker - 2016 January 7

And Jacob their father said unto them, Me have ye bereaved of my children: Joseph is not, and Simeon is not, and ye will take Benjamin away: all these things are against me. (Genesis 42:36)

Today's Morsel:  One of the things we have to learn as Christians is that sometimes bad news is going to come. We will also find out that we are not exempt from hardships and unwanted circumstances.  But as Christians, we have to stop and ask ourselves what God is doing through the circumstances or hardships that we are going through that will make us more like Him.  Jacob was not expecting to be asked to send his youngest son into Egypt.  He sent his sons to buy food, not to be faced with losing another son and being asked to send his younger one, too.   I believe that Jacob felt that God was punishing him for lying to his father, Isaac, and stealing his brother Esau's birthright.  But he would find out later that he was to be reunited with his son Joseph, whom he thought was dead and it was him who was the one behind the plot; and God was making it possible through him to sustain life in the time of famine that was now upon them.  Sometimes, we will have to make some tough choices in our lives and we should not see them as things that are against us.  But rather, we should ask ourselves what purpose God has for them to happen in our lives.

Sing: Many things about tomorrow, I don't seem to understand, but I know who holds tomorrow and I know He holds my hand.

Thought For Today:  Faith of a true Christian stands in adversity. 

Morning Manna by Rufus Parker - 2016 January 6

And I will give them one heart, and I will put a new spirit within you; and I will take the stony heart out of their flesh, and will give them an heart of flesh: That they may walk in my statutes, and keep mine ordinances, and do them: and they shall be my people, and I will be their God. But as for them whose heart walketh after the heart of their detestable things and their abominations, I will recompense their way upon their own heads, saith the Lord GOD.
(Ezekiel 11:19-21).

Today's Morsel: Each time I renew my driver's license, they ask me if I want to be an organ donor. I always say yes, because I'm praying that someone will get this new heart that Jesus has put in me.  You see, that old heart of the old man is gone.  Jesus came in and did an operation and gave me a new heart and a new spirit.  Just think, if every Christian would live their life according to God's word, and would be a heart donor when they die, think of how many people could be saved who have a bad heart and are waiting for a transplant.  Now, I know that that's not the way that it happens, but if it did, would yours be a good one for someone else?  You see, Jesus give us a new heart and a new spirit, that we may reveal to others His power to change us and to remove evil from us.  Always remember, a nasty attitude is a sign of a bad heart.  Would someone's life be changed by your heart transplant?

Sing: What a wonderful change in my life has been wrought since Jesus came into my heart; I have light in my soul for which long I have sought, since Jesus came into my heart.

Since Jesus came into my heart. Since Jesus came into my heart; floods of joy o'er my soul like a sea billows roll, since Jesus came into my heart.

Thought For Today:  A nasty attitude is a sign of a bad heart (Parker)

Morning Manna by Rufus Parker - 2016 January 5

Blessed are ye that hunger now: for ye shall be filled. Blessed are ye that weep now: for ye shall laugh.
(Luke 6:21)

Today's Morsel:  I want to be so full of Jesus that:

1. If a misquote bites me he flies away singing, "There is Power in the Blood!"

2. When I step into a room people start singing, "Look What the Lord Has Done."

3. My boss starts singing, "Take This World But Give Me Jesus."

4. The cashier at the bank starts singing, "Silver and Gold."

5. When I arrive at the airport they start singing, "I'll Fly Away."

6. When I walk into a restaurant the wait staff starts singing, " Come and Dine!"

7. When I walk into a church the congregation starts to sing, "Holy Spirit You Are Welcome Here."

  "Ho, every one that thirsteth, come ye to the waters, and he that hath no money; come ye, buy, and eat; yea, come, buy wine and milk without money and without price. Wherefore do ye spend money for that which is not bread? and your labour for that which satisfieth not? hearken diligently unto me, and eat ye that which is good, and let your soul delight itself in fatness" (Isaiah 55:1-2).   When you are full of Jesus, something is bound to spill over somewhere.  How full are you?

Sing:  Here's my cup, Lord, I lift it up, Lord, come and quench this thirsting of my soul. Bread of Heaven, feed me till I want no more. Here's my cup, fill it up and make me whole.

Thought For Today:  A life filled with Jesus, means there's no room for the world. 

Morning Manna by Rufus Parker - 2015 January 4

Now when Jesus saw great multitudes about him, he gave commandment to depart unto the other side. And a certain scribe came, and said unto him, Master, I will follow thee whithersoever thou goest. And Jesus saith unto him, The foxes have holes, and the birds of the air have nests; but the Son of man hath not where to lay his head.
(Matthew 8:18-20)

Today's Morsel:  We hear a lot about the homeless and other people needing a place to stay.  Most people fail to realize that Jesus was born homeless.  But that was because He chose to be homeless so that we may take Him in. When the disciples asked Him where he was staying, He told them to come and see.  But we don't find that He was showing them where He lived.  I believe that He wanted them to understand that they would become His residence.  He makes His abode in us.  When one told Him that he would follow Him wheresoever He went, Jesus told Him that the foxes have holes, and the birds of the air have nests; but the Son of man hath not where to lay his head.  In other words, you need to know that if you follow me, I don't have a place for you to stay.  But if you do follow me, "And into whatsoever house ye enter, first say, Peace be to this house. And if the son of peace be there, your peace shall rest upon it: if not, it shall turn to you again. And in the same house remain, eating and drinking such things as they give: for the labourer is worthy of his hire. Go not from house to house" (Luke 10:5-7).  Jesus said, If there is peace in the house, then stay there.  We must not be church hoppers.  We must stay in the house where the Peace is.  

Sing: Have you any room for Jesus, He who bore your load of Sin?  As He knocks and asks admission, sinner, will you let Him in?

Room for Jesus, King of glory! Hasten now, His word obey. Swing the heart's door widely open; bid Him enter while you may.

Thought For Today:  Do you have any room for Jesus?

Morning Manna by Rufus Parker - 2016 January 2

What shall we say then? Shall we continue in sin, that grace may abound? God forbid. How shall we, that are dead to sin, live any longer therein? Know ye not, that so many of us as were baptized into Jesus Christ were baptized into his death? Therefore we are buried with him by baptism into death: that like as Christ was raised up from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life. For if we have been planted together in the likeness of his death, we shall be also in the likeness of his resurrection: Knowing this, that our old man is crucified with him, that the body of sin might be destroyed, that henceforth we should not serve sin. For he that is dead is freed from sin. Now if we be dead with Christ, we believe that we shall also live with him: Knowing that Christ being raised from the dead dieth no more; death hath no more dominion over him. For in that he died, he died unto sin once: but in that he liveth, he liveth unto God. Likewise reckon ye also yourselves to be dead indeed unto sin, but alive unto God through Jesus Christ our Lord. Let not sin therefore reign in your mortal body, that ye should obey it in the lusts thereof. Neither yield ye your members as instruments of unrighteousness unto sin: but yield yourselves unto God, as those that are alive from the dead, and your members as instruments of righteousness unto God. For sin shall not have dominion over you: for ye are not under the law, but under grace. What then? shall we sin, because we are not under the law, but under grace? God forbid. Know ye not, that to whom ye yield yourselves servants to obey, his servants ye are to whom ye obey; whether of sin unto death, or of obedience unto righteousness? But God be thanked, that ye were the servants of sin, but ye have obeyed from the heart that form of doctrine which was delivered you. Being then made free from sin, ye became the servants of righteousness. I speak after the manner of men because of the infirmity of your flesh: for as ye have yielded your members servants to uncleanness and to iniquity unto iniquity; even so now yield your members servants to righteousness unto holiness. For when ye were the servants of sin, ye were free from righteousness. What fruit had ye then in those things whereof ye are now ashamed? for the end of those things is death. But now being made free from sin, and become servants to God, ye have your fruit unto holiness, and the end everlasting life. For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.
(Romans 6:1-23)

Today's Morsel:  I like to check myself on a regular basis to ensure that sin has not crept back in to my life.  You see, if I don't keep the old man crucified, he'll try to take control of me all over again.  And he does that with sin.  As Christians, we shouldn't be sinning.  Our lives are to be a reflection of Christ in this earth and He has no sin and deceit is not found in Him.  Our lives are to be a reflection of righteousness and holiness.  Sin must not control us, we must control it.  And we do that by saying no to sin, and  yes to Christ.  Always remember, He took your sins away in the waters of Baptism.  Don't let those sins creep back in.

Sing:  I came to Jesus weary, worn, and sad, He took my sins away, He took my sins away.  And now His love has made my heart so glad, He took my sins away.

He took my sins away, He took my sins away, and He keeps me singing every day! I'm so glad He took my sins away, He took my sins away.

Thought For Today: "But God be thanked, that ye were the servants of sin, but ye have obeyed from the heart that form of doctrine which was delivered you" (Apostle Paul).

Morning Manna by Rufus Parker - 2016 January 1

Behold, I will do a new thing; now it shall spring forth; shall ye not know it? I will even make a way in the wilderness, and rivers in the desert.
(Isaiah 43:19)

Today's Morsel:  I often hear people say at the first of the year that they are going to turn over a new leaf.  In other words, they aren't going to do the same old things this year that they did the year prior.  But sad to say, many of them relapse right back into the at same old rut.  And that is because so many of them do nothing to get rid of the things that kept them in the rut they were in.  As I have stated before, Jesus isn't going to do anything for you that He has already told you to do in His word.  If you want to change, the first step to responsibility is responsibility.  You have to take responsibility for your own actions.  God is going to do a new thing.  The question is, will you let it be you?

Sing:  There's a new name written down in glory, and it's mine oh yes its mine!  And the white robed angels sing the story, "A sinner has come home."  For there's a new name written down in glory, and it's mine, oh yes, it's mine!  With my sins forgiven I am bound for heaven, never more to roam.

Thought For Today:  The first step to responsibility is responsibility!

Happy New Year!!