Morning Manna by Rufus Parker - 2016 January 16

And the LORD spake unto Moses, saying, Command Aaron and his sons, saying, This is the law of the burnt offering: It is the burnt offering, because of the burning upon the altar all night unto the morning, and the fire of the altar shall be burning in it.
(Leviticus 6:8-9)

Today's Morsel:  The altar was the place of sacrifice.  Paul told the Hebrews, "By him therefore let us offer the sacrifice of praise to God continually, that is, the fruit of our lips giving thanks to his name. But to do good and to communicate forget not: for with such sacrifices God is well pleased" (Hebrews 13:15-16).  How hot is your prayer altar? I have read many books on prayer and about men and women who spent much time in prayer.  Some of  those books talked about how many of those who prayed made ruts in the carpet or wooden floors, or by an old log or stump, from where they placed their knees hour after hour when they prayed.  The marks were from years of them praying in the same place for many years.  The Lord told Moses to command Aaron and his sons to never let the fire go out of the altar.  Our prayer altars must remain burning at all times.  If we keep them burning, the likelihood of us backsliding and falling away from God will never happen.

Sing:  Lord, I lift my spirit to Your Spirit, in holy sweet communion; and I sense Your Holy Presence, as I draw nearer, Lord I lift my spirit to You. 

Thought For Today:  Backsliding starts with a lack of prayer (Parker).

Morning Manna by Rufus Parker - 2016 January 15

Hast thou entered into the treasures of the snow? or hast thou seen the treasures of the hail, Which I have reserved against the time of trouble, against the day of battle and war? 

(Job 38:22-23)

Today's Morsel:  One of the things about living in Wisconsin is you can go from no snow to feet of snow in a moment's notice.  When we look at snow it's pretty amazing.  It's light and fluffy when it comes down, but as those flakes join together they can bring a nation to a standstill.  Snow represents many things. Unity.  Purity.  Cleanliness. Righteousness.  Clean and white.  God relates the removal of one's sins to it (Isaiah 1:16-18).  When one repents of his sins and is baptized in the name of Jesus, they become clean and pure from their sins.  They become pure at that moment.  But in order to remain in that state, they have to purpose in their heart to remain pure and not allow sin to reenter their heart. Where so many fail, is when they listen to the enemy telling them that no one is perfect and without sin. Well if you believe that lie from the devil, then you will never see yourself as what God says that you are and can become.  You will always believe Satan more than God.  If a new born baby doesn't know sin, and when you are born again your sins are washed away, then why do you keep believing that you are a sinner?  You are only a sinner if you practice and do sin.  God gives us a chance to start new when we are born again, but if we think we aren't then so are we.  Hummm!  It's always better to trust in the Lord then to put your confidence in man.  Have you entered into the snow?

Sing: Whose report will you believe?  We shall believe the report of the Lord. Whose report will you believe?  We shall believe the report of the Lord.  His report says I am healed, His report saying I am filled, His report says I am free, His report says victory.

Thought For Today:  If you believe that no one is perfect, you don't know Jesus!

Morning Manna by Rufus Parker - 2016 January 14

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)

Today's Morsel:  There is no salvation outside of Jesus Christ.  Jesus asserted, "I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father; but by me" John 14:6. The Old Testament foreshadowed Christ's death by animal sacrifices.  God's people offered blood sacrifices to atone for, cover, pardon, forgive, remit, or expiate their sins. These sacrifices did not actually take away sin, but they demonstrated faith and obedience in God's plan of salvation.  On the cross, Jesus paid the penalty for the sins of all time, and His sacrifice avails to all in every age who believe and obey Him (Romans 3:25-26).

Sing:  Thank God for the blood!  Thank God for the blood! Thank God for the blood that washes white as snow.

Thought For Today:  Without Jesus you are lost.

Morning Manna by Rufus Parker - 2016 January 13

Many seek the ruler's favour; but every man's judgment cometh from the LORD.
(Proverbs 29:26)

Today's Morsel:  One of the things about us as humans is that we want the favor and approval of others more than the favor and approval of God.  We even see this in Jesus' day.  Scriptures say that many would not confess Jesus for fear of being put out of the synagogue (John 12:42).  And today, people will do everything to please man instead of Jesus. They will wear what the world says to wear, not considering if it's pleasing to God. They will work long hours and overtime, not considering what God wants.  They will bend over backwards for their secular boss and reject their pastor, never realizing that only what they do for Jesus will last.  Jesus said that in the last day the word would judge us (John 12:48).  So the question is, if you stood before Jesus right now, what would your judgment be?

Sing:  Thank You, Lord, for saving my soul. Thank You, Lord, for making me whole. Thank You, Lord, for giving to me, Thy great salvation, so rich and free.

Thought For Today:  We must all stand someday before God!

Morning Manna by Rufus Parker - 2016 January 12

"I the Preacher was king over Israel in Jerusalem. And I gave my heart to seek and search out by wisdom concerning all things that are done under heaven: this sore travail hath God given to the sons of man to be exercised therewith. I have seen all the works that are done under the sun; and, behold, all is vanity and vexation of spirit. That which is crooked cannot be made straight: and that which is wanting cannot be numbered. I communed with mine own heart, saying, Lo, I am come to great estate, and have gotten more wisdom than all they that have been before me in Jerusalem: yea, my heart had great experience of wisdom and knowledge. And I gave my heart to know wisdom, and to know madness and folly: I perceived that this also is vexation of spirit. For in much wisdom is much grief: and he that increaseth knowledge increaseth sorrow"

(Ecclesiastes 1:12-18)

Today's Morsel:  Often, when we read the wisdom spoken by King Solomon, it can be hard to understand if we look at it through worldly lenses.   That is one of the reasons that I believe that he cautions us to not only get wisdom, but to get an understanding with it (Proverbs 4:7).  He said that he gave himself to know wisdom and he concludes that for in much wisdom is much grief: and he that increases knowledge increases sorrow. But Solomon isn't talking about godly wisdom.  He's referring to worldly wisdom.  This is why I believe so many people today are in much grief and sorrow.  It is because they have given themselves to obtain worldly wisdom instead of godly wisdom.  Worldly wisdom will only carry you so far.  And once you are faced with a tough trial, you won't know what to do.  When one can call evil good and good evil, he has endowed himself to worldly wisdom.  You see, godly wisdom increases strength and knowledge within us (Proverbs 24:5).  Godly wisdom brings joy and hope.  It causes you to rise up when you fall.  It gives you moral and physical stamina to go to the distance and stand for right versus wrong.  The mind is a terrible thing to waste on a world that is going to pass away.  Don't waste your time merely getting worldly wisdom, seek to gain godly wisdom.  And with all your getting, get an understanding.

Sing: Deeper! Deeper! In the love of Jesus daily let me go, higher, higher, in the school of wisdom, more of grace to know.

Thought For Today:  No one ever reaches his full potential without godly wisdom.

Morning Manna by Rufus Parker - 2016 January 11

And again he entered into Capernaum after some days; and it was noised that he was in the house. And straightway many were gathered together, insomuch that there was no room to receive them, no, not so much as about the door: and he preached the word unto them. And they come unto him, bringing one sick of the palsy, which was borne of four. And when they could not come nigh unto him for the press, they uncovered the roof where he was: and when they had broken it up, they let down the bed wherein the sick of the palsy lay. When Jesus saw their faith, he said unto the sick of the palsy, Son, thy sins be forgiven thee. But there were certain of the scribes sitting there, and reasoning in their hearts, Why doth this man thus speak blasphemies? who can forgive sins but God only? And immediately when Jesus perceived in his spirit that they so reasoned within themselves, he said unto them, Why reason ye these things in your hearts? Whether is it easier to say to the sick of the palsy, Thy sins be forgiven thee; or to say, Arise, and take up thy bed, and walk? But that ye may know that the Son of man hath power on earth to forgive sins, (he saith to the sick of the palsy,) I say unto thee, Arise, and take up thy bed, and go thy way into thine house. And immediately he arose, took up the bed, and went forth before them all; insomuch that they were all amazed, and glorified God, saying, We never saw it on this fashion. (Mark 2:1-12)

Today's Morsel:  A special operations team consists of four men.  They have all been trained the same way.  Each has the same capabilities as the other.  What one can do, so can the other.  They are each aware of the others' capabilities and strengths.  They know that they are a team and the life of their team members depends on them doing their job and doing it correctly.  When playing poker, (not that I play poker anymore) there are certain hands that will beat another hand.  A full house is a very good hand to have if you are a gambler, but four of a kind (4 Aces, 4 kings, 4 twos) will beat a full house any day.  The Bible said that Jesus was in the house and that it was noised abroad that He was in the house.  The house was so full that there was no room for anyone else to enter.  But scripture says that there was a man who had the palsy, and they came unto Jesus, bringing one sick of the palsy, which was carried by four.  And when they could not come nigh unto Him for the press, they uncovered the roof where Jesus was.  This man was a paralytic.  He was a physically challenged person.  He needed assistance.  But when Jesus saw the faith of the men carrying him, He said unto the sick of the palsy, Son, thy sins be forgiven thee.  I want you to know that four of this kind will beat a full house any day.  What kind am I talking about? Four that believe:

The way that some call heresy.

The way that some call foolish.

The way that some call outrageous.

The way that some call a cult.

The way of the Cross.

That Jesus was God manifested in flesh.

That neither is there salvation in any other but Jesus Christ.

When you find four that believe this way, you've got a force to be reckoned with and God can work and move.

Sing:  No great name than the name of Jesus, no greater name than I've ever known. No greater name than the name of Jesus. You are the song to my heart and my soul, you are the hope to the hopeless and broken, you are the only truth and the way.

Thought For Today:  Four of a kind will beat a full house any day. 

Morning Manna by Rufus Parker - 2016 January 9

For the preaching of the cross is to them that perish foolishness; but unto us which are saved it is the power of God. (1 Corinthians 1:18)

Today's Morsel:  You know, we don't hear a lot of preaching and singing in the churches about the cross anymore.  Pastors are having to focus their sermons towards messages that bring encouragement and focus on being able to meet people where they are in their day to day life.  But the most encouraging message that can be preached is the Cross of Jesus Christ.   The church seems to have become a place of trying to fix peoples' hurts, sicknesses, pains, and weaknesses instead of giving them what they need and allowing them to fix their own problems.   Paul said that the preaching of the cross to us that are saved is power.  So we can see the reason that Satan wants all the monuments or anything that displays a cross, or has anything to do with Jesus to  be removed.  We can see why he his goal is to stop the preaching of the Cross.  If the Christian doesn't understand the importance of the Cross, he will remain powerless.

Sing:   At the cross, at the cross where I first saw the light, and the burden of my heart rolled away, it was there by faith, I received my sight, and now I am happy all the day.

Thought For Today:  The Cross still gives power.