Morning Manna by Rufus Parker - 2018 January 30

 “I will extol thee, O LORD; for thou hast lifted me up, and hast not made my foes to rejoice over me. O LORD my God, I cried unto thee, and thou hast healed me. O LORD, thou hast brought up my soul from the grave: thou hast kept me alive, that I should not go down to the pit. Sing unto the LORD, O ye saints of his, and give thanks at the remembrance of his holiness”
(Psalms 30:1-4)

Today’s Morsel:  One of the things about walking by faith is we do not get to see all the enemies that God may be destroying before us as He goes before us to make the way straight.  Paul tells us, “For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places” (Ephesians 6:12); and that Satan is the God of this world (2 Corinthians 4:4).  Satan would desire nothing better than to cause you to fall.  You must get into a habit each day of thanking God for not allowing your enemies to rejoice over you.  Stand strong in the power of His might and know that He goes before you making the way straight and also making the way of escape.  

Sing:  Lately I've been winning battles left and right, but even winners can get wounded in the fight.  People say that I'm amazing, strong beyond my years, but they don't see inside of me I'm hiding all the tears.

They don't know that I go running home when I fall down.  They don't know Who picks me up when no one is around.  I drop my sword and cry for just a while.  'Cause deep inside this armor, the warrior is a child.

Thought For Today:  His armor is the best.

Morning Manna by Rufus Parker - 2018 January 29

“Give unto the LORD, O ye mighty, give unto the LORD glory and strength. Give unto the LORD the glory due unto his name; worship the LORD in the beauty of holiness. The voice of the LORD is upon the waters: the God of glory thundereth: the LORD is upon many waters. The voice of the LORD is powerful; the voice of the LORD is full of majesty. The voice of the LORD breaketh the cedars; yea, the LORD breaketh the cedars of Lebanon. He maketh them also to skip like a calf; Lebanon and Sirion like a young unicorn. The voice of the LORD divideth the flames of fire. The voice of the LORD shaketh the wilderness; the LORD shaketh the wilderness of Kadesh. The voice of the LORD maketh the hinds to calve, and discovereth the forests: and in his temple doth every one speak of his glory. The LORD sitteth upon the flood; yea, the LORD sitteth King for ever. The LORD will give strength unto his people; the LORD will bless his people with peace”
(Psalms 29:1-11)

Today’s Morsel:  Ever since God confounded the language at the tower of Babel, there have been many voices on the earth.  From beast, fowl, man, Satan, and God, there are many voices throughout the land.  Even John tells us in the book of Revelation that he heard a voice saying, “I am Alpha and Omega, the first and the last: and, What thou seest, write in a book, and send it unto the seven churches which are in Asia; unto Ephesus, and unto Smyrna, and unto Pergamos, and unto Thyatira, and unto Sardis, and unto Philadelphia, and unto Laodicea…” (Revelation 1:10-13).  The uniqueness of these voices is that we must be able to discern which is good and which is evil.  Just as Paul told the church at Corinth when he said, “There are, it may be, so many kinds of voices in the world, and none of them is without signification. Therefore if I know not the meaning of the voice, I shall be unto him that speaketh a barbarian, and he that speaketh shall be a barbarian unto me” (1 Corinthians 14:10-11).  The Psalmist said that the voice of the Lord is mighty and powerful as the sound of thunder.  It can break in pieces the giant cedar tree or even a mountain.  And yet that All Powerful and All Mighty God can speak in a still small voice when He speaks words of love, compassion, and forgiveness. “And I heard a great voice out of heaven saying, Behold, the tabernacle of God is with men, and he will dwell with them, and they shall be his people, and God himself shall be with them, and be their God” (Revelation 21:3).  Do you hear what I hear?  Do you know His voice when He speaks?   

Sing:  Said the little lamb to the shepherd boy, do you hear what I hear?  Ringing through the sky shepherd boy, do you hear what I hear?  A song, a song high above the trees with a voice as big as the sea, with a voice as big as the sea.

Thought For Today:  A soft answer turns away wrath.

Morning Manna by Rufus Parker - 2018 January 27

"How is the gold become dim! how is the most fine gold changed! the stones of the sanctuary are poured out in the top of every street. The precious sons of Zion, comparable to fine gold, how are they esteemed as earthen pitchers, the work of the hands of the potter!" (Lamentations 4:1-2)

Today’s Morsel:  Throughout scripture, the saint’s faith is compared to gold.  Peter said, “That the trial of your faith, being much more precious than of gold that perisheth, though it be tried with fire, might be found unto praise and honour and glory at the appearing of Jesus Christ (1 Peter 1:7). Jeremiah asked the question, “How is the gold become dim! how is the most fine gold changed!” When our faith in God cannot be seen, it is dim or darken. What are some things that can hinder our faith from being clearly seen? James said a lack of wisdom (James 1:5-8).  Paul said it’s because we refuse to mix it with the word when we hear it (Hebrews 4:2).  And Jesus said, because of our unbelief (Matthew 17:20). Therefore, if we want our faith to burn bright and shine forth, we must get wisdom, mix it with the word of God and believe what God says.

Sing:  Faith can move mountains. Mountains of fear and of doubt.  Faith can move mountains, so why don’t you try your faith out.

Thought For Today:  Faith is rooted in faithfulness.

Morning Manna by Rufus Parker - 2018 January 26

“Then came the word of the LORD unto Jeremiah, saying, Behold, I am the LORD, the God of all flesh: is there anything too hard for me?” Jeremiah 32:26-27)

Today’s Morsel:  Have you ever heard the comment, “That’s just too hard, nobody can do that?”  But apparently, someone can and has done it if they are asking you to do it.  Someone said that we never know what we can do until we try.  The apostle Paul states that he could do all things through Christ who strengthened him.  The Lord asked Jeremiah if there was anything too hard for Him.  Was Jeremiah questioning God’s ability?  Was he not aware who was asking him to do what he was being asked to do?  When we read God’s word, sometimes we may think what it is asking us to do is too hard.  But God isn’t going to let you do it alone.  He will help you.  For example, giving of tithes to your church.  Many will look at their income and say that they can’t give ten percent of their income.  That’s too hard.  But God wouldn’t have placed it in His word if He didn’t know it could be done.  It’s there to build your faith.  If God can’t trust you to return ten percent of your income, He won’t trust you with anything else He has for you.  There is nothing too hard for God.  No situation, circumstance, or problem.  The problem lies in our ability to believe what He’s able to do.  Our God is able to do exceeding and abundantly above and beyond what we could ever think.  

Sing:  He is my everything, He is my all.  He is my everything, both great and small.  He gave His life for me, made everything new.  He is my everything, oh how about you?

Thought For Today:  The hard things belong to God.

Morning Manna by Rufus Parker - 2018 January 25

“According to the grace of God which is given unto me, as a wise masterbuilder, I have laid the foundation, and another buildeth thereon. But let every man take heed how he buildeth thereupon. For other foundation can no man lay than that is laid, which is Jesus Christ. Now if any man build upon this foundation gold, silver, precious stones, wood, hay, stubble; Every man's work shall be made manifest: for the day shall declare it, because it shall be revealed by fire; and the fire shall try every man's work of what sort it is”
(1 Corinthians 3:10-13).

Today’s Morsel:  To achieve the results required by their vision and to be standard bearers and developers of Christ, Christians must be rooted in a firm system called “ethics”. Things such as integrity, truth, truthfulness, trustworthiness, morals, principles, right and wrong, decency, and proper conduct must flow from this system into one’s life.  Peter saying of Jesus Christ tells us, “For even hereunto were ye called: because Christ also suffered for us, leaving us an example, that ye should follow his steps: Who did no sin, neither was guile found in his mouth: Who, when he was reviled, reviled not again; when he suffered, he threatened not; but committed himself to him that judgeth righteously” (1 Peter 2:21-23).  This system is the cement in the foundation of the church.  It is Jesus Christ Paul said.  And Peter goes on and tells us that we must, “Be ye all of one mind, having compassion one of another, love as brethren, be pitiful, be courteous: Not rendering evil for evil, or railing for railing: but contrariwise blessing; knowing that ye are thereunto called, that ye should inherit a blessing. For he that will love life, and see good days, let him refrain his tongue from evil, and his lips that they speak no guile: Let him eschew evil, and do good; let him seek peace, and ensue it. For the eyes of the Lord are over the righteous, and his ears are open unto their prayers: but the face of the Lord is against them that do evil. And who is he that will harm you, if ye be followers of that which is good? But and if ye suffer for righteousness' sake, happy are ye: and be not afraid of their terror, neither be troubled; But sanctify the Lord God in your hearts: and be ready always to give an answer to every man that asketh you a reason of the hope that is in you with meekness and fear: Having a good conscience; that, whereas they speak evil of you, as of evildoers, they may be ashamed that falsely accuse your good conversation in Christ. For it is better, if the will of God be so, that ye suffer for well doing, than for evil doing” (1 Peter 3:8-17).  To build our lives on this true foundation, we must be ethical in all that we do.

Sing:  It’s the old ship of Zion; it’s the hope for the lost and the dying; it’s a soul saving station; it’s the tower of salvation.  Well, it’s the church triumphant, O’ Lord, and it’s built by the hand of the Lord.  I’m talking about the church, in the book of Revelation.  It’s built on the Rock, it’s got a firm foundation.  It’s been through the flood, it’s been through the fire, but one these days the church is going to move up a little higher.  It’s the church triumphant, O Lord, and it’s built by the hand of the Lord.

Thought For Today:  There is only one foundation for the church.  Jesus Christ.

Morning Manna by Rufus Parker - 2018 January 24

“And he said unto them, These are the words which I spake unto you, while I was yet with you, that all things must be fulfilled, which were written in the law of Moses, and in the prophets, and in the psalms, concerning me. Then opened he their understanding, that they might understand the scriptures, And said unto them, Thus it is written, and thus it behoved Christ to suffer, and to rise from the dead the third day: And that repentance and remission of sins should be preached in his name among all nations, beginning at Jerusalem. And ye are witnesses of these things. And, behold, I send the promise of my Father upon you: but tarry ye in the city of Jerusalem, until ye be endued with power from on high” (Luke 24:44-49).

Today’s Morsel:  Someone has done a study of the scriptures and has determined that there are over 7,474 promises given by God in His word.  I have not checked to see if this is true, but I would not be surprised if there aren’t even more. You see, to me, all of God’s word are promises.  When God gave Moses the law, the first commandment He gave with a promise was “Children, obey your parents in the Lord: for this is right. Honour thy father and mother; (which is the first commandment with promise;) That it may be well with thee, and thou mayest live long on the earth” (Ephesians 6:1-3). Paul said, “For when God made promise to Abraham, because he could swear by no greater, he sware by himself, Saying, Surely blessing I will bless thee, and multiplying I will multiply thee. And so, after he had patiently endured, he obtained the promise” (Hebrews 6:13-15).  After His resurrection, Jesus told His disciples, “Thus it is written, and thus it behoved Christ to suffer, and to rise from the dead the third day: And that repentance and remission of sins should be preached in his name among all nations, beginning at Jerusalem. And ye are witnesses of these things. And, behold, I send the promise of my Father upon you: but tarry ye in the city of Jerusalem, until ye be endued with power from on high.”  And Luke continued his writings by saying, “And, being assembled together with them, commanded them that they should not depart from Jerusalem, but wait for the promise of the Father, which, saith he, ye have heard of me. For John truly baptized with water; but ye shall be baptized with the Holy Ghost not many days hence” (Acts 1:4-5).  Therefore, we see that the promise that Jesus made to them of the Father, was the gift of the Holy Ghost.  And he further writes, “And when the day of Pentecost was fully come, they were all with one accord in one place. And suddenly there came a sound from heaven as of a rushing mighty wind, and it filled all the house where they were sitting. And there appeared unto them cloven tongues like as of fire, and it sat upon each of them. And they were all filled with the Holy Ghost, and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance” (Acts 2:1-4).  Have you received the promise of the Father?  It is still a promise for today. 

Sing: Standing on the promises of Christ the Lord, bound to Him eternally by love's strong cord, overcoming daily with the Spirit's sword, standing on the promises of God.

Standing, Standing, standing on the promises of God my Savior.  Standing, standing, I’m standing on the promises of God.

Thought For Today:  Have you received the promise of the Father?

Morning Manna by Rufus Parker - 2018 January 23

“And call no man your father upon the earth: for one is your Father, which is in heaven. Neither be ye called masters: for one is your Master, even Christ. But he that is greatest among you shall be your servant. And whosoever shall exalt himself shall be abased; and he that shall humble himself shall be exalted.” (Matthew 23:9-12).

Today’s Morsel:  I don’t think that I can ever remember calling my earthly father, "father".  We either called him dad or pop, but never father.   Jesus said that we should call no man father upon the earth, for one is your Father, which is in heaven.  And we can’t have two fathers.  John said, “For there are three that bear record in heaven, the Father, the Word, and the Holy Ghost: and these three are one” (1 John 5:7).  As Jesus told Phillip when he inquired of Him, “Lord, shew us the Father, and it sufficeth us. Jesus saith unto him, Have I been so long time with you, and yet hast thou not known me, Philip? he that hath seen me hath seen the Father; and how sayest thou then, Shew us the Father? Believest thou not that I am in the Father, and the Father in me? the words that I speak unto you I speak not of myself: but the Father that dwelleth in me, he doeth the works. Believe me that I am in the Father, and the Father in me: or else believe me for the very works' sake” (John 14:8-11).  Jesus said that only one is your father and He is in Heaven.  What a wonderful and loving father we all have.  

Sing: Heavenly Father I appreciate You. Heavenly Father I appreciate You.  I love You, adore You, I bow down before You.  Heavenly Father I appreciate You.

Thought For Today:  “I and my Father are one” (John 10:30).