Morning Manna by Rufus Parker - 2018 August 16

“And David said to Joab, and to all the people that were with him, Rend your clothes, and gird you with sackcloth, and mourn before Abner. And king David himself followed the bier. And they buried Abner in Hebron: and the king lifted up his voice, and wept at the grave of Abner; and all the people wept. And the king lamented over Abner, and said, Died Abner as a fool dieth? Thy hands were not bound, nor thy feet put into fetters: as a man falleth before wicked men, so fellest thou. And all the people wept again over him” 

(2 Samuel 3:31-34)

Today’s Morsel:  Are you dying foolishly?  Are you one of those who thinks that you will skate into the Kingdom of God when you die?  Peter told the people on the Day of Pentecost, 'Save yourselves from this untoward generation' (Acts 2:40).  In other words, while you have the means to do something about your salvation, now is the time to do it.  Now is the acceptable time, now is the day of salvation.  Don’t wait and think that you will sneak in.  The thief on the cross isn't an indication that God will forgive you on your death bed or when you are ready to die.  Paul makes this point clear when he said, “For if we sin wilfully after that we have received the knowledge of the truth, there remaineth no more sacrifice for sins, But a certain fearful looking for of judgment and fiery indignation, which shall devour the adversaries” (Hebrews 10:26-27).  King David told Abner that he died as a fool. He said that he had the means to fight to save himself, but he didn’t.  If you are reading this, you have the means right now to go to Jesus for salvation and you can be assured that if you follow His plan for salvation (Acts 2:38, Hebrews 12:14), and live for Him, you will not die as a fool.  Yet not only will you not die as a fool, you will live a glorious life enjoying the abundant life He has for you here; a life of righteousness, peace, and joy.  Now is the day of salvation.  Today is the day to 'Save yourselves from this untoward generation.'

Sing:  I know am saved and I’m so glad about it, I’ve found the joy my spirit craved.  It is so real that I could never doubt it, oh praise the Lord I know I’m saved.

Thought For Today: Don’t die as a fool. Live as the wise.   

Morning Manna by Rufus Parker - 2018 August 15

“Ye shall not make any cuttings in your flesh for the dead, nor print any marks upon you: I am the LORD” (Leviticus 19:28).

Today’s Morsel:  One of the things that we see taking place in the world, and that is even creeping into the church, is that of body art, or what some call tattooing. Many do not understand that this goes against the word of God.  You see, if Satan can get you to fall for his tricks and schemes, he knows that you will always have his fingerprints on you.  God understood and knew what gods were being worshipped and the practices the people were doing and where he was taking His people.  So he wanted them to know that they must not take on those practices because they would defile His temple with them.  If we say that we are Christians, then we must have the wisdom and the knowledge to know not to take on the ways of this world.  Paul said that the fashions of this world pass away (1 Corinthians 7:31).  In other words, the form, the fashion of the world is like a splendid, gilded pageant.  It is unreal and elusive.  It continues but a little time, and soon the scene changes, and the fashion that allured and enticed you now passes away, and you pass to other scenes.  We must not be deceived by the ways of this world.  God didn’t make you to be Satan’s easel to draw on.  He made you to reflect His beauty and glory.  Satan always has a trick to try to draw us away, yet there is no new trick.  The word of God warns us of them all.  Be not deceived.  

Sing: Turn your eye upon Jesus, look full in His wonderful face, and the things of this earth will go strangely dim, in the light of His glory and grace.

Thought For Today:  God didn’t make you to be Satan’s easel to draw on.

Morning Manna by Rufus Parker - 2018 August 14

“Ye adulterers and adulteresses, know ye not that the friendship of the world is enmity with God? whosoever therefore will be a friend of the world is the enemy of God” (James 4:4).

Today’s Morsel:  I hear some folks say that they do not have any friends in the church.  Well really, you aren’t supposed to.  People in the church are supposed to be your brothers and sisters, fathers and mothers.  And sometimes there are disagreements in the family, but blood is thicker than water.  Remember Paul said, “But to us there is but one God, the Father, of whom are all things, and we in him; and one Lord Jesus Christ, by whom are all things, and we by him. Howbeit there is not in every man that knowledge…” (1 Corinthians 8:6-7).  If our friendship is with the world, then it makes us an enemy of God.  John tells us, “Love not the world, neither the things that are in the world. If any man love the world, the love of the Father is not in him. For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh, and the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life, is not of the Father, but is of the world. And the world passeth away, and the lust thereof: but he that doeth the will of God abideth for ever” (1 John 2:15-17).  Don’t allow the world to make you think that it is your friend.  It’s not.  It’s Satan’s domain.  And the more of it that you love, the more of Jesus you will hate.

Sing: You can take this whole world, but give me Jesus. You can take this whole world, but give me Jesus. You take this whole world, but give me Jesus, no turning back, no turning back.

Thought For Today:  Stay with the family of God.

Morning Manna by Rufus Parker - 2018 August 13

“And Elijah said unto Ahab, Get thee up, eat and drink; for there is a sound of abundance of rain. So Ahab went up to eat and to drink. And Elijah went up to the top of Carmel; and he cast himself down upon the earth, and put his face between his knees, And said to his servant, Go up now, look toward the sea. And he went up, and looked, and said, There is nothing. And he said, Go again seven times. And it came to pass at the seventh time, that he said, Behold, there ariseth a little cloud out of the sea, like a man's hand. And he said, Go up, say unto Ahab, Prepare thy chariot, and get thee down, that the rain stop thee not. And it came to pass in the mean while, that the heaven was black with clouds and wind, and there was a great rain. And Ahab rode, and went to Jezreel. And the hand of the LORD was on Elijah; and he girded up his loins, and ran before Ahab to the entrance of Jezreel” 

(1 Kings 18:41-46).

Today’s Morsel:  When I lose something, my wife always says I will find it in the last place that I look.  One of the things about the promises of God is that we must not stop looking for them to come to pass.  Often, when it doesn’t happen on our timeline we are quick to stop looking and believing that they will not come.  God’s ways and thoughts aren’t ours, and we must remember that.  He told Noah that it was going to rain, but it didn’t for 100 years.  But guess what? It did rain.  One of the reasons I believe there is a delay is to teach us faith and patience. His promises will come, we just have to believe that they will.  Elijah knew it was going to rain and he sent his servant to go look for a sign.  We all know, that usually if it is going to rain, there will be a black cloud in the sky.  But the servant saw nothing.  I’m sure he was ready to stop looking, but Elijah told him to go look seven times.  Seven, God's number of completion.  And when he went the seventh time and returned, he said, 'I see a little cloud about the size of a man’s hand.'  This story is written for our example so that we do not lose hope in what God promises to us.  If God says it’s going to rain you better carry an umbrella!

Sing:  Rain on me! Rain on me! Holy Ghost shower, rain on me.  Yesterday’s gone, today I’m in need, Holy Ghost shower rain on me.

Thought For Today:  If God says it’s going to rain you better carry your umbrella!

Morning Manna by Rufus Parker - 2018 August 11

“So David took the spear and the cruse of water from Saul's bolster; and they gat them away, and no man saw it, nor knew it, neither awaked: for they were all asleep; because a deep sleep from the LORD was fallen upon them. Then David went over to the other side, and stood on the top of an hill afar off; a great space being between them: And David cried to the people, and to Abner the son of Ner, saying, Answerest thou not, Abner? Then Abner answered and said, Who art thou that criest to the king? And David said to Abner, Art not thou a valiant man? and who is like to thee in Israel? wherefore then hast thou not kept thy lord the king? for there came one of the people in to destroy the king thy lord. This thing is not good that thou hast done. As the LORD liveth, ye are worthy to die, because ye have not kept your master, the LORD'S anointed. And now see where the king's spear is, and the cruse of water that was at his bolster” (1 Samuel 26:12-16)

Today’s Morsel:  In the game of Chess, the overall goal is to protect one’s own king, while capturing or killing your opponent’s king.  David had many opportunities to kill King Saul, but he purposed not to touch the Lord's anointed.  When David saw that the men who were supposed to be protecting the king didn’t, he was upset and called them out on it and told them that they were worthy to die.  He told Abner that he had failed in his duties of protecting the king. Even Jesus' disciples failed to protect Him.  They had fallen asleep in the camp the same as Abner and his men.  We must always be alert to ensure that no one destroys this Kingdom.  Are you on guard?  Always know where the threat to the Kingdom is coming from.  Watch and pray.

 Sing:  Hold the fort for I am coming, Jesus signals still.  Wave the anthem back to heaven by Thy power we will.

Thought For Today:  Stay alert.

Morning Manna by Rufus Parker - 2018 August 10

“Now Moses kept the flock of Jethro his father in law, the priest of Midian: and he led the flock to the backside of the desert, and came to the mountain of God, even to Horeb. And the angel of the LORD appeared unto him in a flame of fire out of the midst of a bush: and he looked, and, behold, the bush burned with fire, and the bush was not consumed. And Moses said, I will now turn aside, and see this great sight, why the bush is not burnt. And when the LORD saw that he turned aside to see, God called unto him out of the midst of the bush, and said, Moses, Moses. And he said, Here am I. And he said, Draw not nigh hither: put off thy shoes from off thy feet, for the place whereon thou standest is holy ground” 

(Exodus 3:1-5).

Today’s Morsel:  Moses seems to be perplexed about the bush not burning.  I’m sure that Mose had used some of these same bushes to make a fire and knew that they would burn into ashes, as it often gets cold at night in the desert.  But this bush was burning but not being consumed.  And so Moses desired to take a closer look for himself.  As the old saying goes, “Curiosity got the best of him.”  Some have wondered why God used a burning bush to get Moses' attention?  Why didn’t He just appear and speak to him as He did his forefathers, Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob?  Well, He did.  Just in a different way.  When we realize that God is a God of miraculous power and abilities and that there is nothing too hard for Him, we realize it was to get Moses' attention.  I believe God was showing Moses that He would deliver His people.  He was showing him His miraculous power and causing him to see God’s power and ability before He sent him.  John said that when Jesus came he would baptize them with the Holy Ghost and with fire (Luke 3:6).  Remember, we are called branches (John 15:5), and He is an all-consuming fire (Hebrews 12:29); And if He is in us, we shall not be burned or consumed (Isaiah 43:3; Romans 8:9).  His miraculous power is still at work.  

Sing:  I’m looking for a miracle, I see the invisible, I feel the intangible.  You know that the sky, the sky is the limit, to what I can have.  You know that the sky, the sky is the limit to what I can have.  If we will believe, we can receive it, God will perform it today, hey, hey, if we will believe, we can receive it, God will perform it today.

Thought For Today:  Are you looking for a miracle?

Morning Manna by Rufus Parker - 2018 August 9

“But I would ye should understand, brethren, that the things which happened unto me have fallen out rather unto the furtherance of the gospel; So that my bonds in Christ are manifest in all the palace, and in all other places; And many of the brethren in the Lord, waxing confident by my bonds, are much more bold to speak the word without fear. Some indeed preach Christ even of envy and strife; and some also of good will: The one preach Christ of contention, not sincerely, supposing to add affliction to my bonds: But the other of love, knowing that I am set for the defence of the gospel” 

(Philippians 1:12-17).

Today’s Morsel:  One of the benefits of being a U.S. Army Drill Sergeant is that you get to wear the distinctive Drill Sergeant’s Badge on your uniform for as long as you are in the military.  It is a unique badge with meaning.  The Drill Sergeant Identification Badge is worn by all qualified Drill Sergeants.  Each element of the badge has a specific meaning.  It consists of 13 stars representing the original colonies.  The torch burning brightly in the center symbolizes liberty.  The snake is derived from the original “Don’t Tread on Me” serpent on the Gadsden Flag, a symbol of American independence during the 18th century.  Together with the torch and breastplate, it indicated readiness to defend.  The breastplate is a symbol of strength.  The green background is a vestment worn under the breastplate.  It's called a Jupon, which represents the new Army.  The snake grasps, with his tail and teeth, a scroll inscribed “This We’ll Defend,” the motto of the United States Army.  The inscription summarizes the meaning of all the symbols on the badge, depicting the determination, devotion, and constant readiness of the American soldier.  In so many ways, Paul was a Drill Sergeant.  He was a trainer of men.  He was a representative of Christ and was set for the defense of the gospel.  No, Paul did not wear a badge on his clothing to reflect who he was, he wore it on upon his heart until the day of his death.  Are you set for the defense of the gospel?

Sing:  We are not ashamed of the gospel of Jesus Christ. For it is the power unto salvation.  And it’s to everyone, everyone that receives it.  And it’s to everyone, everyone that believes it, we can have everlasting life.    

 

Thought For Today: “This We Will Defend”