Morning Manna by Rufus Parker - 8 May 2020

Crowd Pleasers

“Nevertheless among the chief rulers also many believed on him; but because of the Pharisees they did not confess him, lest they should be put out of the synagogue: For they loved the praise of men more than the praise of God.” (John 12:42-43)

Today’s Morsel: Some of the things that I have come to realize that can destroy people are tradition, false doctrine, an unrepented heart, disobedience, and then trying to please others.  More people are concerned with what people think of them rather than what God thinks of them.  Solomon states, “To have respect of persons is not good: for for a piece of bread that man will transgress.” (Proverbs 28:21)  People will turn their back on you when times get tough.  But Jesus will be with you always even to the ends of the world if you trust Him and hold faithful to Him.  When Peter and the other apostles were told to not speak anymore in the name of Jesus, “ Peter and the other apostles answered and said, we ought to obey God rather than men.” (Acts 5:29)  You have a choice, you can please the crowd or you can stand with Jesus.  As Joshua said, “And if it seem evil unto you to serve the LORD, choose you this day whom ye will serve; whether the gods which your fathers served that were on the other side of the flood, or the gods of the Amorites, in whose land ye dwell: but as for me and my house, we will serve the LORD.” (Joshua 24:15)  Don’t be one of those who love the praises of people more than the praises of God.

Sing:  Falling in Love with Jesus!  Falling in love with Jesus!  Falling in love with Jesus is the best thing I've ever, ever done.

Thought For Today: Be more concerned with what God thinks about you than what people think about you.

Morning Manna by Rufus Parker - 7 May 2020

Broken Hearts

 “The Spirit of the Lord GOD is upon me; because the LORD hath anointed me to preach good tidings unto the meek; he hath sent me to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim liberty to the captives, and the opening of the prison to them that are bound; To proclaim the acceptable year of the LORD, and the day of vengeance of our God; to comfort all that mourn; To appoint unto them that mourn in Zion, to give unto them beauty for ashes, the oil of joy for mourning, the garment of praise for the spirit of heaviness; that they might be called trees of righteousness, the planting of the LORD, that he might be glorified.” (Isaiah 61:1-3)

Today’s Morsel:  One of the most disappointing things to me, is when I am putting a puzzle together and I get almost to the end and there are one or two pieces that are missing.  You look on the floor, under the couch, where it was stored, trying to find that piece as you know that it is not finished or complete if a piece is missing.  Jesus said that He came to heal the brokenhearted (See Luke 4:18).  Today there seem to be so many that have broken hearts.  Many have had their hearts broken due to unexpected death or sickness of a loved one.  Others due to divorce.  While for others, it has been a disappointment of a parent, co-worker, a friend, or maybe a minister.  And it is one of the things (a broken heart) for which Jesus came to heal.  But for Him to heal our broken hearts, we must give Him all the pieces.  You just can’t give Him a few of the pieces, He needs the whole thing to put your heart and life back together. 

Sing: Lord, I give You my heart, I give You my soul, I live for You alone; Every breath that I take, every moment I’m awake, Lord have Your way in me.

Thought For Today: God can heal a broken heart, but He has to have all the pieces.

Morning Manna by Rufus Parker - 6 May 2020

Problems Solvers

“If there be therefore any consolation in Christ, if any comfort of love, if any fellowship of the Spirit, if any bowels and mercies, Fulfil ye my joy, that ye be likeminded, having the same love, being of one accord, of one mind. Let nothing be done through strife or vainglory; but in lowliness of mind let each esteem other better than themselves. Look not every man on his own things, but every man also on the things of others. Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus” (Philippians 2:1-5)

 Today’s Morsel:  One of the things that I have learned in life is that when I am going through things in my life, if I help someone else who is going through things in their life I don’t seem to focus on my situation as much and it gives God a chance to work things out for my good.  Scripture says that He’ll work it we will let Him. Paul admonishes us not to look on our own things, but every man also on the things of others.  We are all called to promote God’s glory and salvation to men; not to harbor it unto ourselves.  No one is at liberty to live for himself or to disregard the needs of others.  I find in scripture that the objective of the golden rule is to break up the spirit of selfishness and to produce a benevolent heart for the happiness of others.

Sing:  You’re my brother you’re my sister, so take me by the hand, together we will work until he comes.  There’s no foe that can defeat us when we are walking side by side.  As long as there is love when can stand.

Thought For Today: The best way to forget our own problems is to help someone else solve theirs.

Morning Manna by Rufus Parker - 5 May 2020

Stick Together

“Let us hold fast the profession of our faith without wavering; (for he is faithful that promised;) And let us consider one another to provoke unto love and to good works: Not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as the manner of some is; but exhorting one another: and so much the more, as ye see the day approaching.” (Hebrews 10:23-25)

Today’s Morsel:  One of the easiest ways to destroy any fighting force is to create a spirit of disunity among them.  Paul understood this and so he cautioned the church at Ephesus, “I therefore, the prisoner of the Lord, beseech you that ye walk worthy of the vocation wherewith ye are called, With all lowliness and meekness, with longsuffering, forbearing one another in love; Endeavouring to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace.” (Ephesians 4:1-3)  We must not forsake the assembling of ourselves together for church, fellowship, and service for the Lord and others.  The early church continued daily with one accord in the temple, and breaking bread from house to house, did eat their meat with gladness and singleness of heart, Praising God, and having favour with all the people. And the Lord added to the church daily such as should be saved (Acts 2:46-47).  If we say that we are the church, then we must do all things according to the pattern which has been established by the early church according to the book of Acts for us.  I’m sure you’ve heard the story about the banana that left the bunch, it got skinned.  So don’t forsake the assembling of yourself with other believers of like precious faith.  It is good for the body.

Sing: You’re my brother you’re my sister, so take me by the hand, together we will work until He comes.  There’s no foe that can defeat us, when we are walking side by side, as long as there is love we can stand.

Thought For Today: Don’t forsake the assembling of ourselves with other believers of like precious faith. 

Morning Manna by Rufus Parker - 4 May 2020

To The Task

“And when they were come to him, he said unto them, Ye know, from the first day that I came into Asia, after what manner I have been with you at all seasons, Serving the Lord with all humility of mind, and with many tears, and temptations, which befell me by the lying in wait of the Jews: And how I kept back nothing that was profitable unto you, but have shewed you, and have taught you publickly, and from house to house, Testifying both to the Jews, and also to the Greeks, repentance toward God, and faith toward our Lord Jesus Christ. And now, behold, I go bound in the spirit unto Jerusalem, not knowing the things that shall befall me there: Save that the Holy Ghost witnesseth in every city, saying that bonds and afflictions abide me. But none of these things move me, neither count I my life dear unto myself, so that I might finish my course with joy, and the ministry, which I have received of the Lord Jesus, to testify the gospel of the grace of God.” (Acts 20:18-24)

Today’s Morsel:  When I was in the army, one of my unit’s motto was “To the Task”.  Whatever mission or assignment we were given, we would complete it.  We would not allow anything to stop us from completing them.  In so many words this was how the Apostle Paul, felt, he was committed to the task.  From the time he received his call to the ministry, he knew that he had to complete every task to the best of his abilities.  He told his fellow labors, “Ye know, from the first day that I came into Asia, after what manner I have been with you at all seasons, Serving the Lord with all humility of mind, and with many tears, and temptations, which befell me by the lying in wait of the Jews: And how I kept back nothing that was profitable unto you, but have shewed you, and have taught you publickly, and from house to house, Testifying both to the Jews, and also to the Greeks, repentance toward God, and faith toward our Lord Jesus Christ.”  What about you?  Are you fulfilling every task given to you to the best of your ability?  Do you do every task as unto the Lord and not unto man?  Always remember, there is going to come someone behind you and see the things that you have done.  And they will inspect what you’ve done through the eyes of your character.  Hopefully, all you do will bring glory to God.  

Sing: Every day with Jesus is sweet than the day before.  Every day with Jesus, I love Him more and more.  Jesus saves and He keeps me.  He’s the one I’m waiting for.  Every day with Jesus is sweeter than the day before.

Thought For Today:  If a task is once begun, never leave it till it’s done.  Be the labor great or small, do it well or not at all. 

Morning Manna by Rufus Parker - 2 May 2020

Get Up

“For a just man falleth seven times, and riseth up again: but the wicked shall fall into mischief.” (Proverbs 24:16)

Today’s Morsel:  When I was a kid, one of the things we would do on Friday nights was to sit and watch Friday night boxing on television.  It was often that once a boxer was knocked down, their corner would do everything they could without getting into the ring to encourage them to get up.  If the boxer could get up and could hold on until the bell, they had a chance to recover from the blow, and hopefully go another round. Sometimes in life, we may get knocked down.  We are going to get the wind taken out of our sail.  Or we may get the rug pulled from under us.  But we must learn that when we fall down, it doesn’t make us a failure.  It’s only when we stay down that we lose.  Solomon states, "For a just man falleth seven times, and riseth up again."  There are going to be distresses and hardships that come against us to take us down.  But we must realize that we have been given the power to stand against all the wiles of the enemy.  The enemy of your soul is only going to be crowned champion over you if you stay down.  Why not show him that you still have the endurance to rise and fight another round.  Greater is He that is in you!  

Sing:  I was sinking deep in sin far from the peaceful shore; Very deeply stained within, sinking to rise no more.  But the Master of the sea, heard my despairing cry; From the waters lifted me, now safe am I.

Love lifted me!  Love lifted me! When nothing else could help, love lifted me.  Love lifted me! Love lifted me!  When nothing else could help, love lifted me.

Thought For Today:  Failure… I didn’t try again (Parker)

Morning Manna by Rufus Parker - 1 May 2020

Count Your Blessings

“And the angel came in unto her, and said, Hail, thou that art highly favoured, the Lord is with thee: blessed art thou among women. And when she saw him, she was troubled at his saying, and cast in her mind what manner of salutation this should be. And the angel said unto her, Fear not, Mary: for thou hast found favour with God…For he hath regarded the low estate of his handmaiden: for, behold, from henceforth all generations shall call me blessed.”(Luke 1:28-30; 48)

Today’s Morsel:  If we are not careful, we can get so caught up in our troubles and become so busy in adding up our troubles, that we forget to count our blessings. The people of God should be filled with telling others about and allowing them to see what God is doing and has done for them, instead of worrying about what they don’t have and complaining about their troubles.  It is easy to focus on the evils and negatives in today’s world and be drawn into them with the rest of the world.  But the Psalmist informs us that God remembered us in our lowest estate, He delivers us from our enemies, and that He gives food to all flesh (Psalms 136:23-25).  That doesn’t sound like a need for worry, that sounds like we need to rejoice because we are blessed! 

Sing: I am blessed! I am blessed! Every day that I live I am blessed.  When I wake up in the morning, till I lay my head to rest, I am blessed, I am blessed.

Thought For Today: Worry will block out the sight of your blessings every time.