Morning Manna by Rufus Parker - 2018 January 5

“Rejoice not against me, O mine enemy: when I fall, I shall arise; when I sit in darkness, the LORD shall be a light unto me” (Micah 7:8).

Today’s Morsel:  If you follow football, I’m sure you have seen s0me disappointed faces when a team who is ahead lost in the last few seconds of a game.  Those that were rejoicing and excited about a possible win over their opponent, found themselves holding their heads in unbelief of their team's loss.  Every finger pointed, and every word spoken again their opponents must now be eaten.  Micah states, ““Rejoice not against me, O mine enemy: when I fall, I shall arise; when I sit in darkness, the LORD shall be a light unto me” (Micah 7:8).  This should be the attitude of every born-again believers.  You must let Satan and his demonic force know that you aren’t going to stay down when you get knocked down.  They need to know that you will get back up; and that God will be with you in every situation and circumstance that looks dark and bleak.  We are more than conquerors, we WIN!  

Sing: There is power in the name of Jesus!  There is power in the name of Jesus!  There is power in the name of Jesus! To break every chain, to break every chain, to break every chain.

Thought For Today:  Love will still pick you up.

Morning Manna by Rufus Parker - 2018 January 4

“Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye make clean the outside of the cup and of the platter, but within they are full of extortion and excess. Thou blind Pharisee, cleanse first that which is within the cup and platter, that the outside of them may be clean also” 

(Matthew 23:25-26).

Today’s Morsel:  When I enlisted in the army, one of the tasks that every soldier had to do during basic training was to pull “Kitchen Police” (KP).  Even when performing the duty, they called us KPs.  One of the duties that all KPs wanted to avoid was pots and pans because this was the most tedious duty in the kitchen.  Somehow, I seemed to find myself on that team.  And the cooks would always check the inside of the pots and pans after they were washed to ensure that they were clean before the pots were put away or used again to ensure their cleanliness.  Jesus told the religious leaders that they were cleaning the outside first instead of the inside.  He said they looked clean without, but their insides were still a mess.  He told them to get the inside clean first and then the outside would be also.  Each of us must make sure that we do not only appear as Christians outward, we must be Christians first inward.  True Christians cleanse their inward man first.  The Word is still the best cleansing agent.  Allow it to cleanse you from the inside out.

Sing: Change my heart O God, make it ever true, change my heart O God, may I be like You.

Thought For Today: The Word is still the best cleansing agent. (Parker) 

Morning Manna by Rufus Parker - 2018 January 3

“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:  I like snow.  And here in Wisconsin where I live, we seem to get our share of it.  I don't think it would be winter if we didn’t have snow.  When Job was going through his troubles, he wanted to see God so he could present his case.  When God began to question Job, God asked him, “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.”  God shows us that He has a purpose and plan for everything that He’s created.  Snow here is represented as something which is laid up like a treasure and kept in reserve for use when God will require it.  The simple appeal to Job here is whether he could explain the phenomena of snow and hail.  Could he tell how they were formed?  Where they came from?  How they were preserved, and how they were sent forth to execute the purposes of God?  The idea is that all that pertained to the snow was distinctly understood by God and that these were facts which Job did not know of, and which he could not explain.  Let’s be careful what we may want to ask God.  He may ask us some questions in return that we don’t know the answer to.  So learn to trust God and just enjoy the snow!

Sing:  Have Thine own way Lord, have Thine own way, Thou art the Potter, I am the clay.  Mold me and make me, after Thy Will, while I am waiting yielded and still.

Thought For Today: God’s ways aren’t ours.

Morning Manna by Rufus Parker - 2018 January 2

“Know ye not, brethren, (for I speak to them that know the law,) how that the law hath dominion over a man as long as he liveth? For the woman which hath an husband is bound by the law to her husband so long as he liveth; but if the husband be dead, she is loosed from the law of her husband. So then if, while her husband liveth, she be married to another man, she shall be called an adulteress: but if her husband be dead, she is free from that law; so that she is no adulteress, though she be married to another man. Wherefore, my brethren, ye also are become dead to the law by the body of Christ; that ye should be married to another, even to him who is raised from the dead, that we should bring forth fruit unto God” (Romans 7:1-4)

Today’s Morsel:  Marriage vows are important to God. And Paul uses this analogy to show how the law works.  He said that as long as a married couple is alive they are bound by the laws of their marriage vows.  But if one of them dies, they are not.  It takes two to tango.  When we die, Paul said, we are not bound by the law.  When we see our sin and repent of our sins, we die to the wrongs of those sins and this world, and we no longer need a rule book to tell us right from wrong because we are dead.  Because we are dead, doing wrong should no longer be in our life.  We now live the rest of our life unto Christ.  

Sing: The law of the Lord is perfect, converting the soul, the testimony of the Lord is sure making wise the simple, more to be desired are they than gold, much fine gold, sweeter also than the honey and the honeycomb.

Thought For Today:  Dead people don’t do wrong (Parker)

Morning Manna by Rufus Parker - 2018 January 1

“And he rose up that night, and took his two wives, and his two womenservants, and his eleven sons, and passed over the ford Jabbok. And he took them, and sent them over the brook, and sent over that he had. And Jacob was left alone; and there wrestled a man with him until the breaking of the day. And when he saw that he prevailed not against him, he touched the hollow of his thigh; and the hollow of Jacob's thigh was out of joint, as he wrestled with him. And he said, Let me go, for the day breaketh. And he said, I will not let thee go, except thou bless me. And he said unto him, What is thy name? And he said, Jacob. And he said, Thy name shall be called no more Jacob, but Israel: for as a prince hast thou power with God and with men, and hast prevailed. And Jacob asked him, and said, Tell me, I pray thee, thy name. And he said, Wherefore is it that thou dost ask after my name? And he blessed him there. And Jacob called the name of the place Peniel: for I have seen God face to face, and my life is preserved. And as he passed over Penuel the sun rose upon him, and he halted upon his thigh. Therefore the children of Israel eat not of the sinew which shrank, which is upon the hollow of the thigh, unto this day: because he touched the hollow of Jacob's thigh in the sinew that shrank” (Genesis 32:22-32).

Today’s Morsel:  Did you get ahold of God before you crossed over into this New Year to see what God wanted you to do?  Jacob had to cross over the forge Jabbok, but he needed some answers.  While he wrestled with the Lord all night until the breaking of day, Jacob held on even in pain and suffering and came away with three new promises. First, he would have a new name, Israel.  Second, he had seen God and his life was preserved.  And third, he would have a new walk.  What promises did God have for you for this new year?  Did you spend time with Him to find about them?  

Sing: Victory ahead!  Victory ahead!  Through the blood of Jesus, there's victory ahead.  Trusting in the Lord, I hear the Conquer's tread, by faith I see the victory head.

Thought For Today:  Remember, you have never passed this way before.

HAPPY & BLESSED 2018! 

Morning Manna by Rufus Parker - 2017 December 30

“And Jesus, when he came out, saw much people, and was moved with compassion toward them, because they were as sheep not having a shepherd: and he began to teach them many things” (Mark 6:34)

Today’s Morsel:  Having compassion is seeing a need and doing something about it.  Jesus saw the people as sheep without anyone to lead them.  No shepherd. No pastor.  Today, everywhere we look, we see the same thing that Jesus saw.  No one to lead people to truth and understanding.  Therefore, every man, woman, boy, and girl is doing what they think is right in their own eyes. But Jesus put His compassion into action and began to teach them many things.   We must do the same thing.  People are scattered because they don’t know. If we say that we know Him (Jesus), then we must be moved with compassion to act and show them the way by teaching them the truth.

Sing: It only takes a spark to get a fire going, and soon you look around and the fire is glowing.  That’s how it is with God’s love, once you experience it, it’s fresh like spring, you’ll want to sing you’ll want to pass it on.

Thought For Today:  Compassion is acting.

Morning Manna by Rufus Parker - 2017 December 29

“And let us not be weary in well doing: for in due season we shall reap, if we faint not. As we have therefore opportunity, let us do good unto all men, especially unto them who are of the household of faith” 

(Galatians 6:9-10)

Today’s Morsel:  Okay, we are approaching the end of the year. So I want you to ask you a question.  How many opportunities did you miss to do good to other saints of God?  Based on that number, was it because you were weary and tired?   We must get to the point of nevertheless in our lives.  No matter what evils, troubles or weariness come upon us, we must still learn to seek opportunities to do good.  Especially to those who are of the household of faith.  Let us not grow weary in well-doing.  

Sing:  I’m gonna praise the Lord anyway that I can.  I’m gonna praise the Lord anyway that I can.  Praise Him in the morning, praise Him all day long  I’m gonna praise the Lord anyway that I can.

Thought For Today:  Don't  miss any opportunities to do good.