Morning Manna by Rufus Parker - 2018 June 30

“And the LORD said unto Moses, Hew thee two tables of stone like unto the first: and I will write upon these tables the words that were in the first tables, which thou brakest. And be ready in the morning, and come up in the morning unto mount Sinai, and present thyself there to me in the top of the mount. And no man shall come up with thee, neither let any man be seen throughout all the mount; neither let the flocks nor herds feed before that mount. And he hewed two tables of stone like unto the first; and Moses rose up early in the morning, and went up unto mount Sinai, as the LORD had commanded him, and took in his hand the two tables of stone. And the LORD descended in the cloud, and stood with him there, and proclaimed the name of the LORD. And the LORD passed by before him, and proclaimed, The LORD, The LORD God, merciful and gracious, longsuffering, and abundant in goodness and truth, Keeping mercy for thousands, forgiving iniquity and transgression and sin, and that will by no means clear the guilty; visiting the iniquity of the fathers upon the children, and upon the children's children, unto the third and to the fourth generation. And Moses made haste, and bowed his head toward the earth, and worshipped” (Exodus 34:1-8).

Today’s Morsel:  I don’t know if you are aware, but Moses was the first man to break the Ten Commandments!  And because he broke them, God made him hew out two tables of stones just like the first ones.  I often wonder what it was like for Moses to have to climb that mountain to meet God in the morning.  I’m sure he didn’t know if God was going to be angry and upset with him for breaking the tablets or not.  But we don’t see that Moses wasted any time ensuring that he had the stones as God said and was ready to meet Him.  But to Moses surprise, when he rose to the mountain, he was met by God and God declared to him who He was. “And the LORD passed by before him, and proclaimed, The LORD, The LORD God, merciful and gracious, longsuffering, and abundant in goodness and truth, keeping mercy for thousands, forgiving iniquity and transgression and sin, and that will by no means clear the guilty; visiting the iniquity of the fathers upon the children, and upon the children's children, unto the third and to the fourth generation. And Moses made haste, and bowed his head toward the earth, and worshipped.”  Altar calls are given for those who have broken God's commandments.  They know they are wrong and they are given the opportunity to come forth so God can declare Himself to them the same way He disclosed himself to Moses.  Do you know Him?  Don’t allow what others do to cause you to break the law.

Sing:  I came to Jesus weary worn and sad, He took my sins away, He took my sins away. And now His love has made my heart so glad, He took my sins away.

He took my sins away, he took my sins away, and keeps me singing every day!  I’m so glad He took my sins away, He took my sins away.

Thought For Today:  Don’t allow what others do cause you to break the law (Parker).

Morning Manna by Rufus Parker - 2018 June 29

“Know ye not that the unrighteous shall not inherit the kingdom of God? Be not deceived: neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor effeminate, nor abusers of themselves with mankind, Nor thieves, nor covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor extortioners, shall inherit the kingdom of God. And such were some of you: but ye are washed, but ye are sanctified, but ye are justified in the name of the Lord Jesus, and by the Spirit of our God. All things are lawful unto me, but all things are not expedient: all things are lawful for me, but I will not be brought under the power of any” (1 Corinthians 6:9-12).

Today’s Morsel:  I often hear Christian say that they struggle with their flesh. Well, my question is who is controlling you, Jesus or the devil?  If Jesus gave you power to tread on serpents and scorpions, then who is in control?  We must realize that we have been given the ability to make right choices and right decisions through this new life that we now live. If we are struggling with our flesh, then it is because we choose to struggle.  The same way when one skips church. They choose to skip church rather than the person who has a valid excuse for missing church.  Notice, there is a big difference between the two. One you choose to do wrong the other is valid.  But the driving factor for a Christian should always to strive to do what is right because God is a God of righteousness.  Paul’s question here should echo to every person.  Don’t you know that the unrighteous shall not inherit the Kingdom of God?  If we say that we are Christians, then we should know this and get complete control of our flesh so that our end state will reward us good and not evil.

Sing: Burn in me, burn in me, Holy Ghost fire burn in me.  Yesterday’s gone, today I’m in need, Holy Ghost fire burn in me.

Thought For Today:  Self-control means that you are in control of yourself (Parker).

Morning Manna by Rufus Parker - 2018 June 28

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“Watch ye, stand fast in the faith, quit you like men, be strong” 

(1 Corinthians 16:13).

Today’s Morsel:  Are you aware that someone is always watching you?  No matter whether you are at home, on the job, or out and about someone is always watching you.  When I go to the mall, I usually just like to sit and observe people.  I can often tell who is not happy, those who are despondent or depressed just by the way they walk and by their demeanor.   I know that others are watching me.  Sometimes someone will come and sit next to me and start to talk with me.  They see me as someone they can talk to.  Paul told the church at Corinth to watch themselves.  As Christians, we must realize that we represent Christ to a lost and dying world and we need to be on display as hope for others.  If we are not good examples as Christians, then what are we?

Sing:  This little light of mine, I’m gonna let it shine.  This little light of mine, I’m gonna let it shine.  This little light of mine, I’m gonna let it shine, let it shine, let it shine, let it shine.

Thought For Today: Conversation equals behavior (Parker).

Morning Manna by Rufus Parker - 2018 June 27

“I am the true vine, and my Father is the husbandman. Every branch in me that beareth not fruit he taketh away: and every branch that beareth fruit, he purgeth it, that it may bring forth more fruit. Now ye are clean through the word which I have spoken unto you. Abide in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, except it abide in the vine; no more can ye, except ye abide in me. I am the vine, ye are the branches: He that abideth in me, and I in him, the same bringeth forth much fruit: for without me ye can do nothing. If a man abide not in me, he is cast forth as a branch, and is withered; and men gather them, and cast them into the fire, and they are burned. If ye abide in me, and my words abide in you, ye shall ask what ye will, and it shall be done unto you” (John 15:1-7).

Today’s Morsel: One of the reasons we may not be getting what we ask God for, is we may not be abiding in His word.  We know that God is the word and that word was made flesh (John 1:1,14), but are we attaching ourselves to Him?  Remember, He the vine and we are the branches.  Jesus said that the only way we can get what we ask Him for is if we abide in Him and His words abide in us.  I guess one of the reasons James admonishes us to be a doer of the word and not a hearer only (James 1:22), is because God’s blessings and provisions are always attached to His word. 

Sing:  Thy word is a lamp unto my feet and light unto my path.  Thy word is a lamp unto my feet and light unto my path.  When I feel afraid, think I've lost my way, still you're there right beside me.  And nothing will I fear, as long as you are near, please be near me to the end.  

Thy Word is a lamp unto my feet and a light unto my path.  Thy Word is a lamp unto my feet and a light unto my path.

Thought For Today:  Stay in the Word.

Morning Manna by Rufus Parker - 2018 June 26

“Wherefore seeing we also are compassed about with so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which doth so easily beset us, and let us run with patience the race that is set before us, Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God” (Hebrews 12:1-2).

Today’s Morsel: For the life of me, I can’t figure out why so many born-again believers are carrying around so many burdens.  Time and time again I read in the word of God that we do not need to be carrying our burdens:  “Casting all your care upon him; for he careth for you” (1 Peter 5:7); “Trust in the LORD with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding. In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths” (Proverbs 3:5-6); “Rejoice in the Lord alway: and again I say, Rejoice. Let your moderation be known unto all men. The Lord is at hand. Be careful for nothing; but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God. And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus. Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things. Those things, which ye have both learned, and received, and heard, and seen in me, do: and the God of peace shall be with you” (Philippians 4:4-9); “Lift up your heads, O ye gates; and be ye lift up, ye everlasting doors; and the King of glory shall come in. Who is this King of glory? The LORD strong and mighty, the LORD mighty in battle. Lift up your heads, O ye gates; even lift them up, ye everlasting doors; and the King of glory shall come in. Who is this King of glory? The LORD of hosts, he is the King of glory. Selah” (Psalms 24:7-10); “I called upon the LORD in distress: the LORD answered me, and set me in a large place. The LORD is on my side; I will not fear: what can man do unto me? The LORD taketh my part with them that help me: therefore shall I see my desire upon them that hate me. It is better to trust in the LORD than to put confidence in man” (Psalms 118:5-8).  So why are you burden down with the cares of this life?  Oh, I see, you want to!

Sing: What are you doing wearing those heavy burdens? You don’t have to hang your head so low, don’t you know that this is the hour for that Holy Ghost power, I thought that you would like to know.

God’s still in the miracle business; God still makes devils run.  No matter what you need, you don’t have to beg or plea, before you can count to one you can count it done.

Thought For Today:  Shake off those heavy bands and lift-up those holy hands.

Morning Manna by Rufus Parker - 2018 June 25

“For the love of Christ constraineth us; because we thus judge, that if one died for all, then were all dead: And that he died for all, that they which live should not henceforth live unto themselves, but unto him which died for them, and rose again. Wherefore henceforth know we no man after the flesh: yea, though we have known Christ after the flesh, yet now henceforth know we him no more. Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new. And all things are of God, who hath reconciled us to himself by Jesus Christ, and hath given to us the ministry of reconciliation; To wit, that God was in Christ, reconciling the world unto himself, not imputing their trespasses unto them; and hath committed unto us the word of reconciliation. Now then we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God did beseech you by us: we pray you in Christ's stead, be ye reconciled to God. For he hath made him to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in him” (2 Corinthians 5:14-21).

Today’s Morsel:  The word constraineth means to hold together, to press together, to shut up; then to press on, urge, impel, or excite.  In this passage, it means that the impelling, or exciting motive in the labors and self-denials of Paul was the love of Christ.  The love which he had shown to the children of men.  Christ so loved the world as to give himself for it (John 3;16).  His love for the world was a demonstration that people were dead in sins (Ephesians 2:1); And we, being urged by the same love, are prompted to like acts of zeal and self-denial to save the world from ruin.  Because we are His representatives in the earth, we must strive to save the people from destruction.

Sing:  I was sinking deep in sin, far from the peaceful shores.  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:  You are His representative in the earth.

Morning Manna by Rufus Parker - 2018 June 23

“But when the fulness of the time was come, God sent forth his Son, made of a woman, made under the law, To redeem them that were under the law, that we might receive the adoption of sons” (Galatians 4:4-5).

Today’s Morsel:  Do you feel as though God is taking to long to come through for you?  Do you feel like giving up and quitting?  I’m sure there are times that some people feel this way.  But this feeling isn’t from God, it’s from the enemy of your soul.  He wants you to retreat and give up. We see this with Abraham and Sarah.  Abraham was 75 when God called him.  I’m sure Abraham felt that God was going to do what He said He would do because Abraham left home.  In some ways, I feel that Abraham delayed his blessing because he took Lot with him when God told him to leave his kindred and family.  So while God waited, he and Sarah tried to help God out because of the delay in the promise.  Every Prophet had prophesied to Israel that their Redeemer and Savior would come to deliver them.  But because of the delay, they took matters into their own hands; and when He came, they rejected Him.  He was not what they wanted to be their deliverer. Somewhat like the children of Belial said of Saul when he was anointed king, “But the children of Belial said, How shall this man save us? And they despised him, and brought him no presents. But he held his peace” (1 Samuel 10:27).  If we aren’t careful, we too can allow the delay to cause us to reject the Savior or the one whom God sends when He comes.  Remember, God isn't on our time, we are on His.

Sing: O’ my brother, are you ready for the call?  To crown your Savior King and Lord of all?  The kingdoms of this world shall soon before Him fall, we shall see the King when He comes.

 We shall see the king. We shall see the king. We shall see the king when he comes.  He’s coming in His power, we’ll hail the blessed hour, we shall see the king when He comes.

Thought For Today:  Don’t allow God’s seemingly delay to cause you to go against God’s word.