Morning Manna by Rufus Parker - 2025 April 4

Where Can We Find Hope?

“And now, Lord, what wait I for? my hope is in thee.” (Psalms 39:7)

Today’s Morsel: If you could find that for which you hope for, how much of it would you gather for later? One of the things that we find when we read our Bibles is that everything that we have need of is found in Jesus. But for some reason, folks don’t want Him. They want to touch and hold what they think is needed in their hands. They want to feel it and see it. But God’s ways aren’t ours. Hope is no more than trusting and believing. It really isn’t something that you can feel or touch, but you can see it when it comes. Hope is holding on with patience and endurance while waiting for that you seek. Paul states: “For we are saved by hope: but hope that is seen is not hope: for what a man seeth, why doth he yet hope for? But if we hope for that we see not, then do we with patience wait for it.” (Romans 8:24-25) Solomon states that: “Hope deferred maketh the heart sick: but when the desire cometh, it is a tree of life.” (Proverbs 13:12) So where can we find hope? The psalmist said that his hope is in the Lord. What about yours? The writer of Hebrews tells us: “Wherein God, willing more abundantly to shew unto the heirs of promise the immutability of his counsel, confirmed it by an oath: That by two immutable things, in which it was impossible for God to lie, we might have a strong consolation, who have fled for refuge to lay hold upon the hope set before us: Which hope we have as an anchor of the soul, both sure and stedfast, and which entereth into that within the veil; Whither the forerunner is for us entered, even Jesus, made an high priest for ever after the order of Melchisedec.” (Hebrews 6:17-20) Jesus Christ is our anchor of hope, and you can find Him this very hour.

Sing: My hope is built on nothing less than Jesus’ blood and righteousness; I dare not trust the sweetest frame; but wholly lean on Jesus’ name.

On Christ the solid Rock, I stand; all other ground is sinking sand, all other ground is sinking sand. 

Thought For Today: “For thou art my hope, O Lord GOD: thou art my trust from my youth.” (Psalms 71:5)

Morning Manna by Rufus Parker - 2025 April 3

What Are You Wearing?

“Put on therefore, as the elect of God, holy and beloved, bowels of mercies, kindness, humbleness of mind, meekness, longsuffering; Forbearing one another, and forgiving one another, if any man have a quarrel against any: even as Christ forgave you, so also do ye. And above all these things put on charity, which is the bond of perfectness.” (Colossians 3:12-14)

Today’s Morsel: I’m afraid that too many Christians want to be adorned like the world, instead of being adorned like Christ. I often wonder if this is why so many Christians are struggling and losing the battle in this spiritual warfare. Your dress and appearance do cause you to feel good about who you are, whether you think so or not. No, we are not fighting against flesh and blood. Our warfare is with the prince and ruler of darkness. This is a spiritual battle we are fighting, and it is for your soul. This is why you must be clothed correctly.  One of the problems I see in the churches is we focus of the armor of God, but not on the character of God. Character is who you are. It is those things inside of you such as your personality and attitude that attracts others to you. What I learned in my 28 plus years of military service is you can have all the best and greatest equipment in the world for your protection, but if you do not have character of heart as to who you are and what you must be when you put it on, it doesn’t do you much good. What you wear ought to reveal that you are rooted and grounded in God and in His word. Paul said that as the elect holy and beloved, or those who have been chosen by God, must put on compassion, kindness, humility, patience, forgiveness, and love. These traits are who you are and must be within you, while the armor of God must be worn and seen without. Just what are you wearing? What do you have inside of you? Does your inward character support your outward armor?  Are you battle ready? 

Sing: Put on the garment of praise for the spirit of heaviness, lift-up your voice to God. Pray in the spirit, and with understanding, oh magnify the Lord.

Thought For Today: Dress for success!

Morning Manna by Rufus Parker - 2025 April 2

New Every Morning

“It is of the LORD'S mercies that we are not consumed, because his compassions fail not. They are new every morning: great is thy faithfulness. The LORD is my portion, saith my soul; therefore will I hope in him. The LORD is good unto them that wait for him, to the soul that seeketh him. It is good that a man should both hope and quietly wait for the salvation of the LORD.” (Lamentations 3:22-26)

Today’s Morsel: If you were to ponder your life, you would see that it’s new every morning. Yesterday was the old you. Today is the new you. You can ponder on yesterday and say that nothing has changed, but that isn’t true. Yesterday was good. Yet we have been given a new day by God to make a difference today. Not only in our lives, but also in the lives of others. We have been given a new day to live out our circumstances, trials, and problems. We have been given a new day to change who we were yesterday. He makes all things new. Jeremiah said that God’s compassions are new every morning. God’s care and concern, along with His empathy and kindness for you, are brought about every morning. God wants you to know that He cares. God wants you to live and not die. Therefore, His mercies are new every morning. He wants you to enjoy the abundant life that He brings forth for you. But it’s up to you if you enjoy it or not.  One of the things that we seem to find about David is that he sought the Lord early. He said, “O God, thou art my God; early will I seek thee: my soul thirsteth for thee, my flesh longeth for thee in a dry and thirsty land, where no water is; To see thy power and thy glory, so as I have seen thee in the sanctuary. Because thy lovingkindness is better than life, my lips shall praise thee. Thus will I bless thee while I live: I will lift up my hands in thy name.” (Psalms 63:1-4) Notice, early will I seek Thee. When we seek God early, we will find that life just seems to be better throughout the course of our day. As Isaiah says: “With my soul have I desired thee in the night; yea, with my spirit within me will I seek thee early: for when thy judgments are in the earth, the inhabitants of the world will learn righteousness.” (Isaiah 26:9) Don’t let your morning time slip away without God being in it. 

Sing: By and by, when the morning comes, and all the saints of God are gathered home; we will tell the story how we’ve overcome; and we’ll understand it better by and by. 

Thought For Today: They say early bird gets the worm. 

Morning Manna by Rufus Parker - 2025 April 1

Be Ready Always

“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.” (1 Peter 3:15-16)

Today’s Morsel: One of the things that I learned as a Boy Scout was the motto of, “Being prepared.” Preparation ought to be one of those traits that Christians obey and follow everyday of their lives. Jesus even tells us: “Therefore be ye also ready: for in such an hour as ye think not the Son of man cometh.” (Matthew 24:44) We ought not to get caught by surprise when Jesus returns as He has already told us to be ready. What does it mean to be ready? The children of Israel were told when God was getting ready to bring them out of bondage to have their shoes on their feet and the staff in their hands. They must be ready to go. They must be prepared. Peter said that we must sanctify the Lord God in our hearts, and that we must be ready always to give an answer to every man that asketh us a reason of the hope that is in us with meekness and fear, having a good conscience (emphasis mine). We must have a made-up mind, every second, every minute, every hour, every day, every week, throughout the entire year, ready to give an answer as to who we are and why we as Christians live and believe the way that we d0. If our minds aren’t made up, we will not be ready to act when asked. Not only will we be unprepared to share the gospel, but we will not be ready when Jesus comes again either. Stay prepared!

Sing: Well, I’m getting ready to leave this place, I’m getting ready for those gates of pearls; keeping my record right, watching both day and night; well, I’m getting ready to leave this place.

Thought For Today: Don’t let that day catch you unawares. 

Morning Manna by Rufus Parker - 2025 March 31

Special Miracles

“And it came to pass, that, while Apollos was at Corinth, Paul having passed through the upper coasts came to Ephesus: and finding certain disciples, He said unto them, Have ye received the Holy Ghost since ye believed? And they said unto him, We have not so much as heard whether there be any Holy Ghost. And he said unto them, Unto what then were ye baptized? And they said, Unto John's baptism. Then said Paul, John verily baptized with the baptism of repentance, saying unto the people, that they should believe on him which should come after him, that is, on Christ Jesus. When they heard this, they were baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus. And when Paul had laid his hands upon them, the Holy Ghost came on them; and they spake with tongues, and prophesied. And all the men were about twelve. And he went into the synagogue, and spake boldly for the space of three months, disputing and persuading the things concerning the kingdom of God. But when divers were hardened, and believed not, but spake evil of that way before the multitude, he departed from them, and separated the disciples, disputing daily in the school of one Tyrannus. And this continued by the space of two years; so that all they which dwelt in Asia heard the word of the Lord Jesus, both Jews and Greeks. And God wrought special miracles by the hands of Paul: So that from his body were brought unto the sick handkerchiefs or aprons, and the diseases departed from them, and the evil spirits went out of them.” (Acts 19:1-12)

Today’s Morsel: When we follow the footsteps of Paul through the book of Acts, Paul’s ministry reveals to us how the Spirit was working with and through Him. Paul had overcome his fear of man, mainly because he himself knew what doctrines the Pharisees, Sadducees, and Scribes taught. Paul could identify false teachers and false doctrines. He stated, “I am verily a man which am a Jew, born in Tarsus, a city in Cilicia, yet brought up in this city at the feet of Gamaliel, and taught according to the perfect manner of the law of the fathers, and was zealous toward God, as ye all are this day.” (Acts 22:3) Paul was a well educate man and knew the mission that the Lord had given him. Scripture says, “But when divers were hardened, and believed not, but spake evil of that way before the multitude, he departed from them, and separated the disciples, disputing daily in the school of one Tyrannus. And this continued by the space of two years; so that all they which dwelt in Asia heard the word of the Lord Jesus, both Jews and Greeks”.  Paul daily found himself in arguments and debated with leaders about the apostle doctrine. But they all heard the Word of the Lord Jesus Christ. You see, when you present the truth in love, they are going to hear it. But if they accept it, is another thing. And scripture says that the Lord worked special miracles by Paul. People saw things taking place that were not common nor had ever been seen before. “So that from his body were brought unto the sick handkerchiefs or aprons, and the diseases departed from them, and the evil spirits went out of them.” (Acts 19:12) This was mind boggling.  Paul’s ministry was backed up by these special miracles. And Jesus desires to do the same through your ministry as well. But it all starts with you overcoming fear in your life and putting your trust in the Lord to work through you.

Sing: Jesus use me, O Lord, don’t refuse me, for surely there’s a work that I can do. And even though it’s humble, Lord, help my will to crumble.  Though the cost be great, I’ll work for you.

Thought For Today: “Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that believeth on me, the works that I do shall he do also; and greater works than these shall he do; because I go unto my Father.” (John 14:12)

Morning Manna by Rufus Parker - 2025 March 29

The Anointed Ones

“The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he hath anointed me to preach the gospel to the poor; he hath sent me to heal the brokenhearted, to preach deliverance to the captives, and recovering of sight to the blind, to set at liberty them that are bruised, To preach the acceptable year of the Lord.” (Luke 4:18-19)

Today’s Morsel: There are two things that you cannot be taught, or you cannot learn. The one is the anointing of God, and the other is spiritual sensitivity. These things come only from God. Man may put some of their honor on a man or woman, but they cannot put Spiritual things upon them. If God doesn’t give it, it’s not given. Do you ever stop and consider why God saved you and for what purpose He gave you His Spirit? Not only is His Spirit given to us to make us his sons and daughters, but we are also anointed for many other purposes and reasons. Things such as to show others the way (Mark 16:15-18); Pull others out of the fire (Jude 23); To share with others what true love is (1 John 4:7-13); To show that He has brought us out of darkness (1 Peter 2:9-10); and we are to preach the gospel to the poor; he hath sent us to heal the brokenhearted, to preach deliverance to the captives, and recovering of sight to the blind, to set at liberty them that are bruised, to preach the acceptable year of the Lord (Luke 4:8-19). The same anointing which was upon Jesus, is now upon us, and we must execute those same purposes for which He said that it was given.

Sing: Anointing fall on me, anointing fall on me; Let the power of the Holy Ghost, fall on me; Anointing fall on me.  

Thought For Today: “But the anointing which ye have received of him abideth in you, and ye need not that any man teach you: but as the same anointing teacheth you of all things, and is truth, and is no lie, and even as it hath taught you, ye shall abide in him.” (1 John 2:27)

Morning Manna by Rufus Parker - 2025 March 28

Now Hiring

“For the kingdom of heaven is like unto a man that is an householder, which went out early in the morning to hire labourers into his vineyard. And when he had agreed with the labourers for a penny a day, he sent them into his vineyard. And he went out about the third hour, and saw others standing idle in the marketplace, And said unto them; Go ye also into the vineyard, and whatsoever is right I will give you. And they went their way. Again he went out about the sixth and ninth hour, and did likewise. And about the eleventh hour he went out, and found others standing idle, and saith unto them, Why stand ye here all the day idle? They say unto him, Because no man hath hired us. He saith unto them, Go ye also into the vineyard; and whatsoever is right, that shall ye receive.” (Matthew 20:1-7)

Today’s Morsel: If Jesus were to come to you and ask you how much He would need to pay you to go labor in His vineyard, how much would you tell Him? Most of us would say, I wouldn’t charge Him anything because He’s been so good to me. I would work for nothing. But would you really feel that way? If that is your answer now, shouldn’t it always be your answer? Jesus is still seeking for labors. The harvest is plentiful, He said, but the laborers are few. Pray to the Lord of the harvest that He would send for labors. When we said yes to Jesus, were baptized in His name, and received His Spirit, we became fellow laborers with Him. As Paul said: “For we are labourers together with God: ye are God's husbandry, ye are God's building.” (1 Corinthians 3:9) There should never need to be a charge for you to labor or do anything in the kingdom of God. We ought to have a willing mind to help bring in the harvest. Daily, we ought to go forth weeping, bearing precious seed, so that at the end of the day we can bring those sheaves home with us. 

Sing: Lord, I’m available to You; I’ll do what You say do, use me Lord, to show someone the way, and enable me to say, my storage is empty and I am available to you. 

Thought For Today: “He that goeth forth and weepeth, bearing precious seed, shall doubtless come again with rejoicing, bringing his sheaves with him.” (Psalms 126:6)