Morning Manna by Rufus Parker - 2024 Apr 27

 Prayer 

“It is a good thing to give thanks unto the LORD, and to sing praises unto thy name, O most High: To shew forth thy lovingkindness in the morning, and thy faithfulness every night,” (Psalms 92:1-2)

 

Today’s Morsel: One of the things that I have noticed about people lately is many of them do not know how to pray, nor do they value prayer. I’m not being critical, but prayer isn’t being taught much in the home and in the church. People don’t pray over their food anymore. They don’t pray over the offering they receive at church. They don’t pray before trips. And they don’t pray for our nation’s leaders.  As Paul told Timothy: “I exhort therefore, that, first of all, supplications, prayers, intercessions, and giving of thanks, be made for all men; For kings, and for all that are in authority; that we may lead a quiet and peaceable life in all godliness and honesty. For this is good and acceptable in the sight of God our Saviour;” (1 Timothy 2:1-3). One day, I was sitting in my recliner, reading my Bible, and my cellphone lit up to tell me how much time I had spent on my phone for the week. I was somewhat taken aback at the number of hours that I had spent on it. And so I asked myself, do I give that many hours to prayer and reading my Bible? Or am I wasting valuable time strolling through social media and news feeds? Scripture says, “And he spake a parable unto them to this end, that men ought always to pray, and not to faint;” (Luke 18:1) prayer is associated with not quitting and giving up. The psalmist states: It is a good thing to give thanks unto the LORD, and to sing praises unto thy name, O most High: To shew forth thy lovingkindness in the morning, and thy faithfulness every night,” Prayer ought to be the key to unlocking our morning, and the lock that secures it in the night. Jesus left us many examples to emulate Him by. And one of those was prayer. As Jesus told His disciples: “Watch and pray, that ye enter not into temptation: the spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak.” (Matthew 26:41)

 

Sing: Whisper a prayer in the morning, whisper a prayer at noon, whisper a prayer in the evening, and keep your heart intune.

 

Thought For Today: “Yet the LORD will command his lovingkindness in the daytime, and in the night his song shall be with me, and my prayer unto the God of my life.” (Psalms 42:8)

 

Morning Manna by Rufus Parker - 2024 April 26

Character

 

“And to the angel of the church in Philadelphia write; These things saith he that is holy, he that is true, he that hath the key of David, he that openeth, and no man shutteth; and shutteth, and no man openeth; I know thy works: behold, I have set before thee an open door, and no man can shut it: for thou hast a little strength, and hast kept my word, and hast not denied my name.” (Revelation 3:7-8)

 

Today’s Morsel: It has been stated that personality has the power to open doors, but it is character that will keep them open. Doors will always be open to those whose conduct and actions are beyond reproach. That is why you need to be aware of every picture that you post, or word that you say on Facebook or other social media platforms. Someone is always watching you. Even your neighbors may be called on someday to testify of your character. I have received calls and e-mails asking me to rate people’s character who have put me on their job application for a character reference. But sad to say, some of them I have had to give a no comment, because I have seen some of their social media posts. Paul told the church at Rome: “Let not then your good be evil spoken of:” (Romans 14:16) Someone is always watching you. Even those in your own household. The story is told of a family that wanted to impress their new pastor by inviting him to their home for dinner. Everything was neat and in order. The family removed the T.V. from the living room and placed the Bible out on the coffee table. After dinner, they moved from the dining room to the living room for more comfortable seating. While sitting in the living room, little Sally was curious about the Bible on the coffee table. And so, she asked her parents, “Where did this book come from? I have never seen it before. And by the way, what happened to our television?”  David said: “I will behave myself wisely in a perfect way. O when wilt thou come unto me? I will walk within my house with a perfect heart. I will set no wicked thing before mine eyes: I hate the work of them that turn aside; it shall not cleave to me.” (Psalms 101:2-3) Let me encourage you today. Character is those personality traits that set your apart and draw others to Christ through your life. Never think that it does not count. As the psalmist said, “Thy testimonies are very sure: holiness becometh thine house, O LORD, for ever.” (Psalms 93:5)

 

Sing: Holy, Holy, Holy. Holy, Holy, Holy. Holy is the Lord, God Almighty. And He is worthy to receive glory. Worthy to receive honor. Worthy to receive all my praise today. 

 

Thought For Today: “Strength of character isn’t always about how much you can handle before you break. It’s also about how much you can handle after you’ve been broken.” Robert Tew

Morning Manna by Rufus Parker - 2024 April 25

Humility

 

“The fear of the LORD is the instruction of wisdom; and before honour is humility.” (Proverbs 15:33)

 

Today’s Morsel: Throughout scripture, we see the call for us to be humble and to walk humbly before God. Jesus said, blessed are the meek, for they shall inherit the earth. A life without humility is usually one which does not have a firm and solid life of prayer. Humility is not elevating yourself above others, nor is it using your position or authority to gain pleasure, profit, or personal safety. Humility is freedom from pride and arrogance. It’s living modestly. It is as Paul said: “For I say, through the grace given unto me, to every man that is among you, not to think of himself more highly than he ought to think; but to think soberly, according as God hath dealt to every man the measure of faith.” (Romans 12:3) Humility is being aware of your strengthens and weaknesses, and not putting on a pretense that you are something that you are not. Humility is being willing to adapt and listen to others so that you can learn and grow. Scripture says: “For the LORD taketh pleasure in his people: he will beautify the meek with salvation.” (Psalms 149:4) Micah states: “Will the LORD be pleased with thousands of rams, or with ten thousands of rivers of oil? shall I give my firstborn for my transgression, the fruit of my body for the sin of my soul? He hath shewed thee, O man, what is good; and what doth the LORD require of thee, but to do justly, and to love mercy, and to walk humbly with thy God?” (Micah 6:7-8) And again Jesus said: “For whosoever exalteth himself shall be abased; and he that humbleth himself shall be exalted.” (Luke 14:11) If you desire to be honored by both God and man, then you must learn to walk in humility, and God will bring it to fruition in your life.

 

Sing: I’m just a nobody, trying to tell everybody, about Somebody that can save anybody. 

 

Thought For Today: Only when we have knelt before God, can we stand before men.

Morning Manna by Rufus Parker - 2024 Apr 24

Oppression

 

“Remember the word that I said unto you, The servant is not greater than his lord. If they have persecuted me, they will also persecute you; if they have kept my saying, they will keep yours also.” (John 15:20)

 

Today’s Morsel: There seems to be a great onslaught of depression, oppression, confusion, and low self-esteem in the church these days. People seem to not know where to turn. Children are not wanting to attend school because it is boring. People are sitting on church pews playing with their electronic devices because they are not interested in church. People don’t want to go to work because it is boring. People don’t want to go out into nature because they may get bit by a bug. Fear is gripping their hearts.  Satan has blinded the minds of many that believe not. People have fallen into his trap and now find themselves worrying and confused. But the answer to fix these problems in found in the gospel. As Paul told Timothy: “Preach the word; be instant in season, out of season; reprove, rebuke, exhort with all longsuffering and doctrine.” (2 Timothy 4:2) The gospel is the answer. You can’t take Jesus out of the equation and expect people to build a relationship with Him. Church songs which used to be sung drew you to and caused you to be concentrated to Christ. But now it is all about strobe lights, bust your ear drums, and go home with a headache because of too loud of sound. But when Jesus was upon the earth, the noise the people heard was because Jesus was in the house. People sat and listened to what He had to say, and they were amazed at His doctrine.  As Jesus said: “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) We’ve got to get back to the basics of the gospel, or people are going to be in an even worse condition then they are now.

 

Sing: Lord, take me back to the old landmark, help me make a new commitment, and begin a fresh start. Help me find my direction, place a burden in my heart. O’ Lord, take me back to the old landmark.

 

Thought For Today: “Thus saith the LORD, Stand ye in the ways, and see, and ask for the old paths, where is the good way, and walk therein, and ye shall find rest for your souls...” (Jeremiah 6:16)

Morning Manna by Rufus Parker - 2024 April 23

Knowledge Is Powerful

 

“Through wisdom is an house builded; and by understanding it is established: And by knowledge shall the chambers be filled with all precious and pleasant riches.” (Proverbs 24:3-4)

 

Today’s Morsel: Solomon says, “The fear of the LORD is the beginning of knowledge: but fools despise wisdom and instruction.” (Proverbs 1:7) He tells us that a house is built by wisdom, and by understanding is it established. You don’t build a family in a shack or ruins when you have godly wisdom, knowledge, and understanding. These things only happen when these three things are missing from a life. As Solomon again states: “Except the LORD build the house, they labour in vain that build it: except the LORD keep the city, the watchman waketh but in vain.” (Psalms 127:1) Jesus even tells us where we should build our house. And that is upon the rock. David states: “The LORD is my rock, and my fortress, and my deliverer; my God, my strength, in whom I will trust; my buckler, and the horn of my salvation, and my high tower.” (Psalms 18:2); “For who is God save the LORD? or who is a rock save our God?” (Psalms 18:31) Are you building your house upon the true rock?  Peter tells us how to build our house so that it doesn’t fall: “And beside this, giving all diligence, add to your faith virtue; and to virtue knowledge; And to knowledge temperance; and to temperance patience; and to patience godliness; And to godliness brotherly kindness; and to brotherly kindness charity. For if these things be in you, and abound, they make you that ye shall neither be barren nor unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ. But he that lacketh these things is blind, and cannot see afar off, and hath forgotten that he was purged from his old sins. Wherefore the rather, brethren, give diligence to make your calling and election sure: for if ye do these things, ye shall never fall:” (2 Peter 1:5-10) When the knowledge of Christ is absent, folks are subject to just throw anything together and call it a home. But as Paul told the church at Corinth: “What? know ye not that your body is the temple of the Holy Ghost which is in you, which ye have of God, and ye are not your own? For ye are bought with a price: therefore glorify God in your body, and in your spirit, which are God's.” (1 Corinthians 6:19-20)

 

Sing: I thought number one would surely be me.  I thought I could be what I wanted to be.  I thought I could build on life’s sinking sand.  But now I can’t even walk without You holding my hand.  Lord, I can’t even walk without You holding my hand.  The mountains too high and the valleys too wide.  Down on my knees that’s where I learned to stand.  Oh Lord, I can’t even walk without You holding You holding my hand. 

 

Thought For Today: “For we are labourers together with God: ye are God's husbandry, ye are God's building.” (1 Corinthians 3:9)

Morning Manna by Rufus Parker - 2024 April 22

A Balanced Life

 

“Whereas ye know not what shall be on the morrow. For what is your life? It is even a vapour, that appeareth for a little time, and then vanisheth away.” 

(James 4:14)

 

Today’s Morsel: How would you define life? Based on your definition, would you say that you are living or just existing? Do you know how to balance your life? Do you know how to manage your life? A balanced life is one where you may have many situations and circumstances coming against you, but you are able to maintain peace, confidence, and stability in Christ, with others, and yourself in them. A balanced life is not fazed by what others do or think. Living a balanced life is essential to physical and mental health. John states: “Beloved, I wish above all things that thou mayest prosper and be in health, even as thy soul prospereth.” (3 John 1:2) But notice, for this to happen your soul must prosper. Your inner man must be kept fed and in good health. But if you cannot balance your life, your health will probably suffer because of it. As Jeremiah states: “If thou hast run with the footmen, and they have wearied thee, then how canst thou contend with horses? and if in the land of peace, wherein thou trustedst, they wearied thee, then how wilt thou do in the swelling of Jordan?” (Jeremiah 12:5) If you can’t handle life when it’s easy, what will you do when it gets hard. A balanced life is a spirit filled life without all kinds of confusion, “For God is not the author of confusion, but of peace, as in all churches of the saints.” (1 Corinthians 14:33).

 

Sing: I’ve got a river of life flowing out of me, it makes the lame to walk and the blind to see.  It opens prison doors, sets the captives free. I’ve got a river of life flowing out of me. Spring up O’ well, within my soul; spring up O’ well and make me whole.  Spring up O’ well and give to me, new life abundantly.

 

Thought For Today: LIFE ... Living In Faith Every day. 

Morning Manna by Rufus Parker - 2024 April 20

Let’s Change Courses

 

“And it came to pass, when the king had heard the words of the law, that he rent his clothes. And the king commanded Hilkiah, and Ahikam the son of Shaphan, and Abdon the son of Micah, and Shaphan the scribe, and Asaiah a servant of the king's, saying, Go, enquire of the LORD for me, and for them that are left in Israel and in Judah, concerning the words of the book that is found: for great is the wrath of the LORD that is poured out upon us, because our fathers have not kept the word of the LORD, to do after all that is written in this book.” (2 Chronicles 34:19-21)

 

Today’s Morsel: If we are not careful, we can find ourselves on a course that isn’t working. When I was in the army, there were times during Land Navigation Training, that I would get off course and could not find the point that I was looking for. But we had been taught that if we were to get off course, that we should return to the last known point and start again. Does it seem as though things in your life aren’t working? Then why not stop and evaluate your situation and see if you need to change courses. You don’t want to stay on the same old course that isn’t working for you. The ones that may be causing you heartache and pain. When the King Josiah heard the words of the Lord given to him, he realized that they were off course and were not following what God had said in His Word. He realized that they needed to reverse course immediate. When your situations and circumstances may be rewarding you evil instead of good, you may need to check God’s Word to see if you are off course. Always remember, if you find yourself walking in darkness, you are not in the will of God. As His Word is a lamp unto our feet and a light unto our path. 

 

Sing: Change my heart, O’ God, make it ever true. Change my heart, O’ God, may I be like You. You are the potter, I am the clay; mold me and make me, this is what I pray. Change my heart, O’ God, make it ever true. Change my heart, O’ God, may I be like You.

 

Thought For Today: “Then Peter said unto them, Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost.” (Acts 2:38)