Morning Manna by Rufus Parker - 2026 February 5

Is It Time To Empty Yourself?

“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.” (Genesis 32:22-30)

Today’s Morsel: Sometimes, our stresses and depressions can be caused by fear. Fear, John says, has a way of tormenting us. Jacob had lived with the fear of being killed by his brother Esau for over twenty years. And now, being commanded by God to return home, Jacob knew that he had to face that which he feared. And when he came to the ford Jabbok, he knew that he needed to have a clear mind and a clear heart when he met that which he feared. Jabbok means an emptying out. It was here that Jacob got ahold of God and emptied himself out. Jacob wrestled with God for an answer of assurance. He knew that he had to cross over, but he needed assurance that God was sending him home. Maybe he even questioned God if he was aware that Esau was going to kill him. By emptying himself out, Jacob proves that God will hear the brokenhearted and change the situation for your good. As David said, “The LORD is nigh unto them that are of a broken heart; and saveth such as be of a contrite spirit.” (Psalms 34:18). 

Sing: Turn your eyes upon Jesus, look full in His wonderful face, and the things of earth will go strangely dim, in the light of His glory and grace. 

Thought For Today: When you are weak, then is He strong.

Morning Manna by Rufus Parker - 2026 February 4

A New Song

“O sing unto the LORD a new song: sing unto the LORD, all the earth. Sing unto the LORD, bless his name; shew forth his salvation from day to day. Declare his glory among the heathen, his wonders among all people. For the LORD is great, and greatly to be praised: he is to be feared above all gods. For all the gods of the nations are idols: but the LORD made the heavens. Honour and majesty are before him: strength and beauty are in his sanctuary.” (Psalms 96:1-6)

Today’s Morsel: They say that if you want to change the outlook of your situation, then change the way that you talk to yourself. If you speak ill of yourself, or you use language that belittles yourself, chances are you will talk yourself into defeat. The Psalmist says to sing unto the Lord a new song. If you have been singing Gloom, despair, and agony on me, stop singing that, and start singing, I’ve got a river of life flowing out of me. Start singing, Because He lives, I can face tomorrow. Start singing, Every promise in the book is mine. Or Love lifted me. Or maybe, There shall be light in the evening time. Singing has a way of lifting us up out of the muck and mire. So before you allow yourself to be defeated by your words, choose a new song and sing it unto the Lord.

Sing: I have found His grace is all complete He supplies my every need; While I sit and learn at Jesus feet, I am free, yes, free indeed. 

It is joy unspeakable and full of glory, full of glory, full of glory; It is joy unspeakable and full of glory, oh, the half has never yet been told.

Thought For Today: A new song can lift you up!

Morning Manna by Rufus Parker - 2026 February 3

Do You Love Jesus?

“So when they had dined, Jesus saith to Simon Peter, Simon, son of Jonas, lovest thou me more than these? He saith unto him, Yea, Lord; thou knowest that I love thee. He saith unto him, Feed my lambs. He saith to him again the second time, Simon, son of Jonas, lovest thou me? He saith unto him, Yea, Lord; thou knowest that I love thee. He saith unto him, Feed my sheep.” (John 21:15-16)

Today’s Morsel: One of the things that we see in Jesus is that He did not focus on the disciples’ actions as proof of their love to Him. He asked them if they loved Him. Peter was probably stunned that Jesus asked him if he loved Him three times. Peter knew that Jesus is resurrected from the dead, he’s now talking to the Savior of the world, God manifested in flesh, and now Jesus asked if he loved Him. I believe the questions were asked because they had returned to their worldly professions, after Jesus had called them, chosen them, and trained them for His mission. Fishers of men, and to start His church. But they had so quickly lost heart and started to go back.  The question of do you love me, put the onus on Peter to prove himself. And the way he would have to prove himself was first by his word. Yes or no. But once he said yes three times, he knew that he was now committed to do God’s will. Do you love Jesus? Are you committed?

Sing: I love Him too much to fail Him now, too much to break my vow; For I promised the Lord that I would make it somehow; And now I love Him too much, to fail Him now.

Thought For Today: We just don’t love in word only; we love in both word and deed. 

Morning Manna by Rufus Parker - 2026 February 2

Can You Love Like Jesus?

“This is my commandment, That ye love one another, as I have loved you.” (John 15:12)

Today’s Morsel: From Genesis to Revelation, the threads which run through the Bible are, love, forgiveness, mercy, grace, justice, and compassion. We know that according to scripture, “Beloved, let us love one another: for love is of God; and every one that loveth is born of God, and knoweth God. He that loveth not knoweth not God; for God is love.” (1 John 4:7-8) Being born again is a commitment to follow Jesus. If God is love, and He is, then we must love also. To really have the heart of Christ, you must have a heart of compassion. Compassion doesn’t mean that you allow people to run over you or use you, it means that you are sensitive to the Spirit’s leading, that you are strong, and that you able to help those who are really in need and need your support.  True compassion can sense true hurting and will get involved. If you really want to follow Jesus’ commandment and love, then you must first realize how much He loved you.

Sing: I’m not on an ego trip; I’m nothing on my own. I make mistakes and often slip, just common flesh and bones. But I’ll prove someday, just what I say, that I’m of a special kind; yet when He was on the cross, I was on His mind.

He knew me, yet He loved me, He whose glory makes the heaven’s shine. I’m so unworthy, of such mercy; yet when He was on the cross, I was on His mind.

Thought For Today: Love makes the world go round!

Morning Manna by Rufus Parker - 2026 January 31

Let’s Go On Unto Perfection

“Therefore leaving the principles of the doctrine of Christ, let us go on unto perfection; not laying again the foundation of repentance from dead works, and of faith toward God, Of the doctrine of baptisms, and of laying on of hands, and of resurrection of the dead, and of eternal judgment. And this will we do, if God permit.” (Hebrews 6:1-3)

Today’s Morsel: Compared to this time last year, where are you at now in your walk with God? Did you memorize some scriptures that you can use to fight your battles? Are you feeling confident in your relationship with God and others in the church? Do you feel a zeal to be in church more than you did last year at this time? Did you gain any wisdom, knowledge, and understanding of God that you didn’t know before? Do you know where you are headed and how to get there? Do you know the reason you tithe and give offerings? Do you know why holy living and being separated from the world is important to you? You see, perfection comes about when you apply the things to your life that will make you perfect. God’s word is designed to change you and to make you like Christ, who is perfect. Once you learn to keep doing the little things that God’s word tells you to do, they will soon become habits in your life and lead you on to perfection.

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 living for. Every day with Jesus, is sweeter than the day before.

Thought For Today: To reach perfection, get your priorities right. And that starts with knowing Jesus. 

Morning Manna by Rufus Parker - 2026 January 30

Sing Aloud

“Sing aloud unto God our strength: make a joyful noise unto the God of Jacob.” (Psalms 81:1)

Today’s Morsel: If you really want to give the devil a headache, start singing aloud about Jesus. The Bible tells us throughout its page to make a joyful noise unto the Lord, with singing, instruments, psalms, and clapping. I have heard people say, I don’t think you have to do all that to praise the Lord. Well, it’s not that you have to, you get to do all that to praise the Lord, as it’s what God’s word tells us to do. Paul told the church at Philippi: “Rejoice in the Lord alway: and again I say, Rejoice.” (Philippians 4:4) Joy ought to always be rooted and grounded in us. Even in our hardships We ought to praise God. And here’s why: “And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose.” (Romans 8:28) When you know who Jesus is and what He has done for you; nothing ought to be able to stop your praise with a loud voice. O’ clap your hands all ye people and shout with a voice of triumph.

Sing: Well, I just started living, I found me a brand-new life, He changed my directions and took away all my strife; I’m newborn believer with a holy infilling; my days are brighter, my load is lighter, I just started living.

Thought For Today: Shout like you just won a million dollars.

Morning Manna by Rufus Parker - 2026 January 29

Stay In the Ship

“Then fearing lest we should have fallen upon rocks, they cast four anchors out of the stern, and wished for the day. And as the shipmen were about to flee out of the ship, when they had let down the boat into the sea, under colour as though they would have cast anchors out of the foreship, Paul said to the centurion and to the soldiers, Except these abide in the ship, ye cannot be saved.” (Acts 27:29-31)

Today’s Morsel: I find it amazing that those who say that they are Christians do not understand how to make things right when there are disagreements with others in the church. Some folks leave the church because of what others say or do, instead of following Biblical principles to correct the error. The Bible doesn’t tell you to leave the church. It tells you that if your brother offends you, that you should go to him and tell him his wrong. Jesus always places the responsibility on the one who thinks that they are right, to be the first to go to the person that they think did them wrong. Not to someone else. But most folks won’t follow this principle, they go and complain to someone else about them or they even leave the church. You are not going to be saved outside of the church. You may go to another church, but until you get forgiveness from the person, Satan is still going to hound you and push you further from God. You must stay in the ship no matter the turbulence.

Sing: It’s the Old Ship of Zion, it’s the hope for the lost and dying. It’s the soul saving station, it’s the tower of salvation. 

 Well, it’s the Church Triumphant, oh, Lord and it’s built by the hand of the Lord. I’m talking about the church in the book of Revelation, it’s built on the rock, it’s got a firm foundation; it’s been the flood, it’s been through the fire, but one these days, the church is gonna move up a little, higher; Well, it’s the Church, Triumphant, O’ Lord, and it’s built by the hand of the Lord. 

Thought For Today: You can only make it in the church.