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.

Morning Manna by Rufus Parker - 2026 January 28

Stay Alert

“But I fear, lest by any means, as the serpent beguiled Eve through his subtilty, so your minds should be corrupted from the simplicity that is in Christ.” (2 Corinthians 11:3)

Today’s Morsel:  We know that according to scripture Eve was deceived by the serpent in the garden, and it brought sin into the world because of her disobedience. Paul tells the church at Corinth that he was afraid that the same way that Satan deceived Eve, their minds were being deceived from the ease and of Christ. Living for God isn’t hard. It’s easy. But if you allow deception and false doctrine to deceive you, life is going to be hard for you, and you will be drawn away by your own lust. You must obey what God’s word says or Satan will deceive you as He did Eve.

Sing: I’ve got my mind made up to serve the Lord. I’ve got my mind made up to serve the Lord. I’ve got my mind made up to serve the Lord. I got my mind made up to serve the Lord.

Thought For Today: Don’t get bushwhacked.

Morning Manna by Rufus Parker - 2026 January 27

Water Baptism

“And he said unto them, Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature. He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved; but he that believeth not shall be damned. And these signs shall follow them that believe; In my name shall they cast out devils; they shall speak with new tongues; They shall take up serpents; and if they drink any deadly thing, it shall not hurt them; they shall lay hands on the sick, and they shall recover.” (Mark 16:15-18)

Today’s Morsel: According to the apostle Peter, baptism doth now save us. Water baptism is for the remission of sins (Acts 2:38). You can’t be saved with sin in your life. So, baptism by emersion is being buried with Christ (Romans 6:3-4) into His death. You are burying the old man, so that you can rise and walk in newness of life. You are not saved if you have not been baptized in the name of The Lord Jesus Christ. As, “Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved.” (Acts 4:12) Have you been baptized in Jesus’ name? It is the saving name. 

Sing: Have you been to Jesus for your cleansing power? Are you washed in the blood of the lamb? Are you fully trusting in His grace this hour? Are you washed in the blood of the Lamb?

Are you washed, in the blood, in the soul cleansing blood of the Lamb? Are your garments spotless? Are they white as snow, are you washed in the blood of the Lamb?

Thought For Today: Life is too short to play around with your eternal salvation.