Morning Manna by Rufus Parker - 2026 March 12

Do You Know the Consequences of Your Choices?

“The way of a fool is right in his own eyes: but he that hearkeneth unto counsel is wise.” (Proverbs 12:15)

Today’s Morsel: Do you seek counsel and advice from those you trust before you make a major decision or purchase? Solomon states that the way of a fool is right in his own eyes. What the fool fails to realize is that the heart is deceitful and wicked, we cannot know it. I will tell you, there have been many times that I thought I was right, only to find out later that I was wrong. By all accounts, I was sure of myself that my way was right. But I found out that I was wrong. And that is not a very good feeling. There are those who protest in the streets because they think that they are right. But they soon realize they were wrong. I have had people tell me that they don’t need to go to church to be saved. And they are right in their own eyes. But they fail to consider the consequence of their choices, should they be wrong. By all accounts in scripture, I’m sure the rich man considered his way right.  But when found himself in hell, Jesus said, “And he cried and said, Father Abraham, have mercy on me, and send Lazarus, that he may dip the tip of his finger in water, and cool my tongue; for I am tormented in this flame. But Abraham said, Son, remember that thou in thy lifetime receivedst thy good things, and likewise Lazarus evil things: but now he is comforted, and thou art tormented. And beside all this, between us and you there is a great gulf fixed: so that they which would pass from hence to you cannot; neither can they pass to us, that would come from thence. Then he said, I pray thee therefore, father, that thou wouldest send him to my father's house: For I have five brethren; that he may testify unto them, lest they also come into this place of torment. Abraham saith unto him, They have Moses and the prophets; let them hear them. And he said, Nay, father Abraham: but if one went unto them from the dead, they will repent. And he said unto him, If they hear not Moses and the prophets, neither will they be persuaded, though one rose from the dead.” (Luke 16:24-31)Do you consider the consequences of your choices?

Sing: For above all else, I must be saved, for above all else, I must be saved. Lord, whatever You have to do to me, don’t let me be lost for eternity; for above all else, I must be saved.

Thought For Today: Consider your ways!

Morning Manna by Rufus Parker - 2026 March 11

It’s Amazing What Praising Can Do

“And when they began to sing and to praise, the LORD set ambushments against the children of Ammon, Moab, and mount Seir, which were come against Judah; and they were smitten.” (2 Chronicles 20:22)

Today’s Morsel: Throughout scripture, we are called and told to praise the Lord. We are to do it from morning to night.  We ought to acknowledge God for who He is, and for what He has done and is doing in our lives daily.  We ought to love Him today, and a whole lot more tomorrow. It’s amazing what praising can do for you. The examples in the Bible are for our learning. When the children of Israel began to praise the Lord, God destroyed their enemies for them. They didn’t even have to fight. God told them to go take a seat and watch. This is how every Christian should live. Take your problem to Jesus, start praising Him for the answer, and sit back and see how He will work it out for your good. 

Sing: When the praises go up, the glory come down, where sin use to dwell, His grace now abounds; There’s healing and hope and love all around. When the praises go up, the glory comes down.

Thought For Today: “Whoso offereth praise glorifieth me: and to him that ordereth his conversation aright will I shew the salvation of God.” (Psalms 50:23)

Morning Manna by Rufus Parker - 2026 March 10

Hear Instructions

“Now therefore hearken unto me, O ye children: for blessed are they that keep my ways. Hear instruction, and be wise, and refuse it not. Blessed is the man that heareth me, watching daily at my gates, waiting at the posts of my doors. For whoso findeth me findeth life, and shall obtain favour of the LORD. But he that sinneth against me wrongeth his own soul: all they that hate me love death.” (Proverbs 8:32-36)

Today’s Morsel: One of the reasons that folks get frustrated with the things that they buy is because they won’t read the instructions that come with them. Folks complain about their clothes shrinking after the buy them because they fail to read the instruction on how to wash and dry them. Some folks put their clothes in the washer and drier when the instructions tell them that the item must be drycleaned. Wisdom calls for us to hear instructions, and be wise, and refuse it not. Solomon states: “Give instruction to a wise man, and he will be yet wiser: teach a just man, and he will increase in learning. The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom: and the knowledge of the holy is understanding. For by me thy days shall be multiplied, and the years of thy life shall be increased. If thou be wise, thou shalt be wise for thyself: but if thou scornest, thou alone shalt bear it.” (Proverbs 9:9-12) If you want to live and be in good health, then you must heed the instructions. 

Sing: Just a closer walk with Thee, grant it Jesus, is my plea; Daily walking close to Thee, let it be, dear Lord, let it be.

Thought For Today: Most people will find that life is simple when they listen and follow the instructions. 

Morning Manna by Rufus Parker - 2026 March 9

Become Familiar With Wisdom

“My son, keep my words, and lay up my commandments with thee. Keep my commandments, and live; and my law as the apple of thine eye. Bind them upon thy fingers, write them upon the table of thine heart. Say unto wisdom, Thou art my sister; and call understanding thy kinswoman:” (Proverbs 7:1-4)

Today’s Morsel: Solomon, who is said to be the author of the book of Proverbs, calls for us to familiarize ourselves with wisdom and understanding. He said that we should treat them as some of our closest relatives. He said that these things ought to be close to you, just like your family, to give you guidance, protection, so that you will be kept from the temptation, and from hidden snares that await you as your go about your day-to-day duties and responsibilities. Not to mention strange women and evil men.  Wisdom and understanding for every born-again believer ought to be some of our loyal companions. You need to get to know them. They are the things that give you life and keep you from being led astray from truth and into many hurtful lusts.

Sing:  Deeper, deeper, blessed Holy Spirit, take me deeper still; till my life is wholly lost in Jesus, and His perfect will. 

O’ deeper yet, I pray, and higher every day, and wiser, blessed Lord, in Thy precious holy word. 

Thought For Today: Wherever you find wisdom, you will also find prudence. 

Morning Manna by Rufus Parker - 2026 March 7

Do You Hate What God Hates?

“These six things doth the LORD hate: yea, seven are an abomination unto him: A proud look, a lying tongue, and hands that shed innocent blood, An heart that deviseth wicked imaginations, feet that be swift in running to mischief, A false witness that speaketh lies, and he that soweth discord among brethren.” (Proverbs 6:16-19)

Today’s Morsel. Solomon tells us that there are six things that the Lord detests, seven are an abomination to Him: He tells us that God hates sin. These scriptures serve as a powerful warning, revealing to us God’s character by showing us what is utterly offensive to Him, and they urge us to turn away from them, to not sin, and to embrace righteousness. Let look at these seven:

1.    A proud look: Arrogance, pride, and looking down on others. We know that pride goes before destruction and a haughty spirit before a fall.

2.   A lying tongue: Willful deception. James tells us that the tongue is the unruliest member of the body and that no man can tame it. 

3.    Hands that shed innocent blood: Murder and violence against the innocent.

4.   A heart that devises wicked imaginations: Conceiving evil schemes.

5.    Feet that be swift in running to mischief: Eagerness to do wrong.

6.   A false witness that speaks lies: Deceitful testimony, harming another’s reputation, and backbiting.

7.    He that soweth discord among brethren: Creating strife and division in the church, where it breaks unity.

Some haves suggested that the seventh item, sowing discord among brethren, is often seen as the culmination or worst of the list, as it damages unity of the body. Paul told the church at Ephesus: “I therefore, the prisoner of the Lord, beseech you that ye walk worthy of the vocation wherewith ye are called, With all lowliness and meekness, with longsuffering, forbearing one another in love; Endeavouring to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace.” (Ephesians 4:1-3) We must not do anything to destroy unity or divide the body.

Sing: Bind us together Lord, bind us together with cords, that cannot be broken; Bind us together Lord, bind us together Lord, bind us together in love.

Thought For Today: “Behold, how good and how pleasant it is for brethren to dwell together in unity!” (Psalms 133:1)

Morning Manna by Rufus Parker - 2026 March 6

God Sees Your Ways

“For the ways of man are before the eyes of the LORD, and he pondereth all his goings.” (Proverbs 5:21)

Today’s Morsel: Sometimes when reading scripture, I will ask myself, “I wonder why that scripture was chosen to be placed in the book.” Today’s scripture says that the ways of man are before the eyes of the Lord, and He weighs all his going. God is Omniscience. He’s all knowing. He’s aware of everything that we do, think, say, and even how we behave. Jesus took Nathanael totally by surprise when He told him before Philip called him, when you were under the fig tree, He saw him:

Jesus saw Nathanael coming to him, and saith of him, Behold an Israelite indeed, in whom is no guile! Nathanael saith unto him, Whence knowest thou me? Jesus answered and said unto him, Before that Philip called thee, when thou wast under the fig tree, I saw thee. Nathanael answered and saith unto him, Rabbi, thou art the Son of God; thou art the King of Israel. Jesus answered and said unto him, Because I said unto thee, I saw thee under the fig tree, believest thou? thou shalt see greater things than these.” (John 1:45-50) 

David probably thought that he was free from his sin after the death of Uriah. When God sent Nathan the Prophet to expose his sin, David was shocked. And this may be one of the reasons that he wrote Psalms 139: “To the chief Musician, A Psalm of David. O LORD, thou hast searched me, and known me. Thou knowest my downsitting and mine uprising, thou understandest my thought afar off. Thou compassest my path and my lying down, and art acquainted with all my ways. For there is not a word in my tongue, but, lo, O LORD, thou knowest it altogether. Thou hast beset me behind and before, and laid thine hand upon me. Such knowledge is too wonderful for me; it is high, I cannot attain unto it. Whither shall I go from thy spirit? or whither shall I flee from thy presence? If I ascend up into heaven, thou art there: if I make my bed in hell, behold, thou art there. If I take the wings of the morning, and dwell in the uttermost parts of the sea; Even there shall thy hand lead me, and thy right hand shall hold me.” (Psalms 139:1-10). I like how Solomon closes out the book of Ecclesiastes “For God shall bring every work into judgment, with every secret thing, whether it be good, or whether it be evil.” (Ecclesiastes 12:14) And Paul tells us: “But why dost thou judge thy brother? or why dost thou set at nought thy brother? for we shall all stand before the judgment seat of Christ. For it is written, As I live, saith the Lord, every knee shall bow to me, and every tongue shall confess to God. So then every one of us shall give account of himself to God.” (Romans 14:10-12) There is nothing hidden from God. Therefore, our actions and conduct ought to reflect His ways, so that when we appear before Him, we will hear Him say, “Well done”.

Sing: Let me walk with You Jesus, don’t ever leave me alone; For without You I could never, No, never make heaven my home.

Thought For Today: You should always consider your ways.

Morning Manna by Rufus Parker - 2026 March 5

The Principal Thing

“Wisdom is the principal thing; therefore get wisdom: and with all thy getting get understanding.” (Proverbs 4:7)

Today’s Morsel: When something is considered to be principal, it is to be considered first. Proverbs 4:7, means that wisdom is life’s most important asset, urging us to pursue it above all else, even material wealth; but actively understanding, discernment, and insight, recognizing that true wisdom comes from God and leads to a better, and more purposeful life. It’s a call to prioritize spiritual wisdom and understanding over temporary gain, to form good habits through obedience and study so that we may gain clarity of God’s ways. The verse also teaches us that acquiring wisdom might require great sacrifice, but its benefits far outweigh any material cost, as true wisdom originates from God, and seeking it involves a relationship with Him and reliance on His guidance. So here are a few simple terms we must follow:

§  We should prioritize becoming wise and having understanding over getting rich or famous.

§  We should make seeking God’s insight our number one goal in life.

§  We ought to use our resources (time, efforts) to gain spiritual insight and discernment, not just for material possessions.

Sing: Deeper, deeper, in the love of Jesus daily let me go; Higher, higher, in the school of wisdom, more of grace to know. 

O’ deeper yet, I pray; And higher every day; And wiser, blessed Lord; In Thy precious holy word. 

Thought For Today: Seek first the Kingdom of God and everything else will be added unto you.