Morning Manna by Rufus Parker - 2026 October 26

Who and What Is Troubling You?

“A Psalm of David, when he fled from Absalom his son. LORD, how are they increased that trouble me! many are they that rise up against me. Many there be which say of my soul, There is no help for him in God. Selah.” (Psalms 3:1-2)

Today’s Morsel: One of the things about life is that we must be alert to people and things around us. If we are not attentive and careful, we can allow folks and things to trouble us. For example, if I spend an enormous amount of time on my cell phone or electronic devices, when I start getting spam, unwanted emails, and texts, it can start to trouble me. When I know people who know better and should do better, yet keep doing wrong, if I am not careful, I can allow it to start to trouble me. If I focus on the world, politics, and sports, it’s soon going to start to trouble me. David found himself being troubled by his family, his soldiers, and even his enemies. David was a man after God’s own heart and one who tried to lead right and do right, and yet some were not pleased or satisfied with him, causing him trouble. Some even wanted his position and his head. I believe this is why the Bible encourages us to keep our minds stayed on Jesus, and He will keep us in perfect peace. As Job said: “For the thing which I greatly feared is come upon me, and that which I was afraid of is come unto me. I was not in safety, neither had I rest, neither was I quiet; yet trouble came.” (Job 3:25-26) If someone or something is troubling you, then cast all your cares upon Him, for He cares for you.

Sing: LORD, how are they increased that trouble me! Many are they that rise up against me, many there be which say of my soul, there is no help for him in God. 

But Thou, O Lord, art a shield for me, my glory and the lifter of my head. But Thou, O Lord, art a shield for me, my glory and the lifter of my head. 

I cried unto the Lord with my voice, and He heard me out of holy hills; I cried unto the Lord with my voice, and He heard me out of holy hills; I laid me down and slept; I awaked; for the LORD sustained me.

But Thou, O Lord, art a shield for me, my glory and the lifter of my head; But Thou, O Lord, art a shield for me, my glory and the lifter of my head.

Thought For Today: “And call upon me in the day of trouble: I will deliver thee, and thou shalt glorify me.” (Psalms 50:15)

Morning Manna by Rufus Parker - 2026 October 25

Do You Love God’s House?

“I was glad when they said unto me, Let us go into the house of the LORD.” (Psalms 122:1)

Today’s Morsel: How excited are you about going to church? Do you get excited when it’s church time, or have you lost your passion for His house? Paul informs us that before the coming of the Lord, there would be a great falling away. In other words, people would no longer have a zeal and eagerness for the things of God. Your passion for God and the things of God will determine how much you value truth, live truth, and love truth. Your passion for God and the things of God will determine how much you value your family, your loved ones, and your friends. Your passion for the house of God will determine how much Scripture you know and how it applies to your life. Your passion for the house of God will determine your mental and moral state.  When the house of God is neglected, the prophet Haggai says it like this: “Sowing much and bringing in little; eating, but ye have not enough; ye drink, but ye are not filled with drink; ye clothe you, but there is none warm; and you earn wages, earn wages to put it into a bag with holes.” (Haggai 1:6) David was a man who loved the house of God. The writer of Psalm 84 states: “How amiable are thy tabernacles, O LORD of hosts! My soul longeth, yea, even fainteth for the courts of the LORD: my heart and my flesh crieth out for the living God. Yea, the sparrow hath found an house, and the swallow a nest for herself, where she may lay her young, even thine altars, O LORD of hosts, my King, and my God. Blessed are they that dwell in thy house: they will be still praising thee. Selah. Blessed is the man whose strength is in thee; in whose heart are the ways of them…For a day in thy courts is better than a thousand. I had rather be a doorkeeper in the house of my God, than to dwell in the tents of wickedness. For the LORD God is a sun and shield: the LORD will give grace and glory: no good thing will he withhold from them that walk uprightly. O LORD of hosts, blessed is the man that trusteth in thee.” (Psalms 84:1-5,10-12). Do you love His house? If you want to be blessed, you need to go to the house of the Lord. 

Sing: I was glad when they said unto me, I was glad when they said unto me, I was glad when they said unto me, come let us go unto the house of the Lord.

Thought for Today: A person who says that they are a Christian and never goes to church is fooling themselves. 

Morning Manna by Rufus Parker - 2026 October 24

How Many Gods Do You Know?

“Ye are my witnesses, saith the LORD, and my servant whom I have chosen: that ye may know and believe me, and understand that I am he: before me there was no God formed, neither shall there be after me. I, even I, am the LORD; and beside me there is no saviour. I have declared, and have saved, and I have shewed, when there was no strange god among you: therefore ye are my witnesses, saith the LORD, that I am God.” (Isaiah 43:10-12)

Today’s Morsel: One of the most essential revelations of truth is to know who God is. This question seems to plague many. Many want to serve God and do His will, but when you ask them His name, they are perplexed and do not know. The Lord said that everyone would know Him, from the least to the greatest.  Jesus said: “All things are delivered to me of my Father: and no man knoweth who the Son is, but the Father; and who the Father is, but the Son, and he to whom the Son will reveal him.” (Luke 10:22) Jesus will reveal himself to you if you ask Him. Moses informed the children of Israel: “Hear, O Israel: The LORD our God is one LORD:” (Deuteronomy 6:4) Notice there is only one God. So, does that God have a name? Father, Son, and Holy Ghost are not names; they are titles that represent a person. Notice what the apostle John informs us: “For there are three that bear record in heaven, the Father, the Word, and the Holy Ghost: and these three are one.” (1 John 5:7) So, let’s take a closer look at scripture: “Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me. If ye had known me, ye should have known my Father also: and from henceforth ye know him, and have seen him. Philip saith unto him, Lord, shew us the Father, and it sufficeth us. Jesus saith unto him, Have I been so long time with you, and yet hast thou not known me, Philip? he that hath seen me hath seen the Father; and how sayest thou then, Shew us the Father?” (John 14:6-9); “And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us, (and we beheld his glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father,) full of grace and truth.” (John 1:14); “But when the Comforter is come, whom I will send unto you from the Father, even the Spirit of truth, which proceedeth from the Father, he shall testify of me:” (John 15:26). The one that these three titles bear witness to is Jesus Christ. He is the Father in creation, the Son in redemption, and the Holy Ghost in operation. Therefore, when we are reading and studying Scripture, we should always be looking for the name of the one that these titles are associated with. And that name is Jesus Christ. 

Sing: The Mighty God is Jesus, the prince of Peace is He, the Everlasting Father, the king eternally, the wonderful in wisdom, by whom all things are made, the fullness of the Godhead in Jesus is displayed. 

It’s all in Him, it’s all in Him, the fullness of the Godhead; it’s all in Him. It’s all in Him, it’s all in Him, the mighty God is Jesus, and it’s all in Him.

Thought for Today: “Beware lest any man spoil you through philosophy and vain deceit, after the tradition of men, after the rudiments of the world, and not after Christ. For in him dwelleth all the fulness of the Godhead bodily.” (Colossians 2:8-9)

Morning Manna by Rufus Parker - 2026 October 23

Keep Shining

“Ye are the light of the world. A city that is set on an hill cannot be hid. Neither do men light a candle, and put it under a bushel, but on a candlestick; and it giveth light unto all that are in the house. Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven.” (Matthew 5:14-16)

Today’s Morsel: Maybe you have heard the story of the man who was charged with keeping the light in the lighthouse burning. As the story goes, fuel oil was low and hard to come by in this country, and the town folks knew that the light in the lighthouse must continue to burn to prevent ships from crashing into the shore. But one day the man who was responsible for the light in the lighthouse was brought a few gallons of fuel oil to keep the light burning. However, a woman came by and asked the man for some of the oil so that her lights would not go out and she and her children would not be able to see in the dark. So, the man felt sorry for her and gave the lady some of the oil for her lights. After a while, a man came by and asked the man in the lighthouse for some oil because it was cold, and if his heater went out, he and his family would freeze to death. And so, the man gave him some of the oil. During the night watch, the man in the lighthouse fell asleep. Around midnight, he was awakened and noticed that the light had begun to flicker and was almost out. His oil was running low.  When he went to get more oil for the lights, he noticed that it was all gone. And while he was panicking about what to do with no oil, the light had now gone out, and he heard a crash. A ship had run ashore, and lives were lost. The man’s reply was that he was trying to help others in need by sharing the oil. In our quest to help others, we must not allow our oil to be depleted so that we are no longer shining brightly to show others the way. Jesus said to let your light shine, that men may see your good works and glorify your father which is in heaven. Doing good is always in order, but not at the expense of placing others’ lives in danger. 

Sing: This little light of mine, I’m gonna let it shine, this little light of mine, I’m gonna let it shine, this little light on mine, I’m gonna let it shine, let it shine, let it shine, let it shine. 

Thought for Today: “In him was life; and the life was the light of men.” (John 1:4)

Morning Manna by Rufus Parker - 2026 October 22

You Always Have The Advantage With Wisdom

“Then I saw that wisdom excelleth folly, as far as light excelleth darkness.” (Ecclesiastes 2:13)

Today’s Morsel: We must come to realize that wisdom is always better than folly. Living wisely and prudently is far superior to living in foolishness and recklessly. If I know that something is going to make me better and improve my life, then that is the thing I need in my life. Just as physical light guides our steps and brings clarity, wisdom helps us navigate life safely. In scripture, foolishness is always compared with darkness because it leads to confusion and danger. No matter how good things may look in the world, and no matter how much it may seem that those in the world are having fun and enjoying life, Solomon states: “Then I saw that wisdom excelleth folly, as far as light excelleth darkness.” (Ecclesiastes 2:13) Those who present themselves as having fun and having everything, should not fool you nor draw you away after their lust. “Also, that the soul be without knowledge, it is not good; and he that hasteth with his feet sinneth.” (Proverbs 19:2) If you have godly wisdom, you are far superior in knowledge, understanding, and discretion. Don’t be fooled.  

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: “Wisdom is too high for a fool: he openeth not his mouth in the gate.” (Proverbs 24:7)

Morning Manna by Rufus Parker - 2026 October 21

Keep Your Soul Satisfied

“The full soul loatheth an honeycomb; but to the hungry soul every bitter thing is sweet.” (Proverbs 27:7)

Today’s Morsel: One of the things we see in the Word of God is that it is food for the soul. The children of Israel were given a portion of manna daily for their sustenance, but they soon started to loathe what God was giving them because they were always full.  For a person who is full and has everything, it becomes easy for them to become ungrateful and reject what others offer them. When people think that they have everything they need in life, they will reject Jesus, His word, and truth. “And I will say to my soul, Soul, thou hast much goods laid up for many years; take thine ease, eat, drink, and be merry. But God said unto him, Thou fool, this night thy soul shall be required of thee: then whose shall those things be, which thou hast provided? So is he that layeth up treasure for himself, and is not rich toward God.” (Luke 12:19-21) They see their soul as full and satisfied. But when they hit rock bottom and are starving, they will take anything being offered. When their soul is starving, they will accept any kind of religion that comes their way. This is why we must keep our souls filled with the Word of God; and we will not have to worry about being hungry for the things of this world, as our souls will be well nourished and refreshed.

Sing: Here’s my cup, Lord, I lift it; Lord, come and quench this thirsting on my soul. Bread of heaven feed me till I want no more. Here’s my cup fill it up and make me whole. 

Thought for Today: “And I went unto the angel, and said unto him, Give me the little book. And he said unto me, Take it, and eat it up; and it shall make thy belly bitter, but it shall be in thy mouth sweet as honey.” (Revelation 10:9)

Morning Manna by Rufus Parker - 2026 October 20

Change The Way You Think

“My heart is fixed, O God, my heart is fixed: I will sing and give praise. Awake up, my glory; awake, psaltery and harp: I myself will awake early. I will praise thee, O Lord, among the people: I will sing unto thee among the nations. For thy mercy is great unto the heavens, and thy truth unto the clouds. Be thou exalted, O God, above the heavens: let thy glory be above all the earth.” (Psalms 57:7-11)

Today’s Morsel: I have come to realize that depression, stress, anxiety, confusion, fear, loneliness, and despondency can all be cured by the way you think. None of the things that I mentioned came with the Holy Spirit. So that lets us know that they are from the enemy of our soul. To rid them out of our life, we need to refocus. We need to get our mind back on Jesus and not on the world and the evils it produces. If you focus on the things of this world and what the people in the world are doing, you are going to be drawn away by your thoughts. Your mind will be plagued by the evil of the world and make it hard for God’s voice and His word to penetrate to your soul. I’m not saying that God cannot get through to you; I’m just saying what Jesus said: “Now the parable is this: The seed is the word of God. Those by the wayside are they that hear; then cometh the devil, and taketh away the word out of their hearts, lest they should believe and be saved. They on the rock are they, which, when they hear, receive the word with joy; and these have no root, which for a while believe, and in time of temptation fall away. And that which fell among thorns are they, which, when they have heard, go forth, and are choked with cares and riches and pleasures of this life, and bring no fruit to perfection. But that on the good ground are they, which in an honest and good heart, having heard the word, keep it, and bring forth fruit with patience.” (Luke 8:11-15) If you notice the first three hearts, the word was ineffective in their lives. It wasn’t that Jesus wasn’t sowing the seed; the word was sown, but the soil - the person’s heart - had issues. Jesus isn’t going to take the junk out of your heart, you must do that yourself through godly sorrow or repentance if you want to change, and the word can get through. Watching ungodly media programs and television will clog up your heart. So, change your heart, and your body will follow. 

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: “And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.” (Romans 12:2)