Morning Manna by Rufus Parker - 2026 October 18

You Can Find Comfort In God’s Word

“Remember the word unto thy servant, upon which thou hast caused me to hope. This is my comfort in my affliction: for thy word hath quickened me.” (Psalms 119:49-50)

Today’s Morsel: The psalmist lets us know that God’s word and promises will provide us with deep comfort, strength, and spiritual renewal during our times of suffering, hardships, and troubles.  The Hebrew word for comfort is ‘Nechamah’, which means consolation, relief, or a soothing presence during distress. The psalmist shows us that we can find solace not in changing circumstances, but in God, who is the Word made flesh (John 1:1;14). Notice he said that this is my comfort in my affliction. He’s saying that the Word will cover all types of pain: physical illnesses, emotional hardships, poverty, and even being mocked and made fun of.  He said that the Word would quicken him. It will give him life. It will restore him to his original state. David said: “And he shall be as the light of the morning, when the sun riseth, even a morning without clouds; as the tender grass springing out of the earth by clear shining after rain.” (2 Samuel 23:4) As the writer of Hebrews also enlighten us: “For the word of God is quick, and powerful, and sharper than any twoedged sword, piercing even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit, and of the joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart.” (Hebrews 4:12) Not only is God’s word an anchor for the soul, but it is also a rock in a weary land, and the balm in Gilead. 

Sing: Who is this who for our sorrows offers comfort and relief, bringing sunshine to the dark and shadowed life? Saying softly, cease repining; lift thy soul above its grief, let the peace pass understanding still the strife.

It is Jesus, Jesus, sad ones weep no more. He will heal the brokenhearted, open wide the prison door; He is able to deliver evermore. 

Thought for Today: “So shall my word be that goeth forth out of my mouth: it shall not return unto me void, but it shall accomplish that which I please, and it shall prosper in the thing whereto I sent it. For ye shall go out with joy, and be led forth with peace: the mountains and the hills shall break forth before you into singing, and all the trees of the field shall clap their hands.” (Isaiah 55:11-12)

Morning Manna by Rufus Parker - 2026 October 17

You Can’t Hide Sin; It Will Cause You Shame

“Hide thy face from my sins, and blot out all mine iniquities. Create in me a clean heart, O God; and renew a right spirit within me. Cast me not away from thy presence; and take not thy holy spirit from me. Restore unto me the joy of thy salvation; and uphold me with thy free spirit. Then will I teach transgressors thy ways; and sinners shall be converted unto thee.” (Psalms 51:9-13)

Today’s Morsel: I don’t care who you are; you cannot hide your sin. The devil isn’t going to let you do it. He will expose your iniquities and wrongs every time. Some have been embarrassed because their sins were exposed. If your sins are exposed, make sure that they are those under the blood before you became a Christian. As Paul highlights for us: “Knowing this, that our old man is crucified with him, that the body of sin might be destroyed, that henceforth we should not serve sin. For he that is dead is freed from sin. Now if we be dead with Christ, we believe that we shall also live with him: Knowing that Christ being raised from the dead dieth no more; death hath no more dominion over him. For in that he died, he died unto sin once: but in that he liveth, he liveth unto God. Likewise reckon ye also yourselves to be dead indeed unto sin, but alive unto God through Jesus Christ our Lord. Let not sin therefore reign in your mortal body, that ye should obey it in the lusts thereof. Neither yield ye your members as instruments of unrighteousness unto sin: but yield yourselves unto God, as those that are alive from the dead, and your members as instruments of righteousness unto God. For sin shall not have dominion over you: for ye are not under the law, but under grace.” (Romans 6:6-14) “For when ye were the servants of sin, ye were free from righteousness.” (Romans 6:20) “But now being made free from sin, and become servants to God, ye have your fruit unto holiness, and the end everlasting life. For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.” (Romans 6:22-23) Sin is of the devil, and he’s the one that Jesus came to destroy.  So, don’t try to hide your sin; confess it and let Jesus get rid of it for you. If you hang on to them too long, Moses said, be sure your sin will find you out. Jesus desires to forgive us of all our sins.  

Sing: I was sinking deep in sin, far from the peaceful shores, very deeply stained within, sinking to rise no more, but the Master of the sea heard my despairing cry, and from the waters lifted me, now safe am I.

Love lifted me, love lifted me, when nothing else could help, love lifted me. Love lifted me, love lifted me, when nothing else could help, love lifted me.

Thought For Today: “If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.” (1 John 1:9)

Morning Manna by Rufus Parker - 2026 October 16

God Will Show You the Right Way If You Ask Him

“Unto thee, O LORD, do I lift up my soul. O my God, I trust in thee: let me not be ashamed, let not mine enemies triumph over me. Yea, let none that wait on thee be ashamed: let them be ashamed which transgress without cause. Shew me thy ways, O LORD; teach me thy paths. Lead me in thy truth, and teach me: for thou art the God of my salvation; on thee do I wait all the day.” (Psalms 25:1-5)

Today’s Morsel: Do you ever feel as though you may be on the wrong path and heading in the wrong direction? Even in the church, some folks are in a rut and have no clue where they are going. And also in politics, some folks have no clue who they are following and where they are being led. “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. But they said, We will not walk therein.” (Jeremiah 6:16); “My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge: because thou hast rejected knowledge, I will also reject thee, that thou shalt be no priest to me: seeing thou hast forgotten the law of thy God, I will also forget thy children.” (Hosea 4:6)David cried and asked the Lord to shew him the ways of the Lord and to teach him the Lord’s paths. He asked that God would lead him in truth and teach him. When the apostle Thomas told Jesus that they did not know where He was going so how could they know the way, Jesus replied to him:  “I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.” (John 14:6) If we follow Jesus, we will not walk in darkness, but we will have the light of life and walk in the right way.

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: “He that saith he abideth in him ought himself also so to walk, even as he walked.” (1 John 2:6)

Morning Manna by Rufus Parker - 2026 October 15

Keep Walking In Your Integrity Even If Times Are Hard

“Judge me, O LORD; for I have walked in mine integrity: I have trusted also in the LORD; therefore I shall not slide. Examine me, O LORD, and prove me; try my reins and my heart. For thy lovingkindness is before mine eyes: and I have walked in thy truth.” (Psalms 26:1-3)

Today’s Morsel: Integrity is one of those traits of character that must be maintained, lived out, and never removed. Job told his friends: “God forbid that I should justify you: till I die I will not remove mine integrity from me.” (Job 27:5) Job’s friends tried to get him to confess to something that he knew he had not done. And so he tells them that he is not going to confess to their lies as truth. He said, until I die, I will not remove my integrity from me. Job’s wife asked him if he would retain his integrity forever and she suggested that he curse God and die. Why would a wife, a woman who is supposed to love you in sickness and in health, request that you do something foolish against God so that you could die? Well, we see Job’s answer to her: “But he said unto her, Thou speakest as one of the foolish women speaketh. What? shall we receive good at the hand of God, and shall we not receive evil? In all this did not Job sin with his lips.” (Job 2:10) Integrity is more than just words; it is a lifestyle. It is a firm mindset set on honesty. It is a position taken before the battle rages, and before the storms of life come. Daily, many men and women are being sent off to jail and prison for integrity violations. Integrity is like being handed a birthright because you are the oldest and next in line for the blessing, just like Esau. But if you take on the mindset of Esau and hate or do not value your birthright, the devil will give you a bowl of beans for it every time. If you lose anything in the storms and trials of life, don’t let it be your integrity.

Sing: Lord, you are more precious than silver; Lord, you are more costly than gold. Lord, you are more beautiful than diamonds, and nothing I desire compares to you.

Thought for Today: “But as for me, I will walk in mine integrity: redeem me, and be merciful unto me.” (Psalms 26:11)

Morning Manna by Rufus Parker - 2026 October 14

Be Careful Of What You Feed Yourself

“When thou sittest to eat with a ruler, consider diligently what is before thee: And put a knife to thy throat, if thou be a man given to appetite. Be not desirous of his dainties: for they are deceitful meat.” (Proverbs 23:1-3)

Today’s Morsel: I was at a church potluck once, and this young man in front of me had on a T-shirt with the caption on the back that said, “I bet you wish you were in line in front of me, because when I finish, there will be nothing left.” I wanted to tap him on the shoulder and ask if I could cut in front of him. (humor). Solomon states that if we are one given to appetite, then we should probably consider putting a knife to our throat. Solomon is trying to show us the reason for having and possessing self-control in our lives. Especially when it comes before those with power. As we say down south, there may be death in them their pots (humor). In olden times, kings, and even today many leaders, do not just sit down and start eating. They have someone who tests and tastes their food and drinks to ensure they are safe for them to consume. Nehemiah was a cupbearer. He tasted everything the king was to be given, and he had proven himself faithful and trustworthy. If you are one of those who sits down and begins eating before your host, you may be setting yourself up for failure. Eating before your host shows a lack of self-discipline and respect. So, be careful how you are presenting yourself, remember you represent The King.   

Sing: Here’s my cup, Lord, I lift it up, Lord, come and quench this thirsting of 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: “But take heed lest by any means this liberty of yours become a stumblingblock to them that are weak.” (1 Corinthians 8:9)

Morning Manna by Rufus Parker - 2026 October 13

Humility 

“The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit: a broken and a contrite heart, O God, thou wilt not despise.” (Psalms 51:17)

Today’s Morsel: Humility is a virtue that we all need. Humility does not mean that you are weak; humility is seen as a virtue of strength. It means that you do not allow pride to control or ruin your life. As people of God, we are called by Scripture to be clothed with humility. The same way that a servant puts on their apron to serve their master, humility is a deliberate act of serving others. Jesus said that it is our duty. Whereas pride makes a person rely on themselves and push God and others away, humility admits that we need God and others. When we humble ourselves before God and others, God will give us favor and show us His strength and grace to accomplish His perfect will in our life. 

Sing: Here I am worshiping You, with lifted hands, worshipping You; Bowing down in spirit and truth, with lifted hands worshipping You.

Thought for Today: “Whosoever therefore shall humble himself as this little child, the same is greatest in the kingdom of heaven.” (Matthew 18:4)

Morning Manna by Rufus Parker - 2026 October 12

You Have No Reason To Fear When You Know Jesus

“Thus saith the LORD the King of Israel, and his redeemer the LORD of hosts; I am the first, and I am the last; and beside me there is no God. And who, as I, shall call, and shall declare it, and set it in order for me, since I appointed the ancient people? and the things that are coming, and shall come, let them shew unto them. Fear ye not, neither be afraid: have not I told thee from that time, and have declared it? ye are even my witnesses. Is there a God beside me? yea, there is no God; I know not any.” (Isaiah 44:6-8)

Today’s Morsel: The apostle John, writing to the church in 1 John 4:18, states: “There is no fear in love; but perfect love casteth out fear: because fear hath torment. He that feareth is not made perfect in love.” (1 John 4:18) Fear will cause you heartache and depression if you allow it to get into your heart. You must control fear. And the way you do that is with love. Love for God first and foremost, then His word, and then love for others. Remember the greatest command is to love God and others. The only reason folks live in fear is that they don’t know God, who is love. When you are complete in Him - in other words, your life is wrapped in His life - you know that you are sealed by Him, and nothing can hurt or harm you. When you know God, you have nothing to fear. As the old saying goes, you have nothing to fear but fear itself! David said: “The LORD is my light and my salvation; whom shall I fear? the LORD is the strength of my life; of whom shall I be afraid? When the wicked, even mine enemies and my foes, came upon me to eat up my flesh, they stumbled and fell. Though an host should encamp against me, my heart shall not fear: though war should rise against me, in this will I be confident. One thing have I desired of the LORD, that will I seek after; that I may dwell in the house of the LORD all the days of my life, to behold the beauty of the LORD, and to enquire in his temple. For in the time of trouble he shall hide me in his pavilion: in the secret of his tabernacle shall he hide me; he shall set me up upon a rock. And now shall mine head be lifted up above mine enemies round about me: therefore will I offer in his tabernacle sacrifices of joy; I will sing, yea, I will sing praises unto the LORD.” (Psalms 27:1-6). You have no reason to fear when you know Jesus; He has all power in heaven and on earth. 

Sing: He’s the great I Am, the everlasting Father, He’s the prince of peace, the great eternal wonder, holy counselor, and Zion’s righteous governor, He’s the great, He’s the great I Am.

Thought For Today: “Fear thou not; for I am with thee: be not dismayed; for I am thy God: I will strengthen thee; yea, I will help thee; yea, I will uphold thee with the right hand of my righteousness.” (Isaiah 41:10)