Morning Manna by Rufus Parker - 2026 October 28

Building A Solid Foundation

“If the foundations be destroyed, what can the righteous do?” (Psalms 11:3)

Today’s Morsel: Foundations are one of the most essential things in a home or building. Depending on how deep your foundation is will determine if your building will stand or fall in the times of earthquakes and tremors. In Japan, most of the buildings and homes that they build, the foundation is almost as deep as the height of the building. They know that earthquakes are prevalent throughout Japan, and they want people to be safe, so they ensure the foundation is laid and built correctly. One of the surest foundations you can have in your life is the Word of God. It is a foundation that is sure and unmovable. Paul told his protégé Timothy: “Nevertheless the foundation of God standeth sure, having this seal, The Lord knoweth them that are his. And, Let every one that nameth the name of Christ depart from iniquity.” (2 Timothy 2:19) He also told the church at Corinth: “According to the grace of God which is given unto me, as a wise masterbuilder, I have laid the foundation, and another buildeth thereon. But let every man take heed how he buildeth thereupon. For other foundation can no man lay than that is laid, which is Jesus Christ. Now if any man build upon this foundation gold, silver, precious stones, wood, hay, stubble; Every man's work shall be made manifest: for the day shall declare it, because it shall be revealed by fire; and the fire shall try every man's work of what sort it is.” (1 Corinthians 3:10-13) Throughout the world, we see that the foundation of the church, Jesus Christ, is constantly under attack. If Satan and his dominion can destroy the foundation of the church, what will those in the church do? Therefore, it is essential that every church and those who say that they are Christian, preach and teach Jesus Christ and Him crucified, which is the gospel. You must protect your foundation, or you yourselves will fall when things start coming against you and the church.

Sing: I’m standing on the Rock of Ages, safe from all the storms that rages. Rich but not of Satan’s wages, I’m standing on the solid rock. 

Thought for Today: “And I say also unto thee, That thou art Peter, and upon this rock I will build my church; and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it.” (Matthew 16:18)

 

Morning Manna by Rufus Parker - 2026 October 27

Are You Glad?

“There be many that say, Who will shew us any good? LORD, lift thou up the light of thy countenance upon us. Thou hast put gladness in my heart, more than in the time that their corn and their wine increased. I will both lay me down in peace, and sleep: for thou, LORD, only makest me dwell in safety.” (Psalms 4:6-8)

Today’s Morsel: Do you remember singing that song in church, “If you’re happy and you know it, say amen?” Do you remember how much joy you felt when you sang it? What about some of the others like “At The Cross”, or “I’ll Fly Away”, or “Jesus, Hold My Hand”? How often do you sing them now?  If those old songs brought you joy and happiness when you sang them back then, God knew that you would need them in the days ahead. Paul informs us: “For whatsoever things were written aforetime were written for our learning, that we through patience and comfort of the scriptures might have hope.” (Romans 15:4) I know that he is speaking about the word of God, but those old songs that were written can also bring us comfort and hope. David said that the Lord had put gladness in his heart more than in the time that their corn and their wine increased. Think about that for a moment. Israel’s corn and wine were constantly increased because of God’s mercies. And David said that God had put gladness in their heart more than that. When we stop and consider that with the giving of the Holy Ghost in our lives, God has put more joy and gladness in our hearts than any happiness ever brought by material wealth or worldly success.  How glad are you?

Sing: I have found His grace is all complete; He supplieth 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: I get joy when I think about what the Lord has done for me. 

 

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)