Morning Manna by Rufus Parker - 18 August 2022

 Baby Dedication

“And when eight days were accomplished for the circumcising of the child, his name was called JESUS, which was so named of the angel before he was conceived in the womb. And when the days of her purification according to the law of Moses were accomplished, they brought him to Jerusalem, to present him to the Lord; (As it is written in the law of the Lord, Every male that openeth the womb shall be called holy to the Lord;) And to offer a sacrifice according to that which is said in the law of the Lord, A pair of turtledoves, or two young pigeons. And, behold, there was a man in Jerusalem, whose name was Simeon; and the same man was just and devout, waiting for the consolation of Israel: and the Holy Ghost was upon him.” (Luke 2:21-25)

 

Today’s Morsel: One of the things that folks must learn in the church is that a baby dedication is not for salvation. I have asked people if they are saved, and they will tell me that their parents had them baptized as a baby. Sadly, I must tell them that baptism is not for babies because babies do not know sin. I tell them that according to Acts 2:38, Peter says that baptism is for the remission of sins, and babies do not know sin, nor can babies believe. I tell them that I only dedicate or present babies to the Lord, as Jesus was praying that God will protect them and oversee them until they come to an understanding, an age of accountability where they can believe and make their own decision, or God fill them with His Spirit, and they see their need to be baptized. Jesus is always our example. “Then cometh Jesus from Galilee to Jordan unto John, to be baptized of him.” (Matthew 3:13) Have you had your sins remitted in the waters of baptism (see Acts 2:38-42)?  Have you been baptized since you believed?  

 

Sing: I’m so glad that I’ve been buried in the name of the Lord, in the name of the Lord, in the name of the Lord.  Well, I’m so glad that I’ve been buried in the name of the Lord since the name of the Lord hath been revealed.

 

Thought For Today: “Then cometh Jesus from Galilee to Jordan unto John, to be baptized of him.” (Matthew 3:13)

Morning Manna by Rufus Parker - 17 August 2022

 Noise In The House

“And again he entered into Capernaum after some days; and it was noised that he was in the house.” (Mark 2:1)

 

Today’s Morsel: Someone said that some churches are so quiet that you can hear a mouse urinating on cotton (humor). Scripture says let everything that hath breath praise the Lord. So, do you open your mouth and praise God at your church? Do you clap your hands? Do you shout when the Spirit moves upon you? Do you testify of God’s goodness? I’m not saying that the church must be out of order, but who died for you? Who gave His life so that you could live? David danced before the Lord. When was the last time you danced before the Lord? Scripture says it was noised that Jesus was in the house. When the Word of God (Jesus) is in the house, there should be noise that He is there.  If you preach astronomy, politics, and a ‘woe is me gospel’ in the church, don’t expect noise in the house. But if you preach the Word of God, I guarantee there is going to be noise every time.

 

Sing: Let all God’s people praise the Lord, let all God’s people praise the Lord.  Shake off those heavy bands, lift up those holy hands.  Let all God’s people praise the Lord.

 

Thought For Today: Shout to the Lord with a voice of triumph. 

Morning Manna by Rufus Parker - 16 August 2022

 You Can’t Live By Bread Only

“Then was Jesus led up of the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted of the devil. And when he had fasted forty days and forty nights, he was afterward an hungred. And when the tempter came to him, he said, If thou be the Son of God, command that these stones be made bread. But he answered and said, It is written, Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of God.” (Matthew 4:1-4)

 

Today’s Morsel: One of Satan’s tools that he uses against Christians is lust. Lust can also mean hunger, thirst, or longing for something. After forty days in the wilderness without food, Satan tempted Jesus to turn the stones into bread. In other words, satisfy your own hunger, Satan says, if you are the Son of God. Keep in mind that once we are born again, we become sons of God, and Satan will tempt you to satisfy your own needs and desires through lust. Therefore, you must not be ignorant of his devices.  Jesus lets us know that we cannot live by bread only. But we must live by every word that proceeds from the mouth of God as that is the only thing that will satisfy our soul.

 

Sing: Only Jesus can satisfy your soul, only He can change your heart and make it whole.  He’ll give you peace you never knew, sweet love and joy, and heaven, too.  Only Jesus can satisfy your soul!

 

Thought For Today: “And Jesus said unto them, I am the bread of life: he that cometh to me shall never hunger; and he that believeth on me shall never thirst.” (John 6:35)

Morning Manna by Rufus Parker - 15 August 2022

 The Unchanging God

 “For I am the LORD, I change not; therefore ye sons of Jacob are not consumed.” (Malachi 3:6)

 

Today’s Morsel: We read that God does not change. What does that mean? It means that He is always the same. His character, attributes, and personality are always the same. His requirements for salvation and entrance into the kingdom are the same for everyone. As He told Nicodemus, “Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born of water and of the Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God.” (John 3:5) God doesn’t have a salvation plan for one denomination and one plan for another. It’s the same for everyone. Paul tells us that even if we are not faithful to God, He is still faithful to us as He cannot deny Himself. Moses wrote: “Know therefore that the LORD thy God, he is God, the faithful God, which keepeth covenant and mercy with them that love him and keep his commandments to a thousand generations; And repayeth them that hate him to their face, to destroy them: he will not be slack to him that hateth him, he will repay him to his face.” (Deuteronomy 7:9-10)  God doesn’t change, so know His requirements for your life.

 

Sing: He’s changing me, my blessed Savior, I’m not the same person that I used to be.  Well, it’s been slow going but there’s a knowing that someday perfect, I will be.

 

Thought For Today: The quicker we change the way that we think about God, the quicker we will become like Him.

Morning Manna by Rufus Parker - 13 August 2022

 Listen To Your Pastor

“But they refused to hearken, and pulled away the shoulder, and stopped their ears, that they should not hear. Yea, they made their hearts as an adamant stone, lest they should hear the law, and the words which the LORD of hosts hath sent in his spirit by the former prophets: therefore came a great wrath from the LORD of hosts. Therefore it is come to pass, that as he cried, and they would not hear; so they cried, and I would not hear, saith the LORD of hosts.” (Zechariah 7:11-13)

 

Today’s Morsel: As I was counseling a young man in prison once, he said to me, “Pastor, I am here because I did not listen to my pastor.  He was always telling me to obey the Word of God and to be at church, but I refused to listen.  I wanted to do things my way.  And so here is where my way got me.”  Every week pastors, evangelists, teachers, apostles, and prophets are standing in pulpits trying to get folks to heed the Word of God.  Much sweat and tears are being poured out like a man with his coat-tail on fire.  But sad to say, many are hardening their hearts and stopping their ears, and they are refusing to heed the calling of God. And the Lord says that one day they will cry, and I will not hear. The writer of Hebrews cautions us: “Wherefore (as the Holy Ghost saith, Today if ye will hear his voice, Harden not your hearts, as in the provocation, in the day of temptation in the wilderness: When your fathers tempted me, proved me, and saw my works forty years. Wherefore I was grieved with that generation, and said, They do alway err in their heart; and they have not known my ways. So I sware in my wrath, They shall not enter into my rest.) Take heed, brethren, lest there be in any of you an evil heart of unbelief, in departing from the living God.” (Hebrews 3:7-12)  Please heed the voice of your pastor, he watches for your soul. 

 

Sing: If when you give the best of your service, telling the world that the Savior has come, be not dismay, when men don’t believe you, He’ll understand and say, Well done!

 

Thought For Today: “Behold, the LORD'S hand is not shortened, that it cannot save; neither his ear heavy, that it cannot hear: But your iniquities have separated between you and your God, and your sins have hid his face from you, that he will not hear.” (Isaiah 59:1-2)

Morning Manna by Rufus Parker - 12 August 2022

 God Is With Us

“Then spake Haggai the LORD'S messenger in the LORD'S message unto the people, saying, I am with you, saith the LORD.” (Haggai 1:13)

 

Today’s Morsel: Isn’t it such a calm assurance knowing that Jesus is always with us. He’s promised to never leave us nor forsake us. Isaiah said that His name would be called Immanuel (Isaiah 7:14), and Matthew explained to us that the name Immanuel means ‘God with us’ (Matthew 1:22-23). Haggai delivered to the people the message of the Lord. And that message was, “I am with you, saith the Lord.” God was with them. And He will be with us if we do justly, love mercy, and walk humbly before Him.

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: “And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again, and receive you unto myself; that where I am, there ye may be also.” 
(John 14:3)

Morning Manna by Rufus Parker - 11 August 2022

 Divine Favor

 “The LORD thy God in the midst of thee is mighty; he will save, he will rejoice over thee with joy; he will rest in his love, he will joy over thee with singing.” (Zephaniah 3:17)

 

Today’s Morsel: One of my friends gave me a button to wear that says: “Jesus loves you, but I’m His favorite.” I wore it. I know that I am blessed and highly favored of the Lord, and I do not say that in a prideful or arrogant way. I find too many scriptures that tell me that God loves and cares for us; so why shouldn’t we feel special. The angel Gabriel even told Mary that she was highly favored and blessed of the Lord among women (Luke 1:28). Notice what Zephaniah says, “The LORD thy God in the midst of thee is mighty; he will save, he will rejoice over thee with joy; he will rest in his love, he will joy over thee with singing.”  If God wants to save me, rejoice over me with joy, and joy over me with singing, I am all for it and I will rest in His love.  I know I am blessed and highly favored of the Lord.  How about you?  

 

Sing: Wonderful, Wonderful, Jesus is to me.  Counselor, Prince of Peace, Mighty God is He.  Saving me, keeping me, from all sin and shame.  Wonderful is my Redeemer, praise His name.

 

Thought For Today: Let God rejoice over you with singing.