Morning Manna by Rufus Parker - 2026 May 15

The Report That Destroyed Faith

“And they returned from searching of the land after forty days. And they went and came to Moses, and to Aaron, and to all the congregation of the children of Israel, unto the wilderness of Paran, to Kadesh; and brought back word unto them, and unto all the congregation, and shewed them the fruit of the land. And they told him, and said, We came unto the land whither thou sentest us, and surely it floweth with milk and honey; and this is the fruit of it. Nevertheless the people be strong that dwell in the land, and the cities are walled, and very great: and moreover we saw the children of Anak there. The Amalekites dwell in the land of the south: and the Hittites, and the Jebusites, and the Amorites, dwell in the mountains: and the Canaanites dwell by the sea, and by the coast of Jordan. And Caleb stilled the people before Moses, and said, Let us go up at once, and possess it; for we are well able to overcome it. But the men that went up with him said, We be not able to go up against the people; for they are stronger than we. And they brought up an evil report of the land which they had searched unto the children of Israel, saying, The land, through which we have gone to search it, is a land that eateth up the inhabitants thereof; and all the people that we saw in it are men of a great stature. And there we saw the giants, the sons of Anak, which come of the giants: and we were in our own sight as grasshoppers, and so we were in their sight.” (Numbers 13:25-33)

Today’s Morsel: I have come to realize over the course of my ministry that the enemy of our souls knows how to use people who are fearful, uncommitted, and those lacking understanding, to discourage and destroy the faith of others. The ten spies who came back with an evil report to Moses of what they saw in the promised land, caused the faith of Israel to shake in their sandals. I often wonder at what point in their mission to espy the land, did they agree to give this report. And why did they not discuss their finding and report with Joshua and Caleb as these two seem to not allow what was reported to deter their belief in God’s ability to fight for them. I find that these leaders should have never presented this report to Moses in the front of others. They should have gotten alone with him and explained what they had seen and let Moses decide based on what God desired of him. But no, once the people’s faith was destroyed there was nothing that could be done to reverse their fear. If you have been chosen by God to lead, don’t allow any evil report to deter you from what God is sending you to do and accomplish.

Sing: You’re going to make it, He’s already said that we would, He goes before me, and heaven is in my view, oh, we’re going to make it through.  

Thought For Today: Faith is being able to see God at work in the dark. 

Morning Manna by Rufus Parker - 2026 May 14

Stand For Righteousness

“Now when Daniel knew that the writing was signed, he went into his house; and his windows being open in his chamber toward Jerusalem, he kneeled upon his knees three times a day, and prayed, and gave thanks before his God, as he did aforetime.” (Daniel 6:10)

Today’s Morsel: Throughout scripture we are told that righteousness exalteth a nation, but sin is a reproach to any people. Because God is a God of righteousness, then we must be righteous as He is righteous. Daniel, who had established a habit of prayer with his God, was not about to allow anything to deter him from maintaining his commitment to God. Daniel knew the value of prayer and maintaining his relationship with God. Like his coworkers and fellow Jews, Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, they were not about to compromise their righteousness because of fear or a decree. As Christian’s, we must stand for righteousness no matter what we face or what may come against us.

Sing: Stand up, standup, for Jesus, ye soldiers of the cross. Lift high His royal banner, it must not suffer loss. From victory unto victory, His army shall he lead; Till every foe is vanquished and Christ is Lord indeed.

Thought For Today: “Offer the sacrifices of righteousness, and put your trust in the LORD.” (Psalms 4:5)

Morning Manna by Rufus Parker - 2026 May 13

The Last Five Warnings of God

“And it came to pass, when they had brought them forth abroad, that he said, Escape for thy life; look not behind thee, neither stay thou in all the plain; escape to the mountain, lest thou be consumed.” (Genesis 19:17)

Today’s Morsel: The story of Lot is a sad story. Lot could have had a great life if he would have heeded the warnings and instructions from God. Lot found himself in the middle of a sinful city, Sodom and Gomorrah. All because he chose what seemed was the best land, and he pitched his tent toward Sodom. He pitched his tent toward a sinful city, and he found himself in that city with sin beyond measure.  Perversion, pride, greed, and people working that which was unseemly. The city of Sodom is a snapshoot of what Paul tells us that the world will be in the day of the coming of the Lord. Lot is given five last warnings before the fire fell upon Sodom. First, escape for thy life. Get out of here now because God is going to destroy this place. Second, look not behind you. Don’t let your past draw you back. This world is going to be destroyed. Third, don’t stay in the plain. Remember, it was the plains that Lot chose to start with and pitched his tent toward Sodom. Fourth, escape to the mountain. Get to the highest place in Christ you can. The mountain represents building your life on something solid and higher. Jesus is the Rock. And finally, lest you be consumed. If we stay in the world and never obey God’s warnings and instructions for our life, we will be consumed by the fire that Jesus said is going to be used to destroy this world in which we now live. Are you obeying the warnings of God? Lot’s wife serves as a monument for disobedience.

Sing: I’ll say yes, Lord, yes; to Your will and to your way, I’ll say yes, Lord, yes; I will trust You and obey, when Your Spirit speaks to me, with my whole heart I’ll agree, and my answer will be yes Lord yes.

Thought For Today: “Flee also youthful lusts: but follow righteousness, faith, charity, peace, with them that call on the Lord out of a pure heart.” (2 Timothy 2:22)

Morning Manna by Rufus Parker - 2026 May 12

The New-Birth

“Seeing ye have purified your souls in obeying the truth through the Spirit unto unfeigned love of the brethren, see that ye love one another with a pure heart fervently: Being born again, not of corruptible seed, but of incorruptible, by the word of God, which liveth and abideth for ever.” (1 Peter 1:22-23)

Today’s Morsel: Question: Was your salvation based on the Word of God or of man? Did someone tell you that you were saved because you came forward to the front of the church and you shook the ministers hand? Were you told that you were a Christian because your parents had you sprinkled with water by a minister when you were a baby? Just what is your understanding of the New Birth and true salvation experience? Why did Jesus tell Nicodemus that he must be born-again of the water and the Spirit to see and to enter the kingdom of God? Did Nicodemus think that because he was of the Pharisees that he was saved? Sometimes if we are not careful, we can think that what our parents did for us, was good; but babies and most young adults and even some adults, do not understand sin and what is required to be saved. Peter says that we must be born-again by the Word of God, not what others say. The Word of God is the standard. When he, Peter, had preached about Jesus Christ at the initiation of the first New Testament church, on the Day of Pentecost, scripture says: “Now when they heard this, they were pricked in their heart, and said unto Peter and to the rest of the apostles, Men and brethren, what shall we do? Then Peter said unto them, Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost. For the promise is unto you, and to your children, and to all that are afar off, even as many as the Lord our God shall call. And with many other words did he testify and exhort, saying, Save yourselves from this untoward generation. Then they that gladly received his word were baptized: and the same day there were added unto them about three thousand souls. And they continued stedfastly in the apostles' doctrine and fellowship, and in breaking of bread, and in prayers.” (Acts 2:37-42). This is the standard. As the writer of Hebrews tells us: “Who serve unto the example and shadow of heavenly things, as Moses was admonished of God when he was about to make the tabernacle: for, See, saith he, that thou make all things according to the pattern shewed to thee in the mount.” (Hebrews 8:5) We must stay with the original pattern for our salvation. And that is the word of God!

Sing: Born-again, there has been a change in me. Born-again just like Jesus said. Born-again and all because of Calvary, I’m so glad that I’ve been born-again.

Thought For Today: “Can any man forbid water, that these should not be baptized, which have received the Holy Ghost as well as we? And he commanded them to be baptized in the name of the Lord. Then prayed they him to tarry certain days.” (Acts 10:47-48)

Morning Manna by Rufus Parker - 2026 May 11

The Same

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

Today’s Morsel: Consistent spiritual living must become a habit for every born-again believer. We must not be seen as a hypocrite or one who says one thing and does another. Once we are born again, we must let our light shine so that Christ is seen in us. The writer of Hebrews tells us: “Jesus Christ the same yesterday, and to day, and for ever.” (Hebrews 13:8) The apostle John enlightens us: “Behold, what manner of love the Father hath bestowed upon us, that we should be called the sons of God: therefore the world knoweth us not, because it knew him not. Beloved, now are we the sons of God, and it doth not yet appear what we shall be: but we know that, when he shall appear, we shall be like him; for we shall see him as he is.” (1 John 3:1-2) If we are His sons and daughters, then we must be as He is. God doesn’t change, and nor did He make you to be a Chameleon. He made you to be like Him, the same in Spirit and in truth to all those seeking Him. 

Sing: I have decided to follow Jesus, I have decided to follow Jesus, no turning back, no turning back.

Thought For Today: “Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus:” (Philippians 2:5)

Morning Manna by Rufus Parker - 2026 May 9

Happy Mother’s Day

“Then Jesus went thence, and departed into the coasts of Tyre and Sidon. And, behold, a woman of Canaan came out of the same coasts, and cried unto him, saying, Have mercy on me, O Lord, thou Son of David; my daughter is grievously vexed with a devil. But he answered her not a word. And his disciples came and besought him, saying, Send her away; for she crieth after us. But he answered and said, I am not sent but unto the lost sheep of the house of Israel. Then came she and worshipped him, saying, Lord, help me. But he answered and said, It is not meet to take the children's bread, and to cast it to dogs. And she said, Truth, Lord: yet the dogs eat of the crumbs which fall from their masters' table. Then Jesus answered and said unto her, O woman, great is thy faith: be it unto thee even as thou wilt. And her daughter was made whole from that very hour.” (Matthew 15:21-28)

Today’s Morsel: We first pick up on the word mother when Adam said of his wife Eve:“And Adam called his wife's name Eve; because she was the mother of all living.” (Genesis 3:20) The name Eve means life giver. She was the first woman. Mothers are life givers. They are those who give birth to others. None of us is born without a mother. The first commandment that God gave unto us, Paul said, with a promise, was: “Children, obey your parents in the Lord: for this is right. Honour thy father and mother; (which is the first commandment with promise;) That it may be well with thee, and thou mayest live long on the earth.” (Ephesians 6:1-3). Tomorrow will be Mother’s Day. And much will be spent on cards, flowers, gifts, and meals by many to honor their mothers. It could also be a good time to mend broken fences and hurts. So, pray and ask God what He would have you to do. Jacob was afraid to face Esau because of his wrong. But God had already softened Esau heart and they were able to make amends. To all mothers, I pray that you have a wonderful and special day in the Lord tomorrow. 

Sing: I love you; I love you; I love you. What more can I say, but that I truly love you; and I’ll try to live my life so that it says it, too; I love you, I love you, I really love you.

Thought For Today: If you love Me, keep my commandments! 

Happy Mother’s Day!

Morning Manna by Rufus Parker - 2026 May 8

Stop Winking At Sin

“The soul that sinneth, it shall die. The son shall not bear the iniquity of the father, neither shall the father bear the iniquity of the son: the righteousness of the righteous shall be upon him, and the wickedness of the wicked shall be upon him. But if the wicked will turn from all his sins that he hath committed, and keep all my statutes, and do that which is lawful and right, he shall surely live, he shall not die. All his transgressions that he hath committed, they shall not be mentioned unto him: in his righteousness that he hath done he shall live. Have I any pleasure at all that the wicked should die? saith the Lord GOD: and not that he should return from his ways, and live? But when the righteous turneth away from his righteousness, and committeth iniquity, and doeth according to all the abominations that the wicked man doeth, shall he live? All his righteousness that he hath done shall not be mentioned: in his trespass that he hath trespassed, and in his sin that he hath sinned, in them shall he die.” (Ezekiel 18:20-24)

Today’s Morsel: As the world becomes more and more corrupt, and iniquity and sin abounds, and evil is called good and good evil, some are starting to live and to think that it’s okay to tell and to live by little white lies, as long as it does cause hurt to anyone, or they can be used for their personal good. But John enlightens us that all liars shall have their part in the lake of fire which burns with brimstone prepared for Satan and his angels. Some are starting to give the world more of their time and energy than the church, wondering why they are tired and without rest and peace. So don’t roll the dice. You must not wink at sin. Sin must be removed from your life at all cost. The angel told Isaiah, when his mouth was touch by a coal from the altar: “And he laid it upon my mouth, and said, Lo, this hath touched thy lips; and thine iniquity is taken away, and thy sin purged.” (Isaiah 6:7) Once God cleanses you from the altar of your sin, you must not flirt with it nor play around with sin again. Sin is the sting of death. Satan is that old serpent. “And the great dragon was cast out, that old serpent, called the Devil, and Satan, which deceiveth the whole world: he was cast out into the earth, and his angels were cast out with him.” (Revelation 12:9) If you allow him to sting you with sin, you will either die by that sting, or it is going to cause you so much pain that you wish that you were. So don’t wink at sin. As Paul states: “Be ye angry, and sin not: let not the sun go down upon your wrath: Neither give place to the devil.” (Ephesians 4:26-27) Stay far away from sin, it will kill you in the end.

Sing: I’m running for my life; I’m running for my life. I’m running for my life; I’m running for my life. If anybody asks you, what’s the matter with me, tell them that I’m saved, sanctified, Holy Ghost filled, and water baptized, I’ve got Jesus on my mind, and I’m running for my life.

Thought For Today: Stay as far away from Satan and the world as you can.