Morning Manna by Rufus Parker - 2026 March 18

Learning From Other’s Mistakes

“Wherefore (as the Holy Ghost saith, To day 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. But exhort one another daily, while it is called To day; lest any of you be hardened through the deceitfulness of sin. For we are made partakers of Christ, if we hold the beginning of our confidence stedfast unto the end; While it is said, To day if ye will hear his voice, harden not your hearts, as in the provocation. For some, when they had heard, did provoke: howbeit not all that came out of Egypt by Moses. But with whom was he grieved forty years? was it not with them that had sinned, whose carcases fell in the wilderness? And to whom sware he that they should not enter into his rest, but to them that believed not? So we see that they could not enter in because of unbelief.” (Hebrews 3:7-19)

Today’s Morsel: History tells us that Israel could not enter the Promised Land because of unbelief. Unbelief can cause you to miss out of a lot of promises and blessings from God. Many people have failed to achieve their goals, graduation, or become successful, all because of their unbelief. The ten spies that brought back an evil report to Moses and the people saw themselves as unable to do what God was trying to do through them. They saw themselves as grasshoppers. They saw themselves as useless bugs hopping around afraid. The writer of Hebrews tells us why they could not enter into their rest. He said, “For unto us was the gospel preached, as well as unto them: but the word preached did not profit them, not being mixed with faith in them that heard it.” (Hebrews 4:2) Notice, they did not mix the Word of God with their faith. Faith without works is dead. Anytime you hear God’s Word, you must be ready to receive it and apply it to your heart so that it will come to fruition. The devil doesn’t want you to believe. He wants you to live in a state of doubt and unbelief. James enlightens us with these words: “If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God, that giveth to all men liberally, and upbraideth not; and it shall be given him. But let him ask in faith, nothing wavering. For he that wavereth is like a wave of the sea driven with the wind and tossed. For let not that man think that he shall receive any thing of the Lord. A double minded man is unstable in all his ways.” (James 1:5-8) If you are one of those who have trouble with unbelief, you probably have already been inflicted with a grasshopper mentality.

Sing: I trust in God, wherever I maybe, upon the land or out on the raging seas. For come what may, from day to day, my heavenly Father, watches over, over, me.

I trust in God, I know He cares for me, upon the land, or out on the stormy seas. Though billows rolls, He keeps my soul, my heavenly Father watches over, over, me.

Thought For Today: “Then came the disciples to Jesus apart, and said, why could not we cast him out? And Jesus said unto them, because of your unbelief: for verily I say unto you, if ye have faith as a grain of mustard seed, ye shall say unto this mountain, Remove hence to yonder place; and it shall remove; and nothing shall be impossible unto you.” (Matthew 17:19-20)

Morning Manna by Rufus Parker - 2026 March 17

The Entrance Into The Kingdom 

“And beside this, giving all diligence, add to your faith virtue; and to virtue knowledge; And to knowledge temperance; and to temperance patience; and to patience godliness; And to godliness brotherly kindness; and to brotherly kindness charity. For if these things be in you, and abound, they make you that ye shall neither be barren nor unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ. But he that lacketh these things is blind, and cannot see afar off, and hath forgotten that he was purged from his old sins. Wherefore the rather, brethren, give diligence to make your calling and election sure: for if ye do these things, ye shall never fall: For so an entrance shall be ministered unto you abundantly into the everlasting kingdom of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ.” (2 Peter 1:5-11)

Today’s Morsel: When we become Christians, our destination and goal ought to be heaven. If that is not your goal, chances are you will struggle in your walk and relationship with Christ and others. Your end state must be heaven. This earth is not our destination. We are heading to a place where there will be no more pain and suffering. The Bible tells us that the patriarchs looked for a city whose builder and maker was God. It tells us that they saw themselves as strangers and pilgrims in this earth. But that did not stop them from trying to reach their destination. God has put into place some requirements for us to enter His Kingdom. As He told Nicodemus, you must be born again of the water and the Spirit.  Then Peter tells us, Add to your faith virtue; and to virtue knowledge; And to knowledge temperance; and to temperance patience; and to patience godliness; And to godliness brotherly kindness; and to brotherly kindness charity. For if these things be in you, and abound, they make you that ye shall neither be barren nor unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ. But he that lacketh these things is blind, and cannot see afar off, and hath forgotten that he was purged from his old sins. Wherefore the rather, brethren, give diligence to make your calling and election sure: for if ye do these things, ye shall never fall: For so an entrance shall be ministered unto you abundantly into the everlasting kingdom of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ.” Notice, if we do these things we will find the entrance into the kingdom. When many of Jesus’ disciples went back because of their lack of understanding, He asked the twelve whom He had chosen if they would go away also. “Then Simon Peter answered him, Lord, to whom shall we go? thou hast the words of eternal life. And we believe and are sure that thou art that Christ, the Son of the living God.” (John 6:68-69) We must grow and mature in the things and ways of God to reach that city. You must daily keep pressing towards the mark of the prize. And you must be sure of yourself if you are going to make it into the kingdom.

Sing: I’m going to a city, there’ll be no more night; I’m going to a city where Jesus is the light. The trumpet’s gonna sound and I’ll be called away; I’m going to a city someday.

Thought For Today: “But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you.” (Matthew 6:33)

Morning Manna by Rufus Parker - 2026 March 16

Can A Man Still Be Profitable to God?

“Then Eliphaz the Temanite answered and said, Can a man be profitable unto God, as he that is wise may be profitable unto himself?” (Job 22:1-2)

Today’s Morsel: As humans, we are quick to write people off. Especially when we see that they are charged with a crime that lands them into prison for many years. We assume that that person’s life will be useless once they serve the time they are given and get out. But many have done their time, come out, and still made something great out of their lives. Job’s friends were accusing him of having sin in his life. They saw what he was going through and facing and thought it could not be of God. They offered Job no comfort for his dilemma. They only ridiculed him with words of no comfort, trying to get him to repent for his sin. Eliphaz even challenged Job, suggesting that Job’s suffering was not God’s fault but his own. He asked, Can a man be profitable unto God, as he that is wise may be profitable unto himself? By all accounts, Peter probably felt like a failure when he denied the Lord three times after he had told Him that he would die for Him. He probably felt like, What are these keys going to do for me now. But after Jesus’ death, burial, and resurrection, the angel told Mary, “And he saith unto them, Be not affrighted: Ye seek Jesus of Nazareth, which was crucified: he is risen; he is not here: behold the place where they laid him. But go your way, tell his disciples and Peter that he goeth before you into Galilee: there shall ye see him, as he said unto you.” (Mark 16:6-7). When God calls you, you are still profitable to Him, no matter your failures, you can still be profitable for His glory and purpose.

Sing: Jesus use me, O’ Lord don’t refuse me, for surely there’s a work that I can do. And even though it’s humble, Lord, help my will to crumble, though the cost be great I’ll work for You.

Thought For Today: All hope is never lost.

Morning Manna by Rufus Parker - 2026 March 14

Is Your Mind Made Up?

“A Song or Psalm of David. O God, my heart is fixed; I will sing and give praise, even with my glory.” (Psalms 108:1)

Today’s Morsel: David seemed to be a man who had his mind made up when it came to serving God. By all accounts, David didn’t start to praise God and decide to serve God when he was chosen to be king, his mind was already made up from his youth. He told Saul prior to fighting Goliath: “And David said unto Saul, Thy servant kept his father's sheep, and there came a lion, and a bear, and took a lamb out of the flock: And I went out after him, and smote him, and delivered it out of his mouth: and when he arose against me, I caught him by his beard, and smote him, and slew him. Thy servant slew both the lion and the bear: and this uncircumcised Philistine shall be as one of them, seeing he hath defied the armies of the living God. David said moreover, The LORD that delivered me out of the paw of the lion, and out of the paw of the bear, he will deliver me out of the hand of this Philistine. And Saul said unto David, Go, and the LORD be with thee.” (1 Samuel 17:34-37) David was confident that God was with him. What about you? Are you taking God at His word? Are you fully persuaded that what He said that He will do that He will do it? If not, make up your mind now, as hell is about to be let loose on the church.  We have to have a made-up mind to make it.  

Sing: I’ve got my mind made up to serve the Lord. I’ve got my mind made up to serve the Lord. I’ve got my mind made up to serve the Lord; I’ve got my mind made up to serve the Lord.

Thought For Today: Better is one day in His courts than thousands elsewhere!

Morning Manna by Rufus Parker - 2026 March 13

Don’t Focus On The Evil And Negative, Focus On The Good

“A merry heart doeth good like a medicine: but a broken spirit drieth the bones.” (Proverbs 17:22)

Today’s Morsel: I think that there must be something wrong with the medicine that is being issued out to folks. It’s doesn’t seem to be working. When I was a kid, whatever my parents and grandparents gave us when we were sick and not feeling good worked. The only time in my life I can remember going to the doctor was for my high school football physical, so that I could play football. Any other sickness or pain; we took 666, drank pine bark tea and sassafras tea, rubbed our chest with Vick’s Vapor Rub, and Watkin’s Salve. Solomon said that a merry heart doeth good like a medicine. A cheerful heart is good for the soul. This is why we must speak words to folks that will edify and build them up. We must not speak words that will tear them down. If you crush someone’s spirit, it will cause them to withdraw and dry up like a prune. When one is filled with joy and elation, it gives strength to their bones. This is why you must not focus on the evil and negatives of this world. It will drain you of every ounce of excitement and hope that you have. Stay focused on Jesus and His word.  Remember what Jesus said: “The thief cometh not, but for to steal, and to kill, and to destroy: I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly.” (John 10:10)

Sing: The wicked shall cease their troubling, and the weary shall be at rest, and all of the saints of the ages, we’re going to sit at His feet and be blessed.

Thought For Today: Keep on eating and living the Word of the Lord, and you will prosper and be in good health. 

Morning Manna by Rufus Parker - 2026 March 12

Do You Know the Consequences of Your Choices?

“The way of a fool is right in his own eyes: but he that hearkeneth unto counsel is wise.” (Proverbs 12:15)

Today’s Morsel: Do you seek counsel and advice from those you trust before you make a major decision or purchase? Solomon states that the way of a fool is right in his own eyes. What the fool fails to realize is that the heart is deceitful and wicked, we cannot know it. I will tell you, there have been many times that I thought I was right, only to find out later that I was wrong. By all accounts, I was sure of myself that my way was right. But I found out that I was wrong. And that is not a very good feeling. There are those who protest in the streets because they think that they are right. But they soon realize they were wrong. I have had people tell me that they don’t need to go to church to be saved. And they are right in their own eyes. But they fail to consider the consequence of their choices, should they be wrong. By all accounts in scripture, I’m sure the rich man considered his way right.  But when found himself in hell, Jesus said, “And he cried and said, Father Abraham, have mercy on me, and send Lazarus, that he may dip the tip of his finger in water, and cool my tongue; for I am tormented in this flame. But Abraham said, Son, remember that thou in thy lifetime receivedst thy good things, and likewise Lazarus evil things: but now he is comforted, and thou art tormented. And beside all this, between us and you there is a great gulf fixed: so that they which would pass from hence to you cannot; neither can they pass to us, that would come from thence. Then he said, I pray thee therefore, father, that thou wouldest send him to my father's house: For I have five brethren; that he may testify unto them, lest they also come into this place of torment. Abraham saith unto him, They have Moses and the prophets; let them hear them. And he said, Nay, father Abraham: but if one went unto them from the dead, they will repent. And he said unto him, If they hear not Moses and the prophets, neither will they be persuaded, though one rose from the dead.” (Luke 16:24-31)Do you consider the consequences of your choices?

Sing: For above all else, I must be saved, for above all else, I must be saved. Lord, whatever You have to do to me, don’t let me be lost for eternity; for above all else, I must be saved.

Thought For Today: Consider your ways!

Morning Manna by Rufus Parker - 2026 March 11

It’s Amazing What Praising Can Do

“And when they began to sing and to praise, the LORD set ambushments against the children of Ammon, Moab, and mount Seir, which were come against Judah; and they were smitten.” (2 Chronicles 20:22)

Today’s Morsel: Throughout scripture, we are called and told to praise the Lord. We are to do it from morning to night.  We ought to acknowledge God for who He is, and for what He has done and is doing in our lives daily.  We ought to love Him today, and a whole lot more tomorrow. It’s amazing what praising can do for you. The examples in the Bible are for our learning. When the children of Israel began to praise the Lord, God destroyed their enemies for them. They didn’t even have to fight. God told them to go take a seat and watch. This is how every Christian should live. Take your problem to Jesus, start praising Him for the answer, and sit back and see how He will work it out for your good. 

Sing: When the praises go up, the glory come down, where sin use to dwell, His grace now abounds; There’s healing and hope and love all around. When the praises go up, the glory comes down.

Thought For Today: “Whoso offereth praise glorifieth me: and to him that ordereth his conversation aright will I shew the salvation of God.” (Psalms 50:23)