Morning Manna by Rufus Parker - 2026 May 25

Don’t Destroy Your Home

“Every wise woman buildeth her house: but the foolish plucketh it down with her hands.” (Proverbs 14:1)

Today’s Morsel: When the scripture speaks to the woman being the keeper of the home, and it was being taught in the church, many became offended, left the church, and said that the pastor or ministers were teaching that women should stay home and not work outside the home. Many failed to get an understanding or maybe it was presented to them wrong. You must keep in mind that a wife and a husband must be one flesh and work in harmony and unity with each other. Solomon emphasizes here that a woman with wisdom, kind words, and behaviors, have the power to either establish her home in peace, love, and joy; or she can cause destruction and chaos. It’s in her hands. She must also, along with her husband, set the spiritual temperature in their home. A woman’s housekeeping goes beyond physical housework. It includes building up her children’s character, supporting her husband in his career and duties, and helping to manage resources and responsibility. How she speaks, how she dresses, and her overall behavior will either build her house or tear it down. The ball is in her court.

Sing: Jesus be the center in my home. Jesus be the center in my home. From beginning to the end, it’s always been, it will always be You Jesus, Jesus; From my house to the heavens, Jesus be the center, it’s all about You, yes, it’s all about You; from my house to the heavens, Jesus be the center, it’s all about You, yes, it’s all about You. 

Thought For Today: “A virtuous woman is a crown to her husband: but she that maketh ashamed is as rottenness in his bones.” (Proverbs 12:4)

Morning Manna by Rufus Parker - 2026 May 23

Call To Decision

“Multitudes, multitudes in the valley of decision: for the day of the LORD is near in the valley of decision.” (Joel 3:14)

Today’s Morsel: Many people often find themselves in the valley of decision. We hear them saying, “I just don’t know what I’m going to do.” Or “How should I handle this disagreement with them.” Many find themselves questioning career choices or living accommodations.  And while they are in the valley of decision, few if any seek God for His direction. They would rather seek others or man for their guidance or help. But David said: “Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil: for thou art with me; thy rod and thy staff they comfort me.” (Psalms 23:4) David knew that God was right there with him and he had nothing to worry about. Even if he had to make a tough choice or decision.  Jesus doesn’t change. If He promised to never leave us nor forsake us, then we should understand that He’s there in time of decision making. If He was there for David, then He will be there for you too.

Sing: For the God on the mountain, is still God in the valley, when things go wrong, He’ll make them right. The God of the good times, is still God in the bad times; and the God of the day, is still God in the night.

Thought For Today: If you think God is far away, guess who moved!

Morning Manna by Rufus Parker - 2026 May 22

Walk Humbly

“Wherewith shall I come before the LORD, and bow myself before the high God? shall I come before him with burnt offerings, with calves of a year old? Will the LORD be pleased with thousands of rams, or with ten thousands of rivers of oil? shall I give my firstborn for my transgression, the fruit of my body for the sin of my soul? He hath shewed thee, O man, what is good; and what doth the LORD require of thee, but to do justly, and to love mercy, and to walk humbly with thy God?” (Micah 6:6-8)

Today’s Morsel: Have you ever heard someone say, “I’m being as humble as I can be.” Well, then they aren’t humble. Humility is a trait of character that is birthed out of day to day living. As we used to say in the military, “It’s a part of your benefits, it’s a part of your life.” Humility is a benefit from God that came with the Holy Ghost. It’s called meekness. In His sermon on the Mount, Jesus said, Blessed are the meek: for they shall inherit the earth(Matthew 5:5). In the 50’s-90’s, if you were a leader or a person that displayed humility, you were often seen as one weak. But what folks found out later was that this trait of character in those folks actually showed great strength, patience, submission, and understanding of life. Scripture tells us that before honor is humility. So, let this trait be developed in you or you cannot come before God.

Sing: Let me walk with You Jesus. Don’t ever leave me alone. For without You I can never, no never, make heaven my home.

Thought For Today: “By humility and the fear of the LORD are riches, and honour, and life.” (Proverbs 22:4)

Morning Manna by Rufus Parker - 2026 May 21

Watch Those Words

“Death and life are in the power of the tongue: and they that love it shall eat the fruit thereof.” (Proverbs 18:21)

Today’s Morsel: Many today are struggling with depression and low self-esteem because they keep killing themselves with their own words. You can’t talk evil and expect good. Solomon tells us that death and life are in the power of the tongue. How we talk to ourselves and to others has a major impact on our life. If you are one of those who follows politics and media, you will notice that few things good are ever spoken. It’s always evil and degrading words. You can’t live your life like that and expect to have any joy. If you notice, those who speak ill of others, and degrade others, and talk about others in an evil way, do not have a smile or any joy on their face. Thus, they are killing themselves. But you beloved, must keep yourself in the love of God. Using words that edify, strengthen and build up. Your words must reflect that Christ is present in you, and that you belong to Him. Your words must heal, exalt, and display the love of Christ for all. If David wanted the words of his mouth and the mediation of his heart to be accepted by God, shouldn’t we.

Sing: Jesus is the sweetest name I know, and He’s just the same, as His lovely name. That’s the reason why I love Him so, for Jesus is the sweetest name I know.

Thought For Today: Remember, words become actions.

Morning Manna by Rufus Parker - 2026 May 20

How Art The Mighty Fallen

“And David lamented with this lamentation over Saul and over Jonathan his son: (Also he bade them teach the children of Judah the use of the bow: behold, it is written in the book of Jasher.) The beauty of Israel is slain upon thy high places: how are the mighty fallen!” (2 Samuel 1:17-19)

Today’s Morsel: In warfare, you sometimes lose great leaders and great men. But when it happens to those at senior levels, it can often be shocking, as they lead from a position of safety. However, during Saul and Jonathan’s rein, leaders were expected to be in the front, leading their men into battle. But this day, this war against the Philistines, both Saul and Jonathan were slain in battle. I believe that David felt that if Saul had just let him fight with him and not tried to kill him, this tragedy would not have happened, as the Philistines feared David because he had killed Goliath.  I often ask myself, weren’t the Philistines supposed to be servants to the armies of God, since that was the saying of Goliath when he wanted a man to fight him, that whoever won the other would serve them? Didn’t Goliath lose the fight? But now the mighty have fallen to those same Philistines because Saul did not obey and do what God commanded him to do. Don’t ever allow your downfall to be because of disobedience.

Sing: Let God arise and His enemies be scattered; Let God arise and His enemies be scattered, Let God arise and His enemies be scattered; Let God, let God arise.

Thought For Today: Never leave the enemy in command of the battlefield or he will destroy you.

Morning Manna by Rufus Parker - 2026 May 19

Life Is A Ballgame

“Watch and pray, that ye enter not into temptation: the spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak.” (Matthew 26:41)

Today’s Morsel: One of the greatest weapons that Satan has is that of temptation. Temptation is not a sin until you give into it. And Satan knows that. And so he goes about to position it in your way so that it will lure and entice you to take the bait. As a kid, I always listened to this song that said, “Life is like a ballgame, being played each day, life is like a ballgame and each and every one must play; You know Jesus is standing at the Homeplate and He’s waiting for you there; You know life is a ballgame and you must play it fair.  First base is temptation, second base is sin, third base is tribulation, and if you pass you can make it on in. Because life is a ballgame and you must play it first.”  So, true. As Jesus said, “These things I have spoken unto you, that in me ye might have peace. In the world ye shall have tribulation: but be of good cheer; I have overcome the world.” (John 16:33) In this world you will have trouble. Jesus acknowledges that life will be hard, filled with persecutions, sorrows, and suffering. In some way He’s telling us to prepare for the struggles and pain that are going to come. Jesus said that when these tribulations, adversities, hardships, and distresses come, take heart and follow His example because He has already shown you how to be an overcomer. So, rejoice!

Sing: Life is like a ballgame, being played each day; you know life is like a ballgame, and each and every one must play; You know Jesus is standing at the Homeplate, and He’s waiting for you there; You know life is a ballgame and you must play it fair.  

Thought For Today: “But I fear, lest by any means, as the serpent beguiled Eve through his subtilty, so your minds should be corrupted from the simplicity that is in Christ.” (2 Corinthians 11:3)

Morning Manna by Rufus Parker - 2026 May 18

 The Prayers That Shut The Lions’ Mouths

“Then the king commanded, and they brought Daniel, and cast him into the den of lions. Now the king spake and said unto Daniel, Thy God whom thou servest continually, he will deliver thee. And a stone was brought, and laid upon the mouth of the den; and the king sealed it with his own signet, and with the signet of his lords; that the purpose might not be changed concerning Daniel. Then the king went to his palace, and passed the night fasting: neither were instruments of musick brought before him: and his sleep went from him. Then the king arose very early in the morning, and went in haste unto the den of lions. And when he came to the den, he cried with a lamentable voice unto Daniel: and the king spake and said to Daniel, O Daniel, servant of the living God, is thy God, whom thou servest continually, able to deliver thee from the lions? Then said Daniel unto the king, O king, live for ever. My God hath sent his angel, and hath shut the lions' mouths, that they have not hurt me: forasmuch as before him innocency was found in me; and also before thee, O king, have I done no hurt. Then was the king exceeding glad for him, and commanded that they should take Daniel up out of the den. So Daniel was taken up out of the den, and no manner of hurt was found upon him, because he believed in his God.” (Daniel 6:16-23)

Today’s Morsel: By all accounts, Darius knew that the decree that he had decreed was wrong. I believe that it was his fasting and prayers throughout the night that caused God to send the angel to shut the lions’ mouths, that they didn’t hurt Daniel. We never know what our prayers will do when we intercede on the behalf of others. I believe that it is the prayers of the church, and those who have a relationship with God, where we see those who were wrongfully incarcerated, or falsely accused of crimes that they did not commit, that are released from jail and prison; like Jospeh, who was falsely accused of a crime that he did not commit. But after the word of God had tried him, he too was made free without hurt or harm and elevated to a position of honor, the same way that Daniel was. Don’t stop praying for those you know. God has a way of turning things around for good.

Sing: Whisper a prayer in the morning, whisper a prayer at noon, whisper a prayer in the evening, so keep your heart in tune.

Thought For Today: Pray without ceasing and in everything give thanks.