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.

Morning Manna by Rufus Parker - 2026 May 7

You’re Not Special, You Are Blessed

“For thou art an holy people unto the LORD thy God: the LORD thy God hath chosen thee to be a special people unto himself, above all people that are upon the face of the earth. The LORD did not set his love upon you, nor choose you, because ye were more in number than any people; for ye were the fewest of all people: But because the LORD loved you, and because he would keep the oath which he had sworn unto your fathers, hath the LORD brought you out with a mighty hand, and redeemed you out of the house of bondmen, from the hand of Pharaoh king of Egypt. 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. Thou shalt therefore keep the commandments, and the statutes, and the judgments, which I command thee this day, to do them. Wherefore it shall come to pass, if ye hearken to these judgments, and keep, and do them, that the LORD thy God shall keep unto thee the covenant and the mercy which he sware unto thy fathers: And he will love thee, and bless thee, and multiply thee: he will also bless the fruit of thy womb, and the fruit of thy land, thy corn, and thy wine, and thine oil, the increase of thy kine, and the flocks of thy sheep, in the land which he sware unto thy fathers to give thee.” (Deuteronomy 7:6-13)

Today’s Morsel: There have been those who think that they are special because of their parents’ status in life. If anyone had a right to think that they were special, it would have been the nation of Israel. Moses even asked them, “For what nation is there so great, who hath God so nigh unto them, as the LORD our God is in all things that we call upon him for? And what nation is there so great, that hath statutes and judgments so righteous as all this law, which I set before you this day?” (Deuteronomy 4:7-8) But he wanted them to know that they were not special. And that that same God, if they forgot Him and did not obey Him, would turn and do them hurt. He wanted them to know that they were not special. They were blessed to have this God, the Creator of all things, to be their God. We, too, should not think that we are special or someone great, as without God we are nothing. We are now blessed to have this same God that Moses spoke of as our God. So don’t take it for granted and think that you are special. God may just be fulfilling His promises which He made to your parents and grandparents who served Him before you.

Sing: I am blessed! I am blessed! Every day that I live I am blessed. When I wake-up in the morning, till I lay my head to rest, I am blessed, I am blessed.

Thought For Today: Stay humble and God will exalt you in due time.

Morning Manna by Rufus Parker - 2026 May 6

Don’t Forget God

“And it shall be, when the LORD thy God shall have brought thee into the land which he sware unto thy fathers, to Abraham, to Isaac, and to Jacob, to give thee great and goodly cities, which thou buildedst not, And houses full of all good things, which thou filledst not, and wells digged, which thou diggedst not, vineyards and olive trees, which thou plantedst not; when thou shalt have eaten and be full; Then beware lest thou forget the LORD, which brought thee forth out of the land of Egypt, from the house of bondage.” (Deuteronomy 6:10-12)

Today’s Morsel: Throughout the first five books of the Bible, (the Pentateuch or Torah), there is a constant reminder by Moses, who is credited with authorship, not to forget God. But we can see what happened when the people failed to heed his warning. They were consumed by their enemies or they found themselves lacking in what they had need of. The warning is not for them only, but as Paul admonished, “Now these things were our examples, to the intent we should not lust after evil things, as they also lusted. Neither be ye idolaters, as were some of them; as it is written, The people sat down to eat and drink, and rose up to play. Neither let us commit fornication, as some of them committed, and fell in one day three and twenty thousand. Neither let us tempt Christ, as some of them also tempted, and were destroyed of serpents. Neither murmur ye, as some of them also murmured, and were destroyed of the destroyer. Now all these things happened unto them for ensamples: and they are written for our admonition, upon whom the ends of the world are come. Wherefore let him that thinketh he standeth take heed lest he fall.” (1 Corinthians 10:6-12) God is the one that has delivered us and given us newness of life. And so if we forget Him and go back to our old ways, then we have no one to blame but ourselves when our enemies overcome us and defeat and destroy us.

Sing: Who is this who for our sorrow offers comfort and relief, bringing sunshine to the dark and shadowed life. Saying softly cease repining, lift thou soul above its grief, let the peace pass understanding still the strife.

It is Jesus, Jesus, sad one weep no more. He will heal the brokenhearted, open wide the prison door. He is able to deliver evermore.

Thought For Today: Without Jesus you can do nothing.

Morning Manna by Rufus Parker - 2026 May 5

Pressures of Duty

“Why sayest thou, O Jacob, and speakest, O Israel, My way is hid from the LORD, and my judgment is passed over from my God? Hast thou not known? hast thou not heard, that the everlasting God, the LORD, the Creator of the ends of the earth, fainteth not, neither is weary? there is no searching of his understanding. He giveth power to the faint; and to them that have no might he increaseth strength. Even the youths shall faint and be weary, and the young men shall utterly fall: But they that wait upon the LORD shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings as eagles; they shall run, and not be weary; and they shall walk, and not faint.” (Isaiah 40:27-31)

Today’s Morsel: Do you ever stop and consider how taxing it must have been for Nehemiah and his team to rebuild the walls of Jerusalem. Can you imagine having to complete a task when all you are standing and seeing is a bunch of burned rubbish, and a group of what seemed like disheartened men? Not to mention, that you also have an enemy that is trying to prevent you from accomplishing your duty. This is what I call pressures of duty. But Nehemiah and the people had a mind to work. Nehemiah had prayed when he was told what had happened to his hometown and city. And he had found favor with the king and His God. And so he knew what he was up against, and he was determined to complete the project. He knew that God was with him. If he could encourage his fellow labors to stay focused, they would complete the project. And in 52 days those walls were rebuilt. Paul tells us, “And let us not be weary in well doing: for in due season we shall reap, if we faint not.” (Galatians 6:9). Always remember this, both silver and gold must be tried in the fire, and so must your faith. Remember, you have God working with you, and He does not grow weary nor does He faint. 

Sing: He gives strength to me, as I worship Him, as my heart is filled with praise. Jesus breaks the bands, as I raise my hands, He gives glorious victory.

Thought For Today: “Never let the task seem bigger than your God.” (Parker)