Morning Manna by Rufus Parker - 2026 September 4

Are You Enjoying Life?

“Search the scriptures; for in them ye think ye have eternal life: and they are they which testify of me. And ye will not come to me, that ye might have life.” (John 5:39-40)

Today’s Morsel: Bottom line up front, if Jesus is not the highest priority in your life, the likelihood of you enjoying life and living a productive life, is going to be very smallest. You may find some enjoyment and laughter here and there, as with some things, because most people do. But enjoyable life and having it more abundant will be sporadic. Let me share with you why. Jesus has already told us in His Word: “I am the vine, ye are the branches: He that abideth in me, and I in him, the same bringeth forth much fruit: for without me ye can do nothing.” (John 15:5) We can’t do anything without Him. So, if we are missing the source from which life comes from, then we will not have it. Jesus also tells us: “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) Jesus shared these teachings with us so that we could experience His personal overflowing inner joy through a loving relationship with Him, rather than relying on temporary worldly circumstances. When you study the Word of God, you soon discover that true, complete life, joy, and happiness, come from Jesus and by living closely connected to Him. It doesn’t come from money, success, or material things. Jesus links His joy, life, and peace, with keeping His commandments and abiding in His love. “If ye keep my commandments, ye shall abide in my love; even as I have kept my Father's commandments, and abide in his love.” (John 15:10) If you want to have life and an enjoyable life, then you must stick close to Him the One who gives us life. 

Sing: I found a new way of living, I found a new life divine, I have the Fruit of the Spirit, I am abiding, abiding in the vine.

Abiding in the vine, abiding in the vine, love, joy, peace, strength, He has made them mine; I have prosperity, power and victory, abiding, abiding, in the vine.

Thought For Today: “These things have I spoken unto you, that my joy might remain in you, and that your joy might be full.” (John 15:11)

Morning Manna by Rufus Parker - 2026 September 3

There Is Nobody Like Jesus

“And the same day, when the even was come, he saith unto them, Let us pass over unto the other side. And when they had sent away the multitude, they took him even as he was in the ship. And there were also with him other little ships. And there arose a great storm of wind, and the waves beat into the ship, so that it was now full. And he was in the hinder part of the ship, asleep on a pillow: and they awake him, and say unto him, Master, carest thou not that we perish? And he arose, and rebuked the wind, and said unto the sea, Peace, be still. And the wind ceased, and there was a great calm. And he said unto them, Why are ye so fearful? how is it that ye have no faith? And they feared exceedingly, and said one to another, What manner of man is this, that even the wind and the sea obey him?” (Mark 4:35-41)

Today’s Morsel: There were many in Jesus’ day upon the earth that questioned as to who He was when they saw the miracles, heard His teachings, and His rebuke of the Pharisee’s Sadducee’s and Scribe’s which He did. Many of them questioned as to who He was when they saw that He was not afraid of what people thought of Him, or His willingness to go against the status quo. Even His disciples, whom He had chosen, had doubt in their minds about Him. Philip and Thomas, after being with Him for three years, did not recognize Him as the Father (John 14:7-10); And the disciples even questioned who He was after He commanded the wind and waves to be still. They asked, what manner of man is this. The men on the road to Emmus didn’t recognize Him. But He was the one whom Paul said, “Who is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of every creature: For by him were all things created, that are in heaven, and that are in earth, visible and invisible, whether they be thrones, or dominions, or principalities, or powers: all things were created by him, and for him: And he is before all things, and by him all things consist.” (Colossians 1:15-17) Jesus was more than a man. Paul said, “For in him dwelleth all the fulness of the Godhead bodily. And ye are complete in him, which is the head of all principality and power:” (Colossians 2:9-10) Let me encourage you today, you will never recognize Jesus by human eyes. You can only recognize Him by eyes of faith.

Sing: He’s Jehovah God, the coming King of glory; He’s the true Nissi, the Lord of grace and favor, He is Jesus Christ, Redeemer Friend and Savior, He’s the great, He’s the great I AM!

He’s the great I Am, the everlasting Father, He’s the Prince of Peace, the great eternal Wonder, Holy Counselor, and Zion righteous Governor, He’s the great, He’s the great I Am.

Thought For Today: “Ye are my witnesses, saith the LORD, and my servant whom I have chosen: that ye may know and believe me, and understand that I am he: before me there was no God formed, neither shall there be after me. I, even I, am the LORD; and beside me there is no saviour.” (Isaiah 43:10-11)

Morning Manna by Rufus Parker - 2026 September 2

Are You Ready To Cross Over?

“And they commanded the people, saying, When ye see the ark of the covenant of the LORD your God, and the priests the Levites bearing it, then ye shall remove from your place, and go after it. Yet there shall be a space between you and it, about two thousand cubits by measure: come not near unto it, that ye may know the way by which ye must go: for ye have not passed this way heretofore.” (Joshua 3:3-4)

Today’s Morsel: When I was in the army as an infantry soldier, part of our training was to be ready at a certain time to cross the line of departure. In other words, there was a set time and a line that we must cross so that you did not get killed by friendly fire. One of the things we learned was that once we departed a site, our enemies would soon come in and seek to obtain any information or intelligence that they could find that they may be able to use against us. And so, we would preprogram artillery fire on that site for a set time after our departure. And if we did not get off that location at the appropriate time, we could suffer the consequences. 

The children of Israel had wandered in the wilderness for 40 years and now it was time for them to cross over to the other side. Joshua had told them that they had not passed that way before and so they should keep their eyes on the Ark. He gave them a set time that they must be ready to go. No delays. Our final home is heaven. And we know that there is going to come a day that we must cross over. So the question is, are you ready? Scripture says that the Philippian jailer asked Paul and Silas as he brought them out from the jail, “Sirs, what must I do to be saved?” And they said, “Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved, and thy house.  And they spake unto him the word of the Lord, and to all that were in his house. And he took them the same hour of the night and washed their stripes; and was baptized, he and all his, straightway.” (Acts 16:30-33). When Peter had preached to the crowd on the Day of Pentecost, according to Acts 2,: “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.” (Acts 2:37-41) In both accounts, the question is asked what they shall do, or what must I do to be saved? We see that according to scripture the first act is for one to believe on Jesus Christ, as neither is there salvation in any other (Acts 4:12). Next, we must repent of our sins (Matthew 4:17). Third, we must be baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ (Acts 2:38, 10:48). And fourth, we must be filled with God’s Spirit (Romans 8:9). Are you ready to cross over to the other side where you will live with Jesus forever and ever?“And that, knowing the time, that now it is high time to awake out of sleep: for now is our salvation nearer than when we believed.” (Romans 13:11)

Sing: The captain of the vessel, he’s calling get onboard, the destinations heaven, upon those crystal shores, there we’ll see our blessed Savior, and our loved ones who have gone before, and we will sing and shout for eternity, thank God we’re going home.

I’m going home with Jesus, in the twinkling of an eye, I’ve made my reservation for my mansion in the sky. I may not know the moment, and I may not know the day, but I know that I’ll be leaving, when He calls His church away.

Thought For Today: “(For he saith, I have heard thee in a time accepted, and in the day of salvation have I succoured thee: behold, now is the accepted time; behold, now is the day of salvation.)” (2 Corinthians 6:2)

Morning Manna by Rufus Parker - 2026 September 1

How Do You Handle Unexpected Bad News That Affects You?

“For the thing which I greatly feared is come upon me, and that which I was afraid of is come unto me. I was not in safety, neither had I rest, neither was I quiet; yet trouble came.” (Job 3:25-26)

Today’s Morsel: If you have been in the church, or around the church for any amount of time, I am sure that you have heard of the story of Job and what trials that he endured. We read in chapters 1 & 2 of Job, that Job lost all his material possessions, his children, servants, and even his own health in what seems like minutes. Job seems to be doing okay with the news until his friends show up and begin to accuse him of sin.  One of the things you will find in life is that none of us know what type of news the next moment may bring our way. Some people leave home to go to work and never return. Some children go off to school and never return. Some folks go to their doctor what they think is a routine appointment, and they are told that they have terminal cancer and only have a few months or so to live. So, how should we handle such news when it affects us? Scripture tells us: “Fear thou not; for I am with thee: be not dismayed; for I am thy God: I will strengthen thee; yea, I will help thee; yea, I will uphold thee with the right hand of my righteousness.” (Isaiah 41:10). The Lord tells us not to fear as He will help us. God will come along beside us and direct us through such ordeals and hardships. The writer of Hebrews tells us, “Wherein God, willing more abundantly to shew unto the heirs of promise the immutability of his counsel, confirmed it by an oath: That by two immutable things, in which it was impossible for God to lie, we might have a strong consolation, who have fled for refuge to lay hold upon the hope set before us: Which hope we have as an anchor of the soul, both sure and stedfast, and which entereth into that within the veil;” (Hebrews 6:17-19) Jesus will never leave us, nor will he ever forsake us. We must keep our focus upon Him so that our ship will not sink.

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 ones weep no more. He will heal the brokenhearted, open wide the prison doors, He is able to deliver evermore.

Thought For Today: Stay connected to the anchor or the wind will blow you out to sea. 

Morning Manna by Rufus Parker - 2026 August 31

The Great I Am

“And Moses said unto God, Behold, when I come unto the children of Israel, and shall say unto them, The God of your fathers hath sent me unto you; and they shall say to me, What is his name? what shall I say unto them? And God said unto Moses, I AM THAT I AM: and he said, Thus shalt thou say unto the children of Israel, I AM hath sent me unto you.” (Exodus 3:13-14)

Today’s Morsel: When Moses asked God who he should tell the people that sent him to deliver them, He’s told by God to tell them “I Am” hath sent Him. Moses is probably thinking like some of us. Who is going to believe me when I just say, “I AM” hath sent me. What Moses fails to realize was, that he was just told by God, that “I AM” the God of your fathers Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob (Exodus 3:6). So, God was saying, I believe is, just tell them that I Am the God of their fathers and this ought to suffice them as to who I Am. As the Lord had said that Abraham would command his children after him. And Abraham knew God personally, the same as did Isaac and Jacob. When Philip asked Jesus to show him the father and it would suffice them. “Jesus saith unto him, Have I been so long time with you, and yet hast thou not known me, Philip? he that hath seen me hath seen the Father; and how sayest thou then, Shew us the Father? Believest thou not that I am in the Father, and the Father in me? the words that I speak unto you I speak not of myself: but the Father that dwelleth in me, he doeth the works.” (John 14:9-10). And Paul informs us: “And without controversy great is the mystery of godliness: God was manifest in the flesh, justified in the Spirit, seen of angels, preached unto the Gentiles, believed on in the world, received up into glory.” (1 Timothy 3:16) If you want to know who Jesus is, He is the Great I Am!

Sing: He’s the Great I Am, the Everlasting Father, He’s the Prince of Peace, the Great Eternal Wonder, Holy Counselor, and Zions righteous governor, He’s the Great, He’s the Great I Am.

Thought For Today: “Ye call me Master and Lord: and ye say well; for so I am.” (John 13:13)

Morning Manna by Rufus Parker - 2026 August 29

Wisdom Or Gold

“How much better is it to get wisdom than gold! and to get understanding rather to be chosen than silver!” (Proverbs 16:16)

Today’s Morsel: My ophthalmologist always asks me, which is better A or B? 1 or 2? Well, Solomon asks us somewhat the same question. Which is better, Wisdom or gold? Understanding or silver? You must choose which you think is better. Solmon helps us in choosing, when he tells us: “Wisdom is good with an inheritance: and by it there is profit to them that see the sun. For wisdom is a defence, and money is a defence: but the excellency of knowledge is, that wisdom giveth life to them that have it.” (Ecclesiastes 7:11-12) Moses even asks us which is better, life or death? Blessing or cursing’s? Moses says, Well if you are having trouble with choosing, he said,  “I call heaven and earth to record this day against you, that I have set before you life and death, blessing and cursing: therefore choose life, that both thou and thy seed may live:” (Deuteronomy 30:19) This stuff isn’t that hard. Again, Solomon tells us: “Get wisdom, get understanding: forget it not; neither decline from the words of my mouth. Forsake her not, and she shall preserve thee: love her, and she shall keep thee. Wisdom is the principal thing; therefore get wisdom: and with all thy getting get understanding. Exalt her, and she shall promote thee: she shall bring thee to honour, when thou dost embrace her. She shall give to thine head an ornament of grace: a crown of glory shall she deliver to thee.” (Proverbs 4:5-9) Are you still having trouble choosing? Well, let me help you. Choose Jesus, as He is the wisdom of God and the power of God.  Choose Jesus and you will be just fine.

Sing: Deeper, deeper in the love of Jesus, daily let me go. Higher, higher, in the school of wisdom, more of grace to know.

O’ deeper yet I pray, and higher every day, and wiser blessed Lord, in Thy precious holy word.

Thought For Today: “When wisdom entereth into thine heart, and knowledge is pleasant unto thy soul; Discretion shall preserve thee, understanding shall keep thee:” (Proverbs 2:10-11)

Morning Manna by Rufus Parker - 2026 August 28

Stay Connect To Jesus

“I am the true vine, and my Father is the husbandman. Every branch in me that beareth not fruit he taketh away: and every branch that beareth fruit, he purgeth it, that it may bring forth more fruit. Now ye are clean through the word which I have spoken unto you. Abide in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, except it abide in the vine; no more can ye, except ye abide in me. I am the vine, ye are the branches: He that abideth in me, and I in him, the same bringeth forth much fruit: for without me ye can do nothing. If a man abide not in me, he is cast forth as a branch, and is withered; and men gather them, and cast them into the fire, and they are burned. If ye abide in me, and my words abide in you, ye shall ask what ye will, and it shall be done unto you. Herein is my Father glorified, that ye bear much fruit; so shall ye be my disciples.” (John 15:1-8)

Today’s Morsel: Jesus often used teachings where others could easily understand. His teaching in today’s passage highlights what happens to the branch if it does not remain connected to the vine. It withered; and men gathered them, and cast them into the fire, and they were burned. Once the branch is broken from the vine, it has no source of life. It loses the things it needs to survive and reproduce. Jesus said that it now is good for nothing but to be used as kindling for a fire. But the teaching is to open our eyes. He is the vine and we are the branches. If we do not stay connected to Him, we are good for nothing but to be burned, because we now have no way to reproduce fruit for the Master’s or anyone else’s use. He wants us to bear fruit. But the branch cannot bear fruit if it doesn’t stay connect to the vine. God is gloried when we bear fruit after His kind. But when we don’t, He takes us away. Everything we have need of to bear fruit flows from Jesus. So stay connected to Him.

Sing: Hold to God’s unchanging hand, hold to God’s unchanging hand. Build your hopes on things eternal. Hold to God’s unchanging hand.

Thought For Today: “Ye have not chosen me, but I have chosen you, and ordained you, that ye should go and bring forth fruit, and that your fruit should remain: that whatsoever ye shall ask of the Father in my name, he may give it you.” (John 15:16)