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)

Morning Manna by Rufus Parker - 2026 August 27

Let Jesus Lead

“A Psalm of David. The LORD is my shepherd; I shall not want. He maketh me to lie down in green pastures: he leadeth me beside the still waters. He restoreth my soul: he leadeth me in the paths of righteousness for his name's sake. 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. Thou preparest a table before me in the presence of mine enemies: thou anointest my head with oil; my cup runneth over. Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life: and I will dwell in the house of the LORD for ever.” (Psalms 23:1-6)

Today’s Morsel: Jesus informs us that He is the Good Shepherd, and that the Good Shepherd will lay down His life for His sheep. The shepherd is willing to risk his life against those who may come to steal the sheep, or wild animals, and in some case dangerous serpents. The shepherd leads his flock into greener pastures and beside still waters. His end state with the sheep, is growth, to reproduce, and to produce wool which can be used for other purposes. David highlights that the Lord is my shepherd and I shall not want.  There is no reason for the sheep to wander from the fold. The sheep understand that the shepherd will lead them to the best grazing land, and the refreshing water holes, because they have come to know his voice and understand his care and protection for them. When we put our trust in Jesus, He, too, will lead us into greener pastures and to refreshing waters. So, you don’t need to wander away from the fold, stay where you are, trust Him, and He will ensure that goodness and mercy will follow you all the days of your life.

Sing: He leadeth me, He leadeth me, by His own hand He leadeth me. His faithful follower I will be, for by His hand He leadeth me.

Thought For Today: “Fear not, little flock; for it is your Father's good pleasure to give you the kingdom.” (Luke 12:32)

Morning Manna by Rufus Parker - 2026 August 26

Don’t Ever Forget God

“Praise ye the LORD. Praise God in his sanctuary: praise him in the firmament of his power. Praise him for his mighty acts: praise him according to his excellent greatness. Praise him with the sound of the trumpet: praise him with the psaltery and harp. Praise him with the timbrel and dance: praise him with stringed instruments and organs. Praise him upon the loud cymbals: praise him upon the high sounding cymbals. Let every thing that hath breath praise the LORD. Praise ye the LORD.” (Psalms 150:1-6)

Today’s Morsel: One of the last things that Moses informed the Children of Israel, just prior to them cross overing into the Promise Land, was that they must not forget God. He told them if they forgot Him, that God would turn again and do them hurt. That same caution is given to us today. We must not forget God. No matter how good life gets, or how bad, we must not forget God. Sometime our bad days may be God’s way of developing us. You see, at some point, God wants us to be able to stand on our own two feet and make choices based on the word He has given to us. Jesus could have stopped the storm the disciples were in at any time. But He allowed the disciples to use their own minds to decide what they would do. And when they saw that their way was fruitless, they decided to wake Jesus up. Jesus didn’t chide them for not trying; he chided them for a lack of faith. At least they didn’t forget God. They knew that He could solve the issue. And so, they woke Him. Scripture says: “And call upon me in the day of trouble: I will deliver thee, and thou shalt glorify me.” (Psalms 50:15) You can keep fighting trouble in your life on your own, or you can call on God.  Remember, without Him we can do nothing. So, don’t forget Him, He will be a friend that sticks closer than a brother.

Sing: I’m gonna to praise the Lord anyway that I can. I’m going to praise the Lord anyway that I can. I’m gonna praise Him in the morning, praise Him all day long, I’m gonna praise the Lord anyway that I can.

Thought For Today: “Then beware lest thou forget the LORD, which brought thee forth out of the land of Egypt, from the house of bondage.” (Deuteronomy 6:12)

Morning Manna by Rufus Parker - 2026 August 25

A Life Void of Wisdom

“Have all the workers of iniquity no knowledge? who eat up my people as they eat bread, and call not upon the LORD.” (Psalms 14:4)

Today’s Morsel: Folks who reject wisdom and truth will never have the peace, rest, and contentment that they seek. Even “If a wise man contendeth with a foolish man, whether he rage or laugh, there is no rest.” (Proverbs 29:9) When our lives are without wisdom, we become as the horse and the mule which has no understanding and their mouths must be held in with bit and bridle. In other words, they are out of control and will run ramped. When a life is void of godly wisdom, it becomes a place and seat for the wicked one. Satan will immediately take control of that life and destroy it. Jesus said: “When the unclean spirit is gone out of a man, he walketh through dry places, seeking rest, and findeth none. Then he saith, I will return into my house from whence I came out; and when he is come, he findeth it empty, swept, and garnished. Then goeth he, and taketh with himself seven other spirits more wicked than himself, and they enter in and dwell there: and the last state of that man is worse than the first. Even so shall it be also unto this wicked generation.” (Matthew 12:43-45) Solomon states: “I went by the field of the slothful, and by the vineyard of the man void of understanding; And, lo, it was all grown over with thorns, and nettles had covered the face thereof, and the stone wall thereof was broken down. Then I saw, and considered it well: I looked upon it, and received instruction. Yet a little sleep, a little slumber, a little folding of the hands to sleep: So shall thy poverty come as one that travelleth; and thy want as an armed man.” (Proverbs 24:30-34) If you want to avoid the torment and evils from consuming your life, may I suggest that you hide the word of God within you and seek Him for wisdom, knowledge, and understanding. 

Sing: I’ve got Jesus on the inside, working on the outside, o’ what a change in my life. I’ve got Jesus on the inside, working on the outside, o’ what a change in my life. I’ve got Jesus on the inside, working on the outside, o’ what a change in my life, o, what a change in my life.

Thought for Today:  “Open thou mine eyes, that I may behold wondrous things out of thy law.” (Psalms 119:18)