Morning Manna by Rufus Parker - 2026 July 14

Dealing With The Noise

“For every battle of the warrior is with confused noise, and garments rolled in blood; but this shall be with burning and fuel of fire.” (Isaiah 9:5)

Today’s Morsel: Sometimes while sitting in our home, my wife will say to me, “What is that noise?” Sometimes you can hear noises from miles away. In Vietnam, the artillery guys would tell us infantry guys that as long as you can hear the sound of the artillery shell overhead, you are alright. But if you hear it and it’s not overhead, then you may be in some serious trouble. Jesus said that the angels in heaven rejoiceth over one sinner that repents. So, if the noise is overhead, you should be rejoicing also. Isaiah states that every battle of the warrior is with confused noise, and garments rolled in blood. I am of the belief that the reason so many are depressed, stressed, filled with anxiety, and perplexed, may be due in part to noise. Workplaces have become noisy. Travel has become noisy. Medical appointments have become noisy. Dining out has become noisy. Sad to say that church has even become noisy. Folks are losing their hearing due in part to noise. No matter where we go or what we do, there’s noise. No wonder Calgon cried, “Take me away!” Is there a solution? Yes, Isaiah said: “Thou wilt keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on thee: because he trusteth in thee.” (Isaiah 26:3)Don’t let the enemy get into your head. Keep your mind on Jesus and the noise won’t impact your life.  Take time to have those moments of “Selah” with Jesus where you have stillness with Him.  

Sing: Peace, peace, wonderful peace, coming down from the Father above; sweep over my spirit, forever I pray, in fathomless billows of love.

Thought For Today: “There hath no temptation taken you but such as is common to man: but God is faithful, who will not suffer you to be tempted above that ye are able; but will with the temptation also make a way to escape, that ye may be able to bear it.” (1 Corinthians 10:13)

Morning Manna by Rufus Parker - 2026 July 13

Having A Love For The Gospel

“For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ: for it is the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth; to the Jew first, and also to the Greek.” (Romans 1:16)

Today’s Morsel:  Paul said that the gospel is the death, burial, and resurrection of Jesus Christ (1 Corinthains 15:1-4). He told the church at Rome, “… as it is written, how beautiful are the feet of them that preach the gospel of peace, and bring glad tidings of good things!” (Romans 10:15). Paul was not ashamed of the gospel. He was not ashamed to talk about Jesus Christ and the reason for His coming to the earth; the messages of salvation, holiness, grace, mercy, compassion, love, and spiritual death from sin. Paul understood by his revelation of truth from Jesus on the road to Damascus (Acts 9), that there was something about the gospel that changed people. He knew that once we encounter Jesus and have an understanding and personal relationship with Christ, as he did, there was going to be a true change. We must not be ashamed of the gospel, or people will remain lost. The Great Commission requires us to share the gospel of Christ. You know who you were and what you did before you understood the gospel. But now that you have come to know it and understand it, it’s time to take it into the whole world.

Sing: I’m gonna lift-up the name of Jesus, I’m gonna sing of my joy since He came. I’m gonna tell of His power every day and every hour, I’m gonna lift-up that wonderful name.

Thought For Today: “And this gospel of the kingdom shall be preached in all the world for a witness unto all nations; and then shall the end come.” (Matthew 24:14)

Morning Manna by Rufus Parker - 2026 July 11

Stop Giving The Devil Credit

“There shall no evil befall thee, neither shall any plague come nigh thy dwelling. For he shall give his angels charge over thee, to keep thee in all thy ways. They shall bear thee up in their hands, lest thou dash thy foot against a stone. Thou shalt tread upon the lion and adder: the young lion and the dragon shalt thou trample under feet. Because he hath set his love upon me, therefore will I deliver him: I will set him on high, because he hath known my name. He shall call upon me, and I will answer him: I will be with him in trouble; I will deliver him, and honour him. With long life will I satisfy him, and shew him my salvation.” (Psalms 91:10-16)

Today’s Morsel: From the time that Satan deceived Eve in the garden, every wrong that some folks do, like Eve, they blame the devil. It’s amazing to me how so many born-again believers are always having a fight with the devil. I once knew this lady in the church that if you mention the word devil or demons, she’d jump-up out of her seat and yell as if she was doing a judo chop, (Hy Ya). I thought to myself, why are so many folks wasting their time fighting a defeated foe. Jesus defeated Satan for us at Calvary. We don’t have to worry about him overcoming us when we walk in the Spirit and stay close to Jesus. James said, “Thou believest that there is one God; thou doest well: the devils also believe, and tremble.” (James 2:19) Notice what he says, if we believe that Jesus Christ is God, then we have nothing to worry about. But if not, then the devils are going to torment you. “Then certain of the vagabond Jews, exorcists, took upon them to call over them which had evil spirits the name of the Lord Jesus, saying, We adjure you by Jesus whom Paul preacheth. And there were seven sons of one Sceva, a Jew, and chief of the priests, which did so. And the evil spirit answered and said, Jesus I know, and Paul I know; but who are ye? And the man in whom the evil spirit was leaped on them, and overcame them, and prevailed against them, so that they fled out of that house naked and wounded. And this was known to all the Jews and Greeks also dwelling at Ephesus; and fear fell on them all, and the name of the Lord Jesus was magnified.” (Acts 19:13-17) Jesus told us, “Behold, I give unto you power to tread on serpents and scorpions, and over all the power of the enemy: and nothing shall by any means hurt you.” (Luke 10:19) So, use your power that Jesus has given you,  and stop being as comedian Flip Wilson, who would always say, “the devil made me do it.”

Sing: I command you Satan in the name of the Lord to take up your weapons and flee; For God has given me the authority to walk all over thee.

Thought For Today: “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)

Morning Manna by Rufus Parker - 2026 July 10

The Power of Obedience

“For though we walk in the flesh, we do not war after the flesh: (For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal, but mighty through God to the pulling down of strong holds;) Casting down imaginations, and every high thing that exalteth itself against the knowledge of God, and bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ; And having in a readiness to revenge all disobedience, when your obedience is fulfilled.” (2 Corinthians 10:3-6)

Today’s Morsel: If you have ever observed a person enlisting in the military, you will notice that they all recite the same oath of enlistment when they join. Part of that oath states: “I will obey the orders of the President of the United States, and the orders of the officers appoint over me, according to regulations and the Uniform Code of Military Justice, so help me God.” No matter what service they elect to serve in, everyone falls under the Department of War and are governed by the same rules. If you will notice, the creed speaks to obedience. In other words, if you fail to obey a lawful and legal order from the president or the officers over you, you are subject to punishment under the military judicial system. What many do not understand is the power that one has when they obey. Obedience show that you are well disciplined, submitted to authority, and that you can be trusted. Obedience will sooner or later kill and remove any disobedience that may be in your life, and a lack of obedience will kill you. Once, during my military service as a soldier, I showed up late for formation. My military supervisor asked me where I had been and why was I late? When I told him that I was late because my alarm clock did not go off, he looked me in the eyes as serious as he could be and asked me, “What is that on your collar?”   I said, “My rank, Sergeant.” He replied, “That’s your alarm clock, and if you want to keep it, I suggest that you ensure that it wakes you up on time so that you are never late again!” I got his message loud and clear and knew that I had better obey if I did not want to be punished and lose my rank, money, and time; as these three were linked together under the Uniform Code of Military Justice. Paul states that we should be ready to revenge all disobedience when our obedience is fulfilled. When we are fully submitted to Christ, then we can make the proper corrections on other. But if we ourselves are not in obedience and we try to change others, we will be seen as hypocrites.  

Sing: I’ll say yes, Lord, yes, to Your will and to Your way. I’ll say yes, Lord, yes, I will trust You and obey. When Your Spirit speaks to me, with my whole heart I’ll agree, and my answer will be yes, Lord, yes.   

Thought For Today: “And Samuel said, Hath the LORD as great delight in burnt offerings and sacrifices, as in obeying the voice of the LORD? Behold, to obey is better than sacrifice, and to hearken than the fat of rams. For rebellion is as the sin of witchcraft, and stubbornness is as iniquity and idolatry. Because thou hast rejected the word of the LORD, he hath also rejected thee from being king.” (1 Samuel 15:22-23)

Morning Manna by Rufus Parker - 2026 July 9

 Humility Draws Christ

“Likewise, ye younger, submit yourselves unto the elder. Yea, all of you be subject one to another, and be clothed with humility: for God resisteth the proud, and giveth grace to the humble.” (1 Peter 5:5) 

Today’s Morsel: Humility is a powerful trait of character. Like the other traits of character, this trait, too, is birthed out of a continual day to day spiritual lifestyle. Humility comes about remaining abase, not thinking more highly of yourself then you ought. It’s developed by taking the lower seat and not elevating yourself to any position of authority or role. It’s allowing God to do and place you in whatever positions he may have for you. Humility will draw God to you. David said that God is nigh them that are of a broken heart. He’s not talking about those who get caught with their hand in the cookie jar and start crying because they got caught and must now face the consequences. He’s talking about those who display a heart of compassion, those who consider the well-being of others and go about to alleviate their suffering. If you remain humble, God will exalt you in due time.

Sing: I thought that number one, would surely be me, I thought I could be, whatever I wanted to be. I thought I could build on life’s sinking sand, but I can’t even walk without You holding my hand. 

Lord, I can’t even walk without You holding my hand, the mountains to high and the valleys to wide. Down on my knees that’s where I learn to stand, and I can’t even walk without You holding my hand.

Thought For Today: “The LORD is nigh unto them that are of a broken heart; and saveth such as be of a contrite spirit.” (Psalms 34:18)

Morning Manna by Rufus Parker - 2026 July 8

Sit Down and Listen

“Now it came to pass, as they went, that he entered into a certain village: and a certain woman named Martha received him into her house. And she had a sister called Mary, which also sat at Jesus' feet, and heard his word. But Martha was cumbered about much serving, and came to him, and said, Lord, dost thou not care that my sister hath left me to serve alone? bid her therefore that she help me. And Jesus answered and said unto her, Martha, Martha, thou art careful and troubled about many things: But one thing is needful: and Mary hath chosen that good part, which shall not be taken away from her.” (Luke 10:38-42)

Today’s Morsel: In my early years of school, the teachers would either sit and talk and teach you, or they would stand and talk and teach you. They might call on us to answer a question or ask if we understood, but they didn’t care too much about my opinion. They wanted me to know truth and the correct way. Today though, schools and churches are getting away from teaching and training truth. They don’t want to offend anyone, so they teach and facilitate based on folks’ opinion. The problem with this type of teaching and training is folks are often left with someone else’s opinion instead of solid truth. The devil isn’t a fool. Jesus said that the thief cometh not but for to steal, kill, and destroy. You need to know truth if you are going to be saved. Yes, you can listen to others’ opinions, but make sure it aligns with truth. Scripture says of Martha and Mary, “Now it came to pass, as they went, that he entered into a certain village: and a certain woman named Martha received him into her house. And she had a sister called Mary, which also sat at Jesus' feet, and heard his word. But Martha was cumbered about much serving, and came to him, and said, Lord, dost thou not care that my sister hath left me to serve alone? bid her therefore that she help me. And Jesus answered and said unto her, Martha, Martha, thou art careful and troubled about many things: But one thing is needful: and Mary hath chosen that good part, which shall not be taken away from her.”  I believe that Jesus was showing us from this little lesson that sometimes you just need to sit down and listen to truth, and stop worrying about what we may think others need or may want; because it is only by truth that people are saved and made free. 

Sing: I have found the pleasure I once craved; it is joy and peace within; what a wondrous blessing I am saved from the awful gulf of sin.

It is joy unspeakable and full of glory, full or glory, full of glory; it is joy unspeakable and full of glory, oh, the half has never been told.

Thought For Today: “And they said one to another, Did not our heart burn within us, while he talked with us by the way, and while he opened to us the scriptures?” (Luke 24:32)

Morning Manna by Rufus Parker - 2026 July 7

Rebuilding The Altar

“And God said unto Jacob, Arise, go up to Bethel, and dwell there: and make there an altar unto God, that appeared unto thee when thou fleddest from the face of Esau thy brother.” (Genesis 35:1)

Today’s Morsel: Throughout scripture, we see the importance of the altar. The altar was a means of atonement for sin and to show complete dedication and reconciliation, or reunion, with God. When Jacob returns into the land of promise after 20 plus years of trials and test with his uncle Laban, God tells him to go up to Bethel, the house of God, and make there an altar unto God. You see, when Jacob passed through this place going to reside with his uncle, God tells him in a dream that he will give him the land that he was now sleeping upon. After Jacob awakes, he took the stones which he used for a pillow, set them up as a pillar, anointed them with oil, and called it Bethel, the house of God. Now God tells him to return to the same place and rebuild the altar. Sometimes when we have been away from God, even though we may be at church, we may need to rededicate and resubmit ourselves to God afresh and anew. If you find that you may have lost focus or direction, you should return to the last known point that you had peace and contentment with God, which you will often find was the altar.  Rebuild it, recommit yourself, and start walking in your promise afresh and anew.

Sing: Just a closer walk with Thee, grant it Jesus is my plea; daily walking close with Thee, let it be dear Lord, let it be.

Thought For Today: Don’t ever forget what the altar can do for you.