Morning Manna by Rufus Parker - 2026 August 7

Hard Prayers

“To the chief Musician, A Psalm of David, when Nathan the prophet came unto him, after he had gone in to Bathsheba. Have mercy upon me, O God, according to thy lovingkindness: according unto the multitude of thy tender mercies blot out my transgressions. Wash me throughly from mine iniquity, and cleanse me from my sin. For I acknowledge my transgressions: and my sin is ever before me. Against thee, thee only, have I sinned, and done this evil in thy sight: that thou mightest be justified when thou speakest, and be clear when thou judgest. Behold, I was shapen in iniquity; and in sin did my mother conceive me. Behold, thou desirest truth in the inward parts: and in the hidden part thou shalt make me to know wisdom. Purge me with hyssop, and I shall be clean: wash me, and I shall be whiter than snow. Make me to hear joy and gladness; that the bones which thou hast broken may rejoice. Hide thy face from my sins, and blot out all mine iniquities. Create in me a clean heart, O God; and renew a right spirit within me. Cast me not away from thy presence; and take not thy holy spirit from me. Restore unto me the joy of thy salvation; and uphold me with thy free spirit. Then will I teach transgressors thy ways; and sinners shall be converted unto thee. Deliver me from bloodguiltiness, O God, thou God of my salvation: and my tongue shall sing aloud of thy righteousness. O Lord, open thou my lips; and my mouth shall shew forth thy praise. For thou desirest not sacrifice; else would I give it: thou delightest not in burnt offering. The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit: a broken and a contrite heart, O God, thou wilt not despise. Do good in thy good pleasure unto Zion: build thou the walls of Jerusalem. Then shalt thou be pleased with the sacrifices of righteousness, with burnt offering and whole burnt offering: then shall they offer bullocks upon thine altar.” (Psalms 51:1-19)

Today’s Morsel: Have you ever had to present a hard prayer to God to judge you, or to ask Him to forgive you for a wrong? I have prayed that folks will not find rest and contentment until they repent of their sins and turn their heart from their wicked ways and return to God again. That’s what I call a hard prayer, because I know that it may cause hardship and even suffering and pain upon them. But at least I’m trying to help them save their souls from hell and continual destruction. Today’s passage, I’m sure, was probably a hard prayer for David. David had a strong relationship and love for God and the things of God. He was even called a man after God’s own heart. But David allowed his emotions and lust of his flesh to overpower him. And now, his wrong has been exposed to him by God Himself, and David realizes his wrong. This prayer is David pleading to God for forgiveness. Hard prayers are often for oneself when they’ve gotten their hand caught in the cookie jar. Yes, David could have ignored the prophet, but only to his own detriment. David knew the penalty for this sin. And so, he places himself in the hand of a loving and caring God. It was a hard prayer. But in order for him to find forgiveness, he knew that he had to come to the throne of grace, that he might obtain mercy and find grace to help him in time of need. David received forgiveness and scripture says: “Because David did that which was right in the eyes of the LORD, and turned not aside from any thing that he commanded him all the days of his life, save only in the matter of Uriah the Hittite.” (1 Kings 15:5) Hard prayers are sometimes hard. But if you want to see change, then they must be done.

Sing: Create in me a clean heart, O’ God, and renew a right spirit within me. Create in me a clean heart, O’ God, and renew a right spirit within me. Cast me not away from Thy presence O’ God, take not Thy Holy Spirit from me; restore unto me, the joy of Thy salvation, and renew a right spirit within me.

Thought For Today: “For thou, Lord, art good, and ready to forgive; and plenteous in mercy unto all them that call upon thee.” (Psalms 86:5)

 

Morning Manna by Rufus Parker - 2026 August 6

Spiritual Joy

“Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, which according to his abundant mercy hath begotten us again unto a lively hope by the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, To an inheritance incorruptible, and undefiled, and that fadeth not away, reserved in heaven for you, Who are kept by the power of God through faith unto salvation ready to be revealed in the last time. Wherein ye greatly rejoice, though now for a season, if need be, ye are in heaviness through manifold temptations: That the trial of your faith, being much more precious than of gold that perisheth, though it be tried with fire, might be found unto praise and honour and glory at the appearing of Jesus Christ: Whom having not seen, ye love; in whom, though now ye see him not, yet believing, ye rejoice with joy unspeakable and full of glory: Receiving the end of your faith, even the salvation of your souls.” (1 Peter 1:3-9)

Today’s Morsel: Is there a difference between natural joy and spiritual joy? Natural joy often finds its source in circumstances and achievements, while spiritual joy finds its source in a close connection with Christ. When I first came into the church, it was not uncommon to hear someone say, “You can’t steal my joy, devil.” Or “This joy that I have the world didn’t give it to me, and the world can’t take it away.” But then I would hear some of those same people say, “Pray for my joy.” Humm! Who stole it? Where did it go? Keep in mind, spiritual joy came with the Spirit. When you received the Holy Ghost, joy came with it. So, if someone who says that they are born- again doesn’t have spiritual joy, they may want to follow Paul’s advice to Timothy and stir up the gift that is within them. Not unless they are like Samson and don’t realize that the Spirit has departed from them. The Psalmist states: “But let all those that put their trust in thee rejoice: let them ever shout for joy, because thou defendest them: let them also that love thy name be joyful in thee. For thou, LORD, wilt bless the righteous; with favour wilt thou compass him as with a shield.” (Psalms 5:11-12) If we trust and believe in God, then we ought to always be praising Him and being joyful. The apostle Peter states: Wherein ye greatly rejoice, though now for a season, if need be, ye are in heaviness through manifold temptations: That the trial of your faith, being much more precious than of gold that perisheth, though it be tried with fire, might be found unto praise and honour and glory at the appearing of Jesus Christ: Whom having not seen, ye love; in whom, though now ye see him not, yet believing, ye rejoice with joy unspeakable and full of glory: Receiving the end of your faith, even the salvation of your souls. Do you still have joy?

Sing: In His presence, there’s fulness of joy; at His right hand, there’s pleasures forever more. O’ what fellowship divine, I am His, and He is mine; In the presence of the Lord, there’s fulness of joy.

Thought For Today: Let them also that love Thy name be joyful in Thee.

Morning Manna by Rufus Parker - 2026 August 5

Does Your Work Praise You?

“Many daughters have done virtuously, but thou excellest them all. Favour is deceitful, and beauty is vain: but a woman that feareth the LORD, she shall be praised. Give her of the fruit of her hands; and let her own works praise her in the gates.” (Proverbs 31:29-31)

Today’s Morsel: Do the things you do for other bring you praise or stress? One of the problems with most employees is that they bring about their own stress and fatigue, because most of them go to work for the money and not for what they can do for others. Every job should be seen as helping others. Daily when I pray, I ask God to bless those who are working to make life for others better and easier. I pray that they will understand and be able to see that what they are doing is for the good of others and not themselves. When our congress fails to pass the bill to pay our TSA and Air Traffic Controllers workers, many of these employees went to work anyway.  That shows that it was not about them, it was about the safety and well-being of others. Yes, they received back pay and in some cases bonuses, but their attitude showed that they were selfless servants and not takers. Solomon states to let a virtuous woman’s work praise her in the gates. In other words, don’t do things for self-gratification and self-praise, but let what you do bring you praise from others.  A life lived with integrity and a deep reverence for God and His ways is sure to bring Him praise.  And if we were to see that everything that we do for others, is done to bring Christ glory and honor, we too will reap the same benefits as He does.

Sing: Jesus use me, O’ Lord, don’t refuse me, for surely there’s a work that I can do. And even though its humble, Lord help my will to crumble. Though the cost be great I’ll work for You.

Thought For Today: “Let another man praise thee, and not thine own mouth; a stranger, and not thine own lips.” (Proverbs 27:2)

Morning Manna by Rufus Parker - 2026 August 4

Holding On To Hope

“Hope deferred maketh the heart sick: but when the desire cometh, it is a tree of life.” (Proverbs 13:12)

Today’s Morsel: Like faith, hope is one of those character traits that must be lived out in your life. From a child, we learn to use the word hope. “I hope we get there on time.” “I hope our team wins.” “I hope the plane isn’t late.” “I hope I can sit beside you on the bus.” “I hope I get hired for the job.” “I hope I get promoted.” “I hope she likes me.” “I hope he doesn’t preach too long.” “I hope he doesn’t call on me to give an answer.” Why do we sometimes see hope from an evil standpoint, and not a good standpoint? Solomon states that sometimes our continual waiting can cause pain and suffering and even steal our joy. But when that we hope for comes, it is then seen as a tree of life. It refreshes us. Paul informs us: “For we are saved by hope: but hope that is seen is not hope: for what a man seeth, why doth he yet hope for? But if we hope for that we see not, then do we with patience wait for it.” (Romans 8:24-25) Paul lets us know that hope must be accompanied with patience. We must learn to wait on God through trust and faith while we wait. He also 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) If you are waiting with hope, hold on, it will come and not tarry.

Sing: My hope is built on nothing less than Jesus’ blood and righteousness; I dare not trust the sweetest frame, but wholly lean on Jesus’ name.

On Christ, the solid Rock, I stand; all other ground is sinking sand, all other ground is sinking sand.

Thought For Today: “And not only so, but we glory in tribulations also: knowing that tribulation worketh patience; And patience, experience; and experience, hope: And hope maketh not ashamed; because the love of God is shed abroad in our hearts by the Holy Ghost which is given unto us.” (Romans 5:3-5)

Morning Manna by Rufus Parker - 2026 August 3

Do You Need To Rebuild The Altar?

“And Elijah said unto all the people, Come near unto me. And all the people came near unto him. And he repaired the altar of the LORD that was broken down. And Elijah took twelve stones, according to the number of the tribes of the sons of Jacob, unto whom the word of the LORD came, saying, Israel shall be thy name: And with the stones he built an altar in the name of the LORD: and he made a trench about the altar, as great as would contain two measures of seed. And he put the wood in order, and cut the bullock in pieces, and laid him on the wood, and said, Fill four barrels with water, and pour it on the burnt sacrifice, and on the wood. And he said, Do it the second time. And they did it the second time. And he said, Do it the third time. And they did it the third time. And the water ran round about the altar; and he filled the trench also with water. And it came to pass at the time of the offering of the evening sacrifice, that Elijah the prophet came near, and said, LORD God of Abraham, Isaac, and of Israel, let it be known this day that thou art God in Israel, and that I am thy servant, and that I have done all these things at thy word. Hear me, O LORD, hear me, that this people may know that thou art the LORD God, and that thou hast turned their heart back again. Then the fire of the LORD fell, and consumed the burnt sacrifice, and the wood, and the stones, and the dust, and licked up the water that was in the trench. And when all the people saw it, they fell on their faces: and they said, The LORD, he is the God; the LORD, he is the God.” (1 Kings 18:30-39)

Today’s Morsel: If someone were to ask you where is your altar, what would you tell them? Is there a special place in your home that you call your altar? We often call the front of the platform of the church the altar area. But few seem to want to go to it. If we don’t keep the fire in our altars burning, it will go out. God instructed Moses: “The fire shall ever be burning upon the altar; it shall never go out.” (Leviticus 6:13) The hottest place in the church and your home ought to be the altar. But, if we do not spend time at it, the fire is sure to go out. The psalmist states: “How amiable are thy tabernacles, O LORD of hosts! My soul longeth, yea, even fainteth for the courts of the LORD: my heart and my flesh crieth out for the living God. Yea, the sparrow hath found an house, and the swallow a nest for herself, where she may lay her young, even thine altars, O LORD of hosts, my King, and my God. Blessed are they that dwell in thy house: they will be still praising thee. Selah. Blessed is the man whose strength is in thee; in whose heart are the ways of them.” (Psalms 84:1-5) The altar at the church, or your own personal altar, should be an important place to you. Don’t be like King Saul and build your altar too late. It was after Elijah rebuilt the altar, that was broken down, and prayed, that the fire fell from heaven and consumed the sacrifice, and turned the people’s heart back to God. A continual visit to the altar will keep the fire burning and keep you in a right relationship with God and others.

Sing: Hear my cry, O’ God, attend unto my prayer; from the ends of the earth, will I cry unto Thee. And when my heart is overwhelmed, lead me to the Rock, that is higher than I, that is higher than I.

For Thou hast been a shelter unto to me, and a strong tower, from the enemy. And when my heart my heart is overwhelmed, lead me to the Rock, that is higher than I, so much higher than I.

Thought For Today: “And Saul built an altar unto the LORD: the same was the first altar that he built unto the LORD.” (1 Samuel 14:35)

Morning Manna by Rufus Parker - 2026 August 1

Don’t Forget The Law

“My son, forget not my law; but let thine heart keep my commandments: For length of days, and long life, and peace, shall they add to thee. Let not mercy and truth forsake thee: bind them about thy neck; write them upon the table of thine heart: So shalt thou find favour and good understanding in the sight of God and man. Trust in the LORD with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding. In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths.” (Proverbs 3:1-6)

Today’s Morsel: One of the major factors of the law was that it taught people character. But like some folks today, the children of Isreal didn’t want to learn it. God wanted them, at first, to learn His character by their obedience to Him, His Word, and the leaders He had placed over them. But when leadership doesn’t obey and live out God’s word, then it makes it hard for the followers to obey. And so, God said through the prophet, “But this shall be the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel; After those days, saith the LORD, I will put my law in their inward parts, and write it in their hearts; and will be their God, and they shall be my people. And they shall teach no more every man his neighbour, and every man his brother, saying, Know the LORD: for they shall all know me, from the least of them unto the greatest of them, saith the LORD: for I will forgive their iniquity, and I will remember their sin no more.” (Jeremiah 31:33-34) Once God fills you with His Spirit and writes His law in your heart, you are then supposed to know Him and live your life according to His character and ways. There is no excuse for not being able to do so. He has now given you power to control your life. Solomon tells us not to forget the Law and commandment of God, as length of days, long life, and peace shall they add to you. Believe me, Godly character will extend your life and will keep you in perfect peace.

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

Thought For Today: “The law of the LORD is perfect, converting the soul: the testimony of the LORD is sure, making wise the simple.” (Psalms 19:7)

Morning Manna by Rufus Parker - 2026 July 31

Did You Get The Message?

“This then is the message which we have heard of him, and declare unto you, that God is light, and in him is no darkness at all.” (1 John 1:5)

Today’s Morsel: It has been reported that now, because of the information highway being filled with text messaging, WhatsApp, Instagram, and Facebook, people’s social meters have become pegged, and they are tired and burnt-out on messages. It is also reported, that some of those on Facebook, who were trying to have the most friends, are now sorry that they even befriended many of them after some of their so-called friends’ lifestyles are being posted by them on the web. It is further reported that many relationships between family and friends have been destroyed because of the web. John said, “This then is the message which we have heard of him, and declare unto you, that God is light, and in him is no darkness at all. How were so many blinded by the dark side? How did so many let Satan get the advantage over them through this networking. Paul asks, “Are ye so foolish? having begun in the Spirit, are ye now made perfect by the flesh?” (Galatians 3:3) He told the church at Corinth: “Would to God ye could bear with me a little in my folly: and indeed bear with me. For I am jealous over you with godly jealousy: for I have espoused you to one husband, that I may present you as a chaste virgin to Christ. 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 11:1-3); “Awake to righteousness, and sin not; for some have not the knowledge of God: I speak this to your shame.” (1 Corinthians 15:34) You must not allow yourself to be taken in a fault through the dark side. God is light and in Him is no darkness at all. Are you walking in the light?

Sing: I’m in the way, the bright and shining way, I’m in the glory-land way; Telling the world that Jesus saves today; Yes, I’m in the glory-land way.

 I’m in the glory-land way; I’m in the glory-land way; Heaven is nearer, and the way growth clearer, for I’m in the glory-land way.                                                                                                       

Thought For Today: Let you light shine that men may see your good works and glorify your Father in heaven.

***Today's Morsel, Volume 2, by Rufus M. Parker, is now available!

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