Morning Manna by Rufus Parker - 2017 October 31

“I will lift up mine eyes unto the mountains: From whence shall my help come? My help cometh from Jehovah, Who made heaven and earth. He will not suffer thy foot to be moved: He that keepeth thee will not slumber. Behold, he that keepeth Israel Will neither slumber nor sleep. Jehovah is thy keeper: Jehovah is thy shade upon thy right hand. The sun shall not smite thee by day, Nor the moon by night. Jehovah will keep thee from all evil; He will keep thy soul. Jehovah will keep thy going out and thy coming in From this time forth and for evermore” (Psalms 121:1-8 - ASV)

Today’s Morsel:  I wanted to use a different version today to hopefully bring more enlightenment to your understanding.  The American Standard Version (ASV) uses the name Jehovah in-lieu of Lord.  Some people think the word Lord does not mean God, yet it is used in today's scripture to stress that everything as far as divine protection, provision, and progression in today’s passage comes from Jehovah, which is God.  The Old Testament writers knew that when they said Jehovah it left no doubt in anyone’s mind who they were referring to.  They could have stuck with the name LORD, as that too means God. As Isaiah recorded, “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. I have declared, and have saved, and I have shewed, when there was no strange god among you: therefore ye are my witnesses, saith the LORD, that I am God. Yea, before the day was I am he; and there is none that can deliver out of my hand: I will work, and who shall let it? Thus saith the LORD, your redeemer, the Holy One of Israel; For your sake I have sent to Babylon, and have brought down all their nobles, and the Chaldeans, whose cry is in the ships. I am the LORD, your Holy One, the creator of Israel, your King” (Isaiah 43:10-15 KJV).  No matter which name is used, all provisions, protections, and spiritual progressions come from Him.

Sing:  Jehovah Jireh, my provider, His grace is sufficient for me, for me, for me; Jehovah Jireh, my provider, His grace is sufficient for me.  My God shall supply all my needs, according to His riches and glory, He shall give His angels charge over me, Jehovah Jireh careth for me, for me, for me, Jehovah Jireh careth for me.

Thought For Today: Don’t sweat the small stuff. God’s got your back.

Morning Manna by Rufus Parker - 2017 October 30

“Now when he was in Jerusalem at the passover, in the feast day, many believed in his name, when they saw the miracles which he did. But Jesus did not commit himself unto them, because he knew all men, And needed not that any should testify of man: for he knew what was in man” (John 2:23-25).

Today’s Morsel:  The Apostle John shows us that Jesus was God in his gospel and epistles more than all the other writers combined.  I believe that his closeness and laying on the bosom of Jesus reveals what revelation and understanding of truth will come when we are close enough to hear the heartbeat of Christ.  John's writings seem to make statements to draw our attention to the knowledge that Jesus is the Christ; “That ye might believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God; and that believing ye might have life through his name” (John 20:31).  Scripture says that he did not need to testify of man, because he knew what was in man.  Jesus already knows what is inside each of us because He is the Creator of all things.  He knows our hearts.  He knows our likes and dislikes.  He knows what is inside every one of us.  Scripture says when the woman with the alabaster box anointed Him inside Simon's house, “Now when the Pharisee which had bidden him saw it, he spake within himself, saying, This man, if he were a prophet, would have known who and what manner of woman this is that toucheth him: for she is a sinner. And Jesus answering said unto him, Simon, I have somewhat to say unto thee. And he saith, Master, say on. There was a certain creditor which had two debtors: the one owed five hundred pence, and the other fifty. And when they had nothing to pay, he frankly forgave them both. Tell me therefore, which of them will love him most? Simon answered and said, I suppose that he, to whom he forgave most. And he said unto him, Thou hast rightly judged. And he turned to the woman, and said unto Simon, Seest thou this woman? I entered into thine house, thou gavest me no water for my feet: but she hath washed my feet with tears, and wiped them with the hairs of her head. Thou gavest me no kiss: but this woman since the time I came in hath not ceased to kiss my feet. My head with oil thou didst not anoint: but this woman hath anointed my feet with ointment. Wherefore I say unto thee, Her sins, which are many, are forgiven; for she loved much: but to whom little is forgiven, the same loveth little. And he said unto her, Thy sins are forgiven. And they that sat at meat with him began to say within themselves, Who is this that forgiveth sins also? And he said to the woman, Thy faith hath saved thee; go in peace” (Luke 7:39-50).  He knows what is inside of man, therefore there is no need for Him to testify of him. There can be no higher evidence than this that he was omniscient, all-knowing, and was therefore God Almighty.

Sing: The Mighty God is Jesus, the Prince of Peace is He, the Everlasting Father, the King Eternally, the Wonderful in Wisdom, by whom all the things were made, the Fulness of the Godhead in Jesus is displayed.

It’s all in Him! It’s all in Him! The Fulness of the Godhead is all in Him. It’s all in Him! It’s all in Him! The Mighty God is Jesus and it’s all in Him.

Thought For Today:  Who do you say that I am? (Jesus)

Morning Manna by Rufus Parker - 2017 October 28

“As a bird that wandereth from her nest, so is a man that wandereth from his place” (Proverbs 27:8)

Today’s Morsel: I’m sorry to say this, but we just have too many men out of place.  I’m not taking anything from the woman, but we’ve just got too many men out of place. Prisons and jails are full of too many men out of place for doing wrong things. The workforce and military are being filled with women while men are sitting home in their “Man Caves”.  We have men sitting home being the full-time caregivers while the women are slaving in the heat of the day.  After Saul was anointed to be King of Israel, they couldn’t find him, because scripture said that God said, he was hiding behind the stuff (1 Samuel 10:22).  When a man is out of place, the enemy gets the advantage.  When men are out of place, churches can’t continue at their full potential; homes are destroyed, wive’s and children are lonely, schools are lopsided, communities suffer, and military units suffer defeat after defeat comes loss in battle. When a bird wanders from her nest, it’s left to destruction by wild beast and mankind.  If her eggs and young are there, they too are vulnerable to serpents, beast, and the elements.  Solomon says the same holds true when a man is out of his place.  I must ask you today, "Are you in place today my brother?"

Sing: Glory, Hallelujah! I shall not be; Anchored in Jehovah, I shall not be moved.  Just like a tree that’s planted by the waters; I shall not be moved.

Chorus: I shall not be, I shall not be moved. I shall not be, I shall not be moved, just like a tree that's planted by the waters, I shall not be moved.  

Though all hell assails me, I shall not be moved, Jesus will not fail me, I shall not be moved, just like a tree, planted by the waters, I shall not be moved

Chorus: I shall not be, I shall not be moved. I shall not be, I shall not be moved, just like a tree that's planted by the waters, I shall not be moved.  

Thought For Today:  Stay in your place, Brother!

Morning Manna by Rufus Parker - 2017 October 27

“There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit” (Romans 8:1)

Today’s Morsel:  I often hear people condemning themselves for the things that they have done that are wrong.  They seem to beat themselves up for not doing well on a test, not cooking the meal the right way, not making an appointment, or forgetting a special day for someone. The list goes on and on.  Paul said that there is no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit.  Jesus makes a way of escape from this avenue of condemnation.  This does not mean that sin in believers is not to be condemned, because scriptures teach otherwise.  It does mean that the gospel does not pronounce condemnation like the law.  The gospel is to pardon our wrong and sin; while the function of the law is to condemn.  Jesus told Nicodemus, “For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved. He that believeth on him is not condemned: but he that believeth not is condemned already, because he hath not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God. And this is the condemnation, that light is come into the world, and men loved darkness rather than light, because their deeds were evil” (John 3:17-19).  We will always condemn ourselves if we allow darkness to enter our lives and we walk after the flesh.  The law never affords deliverance, but always condemns; but the gospel, which is Jesus Christ, frees us from condemnation, and makes our souls free.

Sing:  He set me free, yes, He set me free, He broke the bars of prison for me, I’m glory bound my Jesus to see, glory to God, He set me free.

Thought For Today: Jesus is the gospel.

Morning Manna by Rufus Parker - 2017 October 26

“There was a man of the Pharisees, named Nicodemus, a ruler of the Jews: The same came to Jesus by night, and said unto him, Rabbi, we know that thou art a teacher come from God: for no man can do these miracles that thou doest, except God be with him. Jesus answered and said unto him, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God. Nicodemus saith unto him, How can a man be born when he is old? can he enter the second time into his mother's womb, and be born? Jesus answered, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born of water and of the Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God. That which is born of the flesh is flesh; and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit. Marvel not that I said unto thee, Ye must be born again. The wind bloweth where it listeth, and thou hearest the sound thereof, but canst not tell whence it cometh, and whither it goeth: so is every one that is born of the Spirit” (John 3:1-8).

Today’s Morsel:  Do you ever look back and wish that you could start life all over again?  Do you wish that you could recoup all the money that you wasted on things that you now see didn’t matter?  If you could have a fresh start, what would you do differently?  Would you have learned from your prior mistakes?  Well, Jesus knew that we would all make mistakes and would do wrong things because of our Adamic nature.  And so, He implemented a plan that would allow us to start afresh and anew.  He called it being born-again.  The process is that once we realize our wrong and need for change, we repent of our sins/wrong by asking God for forgiveness, we get baptized in the name of Jesus Christ, the only saving name for mankind, and He has promised that He will put His Spirit within us, so that we can walk in newness of life (see Acts 2:38).  That’s how we get a fresh start and we can live life in a better way, make right choices, and be what He desired of us to be from the beginning.

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: You must be Born-Again (Jesus Christ)

Morning Manna by Rufus Parker - 2017 October 25

“O LORD, thou hast searched me, and known me. Thou knowest my downsitting and mine uprising, thou understandest my thought afar off. Thou compassest my path and my lying down, and art acquainted with all my ways. For there is not a word in my tongue, but, lo, O LORD, thou knowest it altogether. Thou hast beset me behind and before, and laid thine hand upon me. Such knowledge is too wonderful for me; it is high, I cannot attain unto it. Whither shall I go from thy spirit? or whither shall I flee from thy presence? If I ascend up into heaven, thou art there: if I make my bed in hell, behold, thou art there. If I take the wings of the morning, and dwell in the uttermost parts of the sea; Even there shall thy hand lead me, and thy right hand shall hold me. If I say, Surely the darkness shall cover me; even the night shall be light about me. Yea, the darkness hideth not from thee; but the night shineth as the day: the darkness and the light are both alike to thee. For thou hast possessed my reins: thou hast covered me in my mother's womb. I will praise thee; for I am fearfully and wonderfully made: marvellous are thy works; and that my soul knoweth right well”
(Psalms 139:1-14).

Today’s Morsel:  I often wonder why people try to hide from God?   Knowing that nothing is hidden from Him, shouldn’t we be open and honest before Him?  Shouldn't we always display strong candor and integrity?  David asked, “Whither shall I go from thy spirit? or whither shall I flee from thy presence? If I ascend up into heaven, thou art there: if I make my bed in hell, behold, thou art there. If I take the wings of the morning, and dwell in the uttermost parts of the sea; Even there shall thy hand lead me, and thy right hand shall hold me.”  David realized this after what he thought was a secret relationship with Bathsheba.  But God exposed his sin to him and David realized that God was everywhere and knew all things.  Let me encourage you today, don’t think that you are getting away with anything you’ve done in secret.  Jesus knows.  John said, “If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness” (1 John 1:9).  Maybe you have already repented because you know that God knows.  But if you haven’t, there is never a time like right now to have a little talk with Jesus and make everything all right.

Sing: Let us have a little talk with Jesus, tell Him all about our troubles, He will hear our faintest cry, He will answer by and by; when you feel a little prayer wheel turning, you’ll know a little fire is burning, you’ll find a little talk with Jesus makes it right.

Thought For Today: Confession is good for the soul!

Morning Manna by Rufus Parker - 2017 October 24

“Hear now, O Joshua the high priest, thou, and thy fellows that sit before thee: for they are men wondered at: for, behold, I will bring forth my servant the BRANCH. For behold the stone that I have laid before Joshua; upon one stone shall be seven eyes: behold, I will engrave the graving thereof, saith the LORD of hosts, and I will remove the iniquity of that land in one day. In that day, saith the LORD of hosts, shall ye call every man his neighbour under the vine and under the fig tree” (Zechariah 3:8-10)

Today’s Morsel:  When I was a kid, and even today, I liked figs.  Figs are high in fiber and they have other qualities that are good for you.  I even love Fig Newtons.  When I was in high school, my science teacher's last name was Newton.  Because we all liked him as a teacher, we would walk down the hall going to his class singing, “You're darn tooting we love Fig Newton.”  Zechariah prophesied that the Branch, which was Christ, would call every man his neighbor under the vine and under the fig tree.”  Scripture says, “One of the two which heard John speak, and followed him, was Andrew, Simon Peter's brother. He first findeth his own brother Simon, and saith unto him, We have found the Messias, which is, being interpreted, the Christ. And he brought him to Jesus. And when Jesus beheld him, he said, Thou art Simon the son of Jona: thou shalt be called Cephas, which is by interpretation, A stone. The day following Jesus would go forth into Galilee, and findeth Philip, and saith unto him, Follow me. Now Philip was of Bethsaida, the city of Andrew and Peter. Philip findeth Nathanael, and saith unto him, We have found him, of whom Moses in the law, and the prophets, did write, Jesus of Nazareth, the son of Joseph. And Nathanael said unto him, Can there any good thing come out of Nazareth? Philip saith unto him, Come and see. Jesus saw Nathanael coming to him, and saith of him, Behold an Israelite indeed, in whom is no guile! Nathanael saith unto him, Whence knowest thou me? Jesus answered and said unto him, Before that Philip called thee, when thou wast under the fig tree, I saw thee. Nathanael answered and saith unto him, Rabbi, thou art the Son of God; thou art the King of Israel. Jesus answered and said unto him, Because I said unto thee, I saw thee under the fig tree, believest thou? thou shalt see greater things than these” (John 1:40-50). Every prophecy that was spoken of Jesus by the prophets concerning Him were fulfilled.  Where were you when He called you?  As many of those eighteen-wheeler drivers say on the highway on their CB Radio’s, “Got your ears on good-buddy?”  We have to be listening in order to hear His voice and His call.  

Sing:  When He calls me, I will answer, when He calls me, I will hear.  When He calls me, I will answer, I’ll be somewhere listening for my name.

I’ll be somewhere listening, I’ll be somewhere listening, I’ll be somewhere listening for my name; I’ll be somewhere listening, I’ll be somewhere listening, I’ll be somewhere listening for my name!

Thought For Today: Got your ears on good-buddy? 

Morning Manna by Rufus Parker - 2017 October 23

“Jesus answered and said unto them, Destroy this temple, and in three days I will raise it up. Then said the Jews, Forty and six years was this temple in building, and wilt thou rear it up in three days? But he spake of the temple of his body. When therefore he was risen from the dead, his disciples remembered that he had said this unto them; and they believed the scripture, and the word which Jesus had said” (John 2:19-22)

Today’s Morsel:  Jesus' comments to the religious leaders of his day often took them by surprise because they failed to understand the meaning of what He was saying. For example, in today’s passage of scriptures, as He stood in the synagogue Jesus told them, “Destroy this temple and in three days I will raise it up again.”  They immediately thought that He was talking about the physical structure they were standing in.  They replied to him, "Forty-six years was this temple in building, and wilt thou rear it up in three days?"  What they were saying was that there is no way you can do this.  It took forty-six years to build this place and you’re going to raise it up in three days?  Yeah, right. They failed to realize that Jesus wasn’t talking about the natural structure, but the temple that He was in, His body.  Paul said that we are the temple of the Holy Ghost (1 Corinthians 6:19).  Jesus used many imageries in His teachings to speak of His resurrection.  But none so plain as when He told Martha, “I am the resurrection, and the life: he that believeth in me, though he were dead, yet shall he live” (John 11:25).  We have to understand the content in order to understand the meaning of what is being said in the Word of God.

Sing:  Go ahead, drive the nails in my hand; Laugh at me where you stand; Go ahead and say it isn’t me; the day will come when you will see!  Cause I’ll rise again; Ain’t no power on earth can tie me down; Yes, I’ll rise again, death can’t keep me in the ground!

Thought For Today: Don’t stay down in your situation more than three days or you will start stinking (Parker)

Morning Manna by Rufus Parker - 2017 October 21

“And when he was at the place, he said unto them, Pray that ye enter not into temptation” (Luke 22:40).

Today’s Morsel:  In today’s world, if we are not careful, we can easily be drawn into temptation.  We are constantly bombarded with things on our electronic devices and computers to buy.  We are tempted with billboards, newspaper ads, magazines, Scouting campaigns, and automakers to buy.   We are tempted to get into debates over good versus evil.  We are tempted to side with one political party over the other. We are tempted to lie, cheat, and steal.  We are tempted to withhold doing good.  We are tempted to skip church.  We are tempted to change our gender.  We are tempted to change the way that we look. We are tempted, tempted, tempted.  And Satan, who is called the tempter (Matthew 4:3), sits and laughs at us every day because we fail to heed Jesus’ advice.  Paul told the church at Thessalonica, “For verily, when we were with you, we told you before that we should suffer tribulation; even as it came to pass, and ye know. For this cause, when I could no longer forbear, I sent to know your faith, lest by some means the tempter have tempted you, and our labour be in vain” (1 Thessalonians 3:4-5).  He was concerned that Satan had tempted them and they were no longer serving God.  Jesus said that we should pray that we would not we enter into temptation.  Let me encourage you.  Keep your eyes on Jesus.  Pray daily so you will have help to overcome when you are tempted.  With every temptation, He will make a way of escape, but we have to be looking for the escape route to find it!

Sing: Temptation hidden snares, often take us unawares, and our hearts are made to bleed for each thoughtless word or deed; and we wonder why the test when we try to do our best, but we’ll understand it better by and by.

By and by when the morning comes, when all the saints of God are gathering home, we will tell the story how we've overcome, we will understand it better by and by.

Thought For Today: Watch out for temptation (Parker).

Morning Manna by Rufus Parker - 2017 October 20

“And it shall come to pass, that every one that is left of all the nations which came against Jerusalem shall even go up from year to year to worship the King, the LORD of hosts, and to keep the feast of tabernacles. And it shall be, that whoso will not come up of all the families of the earth unto Jerusalem to worship the King, the LORD of hosts, even upon them shall be no rain.” (Zechariah 14:16-17)

Today’s Morsel:  Sometimes I don’t think that we grasp the true meaning of worship.  I don’t mean this is a bad way, but sometimes I don’t think that we are in a habitual state of worship as we should be.  Worship must be a habit, not just something we do on at our Sunday morning church service.  When Satan wanted Jesus to worship him, Jesus told him, “Get thee behind me, Satan: for it is written, Thou shalt worship the Lord thy God, and him only shalt thou serve” (Luke 4:8).  If we say that we love God, then we should always worship Him.  We worship what we love most.  Jesus also told the woman at the well, “God is a spirit and they that worship Him, must worship Him in spirit and in truth" (John 4:24).  There must be an attitude change when we come into the knowledge of the truth.  The Lord told the Prophet Zechariah that if people did not come and worship, and keep the Feast of Tabernacle which was to commemorate His provision for them in the wilderness, there would be no rain.  When there is no rain, there is drought, famine, barrenness, no crops, no harvest, no growth, and no food.  In a spiritual sense, when there is no rain, there are no blessings and no knowledge and no understanding.  Yet when we worship Him, He will shower us, not only with showers of blessings, but with wisdom, knowledge, and understanding.  It is when we worship Him that we will know that He is our God.

Sing: “There will be showers of blessings," This is the promise of love; There will be seasons refreshing, sent from the Savior above.

Showers of blessing, showers of blessings we need: Mercy drops round us are falling, but for the showers we plead.  Showers, showers of blessing, showers of blessing we need.

Thought For Today: Worship brings the rain (Parker)

Morning Manna by Rufus Parker - 2017 October 19

“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. If we say that we have fellowship with him, and walk in darkness, we lie, and do not the truth: But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship one with another, and the blood of Jesus Christ his Son cleanseth us from all sin. If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. If we say that we have not sinned, we make him a liar, and his word is not in us” (1 John 1:5-10)

Today’s Morsel: During World War I and II, carrier Pigeons were used to deliver messages behind enemy lines. Today, however, this method would seem foolish.  But during those wars, it was one of the quickest ways to get the message to where it needed to be delivered unless the pigeons were shot down.  John said that he had a message to deliver to the church.  And that message was that we could have fellowship with Christ as they did.  “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. If we say that we have fellowship with him, and walk in darkness, we lie, and do not the truth: But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship one with another, and the blood of Jesus Christ his Son cleanseth us from all sin. If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. If we say that we have not sinned, we make him a liar, and his word is not in us”  Are you aware of the meaning of the message?  If not, it’s holiness.  We must be separated unto God and not unto the world and its dark way.  God is light and in Him is no darkness at all.

Sing:  This little light of mine, I’m gonna let it shine.  This little light of mine, I’m gonna let it shine.  This little light of mine, I’m gonna let it shine, let it shine, let it shine, let it shine.

Thought For Today:  Stick with the message (Parker)

Morning Manna by Rufus Parker - 2017 October 18

“And it came to pass, that, while Apollos was at Corinth, Paul having passed through the upper coasts came to Ephesus: and finding certain disciples, He said unto them, Have ye received the Holy Ghost since ye believed? And they said unto him, We have not so much as heard whether there be any Holy Ghost. And he said unto them, Unto what then were ye baptized? And they said, Unto John's baptism. Then said Paul, John verily baptized with the baptism of repentance, saying unto the people, that they should believe on him which should come after him, that is, on Christ Jesus. When they heard this, they were baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus. And when Paul had laid his hands upon them, the Holy Ghost came on them; and they spake with tongues, and prophesied.” 

(Acts 19:1-6)

Today’s Morsel:  Have you received the Holy Ghost since you’ve believed, Paul asked?  Why did he ask them this question?  For the same reason that we ask people today. Just because you attend church doesn’t mean that you have received the Holy Ghost.  Just because you believe does not mean that you have received the Holy Ghost.  The Apostles of Jesus walked with Him for three and a half years and yet they had not received the Holy Ghost.  Do you know why, because it wasn't given because Jesus was still here on earth (Read John 7:37-39).  Jesus had told them that they would receive it but they had to wait until He sent it to them (See John 14:18-26,  Luke 24:44-49, Acts 1:4-8).  One can believe in Jesus, but until He sends His Spirit to them, they are none of His (Roman 8:9).  We see that the promise that they would receive the Holy Ghost came on the Day of Pentecost.  “And when the day of Pentecost was fully come, they were all with one accord in one place. And suddenly there came a sound from heaven as of a rushing mighty wind, and it filled all the house where they were sitting. And there appeared unto them cloven tongues like as of fire, and it sat upon each of them. And they were all filled with the Holy Ghost, and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance” (Acts 2:1-4).  So, Paul's question is still for everyone today.  Have you received the Holy Ghost like the apostles did on the Day of Pentecost, and those men that Paul ask in Ephesus?  If not, then we are none of His.  Let Him send it to you today!

Sing:  They call us Holy-Rollers, they're always making fun; they need to get the Holy Ghost and speak in other tongues.

I know God is God; and God don't ever change.  I know God is God and Jesus is His name!!

Thought For Today: The promise is still for you today. 

Morning Manna by Rufus Parker - 2017 October 17

“Deal bountifully with thy servant, that I may live, and keep thy word. Open thou mine eyes, that I may behold wondrous things out of thy law. I am a stranger in the earth: hide not thy commandments from me. My soul breaketh for the longing that it hath unto thy judgments at all times. Thou hast rebuked the proud that are cursed, which do err from thy commandments. Remove from me reproach and contempt; for I have kept thy testimonies. Princes also did sit and speak against me: but thy servant did meditate in thy statutes. Thy testimonies also are my delight and my counsellors” (Psalms 119:17-24)

Today’s Morsel:  Speed-reading is the concept of improving one’s ability to read quickly.  However, when it comes to the word of God, we should not speed-read or we will miss some of the most important instructions for our life.  Isaiah said, “Whom shall he teach knowledge? and whom shall he make to understand doctrine? them that are weaned from the milk, and drawn from the breasts. For precept must be upon precept, precept upon precept; line upon line, line upon line; here a little, and there a little: For with stammering lips and another tongue will he speak to this people. To whom he said, This is the rest wherewith ye may cause the weary to rest; and this is the refreshing: yet they would not hear” (Isaiah 28:9-12).  In Matthew 11: 28-30, Jesus calls for everyone who is labored and heavy laden to come unto Him and He will give them rest.  Paul said that there is a rest for the children of God.  Are you weary and are you tired?  Do you need rest?  Then don’t speed-read through the Bible.  The Lord admonishes through the prophet Jeremiah, “For my people have committed two evils; they have forsaken me the fountain of living waters, and hewed them out cisterns, broken cisterns, that can hold no water” (Jeremiah 2:13).  A thirsty soul is a sign you’re trying to do it your way.  Slow down and allow God’s word to refresh you.

Sing:  Open the eyes of my heart Lord, Open the eyes of my heart, I want to see You, I want to see You; To see You high and lifted up, shining in the light of Your glory, pour out Your power and love as we sing Holy, Holy, Holy; Holy, Holy, Holy, I want to see You.

Thought For Today: Don’t speed-read God’s word. (Parker)

Morning Manna by Rufus Parker - 2017 October 16

“Blessed are the undefiled in the way, who walk in the law of the LORD. Blessed are they that keep his testimonies, and that seek him with the whole heart. They also do no iniquity: they walk in his ways. Thou hast commanded us to keep thy precepts diligently. O that my ways were directed to keep thy statutes! Then shall I not be ashamed, when I have respect unto all thy commandments. I will praise thee with uprightness of heart, when I shall have learned thy righteous judgments. I will keep thy statutes: O forsake me not utterly” (Psalms 119:1-8).

Today’s Morsel: Do you find it hard to do what God’s word tells you to do?  Do you struggle with your faith?  Do you find yourself saying one thing and doing another? Do you find it hard to walk the talk?  Why is it that we can do what the world says to do and not what God says to do?  The reason we struggle is a lack of self-discipline. We’ve been taught to grow in our faith and love, but not our temperance.  If we want to do what God tells us to do and keep His way, then we have to change our way of thinking and purpose in our hearts to do what His word says to do.  We must become not only hearers of His word but doers.

Sing:  Something beautiful, something good, all my confusion, Jesus understood.  All I had to offer Him was brokenness and strife, but He made something beautiful out of my life.

Thought For Today: Keep God’s way

Morning Manna by Rufus Parker - 2017 October 14

“Those that be planted in the house of the LORD shall flourish in the courts of our God. They shall still bring forth fruit in old age; they shall be fat and flourishing; To shew that the LORD is upright: he is my rock, and there is no unrighteousness in him” (Psalms 92:13-15).

Today’s Morsel:  Are you really sold-out and committed to the things of God?  Like marriage, serving God is a commitment to obey until He comes again for us.  Even in the tough time, we should still serve with a pure heart fervently.  Our minds should always be on the Lord.  Just as a lover's mind is always on the one he or she loves, our mind should be on Jesus, because He is the love of our life. When we are planted in His house we will flourish in His courts.  Spiritual fruit and spirit gifts will be in operation in our life.  Why not commit everything in your life to Him today, so that you can really be blessed.

Sing:  When I think about the Lord, how He saved me, how He raised me, how He filled me with the Holy Ghost, how He saved me to the uttermost; when I think about the Lord, how He picked me up and turned me around, how He placed my feet, on solid ground; it makes me want to shout, hallelujah, thank You Jesus, Lord You’re worthy, of all the glory, of all of the honor,  of all of my praise, it makes me want to shout.

Thought For Today:  Commitment to God must be forever.

Morning Manna by Rufus Parker - 2017 October 13

“Whoso loveth instruction loveth knowledge: but he that hateth reproof is brutish. A good man obtaineth favour of the LORD: but a man of wicked devices will he condemn. A man shall not be established by wickedness: but the root of the righteous shall not be moved” (Proverbs 12:1-3)

Today’s Morsel:  We see so many people that just keep doing wrong.  As I read the jail report, I see some people are going back into prison three and four times for the same offense.  Do they not know, have they not heard, that wickedness shall not be established.  Paul tells us that the things which were written before were for our learning.  We must take heed to God’s word if we plan to be established in this life and the life to come.  The wicked will perish if they do not repent.   But if we cling and obey His word, we can be established.

Sing:  I shall not be, I shall not be moved. I shall not be, I shall not be moved. Just like a tree planted by the water, I shall not be moved.

Thought For Today: A man shall not be established by wickedness.

Morning Manna by Rufus Parker - 2017 October 12

“Wherewithal shall a young man cleanse his way? by taking heed thereto according to thy word. With my whole heart have I sought thee: O let me not wander from thy commandments. Thy word have I hid in mine heart, that I might not sin against thee. Blessed art thou, O LORD: teach me thy statutes. With my lips have I declared all the judgments of thy mouth. I have rejoiced in the way of thy testimonies, as much as in all riches. I will meditate in thy precepts, and have respect unto thy ways. I will delight myself in thy statutes: I will not forget thy word”
(Psalms 119:9-16)

Today’s Morsel: When I was a Drill Instructor in the Army, I used to tell my soldiers that I wanted to see all their junk on their bunk.  If I found something that they weren't supposed to have I made them get rid of it.  I notice that in the summer, people have lots of yard sales.  I was talking with one man who was having a sale and he said, “Yeah, I just needed to get rid of some of the junk.”  I thought to myself, isn’t life like that?  People accumulate so much junk in their lives that they don’t know what they have or who they are.  Many have accumulated so much junk that it’s choking the word of God from their lives and they can’t understand why they can’t overcome the struggles of life, they have forgotten who they are.  Do you think it might be time to do a little decluttering from your life?  The psalmist said, "Wherewithal shall a young man cleanse his way? by taking heed thereto according to thy word.”   It's time to have a get the junk out.
Sing:  I wanna be washed in the blood of the lamb, I need a cleansing from the fountain.  My soul is hungry, I’ve got this yearning within, I wanna to be washed by the blood of the Lamb.

Thought For Today: It’s time to dejunk.

Morning Manna by Rufus Parker - 2017 October 11

“The mouth of a righteous man is a well of life: but violence covereth the mouth of the wicked. Hatred stirreth up strifes: but love covereth all sins” 

(Proverbs 10:11-12).

Today’s Morsel:  The spirit of Esau seems to be on the rise again throughout the world.  Esau hated his birthright and he hated his brother Jacob after he gave it to him. There seems to be so much hate in our world today.  Even in conversations we hear people saying “I hate.”  “I hate to tell you this, but......”; “I hate to be the bearer of bad news ...”; “I hate her”; “I hate him”; “I hate that place”; “I hate even going there”; “I hate that smell.”  Doesn’t scripture tell us that life and death are in the power of the tongue (Proverbs 18:21)?  Paul said that we should put away this kind of language as it is not of Christ.  It’s time that we kill hatred from our lives so that we are able to reflect His light to a lost and dying world.  Remember that God hates the sin, not the sinner.

Sing:  Change my heart O’ God, make it ever true, change my heart O’ God, may I be like You.

Thought For Today: “Love covereth all sins.”

Morning Manna by Rufus Parker - 2017 October 10

“Wisdom hath builded her house, she hath hewn out her seven pillars” 

(Proverbs 9:1)

Today’s Morsel:  One of the things that I liked about living in Europe was visiting those old castles.  They were so marvelously built.  Many of them have such huge pillars that they are resting on.  I think about what the pillars that Samson was next to when he asked the young man to lead him to the two pillars that were holding the building up must have been like (Judges 16:25-29).  Solomon said that wisdom hath hewn out her seven pillars.  I was trying to think what these seven pillars might be.  Then I realized that Jesus is God and God is wisdom (1 Corinthians 3:10).  And knowing the character of God, I thought that these seven pillars would then be: Virtue, Knowledge, Temperance, Patience, Godliness, Brotherly Kindness, and Charity.   Peter said, “For if these things be in you, and abound, they make you that ye shall neither be barren nor unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ…for if ye do these things, ye shall never fall: For so an entrance shall be ministered unto you abundantly into the everlasting kingdom of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ” (2 Peter 1:8, 10-11).  They will be pillars in your life.  

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: What foundation are you building on?

Morning Manna by Rufus Parker - 2017 October 9

“Hear; for I will speak of excellent things; and the opening of my lips shall be right things. For my mouth shall speak truth; and wickedness is an abomination to my lips. All the words of my mouth are in righteousness; there is nothing froward or perverse in them. They are all plain to him that understandeth, and right to them that find knowledge. Receive my instruction, and not silver; and knowledge rather than choice gold. For wisdom is better than rubies; and all the things that may be desired are not to be compared to it.” (Proverbs 8:6-11)

Today’s Morsel:  Why do we like to compare what we have to what others have?  Why do we allow the enemy to put us into competition with others?  Why do we think that the state in which others live in is better than the state that we live in?  Why do we think their church is better than our church?  Paul said, “For we dare not make ourselves of the number, or compare ourselves with some that commend themselves: but they measuring themselves by themselves, and comparing themselves among themselves, are not wise” (2 Corinthians 10:12).  Are we missing wisdom when we do these things?  Solomon said that wisdom is better than rubies; and all the things that we may desire are not to be compared to it.  He was saying that nothing can be compared to wisdom.  Therefore, if we seek her (wisdom), she will be a part of us and we won’t have to worry about comparing what we have to others.

Sing:  Thou Lord God, Thou hast made the heavens and the earth by Thy great power, Thou Lord God, Thou hast made the heavens and the earth by Thine outstretched arm.

Nothing is too difficult for Thee, nothing is too difficult for Thee.  Great and mighty God, great in counsel, mighty indeed; nothing, nothing, absolutely nothing, nothing is too difficult for Thee.  

Thought For Today: Nothing compares to wisdom.