Morning Manna by Rufus Parker - 28 February 2019

The Pathway To Rest

Thus saith the LORD, Stand ye in the ways, and see, and ask for the old paths, where is the good way, and walk therein, and ye shall find rest for your souls. But they said, We will not walk therein. (Jeremiah 6:16).

Today’s Morsel:  When I go home to North Carolina, I always like to show my wife, who is from Wisconsin, some of the paths that we walked down when we were kids.  Many of them are all grown over now because people do not walk them anymore.  We had shortcuts to just about anywhere we needed to go.  We were in some sense, ‘Trial Blazers!’   We made a way where there seemed to be no way and others followed in our paths. The psalmist prayed, “Shew me thy ways, O LORD; teach me thy paths. Lead me in thy truth, and teach me: for thou art the God of my salvation; on thee do I wait all the day” (Psalms 25:4-5).  If you are tired and need rest, why not get back into the old paths and you will find rest for your soul.

Sing: Let me walk in the light, in the great gospel light, let me walk in the gospel light.  Till my journey is over and I’ll travel no more, let me walk in the gospel light.

Thought For Today: Rest is in His Paths.

Morning Manna by Rufus Parker - 27 February 2019

Salvation

“And a certain woman named Lydia, a seller of purple, of the city of Thyatira, which worshipped God, heard us: whose heart the Lord opened, that she attended unto the things which were spoken of Paul. And when she was baptized, and her household, she besought us, saying, If ye have judged me to be faithful to the Lord, come into my house, and abide there. And she constrained us. And it came to pass, as we went to prayer, a certain damsel possessed with a spirit of divination met us, which brought her masters much gain by soothsaying: The same followed Paul and us, and cried, saying, These men are the servants of the most high God, which shew unto us the way of salvation” (Acts 16:14-17).

Today’s Morsel:  There are many religions in the world today, and every one of them will tell you that they have the right way.  But sadly, they all do not have the right way.  They should, however, if they say that they are Christians, but sadly they don’t.  “Beloved, when I gave all diligence to write unto you of the common salvation, it was needful for me to write unto you, and exhort you that ye should earnestly contend for the faith which was once delivered unto the saints” (Jude 1:3).  Jude said they had a common salvation.  The original disciples of Jesus all had the same experience and message.  After visiting with Cornelius’s household in Acts 10 and recounting the experience to the council in Acts 11,Peter said, “And the Spirit bade me go with them, nothing doubting.  Moreover these six brethren accompanied me, and we entered into the man's house: And he shewed us how he had seen an angel in his house, which stood and said unto him, Send men to Joppa, and call for Simon, whose surname is Peter; Who shall tell thee words, whereby thou and all thy house shall be saved. And as I began to speak, the Holy Ghost fell on them, as on us at the beginning. Then remembered I the word of the Lord, how that he said, John indeed baptized with water; but ye shall be baptized with the Holy Ghost. Forasmuch then as God gave them the like gift as he did unto us, who believed on the Lord Jesus Christ; what was I, that I could withstand God? When they heard these things, they held their peace, and glorified God, saying, Then hath God also to the Gentiles granted repentance unto life” (Acts 11:12-18).  Same experience.  Even the devils know there is only one way of salvation.  That’s why he keeps trying to confuse the issue in the church.  He knows a house divided against itself cannot stand.  Learn the Truth and stand firm in it.  

Sing: Saved! Saved! Saved!  I’m happy on my way. Saved! Saved! Saved! I love Him more each day. Saved! Saved! Saved! I know He’s mine each hour.  For He saves and He keeps and He satisfies me by His Power.

Thought For Today: Is your salvation according to the book of Acts?

Morning Manna by Rufus Parker - 26 February 2019

Outstanding

“And so he that had received five talents came and brought other five talents, saying, Lord, thou deliveredst unto me five talents: behold, I have gained beside them five talents more. His lord said unto him, Well done, thou good and faithful servant: thou hast been faithful over a few things, I will make thee ruler over many things: enter thou into the joy of thy lord. He also that had received two talents came and said, Lord, thou deliveredst unto me two talents: behold, I have gained two other talents beside them. His lord said unto him, Well done, good and faithful servant; thou hast been faithful over a few things, I will make thee ruler over many things: enter thou into the joy of thy lord” (Matthew 25:20-23).

Today’s Morsel:  When you were in school, how many times did your teacher write on a paper that you turned in the word ‘Outstanding’ across the top?  One of the things about this word is it’s not used enough in the Christian realm or church.  Outstanding means that something is done exceptionally good.  The servants with the five and two talents were told that they had done well.  They had gone above what was expected. They had done outstanding.  As Christians, we should hear this word often.  We are told, “Therefore to him that knoweth to do good, and doeth it not, to him it is sin” (James 4:17).  When you follow His word and are obedient, you are OUTSTANDING!

Sing:  Lord lift me up, and let me stand, by faith on heaven's table land.  A higher plane then I have found, Lord, plant my feet on higher ground.

Thought For Today:  Good, better, best. Never let it rest.  Until your better is your best; good - better - best.  

Morning Manna by Rufus Parker - 25 February 2019

BINGO

“Yea doubtless, and I count all things but loss for the excellency of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord: for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and do count them but dung, that I may win Christ, And be found in him, not having mine own righteousness, which is of the law, but that which is through the faith of Christ, the righteousness which is of God by faith: That I may know him, and the power of his resurrection, and the fellowship of his sufferings, being made conformable unto his death; If by any means I might attain unto the resurrection of the dead” (Philippians 3:8-11).

Today’s Morsel:  When I was a kid, my siblings and I loved to play bingo.  Today, it is a big money maker and some folks have become addicted to gambling because of it.  Sometimes we may wonder how can something that seems so innocent become so destructive?  Well, it is because we allow Satan and his demons to become a part of the game.  Like so many other things, we keep allowing the enemy of our soul to take away the things which are created for good.  Not all games are bad. But if we allow Satan and his demons to set the rule of play, it will harm us.  So, the next time you think of playing BINGO, turn it into a Bible Study so that others may win Christ.

B - Teach someone how to be Born Again

I -You be willing to Invest in someone else’s life

N- Never stop serving God

G - Give God the first fruits of all thine increase

O - Remain Obedient to God’s word.

Sing: Come let us sing, let us rejoice; come let us sing, let us rejoice. Messiah has come, and He’s brought life and He’s brought laughter into my soul.

Thought For Today: Money can’t buy happiness.

Morning Manna by Rufus Parker - 23 February 2019

Spiritual Cleansing

“And it came to pass, as he went to Jerusalem, that he passed through the midst of Samaria and Galilee. And as he entered into a certain village, there met him ten men that were lepers, which stood afar off: And they lifted up their voices, and said, Jesus, Master, have mercy on us. And when he saw them, he said unto them, Go shew yourselves unto the priests. And it came to pass, that, as they went, they were cleansed. And one of them, when he saw that he was healed, turned back, and with a loud voice glorified God, And fell down on his face at his feet, giving him thanks: and he was a Samaritan. And Jesus answering said, Were there not ten cleansed? but where are the nine? There are not found that returned to give glory to God, save this stranger. And he said unto him, Arise, go thy way: thy faith hath made thee whole” (Luke 17:11-19).

Today’s Morsel:  One of the things about scripture is that there is always a deeper meaning than what appears.  Scripture is designed to change us.  To make us whole and complete.  Many of the stories are to show us how we should act, while others show us things to avoid.  From Old Testament passages, lepers were considered unclean.  It was a disease that most of them died from.  And unless there was some type of miraculous healing that took place, they would always be a leper until they died.  today’s passage, scripture says, “And it came to pass, as he went to Jerusalem, that he passed through the midst of Samaria and Galilee. And as he entered into a certain village, there met him ten men that were lepers, which stood afar off: And they lifted up their voices, and said, Jesus, Master, have mercy on us. And when he saw them, he said unto them, Go shew yourselves unto the priests. And it came to pass, that, as they went, they were cleansed. And one of them, when he saw that he was healed, turned back, and with a loud voice glorified God, And fell down on his face at his feet, giving him thanks: and he was a Samaritan.”  Notice, they were all cleansed.  But when Jesus told them to go show themselves to the priest, one returned to Him.  And he was a Samaritan.  I have always wondered why he returned to Jesus. Yes, it was to give thanks, but the answer lies in the fact that the Samaritans had no priest.  They were outcasts.  Dogs. A mix raced. And they couldn’t enter the temple.  Only the Jews had a priest.  So, the only priest that this man had to go show himself to was Jesus; The Great High Priest of our profession.  And he was made completely whole. Who do you go to?  There is only One.  

Sing:  Something beauty.  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:  Jesus is the only High Priest.

Morning Manna by Rufus Parker - 22 February 2019

Thankfulness

“By him therefore let us offer the sacrifice of praise to God continually, that is, the fruit of our lips giving thanks to his name” (Hebrews 13:15).

Today’s Morsel:  One of the greatest traits of character is a heart of gratitude.  Paul tells us "in everything give thanks: for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you” (1 Thessalonians 5:18).  I know that you may not feel like it when you are sick, or your bills are overdue, but God’s ways aren’t ours.  I guess maybe God looks at our heart to see what kind of attitude we really have as His children when things aren’t going our way.  Paul speaking of the children Israel, and it speaks to us today, said, “Because that, when they knew God, they glorified him not as God, neither were thankful; but became vain in their imaginations, and their foolish heart was darkened” (Romans 1:21).  So, what happened because they were not thankful?  “Professing themselves to be wise, they became fools, And changed the glory of the uncorruptible God into an image made like to corruptible man, and to birds, and fourfooted beasts, and creeping things. Wherefore God also gave them up to uncleanness through the lusts of their own hearts, to dishonour their own bodies between themselves: Who changed the truth of God into a lie, and worshipped and served the creature more than the Creator, who is blessed forever. Amen. For this cause God gave them up unto vile affections: for even their women did change the natural use into that which is against nature: And likewise also the men, leaving the natural use of the woman, burned in their lust one toward another; men with men working that which is unseemly, and receiving in themselves that recompence of their error which was meet. And even as they did not like to retain God in their knowledge, God gave them over to a reprobate mind, to do those things which are not convenient; Being filled with all unrighteousness, fornication, wickedness, covetousness, maliciousness; full of envy, murder, debate, deceit, malignity; whisperers, Backbiters, haters of God, despiteful, proud, boasters, inventors of evil things, disobedient to parents, Without understanding, covenantbreakers, without natural affection, implacable, unmerciful: Who knowing the judgment of God, that they which commit such things are worthy of death, not only do the same, but have pleasure in them that do them” (Romans 1:22-32).   A heart without gratitude can cause a lot of problems in a person’s life.  Develop a heart of gratitude.  

Sing: Thank You Lord for saving my soul.  Thank You Lord for making me whole.  Thank You Lord for giving to me, Thy great salvation so rich and free.

Thought For Today: Gratitude… the inward heart of appreciation (Parker)

Morning Manna by Rufus Parker - 21 February 2019

Correction

My son, despise not the chastening of the LORD; neither be weary of his correction: For whom the LORD loveth he correcteth; even as a father the son in whom he delighteth” (Proverbs 3:11-12).

Today’s Morsel: How many of you have ever been spanked by the Lord?  Well, I can tell you that I have. About six years after I came into the church, I was sitting in a service and I began to laugh at a friend in church because it looked as though he was getting a spanking.  He saw me laughing and said to me afterward, “You just wait until God gets a hold of you.” Well, during that evening service, when I went to the altar, it was if God had me by the arm giving me a good old-fashioned spanking.  I really could feel it on my backside.  I was trying to leap higher than the licks like I used to do with my natural father, but to no avail.  I could see my friend and another sister laughing at me.  Looking back, I now can see that my Heaven Father was correcting me for my wrong.  Paul said, “And ye have forgotten the exhortation which speaketh unto you as unto children, My son, despise not thou the chastening of the Lord, nor faint when thou art rebuked of him: For whom the Lord loveth he chasteneth, and scourgeth every son whom he receiveth. If ye endure chastening, God dealeth with you as with sons; for what son is he whom the father chasteneth not? But if ye be without chastisement, whereof all are partakers, then are ye bastards, and not sons. Furthermore we have had fathers of our flesh which corrected us, and we gave them reverence: shall we not much rather be in subjection unto the Father of spirits, and live? For they verily for a few days chastened us after their own pleasure; but he for our profit, that we might be partakers of his holiness” (Hebrews 12:5-10).  If we spare the rod, we spoil the child.  Receive the correction God gives you and be thankful that He loves you.

Sing: Jesus loves me this I know. For the Bible tells me so.  Little ones to Him belong, they are weak by He is strong. Yes, Jesus loves me. Yes, Jesus loves me. Yes, Jesus loves me, for the Bible tells me so.

Thought For Today:  Spare the rod, spoil the child.

Morning Manna by Rufus Parker - 20 February 2019

Offering

“Give unto the LORD, O ye kindreds of the people, give unto the LORD glory and strength. Give unto the LORD the glory due unto his name: bring an offering, and come into his courts” (Psalms 96:7-8).

Today’s Morsel:  I love watching little children during offering time at church when they have an offering to give.  It’s as though they can’t wait to put their offering in the plate or offering bag.  When I first became pastor here, we had a little girl come to church for the first time with her grandma and Daddy.  When offering time came, and I explained briefly that it was time to give our tithes and offerings to Jesus, she turned to her Daddy and said, "Dad, I need some offering, Jesus needs some money.”    Unfortunately, she meant me - she mistakenly thought I was Jesus. (humor)  Jesus said except we are converted and become as a child we cannot enter the kingdom of heaven.  Shouldn’t there be joy within us when it comes to giving to God and His kingdom. Shouldn't we be excited about another opportunity to give back to Him a portion of that which He has supplied to us?  “And the LORD spake unto Moses, saying, Speak unto the children of Israel, that they bring me an offering: of every man that giveth it willingly with his heart ye shall take my offering” (Exodus 25:1-2). By this scripture passage, we learn that whatever we do for the worship and service of God, we should do it freely, cheerfully, and cordially; for God loves a cheerful giver. If we don’t give our offering willingly, then Jesus doesn’t want it.  

Sing: Give and it shall be given, good measure pressed down shaken together and running over. Give and it shall be given, when you give you give to the Lord.

Thought For Today:  Where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.

Morning Manna by Rufus Parker - 19 February 2019

Get Wisdom

“But where shall wisdom be found? and where is the place of understanding” (Job 28:12)?

Today’s Morsel:  I really love today’s scripture.  I think that it should be a test question on every school exam, every job application, every driver licensing test, every aptitude test, and every minister’s application for ministerial licensing.  And if a person doesn't know the answer, they are made to wait at least six months before they can reapply.  Am I hard?  No, I'm just loving as wisdom seems to have departed the earth.  Isaiah said, “Even judgment is turned away backward, and justice standeth afar off: for truth is fallen in the street, and equity cannot enter” (emphasis mine, Isaiah 59:14).  But where is wisdom found, Job asked?  Solomon said she dwells with prudence (Proverbs 8:12).  Paul said that Jesus Christ is the power and the wisdom of God (1 Corinthians 1:24).  James says the wisdom that is from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, and easy to be intreated, full of mercy and good fruits, without partiality, and without hypocrisy (James 3:17).  So, if you want to find wisdom, you must look to Jesus Christ. God manifested in flesh.  That is where true wisdom is found.  That is the answer to the test.  

Sing:  Farther along we’ll know all about it.  Farther along we’ll understand why.  Cheer up my brother, live in the sunshine, we’ll understand it all by and by.

Thought For Today:  Jesus Christ, the power and wisdom of God.

Morning Manna by Rufus Parker - 18 February 2019

Self-Reliance

“Be not wise in thine own eyes: fear the LORD, and depart from evil. It shall be health to thy navel, and marrow to thy bones” 

(Proverbs 3:7-8)

Today’s Morsel:  One of the problems with self-reliance is it can deceive you into thinking that you are independent of others.  Self-Reliance is acting independently of God; not trusting in Him, nor acknowledging Him, not seeking to Him for help and direction; not asking nor take the advice of others; but, being conceited and self-sufficient, leaning to your own understanding, as being wise enough to conduct all affairs in your life by your own wisdom which can destroy you.  Solomon states, “He that trusteth in his own heart is a fool: but whoso walketh wisely, he shall be delivered”(Proverbs 28:26).  Many people rely on their own strength and abilities and do not think that they need others.  But Jesus said, "Without Me you can do nothing."  We always need Him.  That thing you call a belly button, which was once connected to your mother’s umbilical cord, is how you got food to gain strength and to help you grow while you were in her womb.  So, every time you see it just remember, you need others.

Sing:  I lean on You Lord, I lean on You Lord; for the things that I need I lean on You.  When I don’t know just what to do, I’ve got the faith You’re going to see me through.  You supply my every need and I lean on You.

Thought For Today:  Two is always better than one.

Morning Manna by Rufus Parker - 16 February 2019

The Same Thing

“If there be therefore any consolation in Christ, if any comfort of love, if any fellowship of the Spirit, if any bowels and mercies, Fulfil ye my joy, that ye be likeminded, having the same love, being of one accord, of one mind” (Philippians 2:1-2).

Today’s Morsel:  A man from an Asian country was asked how he got the American name of Sam White having been born in Asia?  The man said, "Well, when I came to America and approached Immigrations point, a man in front of me was asked what his name was?  He said, to the officer, Sam White. And when I approached, and they asked me, I said, Sam Thang.  The immigration officer thought I said, ‘Same thing’ and wrote on my papers Sam White."  (Hope no offense here ... just a little humor).  Paul said if we have any comfort of love, that which comes from God only, which is everlasting and unchangeable, then we should all know how to live according to it and how to use it.  If we are born again, then we should all have the same kind of love.  Agape.  And either we have the same thing as the original apostles or we don’t.  God is love and either we have Him or we don’t.

Sing: Jesus loves the little children, all the children of the world.  Red and yellow, black, and white they are precious in His sight.  Jesus loves the children of the world.

Thought For Today: Make sure you have the same thing.

Morning Manna by Rufus Parker - 15 February 2019

Jesus Loves Me

“The LORD did not set his love upon you, nor choose you, because ye were more in number than any people; for ye were the fewest of all people: But because the LORD loved you, and because he would keep the oath which he had sworn unto your fathers, hath the LORD brought you out with a mighty hand, and redeemed you out of the house of bondmen, from the hand of Pharaoh king of Egypt” 

(Deuteronomy 7:7-8).

Today’s Morsel:  My friend gave me a pin to wear which states, “Jesus loves you, but I’m His favorite.” And yes, I wore it.  I know that God doesn’t have favorites, but I do feel that I am blessed and highly favored of Him because He has shown His great love and kindness toward me.  I don’t think I’m alone in my thinking.  At least I hope I'm not.  Everyone who is born again should feel this way.  Think about all the people in the world, and Jesus chose you to show His love to.  If no one were to ever tell you that they loved you, you can be sure that Jesus does.  Calvary speaks it loud and clear.

Sing:  I am so glad that Jesus loves me, Jesus loves me, Jesus loves me.  I am so glad that Jesus’ love me, Jesus loves even me.

Thought For Today:  His love never fails.