Morning Manna by Rufus Parker - 30 September 2019

Vision

“Where there is no vision, the people perish: but he that keepeth the law, happy is he.” (Proverbs 29:18)

Today’s Morsel:  Every year I receive a reminder from my optometry clinic to schedule an annual appointment, I am told that I need to come in to have my vision checked.  They want to keep a watch on my eyes as glaucoma runs in my family.  I often wonder how many people in the world are spiritually blind.  Paul said, “But if our gospel be hid, it is hid to them that are lost: In whom the god of this world hath blinded the minds of them which believe not, lest the light of the glorious gospel of Christ, who is the image of God, should shine unto them.”(2 Corinthians 4:3-4).  If there is no vision the people perish.  If there is no prophecy, preaching, and teaching of God’s word, the people will perish.  Again Paul admonishes, “And he gave some, apostles; and some, prophets; and some, evangelists; and some, pastors and teachers; For the perfecting of the saints, for the work of the ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ: Till we all come in the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, unto a perfect man, unto the measure of the stature of the fulness of Christ: That we henceforth be no more children, tossed to and fro, and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the sleight of men, and cunning craftiness, whereby they lie in wait to deceive; But speaking the truth in love, may grow up into him in all things, which is the head, even Christ” (Ephesians 4:11-15).  Don’t let Satan steal your vision.  You don’t want to be blinded to the truth.

Sing:  I see a crimson stream of blood, it flows from Calvary.  It’s waves which reach the throne of God, are sweeping over me.

Thought For Today: Don’t let Satan steal your vision.

Morning Manna by Rufus Parker - 28 September 2019

Protection

“Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord, and in the power of his might. Put on the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places. Wherefore take unto you the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand. Stand therefore, having your loins girt about with truth, and having on the breastplate of righteousness; And your feet shod with the preparation of the gospel of peace; Above all, taking the shield of faith, wherewith ye shall be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked. And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God: Praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, and watching thereunto with all perseverance and supplication for all saints” (Ephesians 6:10-18).

Today’s Morsel:  During my 28 years in the Army, I saw many soldiers hurt and killed because the equipment they were given to protect them from danger and hurt was not worn correctly.  How often do you prove your armor?  Just because we have the armor of God, doesn’t mean we do not have to prove it daily to make sure that we are carrying and wear it correctly.  If the enemy can get us to think that the armor is to heavy or we don’t need to wear it every moment of every day, he will defeat us. Let me encourage you. Know your armor and wear it as a good soldier.  It can save you from unnecessary hurt or even death.   

Sing:  I may never march in the infantry, ride in the Calvary, shoot the artillery.  I may never zoom over the enemy, but I’m in the Lord’s army. Yes, Sir!

Thought For Today: Safety is of the Lord. 

Morning Manna by Rufus Parker - 27 September 2019

Unfaithfulness

“Confidence in an unfaithful man in time of trouble is like a broken tooth, and a foot out of joint.” (Proverbs 25:19)

Today’s Morsel:  One of the biggest causes of stress in people’s lives is the unfaithfulness of others.  It is not good to put confidence in any person, nor in the best of men; much less in an unfaithful, and treacherous man; and especially in a time of distress and trouble, to be depending on their help and assistance.  Solomon said it is like a broken tooth and a foot out of joint.  It’s going to be painful.  However, if we are truly born-again, then we must always be faithful.  A faithful man always abounds in blessings. The key to becoming a steward of God is faithfulness.   God and others should always be able to count on us.  

Sing: Here I am Lord, here I am. I give always myself to you, here I am.  Here I am, Lord, here I am.  Let your spirit move through me, here I am.

Thought For Today: Stay faithful and see what God will do for you.

Morning Manna by Rufus Parker - 26 September 2019

Life

“If in this life only we have hope in Christ, we are of all men most miserable.” (1 Corinthians 15:19)

Today’s Morsel:  Some folks' lives are turned upside down because they are living for the here and now. Everything they do is all about the here and now, all about the temporal.   Yet we must look ahead to that place Christ has gone to prepare for us.  Paul said that if in this life only we have hope in Christ, we are of all men most miserable.  In other words, if our hope for Christ is only for this life, we are going to be unhappy, sad, despondent, dejected. If you are serving Jesus for what He can do for you now, get ready because misery loves company.  This world is not our home.  Jesus isn't preparing a mansion for you here, He went to prepare it in heaven.  So stop looking at the here and now. “If ye then be risen with Christ, seek those things which are above, where Christ sitteth on the right hand of God. Set your affection on things above, not on things on the earth. For ye are dead, and your life is hid with Christ in God. When Christ, who is our life, shall appear, then shall ye also appear with him in glory” Paul wrote, (Colossians 3:1-4).  If you find yourself feeling miserable, check where your heart is.  Set your affections on things above, not on the temporal here and now.  

Sing:  This world is not my home, I’m just a passing through, my treasures are laid up, somewhere beyond the blue.  The angels are beckoning me, from heaven’s open door, and I can’t feel at home in this world anymore.

Thought For Today: Heaven is our new home, not here.

Morning Manna by Rufus Parker - 25 September 2019

Potty Training

“Train up a child in the way he should go: and when he is old, he will not depart from it.” (Proverbs 22:6)

Today’s Morsel:  Every so often, I like to get a good chuckle out of scripture.  I have heard today's scripture preached, taught, and I have even taught from it.  And I have had people say to me, why is it that you can raise two kids in the same household, take them to church every Sunday, one grows up, does what is right, serves God, and has what is seen as a good life; and the other one lives for the devil and is always in trouble?  And they quote todays scripture passage.  Really, none of us knows why.  But what if this passage is talking about ‘Potty training?’  Solomon says, “Train up a child in the way he should go: and when he is old, he will not depart from it.”  Once a child is well potty trained they usually don’t forget when they need to go to the bathroom. Even when they are old.  Just a little humor in your thought for today!

Sing: I’m running for my life. I’m running for my life. Running for my life, I’m running for my life. If anybody asks you, what’s the matter with me, tell them I’m saved, sanctified, Holy Ghost filled and water baptized, I’ve got Jesus on the inside, and I’m running for my life. 

Thought For Today: Don’t chew your nails, it’s a sign of poor potty training. (Humor Parker)  

Morning Manna by Rufus Parker - 24 September 2019

Thoughts

“But Naaman was wroth, and went away, and said, Behold, I thought, He will surely come out to me, and stand, and call on the name of the LORD his God, and strike his hand over the place, and recover the leper.”
(2 Kings 5:11)

Today’s Morsel:  We are addicted to our thoughts.  We cannot change anything if we cannot change our thinking.   Solomon states that as a man thinketh so is he (Proverbs 23:7).  If we can control our thoughts, we can control our actions.  I believe this is one of the reasons that God gives us the gift of temperance with the Holy Ghost, to help control us.  Mental instability is caused by the way people think.  If you fear dying, your thoughts will always be about dying.  If you fear loss, your thoughts will always be about loss and losing.  If you fear evil, your thoughts will always be about evil.  If you think that someone doesn’t like you or they hate you, your thoughts will always lean that way every time you see them, or you think about them.  You must control your thoughts because they will control you. And in some cases, they don’t reward you very well.

Sing: Get your mind on Jesus, let’s have church.  Get your mind on Jesus, let’s have church.

Put your hands together, both feet on the floor, let the Holy Ghost move you from the pulpit to the door. Somebody help me sing, somebody help me shout, somebody help sing, somebody help me shout.  Get your mind on Jesus, let’s have church.

Thought For Today: The mind is a terrible thing to waste.

Morning Manna by Rufus Parker - 23 September 2019

Are you good enough?

“And I thank Christ Jesus our Lord, who hath enabled me, for that he counted me faithful, putting me into the ministry; Who was before a blasphemer, and a persecutor, and injurious: but I obtained mercy, because I did it ignorantly in unbelief. And the grace of our Lord was exceeding abundant with faith and love which is in Christ Jesus.”
(1 Timothy 1:12-14)

Today’s Morsel:  Fifty years ago today I enlisted in the U.S. Army.   As a young 17-year-old kid, fresh out of high school, not know what I wanted to do with my life, as I sat watching television, an army commercial came on.  The song said, “If you are good enough to get in, you’ll travel far and wide. If you are good enough to get in, you’ll serve your country well.  Oh the future can be yours in the new action army.  If you think you are good enough to get on the team, then a prouder future can be yours.”  And so, I went to the recruiter’s office and enlisted.  At that time, little did I know what God had in store for me.  By making that one move, I have seen many parts of the world, made and met many great people, seen many great things, met and married the love of my life, and God called and placed me in the ministry while on active duty.  All because, I believe, I felt good enough to accept the challenge. What about you.  Do you think you are good enough to accept God’s challenge?  “And he said unto them, Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature."  (Mark 16:15)  If you put forth your good, God will pull out your best.  

Sing: If it had not been, for the Lord on my side, tell me where would I be? Where would I be?

Thought For Today: Put forth your good, God will pull out your best (Parker).

Morning Manna by Rufus Parker - 21 September 2019

Phony

“Though he slay me, yet will I trust in him: but I will maintain mine own ways before him. He also shall be my salvation: for an hypocrite shall not come before him.” (Job 13:15-16)

Today’s Morsel:  Job seems to understand that sin will separate you from God.  I’ve heard people say that the reason they won’t go to church is that there are too many hypocrites in the church.  I find it amazing that those same folks can see the error in others, but not in themselves.  The mote in their eyes has blinded them to the truth.  Job said, I really don’t care about others, I care about me.  I must maintain my walk and way with God.  God will take care of the hypocrite as they shall not come before him. (my wording)  But God forbid if we miss the mark because we allow others to keep us from the house of God.

Sing: I was glad when they said unto me, I was glad when they said unto me, I was glad when they said unto me, come let us go unto the house of the Lord.

Thought For Today: Focus on Jesus and not the hypocrite. 

Morning Manna by Rufus Parker - 20 September 2019

Favoritism

“If ye fulfil the royal law according to the scripture, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself, ye do well: But if ye have respect to persons, ye commit sin, and are convinced of the law as transgressors.” (James 2:8-9)

Today’s Morsel:  I like to tease with this young girl at church.  She’s really starting to grow in the Lord, and I like to tease her a little to get her to laugh.  I tell her, “Jesus loves you, but I’m his favorite.”  She quickly replies, “No way! God is no respecter of persons.  If you are his favorite so am I.”  Isn’t it reassuring to know that God loves everyone equally?  John said, “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life. For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved.” (John 3:16-17)  If God is no respecter of persons neither should we be.  

Sing: Your my brother you’re my sister, so take me by the hand, together we will work until He comes. There’s no foe that can defeat us when we are walking side by side, for as long as there is love we can stand.

Thought For Today: Don't allow skin color to hinder your love.

Morning Manna by Rufus Parker - 19 September 2019

No Value

“But ye are forgers of lies, ye are all physicians of no value.” (Job 13:4)

Today’s Morsel:  When we lived in Asia, often times, our duties would take us to South Korea, where there is lots of shopping.  Vendors from around 3:30 pm to midnight each day would line the streets to sell their goods. Every vendor would try to lure you into their store or to their carts to get you to buy their products. Every so often, I would get asked by a vendor, “Do you want to buy a genuine imitation Rolex watch?”  I would just laugh and think to myself, Who would want to buy an imitation watch?  But sad to say, not only do we buy things that are an imitation, we buy things that are of no value at all.  Some people even settle for fake religion.  Nothing that is made in this world is real. Solomon states, “Is there anything whereof it may be said, See, this is new? it hath been already of old time, which was before us.” (Ecclesiastes 1:10)  Job told his friends that they were physicians of no value.  Their counsel to him wasn’t worth anything to help alleviate his pain and suffering.  If you’ve got folks in your life that keep leading you further away from Jesus, they are of no value to you, and you may want to discard them. Because the gospel is the only real thing in this world.  Buy the Truth and sell it not.  

Sing: It’s real! It’s real! I know it’s real, this Pentecostal blessing and I know, I know it’s real.  It’s real! It’s real! I know it’s real, this Pentecostal blessing and I know, I know it’s real.  

Thought For Today: The gospel is real.

Morning Manna by Rufus Parker - 18 September 2019

Out On A Limb

“And Absalom met the servants of David. And Absalom rode upon a mule, and the mule went under the thick boughs of a great oak, and his head caught hold of the oak, and he was taken up between the heaven and the earth; and the mule that was under him went away. And a certain man saw it, and told Joab, and said, Behold, I saw Absalom hanged in an oak.”
 (2 Samuel 18:9-10)

Today’s Morsel:  If someone goes out on a limb, they do something they strongly believe in, even though it is risky or extreme and is likely to fail or be criticized by other people.  We could say that Absalom went out on a limb. He tried to steal the kingdom from his father David, but his ploy failed because of poor counsel.  In Luke 14:28-32, Jesus said, “For which of you, intending to build a tower, sitteth not down first, and counteth the cost, whether he have sufficient to finish it? Lest haply, after he hath laid the foundation, and is not able to finish it, all that behold it begin to mock him, Saying, This man began to build, and was not able to finish. Or what king, going to make war against another king, sitteth not down first, and consulteth whether he be able with ten thousand to meet him that cometh against him with twenty thousand? Or else, while the other is yet a great way off, he sendeth an ambassage, and desireth conditions of peace.”   There are many that take chances and succeed in their quest, while others fail and lose all.  If you are going to go out on a limb, make sure you get wise and godly counsel, or you could find yourself hanging from the limb like Absalom.

Sing: If it had not been for the Lord on my side, tell me where would I be? Where would I be?

Thought For Today: Always count the cost as every decision has consequences.

Morning Manna by Rufus Parker - 17 September 2019

Initiative

“My little children, let us not love in word, neither in tongue; but in deed and in truth.” (1 John 3:18)

Today’s Morsel:  One of the things about initiative is acting in the absence of orders.  In other words, we see things that need to be done and we do it without being told or asked.  How many times have you seen the elderly trying to get to their seat and no one helps them?  Or that person in Walmart on the motor scooter that can’t reach the item that is on the top shelf?  What about the young mother trying to change her baby, and no one to help her with her other toddler?  Why don’t people take the initiative and help them?  Should not the ‘Golden Rule’ always be in operation in the lives of saints?  John said that we just don’t love in word, we love in action and in truth.  If I say I have truth and no initiative that’s an oxymoron.  Faith without works is dead.  Remember, you always reap what we sow.

Sing:  If I walk in the pathway of duty, if I work till close of the day, I shall see the Great King in all His Glory, oh yeah, when I’ve gone the last mile of the way.

Thought For Today: Faith without works is dead.

Morning Manna by Rufus Parker - 16 September 2019

Quiet

“He that hath knowledge spareth his words: and a man of understanding is of an excellent spirit. Even a fool, when he holdeth his peace, is counted wise: and he that shutteth his lips is esteemed a man of understanding.” (Proverbs 17:27-28)

Today’s Morsel:  If you’ve noticed, when you go to the library they want you to be quiet, or use your inside voice.  In other words, they want you to be quiet so that you do not disturb others.  One of the problems with cell phones is people think they must talk louder to be heard.  They yell louder and louder not realizing that others may not want to hear their conversation.  Solomon said that even a fool is counted wise when he’s quiet, and those that know how to keep their mouth closed, and not tell everything that they know is seen as one with understanding.  Shhhhhhh! Quiet please. Others are listening.

Sing: Softly and tenderly Jesus is calling, calling for you and for me;  See, on the portals He’s waiting and watching, watching for you and for me.

Come home, come home, ye who are weary come home. Earnestly, tenderly Jesus is calling, Calling, O sinner, come home!

Thought For Today: The wise in heart shall be called prudent.

Morning Manna by Rufus Parker - 14 September 2019

Cloak of Zeal

“For he put on righteousness as a breastplate, and an helmet of salvation upon his head; and he put on the garments of vengeance for clothing, and was clad with zeal as a cloke.” (Isaiah 59:17)

Today’s Morsel: If you have every watched a civil war movie, you will notice that those military leaders who are in authority, are sometimes clad with a cape or cloak. It was worn by military leader’s as a mantle that was thrown over the body, usually fastened on the right shoulder by a hook or clasp and suffered to flow in a graceful fold down to the feet. In battle, it would be laid aside, or secured by a girdle about the loins.  It could also be used for warmth during periods of cold or placed around the female shoulders during periods romance if she became cold. When Paul wrote to the church at Ephesus, to put on the whole armor of God, he doesn’t mention the cloak. Even though we are in a spiritual battle, the cloak is reserved for those in authority.  When the apostle John giving us a glimpse of the end time battle, he says, “And I saw heaven opened, and behold a white horse; and he that sat upon him was called Faithful and True, and in righteousness he doth judge and make war… And he was clothed with a vesture dipped in blood: and his name is called The Word of God. … And he hath on his vesture and on his thigh a name written, KING OF KINGS, AND LORD OF LORDS.” (Revelation 19:11-16) The word vesture, in the Greek, means cloak. And John says, that He, Jesus, is clothed with a vesture dipped in blood. The Captain of the Host is Jesus. And He will be clad with a cloak of zeal.  

Sing: For the Captain of the Host is Jesus, we’re following in His footsteps, no foe can stand against us in the fray.

Thought For Today: He will defend His saints?