Morning Manna by Rufus Parker - 8 March 2019

“Then the LORD answered Job out of the whirlwind, and said, Who is this that darkeneth counsel by words without knowledge? Gird up now thy loins like a man; for I will demand of thee, and answer thou me” 

(Job 38:1-3).

Today’s Morsel: I think that one of my biggest frustrations with some saints is when you try to give them Godly counsel and yet they prefer worldly counsel and expect good to come of it.  The Lord asked Job, "Who is this that darkeneth counsel by words without knowledge?"  Dark counsel is when people try to give you advice having none of the facts nor the cause for the problem you are facing.  We see this with Job'’ friends. They want to tell him what to do without knowing why he was going through what he was going through. Remember, dark counsel is not of God but what someone else thinks.  

Sing: Order my steps in Your Word, dear Lord, lead me, guide me every day. Send Your anointing, Father, I pray, order my steps in Your Word, please order my steps in Your Word.

Thought For Today: “Dark counsel is not of God but what someone else thinks.”

Morning Manna by Rufus Parker - 7 March 2019

Something Is Following You

“The LORD is my shepherd; I shall not want. He maketh me to lie down in green pastures: he leadeth me beside the still waters. He restoreth my soul: he leadeth me in the paths of righteousness for his name's sake. Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil: for thou art with me; thy rod and thy staff they comfort me. Thou preparest a table before me in the presence of mine enemies: thou anointest my head with oil; my cup runneth over. Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life: and I will dwell in the house of the LORD for ever” (Psalms 23:1-6).

 Today’s Morsel:  God has promised to never leave us nor forsake us.  Therefore, we should always know that His presence is nearby.  The Lord was a cloud by day, and a pillar of fire by night for Israel when He led them out of bondage.  And we also see that at times God would be their rereward.  In other words, God would come behind them and protect their back.  David said that goodness and mercy would follow him all the days of his life.  How do you feel knowing that these things will always be behind you, and that you have God’s divine protection with you always?  It should give us a sweet assurance.  We never walk alone, not even in the valley.  

Sing: Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me, all the days, all the days of my life.  Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me, all the days, all the days of my life.

 And I will dwell in the house of the Lord forever, and I will feast at the table spread for me.

Surely goodness, and mercy shall follow me, all the days, all the days of my life.

Thought For Today:  Something is behind you.

Morning Manna by Rufus Parker - 6 March 2019

ALL DAY Praise

“Praise ye the LORD. Praise, O ye servants of the LORD, praise the name of the LORD. Blessed be the name of the LORD from this time forth and for evermore. From the rising of the sun unto the going down of the same the LORD'S name is to be praised” (Psalms 113:1-3).

Today’s Morsel: How do you begin your day?  Many begin with coffee. Others with a cigarette. While some begin it with exercise, and others by checking their phones.  And then there are those who know the value and importance of giving God thanks for waking them through their praise.  The Psalmist said that the Lord should be praised all day long.  Do you practice this command?  If we would practice this command, we would find ourselves being less stressed, depressed, despondent, and less likely to sin against God. If you give in to sin, check where you stopped praising God during your day, and that will be the place you gave way to Satan and allowed him to deceive you.

Sing: Praise Him. Praise Him. Praise Him in the morning, praise Him in the noontime. Praise Him. Praise Him. Praise Him when the sun goes down.

Thought For Today: “Let everything that hath breath praise the LORD. Praise ye the LORD” (Psalms 150:6)

Morning Manna by Rufus Parker - 5 March 2019

How Long?

“How long wilt thou forget me, O LORD? for ever? how long wilt thou hide thy face from me? How long shall I take counsel in my soul, having sorrow in my heart daily? how long shall mine enemy be exalted over me? Consider and hear me, O LORD my God: lighten mine eyes, lest I sleep the sleep of death; Lest mine enemy say, I have prevailed against him; and those that trouble me rejoice when I am moved. But I have trusted in thy mercy; my heart shall rejoice in thy salvation. I will sing unto the LORD, because he hath dealt bountifully with me” (Psalms 13:1-6).

Today’s Morsel:  One of the most overlooked fruits of the Spirit is that of Longsuffering or patience.  Because we are living in a world of instantaneous gratification, many have no tolerance for waiting.  And so businesses realize this, and they go about trying to keep their customers happy by rushing to provide them what they want. The Psalmist prayed and asked the Lord how long He would forget him.  How long would He hide His face from him?  How long would he have to take counsel in his soul, having sorrow in his heart daily?  How long would his enemy be exalted over him?  His desire to wait on God seems to be running thin.  What about you?  Do you have the stamina to endure until God comes through for you?  Always remember, faith is being able to see God at work on your behalf even in the dark times.

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: “Wait on the LORD: be of good courage, and he shall strengthen thine heart: wait, I say, on the LORD” (Psalms 27:14).

Morning Manna by Rufus Parker - 4 March 2019

 Spiritual Cleansing

“Wherewithal shall a young man cleanse his way? by taking heed thereto according to thy word”

(Psalms 119:9).

Today’s Morsel:  Jeremiah said that one of the things about our hearts is that they are deceitful.  In other words, they can fool you.  I guess that is why King Solomon says he that trusted in his heart is a fool (Proverbs 28:26).  And maybe that is why he tells us not to lean unto our own understanding (Proverbs 3:6). After having his sins exposed, King David said that the Lord desires truth in the inward parts (Psalms 51:6). If our hearts can deceive us, and God wants inward truth, then what must we do to stay spiritually cleansed? We must obey the Word of God. Jesus said that we are cleansed by the word (John 15:3). The word is the only way that we can remain spiritually cleansed. 

Sing: Have you been to Jesus for your cleansing power? Are you washed in the blood of the Lamb? Are you fully trusting in His grace this hour? Are you washed in the blood of the Lamb?

Are you washed in the blood?  In the soul cleansing blood of the Lamb? Are your garments spotless? Are they white as snow? Are you washed in the blood of the Lamb?

Thought For Today: Now you are clean by the word that I have spoken unto thee (Jesus Christ)

Morning Manna by Rufus Parker - 2 March 2019

Discretion

“When wisdom entereth into thine heart, and knowledge is pleasant unto thy soul; Discretion shall preserve thee, understanding shall keep thee” 

(Proverbs 2:10-11).

Today’s Morsel:  Discretion is the quality of behaving or speaking in such a way as to avoid causing offense or revealing private information.  I often find myself scratching my head when I see the number of people that have no wisdom or discretion.  I ask myself how can so many people who say that they are born again and called themselves Christians be without discretion? The behavior of many of them is astounding.  I mean many of them are like an old refrigerator that cannot keep anything!  But with you beloved, it must not be so. But you must walk circumspectly towards them that are without.  You must get wisdom and understanding.  You must learn to be discreet.  You must learn to always exercise good sound judgment and never let your good be evil spoken of.

Sing:  I’ve been changed, I am newborn now, all my life has been rearranged.  What a difference it made when the Lord came to stay; in my heart, O’ yes, I’ve been changed.

Thought For Today:  Discretion…Sound Wisdom. 

Morning Manna by Rufus Parker - 1 March 2019

Death of The Righteous

“Precious in the sight of the LORD is the death of his saints” 

(Psalms 116:15).

Today’s Morsel:  One of the things that every one of us should expect should the Lord tarry is death.  None of us is exempt from that day.  Yet none of us knows the date nor the time that it will happen for us.  But the good thing is, we can get ready for it now since we know that it will happen.  We can put in to place what we would desire for our funeral.  We could draw up a  final Will for what will be done with our assets.  We could choose scriptures that we would like to have read at our memorial service. We could select a minister to officiate the service.  We could select the place that we might want to be buried.  But of course, the most important thing is to prepare ourselves spiritually for that day.  Jesus told Nicodemus in John 3:3-5 that we must be born-again of the water and the Spirit to enter the kingdom (see also Acts 2:38-41, Hebrews 12:14). Why?  Why do we need to be born-again?  Paul states that if any man has not the Spirit of Christ, he is none of His (Romans 8:9).  If we are His, then we can rest assured when we die heaven will rejoice.  As, precious in the sight of the LORD is the death of his saints.  I want to be prepared for that final day, how about you.  I've made my preparations now so I won't be surprised then.  

Sing: I’m getting ready to leave this place, I’m getting ready for the gate of pearls.  Keeping my record right, watching both day and night.  I’m getting ready to leave this place.

Thought For Today:  Don’t lose out on your mansion (Parker).