Morning Manna by Rufus Parker - 25 March 2019

Loss of Confidence

“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: If someone were to ask you what you look for in a person to determine their faithfulness, what would you tell them? I always like to stress the importance of looking for character in an individual’s life.  I always tell them to look for things such as compassion, resistance, obedience, submission, and bearing; just to name a few traits.  I tell them, if you marry someone that is not faithful, first and foremost to God, you have just created your own trouble and it’s going to be a painful journey. Confidence in someone who is not faithful is a long row to hoe, and you will be picking low-cotton (as we say in the South!)!  So, may I suggest that you search God’s word to see what He says about faithfulness and use that as your measuring stick; not only in selecting a mate, but also a friend.

Sing: No one ever cared for me like Jesus, there’s no other friend so kind as He; no one else could take the sin and darkness from me, O how much He cares for me.

Thought For Today: “Confidence in someone who is not faithful is a long row to hoe!” Parker

Morning Manna by Rufus Parker - 23 March 2019

Spiritual Empowerment

Behold, I give unto you power to tread on serpents and scorpions, and over all the power of the enemy: and nothing shall by any means hurt you”  

(Luke 10:19).

Today’s Morsel: To empower someone is to give power or authority to; authorize, especially by legal or official means.  Why do we need this Spiritual empowerment? Jesus said that because without Him we can do nothing (John 15:5). What should be some of the effects of this empowerment in our lives?

a)   We should have the ability to walk in newness life  (Romans 6:1-4)

b)   We should not serve sin (Romans 6:6-12)

c)   We should be controlled by love (1 John 4:7-11)

d)   We should be salt and light (Matthew 5:13-16)

e)   We walk in the Spirit and not in the flesh (Galatians 5:16-17,26-28)

f)    We should be able to walk by faith and not by sight (Mark 6:8-9;2 Corinthians 5:7)

g)   We should have a strong desire to see people saved (Acts 8:4-7; 16:8-10; Acts 16: 9-31)

h)  We should have a desire for holy living (2 Corinthians 6:14-7:1; Hebrews 12:14; 1 Peter 1:16)

Once we are born again, we have been empowered to preach the gospel to the whole world. We are now ambassadors for Christ.

Sing: There is power in the name of Jesus. There is power in the name of Jesus.  There is power in the name of Jesus, to break every chain, to break every chain, to break every chain.

Thought For Today: “But truly I am full of power by the spirit of the LORD, and of judgment, and of might, to declare unto Jacob his transgression, and to Israel his sin” (Micah 3:8).

Morning Manna by Rufus Parker - 22 March 2019

Praying Jesus’ Way

And Solomon stood before the altar of the LORD in the presence of all the congregation of Israel, and spread forth his hands toward heaven: And he said, LORD God of Israel, there is no God like thee, in heaven above, or on earth beneath, who keepest covenant and mercy with thy servants that walk before thee with all their heart: Who hast kept with thy servant David my father that thou promisedst him: thou spakest also with thy mouth, and hast fulfilled it with thine hand, as it is this day. Therefore now, LORD God of Israel, keep with thy servant David my father that thou promisedst him, saying, There shall not fail thee a man in my sight to sit on the throne of Israel; so that thy children take heed to their way, that they walk before me as thou hast walked before me. And now, O God of Israel, let thy word, I pray thee, be verified, which thou spakest unto thy servant David my father.

(1 Kings 8:22-26)

Today’s Morsel: One of the things that I am finding out about prayer is that you don’t need special words to try and impress God for Him to hear you.  I’m still trying to find out what a prayer warrior is, and why some people think that others are more spiritual because of their way of praying.  I’m not being critical, but prayer is just talking to God about your situations and the needs of others. If God already knows what I have need of before I ask Him, then why not just thank Him for knowing, providing, and sending it to me.  Scripture says, “And it came to pass, when he was in a certain city, behold a man full of leprosy: who seeing Jesus fell on his face, and besought him, saying, Lord, if thou wilt, thou canst make me clean. And he put forth his hand, and touched him, saying, I will: be thou clean. And immediately the leprosy departed from him”(Luke 5:12-13).  Short and to the point. You see my condition and if You want to cleanse me You can.  Jesus said, "I will."  No big gathering as far as we can tell.  Just a humble leper needing healing.  “And when thou prayest, thou shalt not be as the hypocrites are: for they love to pray standing in the synagogues and in the corners of the streets, that they may be seen of men. Verily I say unto you, They have their reward. But thou, when thou prayest, enter into thy closet, and when thou hast shut thy door, pray to thy Father which is in secret; and thy Father which seeth in secret shall reward thee openly” Jesus said (Matthew 6:5-6).  If you keep trying to pattern your pray life after anyone other than Jesus, you are going to keep being disappointed.  Simply talk with Him as you do with your friend, He is The Friend that cares the most for you.  

Sing: Whisper a prayer in the morning, whisper a prayer at noon, whisper a prayer in the evening so keep your heart in tone.

Thought For Today: “But when ye pray, use not vain repetitions, as the heathen do: for they think that they shall be heard for their much speaking. Be not ye therefore like unto them: for your Father knoweth what things ye have need of, before ye ask him” (Matthew 6:7-8)

Morning Manna by Rufus Parker - 21 March 2019

When Everything Seems Against You

And Jacob their father said unto them, Me have ye bereaved of my children: Joseph is not, and Simeon is not, and ye will take Benjamin away: all these things are against me” (Genesis 42:36)

Today’s Morsel:  A man was repairing his motorcycle on his back porch.  After finishing the work, he got on it, kicked it into gear and ran right through his double sliding glass patio doors cutting himself badly.  His wife, who was in the kitchen, hearing the crash ran in to see what was wrong.  Seeing her husband on the floor badly hurt, she called 911.  The EMT responded and took him to the hospital.  Seeing the gas from the motorcycle on the floor, the wife grabbed some paper towels to clean it up.  She threw the paper towel in the toilet and forgot to flush them due when the phone rang.  The husband returned from the hospital and needed to use the bathroom.  Sadly he was a smoker. Soon, the wife hears an explosion and a scream.  She runs to the bathroom where she sees her husband's badly burned condition and so she summoned 911 again. When the EMT arrived, she told them what had happen.  As the EMT attendants were taking the man down the steps on the stretcher to the ambulance, one of the attendances began to laugh at what had just happened. He stumbles and drops the man off the stretcher down the steps.  How much more could happen to this poor guy in one day!   The moral of the story, so you think you may be having a bad day.  (A little humor to start our morning)  

 By all accounts, Jacob was having a bad day when he got the news that his son Simeon was taken by the Egyptians and put into prison.  And now knowing that they want Benjamin, Jacob said all this is against me. He was beginning to feel as though all the evil he was facing was because of something he had done.  He had lost Joseph, so he thought, he has lost Simeon and could soon lose Benjamin.  Are you facing a rough situation?  Do you feel as though your dilemma is because of something you’ve done wrong?  Well hang in there and let God show you what He’s up to as He did with Jacob.  Allow God to work all things together for your good.  

Sing: I trust in God, wherever I may be.  Upon the land or on the raging seas.  Though come what may, from day to day, my heavenly Father watches over, over, me.

I trust in God. I know He cares for me. On the mountain bleak, or the raging sea. Though billows roar. He keeps my soul, my Heavenly Father watches over, over me.

Thought For Today: “And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose” (Romans 8:28).

Morning Manna by Rufus Parker - 20 March 2019

Seasons

To every thing there is a season, and a time to every purpose under the heaven: A time to be born, and a time to die; a time to plant, and a time to pluck up that which is planted; A time to kill, and a time to heal; a time to break down, and a time to build up; A time to weep, and a time to laugh; a time to mourn, and a time to dance; A time to cast away stones, and a time to gather stones together; a time to embrace, and a time to refrain from embracing; A time to get, and a time to lose; a time to keep, and a time to cast away; A time to rend, and a time to sew; a time to keep silence, and a time to speak; A time to love, and a time to hate; a time of war, and a time of peace. What profit hath he that worketh in that wherein he laboureth? I have seen the travail, which God hath given to the sons of men to be exercised in it. He hath made every thing beautiful in his time: also he hath set the world in their heart, so that no man can find out the work that God maketh from the beginning to the end”

 (Ecclesiastes 3:1-11).

Today’s Morsel:  Today is the first day of Spring. We now leave the season of nature’s winter quietness, and we enter nature’s season of springtime liveliness.  Everything comes to life in this season.  Trees and flowers begin to bloom.  Birds begin to chirp, sing, and soar again.  Bears come out of hibernation.  Fawn are seen with the doe and buck.  Children are outside playing.  Anglers head to the rivers.  Bikers and runners are more prevalent.  All of creation seems to come alive again.  Solomon says, “To everything there is a season, and a time to every purpose under the heaven.”  There is a fitting time for everything to happen even in our life.  And God knows the season for it.  Learn to enjoy the seasons God has for you.  

Sing: He’s changing me, my Blessed Savior, I’m not the same person that I use to be. Well, it’s been slow going, but there’s a knowing that someday perfect I will be.

Thought For Today: “He hath made everything beautiful in his time.”

Morning Manna by Rufus Parker - 19 March 2019

Spiritually Asleep

“And Jacob went out from Beersheba, and went toward Haran. And he lighted upon a certain place, and tarried there all night, because the sun was set; and he took of the stones of that place, and put them for his pillows, and lay down in that place to sleep. And he dreamed, and behold a ladder set up on the earth, and the top of it reached to heaven: and behold the angels of God ascending and descending on it. And, behold, the LORD stood above it, and said, I am the LORD God of Abraham thy father, and the God of Isaac: the land whereon thou liest, to thee will I give it, and to thy seed; And thy seed shall be as the dust of the earth, and thou shalt spread abroad to the west, and to the east, and to the north, and to the south: and in thee and in thy seed shall all the families of the earth be blessed. And, behold, I am with thee, and will keep thee in all places whither thou goest, and will bring thee again into this land; for I will not leave thee, until I have done that which I have spoken to thee of. And Jacob awaked out of his sleep, and he said, Surely the LORD is in this place; and I knew it not. And he was afraid, and said, How dreadful is this place! this is none other but the house of God, and this is the gate of heaven” (Genesis 28:10-17).

Today’s Morsel:  Most people never consider what we call a church and where it is located as the house of God and the gateway to heaven.  Jacob found himself between a rock and a hard place (no pun intended).  Bethel, which was the name He gave to the place after his dream, means the house of God.  He probably never considered that here, where he laid himself that evening, would one day become a place of worship.  No, we know that the buildings aren’t the church.  We know that we are the church.  Yet wouldn’t it be sad to sit in such beautiful structures, which we call the church, and never know that you were sitting in the house of God and the gateway to heaven?

Sing: It’s the Old Ship of Zion. It’s the hope for the lost and dying. It’s a soul-saving station. It’s the tower of salvation. Well, it’s the Church triumphant, O’ Lord, and it’s built by the hand of the Lord.  I’m talking about the church in the Book of Revelations. It’s built on the Rock, it’s got a firm foundation. It’s been through the flood, and it’s been through the fire; But one these days, the Church is gonna move up a little higher. Well, it’s the Church triumphant, O’ Lord, and it’s built by the hand of the Lord.

Thought For Today: “And upon this rock I will build my church; and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it” (Matthew 16:18)

Morning Manna by Rufus Parker - 18 March 2019

A Firm Foundation

“And are built upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ himself being the chief corner stone; In whom all the building fitly framed together groweth unto an holy temple in the Lord: In whom ye also are builded together for an habitation of God through the Spirit” 

(Ephesians 2:20-22).

Today’s Morsel:  The most important thing in any home is its foundation and the chief cornerstone.  If either is not laid currently and with the right materials, you can be sure that there will be troubles with the home at some point.  The comparison of the church with a building is common in the scriptures.  And the doctrines that they taught are the basis on which the church rests.  If a church isn’t built on the firm foundation of Jesus Christ and His apostles, sooner or later it will start to have troubles and fall.  Paul said that we are the temple of God (1 Corinthians 3:16).  So what doctrine is your life built upon?  It needs to have the sure foundation and the chief cornerstone, the word of God and Jesus Christ. 

Sing:  Lord prepare me, to be a sanctuary, pure and holy, tried true.  With thanksgiving, I’ll be a living, sanctuary for You.

Thought For Today: “For other foundation can no man lay than that is laid, which is Jesus Christ” (1 Corinthians 3:11).