Morning Manna by Rufus Parker - 8 January 2020

The Fruit of Wisdom

“Now the works of the flesh are manifest, which are these; Adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lasciviousness, Idolatry, witchcraft, hatred, variance, emulations, wrath, strife, seditions, heresies, Envyings, murders, drunkenness, revellings, and such like: of the which I tell you before, as I have also told you in time past, that they which do such things shall not inherit the kingdom of God. But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, Meekness, temperance: against such there is no law.” (Galatians 5:19-23)

Today’s Morsel:  I can truly say that I don’t think that there is a fruit that I do not like.  Now, I have seen ads here lately trying to discourage people from eating certain fruits, but I lump those who say such things in the same bag with those who tell me that salt isn’t good for me.   Either Jesus is a liar or they are.  Because Jesus said, “Salt is good: but if the salt have lost his saltness, wherewith will ye season it? Have salt in yourselves, and have peace one with another.” (Mark 9:50)  In writing to the church at Corinth Paul states, “But we preach Christ crucified, unto the Jews a stumblingblock, and unto the Greeks foolishness; But unto them which are called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God, and the wisdom of God.” (1 Corinthians 1:23-24)  He says that Jesus Christ is the power of God and the wisdom of God, and if any have not the spirit of Christ, he is none of His (Romans 8:9). So with that knowledge, we can understand why it is called the Fruit of the Spirit.  Or should we say the Fruit of Wisdom?  Solomon says about Wisdom's Fruit, “My fruit is better than gold, yea, than fine gold…” (Proverbs 8:19)  Nothing can compare to Wisdom's Fruit, as nothing can be compared to God.  If we desire to possess God’s Wisdom, then we must eat of His fruit. And the good thing about it is there is no law stating how much of it we can eat or have.

Sing:  Deeper, deeper, in the love of Jesus daily let me go; Higher, higher in the school of wisdom, more of grace to know.

O deeper yet, I pray, and higher every day; and wiser blessed Lord, in Thy precious holy word.

Thought For Today:  The Fruit of Wisdom comes only from Jesus (Parker)

Morning Manna by Rufus Parker - 7 January 2020

Self-Control

“The discretion of a man deferreth his anger; and it is his glory to pass over a transgression.” (Proverbs 19:11)

Today’s Morsel:  The thing about self-control is you have the power to avoid doing wrong.  You possess the ability to walk away from evil and those things that will not reward you good.  But if we are lacking in this area, we are sure to wind up with heartaches and hardships. You see, self-control came with the Holy Spirit.  So, if we say that His Spirit dwells in us and that we are born-again, then we should have self-control.  It is called temperance.  Temperance is defined as moderation or voluntary self-restraint.  It is typically described in terms of what an individual voluntarily refrains from doing.  This includes restraint from retaliation in the form of non-violence and forgiveness, restraint from arrogance in the form of humility and modesty, restraint from excesses such as extravagant luxury or splurging now in the form of prudence, and restraint from excessive anger or craving for something in the form of calmness and self-control.  You cannot say that you are a Christian and not possess self-control.  As Peter said of Jesus, “For even hereunto were ye called: because Christ also suffered for us, leaving us an example, that ye should follow his steps: Who did no sin, neither was guile found in his mouth: Who, when he was reviled, reviled not again; when he suffered, he threatened not; but committed himself to him that judgeth righteously” (1 Peter 2:21-23).  That is what self-control looks like.  I conclude that if we do not control ourselves someone else will.

Sing:  I’m learning how to lean and depend on Jesus. He’s my Friend and He’s my Guide.  I’m learning how to lean and to depend on Jesus; I found out if I trust Him, He will provide.

Thought For Today:  Self-control means that you are in charge of you. (Parker)

Morning Manna by Rufus Parker - 6 January 2020

The Six Things The Lord Hates

“These six things doth the LORD hate: yea, seven are an abomination unto him: A proud look, a lying tongue, and hands that shed innocent blood, An heart that deviseth wicked imaginations, feet that be swift in running to mischief, A false witness that speaketh lies, and he that soweth discord among brethren.” (Proverbs 6:16-19)

Today’s Morsel: These Six - Doth The Lord Hate:

1. A proud look - exalted eyes; those who will not condescend to look on the rest of mankind.

2. A lying tongue - he who neither loves nor tells truth.

3. Hands that shed innocent blood- whether by murder or by battery.

4. A heart that deviseth wicked imaginations - the heart that fabricates such, lays the foundation, builds upon it, and completes the superstructure of iniquity.

5. Feet that be swift in running to mischief - he who works iniquity with greediness.

6. A false witness that speaketh lies - one who, even on his oath before a court of justice, tells anything but the truth.

And seven are an abomination unto him.  The seventh is he that soweth discord among brethren.  The one who troubles the peace of others, by lies and misrepresentations, and evil-affected towards their brethren.  The teacher here enumerates six qualities as detestable, and the seventh as being worse than all the others.  And all seven belong to one man, the man whom he says is, “A naughty person, a wicked man, who walketh with a froward mouth.” (Proverbs 6:12) The sons of Belial.  We want to be cleansed and washed from the things that God hates.

Sing:  Are you washed in the blood, in the soul cleansing blood of the Lamb?  Are your garments spotless?  Are the white as snow?  Are you washed in the blood of the Lamb?

Thought For Today: The Blood still works.

Morning Manna by Rufus Parker - 4 January 2020

The Principle Thing

“Hear, ye children, the instruction of a father, and attend to know understanding. For I give you good doctrine, forsake ye not my law. For I was my father's son, tender and only beloved in the sight of my mother. He taught me also, and said unto me, Let thine heart retain my words: keep my commandments, and live. Get wisdom, get understanding: forget it not; neither decline from the words of my mouth. Forsake her not, and she shall preserve thee: love her, and she shall keep thee. Wisdom is the principal thing; therefore get wisdom: and with all thy getting get understanding. Exalt her, and she shall promote thee: she shall bring thee to honour, when thou dost embrace her. She shall give to thine head an ornament of grace: a crown of glory shall she deliver to thee.”
(Proverbs 4:1-9)

Today’s Morsel:  I think that the most important lesson that a parent can teach themselves and their children is the value of obtaining wisdom.  As I sit, watch, listen, and observe folks, I can see just how many lives that it is missing from.  Peoples' lives are being turned upside down because they are missing the main ingredient of life.  And that is wisdom.   Solomon states, “Wisdom is the principal thing; therefore, get wisdom: and with all thy getting get understanding. Exalt her, and she shall promote thee: she shall bring thee to honour, when thou dost embrace her. She shall give to thine head an ornament of grace: a crown of glory shall she deliver to thee.”  Believe me, you can’t fix stupid, but wisdom can.

Sing:  Deeper, deeper, in the love of Jesus, daily let me go. Higher, Higher, in the school of wisdom more of grace to know.  O’ deeper, yet I pray, and higher every day, and wiser blessed Lord, in Thy  precious holy word.

Thought For Today:  “Wisdom is more than education … it’s life” (Parker)

Morning Manna by Rufus Parker - 3 January 2020

How to Keep God Close

“The LORD is nigh unto all them that call upon him, to all that call upon him in truth.” (Psalms 145:18)

Today’s Morsel:  I had a person say to me once, "I can’t ever feel God anymore."  I said to him, "Then guess who moved."  God is always as close as the mention of His name.  But if we get too far from Him, and our actions and conduct aren’t well-pleasing to Him, then we won’t feel Him.  The Lord is close to everyone that calls on Him in truth.  As David wrote, “The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit: a broken and a contrite heart, O God, thou wilt not despise.” (Psalms 51:17)  In other words, God will look on us with favor, and He will grant us His blessing.  Do you know how to keep God close?  Obey His word, live and tell the truth, and He will be there every time.

Sing:  Just to be close to You, just to be close to You is my desire.  Just to close to You, just to be close to You, is my desire.

Thought For Today:  “Watch those little white lies.” 

Morning Manna by Rufus Parker - 2 January 2020

Daily Blessings and Praise

David's Psalm of praise. I will extol thee, my God, O king; and I will bless thy name for ever and ever. Every day will I bless thee; and I will praise thy name for ever and ever. (Psalms 145:1-2)

Today’s Morsel:  The Bible tells us that the things which were written afore were written for our learning (Romans 15:4), and they are an example for us (1 Corinthians 10:6).  That being the case, in today’s passage, David said, “Every day will I bless thee; and I will praise thy name for ever and ever.”  So my question to you is this, are you following the example and the things written here for your learning?  You see, if we don’t get into the habit of doing what God’s word tells us to do, we will allow other things to steal our praise that is due Him.  I believe that if we would get into the habit of every day blessing and praising God, we wouldn’t find ourselves overwhelmed by the foolishness and evil of this world.  Remember, thought produces actions and actions produce habits.  Let us start this new year off with the habit of praising Jesus.  

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:  Thought produces actions and actions produce habits.

Morning Manna by Rufus Parker - 1 January 2020

A Fresh Start

“The Jews therefore said unto him that was cured, It is the sabbath day: it is not lawful for thee to carry thy bed. He answered them, He that made me whole, the same said unto me, Take up thy bed, and walk. Then asked they him, What man is that which said unto thee, Take up thy bed, and walk? And he that was healed wist not who it was: for Jesus had conveyed himself away, a multitude being in that place. Afterward Jesus findeth him in the temple, and said unto him, Behold, thou art made whole: sin no more, lest a worse thing come unto thee.” (John 5:10-14)

Today’s Morsel: How would you have like to been Adam and Eve in the Garden of Eden after they sinned and clothed themselves with fig leaves?  I wonder how often they had to change them.  Maybe this is where the idea for first hula skirts came from.  Or the man mentioned here that was at the pool for 38 years and could never go swimming?   The only reason here there seems to be for getting into the pool was for healing once the angel troubled the water.  Don’t ever let the swimming pool trump the church.  One of the things I find about Jesus, as He’s God in flesh, is that He’s willing to give everyone a fresh start.  He even made coats of skins for Adam and Eve, and I believe it was so they would not have to keep sewing figs leaves together.  And He told the man at the pool to take up his bed and walk.  The Bible says that He makes all things new.  When we are born again, God is giving us a fresh start, He doesn’t want us to continue down the same old path that caused us hardships and troubles in the first place.  Just as He told the man whom He healed at the pool, go and sin no more.

Sing: He took my sins away, He took my sins away, and He keeps me singing every day.  I’m so glad He took my sins away; He took my sins away.

Thought For Today:  “Don’t ever let the swimming pool trump the church.”