Morning Manna by Rufus Parker - 8 June 2020

Other’s Mistakes

“Now these things were our examples, to the intent we should not lust after evil things, as they also lusted. Neither be ye idolaters, as were some of them; as it is written, The people sat down to eat and drink, and rose up to play. Neither let us commit fornication, as some of them committed, and fell in one day three and twenty thousand. Neither let us tempt Christ, as some of them also tempted, and were destroyed of serpents. Neither murmur ye, as some of them also murmured, and were destroyed of the destroyer. Now all these things happened unto them for ensamples: and they are written for our admonition, upon whom the ends of the world are come. Wherefore let him that thinketh he standeth take heed lest he fall.” (1 Corinthians 10:6-12)

Today’s Morsel:  I am of the belief that everything which was written in the Bible was for my learning. When I read each story, I am made wiser because I accept it as being for me.  When I read scripture, I’m always looking for the application.  How does it apply to me? In his writings, Paul tells us, “Wherefore, my beloved, as ye have always obeyed, not as in my presence only, but now much more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling.” (Philippians 2:12)  The writer of Hebrews tells us, “Therefore we ought to give the more earnest heed to the things which we have heard, lest at any time we should let them slip. For if the word spoken by angels was stedfast, and every transgression and disobedience received a just recompence of reward; How shall we escape, if we neglect so great salvation; which at the first began to be spoken by the Lord, and was confirmed unto us by them that heard him” (Hebrews 2:1-3). When Jesus returns I do not think any of us are going to be able to make the excuse by saying that we did not know.  And that is because He’s already given us examples of other’s mistakes in scripture so that we would not make the same mistakes.

Sing: He leadeth me! He leadeth me, by His great hand He leadeth me.  His faithful follower I will be for by His hand He leadeth me.

Thought For Today:  Those old stories have a purpose.

Morning Manna by Rufus Parker - 6 June 2020

D-Day

“And I will restore to you the years that the locust hath eaten, the cankerworm, and the caterpiller, and the palmerworm, my great army which I sent among you. And ye shall eat in plenty, and be satisfied, and praise the name of the LORD your God, that hath dealt wondrously with you: and my people shall never be ashamed. And ye shall know that I am in the midst of Israel, and that I am the LORD your God, and none else: and my people shall never be ashamed. And it shall come to pass afterward, that I will pour out my spirit upon all flesh; and your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, your old men shall dream dreams, your young men shall see visions: And also upon the servants and upon the handmaids in those days will I pour out my spirit. And I will shew wonders in the heavens and in the earth, blood, and fire, and pillars of smoke. The sun shall be turned into darkness, and the moon into blood, before the great and the terrible day of the LORD come. And it shall come to pass, that whosoever shall call on the name of the LORD shall be delivered: for in mount Zion and in Jerusalem shall be deliverance, as the LORD hath said, and in the remnant whom the LORD shall call.”
(Joel 2:25-32)

Today’s Morsel:  On June 6, 1944, more than 156,000 American, British, and Canadian troops stormed 50 miles of Normandy's fiercely defended beaches in northern France in an operation called D-Day. It was the largest seaborne invasion in history. The operation began the liberation of German-occupied France (and later western Europe) and laid the foundations of the Allied victory on the Western Front.  

The Lord had prophesied through the prophet Joel that there would be another D-Day.  A day in which He would pour out His Spirit upon all flesh.  And Luke wrote, “And when the day of Pentecost was fully come, they were all with one accord in one place.  And suddenly there came a sound from heaven as of a rushing mighty wind, and it filled all the house where they were sitting. And there appeared unto them cloven tongues like as of fire, and it sat upon each of them. And they were all filled with the Holy Ghost, and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance.” (Acts 2:1-4)  And the apostle Peter would confirm that this was that day which Joel had prophesied would come.  “But this is that which was spoken by the prophet Joel; And it shall come to pass in the last days, saith God, I will pour out of my Spirit upon all flesh: and your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, and your young men shall see visions, and your old men shall dream dreams: And on my servants and on my handmaidens I will pour out in those days of my Spirit; and they shall prophesy: And I will shew wonders in heaven above, and signs in the earth beneath; blood, and fire, and vapour of smoke: The sun shall be turned into darkness, and the moon into blood, before that great and notable day of the Lord come: And it shall come to pass, that whosoever shall call on the name of the Lord shall be saved” he said, (Acts 2:16-21). If you are feeling held captivated, let me encourage you, liberation has already come.  Jesus has made us free!

Sing:  He set me free, yes, He set me free.  He broke the bars of prison for me.  I’m glory bound my Jesus to see; Glory to God, He set me free.

 Thought For Today:  Whom the Son makes free is free indeed!

Morning Manna by Rufus Parker - 5 June 2020

Fear Not

“And Moses went and spake these words unto all Israel. And he said unto them, I am an hundred and twenty years old this day; I can no more go out and come in: also the LORD hath said unto me, Thou shalt not go over this Jordan. The LORD thy God, he will go over before thee, and he will destroy these nations from before thee, and thou shalt possess them: and Joshua, he shall go over before thee, as the LORD hath said. And the LORD shall do unto them as he did to Sihon and to Og, kings of the Amorites, and unto the land of them, whom he destroyed. And the LORD shall give them up before your face, that ye may do unto them according unto all the commandments which I have commanded you. Be strong and of a good courage, fear not, nor be afraid of them: for the LORD thy God, he it is that doth go with thee; he will not fail thee, nor forsake thee.” (Deuteronomy 31:1-6)

Today’s Morsel:  One of the things that Israel was told repeatedly was not to fear because God was always with them.  However, they failed to obey God’s words and instructions and fear continued to grip them.  When we allow our fears to grip our hearts, we too will soon go into a state of fear.  The apostle John says that fear will cause us to be tormented (1 John 4:18).  In other words, it will cause us severe physical and mental suffering.  If we do those things that we fear, we can kill fear.  Always remember, fear is just False Evidence Appearing Real.  Therefore, if I want to rid myself of fear, I just need to get up enough courage and go against it.  We have the promise of God that He is with us.  Be strong and of a good courage, fear not, nor be afraid of them: for the LORD thy God, he it is that doth go with thee; he will not fail thee, nor forsake thee.  So, why fear?

Sing: Faith, faith, faith, just a little bit of faith.  Faith, faith, faith, just a little bit of faith.  You don’t need a lot, just use what you’ve got.  Faith, faith, faith, just a little bit of faith.

Thought For Today: Fear is just False Evidence Appearing Real.

Morning Manna by Rufus Parker - 4 June 2020

Mr. and Mrs. Knowitall

“He that keepeth his mouth keepeth his life: but he that openeth wide his lips shall have destruction.” (Proverbs 13:3)

Today’s Morsel:  Once my family and I were taking a trip from Okinawa to Hawaii on a military hop.  Our plane had a delay in Guam.  I was sitting in the lounge when this man came in and started talking.  He knew something about everything.  If someone started to talk about sports, he knew about it.  If it was politics, he knew about it.  There wasn't a subject that he did not know.  Maybe you have met Mr. and Mrs. Knowitall? Those that you cannot seem to get a word in edgeways because they know it all and have already done it.  They know what you ought to do before you do.  Solomon said, “He that keepeth his mouth keepeth his life: but he that openeth wide his lips shall have destruction.”  In other words, the one that is rash and inconsiderate, hasty with his lips; a talkative person, that freely speaks everything that comes into his mind, regardless of the effects to others, or consequences of a thing; oftentimes is brought to ruin and destruction.  And the only fool bigger than they are is the one who is willing to argue with them.

Sing: Let’s talk about Jesus, the King of Kings is He, the Lord of all Supreme throughout eternity.  The great I Am, The Way; The Truth, The Life, The Door.  Let’s talk about Jesus, more and more.

Thought For Today: A shut mouth gathers no foot.

Morning Manna by Rufus Parker - 3 June 2020

Greater Works

“Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that believeth on me, the works that I do shall he do also; and greater works than these shall he do; because I go unto my Father.” (John 14:12)

Today’s Morsel:  It seems like there for a while, everywhere I went there were signs stating "Hiring."   And then right across the street from the stores that were hiring, there was someone standing with a sign saying, “Homeless anything will help.”  Fool me once shame on you, fool me twice shame on me.  The problem with too many folks in the world today is they quit looking for work when they find a job.  And the same is true in the church.  Some folks never look for ways to do more or expand their talents and abilities.  I have heard many folks say that this is the job I was hired for and that is all I am doing.  They quit working. But Jesus said, “Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that believeth on me, the works that I do shall he do also; and greater works than these shall he do.”  Don’t quit working just because you have a job.  Keep looking for more work, you never know what you may learn or discover.

Sing:  When He calls me, I will answer; when He calls me, I will hear.  When He calls me, I will answer, I’ll be somewhere working for my Lord.

 I’ll be somewhere working; I’ll be somewhere working; I’ll be somewhere working for Lord. I ’ll be somewhere working, I’ll be somewhere working, I’ll be somewhere working for Lord.

Thought For Today: Don’t quit working just because you find a job!

Morning Manna by Rufus Parker - 2 June 2020

Ability or Character

“The righteousness of the perfect shall direct his way: but the wicked shall fall by his own wickedness.”(Proverbs 11:5)

Today’s Morsel:  All of us are endowed by our Creator with certain talents and abilities.  And it usually takes those abilities to help us accomplish our goals and reach the top.  I have seen many men and women reach the top by their abilities, but due to a lack of character it did not keep them there.  If we think that it is all about ability, we had better think again.  As Solomon states, “The righteousness of the perfect shall direct his way: but the wicked shall fall by his own wickedness.” Ability without character is a train wreck waiting to happen.

Sing:  Jesus! Jesus! You know what’s best for me.  So, lead on, Jesus! I’ll go wherever You lead.

Thought For Today: Ability may take you to the top, but it takes character to keep you there.

Morning Manna by Rufus Parker - 1 June 2020

Advance Preparation

“Lay not up for yourselves treasures upon earth, where moth and rust doth corrupt, and where thieves break through and steal: But lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust doth corrupt, and where thieves do not break through nor steal: For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also.” (Matthew 6:19-21)

Today’s Morsel:  One of the things that my wife and I learned at an early stage of our traveling overseas was that we needed to let our financial institution know that we would be out of the country so that when we needed to use our credit cards the charges would be approved. And it also allowed them to monitor any excess charges for fraud.  Advance preparation.  Jesus said, "Lay not up for yourselves treasures upon earth, where moth and rust doth corrupt, and where thieves break through and steal: But lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust doth corrupt, and where thieves do not break through nor steal: For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also."  No, we cannot take our money to heaven with us, but we can send it on ahead by giving into His kingdom.  How much advance preparation have you made for where you are going.  It is never too late to start.  I suggest you begin today.

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

Oh Lord, You know, I have no friend like You; if heaven's not my home. then Lord what will I do.  The angels beckon me from heaven's open door, and I can’t feel at home in this world anymore.

Thought For Today:  You don’t purchase a home for free (Parker)