Morning Manna by Rufus Parker - 8 May 2021

 

Remove the Cobwebs!

 

“A merry heart doeth good like a medicine: but a broken spirit drieth the bones.” (Proverbs 17:22)

 

Today’s Morsel:  How much time do you spend seeking joy and happiness.  They are free, but most people don’t look for them.  Some of the most depressing people, they say, are those that work in the circus, a clown, folks who go to church often, schoolteachers, those who have some of the best jobs in the world, stand-up comedians, and those who teach end-time prophecy.  One could look at this list and say that these should be some of the happiest people in the world.  But for some reason they are depressed.  They should be filled with laughter and joy every day.  But sad to say, they are not.  Laughter is the brush that sweeps away the cobwebs of the heart.  God desires that we have a merry heart.  Have you ever noticed that most of the children's nursery rhythms, or children's songs, require you to interact with motions that will make you laugh at yourself?  Is this why Jesus said that we must become as little children or we cannot enter the kingdom of heaven?  Laughter is good medicine.  Depression is usually caused by not enough laughter and not doing enough to cause others to laugh with us.  So, go ahead and get rid of those cobwebs over your heart by having a good laugh. Remember, the joy of the Lord is your strength.

 

Sing:  Smile a while and give your face a rest, raise your hands to the One you love the best. Turn around to someone new, shake their hand, and smile.

 

Thought For Today:  “Laughter is the brush that sweeps away the cobwebs of the heart.”

Morning Manna by Rufus Parker - 7 May 2021

 

Success

 

“Blessed is the man that endureth temptation: for when he is tried, he shall receive the crown of life, which the Lord hath promised to them that love him.” (James 1:12)

 

Today’s Morsel:  It has been stated, “Success is to be measured not so much by the position that one has reached in life as by the obstacles which he has overcome while trying to succeed."  How many obstacles have you had to overcome to get where you are today?  The children of Israel had to wander 40 years in the wilderness before they were able to go into the promised land.  James states that the man that endures temptation when he is tried, shall receive a crown of life, which God has promised to all of them that love Him.  To reach success it requires ‘u’.  If we are not successful in life, or we do not reach success, then it’s because we could not overcome the obstacles in our way and things impede us from reaching our goal.  Keep striving to overcome and receive the promises God has given you.   

 

Sing:  You’re going to make it, you’re going to make it, you’ve got what it takes to win.  And I know that you’re going to make it.  I know you are going to make it; just as long as you and Jesus stay friends.

 

Thought For Today:  Success is to be measured not so much by the position that one has reached in life as by the obstacles which he has overcome while trying to succeed.

 

Morning Manna by Rufus Parker - 6 May 2021

 

The Danger of Obeying Man Over God

 

“And why call ye me, Lord, Lord, and do not the things which I say?”
  (Luke 6:46)

 

Today’s Morsel:  Why is it that people will listen to man and they will not listen to God.  For the past year and a half, man has listened to man telling them what they can and cannot do.  Wear a mask, separate yourself from others, wash your hands, and stay home.   I am afraid that for some, they are allowing man to destroy their faith right before their eyes.  “A new study has revealed that nearly a quarter of the U.S. population is currently experiencing symptoms related to depression - that’s roughly three times the number before the ongoing global coronavirus pandemic began. According to Catherine Ettman, a doctoral student in public health at Brown University and lead author of the study, which was published in the American Medical Association journal JAMA Network Open. “We were surprised at the high levels of depression," she told National Public Radio.  “These rates were higher than what we’ve seen in the general population after other large-scale traumas like September 11.  Hurricane Katrina, and the Hong Kong unrest."   In nationwide surveys conducted before the pandemic, 9 percent of respondents reported depressive symptoms, the researchers found.  Once the pandemic started, that percentage soared to 28 percent.  Ettman pointed out that there are a variety of factors that are likely driving the surge in levels of depression, which can include “fear and anxiety around COVID, as well as the dramatic economic consequences.”   But the increase of depression and anxiety can also be caused by listening to man and not to God's word. For example, man has told us to separate ourselves from each other.  But God’s word says, “Not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as the manner of some is; but exhorting one another: and so much the more, as ye see the day approaching.” (Hebrews 10:25)  God said it is not good for man to be alone. Man says to wash your hands.  But God’s word says, “These are the things which defile a man: but to eat with unwashen hands defileth not a man.” (Matthew 15:20)  Wear a mask.  But God’s word says, “And till Moses had done speaking with them, he put a vail on his face.  But when Moses went in before the LORD to speak with him, he took the vail off, until he came out. (Exodus 34:33-34).  Who are you going to listen to?  If you are going to obey the laws of the land, that is one thing; but it is much better to obey the word of God.

 

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

 

Thought For Today:  Be more concerned with what God thinks about you than what people think about you.

Morning Manna by Rufus Parker - 5 May 2021

 

Ability

 

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

 

Today’s Morsel: One of the things about ability is it will enable a man to go to the top, but it will take character to keep him there.  In one’s own wicked way, which he has chosen and delights to walk in; he shall stumble therein, and fall to ruin and destruction, into hell and damnation.  Jesus said that “if a man walk in the night, he stumbleth, because there is no light in him.” (John 11:10)  Ability refers to being able to do something, which means that if a person can do something, they have the ability to do it.  Men are often elected for a job based on their skills and talents.  The good man, not blinded by passion, follows a safe and direct path of life; but the wicked, led by his own evil propensity, and losing the light of conscience, stumbles and fails.  “And an highway shall be there, and a way, and it shall be called The way of holiness; the unclean shall not pass over it; but it shall be for those: the wayfaring men, though fools, shall not err therein.” (Isaiah 35:8)  Remember,  ability can get you to the top, but it takes character to keep you there.

 

Sing:  Oh, there’s a highway to heaven.  None can walk up there but the pure in heart. Oh, there’s a highway to heaven, walking up the King’s highway!

 

Thought For Today: “And an highway shall be there, and a way, and it shall be called The way of holiness.”

Morning Manna by Rufus Parker - 4 May 2021

Windows to Your Heart

 

“O generation of vipers, how can ye, being evil, speak good things? for out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaketh.” (Matthew 12:34)

 

Today’s Morsel:  If corruption reigns in the heart, it will spring forth through the mouth.  What is inside of us will surely come out.  Where there is an abundance of wickedness in the heart, vile language is sure to spring forth.  Jesus says you cannot get good fruit from a corrupt tree nor can you get corrupt fruit from a good tree.  James tells us that we cannot get sweet water and bitter from the same fountain, nor can any fountain yield both saltwater and fresh (my wording, see James 3:11-12). If you want to know what is in a person (the heart), listen to their words, because words are the windows to one’s heart.

 

Sing:  Open the eyes of my heart Lord, open the eyes of my heart, I want to see You, I want to see You.  To see You high and lifted up, shining in the light of Your glory. Pour out Your power and love, as we sing holy, holy, holy; I want to see You.

 

Thought For Today:  Your words are the window to your heart.

Morning Manna by Rufus Parker - 3 May 2021

 

The Majority

 

“And when the servant of the man of God was risen early, and gone forth, behold, an host compassed the city both with horses and chariots. And his servant said unto him, Alas, my master! how shall we do? And he answered, Fear not: for they that be with us are more than they that be with them. And Elisha prayed, and said, LORD, I pray thee, open his eyes, that he may see. And the LORD opened the eyes of the young man; and he saw: and, behold, the mountain was full of horses and chariots of fire round about Elisha.”
(2 Kings 6:15-17)

 

Today’s Morsel:  One of the things that we learn through scripture is that there are more that are with us than that are with those who are against us.  Sometimes we may think that the majority is right. But God’s ways are not our ways, and nor are His thoughts the same as our thoughts.  Moses says “For their rock is not as our Rock… (Deuteronomy 32:31); If one can put a thousand to flight two can put ten thousand to flight (Deuteronomy 32:30).  God plus one (you) is always a majority and God is always right.  So, “What shall we then say to these things? If God be for us, who can be against us?” (Romans 8:31)  Stick with God and you are always on the winning side.    

 

Sing:  All hail the power of Jesus' name let angels prostrate fall.  Bring forth the royal diadem and crown Him Lord of all. Bring forth the royal diadem and crown Him Lord of all.

 

Thought For Today:  God plus one (you) is always a majority!

Morning Manna by Rufus Parker - 1 May 2021

Killing Fear

 

“There is no fear in love; but perfect love casteth out fear: because fear hath torment. He that feareth is not made perfect in love.” (1 John 4:18)

 

Today’s Morsel:  A definition for fear is that it is False Evidence Appearing Real.  The thing with fear is it can make things seem bigger than they really are.  John said that fear torments.  Fear can plague you and put you in a state of depression, misery, and sadness if you do not defeat it.  The reason many folks fear is that they do not witness their faith with others.  If Christians would follow Peter’s advice, “But sanctify the Lord God in your hearts: and be ready always to give an answer to every man that asketh you a reason of the hope that is in you with meekness and fear…” (1 Peter 3:15) they would overcome fear.  So, how do we kill fear?  Again, John said that there is no fear in love.  Because God is love, we must allow Him to retain His rightful place in our life.  The stronger our love in Christ is, the weaker our fear of others and of situations will be.  Face the things you fear and the death of fear is certain.

 

Sing:  Fill my way every day with love; as I walk with the heavenly dove.  Let me go all the while with a song and a smile.  Fill my way every day with love.

 

Thought For Today:  Face the things you fear and the death of fear is certain.