Morning Manna by Rufus Parker - 8 December 2021

 Teach Christ

“This I say therefore, and testify in the Lord, that ye henceforth walk not as other Gentiles walk, in the vanity of their mind, Having the understanding darkened, being alienated from the life of God through the ignorance that is in them, because of the blindness of their heart: Who being past feeling have given themselves over unto lasciviousness, to work all uncleanness with greediness. But ye have not so learned Christ; If so be that ye have heard him, and have been taught by him, as the truth is in Jesus: That ye put off concerning the former conversation the old man, which is corrupt according to the deceitful lusts; And be renewed in the spirit of your mind; And that ye put on the new man, which after God is created in righteousness and true holiness”
(Ephesians 4:17-24)

 

Today’s Morsel:  It appears that the world wants you to think that everything is run by aliens and superheroes.  Dads and moms are no longer their children’s superheroes, it appears they are becoming aliens to them.  And the make-believe heroes are becoming their children’s real superheroes.  Paul admonished the church at Corinth, “ But I fear, lest by any means, as the serpent beguiled Eve through his subtilty, so your minds should be corrupted from the simplicity that is in Christ.” (2 Corinthians 11:3)  Eve told God that the serpent deceived her.  And he hasn’t stopped deceiving.  As Paul said about the last days, “But evil men and seducers shall wax worse and worse, deceiving, and being deceived.” (2 Timothy 3:13) Remember, Satan is out to get the next generation.  If he can get your children and grandchildren, and cause them to turn against you, it can shake your faith.  I think it may be time that you teach your children and grandchildren who they are to be in Christ so that Satan does not deceive them and get an advantage over you.  

Sing:  Change my heart, O’ God, make it ever true; change my heart O’ God, may I be like You.  You are the Potter, I am the clay, mold me and make me, this is what I pray.  Change my heart, O’ God, make it ever true; change my heart O’ God, may I be like You.

 

Thought For Today: “Train up a child in the way he should go: and when he is old, he will not depart from it.” (Proverbs 22:6)

Morning Manna by Rufus Parker - 7 December 2021

 Caught Off Guard

“Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour” (1 Peter 5:8)

 

Today’s Morsel:  Today on December 7, 1941, 70 years ago,the Empire of Japan attacked the United States Navy based in Pearl Harbor, Hawaii.  The Japanese attack damaged 339 warplanes, 21 American ships, and took the lives of 2,403 people.  President Franklin Roosevelt would label it, “A date that will live in infamy.”  Many have asked how did this happen?  How were the Americans caught off guard?  There are many reports as to what happened. But no matter the reports, lives were lost because people were caught off guard and not prepared for the attack.  Peter tells us to be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour.  We must not be unprepared; we must always be on the alert.  We must walk circumspectly and be vigilant.  Habakkuk states, “I will stand upon my watch, and set me upon the tower, and will watch to see what he will say unto me, and what I shall answer when I am reproved. And the LORD answered me, and said, Write the vision, and make it plain upon tables, that he may run that readeth it.” (Habakkuk 2:1-2)  We don’t run to lose, we run to win.  Stay on guard because your adversary is seeking whom he may devour.

 

Sing:  Fix your mind on the goal, that sweet home of the soul, there’s an eye watching you; never turn from the way to the kingdom of day, there’s an eye watching you.

Watching you, watching you, everyday mind the course you pursue; there’s an all-seeing eye watching you.

Thought For Today:  Don’t let Satan get the advantage over you. Stay alert.

Morning Manna by Rufus Parker - 6 December 2021

 That Bitter Cup

“Then cometh Jesus with them unto a place called Gethsemane, and saith unto the disciples, Sit ye here, while I go and pray yonder. And he took with him Peter and the two sons of Zebedee, and began to be sorrowful and very heavy. Then saith he unto them, My soul is exceeding sorrowful, even unto death: tarry ye here, and watch with me. And he went a little further, and fell on his face, and prayed, saying, O my Father, if it be possible, let this cup pass from me: nevertheless not as I will, but as thou wilt. And he cometh unto the disciples, and findeth them asleep, and saith unto Peter, What, could ye not watch with me one hour? Watch and pray, that ye enter not into temptation: the spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak. He went away again the second time, and prayed, saying, O my Father, if this cup may not pass away from me, except I drink it, thy will be done. And he came and found them asleep again: for their eyes were heavy. And he left them, and went away again, and prayed the third time, saying the same words. Then cometh he to his disciples, and saith unto them, Sleep on now, and take your rest: behold, the hour is at hand, and the Son of man is betrayed into the hands of sinners. Rise, let us be going: behold, he is at hand that doth betray me.” (Matthew 26:36-46)

Today’s Morsel:   I think that there comes a time when each of us must have a time of prayer where we do not forget the cup that we must choose to drink.  So many people take communion never realizing the nature of that cup.  Communion isn’t just meeting some religious obligation.  Communion is a time of renewed commitment.  The red inside that cup is a reminder of the blood that was shed for our sins.  That cup is a reminder of what Jesus has done for us.  It is a bitter cup.  It is a cup that reminds us of rejection, persecution, being misunderstood, and death.   Jesus didn’t desire that cup, but He knew that the Father’s Will was that it must be drunk.  When you take that cup, are you willing to die to self and unto Christ?  Do you discern what He’s done for you?

 Sing: He is my everything, He is my all.  He is my everything, both great and small.  He gave His life for me, made everything new, He is my everything, O’ how about you?

Thought For Today:  There is no life without death to self.

Morning Manna by Rufus Parker - 4 December 2021

 Keep Living

“The thief cometh not, but for to steal, and to kill, and to destroy: I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly.” 

(John 10:10)

 

Today’s Morsel:  One of the most essential things that we must learn in life is how to live. Loss doesn’t mean that you can’t live. I’ve seen people go into depression and lowliness because of loss. Jesus said that He came to give us life and that more abundantly. An abundant life is not a hopeless life.  An abundant life is a joy-filled life.  A life of service and commitment to live your dreams, goals, and visions.  A life to bring about edification to others.  As Paul states, “What shall we then say to these things? If God be for us, who can be against us?” (Romans 8:31)  Sure, life will have its ups and downs, but that doesn’t mean that you can’t live.  Again, Paul informs us, “If in this life only we have hope in Christ, we are of all men most miserable.” (1 Corinthians 15:19)  There is more ahead of us.  We are going to someday dance on those streets of heaven.  But if our hope is only on the here and now, we are going to be miserable and miss out on life.  What could you discover about yourself and what legacy could you leave if you would just live?

 

Sing:  I found a new way of living, I found a new life divine.  I have the fruit of the spirit, I am abiding, abiding, in the vine.  Abiding in the vine, abiding in the vine, love, joy, health, peace, He has made them mine.  I have prosperity, power, and victory.  I am abiding, abiding in the vine.

 

Thought For Today:  Live free or die (Harriet Tubman)

Morning Manna by Rufus Parker - 3 December 2021

 Keep Believing

And, behold, there cometh one of the rulers of the synagogue, Jairus by name; and when he saw him, he fell at his feet, And besought him greatly, saying, My little daughter lieth at the point of death: I pray thee, come and lay thy hands on her, that she may be healed; and she shall live…While he yet spake, there came from the ruler of the synagogue's house certain which said, Thy daughter is dead: why troublest thou the Master any further? As soon as Jesus heard the word that was spoken, he saith unto the ruler of the synagogue, Be not afraid, only believe.”

(Mark 5:22-23, 35-36)

 

Today’s Morsel:  I often wonder what could be accomplished in people’s lives if they didn’t stop believing in their dreams and hopes?  We read about many men's and women's accomplishments, but what about ours?  Ray Kroc, the founder of McDonald’s is a great example of how to keep believing.  It has been stated, every five hours somewhere around the world a new McDonald’s Restaurant is opening.  However, what’s amazing about McDonald’s is that Ray did not conceive the idea until he was 52 years old.  By that time, he had already been a struggling paper cup salesman, real estate broker, piano player, and milkshake mixer.  Here is what Ray said about those times in his life.  “I was 52 years old.  I had diabetes and early arthritis.  I had lost my gall bladder and most of my thyroid gland in earlier campaigns, but I was convinced that the best was ahead of me.” (Taken from Finishing Strong by Don Green).  Most of us have eaten in his restaurants.  Jarius came to Jesus for his help with his daughter’s illness.  But she died before Jesus could get there. When they told Jarius that his daughter was dead, Jesus heard them and he told Jarius, “Be not afraid, only believe.”  Jesus said that all things are possible to him that can believeth.   Don’t stop believing.  As the writer of Hebrews informs us, “But without faith it is impossible to please him: for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him.” (Hebrews 11:6)  The next act you do, or the next church service you attend might be your breakthrough.  Keep believing.  

Sing:  Keep believing, because His word is true.   Keep believing, you know that Lord will see you through.  When trouble rises in your life, and you don’t know what to do, you’ll be fine, if you just keep believing.

Thought For Today:  Keep believing!

Morning Manna by Rufus Parker - 2 December 2021

 You’ll See It When You Believe It

“Now after two days he departed thence, and went into Galilee. For Jesus himself testified, that a prophet hath no honour in his own country. Then when he was come into Galilee, the Galilaeans received him, having seen all the things that he did at Jerusalem at the feast: for they also went unto the feast. So Jesus came again into Cana of Galilee, where he made the water wine. And there was a certain nobleman, whose son was sick at Capernaum. When he heard that Jesus was come out of Judaea into Galilee, he went unto him, and besought him that he would come down, and heal his son: for he was at the point of death. Then said Jesus unto him, Except ye see signs and wonders, ye will not believe. The nobleman saith unto him, Sir, come down ere my child die. Jesus saith unto him, Go thy way; thy son liveth. And the man believed the word that Jesus had spoken unto him, and he went his way. And as he was now going down, his servants met him, and told him, saying, Thy son liveth. Then enquired he of them the hour when he began to amend. And they said unto him, Yesterday at the seventh hour the fever left him. So the father knew that it was at the same hour, in the which Jesus said unto him, Thy son liveth: and himself believed, and his whole house.” (John 4:43-53)

Today’s Morsel:  I believe that the greatest hindrance to many people’s faith is their desire to see instead of believe. Most people want to see before they believe. Even in the church, we hear comments that we need more signs and wonders so that people will believe. But the Lord told the rich man who requested that Larazus be sent to his home to warn his brothers about hell that they wouldn't believe even if he was sent (my wording), “And he said unto him, if they hear not Moses and the prophets, neither will they be persuaded, though one rose from the dead” (Luke 16:31). In today’s passage, Jesus told the people, “Except ye see signs and wonders, ye will not believe.”  Do you fall into this category?  Is your faith based on seeing rather than believing?  Our Lord said, “If thou canst believe, all things are possible to him that believeth.” (Mark 9:23). What do you have need of?  Can you believe God for it?  Faith is believing before you receive.  

Sing: I believe in a hill called Mount Calvary, I’ll believe whatever the cost.  And when time has surrendered and earth is no more, I’ll still cling to that old rugged cross.

Thought For Today: “You’ll see it when you believe it.” Dr. Wayne Dyer

Morning Manna by Rufus Parker - 1 December 2021

 Seizing the Opportunity

“As we have therefore opportunity, let us do good unto all men, especially unto them who are of the household of faith.” (Galatians 6:10)

 

Today’s Morsel:  One of the things about the month of December is that it often opens the door for us to do good. We may give in to the Salvation Army Red Kettles. We may purchase a gift for our kids or grandkids. We may give a donation to a shelter or orphanage. We may deliver meals for those who are shut-in. These are opportunities that are more available to us during this time of year.  But what about those who are of the household of faith? What about those in the church? What about the widow, widowers, or orphans in the church? Have you considered how you might have them into your home during this holiday season? Have you considered a gift for them? Have you considered their favorite meal? What about getting something nice for someone else in the church? Have you considered giving a gift to Christmas for Christ so that more churches can be planted, and the gospel can be preached to the lost? Opportunities may only knock once, so don’t miss your opportunity.  Give generously all year long, and especially so during this time when others receive so freely.

 

Sing:  Give and it shall be given, good measure pressed down shaken together and running over; give and it shall be given, when you give, you give to the Lord.

 

Thought For Today: Opportunity usually only knocks once.