Morning Manna by Rufus Parker - 17 October 2022

 Recruiting Starts At The Top

 “And as Jesus passed forth from thence, he saw a man, named Matthew, sitting at the receipt of custom: and he saith unto him, Follow me. And he arose, and followed him. And it came to pass, as Jesus sat at meat in the house, behold, many publicans and sinners came and sat down with him and his disciples. And when the Pharisees saw it, they said unto his disciples, Why eateth your Master with publicans and sinners? But when Jesus heard that, he said unto them, They that be whole need not a physician, but they that are sick. But go ye and learn what that meaneth, I will have mercy, and not sacrifice: for I am not come to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance.” 
(Matthew 9:9-13)

 

Today’s Morsel: Soul winning and teaching truth must begin with the main leaders of the church. Leaders in the church who are not soul winners are just position seekers. Jesus modeled everything that we should do as leaders. He even stated that He did not come to be ministered to, but to minister and give His life for a ransom for many. He showed us that recruitment begins at the top. Jesus was a servant leader. Servant leaders always put the mission and others before themselves.  He modeled everything that we ought to be, know, and do. And that included soul winning. Are you a soul winner?

 

Sing: To be like Jesus! To be like Jesus! On earth I long to be like Him. All through life’s journey, from earth to glory, I only ask to be like Him.

 

Thought For Today:  “The fruit of the righteous is a tree of life; and he that winneth souls is wise.” (Proverbs 11:30)

Morning Manna by Rufus Parker - 15 October 2022

 For A Limited Time Only

“By faith Noah, being warned of God of things not seen as yet, moved with fear, prepared an ark to the saving of his house; by the which he condemned the world, and became heir of the righteousness which is by faith.” (Hebrews 11:7)

 

Today’s Morsel: Noah was warned by God that He was going to destroy the earth and that He should build an ark. Scripture states that Noah was moved with fear and prepared an ark to the saving of his house; by which he condemned the world and became heir of the righteousness which is by faith. We too have been told in scripture that someday Jesus will return for His church without spot and blameless. We are only here for a limited time. Moses states: “For all our days are passed away in thy wrath: we spend our years as a tale that is told. The days of our years are threescore years and ten; and if by reason of strength they be fourscore years, yet is their strength labour and sorrow; for it is soon cut off, and we fly away. Who knoweth the power of thine anger? even according to thy fear, so is thy wrath. So teach us to number our days, that we may apply our hearts unto wisdom.” (Psalms 90:9-12) You only have this life for a limited time, so what are you doing to get ready for Christ’s soon return for you? 

 

Sing:  I’m getting ready to leave this place, I’m getting ready for those gates of pearls.  Keeping my record right, watching both day and night.  I’m getting ready to leave this place.

 

Thought For Today: “But know this, that if the goodman of the house had known in what watch the thief would come, he would have watched, and would not have suffered his house to be broken up. Therefore be ye also ready: for in such an hour as ye think not the Son of man cometh.” (Matthew 24:43-44)

Morning Manna by Rufus Parker - 14 October 2022

A Lifetime Warranty

“LORD, who shall abide in thy tabernacle? who shall dwell in thy holy hill? He that walketh uprightly, and worketh righteousness, and speaketh the truth in his heart. He that backbiteth not with his tongue, nor doeth evil to his neighbour, nor taketh up a reproach against his neighbour. In whose eyes a vile person is contemned; but he honoureth them that fear the LORD. He that sweareth to his own hurt, and changeth not. He that putteth not out his money to usury, nor taketh reward against the innocent. He that doeth these things shall never be moved.”  (Psalms 15:1-5)

Today’s Morsel: Rarely, are we able to buy things anymore that have a lifetime warranty. But there are some things that you buy, if you read the small print, that do offer you a lifetime warranty on the product if it is maintained according to the outlined standards and you have the receipt. (Hint, keep a file with receipts of the things you buy. Write on top of the receipt the item you purchased so that it will be easy for you to locate the receipt, and you may be able to get a new item. That info was free of charge!)

Paul told Timothy: “Take heed unto thyself, and unto the doctrine; conti!ue in them: for in doing this thou shalt both save thyself, and them that hear thee.” (1 Timothy 4:16) In other words, this doctrine of Jesus Christ, came with a lifetime warranty. Not only will it save you, but it will also save everyone that hears it from you.  Jesus Christ is the same, yesterday, today, and forever. Eternal life is only in Christ. If you give Him your life, and you follow the standards that He has outlined for you, you will someday be able to trade this life in for an eternal one.

 

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, strength, He has made them mine,  I have prosperity, power, and victory, I am abiding, abiding, in the vine.

 

Thought For Today: “But continue thou in the things which thou hast learned and hast been assured of, knowing of whom thou hast learned them; And that from a child thou hast known the holy scriptures, which are able to make thee wise unto salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus.” (2 Timothy 3:14-15)

Morning Manna by Rufus Parker - 13 October 2022

  News To Improve Your Life

“And so it was, that, while they were there, the days were accomplished that she should be delivered. And she brought forth her firstborn son, and wrapped him in swaddling clothes, and laid him in a manger; because there was no room for them in the inn. And there were in the same country shepherds abiding in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night. And, lo, the angel of the Lord came upon them, and the glory of the Lord shone round about them: and they were sore afraid. And the angel said unto them, Fear not: for, behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people. For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Saviour, which is Christ the Lord. And this shall be a sign unto you; Ye shall find the babe wrapped in swaddling clothes, lying in a manger. And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God, and saying, Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward men. And it came to pass, as the angels were gone away from them into heaven, the shepherds said one to another, Let us now go even unto Bethlehem, and see this thing which is come to pass, which the Lord hath made known unto us. And they came with haste, and found Mary, and Joseph, and the babe lying in a manger. And when they had seen it, they made known abroad the saying which was told them concerning this child. And all they that heard it wondered at those things which were told them by the shepherds. But Mary kept all these things, and pondered them in her heart. And the shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all the things that they had heard and seen, as it was told unto them.” (Luke 2:6-20)

 

Today’s Morsel: The story of the life of Jesus Christ is the good news that we all need to improve our lives. If we never apply the gospel to ourselves, we cannot have a changed life. Paul taught that if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature (2 Corinthians 5:17). Once you have the knowledge of Christ, have repented of your sins, and been baptized in His name, you are now commanded to walk in the newness of life (Romans 6).  Don’t expect your life to improve without Christ. As Jesus said, without me, you can do nothing (John 15:5). But in Him, we live, move, and have our being. This gospel will improve your life if you accept it. Consider the stories of Ruth, Esther, Mary Magdalen, Mary the mother of Jesus, the apostles that were chosen by Jesus, The Woman at the well, Abraham, Noah, and Moses. All life-changing stories for the better, and they were all written for our learning. These stories are to show you how God can improve your life for the better just as He did theirs if you will let Him. If you feel that life is mundane and boring, try Jesus and let Him improve it for you.

 

Sing: Something beautiful, something good, all my confusion, Jesus understood.  All I had to offer Him was brokenness and strife, but He made something beautiful out of my life.

 

Thought For Today: “And I will give them one heart, and I will put a new spirit within you; and I will take the stony heart out of their flesh, and will give them an heart of flesh: That they may walk in my statutes, and keep mine ordinances, and do them: and they shall be my people, and I will be their God.” (Ezekiel 11:19-20)

Morning Manna by Rufus Parker - 12 October 2022

 The Best Solution

 “And there were four leprous men at the entering in of the gate: and they said one to another, Why sit we here until we die? If we say, We will enter into the city, then the famine is in the city, and we shall die there: and if we sit still here, we die also. Now therefore come, and let us fall unto the host of the Syrians: if they save us alive, we shall live; and if they kill us, we shall but die. And they rose up in the twilight, to go unto the camp of the Syrians: and when they were come to the uttermost part of the camp of Syria, behold, there was no man there. For the Lord had made the host of the Syrians to hear a noise of chariots, and a noise of horses, even the noise of a great host: and they said one to another, Lo, the king of Israel hath hired against us the kings of the Hittites, and the kings of the Egyptians, to come upon us. Wherefore they arose and fled in the twilight, and left their tents, and their horses, and their asses, even the camp as it was, and fled for their life. And when these lepers came to the uttermost part of the camp, they went into one tent, and did eat and drink, and carried thence silver, and gold, and raiment, and went and hid it; and came again, and entered into another tent, and carried thence also, and went and hid it. Then they said one to another, We do not well: this day is a day of good tidings, and we hold our peace: if we tarry till the morning light, some mischief will come upon us: now therefore come, that we may go and tell the king's household.” (2 Kings 7:3-9)

 

Today’s Morsel: One of the things about problem-solving is that you must develop some solutions that may help you with solving whatever problem you may be having. And once you develop those possible solutions, then you must pick the best one that you think will help you solve your problem and then put it into action. The four lepers were in a dire strait. Sit there and die or go to the Syrians. They identified the best possible solution to fix their problem. Go to the Syrians. And as soon as they put their solution into action, God moved on their behalf to help them, not only solve their own problem but to solve the problem of others that were inside the camp. If these lepers had not put their solution to the problem into action, others may have died as well. We never know how the things we do to solve our problems may someday help others solve theirs. What problem are you facing today? Do you feel as though you have run out of solutions, and nothing is working? Well, let me share with you another solution, go to Jesus, and ask Him for His help in finding the right solution to your problem and you will see that all things will work out just fine. As they say, when all else fails, try Jesus!

 

Sing: I came to Jesus weary, worn, and sad; He took my sin away, He took my sin away.  And now on Him, I roll my every care, He took my sins away.

 

Thought For Today: You have not because you ask not!

Morning Manna by Rufus Parker - 11 October 2022

 We Are Trying To Make A Difference

 “But ye, beloved, building up yourselves on your most holy faith, praying in the Holy Ghost, Keep yourselves in the love of God, looking for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ unto eternal life. And of some have compassion, making a difference: And others save with fear, pulling them out of the fire; hating even the garment spotted by the flesh.”

 (Jude 1:20-23)

 

Today’s Morsel: The story is told of a little boy walking along the ocean throwing starfish back into the water that had washed ashore. A man saw him and asked him what he was doing. The lad explained that he was throwing the starfish back into the ocean so they could live. The man said, there are too many of them here for you to make a difference. As the young lad threw one into the ocean he said, “I just made a difference for that one.”

When you listen to someone share their hurts and pain in the Walmart line, at church, or on the job, others may think that you are wasting your time, but you really could be making a difference for that one person. So keep showing compassion.  God’s ways aren’t ours.

 

Sing: What a difference you made in my life, what a difference you made in my life.  You restored all the broken parts, what a difference you’ve made in my life.

 

Thought For Today: “It is of the LORD'S mercies that we are not consumed, because his compassions fail not.” (Lamentations 3:22)

Morning Manna by Rufus Parker - 10 October 2022

 Received With Open Arms

“And he said, A certain man had two sons: And the younger of them said to his father, Father, give me the portion of goods that falleth to me. And he divided unto them his living. And not many days after the younger son gathered all together, and took his journey into a far country, and there wasted his substance with riotous living. And when he had spent all, there arose a mighty famine in that land; and he began to be in want. And he went and joined himself to a citizen of that country; and he sent him into his fields to feed swine. And he would fain have filled his belly with the husks that the swine did eat: and no man gave unto him. And when he came to himself, he said, How many hired servants of my father's have bread enough and to spare, and I perish with hunger! I will arise and go to my father, and will say unto him, Father, I have sinned against heaven, and before thee, And am no more worthy to be called thy son: make me as one of thy hired servants. And he arose, and came to his father. But when he was yet a great way off, his father saw him, and had compassion, and ran, and fell on his neck, and kissed him. And the son said unto him, Father, I have sinned against heaven, and in thy sight, and am no more worthy to be called thy son. But the father said to his servants, Bring forth the best robe, and put it on him; and put a ring on his hand, and shoes on his feet: And bring hither the fatted calf, and kill it; and let us eat, and be merry: For this my son was dead, and is alive again; he was lost, and is found. And they began to be merry.”
(Luke 15:11-24)

 

Today’s Morsel:  The story of the Prodigal Son, is a story that relates how Jesus treats each of us when we make up our minds and come home to Him. The Lord isn’t willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance. When the prodigal son decided to return home, he probably was not expecting all the excitement and fan fair that was given to him.  For the father to give him the best robe, new shoes, and a signature ring with authority was probably a little bit much to handle. He had already made up his mind to be a servant like others. Jesus said that the angels in heaven rejoiceth over one sinner that repents. The father saw his son in a different light. This is my son, he said, that was lost and is found. He was dead and is alive again. The son was received by his father with open arms.  The same is true with you.  You can never get too far from Jesus that He will not welcome you home with open arms. Just don’t wait too long.

 

Sing: He said come unto me, and I will give you rest, take my yoke upon you, come, and be blessed. For my yoke is easy and my burdens are light, come unto me and be filled with delight.

 

Thought For Today: Home is where the heart is.