Morning Manna by Rufus Parker - 24 November 2022

 Thanksgiving

“For the LORD shall comfort Zion: he will comfort all her waste places; and he will make her wilderness like Eden, and her desert like the garden of the LORD; joy and gladness shall be found therein, thanksgiving, and the voice of melody.” (Isaiah 51:3)

Today’s Morsel: Today many around the world will celebrate here in America what we call Thanksgiving. According to some historians, “In September 1620, a small ship called the Mayflower left Plymouth, England, carrying 102 passengers embarked on a journey to discover the New World. After a treacherous journey lasting 66 days, they arrived near the tip of Cape Cod, far north of their intended destination at the mouth of the Hudson River. One month later, the Mayflower crossed Massachusetts Bay, where the Pilgrims, as they are now commonly known, began the work of establishing a village at Plymouth. Throughout that first brutal winter, most of the colonists remained on board the ship, where they suffered from exposure, scurvy, and outbreaks of contagious disease. Only half of the Mayflower's original passengers lived to see their first New England spring. In March, the remaining settlers moved ashore and began to harvest with the help and alliance with Native Americans of the area. This alliance tragically remains one of the sole examples of harmony between European colonists and Native Americans.  In November 1621, after the Pilgrims' first corn harvest proved successful, Governor William Bradford organized a three-day celebratory feast, now remembered as America's “First Thanksgiving”- although, it is argued that the Pilgrims themselves may not have used the term “Thanksgiving” at the time. Historians also argue that the Pilgrims had their first true Thanksgiving in 1623 when they gave thanks for rain that ended a drought. In the second half of the 1600s, thanksgivings after the harvest became more common and started to become annual events. George Washington, the first president of the United States, proclaimed the first national Thanksgiving Day in 1789 and it officially became an annual holiday in 1863.”  No matter if the history is right or wrong, it still serves a purpose that we should be thankful for what the Lord has done for us all. I pray that this day will be a reminder that we should always have a heart of gratitude towards God and others always.  Enjoy your day as you give thanks.  

Sing: Thanks, Thanks, I give You thanks, for all You have done, I am so blessed, my soul has found rest, Oh Lord, I give You thanks.

Thought For Today: Happy Thanksgiving!

Morning Manna by Rufus Parker - 23 November 2022

 Ingratitude

“And David sent out ten young men, and David said unto the young men, Get you up to Carmel, and go to Nabal, and greet him in my name: And thus shall ye say to him that liveth in prosperity, Peace be both to thee, and peace be to thine house, and peace be unto all that thou hast. And now I have heard that thou hast shearers: now thy shepherds which were with us, we hurt them not, neither was there ought missing unto them, all the while they were in Carmel. Ask thy young men, and they will shew thee. Wherefore let the young men find favour in thine eyes: for we come in a good day: give, I pray thee, whatsoever cometh to thine hand unto thy servants, and to thy son David. And when David's young men came, they spake to Nabal according to all those words in the name of David, and ceased. And Nabal answered David's servants, and said, Who is David? and who is the son of Jesse? there be many servants now a days that break away every man from his master. Shall I then take my bread, and my water, and my flesh that I have killed for my shearers, and give it unto men, whom I know not whence they be? So David's young men turned their way, and went again, and came and told him all those sayings. And David said unto his men, Gird ye on every man his sword. And they girded on every man his sword; and David also girded on his sword: and there went up after David about four hundred men; and two hundred abode by the stuff. But one of the young men told Abigail, Nabal's wife, saying, Behold, David sent messengers out of the wilderness to salute our master; and he railed on them. But the men were very good unto us, and we were not hurt, neither missed we any thing, as long as we were conversant with them, when we were in the fields: They were a wall unto us both by night and day, all the while we were with them keeping the sheep.” (1 Samuel 25:5-16)

 

Today’s Morsel:  One of the greatest hindrances to spiritual growth is ingratitude. One of the first lessons that my parents taught me was to always say ‘thank you' when someone did something for me. No matter if it was something that I didn’t want or needed I should always be thankful.  David and his men had for some reason protected Nabal and his flocks and overseers. Maybe David knew what it was like to be a shepherd, caring for flocks and so he felt a need to show kindness and protection. And now he had heard that Nabal was shearing his sheep, which was a time of feasting and gladness. And so he figured that Nabal would reciprocate by giving him food for his men. Scripture says, “Give to him that asketh thee, and from him that would borrow of thee turn not thou away.” (Matthew 5:42)   Nabal showed ingratitude towards David and his men for what they had done for him, which we see afterwards led to his demise.  Always keep the golden rule at the forefront of your mind and a giving heart towards others.

Sing: Here I am Lord, here I am, I give all myself to You, here I am.  Here I am Lord, here I am, let Your Spirit work through me, here I am.

Thought For Today: Keep a giving heart. 

Morning Manna by Rufus Parker - 22 November 2022

 Liberty

“First, I thank my God through Jesus Christ for you all, that your faith is spoken of throughout the whole world. For God is my witness, whom I serve with my spirit in the gospel of his Son, that without ceasing I make mention of you always in my prayers; Making request, if by any means now at length I might have a prosperous journey by the will of God to come unto you. For I long to see you, that I may impart unto you some spiritual gift, to the end ye may be established; That is, that I may be comforted together with you by the mutual faith both of you and me.” (Romans 1:8-12)

 

Today’s Morsel: When you have been made free, you understand the importance of intercession for others to be made free and remain free. There is a certain enthusiasm in liberty that makes you rise above your own situation and circumstances and pray for others that may not know God or may be struggling in their walk with Him. But when you know that you have been made free by Jesus, there comes a zeal and eagerness for the freedom of others.  Paul told the church at Rome that he thanked God through Jesus Christ for them all, and that their faith was spoken of throughout the whole world. When is the last time you prayed and thanked God for others who are committed and sold out to God?  If we are not careful, we can waste all our time praying and complaining about backsliders and the uncommitted and forsake praying and giving thanks to God for the faithful. Even though we desire to see the lost saved, don’t ever forget that the cause is greater than the casualty.

Sing: Here my cry, oh Lord, attend unto my prayer, from the ends of the earth will I cry unto Thee.  And when my heart is overwhelmed, lead me to the rock that is higher than I, so much higher than I.

Thought For Today: “If the Son therefore shall make you free, ye shall be free indeed.” (John 8:36)

Morning Manna by Rufus Parker - 21 November 2022

 No More Animal Sacrifices

“Offer unto God thanksgiving; and pay thy vows unto the most High”  
(Psalms 50:14)

Today’s Morsel: Many of the Jew understood that after Jesus’ death, burial, and resurrection, the animal sacrifice for thanksgiving, which was required under the law, was now no longer a requirement. Now all that was needed was a sacrifice of praise with their lips giving thanks. And this sacrifice will never cease. This sacrifice must be perpetual. This sacrifice of thanksgiving must be taught to your children and their children. Every generation must understand the importance of this sacrifice and its meaning. Churches must teach their people to pay their vows and be thankful. Preachers must preach and teach the importance of and value of sacrifices with thanksgiving. Every leader and every saint must show forth the sacrifices of praise with their lips giving thanks. Are you thankful?  Let it show with your praises.  

Sing: O what a Savior, O Hallelujah, His heart was broken on Calvary.  His hands were nail scarred, His side was riven, He gave His life's blood for even me

Thought For Today: Always maintain a heart of thanksgiving.

Morning Manna by Rufus Parker - 19 November 2022

 O’ Give Thanks Unto The Lord

“O give thanks unto the LORD, for he is good: for his mercy endureth for ever. Let the redeemed of the LORD say so, whom he hath redeemed from the hand of the enemy; And gathered them out of the lands, from the east, and from the west, from the north, and from the south. They wandered in the wilderness in a solitary way; they found no city to dwell in. Hungry and thirsty, their soul fainted in them. Then they cried unto the LORD in their trouble, and he delivered them out of their distresses. And he led them forth by the right way, that they might go to a city of habitation. Oh that men would praise the LORD for his goodness, and for his wonderful works to the children of men! For he satisfieth the longing soul, and filleth the hungry soul with goodness. Such as sit in darkness and in the shadow of death, being bound in affliction and iron; Because they rebelled against the words of God, and contemned the counsel of the most High: Therefore he brought down their heart with labour; they fell down, and there was none to help. Then they cried unto the LORD in their trouble, and he saved them out of their distresses. He brought them out of darkness and the shadow of death, and brake their bands in sunder. Oh that men would praise the LORD for his goodness, and for his wonderful works to the children of men!” (Psalms 107:1-15)

Today’s Morsel: As all men should do, at all times and for all things; the Psalmist begins as he often does, and gives the same reasons for thanksgiving. For He (God) is good; and does good and is the author of all good.  For His mercy endures forever; and men in every age are partakers of it. Jeremiah says that God’s mercies are renewed every morning (Lamentations 3:22-23). Think about the word forever. It means unending, everlasting, always, eternally. Therefore, when we consider the goodness of God and His mercies, we ought to be thankful to Him and bless His name. I hear folks who say that they don’t have anything to be thankful for. Those who make such comments are those who do not know Christ or have a relationship with Him. But the people that do know their God, understand that His lovingkindness is better than life, and that without Him they can do nothing, those are the people that give thanks to the Lord.

Sing: Give thanks with a grateful heart, give thanks, to the holy one, give thanks, because He’s given Jesus Christ His Son.  And now, let the weak say I am strong, let the poor say I am rich, because of what the Lord hath done for us, give thanks.

Thought For Today: A relationship in Christ is seen by the gratitude of the people.  

Morning Manna by Rufus Parker - 18 November 2022

 Perpetual

“By him therefore let us offer the sacrifice of praise to God continually, that is, the fruit of our lips giving thanks to his name.” (Hebrews 13:15)

Today’s Morsel: The writer of Hebrews tells us to continually give thanks to God with our lips. There are many things if we would just stop and consider, that we can give God thanks for. Things such as our salvation.  Being washed in His blood. His Word. His love for us. Having a job. The places He’s taken us and the things that He has allowed us to see. His church. His saints. A roof over our heads. But most important the relationship, fellowship, apostleship, and discipleship we have with and in Him.  There are just so many thanks to be thankful for. John said: “And there are also many other things which Jesus did, the which, if they should be written every one, I suppose that even the world itself could not contain the books that should be written. Amen.” (John 21:25) Where are you in writing your book of the things that He has done in your life?

Sing: Thank You, Jesus, for the blood applied, thank You, Jesus, it has washed me white.  Thank You, Jesus, You have saved my life.  Brought me out of darkness unto Your glorious light.

 

Thought For Today: “Oh that men would praise the LORD for his goodness, and for his wonderful works to the children of men!” (Psalms 107:8)

Morning Manna by Rufus Parker - 17 November 2022

 Let's Talk About Jesus

“Sing praises to the LORD, which dwelleth in Zion: declare among the people his doings.” (Psalms 9:11)

Today’s Morsel: How much do you talk about Jesus when you are out and about? Do you only talk about Him at home and at church? What do you tell others about Him when you are on the job, or on a flight? I believe that if our conversations in restaurants, ice cream stands, subways, and coffee shops were loud enough for others to hear, it may prevent the devil from spewing out all his filth and venom at these places and it may cause people to start to consider their language in public places. “How then shall they call on him in whom they have not believed? and how shall they believe in him of whom they have not heard? and how shall they hear without a preacher?” (Romans 10:14) We must declare Him and His doing among the people.  

Sing: There’s just so many wonderful things about Jesus, there’s just some many wonderful things about Him. There are so many wonderful things about Jesus, there’s just some many wonderful things about Him.

His name is wonderful, He’s a wonderful counselor, He is the Mighty God, Everlasting Father, He is the Prince of Peace, there’s so many wonderful things about Him.

Thought For Today: We must declare Him among the people.