Morning Manna by Rufus Parker - 2024 March 12

It Is Jesus

 

“And it came to pass, that as he was come nigh unto Jericho, a certain blind man sat by the way side begging: And hearing the multitude pass by, he asked what it meant. And they told him, that Jesus of Nazareth passeth by. And he cried, saying, Jesus, thou Son of David, have mercy on me. And they which went before rebuked him, that he should hold his peace: but he cried so much the more, Thou Son of David, have mercy on me. And Jesus stood, and commanded him to be brought unto him: and when he was come near, he asked him, Saying, What wilt thou that I shall do unto thee? And he said, Lord, that I may receive my sight. And Jesus said unto him, Receive thy sight: thy faith hath saved thee. And immediately he received his sight, and followed him, glorifying God: and all the people, when they saw it, gave praise unto God.” (Luke 18:35-43)

 

Today’s Morsel: Scripture tells us that when Jesus was upon the earth, great multitudes followed Him. They observed His teachings, heard His preaching, saw His miracles, and even saw His rejection by folks. His fame spread far and wide. There has never been another who impacted so many. What made Him admired and followed? I believe it was His compassion for the lost. Jesus went where others feared to go and did what others failed to do. He asked nothing from those who gave nothing. He went about doing good to all. And those of us who have His spirit ought to be walking the same as He walked (1 John 2:6). When the blind man heard the commotion of the crowd, he asked what was going on and they told him that Jesus was passing by and he began to call out to Jesus for His help, and he received his sight.  In John 9, when the religious leader questioned the man born blind how that he had received his sight: “He answered and said, A man that is called Jesus made clay, and anointed mine eyes, and said unto me, Go to the pool of Siloam, and wash: and I went and washed, and I received sight.” (John 9:11) Peter said that we ought to be ready to give an answer to everyone that asks of us the hope that is within us without fear and doubting. Believe me, people today need Jesus. So, go out and take Him to them and they will be thankful you did. 

 

Sing: Jesus is here right now, reach out and touch Him. Jesus is here right now, yours to receive. Jesus is standing near, ready your heart to cheer. Jesus is here right now, only believe.

 

Thought For Today: “For there is one God, and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus;” (1 Timothy 2:5)

Morning Manna by Rufus Parker - 2024 March 11

Don’t Run Out of Gratitude

 

“Pray without ceasing. In every thing give thanks: for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you.” (1 Thessalonians 5:17-18)

 

Today’s Morsel: I’ve learned that the giving of thanks and being thankful can go a long way with folks. When we display a heart of gratitude, not only does it make us feel good about ourselves, but it also makes us feel good about who we are in Christ. I always teach that when we pray, the first ten things we pray about ought to be what we are thankful to God for, and the next ten should be what we need God’s help with. When Jesus healed the ten lepers, only one came back to give Him thanks and he was the only one who was made completely whole. The other nine were only healed, but the Samaritan was made whole. The nine may have gotten rid of their leprosy, but perhaps they may not have gotten rid of their troubled minds, bitterness of heart, loneliness, and depression like the one who was made whole. Thanksgiving for the even the smallest things with Christ can make a big difference in your life. Paul speak to the church at Rome stating: “For the invisible things of him from the creation of the world are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even his eternal power and Godhead; so that they are without excuse: Because that, when they knew God, they glorified him not as God, neither were thankful; but became vain in their imaginations, and their foolish heart was darkened.” (Romans 1:20-21) Notice, when they knew God, they were not thankful, and they became foolish trusting in other things. Let me encourage you, don’t run out of gratitude, because God’s will for our life is that we be always thankful.

 

Sing: Thank You, Lord, for saving my soul. Thank You, Lord, for making me whole. Thank You, Lord, for giving to me, Thy great salvation so rich and free. 

 

Thought For Today: “And let the peace of God rule in your hearts, to the which also ye are called in one body; and be ye thankful.” (Colossians 3:15)

Morning Manna by Rufus Parker - 2024 March 9

The Grace of God

 

“For the grace of God that bringeth salvation hath appeared to all men, Teaching us that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly, in this present world; Looking for that blessed hope, and the glorious appearing of the great God and our Saviour Jesus Christ; Who gave himself for us, that he might redeem us from all iniquity, and purify unto himself a peculiar people, zealous of good works.” (Titus 2:11-14)

 

Today’s Morsel: When we think of God’s grace, there ought to be something that swells up inside of us that causes us to put the brakes on when we even think of doing wrong. God’s grace in our lives ought to cause us to pushback on evil, wrong living, and ethical violation. God’s grace ought to cause our character to grow. It ought to cause us to reach out to the lost and fulfill our callings. God’s grace ought to cause us to live holy and separated for His purpose and use. God’s grace ought to cause us to obey the Golden Rule and develop a great love for the things of God and His word. You see, if it had not been for God’s grace, none of us would be saved from our sins. We would all be doomed to hell with Satan and his demonic force. But because of God’s grace, Paul said, “And you hath he quickened, who were dead in trespasses and sins; Wherein in time past ye walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that now worketh in the children of disobedience: Among whom also we all had our conversation in times past in the lusts of our flesh, fulfilling the desires of the flesh and of the mind; and were by nature the children of wrath, even as others. But God, who is rich in mercy, for his great love wherewith he loved us, Even when we were dead in sins, hath quickened us together with Christ, (by grace ye are saved;) And hath raised us up together, and made us sit together in heavenly places in Christ Jesus: That in the ages to come he might shew the exceeding riches of his grace in his kindness toward us through Christ Jesus.” (Ephesians 2:1-7) Aren’t you glad for His unmerited love and influence in your life? I thank God for His grace!

Sing: Grace, grace, God’s grace; grace that will pardon and cleanse within. Grace, grace, God’s grace, grace that is greater than all our sins.

 

Thought For Today: Grace only works with gratitude. 

Morning Manna by Rufus Parker - 2024 March 8

The Battlefield of the Mind

 

“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)

 

Today’s Morsel: Every battle of the warrior is won from within. Your ability to be an overcomer of the things which you face starts with our own self-discipline to look deep inside of you. Your attitude about what you are facing can either be your friend or your foe. Every battle is won or lost in the mind. If the enemy can get you to think that you can’t win, you will begin to think that you can’t win, and you won’t win. But on the other hand, if you think that you can be victorious and think that you will be victorious, you will oftentimes be victorious. As scripture says, “As he thinketh in his heart so is he.”  There are going to be many things that you are going to face in life. Problems, circumstances, and situations that will seem insurmountable to you. But you can overcome them if you keep your head in the game. As Isaiah said, “Thou wilt keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on thee: because he trusteth in thee. Trust ye in the LORD for ever: for in the LORD JEHOVAH is everlasting strength:” (Isaiah 26:3-4) Let me encourage you today, don’t allow fear to get a foothold into your mind so that you start thinking that you cannot win and be an overcomer. If you keep your mind on Jesus, you will see how easy it is to navigate through the things you face and you then will win.

 

Sing: When gloom and sadness whisper, “You’ve sinned no use to pray”; I look away to Jesus, and He tells me to say.

 

“I see a crimson stream of blood, it flows from Calvary; Its waves which reach the throne of God, are sweeping over me.” 

 

Thought For Today: “For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation.” (Romans 10:10)

Morning Manna by Rufus Parker - 2024 March 7

Dwelling In His House

 

“How amiable are thy tabernacles, O LORD of hosts! My soul longeth, yea, even fainteth for the courts of the LORD: my heart and my flesh crieth out for the living God. Yea, the sparrow hath found an house, and the swallow a nest for herself, where she may lay her young, even thine altars, O LORD of hosts, my King, and my God. Blessed are they that dwell in thy house: they will be still praising thee. Selah.” (Psalms 84:1-4)

 

Today’s Morsel: As Christians, we should have a habit of going to church. There ought to be something inside of us that draws us to God’s house. Not only to hear the word of God and the fellowship with brothers and sisters of like precious faith, but also, to worship God with these same people. The psalmist states, “Blessed are they that dwell in thy house: they will be still praising thee.” In other words, if we have it a habit of being in God’s house, nothing should be able to stop us from praising Him. Our situations and circumstances ought not stop our praise and worship to Him. Our afflictions ought not affect our relationship with God. If anything, they ought to draw us closer to Him. Do you know what I have found about those who have a love for the house of God and those who dwell there? All hell can be unleashed on their life, and they will not be fazed by it because they know that they are under the shadow of His wings, and He will bring them out.  Make it a habit to be in the house of the Lord.  

 

Sing: In His presence is fullness of joy, at His right hand, pleasures for every more. Oh what fellowship divine, I am His and He is mine; in the presence of the Lord, there’s fullness of joy.

 

Thought For Today: “I was glad when they said unto me, let us go into the house of the LORD.” (Psalms 122:1)

Morning Manna by Rufus Parker - 2024 March 6

True Worshippers

 

“The woman saith unto him, Sir, I perceive that thou art a prophet. Our fathers worshipped in this mountain; and ye say, that in Jerusalem is the place where men ought to worship. Jesus saith unto her, Woman, believe me, the hour cometh, when ye shall neither in this mountain, nor yet at Jerusalem, worship the Father. Ye worship ye know not what: we know what we worship: for salvation is of the Jews. But the hour cometh, and now is, when the true worshippers shall worship the Father in spirit and in truth: for the Father seeketh such to worship him. God is a Spirit: and they that worship him must worship him in spirit and in truth. The woman saith unto him, I know that Messias cometh, which is called Christ: when he is come, he will tell us all things. Jesus saith unto her, I that speak unto thee am he.” (John 4:19-26)

 

Today’s Morsel: Through study, we know that the gospel is the death, burial, and resurrection of Christ. But what many fail to realize about the gospels is that they are training instructions for leaders. We find that when we read the gospels, Jesus chooses twelve men and trains them for the mission that He would have them perform. The stories listed in the gospels are training tools to teach us how to deal with and answer people that we may encounter of our journey. In today’s lesson, Jesus encounters a woman at Jacobs well in Sychar or Shechem. This is the place that Jacob returns to when he returns into the land of promise from his uncle Laban after 20 plus years. It was here in this place that Levi and Simon kill all the males of Hamor and his son Shechem for raping their sister Dinah. Scripture says that Jesus had need to go through Samaria. The disciples wanted to go a different route because they knew that the Jews had no dealings with the Samaritans. But Jesus had need to go there because His mission was to seek and to save that which was lost. And after sending His disciples away to buy bread, he encounters a woman at the well. And their discussion leads not only into discussion of living water, the Holy Ghost, but also the true place for worship. She tells Jesus that our fathers worshipped in this mountain; and ye say, that in Jerusalem is the place where men ought to worship. Why was Jesus telling her that she should be worship in Jerusalem? Here’s the reason, I believe. Scripture says, “And it shall come to pass, that every one that is left of all the nations which came against Jerusalem shall even go up from year to year to worship the King, the LORD of hosts, and to keep the feast of tabernacles. And it shall be, that whoso will not come up of all the families of the earth unto Jerusalem to worship the King, the LORD of hosts, even upon them shall be no rain.” (Zechariah 14:16-17) Every nation was to worship in Jerusalem. But the Samaritans were worshipping in that mountain because they had allowed division to divide them. They were now worshipping many things and many gods. We must not allow anything or anyone to prevent us from worshipping the Lord our God. Jesus said that God is a spirit, and they that worship Him must worship Him in spirit and in truth. Do you know where you ought to be worshipping?

 

Sing: To worship You I live, to worship You I live, I live, to worship You. To worship You I live, to worship You I live, I live, to worship You. Oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh. 

 

Thought For Today: True worship always springs out of an understanding as to who God is and what He has done for us.

Morning Manna by Rufus Parker - 2024 March 5

Don’t Even Try It

 

“I am the vine, ye are the branches: He that abideth in me, and I in him, the same bringeth forth much fruit: for without me ye can do nothing.” (John 15:5)

 

Today’s Morsel: There are many people today that are trying to make it through life without Jesus.  It may seem as though they are making it on their own, but when you look a little closer you will see that they are working in their own strength and power and their life is not as successful as it appears. If you ask them how they are doing, they will tell you that they are tired and can’t sleep. They are restless and depressed. They have little or no joy, no true happiness within.  They are taking medications daily simply trying to exist. They are burning the candle at both ends trying to get ahead. They are troubled on every side. Scripture says, “Turn you at my reproof: behold, I will pour out my spirit unto you, I will make known my words unto you. Because I have called, and ye refused; I have stretched out my hand, and no man regarded; But ye have set at nought all my counsel, and would none of my reproof: I also will laugh at your calamity; I will mock when your fear cometh; When your fear cometh as desolation, and your destruction cometh as a whirlwind; when distress and anguish cometh upon you. Then shall they call upon me, but I will not answer; they shall seek me early, but they shall not find me: For that they hated knowledge, and did not choose the fear of the LORD: They would none of my counsel: they despised all my reproof. Therefore shall they eat of the fruit of their own way, and be filled with their own devices. For the turning away of the simple shall slay them, and the prosperity of fools shall destroy them. But whoso hearkeneth unto me shall dwell safely, and shall be quiet from fear of evil.” (Proverbs 1:23-33) We can’t make it without Jesus. We have got to have Him as the head of our life, or we are not going to make it. We cannot do anything without Him. It’s foolish to even try. He is the giver and sustainer of life and the only One who can give us peace and contentment.  So trust Him and let Him lead and direct your steps. 

 

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

 

Thought For Today: “The LORD looked down from heaven upon the children of men, to see if there were any that did understand, and seek God.” (Psalms 14:2)