Morning Manna by Rufus Parker - 2026 January 8

Change Yourself

“Thus saith the LORD, Stand ye in the ways, and see, and ask for the old paths, where is the good way, and walk therein, and ye shall find rest for your souls. But they said, We will not walk therein.” (Jeremiah 6:16)

Today’s Morsel: According to George Washington, “Everyone wants to change the world, but no one thinks of changing themselves.” We can never change the world and its evil ways, not until we change ourselves first. Many can see the changes that others need to make in their lives, but few can see the changes that they need to make in their own life. In today passage, we see that apparently the people did not have rest. They must have been perplexed and in despair in some areas of their life, which was preventing them from have peace and contentment in themselves. So the Lord tells them what they needed to do to find rest for their souls. But apparently the answer He gave them was not the answer they wanted to hear. And so they said that we will not walk there in. When God tells you how to fix your problem, you must accept it and do it; because if nothing changes, nothing changes. You are not going to change anything else until you change you and your way of thinking. Folks who do not change when they see that they need to change aren’t hurting others, they are only hurting themselves. Look into yourself and ask the Lord to show you what needs to change.  

Sing: Change my heart O’ God make it ever true, change my heart O’ God, may I be like You.

Thought For Today: To make things better in your life, it starts with changing the man or woman in the mirror.

Morning Manna by Rufus Parker - 2026 January 7

When The Spirit Tells You Things

“Now the Spirit speaketh expressly, that in the latter times some shall depart from the faith, giving heed to seducing spirits, and doctrines of devils; Speaking lies in hypocrisy; having their conscience seared with a hot iron; Forbidding to marry, and commanding to abstain from meats, which God hath created to be received with thanksgiving of them which believe and know the truth. For every creature of God is good, and nothing to be refused, if it be received with thanksgiving: For it is sanctified by the word of God and prayer.” (1 Timothy 4:1-5)

Today’s Morsel: Jesus said, “Howbeit when he, the Spirit of truth, is come, he will guide you into all truth: for he shall not speak of himself; but whatsoever he shall hear, that shall he speak: and he will shew you things to come.” (John 16:13) Therefore, we must learn how to listen to the Holy Spirit when it speaks to us. God has our best interest at heart. Now is not the time to be ignorant. Living in today’s world calls for wisdom. Again, Jesus says in John 15:4, that the sheep follow Him: for they know His voice. When the Spirit starts telling you things which are to come, you need to be aware and start to take heed. The Holy Spirit which you received came with wisdom, knowledge, understanding, discretion, and instructions to lead you and guide you into all truth. We have already begun to see the great falling away. Some have already returned to the world and its ways. Now is not time to sit back and take a chill pill. Now is the time to be more attentive and alert to what the Spirit is saying to the church, or you may find yourself as the five foolish virgins, missing the bridegroom when He comes.

Sing: I’ll say yes, Lord, yes, to Your will and to Your way, I’ll say yes, Lord, yes, I will trust You and obey. When Your Spirit speaks to me, with my whole heart I’ll agree; and my answer will be yes, Lord, yes. 

Thought For Today: He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit is saying to the church.

Morning Manna by Rufus Parker - 2026 January 6

Christ’s School

“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: Back in the days, when I went to school, if you did not do your lessons, learn what the teachers were teaching you, or you failed to come to school because you wanted to play hooky, the teachers would fail you. And that would require you to have to repeat that grade again. But today, they just pass students on, making them think that it’s alright for them to not learn and understand life and how it works. Schools seem to think that children will learn down the road. No, they aren’t going to learn down the road. Life’s lessons are taught at home and in kindergarten. The jails and prisons are filling to capacity, because schools are just passing them on. Educator, trainers, and teachers, must make a difference in others lives.  Sadly, this slothfulness and uncaring attitude is making its way into the church. Don’t tell people what they shouldn’t do, what they shouldn’t wear, or the places that they shouldn’t go. Just send them on and hopefully they will learn down the road. But as Paul tells us, 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. Paul says that in Christ’s school, you learn to do what is right, not what is wrong. Paul, by all accounts, was not a man who patted you on the back and told you that it was okay - you will learn it later. He told the church at Galatia: “O foolish Galatians, who hath bewitched you, that ye should not obey the truth, before whose eyes Jesus Christ hath been evidently set forth, crucified among you? This only would I learn of you, Received ye the Spirit by the works of the law, or by the hearing of faith? Are ye so foolish? having begun in the Spirit, are ye now made perfect by the flesh?” (Galatians 3:1-3) He told the church at Corinth that he did not want them to be ignorant. When we enter Christ’s school, He expects us to learn and grow and then go forth and train others. He doesn’t expect us to keep making the same mistakes over and over.

Sing: Deeper, deeper, in the love of Jesus, daily let me go; higher, higher, in the school of wisdom, more of grace to know.

O’ deeper, yet I pray, and higher every day; and wiser blessed Lord, in Thy precious holy word. 

Thought For Today: The number one lesson that we all must learn is that of obedience.

Morning Manna by Rufus Parker - 2026 January 5

When You Feel All Alone

“Alexander the coppersmith did me much evil: the Lord reward him according to his works: Of whom be thou ware also; for he hath greatly withstood our words. At my first answer no man stood with me, but all men forsook me: I pray God that it may not be laid to their charge. Notwithstanding the Lord stood with me, and strengthened me; that by me the preaching might be fully known, and that all the Gentiles might hear: and I was delivered out of the mouth of the lion. And the Lord shall deliver me from every evil work, and will preserve me unto his heavenly kingdom: to whom be glory for ever and ever. Amen.” (2 Timothy 4:14-18)

Today’s Morsel: Do you ever feel as though what you are doing and trying to do for the kingdom of God, that you are own your own? Do you ever start to feel like Elijah, when he told God, “…I have been very jealous for the LORD God of hosts: for the children of Israel have forsaken thy covenant, thrown down thine altars, and slain thy prophets with the sword; and I, even I only, am left; and they seek my life, to take it away.” (1 Kings 19:10)Sometimes in the fight, we may start to feel as though we are all alone and everyone has forsaken us. In today’s world, some folks are no longer concerned with others, they are only concerned with themselves. Paul told Timothy that no man stood with him when he was brought before the judge for his false accusations. Paul didn’t have anyone to stand with him in his defense. He said no man stood with him. And he felt alright with that because he knew that the Lord was with him. You see, when others forsake you, or you start to feel as though you are all alone, don’t ever forget what Jesus told you. “Fear thou not; for I am with thee: be not dismayed; for I am thy God: I will strengthen thee; yea, I will help thee; yea, I will uphold thee with the right hand of my righteousness.” (Isaiah 41:10) God will never forsake His people.  So you never stand alone.

Sing: Standing on the promises of Christ my King, through eternal ages let His praises ring; glory in the highest I will shout and sing, standing on the promises of God.

Standing, standing, standing on the promises of Christ my Savior. Standing, standing, I’m standing on the promises of God.

Thought For Today: Isolation may be God’s way of showing you His power and talking to you.

Morning Manna by Rufus Parker - 2026 January 3

God’s Grace

“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. For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God:” (Ephesians 2:1-8)

Today’s Morsel: Some Christians are afraid to share their testimony of what God has done for them in their life. I can remember my state of life, and others around me knew it as well. I was what you would call a good sinner. If there is such a sinner. I wasn’t a bad sinner. I was a good sinner. I shared what I had with others, encouraged others, helped others, provided for others, and even help lead others to become sinners. But in my eyes, I was not bad. I would put it that I was maybe about three quarters of the way into hell. I may have been closer, only God knows. But God, who is rich in mercy, for His great love wherewith He loved me, even when I was dead in my sins, quickened me together with Christ. Jesus picked me up and turned me around. He stepped in right on time. I’m a witness that He’s an on-time God.  And now I can say as the apostle Paul: “And I thank Christ Jesus our Lord, who hath enabled me, for that he counted me faithful, putting me into the ministry; Who was before a blasphemer, and a persecutor, and injurious: but I obtained mercy, because I did it ignorantly in unbelief.” (1 Timothy 1:12-13) Oh the depth and height of God’s grace, love, and mercy which has He bestowed upon us.

Sing: Saved and I’m happy today, thanks be to God for this I can say, that I’m saved and I’m happy today, I’m walking up the King’s highway.

Thought For Today: Your personal testimony may be what causes others to find hope, and it may stop someone from committing suicide.  

Morning Manna by Rufus Parker - 2026 January 2

Are You Willing To Suffer For The Gospel?

“Beloved, think it not strange concerning the fiery trial which is to try you, as though some strange thing happened unto you: But rejoice, inasmuch as ye are partakers of Christ's sufferings; that, when his glory shall be revealed, ye may be glad also with exceeding joy. If ye be reproached for the name of Christ, happy are ye; for the spirit of glory and of God resteth upon you: on their part he is evil spoken of, but on your part he is glorified. But let none of you suffer as a murderer, or as a thief, or as an evildoer, or as a busybody in other men's matters. Yet if any man suffer as a Christian, let him not be ashamed; but let him glorify God on this behalf.” (1 Peter 4:12-16)

Today’s Morsel: How far are you willing to go for what you believe in? We continue to hear that as the world grows worse and worse; the church will soon begin to suffer persecution from it. Therefore, we must settle it in our minds how far we are willing to go for the gospel. The early church was willing to suffer for the name of Christ and the gospel. Paul encouraged Timothy: “For God hath not given us the spirit of fear; but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind. Be not thou therefore ashamed of the testimony of our Lord, nor of me his prisoner: but be thou partaker of the afflictions of the gospel according to the power of God; Who hath saved us, and called us with an holy calling, not according to our works, but according to his own purpose and grace, which was given us in Christ Jesus before the world began, But is now made manifest by the appearing of our Saviour Jesus Christ, who hath abolished death, and hath brought life and immortality to light through the gospel: Whereunto I am appointed a preacher, and an apostle, and a teacher of the Gentiles.” (2 Timothy 1:7-11) He calls for us to be a partaker of the afflictions of the gospel according to the power of God. Paul’s words are a reminder to us to be bold and not allow fear of persecution or social shame to stop us from proclaiming the truth of the gospel and our faith. Peter also encourages us to not think it strange when we are persecuted for Christ and the gospel, but to rejoice because we are becoming a part of Christ’s suffering. So, how far are you willing to go?

Sing: Temptations hidden snares often take us unawares, and our hearts are made to bleed for each thoughtless word or deed; and we wonder why the test, when we try to do our best, but we’ll understand it better by and by.

By and by when the morning comes, all the saints of God are gathering home, we will tell the story how we’ve overcome, we will understand it better by and by.

Thought For Today: Sometimes it’s the persecutions that strength your faith.

Morning Manna by Rufus Parker - 2026 January 1

 Dealing With You

“For though we walk in the flesh, we do not war after the flesh: (For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal, but mighty through God to the pulling down of strong holds;) Casting down imaginations, and every high thing that exalteth itself against the knowledge of God, and bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ; And having in a readiness to revenge all disobedience, when your obedience is fulfilled.” (2 Corinthians 10:3-6)

Today’s Morsel: One of the toughest people you will find to deal with is yourself. For some unknown reason, we find it much easier to help others make corrections in their life than ourselves. We see our wrong, know our wrong, but it’s easier to go on our way and hope that our life will correct itself. Are you aware that David’s son, Absalom, waited two whole years before he killed his brother Amnon? He held bitterness in his heart for Amnon for what he did to his sister Tamar for two years prior to killing him. During those two years, we read nothing where he dealt with his anger and hatred. By all accounts, he allowed it to fester and take root in his life. And when his anger and hatred began to grow, he concocted a plan to kill him. We must not allow bitterness, anger, envy, hate, nor any other wrong toward others to get a foothold and grow in our lives. We must be ready to deal with all disobedience, anger, hatred, and sin in our lives once our obedience in Jesus is fulfilled. 

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: If you change your heart, your body and actions will follow.