Morning Manna by Rufus Parker - 2018 November 8

“For God is my record, how greatly I long after you all in the bowels of Jesus Christ. And this I pray, that your love may abound yet more and more in knowledge and in all judgment; That ye may approve things that are excellent; that ye may be sincere and without offence till the day of Christ; Being filled with the fruits of righteousness, which are by Jesus Christ, unto the glory and praise of God” (Philippians 1:8-11).

Today’s Morsel:  What do you do to make your love grow more in Christ and towards others?  I’m often taken aback when I hear people say that they went to a church and did not feel love.  Now, I can understand this if the person knows nothing about Christ, and they don’t feel love from those who say that they do know Him.  But if the person who makes the statement confesses to being a Christian and says such, then I have a problem with that statement because they should not be seeking for love but giving love.  God is love, and as His child we give His love to others.  Paul told the Philippians that he prayed that their love may abound more and more in knowledge and in all judgment.  In other words, as their love abounded, so their knowledge would be increased, and their judgment in spiritual things would be better informed and established.  Some Christians are more affectionate, and less knowing, while others are more knowing and less affectionate.  Therefore, when our love for Christ grows our knowledge and judgment should keep pace.

Sing:  I love Him. I love Him. Because He first loved me. He purchased my salvation on Calvary.

Though For Today: The more you love the more you’ll know.

Morning Manna by Rufus Parker - 2018 November 7

“When wisdom entereth into thine heart, and knowledge is pleasant unto thy soul; Discretion shall preserve thee, understanding shall keep thee” (Proverbs 2:10-11).

Today’s Morsel:  How much do you value the gospel since you have been born-again?  I’m afraid that many so-called Christians are not aware of what the gospel came with.  In writing to the Hebrews, Paul stated, "But, beloved, we are persuaded better things of you, and things that accompany salvation, though we thus speak” (Hebrews 6:9).  When you became born-again, wisdom should have entered your heart and mind.  Again, Paul stated, “For our gospel came not unto you in word only, but also in power, and in the Holy Ghost, and in much assurance…” (1 Thessalonians 1:5).  The gospel makes a man or woman wise and discreet in their everyday living, and in their conduct and manners.  The discretion that the gospel gives will put you on guard to watch yourself and direct you to watch against every error, and every false way.  And so, Solomon says, discretion will watch over you to keep thee from every pernicious way of wrong doctrine and its teachings.  If you want to see eternal salvation, then you must allow discretion to preserve you and understanding keep you.

Sing:  Jesus hold my hand; Lord I need Thee every hour. Through this pilgrim land, protect me by Thy saving power.  Hear my feeble plea, O’ Lord look down on me.  When I kneel in prayer, I know I’ll meet you there. Blessed Jesus hold my hand.

Thought For Today: Keep discretion around your neck.

Morning Manna by Rufus Parker - 2018 November 6

 “Though thou shouldest bray a fool in a mortar among wheat with a pestle, yet will not his foolishness depart from him” (Proverbs 27:22).

Today’s Morsel:  One of the things that I liked when I was stationed in the military in Japan was they would have ceremonies where we pounded rice into mochi, Japanese rice cakes.  The rice was pounded into paste and molded into the desired shape.  It was time-consuming but fun.  Solomon said that the same way that you can grind and pound wheat into bread, and it will still be wheat, so the same will be with a foolish person. You can grind and pound him with the word of God and yet he will not depart from his foolishness.  The same way that wheat must be pounded and ground into bread, you can do the same to a fool and he’s still going to remain a fool.  And so, he says, “Go from the presence of a foolish man, when thou perceivest not in him the lips of knowledge” (Proverbs 14:7).  In other words, if he won’t accept the word of God, leave him alone. Why you may ask?  Because fools make a mock at sin and you can become like him - foolish.

Sing: He was wounded for our transgression, He was bruised for our iniquities. Surely, He bore all our sorrows and by His stripes we are healed.

Thought For Today:  “The fool hath said in his heart, There is no God…” (Psalms 14:1)

Morning Manna by Rufus Parker -2018 November 5

“There was a man of the Pharisees, named Nicodemus, a ruler of the Jews: The same came to Jesus by night, and said unto him, Rabbi, we know that thou art a teacher come from God: for no man can do these miracles that thou doest, except God be with him. Jesus answered and said unto him, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God. Nicodemus saith unto him, How can a man be born when he is old? can he enter the second time into his mother's womb, and be born? Jesus answered, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born of water and of the Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God. That which is born of the flesh is flesh; and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit. Marvel not that I said unto thee, Ye must be born again. The wind bloweth where it listeth, and thou hearest the sound thereof, but canst not tell whence it cometh, and whither it goeth: so is every one that is born of the Spirit. Nicodemus answered and said unto him, How can these things be? Jesus answered and said unto him, Art thou a master of Israel, and knowest not these things?” (John 3:1-10).

Today’s Morsel:  Sometimes the best way to get the answer to the questions that you may have is to ask someone.  Sometimes even in meetings or Bible studies, people will have questions, but they will not raise their hand to get clarification to their lack of understanding because of fear.  Nicodemus knew that Jesus’ teaching was something deeper than he understood.  He knew that he was missing something and that he did not have a clear understanding of what Jesus was talking about or referring to.  And so he went to Jesus by night while others could not see him.  Sometimes people will do this is meetings or studies, they will wait until others are gone and then they will ask the instructor to clarify their questions because they don’t like to appear "stupid". After Nicodemus' discussion with Jesus, he was converted to a believer in Christ (See John 7:50-51; John 19:39-40).  So we see that his questions were not "stupid", but just the opposite; his questions lead him to a clearer understanding of truth.  Do have confusion or questions about the word of God?  If so, why not get alone with a pastor or teacher that you trust and get your questions answered.

Sing: Show me the way, that I may walk with You.  Show me the way, that I may talk with You.  The cry of my heart is to know You more, live by the touch of Your hand, stronger each day, show me the way.

Thought For Today:  The only dumb question is the one not asked.

Morning Manna by Rufus Parker - 2018 November 3

“By long forbearing is a prince persuaded, and a soft tongue breaketh the bone” (Proverbs 25:15).

Today’s Morsel:  One of the things that lawyers try to teach their clients when they are facing trial before a jury is to use kind words and present themselves in a remorseful way.  It’s amazing to me how many people who think nothing of the ways of Christ seem to want them when they are in trouble.  Wouldn’t it be much better if they used them before they needed them, so they wouldn’t have to be coached how to use them when they are in trouble?  Solomon said that a soft tongue breaketh the bones.  One of the reasons that most parents will not spank their child when they have done wrong and the child starts crying and says through tears that they are sorry, is that it touches the parent's heart.  In writing to the church at Corinth, Paul states: “For godly sorrow worketh repentance to salvation not to be repented of: but the sorrow of the world worketh death” (2 Corinthians 7:10).  Godly sorrow works repentance!  True remorsefulness can be seen and brings about change,  so don’t think you can fake it.  

Sing:  Hear my cry O’ God, 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: A soft tongue defers anger.

Morning Manna by Rufus Parker - 2018 November 2

“For ye were sometimes darkness, but now are ye light in the Lord: walk as children of light: (For the fruit of the Spirit is in all goodness and righteousness and truth;) Proving what is acceptable unto the Lord” (Ephesians 5:8-10).

Today’s Morsel:  I often ponder on which one of the fruits of the Spirit does it seem that most Christians are deficient within their lives.  And to my sad surprise, I seem to come up with the same answer, most struggle with all of them.  Why do so many struggles with the development of God's character within themselves?  Why aren’t they reproducing?  Jesus tells us why in Luke chaper 8.  He said that His word is falling by the wayside, it is falling on rocks and among thorns.  In other words, the people once born-again are not letting go of the world and its ways.  They are not committing themselves to the things of God.  They are still inundated with cares and concerning of this life and it is choking the word from them.  If we desire to be like Christ and display His character in us, then we must repent and commit to Him and His ways or we will die.

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

Thought For Today: Christian character requires His seed in you.

Morning Manna by Rufus Parker - 2018 November 1

“But and if ye suffer for righteousness' sake, happy are ye: and be not afraid of their terror, neither be troubled; But sanctify the Lord God in your hearts: and be ready always to give an answer to every man that asketh you a reason of the hope that is in you with meekness and fear: Having a good conscience; that, whereas they speak evil of you, as of evildoers, they may be ashamed that falsely accuse your good conversation in Christ. For it is better, if the will of God be so, that ye suffer for well doing, than for evil doing” 

(1 Peter 3:14-17).

Today’s Morsel:  I seem to encounter many folks today who seem to be plagued with troubled minds.  They say that they are having trouble sleeping at night. They just don’t seem to be able to rest well.  They are troubled about things they’ve done wrong in the past. Troubled about things that others are saying and thinking about them.  Troubled about their families, churches, and loved ones.  Troubled about promotions and job concerns. They are like Martha, troubled about many things (Luke 10:38-42).  Peter says that we ought to have a good conscience.  You see, a good conscience is a focused conscience.  It is a conscience that has hidden God’s word in their heart.  Isaiah said that He will keep you in perfect peace whose mind is stayed on Him (Isaiah 26:3).  The best way to keep a clear conscience is to stay focused on Christ because in this world there are going to be those things that will trouble you, yet when your mind is fixed on Jesus He keeps you in perfect peace.  Always remember, if your heart condemns you, God is greater than your heart (1 John 3:20).

Sing:  I've got my mind made up to serve the Lord. I’ve got my mind made up to serve the Lord. I’ve got my mind made up to serve the Lord, I’ve got my mind made up to serve the Lord.

Thought For Today:  A troubled mind is an unfocused mind.