Morning Manna by Rufus Parker - 14 February 2019

The Desert Rose

“The wilderness and the solitary place shall be glad for them; and the desert shall rejoice, and blossom as the rose. It shall blossom abundantly, and rejoice even with joy and singing: the glory of Lebanon shall be given unto it, the excellency of Carmel and Sharon, they shall see the glory of the LORD, and the excellency of our God” (Isaiah 35:1-2).

Today’s Morsel:  Today, around the world, millions of dollars will be spent on roses to show love to others.  The rose.  The beauty of this flower expresses promise, hope, and new beginnings.  It is contrasted by thorns symbolizing defense, loss, and thoughtlessness.  A yellow rose symbolizes joy, protection against envious lovers, and a mature love.  White roses symbolize purity, mysticism, holiness, spirituality, and a secret admirer.  It has been stated that ‘Valentine’s Day’ is when lovers express their affection with greetings and gifts.  If God is our love and secret admirer, then what will we give Him?  If God is our love, then what will we say about Him to others?  If God is our love, if you could, how many roses and what color would you buy Him?  God, He is still the beautiful Rose Sharon.

Sing: The greatest thing in all my life is loving You. The greatest thing in all my life is loving You.  I want to love You more.  I want to love You more.  The greatest thing in all my life is loving You.

Thought For Today:  He’s still the beautiful Rose of Sharon    

Morning Manna by Rufus Parker - 13 February 2019

Noise Makers

“Though I speak with the tongues of men and of angels, and have not charity, I am become as sounding brass, or a tinkling cymbal” (1 Corinthians 13:1).

Today’s Morsel:  When I was a kid in school, I was part of the rhythm band.  They gave us these gadgets that made so much noise it was like who let the recorders out (humor).  But think of how much noise some concerts and even churches make.  And I start to wonder who let the dogs out?  Paul said though we speak in tongues of men and of angels and have not love we are just making a bunch of noise.  (paraphrase is mine)  He said that if the trumpet gives the wrong sound, who will prepare for battle?  Tongues should reflect God in you.  And if God is in you, then love must flow from you not just noise.  So, who’s band are you a part of?  The school rhythm band or Jesus' Holy Band?  Love is always a clear sounding language.

Sing: I love my Savior, He loves me, too.  I seek His favor in everything that I do.

Thought For Today: Love is always a clear sounding language (Parker)

Morning Manna by Rufus Parker - 12 February 2019

True Love

“Beloved, let us love one another: for love is of God; and every one that loveth is born of God, and knoweth God. He that loveth not knoweth not God; for God is love” (1 John 4:7-8),

Today’s Morsel:  Most people like to focus on Calvary as true love.  Or they quote John 3:16.  Love really is the test of our being born again.  I find it hard when people tell me that they are born-again and yet their love bank is always depleted.  If God is in us, shouldn't we be the ATM machine that keeps dispensing His love?  If God loved us, shouldn't we love others?  Love flows from a sense of God’s love to us.  John said if we don’t love we don’t know God; for God is love.  “Herein is love, he says, not that we loved God, but that he loved us, and sent his Son to be the propitiation for our sins. Beloved, if God so loved us, we ought also to love one another” (1 John 4:10-11).  Are you the love ATM?

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

Thought For Today:  True Love…Jesus

Morning Manna by Rufus Parker - 11 February 2019

The Best Things in Life Are Free

“O sing unto the LORD a new song: sing unto the LORD, all the earth. Sing unto the LORD, bless his name; shew forth his salvation from day to day. Declare his glory among the heathen, his wonders among all people. For the LORD is great, and greatly to be praised: he is to be feared above all gods” (Psalms 96:1-4).

Today’s Morsel:  My grandson, like his mother, can impersonate people.  One of his favorites songs that he likes to do is “Gone Fishing” by Louis Armstrong and Bing Crosby.  The scriptures tell us to sing unto the Lord a new song.  What I have found is that the right song can lift people up out of depression and motivate them to keep going.  Singing costs you nothing.  God has given every one of us this ability free of charge.  As worship leader at church, I find myself reverting to the older hymns, just making up my own words, or singing a psalm.  No matter what it is, I do my very best to sing it unto the Lord.  He inhabits our praise, and I think I sound pretty good; at least I know I do to The Lord. What about you?  Sing and make melody in your heart.  

Sing:  O’ the moon belongs to everyone, the best things in life are free.
The stars belong to everyone, they gleam there for you and me.

The flowers in spring, the robins that sing, the sunbeams that shine;
They're yours, they're mine.  And love can come to everyone;
The best things in life are free.

Thought For Today:  Make a joyful noise unto the Lord.

Morning Manna by Rufus Parker - 9 February 2019

Don’t Put Another Log On The Fire

“Where no wood is, there the fire goeth out: so where there is no talebearer, the strife ceaseth” 

(Proverbs 26:20).

 Today’s Morsel: One of the things about a fire is it needs a source to keep burning.  The same holds true with anger, lying, strife, talebearing, drunkenness, fornication, and adultery.  These all need a source for them to keep burning in your life.  If there is no source, then they will cease.  If the ear will not listen to the talebearer, he will soon cease.  If the source of lying is avoided, he will soon cease.  If there is no wood put on the fire, it will soon go out.  If people would stop glorifying Satan in the church during testimony time, he probably wouldn't show up as much in their life.  If people would not give sin a source in their life it would cease in their life.  But if they give it a source, it will keep burning.  So, don’t keep putting wood on the fire. Let that fire go out.

Sing:  What can wash away my sin?  Nothing but the blood of Jesus. What can make me whole again? Nothing but the blood of Jesus.  O’ Precious is the flow, that makes me white as snow, no other fount I know, nothing but the blood of Jesus.

Thought For Today: Remove the wood and the fire will go out.

Morning Manna by Rufus Parker - 8 February 2019

WOE

“Woe unto them that call evil good, and good evil; that put darkness for light, and light for darkness; that put bitter for sweet, and sweet for bitter! Woe unto them that are wise in their own eyes, and prudent in their own sight! Woe unto them that are mighty to drink wine, and men of strength to mingle strong drink: Which justify the wicked for reward, and take away the righteousness of the righteous from him!” 

(Isaiah 5:20-23).

Today’s Morsel:  If you are a follower of news, then you will have noticed that good is being called evil and evil is being called good.  Religion is being called evil and worldliness, as we know it as based on God’s word, is being called good.  Darkness is being displayed as light, and light is being displayed as evil.  Darkness, in the scriptures, is an emblem of ignorance, error, false doctrine, and crime.  While Light denotes truth, knowledge, piety.  And bitter and bitterness are often used to denote sin.  Isaiah has a cry of ‘Woe’ for the people which denotes danger.  A warning of great sorrow or distress is heading your way.  He gives a wakeup call to those who would pervert light for darkness and evil for good.  Paul said that if people are deceived into thinking that darkness is light and evil is good, Satan has blinded their minds.  We must stay in the word because it is the light that will keep us out of darkness and give us understanding.  The word will keep us walking in The Light.

Sing:  Send the light the blessed gospel light, let it shine from shore to shore.  Send the light the blessed gospel light, let it shine forever more.

 Thought For Today:  In His light we shall see light.

Morning Manna by Rufus Parker - 7 February 2019

Springs of Living Water

“When the poor and needy seek water, and there is none, and their tongue faileth for thirst, I the LORD will hear them, I the God of Israel will not forsake them. I will open rivers in high places, and fountains in the midst of the valleys: I will make the wilderness a pool of water, and the dry land springs of water” (Isaiah 41:17-18).

Today’s Morsel:  Water is one of those basic commodities that we all need.  They say that we should drink at least a gallon of water a day to keep rehydrated and replenished.  The Lord said through the prophet Isaiah, “When the poor and needy seek water, and there is none, and their tongue faileth for thirst, I the LORD will hear them, I the God of Israel will not forsake them. I will open rivers in high places, and fountains in the midst of the valleys: I will make the wilderness a pool of water, and the dry land springs of water.”  God said I will ensure there is water for them to drink no matter where they are.  Jesus understood the need not only for natural water but also spiritual water.   And so, “In the last day, that great day of the feast, Jesus stood and cried, saying, If any man thirst, let him come unto me, and drink. He that believeth on me, as the scripture hath said, out of his belly shall flow rivers of living water. (But this spake he of the Spirit, which they that believe on him should receive: for the Holy Ghost was not yet given; because that Jesus was not yet glorified.)” (John 7:37-39).  Are you thirsty?  Do you need the Holy Ghost, that water that you can drink and never thirst again?  Why not come to Him and drink today.

Sing: Drinking at the Springs of living water, happy now am I, my soul they satisfy.  Drinking at the springs of living water, O wonderful and bountiful supply.

Thought For Today: Spring up O’ well!