Morning Manna by Rufus Parker - 16 July 2019

Watch Your Step?

“Wherefore he saith, Awake thou that sleepest, and arise from the dead, and Christ shall give thee light. See then that ye walk circumspectly, not as fools, but as wise, Redeeming the time, because the days are evil.” 

(Ephesians 5:14-16)

Today’s Morsel:  If you have ever walked on the moving walkways in the airport, you will hear these words repeatedly, “You are approaching the end of the walkway, please watch your step.”  There are many pitfalls, snares, and traps that are being laid for us by the enemy of our souls.  Therefore, we must walk cautiously in these last days.  Solomon states that a man’s heart deviseth his way, but the Lord directs his steps.  If God isn’t orchestrating your steps, you may want to consider and ask yourself why not.  You can’t see every pitfall, but God can.  You must take heed to your walk.  Your walk is both inward and outward.  Your inward walk is by faith in Christ, and your outward walk is your behavior among men.

Sing: Let me walk with You, Jesus.  Don’t ever leave me alone. For without You I couldn’t never, no never make heaven my home.

Thought For Today: Watch your step, you are approaching the end of the walkway.

Morning Manna by Rufus Parker - 15 Jul 2019

His Likeness

“Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus: Who, being in the form of God, thought it not robbery to be equal with God: But made himself of no reputation, and took upon him the form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of men: And being found in fashion as a man, he humbled himself, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross.” 

(Philippians 2:5-8)

Today’s Morsel:  In today's world, it doesn’t seem as though anyone wants to be a servant.  Every life seems to be driven by dollar signs.  Many say that they are Christians, but few walk in Christ’s likeness.  Jesus took on the form of a servant.  If we do not strive to obtain a servant’s heart, we will never become like Him.  To be a true servant, one must set self aside for others.  If we do not think like Christ, we will not take on His nature. What do you see when you look in the mirror?  Do you see a servant or a boss?  Servant leadership is a leader who serves others.  And Jesus modeled that for us.

Sing: Down from His glory, every living Story, my God and Savior came, and Jesus was His name.  Born in a manger, to His own a stranger, a man of sorrow, tears, and agony.

O how I love Him! How I adore Him! My breath, my sunshine, my all in all!  The great Creator became my Savior, and all God’s fullness dwelleth in Him.

Thought For Today: Are you like Him?

Morning Manna by Rufus Parker - 13 July 2019

Hold On

“Grace be unto you, and peace, from God our Father, and from the Lord Jesus Christ. I thank my God upon every remembrance of you, Always in every prayer of mine for you all making request with joy, For your fellowship in the gospel from the first day until now; Being confident of this very thing, that he which hath begun a good work in you will perform it until the day of Jesus Christ” (Philippians 1:2-6)

Today’s Morsel:  When God chooses us, we do not know what He has planned for our lives other than taking us to heaven to be with Him forever.  That’s one of the only things I find mentioned in scripture.  But what He will do with our lives isn’t really mentioned. Yes, we are all chosen to share our faith and to make Him known, but what He will do through our lives isn’t. When He chose Joshua to succeed Moses in leadership, he was told to not allow the word to depart out of his mouth and that he would be strong and have good success (Joshua 1:8).  I don’t know what God has planned for us in this new chosen journey.  I just know that all things do work together for good to them that love Him, and those who are the called according to His purpose.  S0 hold on and see what God will do through you.

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

Thought For Today: Hold on, God has a plan for your life.

Morning Manna by Rufus Parker - 12 July 2019

Righteousness By Faith

“But what things were gain to me, those I counted loss for Christ. Yea doubtless, and I count all things but loss for the excellency of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord: for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and do count them but dung, that I may win Christ, And be found in him, not having mine own righteousness, which is of the law, but that which is through the faith of Christ, the righteousness which is of God by faith” (Philippians 3:7-9)

Today’s Morsel:  The only way that we will ever learn to do what is right is to put our trust and confidence in Christ.  Then and only then will we see to do what is right, learn what to do is right, and live what is right. True faith isn’t built only by hearing the word of God, it is built by doing what it says.  You don’t develop righteousness by wrong, you develop righteousness by doing what it right.  The righteousness of God is by faith.  As Paul admonished the church at Rome, “But the righteousness which is of faith speaketh on this wise, Say not in thine heart, Who shall ascend into heaven? (that is, to bring Christ down from above:) Or, Who shall descend into the deep? (that is, to bring up Christ again from the dead.) But what saith it? The word is nigh thee, even in thy mouth, and in thy heart: that is, the word of faith, which we preach; That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved. For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation.” (Romans 10:6-10) No man can be justified without righteousness nor without faith; for this is God’s plan, and He will not depart from it.

Sing:  To be like Jesus, to be like Jesus; on earth I long to be like Him.  All through life’s journey, from earth to Glory, I only ask, to be like Him.

Thought For Today: The righteousness which is of God is by faith.

Morning Manna by Rufus Parker - 11 July 2019

Joyful Noise

“Make a joyful noise unto the LORD, all ye lands. Serve the LORD with gladness: come before his presence with singing. Know ye that the LORD he is God: it is he that hath made us, and not we ourselves; we are his people, and the sheep of his pasture. Enter into his gates with thanksgiving, and into his courts with praise: be thankful unto him, and bless his name. For the LORD is good; his mercy is everlasting; and his truth endureth to all generations.” (Psalms 100:1-5)

Today’s Morsel:  Do you ever feel as though the church is too quiet?  When I first came into the church, the pastor had a tambourine beating his leg, a guy had his store keys jangling on his side with his hands in the air speaking in tongues, the Piano player was striking those ivories like there was no tomorrow, the drummer was lost in another world, and the Spirit of God was moving all over the place.  They didn’t care who was there nor what people thought of their worship.  They came to worship and praise God for His goodness, mercy, and truth.  The truth about Jesus Christ had made them free from self and this world.  They entered His gates with thanksgiving and came into His courts with praise.  Scripture says in Mark 2:1 that it was noised aboard that Jesus was in the house.  There was healing, deliverance, teaching, and hope being revealed. If your church isn’t making some noise, if there isn’t some joyful praise and worship, Jesus may not be in the house.   

Sing: Praise Him, praise Him!  Praise Him in the morning; Praise Him in the noontime.  Praise Him, praise Him!  Praise Him when the sun goes down.

Thought For Today: Let God be magnified.

Morning Manna by Rufus Parker - 10 July 2019

The Unending Resource

“The LORD is merciful and gracious, slow to anger, and plenteous in mercy.” (Psalms 103:8)

Today’s Morsel:  Do you understand the difference between Grace and Mercy?  Grace is getting something we do not deserve while mercy is not getting what we do deserve.  The psalmist says that God is plenteous in mercy.  That means it is an unending resource.  God never runs out of it.  We see this by the ways and methods in scripture in which He shows it.  We see it in His election, in His covenant, in His redemption, in His regeneration, in His pardon for sins, and in eternal life. And we also see it in the abundance by which He offers it to everyone.  Do you have a need for His mercy?  It’s free and available for the asking. “It is of the LORD'S mercies that we are not consumed, because his compassions fail not. They are new every morning: great is thy faithfulness.” (Lamentations 3:22-23)

Sing:  Years I spent in vanity and pride, caring not my Lord was crucified, knowing not it was for me He died, on Calvary.

Mercy there was great, and grace was free; pardon there was multiplied to me; there my burden soul found liberty, at Calvary.

Thought For Today: There is no end to His mercy.

Morning Manna by Rufus Parker - 9 July 2019

Hidden Treasures

“For I would that ye knew what great conflict I have for you, and for them at Laodicea, and for as many as have not seen my face in the flesh; That their hearts might be comforted, being knit together in love, and unto all riches of the full assurance of understanding, to the acknowledgement of the mystery of God, and of the Father, and of Christ; In whom are hid all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge.” (Colossians 2:1-3)

Today’s Morsel:  During the summer, every now and then I like to stop at yard sales.  You never know what treasures you may come across.  I read an article in the paper a few days ago that said a man had purchased a picture for a few bucks that may be worth thousands of dollars.  For me, I like looking for old Bibles.  Sometimes I can find a nugget written in the margin by someone in the 1800s that will help increase my faith. Or I may find a message title written by some preacher. Just so many treasures.  Paul told the church at Colossi that in Jesus Christ was hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge.  Just think about what you could have if you committed yourself to search for Jesus.

Sing:  You can take this whole world, but give me Jesus. You can take this whole world, but give me Jesus. You can take this whole world, but give me Jesus. No turning back, no turning back.

Thought For Today: Christ - the power of God, and the wisdom of God.