Morning Manna by Rufus Parker - 14 August 2020

All Things Are Alike

 

“All things come alike to all: there is one event to the righteous, and to the wicked; to the good and to the clean, and to the unclean; to him that sacrificeth, and to him that sacrificeth not: as is the good, so is the sinner; and he that sweareth, as he that feareth an oath.” (Ecclesiastes 9:2)

 

Today’s Morsel:  What I have come to learn and to love about God is that His ways are equal and fair.  If a wicked man is rich, there is a godly man that is rich.  If there is a wicked man that is poor, there is a godly man that is poor. If there is an unchurched man speeds he can get a ticket, so can a man who attends church if he speeds.  If it rains on the wicked man, it rains on the godly man too.  All things come alike to all.  The wick man dies and so does the godly man.  The Lord said through the prophet Ezekiel, “Yet ye say, The way of the Lord is not equal. Hear now, O house of Israel; Is not my way equal? are not your ways unequal? When a righteous man turneth away from his righteousness, and committeth iniquity, and dieth in them; for his iniquity that he hath done shall he die. Again, when the wicked man turneth away from his wickedness that he hath committed, and doeth that which is lawful and right, he shall save his soul alive. Because he considereth, and turneth away from all his transgressions that he hath committed, he shall surely live, he shall not die. Yet saith the house of Israel, The way of the Lord is not equal. O house of Israel, are not my ways equal? are not your ways unequal?” (Ezekiel 18:25-29)  Salvation is available to all.  God is faithful. He cannot change who He is.

 

Sing:  He’s been faithful, faithful to me, His love and mercy I see.  In my heart I have questioned, even failed to believe, yet He’s been faithful, faithful, to me.

 

Thought For Today:  I am the Lord, I change not!

Morning Manna by Rufus Parker - 13 August 2020

Watch Unto Prayer

 

“But the end of all things is at hand: be ye therefore sober, and watch unto prayer.” (1 Peter 4:7)

 

Today’s Morsel:  As we look at the current situation in the world, we must consider that the end is near. Scripture says, “And when ye shall see Jerusalem compassed with armies, then know that the desolation thereof is nigh. Then let them which are in Judaea flee to the mountains; and let them which are in the midst of it depart out; and let not them that are in the countries enter thereinto. For these be the days of vengeance, that all things which are written may be fulfilled. But woe unto them that are with child, and to them that give suck, in those days! for there shall be great distress in the land, and wrath upon this people. And they shall fall by the edge of the sword, and shall be led away captive into all nations: and Jerusalem shall be trodden down of the Gentiles, until the times of the Gentiles be fulfilled. And there shall be signs in the sun, and in the moon, and in the stars; and upon the earth distress of nations, with perplexity; the sea and the waves roaring; Men's hearts failing them for fear, and for looking after those things which are coming on the earth: for the powers of heaven shall be shaken. And then shall they see the Son of man coming in a cloud with power and great glory. And when these things begin to come to pass, then look up, and lift up your heads; for your redemption draweth nigh.” (Luke 21:20-28)  Therefore, we must stay alert and be sober and ready.  And to do that, we must be looking out for the end of all things in such a manner as to lead us to embrace all proper opportunities for prayer.  We must continue instantly in prayer and hold to God’s unchanging hand and His word.

 

Sing:  I'm getting ready to leave this place, I’m getting ready for those gates of pearls.  Keeping my record right, watching both day and night.  I’m getting ready to leave this place.

 

Thought For Today:  Stay alert!

Morning Manna by Rufus Parker - 12 August 2020

Shepherd’s Pie

 

“Then shall they know that I am the LORD, when I have laid the land most desolate because of all their abominations which they have committed. Also, thou son of man, the children of thy people still are talking against thee by the walls and in the doors of the houses, and speak one to another, every one to his brother, saying, Come, I pray you, and hear what is the word that cometh forth from the LORD. And they come unto thee as the people cometh, and they sit before thee as my people, and they hear thy words, but they will not do them: for with their mouth they shew much love, but their heart goeth after their covetousness. And, lo, thou art unto them as a very lovely song of one that hath a pleasant voice, and can play well on an instrument: for they hear thy words, but they do them not. And when this cometh to pass, (lo, it will come,) then shall they know that a prophet hath been among them.” (Ezekiel 33:29-33)

 

Today’s Morsel:  One of my favorite meals that I like to cook is Shepherd’s Pie.  I do not think any of it gets left or disposed of because it was not good.  When Jesus told His disciples, "I send you forth as sheep in the midst of wolves," we often think that He is referring to saints being attacked, persecuted, or hated by Satan and others in the world.  But what if He meant that His ministers and those serving Him would be going forth into a cold, unfriendly, and cruel church to be made into shepherd’s pie, to be eaten up by the saints?  The Lord told Ezekiel that all he was to the people was one with a pleasant voice and as one who could play well on an instrument.  But they were not obeying the word that he was saying.  He said they are talking about you in their houses, but they are not doing a word you are saying.  He said but when their calamity comes because they are not doers of the word, then they will know that a prophet had been among them (My wording).  Do you hear and do what your pastor tells you from the word of God?  Jesus even told His disciples regarding the Pharisees and Sadducees, do not do as they do, but do as they say.  If all we are is only hearers of God’s word and not doers, are we part of the wolf pack?  We must always do what God’s word says.

 

Sing:  Thy a word is a lamp unto my feet and a light unto my path. Thy a word is a lamp unto my feet and a light unto my path.

When I feel afraid and I think I have lost my way, still You’re there right beside me.  Nothing will I fear as long as You are near, please be with me to the end.

Thy a word is a lamp unto my feet and a light unto my path. Thy a word is a lamp unto my feet and a light unto my path.

 

Thought For Today: But be thou a doer and not just a hearer.

Morning Manna by Rufus Parker - 11 August 2020

All Day Praise

 

“Praise ye the LORD. Praise, O ye servants of the LORD, praise the name of the LORD. Blessed be the name of the LORD from this time forth and for evermore. From the rising of the sun unto the going down of the same the LORD'S name is to be praised.” (Psalms 113:1-3)

 

Today’s Morsel:  One of the first principles I learned in the military in respect to the flag was to render honor to it when it went up at 0600 (6 am) in the morning (Reveille), and when it went down at 1700 (5 pm) in the evening (Retreat).  Praise is to render honor or give warm approval to.  When we think about God as being our heavenly father and the one who gives life, we should render Him honor.  Why does Psalms 150 end by saying, “Let everything that hath breath praise the LORD. Praise ye the LORD.”  Because it is God who gives us life.  The Psalmist tells us that from the rising of the sun in the morning until it goes down in the evening, the Lord’s name is to be praised.  What a great principle to obey and remember.

 

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: Don’t let the devil steal your praise.

Morning Manna by Rufus Parker - 10 August 2020

The Day of Vengeance

 

"And when ye shall see Jerusalem compassed with armies, then know that the desolation thereof is nigh. Then let them which are in Judaea flee to the mountains; and let them which are in the midst of it depart out; and let not them that are in the countries enter thereinto. For these be the days of vengeance, that all things which are written may be fulfilled."
(Luke 21:20-22)

 

Today’s Morsel:  When Jesus came out of the wilderness in Luke Chapter 4, having been tempted by the devil for 40 days, scripture says, “And Jesus returned in the power of the Spirit into Galilee: and there went out a frame of him through all the region roundabout. And he taught in their synagogues, being glorified of all. And he came to Nazareth, where he had been brought up: and, as his custom was, he went into the synagogue on the sabbath day, and stood up to read. And there was delivered unto him the book of the prophet Esaias. And when he had opened the book, he found the place where it was written, The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he hath anointed me to preach the gospel to the poor; he hath sent me to heal the brokenhearted, to preach deliverance to the captives, and recovering of sight to the blind, to set at liberty them that are bruised, To preach the acceptable year of the Lord.” (Luke 4:14-19).  For some reason, Jesus omits the latter portion of Isaiah chapter 61 verse 2, which states, “the day of vengeance of our God.”  Jesus did not come at that time to vindicate, retribute, or punish for sin, so this may be the reason for the omission.  He came to seek and to save that which was lost.  But now in Luke 21, he tells them what to look for about this day of vengeance.  He said, “And when ye shall see Jerusalem compassed with armies, then know that the desolation thereof is nigh. Then let them which are in Judaea flee to the mountains; and let them which are in the midst of it depart out; and let not them that are in the countries enter thereinto. For these are the days of vengeance, that all things which are written may be fulfilled.” (Luke 21:20-22)  I believe that time is drawing nigh.  Are you ready?

 

Sing:  Oh my brother are you ready for the call?  To crown your Savior king and Lord of all.  The kingdoms of this world shall soon before Him fall; we shall see the King when He comes.

 

Thought For Today: Settle it in your minds

Morning Manna by Rufus Parker - 8 August 2020

Plant in the Right Season

 

“To every thing there is a season, and a time to every purpose under the heaven: A time to be born, and a time to die; a time to plant, and a time to pluck up that which is planted” (Ecclesiastes 3:1-2)

 

Today’s Morsel:  If you have ever purchased a packet of seeds (whether flower, vegetable, etc.) it tells you on the back of the packet when is the best time to plant the seeds, how deep you should plant them, and the place they should be planted.  The old adage of sowing and reaping, and reaping what you sow, is nothing new.  Solomon states that to everything there is a season and a time to every purpose under heaven.  He says that there is a time to plant, and a time to pluck up that which is planted.  If we are wise, we will follow the instructions if we want a harvest.  How much seed (the word of God) would you say has been wasted because people do not know the season?  What about you?  Do you know the season and the time to plant God’s word?  It is up to the sower to know the right season.  

 

Sing:  Keep on casting your bread upon the water, soon it's going to come back home on every wave.  Keep on casting your bread upon the water, soon it's going to come back home on every wave.  Good measure, pressed down, shaken together, and running over, soon it's gonna come back home on every wave.

 

 Thought For Today: The sower must always know the right season to sow. (Parker)

Morning Manna by Rufus Parker - 7 August 2020

If God Be For Us, Who Can Be Against Us?

 

“What shall we then say to these things? If God be for us, who can be against us?” (Romans 8:31)

 

Today’s Morsel:  People in every walk of life are looking for hope.  The world in which we live has sold them a false ticket to true happiness.  Many have become obsessed with things that cannot give them satisfaction.  The world has become a generation of instantaneous living.  People always want satisfaction “now.”  Fear has gripped the hearts of many and has caused them to fall away from faith in Christ.  Christians do not seem to know where to turn.  Their minds are confused.  The Corona Virus has them more afraid than the people in the world.  As Jesus said in Luke 16:8 “…for the children of this world are in their generation wiser than the children of light.”  The whole earth is off course and spinning out of control and downward.  It has become suddenly a confusing place in which to live.  Hell has enlarged herself.  People do not know who to trust, nor do they seem to know where to seek help.  They are looking for any place or any person who can offer them hope.  They want hope but so many are looking in the wrong place.  Paul’s words still ring true, “For whatsoever things were written aforetime were written for our learning, that we through patience and comfort of the scriptures might have hope.”(Romans 15:4)  There is still hope in Jesus Christ.  And you can find Him when you seek for Him with all your heart and lean not unto your own understanding.  Because if God be for us, who can be against us?

 

Sing:  If God be for us, who can be against us?  If God be for us, who can be against us?  If God be for us, who can be against us?  Just have faith in the power of His word.

By faith be fearless fighting in the battle.  By faith be fearless fighting in the battle.  By faith be fearless fighting in the battle.  Just have faith in the power of His word.

 

Thought For Today: “If God be for us, everyone else might as well be.” (John Grant)