Morning Manna by Rufus Parker - 14 December 2020

 

The Fountain of Life

 

“Wherefore I will yet plead with you, saith the LORD, and with your children's children will I plead. For pass over the isles of Chittim, and see; and send unto Kedar, and consider diligently, and see if there be such a thing. Hath a nation changed their gods, which are yet no gods? but my people have changed their glory for that which doth not profit. Be astonished, O ye heavens, at this, and be horribly afraid, be ye very desolate, saith the LORD. For my people have committed two evils; they have forsaken me the fountain of living waters, and hewed them out cisterns, broken cisterns, that can hold no water.”
(Jeremiah 2:9-13)

 

Today’s Morsel:  A fountain is the source from which something proceeds or is supplied.  Back in olden times, one of the first things that people sought for and looked for was places that they could find water.  We see in Genesis 26, that Isaac's servants kept digging wells because others kept fighting them for them each time they found water.  But God finally led Isaac to a spot that they found water and there was no more striving and Isaac pitched his tent there.  The Lord said through the Prophet Jeremiah, that His people had committed to evils; they had forsaken Him the fountain of living waters, and hewed them out cisterns, broken cisterns, that can hold no water.  God is the source of our life and He is the one that supplies all our needs.  If we go away from Him and forsake Him, we are committing evil against Him.  We can do nothing without Christ.  If we choose to do things our own way and to think that we can do it on our own, we will soon see the consequences of our error.  Solomon states, “The fear of the LORD is a fountain of life, to depart from the snares of death.” (Proverbs 14:27)  Where the true fear of God is, you will find that there is a well of living water, springing up unto everlasting life. As Jesus told the woman at the well in John Chapter 4, “ Whosoever drinketh of this water shall thirst again: But whosoever drinketh of the water that I shall give him shall never thirst; but the water that I shall give him shall be in him a well of water springing up into everlasting life.” (John 4:13-14)  Remember, Jesus is the source of our life; And no one nor anything else can take His place.

  

Sing: I’ve got a river of life flowing out of me, it makes the lame to walk and the blind to see.  It opens prison doors, sets the captives free.  I’ve got a river of life flowing out of me.

Spring up O’ well, within my soul.  Spring up O’ well, and make me whole.  Spring up O’ well, and give to me, new life abundantly.

 

Thought For Today:  “The fear of the LORD is a fountain of life, to depart from the snares of death.” (Proverbs 14:27)

Morning Manna by Rufus Parker - 12 December 2020

 

Criticism

 

“I charge thee therefore before God, and the Lord Jesus Christ, who shall judge the quick and the dead at his appearing and his kingdom; Preach the word; be instant in season, out of season; reprove, rebuke, exhort with all longsuffering and doctrine. For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine; but after their own lusts shall they heap to themselves teachers, having itching ears; And they shall turn away their ears from the truth, and shall be turned unto fables.”  (2 Timothy 4:1-4)

 

Today’s Morsel:  People do not like to be criticized these days. But really, corrective criticism is good for you.  If you never get your feelings hurt, you are not growing nor will you be able to endure in this life.  Someone needs to tell you that your deodorant is not working, and you need to be able to accept it and fix the problem.  You need to be able to sandwich every bit of criticism between two layers of praise.  Paul told Timothy to reprove, rebuke, exhort with all longsuffering and doctrine.  To reprove is to criticize and to rebuke is to criticize.  But to exhort is to encourage and inspire.  Just think how much stronger our encouragement should be when we are reproved and rebuked from all sides by our spiritual leaders and others.

 

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

 

Thought For Today: Sandwich every bit of criticism between two layers of praise.

Morning Manna by Rufus Parker - 11 December 2020

 

Hanukkah

 

“Now when Jesus had heard that John was cast into prison, he departed into Galilee; And leaving Nazareth, he came and dwelt in Capernaum, which is upon the sea coast, in the borders of Zabulon and Nephthalim: That it might be fulfilled which was spoken by Esaias the prophet, saying, The land of Zabulon, and the land of Nephthalim, by the way of the sea, beyond Jordan, Galilee of the Gentiles; The people which sat in darkness saw great light; and to them which sat in the region and shadow of death light is sprung up. From that time Jesus began to preach, and to say, Repent: for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.” (Matthew 4:12-17)

 

Today’s Morsel:  Hanukkah begins at sunset Thursday, December 10, 2020, and ends at nightfall Friday, December 18, 2020.  It is a Jewish festival commemorating the rededication of the Second Temple in Jerusalem at the time of the Maccabean Revolt against the Seleucid Empire.  It is also known as the Festival of Lights.  Why does it seem that the month of December is often associated with many lights?  People begin to decorate their homes with lights. They decorate trees with lights. Stores begin to put up more lights for the holiday season.  We seem to be able to see more stars in the sky during this month.  Why is it that the closer we get to the season we call Christmas, there are more lights?  Because we celebrate Jesus' birth during this month and Jesus is the light of the world.  As the apostle John informs us, “This then is the message which we have heard of him, and declare unto you, that God is light, and in him is no darkness at all.” (1 John 1:5)  And Jesus states, “Ye are the light of the world. A city that is set on an hill cannot be hid. Neither do men light a candle, and put it under a bushel, but on a candlestick; and it giveth light unto all that are in the house. Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven.” (Matthew 5:14-16)  Are you letting your light shine brightly this month?  I hope so.  

 

Sing:  This little light of mine, I’m gonna let it shine.  This little light of mine, I’m gonna let it shine.  This little light of mine, I’m gonna let it shine, let it shine, let it shine, let it shine.

 

Thought For Today: You may be the light that leads someone out of darkness. (Parker)

Morning Manna by Rufus Parker - 10 December 2020

 

No Understanding

 

“I will instruct thee and teach thee in the way which thou shalt go: I will guide thee with mine eye. Be ye not as the horse, or as the mule, which have no understanding: whose mouth must be held in with bit and bridle, lest they come near unto thee. Many sorrows shall be to the wicked: but he that trusteth in the LORD, mercy shall compass him about. Be glad in the LORD, and rejoice, ye righteous: and shout for joy, all ye that are upright in heart.” (Psalms 32:8-11)

 

Today’s Morsel:  Why does it seem that so many people do not have an understanding?  How can so many people who have bachelors, masters, and PhD and doctorate degrees have no understanding when it comes to right versus wrong?   “For my people is foolish, they have not known me; they are sottish children, and they have no understanding: they are wise to do evil, but to do good they have no knowledge” saith the Lord (Jeremiah 4:22).  Have my people no knowledge?  Have they no understanding, saith the Lord.  This is not an attack on education, it is a wakeup call for character.  The Lord said that He would teach us and show us the way that we should go.  We must not be like the horse and the mule that have no understanding.  Wise men must lay up knowledge.  The Apostles Paul states, “Moreover, brethren, I would not that ye should be ignorant, how that all our fathers were under the cloud, and all passed through the sea; And were all baptized unto Moses in the cloud and in the sea; And did all eat the same spiritual meat; And did all drink the same spiritual drink: for they drank of that spiritual Rock that followed them: and that Rock was Christ.” (1 Corinthians 10:1-4)  David asked, “For who is God save the LORD? or who is a rock save our God? It is God that girdeth me with strength, and maketh my way perfect” (Psalms 18:31-32).  And the Apostle Peter admonishes us, “But, beloved, be not ignorant of this one thing, that one day is with the Lord as a thousand years, and a thousand years as one day. The Lord is not slack concerning his promise, as some men count slackness; but is longsuffering to us-ward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance.” (2 Peter 3:8-9)  Do you understand God’s ways?  It is wonderful to have an education, but we must have Godly understanding and wisdom to go with it.  

 

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

 

Thought For Today: “Wisdom is the principal thing; therefore get wisdom: and with all thy getting get understanding.” (Proverbs 4:7)

Morning Manna by Rufus Parker - 9 December 2020

 

Follow The Instructions

 

“All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness: That the man of God may be perfect, throughly furnished unto all good works.”
(2 Timothy 3:16-17)

 

Today’s Morsel:  Last year I purchased a desk chair for my wife for Christmas.  When I opened the box and pulled out the papers for the instructions, as I like to follow the instructions when I put things together, there were only pictures.  I guess the company thought if they cannot read they can follow the pictures.  You know that they say a picture is better than a thousand words.  The apostle Paul states that all scriptures are inspired by God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness.  Why do we need instructions to obtain righteousness?  Man needs not only to be made acquainted with truth to be convinced of his error, and to be rehabilitated, but he needs to be taught what is right, or what is required of him in order that he may lead a holy life.  Every changed and regenerated man needs instruction, and should not be left simply with the evidence that he is “rehabilitated, or converted.”  He should be followed up with the principles of the word of God, to show him how he may lead an upright life.  As Solomon states, “Give instruction to a wise man, and he will be yet wiser: teach a just man, and he will increase in learning.” (Proverbs 9:9).  The only way you can put your life together correctly is to follow the instructions written in God’s word.

 

Sing:  I saw the light, I saw the light, no more in darkness, no more in the night.  Now I am happy, no sorrow in sight, praise the Lord, I saw the light.

 

Thought For Today: Follow the instructions and they will get you out of darkness.

Morning Manna by Rufus Parker - 8 December 2020

 

Living on The Hallelujah Side

 

“Then Moses stood in the gate of the camp, and said, Who is on the LORD'S side? let him come unto me. And all the sons of Levi gathered themselves together unto him.” (Exodus 32:26)

 

Today’s Morsel:  Have you ever noticed that some Christians just cannot seem to get the victory over anything that they are going through.  They seem to always live on the underside.  Why can’t they live on the Hallelujah Side?  You know, the side that gives God continuous praise.  The side that rises and sings with joy.  The side that comes into His presence with thanksgiving in their heart and enters into His courts with praise.  To live on the Hallelujah Side, to me, is to know that He has set you on a rock and your head is high above your enemies that are about you.  To be on the Hallelujah Side is to know that you are blessed and highly favored of the Lord.  Moses said that if you are on the Lord's side then come over to me.  Tell me, whose side are you on?

Sing:  Once a sinner far from Jesus I was perishing with cold, But the blessed Savior heard me when I cried.  Then He threw His robe around me, and He led me to His fold, and I’m living on the Hallelujah Side.

Oh, glory be to Jesus, let the hallelujahs roll; help me ring my Savior’s praise far and wide.  For I’ve opened up toward heaven all the windows of my soul and I’m living on the Hallelujah Side.

 

Thought For Today:  Get on Jesus' side and you will be just fine.

Morning Manna by Rufus Parker - 7 December 2020

 

The Day of Infamy

 

“Therefore prophesy and say, Thus saith the Lord GOD; Because they have made you desolate, and swallowed you up on every side, that ye might be a possession unto the residue of the heathen, and ye are taken up in the lips of talkers, and are an infamy of the people” (Ezekiel 36:3)     

 

Today’s Morsel:  Mr. Vice President, Mr. Speaker, Members of the Senate, and of the House of Representatives.  Yesterday, December 7th, 1941 -- a date which will live in infamy -- the United States of America was suddenly and deliberately attacked by naval and air forces of the Empire of Japan.  These were words spoken by President Franklin Roosevelt, December 8, 1941, after the attack on Pearl Harbor.  And with confidence in our armed forces, with the unbounding determination of our people, we will gain the inevitable triumph so help us God, said President Roosevelt.  A date which will live in infamy.  A date that will be remembered for shame, disgrace, and outrage.  This will be a date well known for something terrible.  From that date, America has not ceased to be drawn into fighting.  We have gone from World War II, Korean, Vietnam, Granada, Kuwait, Iraq, Somalia, Afghanistan, and so on.  And since the date that Jesus Christ was brutally attacked and killed on Calvary over 2000 years ago, the church has been drawn into war.  That date unleashed war against Satan and his evil forces like never before.  And so, today, I too echo the words of President Roosevelt for the church.  "With confidence and the people of God, with the unbounding determination of His people, we will gain the inevitable triumph, so help us God. 

Sing: Ho, my comrades! See the signal in the sky! Reinforcements now appearing, victory is nigh.

“Hold the fort, for I am coming,” Jesus signals still; wave the answer back to Heaven, “By Thy grace we will.”

Thought For Today: Victory shall be mine!