Morning Manna by Rufus Parker - 8 Oct 2022

 It’s A New Generation

“I will go in the strength of the Lord GOD: I will make mention of thy righteousness, even of thine only. O God, thou hast taught me from my youth: and hitherto have I declared thy wondrous works. Now also when I am old and grayheaded, O God, forsake me not; until I have shewed thy strength unto this generation, and thy power to every one that is to come.” (Psalms 71:16-18)

 

Today’s Morsel: As I get older, I see the importance of sharing with this new generation the righteousness of God. Many young people seem to struggle today in their walk with God because they are not given an understanding at the earliest age of the ways of Christ and who He is. Everything in your life flows from the knowledge of who Christ is. If you never learn this, you are going to struggle in your walk with Christ and being a Christian. I don’t care who you are. Their little minds are inundated at the earliest stage with superhero figures, games, sports, gadgets, and fast food. The righteousness of Christ isn’t mentioned until they are 6 or 7 years old, and then we expect them to just turn on a dime and change. It doesn’t work that easily. Jesus told the religious leaders that once a person is converted the wrong way, he is made twice the child of hell (my word and emphasis). Children must be trained up in the way they should go. As Moses told the new generation of the Children of Israel, “For thou art an holy people unto the LORD thy God: the LORD thy God hath chosen thee to be a special people unto himself, above all people that are upon the face of the earth. The LORD did not set his love upon you, nor choose you, because ye were more in number than any people; for ye were the fewest of all people: But because the LORD loved you, and because he would keep the oath which he had sworn unto your fathers, hath the LORD brought you out with a mighty hand, and redeemed you out of the house of bondmen, from the hand of Pharaoh king of Egypt. Know therefore that the LORD thy God, he is God, the faithful God, which keepeth covenant and mercy with them that love him and keep his commandments to a thousand generations; And repayeth them that hate him to their face, to destroy them: he will not be slack to him that hateth him, he will repay him to his face.” (Deuteronomy 7:6-10) We are dealing with a new generation, and we must spend time with them, so they understand what the Lord's requirements are for them.  And so they understand at the earliest age who Jesus is. 

 

Sing: Are you past the point of weary? Is your burden weighin' heavy? Is it all too much to carry? Let me tell you 'bout my Jesus, Do you feel that empty feeling? 'Cause shame's done all its stealin' And you're desperate for some healin', Let me tell you 'bout my Jesus.

He makes a way where there ain't no way, Rises up from an empty grave, Ain't no sinner that He can't save,  Let me tell you 'bout my Jesus.  His love is strong and His grace is free, And the good news is I know that He can do for you what He's done for me, Let me tell you 'bout my Jesus.

And let my Jesus change your life. … Hallelujah, Hallelujah, Hallelujah, Amen, Amen

Thought For Today: “And with many other words did he testify and exhort, saying, Save yourselves from this untoward generation.” (Acts 2:40)

Morning Manna by Rufus Parker - 7 October 2022

 We Must Tell Their Stories

“And what shall I more say? for the time would fail me to tell of Gedeon, and of Barak, and of Samson, and of Jephthae; of David also, and Samuel, and of the prophets: Who through faith subdued kingdoms, wrought righteousness, obtained promises, stopped the mouths of lions, Quenched the violence of fire, escaped the edge of the sword, out of weakness were made strong, waxed valiant in fight, turned to flight the armies of the aliens. Women received their dead raised to life again: and others were tortured, not accepting deliverance; that they might obtain a better resurrection: And others had trial of cruel mockings and scourgings, yea, moreover of bonds and imprisonment: They were stoned, they were sawn asunder, were tempted, were slain with the sword: they wandered about in sheepskins and goatskins; being destitute, afflicted, tormented; (Of whom the world was not worthy:) they wandered in deserts, and in mountains, and in dens and caves of the earth. And these all, having obtained a good report through faith, received not the promise: God having provided some better thing for us, that they without us should not be made perfect.” (Hebrews 11:32-40)

 

Today’s Morsel: When is the last time that you stood at church and told your testimony? When was the last time that you sat down with your kids and shared with them how you came into your relationship with Christ? What about the elders that were instrumental in your ministry? We must tell their story. They cannot be made perfect without us. They gave us truth and brought us out of darkness to His marvelous light. What if they had never witnessed to you?  What if they never told you about what Jesus did for them? Hebrews 11 is more than just the faith chapter, it’s a chapter where the author is showing and relating to us the lives of our forefathers. And he even tells us that he doesn’t have the time to tell us about them all. Don’t be ashamed to talk about being a Christian to people. They need to know not only what Christ has done for others and you, but more importantly what He can do for them.  Make time to tell your story.  

 

Sing: I am not on an ego trip, I'm nothing on my own.  I make mistakes and often slip, just common flesh and bone. But I’ll prove someday just what I say that I’m of a special kind; and yet when He was on the cross, I was on His mind.

He knew me, yet He loved me, He whose glory makes the heavens shine.  I’m so unworthy of such mercy, yet when He was on the cross, I was on His mind.

 

Thought For Today: “And he said unto them, Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature. He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved; but he that believeth not shall be damned. And these signs shall follow them that believe; In my name shall they cast out devils; they shall speak with new tongues; They shall take up serpents; and if they drink any deadly thing, it shall not hurt them; they shall lay hands on the sick, and they shall recover.” (Mark 16:15-18)

Morning Manna by Rufus Parker - 6 October 2022

 Tailored to Your Need

“For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given: and the government shall be upon his shoulder: and his name shall be called Wonderful, Counsellor, The mighty God, The everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace.” (Isaiah 9:6)

Today’s Morsel: One of the great things about Christ was that He was tailored and made to meet every need. After being tempted by the devil for 40 days, scripture states: “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 for 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. And he closed the book, and he gave it again to the minister, and sat down. And the eyes of all them that were in the synagogue were fastened on him. And he began to say unto them, This day is this scripture fulfilled in your ears.” (Luke 4:16-21) Think about that for a moment. Every situation and circumstance is identified in the passage of scripture here and is fulfilled in Christ Jesus. Nothing is left that He cannot do. He was tailored to meet all your needs.

 

Sing: On my way home, oh, on my way home; on my way, oh, on my way home; on my way home, oh, on my way home, come on fix it, Jesus, fix it, like You said You would.

 

Thought For Today: “But my God shall supply all your need according to his riches in glory by Christ Jesus.” (Philippians 4:19)

Morning Manna by Rufus Parker - 5 October 2022

 Finding Motivation

“I will lift up mine eyes unto the hills, from whence cometh my help. My help cometh from the LORD, which made heaven and earth. He will not suffer thy foot to be moved: he that keepeth thee will not slumber. Behold, he that keepeth Israel shall neither slumber nor sleep. The LORD is thy keeper: the LORD is thy shade upon thy right hand. The sun shall not smite thee by day, nor the moon by night. The LORD shall preserve thee from all evil: he shall preserve thy soul. The LORD shall preserve thy going out and thy coming in from this time forth, and even for evermore.” (Psalms 121:1-8)

 

Today’s Morsel: Where do you turn to when you need motivation? What do you do when it seems that all your hope is gone? Well, you already know what to do if you are born again because Jesus told you what to do in His word. “Look unto me, and be ye saved, all the ends of the earth: for I am God, and there is none else.” (Isaiah 45:22); Fear thou not; for I am with thee: be not dismayed; for I am thy God: I will strengthen thee; yea, I will help thee; yea, I will uphold thee with the right hand of my righteousness.  (Isaiah 41:10); Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.  (Matthew 11:28-30); “And let the peace of God rule in your hearts, to the which also ye are called in one body; and be ye thankful. Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom; teaching and admonishing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with grace in your hearts to the Lord.” (Colossians 3:15-16); “And be not drunk with wine, wherein is excess; but be filled with the Spirit; Speaking to yourselves in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody in your heart to the Lord; Giving thanks always for all things unto God and the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ; Submitting yourselves one to another in the fear of God.” (Ephesians 5:18-21).  Get your eyes back on what they are supposed to be on, which is the word of God, and you’ll find your motivation every time.

 

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.

 

Thought For Today: “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)

Morning Manna by Rufus Parker - 4 October 2022

 I’m Just Getting Started

“The same day there came certain of the Pharisees, saying unto him, Get thee out, and depart hence: for Herod will kill thee. And he said unto them, Go ye, and tell that fox, Behold, I cast out devils, and I do cures to day and to morrow, and the third day I shall be perfected.” (Luke 13:31-32)

 

Today’s Morsel: If there has ever been a time that the church should be the light for the whole world to see, it ought to be now. People are looking for the way, the truth, and the life. They are lost. People often tease me about retiring three times (I have retired from the military, from Global Missions, and from being a pastor), but I just tell them that there is no discharge in this war. I’m just getting started. And if the Lord continues to give me health and strength, wisdom, and knowledge, to do His will, each day is a new day to do something great for the kingdom. When they told Jesus that Herod would kill Him, Jesus said, “Go ye, and tell that fox, Behold, I cast out devils, and I do cures today and tomorrow, and the third day I shall be perfected.” Jesus said to tell him I’m just getting started. What about you? Are you ready to quit and retire? I don’t find the word ‘retire’ in scripture where it means to stop working. In scripture, the word often means to take heart, be strengthened, and play the man.  Jesus simply says, come apart and rest a while. I’ve had my rest, now it’s time to get back to work. I’m just getting started.  How about you?

Sing: Jesus use me, oh Lord don’t refuse me, for sure there’s a work that I can do.  And even though it’s humble Lord help my will to crumble.  Though the cost be great I’ll work for You.

 

Thought For Today: “And Jesus said unto him, No man, having put his hand to the plough, and looking back, is fit for the kingdom of God.” (Luke 9:62)

Morning Manna by Rufus Parker - 3 October 2022

 Every Issue

“For the love of money is the root of all evil: which while some coveted after, they have erred from the faith, and pierced themselves through with many sorrows.” (1 Timothy 6:10)

 

Today’s Morsel: I have come to realize that every issue has a root cause. Solomon says that the cause of strife is pride (Proverbs 28:25). James says that lust is the cause of war and fighting “From whence come wars and fightings among you? come they not hence, even of your lusts that war in your members? Ye lust, and have not: ye kill, and desire to have, and cannot obtain: ye fight and war, yet ye have not, because ye ask not. Ye ask, and receive not, because ye ask amiss, that ye may consume it upon your lusts” (James 4:1-3). And Paul said where perversion, unholiness, and corruption are, the root is that when they knew God they glorified him not as God, neither were thankful (Romans 1:21)  Headaches, pain, suffering, backsliding, hate, prejudice, backache, every issue has a root cause. Medical, ministers, and education professionals are studying day in and day out trying to find the root cause to try to help solve the issue. Even salvation, joy, peace, and eternal life, all have a root cause, and we have already found the answer and it is Jesus Christ. Therefore, that part of your life should be complete without searching for its cause.  Jesus is the answer for the world!

 

Sing: At the cross, at the cross, where I first saw the light and the burden of my heart rolled away, rolled away.  It was there by faith I received my sight and now I am happy all the day.

 

Thought For Today:  Always be thankful.   

Morning Manna by Rufus Parker - 1 October 2022

 Free 

“Know ye not, that to whom ye yield yourselves servants to obey, his servants ye are to whom ye obey; whether of sin unto death, or of obedience unto righteousness? But God be thanked, that ye were the servants of sin, but ye have obeyed from the heart that form of doctrine which was delivered you. Being then made free from sin, ye became the servants of righteousness.” (Romans 6:16-18)

 

Today’s Morsel: Do you ever watch those commercials during tax time where they tell you that if you download their apps, it is free? Or you keep getting those advertisements in the mail telling you that certain phones are free. Or you are shopping, and you hear over the PA system in the store saying that if you use their store charge card, your first three months' payments are free? Is it really free? Paul said that once we obeyed from the heart that form of doctrine, which was delivered to us, we were made free from sin and became the servants of righteousness. Obedience to the teaching of the apostles of Christ will make you free. You can be bound by drugs, alcohol, and any other addictions, but if you obey the gospel, you can be made free. Jesus said that you shall know the truth and the truth shall make you free (John 8:32). Now that’s free!

 

Sing: He set me free, yes, He set me free. He broke the bars of prison for me. I’m glory bound my Jesus to see.  Glory to God, oh He set me free.

 

Thought For Today: Are you free?