Morning Manna by Rufus Parker - 9 December 2022

 Sinning Isn’t Easy

“Good understanding giveth favour: but the way of transgressors is hard.” (Proverbs 13:15)

Today’s Morsel: Sinning isn’t easy.  Don’t let anyone fool you. Sinners are always looking over their shoulders. If you stop and observe, most sinning is done in the dark and in dark places. Do you now see why the world is called being in darkness?  Sinning is a rough and rugged road to travel.  It makes it easier to stumble and fall, and you cannot walk with pleasure and a good conscience. You will find yourself loaded with guilt, and often filled with terror and fear of failure. Writing to the church at Rome, Paul asked: “What shall we say then? Shall we continue in sin, that grace may abound? God forbid. How shall we, that are dead to sin, live any longer therein? Know ye not, that so many of us as were baptized into Jesus Christ were baptized into his death? Therefore we are buried with him by baptism into death: that like as Christ was raised up from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life.” (Romans 6:1-4) Remember, as born-again believers, sin should not and must not have dominion over you.

Sing: No sin in heaven, no crying in glory, all of God's children, will be happy don't you see?  No pain, no sorrow, no worrying about tomorrow, for God's children will be happy, don't you see?

Thought For Today: “Whosoever abideth in him sinneth not: whosoever sinneth hath not seen him, neither known him.” (1 John 3:6)

Morning Manna by Rufus Parker - 8 December 2022

 Serve The Lord With Gladness

“Serve the LORD with gladness: come before his presence with singing.” (Psalms 100:2)

Today’s Morsel: The psalmist calls for us to serve the Lord with gladness. It should be a great delight and pleasure to serve God. When we think of what He has done for us, it should cause us to rejoice and be glad. I’ve found that the more I sing and praise God, the less likely I am to be depressed, stressed, or discouraged. There’s just something about serving with gladness. If you go to work with gladness and serve with gladness, you are going to see that job and the people around you aren’t as bad as it may seem. The enemy of your soul doesn’t want you to serve with gladness. He wants you to serve with drudgery, labor, and a grind. He wants you to see it as a requirement so that you won’t have any joy in it, you will hate it, and eventually quit.  If anything, you are asked to do, if you do it with gladness you will fulfill the will of God and find peace and contentment within yourself.

Sing: I’m going to serve the Lord anyway that I can, I’m going to serve the Lord anyway that I can, I’m gonna serve Him in the morning, serve Him all day long, I’m going to serve the Lord anyway that I can.

Thought For Today: “And whatsoever ye do, do it heartily, as to the Lord, and not unto men; Knowing that of the Lord ye shall receive the reward of the inheritance: for ye serve the Lord Christ.” (Colossians 3:23-24)

Morning Manna by Rufus Parker - 7 December 2022

 Did You Pray?

“Is any among you afflicted? let him pray. Is any merry? let him sing psalms.” (James 5:13)

Today’s Morsel: One of the things about serving God is that it must become a love relationship between you and Him, which requires communication and time together if the relationship is to last. Prayer is not an event; it is a way of being in a relationship with God.  If your relationship with Christ is weak, check your prayer life. Prayer should help us solidify and strengthen our relationship with Him. James says that if any are afflicted, they should pray. Why does it seem that there are a lot of afflictions in the church? Why does it seem that saints are suffering and oftentimes troubled? When we are in a continuous relationship with Christ through prayer and study of His Word, it should prepare us for the unforeseen circumstances and hardships that may come our way. Paul states that we should pray always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, and watch thereunto with all perseverance and supplication for all saints. (Ephesians 6:18) Stay strong in prayer and solidify your relationship with Him.

Sing: There was a time on earth when in the book of heaven, an old account was standing for sin yet unforgiven; my name was at the top and many things below, I went unto the keeper and settled it long ago.

Long ago, down on my knees, long ago, I settled it all; yes the old account was settled long ago. And my records clear today, for He washed my sins away; when the old account was settled long ago.     

Thought For Today: Prayer is not an event, it is a way of being in a relationship with God.  

Morning Manna by Rufus Parker - 6 December 2022

 Self-Inflicted Wounds

“And the angel of the LORD appeared unto him, and said unto him, The LORD is with thee, thou mighty man of valour. And Gideon said unto him, Oh my Lord, if the LORD be with us, why then is all this befallen us? and where be all his miracles which our fathers told us of, saying, Did not the LORD bring us up from Egypt? but now the LORD hath forsaken us, and delivered us into the hands of the Midianites.” (Judges 6:12-13)

Today’s Morsel: One of the things about self-inflicted wounds is that most people don’t want to accept it as being their own fault or doing. It’s always someone else’s fault. I was talking to a man one day who had a cast on his hand. I asked him what happened. He said that he had gotten angry and punched the wall. I asked him how that made things any better. You may remember the trial of the woman who spilled hot coffee on herself while driving, and she was burned, then she sued the provider because it was too hot. Or the man who sued the company for selling him a gun that shot himself in the foot while cleaning it, because he failed to clear it before he started to clean it. Self-inflicted wounds, but others’ fault. Somewhat like Israel. Israel had not done what God had instructed them to do, and so their enemies caused them hardships, fear, and headaches. It was their own self-inflicted wound, but they saw it as God's fault. “And Gideon said unto him, Oh my Lord, if the LORD be with us, why then is all this befallen us? and where be all his miracles which our fathers told us of, saying, Did not the LORD bring us up from Egypt? but now the LORD hath forsaken us, and delivered us into the hands of the Midianites.”  Is what you are going through being caused by you? Is your anger causing you to suffer? Well, you can turn to Jesus, and do what His Word tells you to do. Don’t be your own worst enemy.

Sing: No one ever cared for me like Jesus, there’s no other friend so kind as He; no one else could take the sin and darkness from me, O how much He cares for me.

Thought For Today: We have met the enemy and he is us. 

Morning Manna by Rufus Parker - 5 Dec 2022

 Making Him Known

“And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God: Praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, and watching thereunto with all perseverance and supplication for all saints; And for me, that utterance may be given unto me, that I may open my mouth boldly, to make known the mystery of the gospel, For which I am an ambassador in bonds: that therein I may speak boldly, as I ought to speak.” 
(Ephesians 6:17-20)

 

Today’s Morsel: One of the fallacies I find with some folks who say that they are Christians is that they do not know how to seize the opportunity to make the mystery of the gospel known. Paul tells us, “Awake to righteousness, and sin not; for some have not the knowledge of God: I speak this to your shame.” (1 Corinthians 15:34) Throughout the holiday season, it is one of the best opportunities to share truth with folks. You don’t need to talk about Christmas as being some pagan holiday as some folks do. You don’t need to say that this isn’t when Jesus was actually born. Your duty as a Christian is to make Christ known to those who do not know Him, no matter what time of year it is.  Solomon tells us, “A brother offended is harder to be won than a strong city: and their contentions are like the bars of a castle.” (Proverbs 18:19) If you offend people, know that you may never get another opportunity to make Christ known to them. Paul tells us to speak the truth in love (Ephesians 4:15). The apostles made Christ known first, then they baptized those to whom they had shown Him, and then taught them the ways of God more perfectly. Remember what you were commissioned to do, go ye into all the world and preach the gospel, not debate unknowns.

 

Sing: Who is this who comes with healing for the halt, the blind, the lame, saying softly to the sinner follow me.  Only come in faith believing as of old the people came, and the lame shall walk the blind again shall see.

It is Jesus, Jesus, sad one weep no more, He will heal the broken hearted, open wide the prison door, He is able to deliver evermore.

 

Thought For Today: “Awake to righteousness, and sin not; for some have not the knowledge of God: I speak this to your shame.” (1 Corinthians 15:34)

Morning Manna by Rufus Parker - 3 December 2022

 Stop Wasting Your Money

“Wherefore do ye spend money for that which is not bread? and your labour for that which satisfieth not? hearken diligently unto me, and eat ye that which is good, and let your soul delight itself in fatness.”
 (Isaiah 55:2)

Today’s Morsel: Before I was born-again, I spent my hard-earned money on things that did not satisfy me. And many today are spending their hard-earned money on things they do not need nor will ever satisfy. Especially during this time of the year. We try to please and to satisfy others by finding the right and perfect gift or toy to make them feel good.  Yet worldly things will only satisfy you temporarily. The Prophet Isaiah asked, “Wherefore do ye spend money for that which is not bread?” Why are you wasting your money on false doctrines or books that aren't true? Why are you wasting your money on something that isn’t the truth or the Word of God? Solomon states: “Buy the truth, and sell it not; also wisdom, and instruction, and understanding.” (Proverbs 23:23) Do you understand what is Truth? Jesus said that He is the Truth (John 14: 6), the Bread of life (John 6:35), and the Word made flesh (John 1:14).  So what are you spending your money on? 

Sing: Here’s my cup Lord, I lift it up Lord, come and quench the thirsting of my soul.  Bread of heaven feed me till I want no more; here’s my cup, fill it up and make me whole. 

Thought For Today: Consider your ways.

Morning Manna by Rufus Parker - 2 December 2022

 Evil People Don’t Understand Justices

“Evil men understand not judgment: but they that seek the LORD understand all things.” (Proverbs 28:5)

Today’s Morsel: Have you ever noticed how those who are arrested for crimes always look so pitiful and sad? Have you noticed their countenance in a court of law when the judge issues their sentence for years in prison for their crime? They look as though someone is doing them wrong or as if to say why am I even here? It’s all because those who do evil do not understand justice. In the same way that people are no longer taught ethics and etiquette, respect, righteousness, and having a strong work ethic, people aren’t being taught about justice.  Solomon states: “Because sentence against an evil work is not executed speedily, therefore the heart of the sons of men is fully set in them to do evil. Though a sinner do evil an hundred times, and his days be prolonged, yet surely I know that it shall be well with them that fear God, which fear before him: But it shall not be well with the wicked, neither shall he prolong his days, which are as a shadow; because he feareth not before God.”(Ecclesiastes 8:11-13)  When men do not understand justice, they may think that people are getting away with doing wrong, and so they make the decision to do the same. But it’s not going to go well with the wicked, he says.  There is an end.  Therefore, those people who say that they know Jesus should never find themselves in a court of law for doing wrong. Do you understand justice?  

Sing: Falling in love with Jesus, falling in love with Jesus, falling in love with Jesus, is the best thing I've, ever, done.

Thought For Today: “He that saith he abideth in him ought himself also so to walk, even as he walked.” (1 John 2:6)