Morning Manna by Rufus Parker - 2025 September 8

Prayer

“After this manner therefore pray ye: Our Father which art in heaven, Hallowed be thy name. Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done in earth, as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread. And forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors. And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil: For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, for ever. Amen.” (Matthew 6:9-13)

Today’s Morsel: One of the things I have seen some ashamed to do in the church, when called upon, is to pray. Some folks go almost into convulsions if they are called on to pray. I have even seen it at the dinner table in homes; folks act as if they are ashamed to pray. Especially if a preacher is present. Prayer is no more than you communicating with God. Just think about it. If you and Jesus were in a conversation, what would you say to Him? Moses talked with God, scripture said, face to face. God wants us to talk with Him the same way we would to others. The disciples whom Jesus had chosen asked Him to teach them to pray the same way that John the Baptist had taught his disciples how to pray. This lets us know that prayer is taught to people so that they know how to pray. You see, prior to following Jesus, we know that Andrew, and probably Philip, were disciples of John the Baptist (John 1:40). Maybe it was these two that had told the others of how John the Baptist had taught them how to pray, and now the others wanted Jesus to teach them the same as John had his disciples. To which Jesus gives them instruction on what to pray. And it is straight-forward and simple:  1. They are to acknowledge God for who He is (Worship); 2. Pray for the Holy Ghost to come (The Kingdom); 3. Seek for their daily previsions (Daily bread); 4. Seek for forgiveness and be ready to forgive (Repentance); 5. Seek for protection from evil and temptation (Protection); 6.Thanksgiving (In everything give thanks).   Basically, Jesus just recites for them what David had prayed just prior to relinquishing the kingdom to his son Solomon.  Scripture says: “Wherefore David blessed the LORD before all the congregation: and David said, Blessed be thou, LORD God of Israel our father, for ever and ever. Thine, O LORD, is the greatness, and the power, and the glory, and the victory, and the majesty: for all that is in the heaven and in the earth is thine; thine is the kingdom, O LORD, and thou art exalted as head above all. Both riches and honour come of thee, and thou reignest over all; and in thine hand is power and might; and in thine hand it is to make great, and to give strength unto all. Now therefore, our God, we thank thee, and praise thy glorious name.” (1 Chronicles 29:10-13) We don’t need to be afraid or ashamed to pray. It’s just a means to staying connected to Jesus. Simply talk to Him as you do your friend, that is who He is after all.  

Sing: Thank You Lord, for saving my soul, thank You Lord, for making me whole. Thank You Lord, for giving to me, Thy great salvation so full and free. 

Thought For Today: “And he spake a parable unto them to this end, that men ought always to pray, and not to faint;” (Luke 18:1)

Morning Manna by Rufus Parker - 2025 September 6

The Meek Shall Inherit The Earth

“Blessed are the meek: for they shall inherit the earth.” (Matthew 5:5)

Today’s Morsel: Throughout scripture, we see that God calls for us to walk humbly. According to Solomon, before honor is humility (Proverbs 15:33). The Prophet Micah informs us that, to come and appear before God, we must learn to do justly, to love mercy, and to walk humbly before our God (Micah 6:8).  The apostle Peter tells us to be clothed with humility (1 Peter 5:5). And the apostle Paul instructs us: “Let nothing be done through strife or vainglory; but in lowliness of mind let each esteem other better than themselves.” (Philippians 2:3)Meekness, or humility, ought to be the clothing that we don daily as we go about our lives and responsibilities if we desire to inherit the earth. Jesus isn’t talking about this earth which we now live and occupy, as it will soon pass away. He’s talking about that new heaven and new earth wherein dwelleth righteousness. If you desire to inherit that heaven and earth, then you must understand the importance of meekness and humility of heart in your life. 

Sing: Your only Son, they crucified, they laughed and scorned Him as He died. The humble King, they named a fraud; and crucified the Lamb of God. O’ Lamb of God, sweet Lamb of God, I love the holy Lamb of God. O’ wash me in Thy precious blood, my Jesus Christ, the Lamb of God.

Thought For Today: “And being found in fashion as a man, he humbled himself, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross.” (Philippians 2:8)

Morning Manna by Rufus Parker - 2025 September 5

The Truth Leads You to Truth

“Howbeit when he, the Spirit of truth, is come, he will guide you into all truth: for he shall not speak of himself; but whatsoever he shall hear, that shall he speak: and he will shew you things to come.” (John 16:13)

Today’s Morsel: One of the things about truth is that it leads you into more truth. Truth is unchanging. Truth helps you identify truth from error. Truth, Jesus said, will make you free. Truth is not temporary. It’s everlasting. You can’t say that you know truth and not love, live, and abide in truth. Well, you can, but it will be to your own detriment. That’s why I have trouble with those who say that they are in truth, and then they walk away from what they said was truth, taught others that they were in truth, and yet they go away from what they said and taught was the truth. “Jesus Christ the same yesterday, and today, and forever.” (Hebrews 13:8) Jesus said that when the Spirit of truth, which is His Spirit (the Holy Ghost), comes, it will guide you into all truth. Because Jesus is the truth (John 14:6), and the Word (John 1:14), He’s not going to lead you into error. He’s going to open your understanding and lead you to more truth. Truth does not take you from truth, it brings you to truth. Are you living and walking in truth?

Sing: Farther along we’ll know all about it. Farther along we’ll understand why. Cheer up my brother, live in the sunshine. We’ll understand it, all by and by.

Thought For Today: “For the law was given by Moses, but grace and truth came by Jesus Christ.” (John 1:17)

Morning Manna by Rufus Parker - 2025 September 4

All You Need

“And the priests brought in the ark of the covenant of the LORD unto his place, into the oracle of the house, to the most holy place, even under the wings of the cherubims. For the cherubims spread forth their two wings over the place of the ark, and the cherubims covered the ark and the staves thereof above. And they drew out the staves, that the ends of the staves were seen out in the holy place before the oracle, and they were not seen without: and there they are unto this day. There was nothing in the ark save the two tables of stone, which Moses put there at Horeb, when the LORD made a covenant with the children of Israel, when they came out of the land of Egypt.” (1 Kings 8:6-9)

Today’s Morsel: From the construction of the Ark of The Covenant, God had instructed Moses to place three items inside the Ark for a memorial for the children of Israel as a reminder to them of His previsions for them during their 40 years in the wilderness. These items were a pot of manna, the table of stones, and Aaron’s rod which budded. But now, years later, we see that only the two tables of stone remained inside of the Ark. These table of stones represented the Word of God.  This lets us know that when we have the Word of God, we not only have the Word of life, but we also have the bread of life, and His rod and staff to guide us and to lead us into all truth. As the psalmist said: “Thy word is a lamp unto my feet, and a light unto my path.” (Psalms 119:105) If we have the Word of God in our life and in our churches, then we have everything that we need to be successful and to lead us and others to the Promise Land and His eternal rest.

Sing: He’s all I need, He’s all I need, Jesus is all I need. He’s all I need, He’s all I need, Jesus is all I need.

Thought For Today: “And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us, (and we beheld his glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father,) full of grace and truth.” (John 1:14)

Morning Manna by Rufus Parker - 2025 September 3

Good Tidings

“How beautiful upon the mountains are the feet of him that bringeth good tidings, that publisheth peace; that bringeth good tidings of good, that publisheth salvation; that saith unto Zion, Thy God reigneth!” (Isaiah 52:7)

Today’s Morsel: Sharing the gospel to bring about change in one’s life cannot be understated. All of us who are born-again, had someone share the gospel with us, and that brought about change in our lives. Stop and think about the major impact that you are making in someone’s life when you bring them good news of peace and salvation for their soul. The gospel hasn’t loss its power to heal and to deliver. People today are suffering with so many issues, but their issue is no match for the gospel. The gospel can cover all sin and bring about a beautiful change in their life. Many lives today are in a state of confusion, with no peace, no contentment, and no joy. But when you bring them good tidings of good things, it is going to restore that which they are missing and change their life. You must simply go and take the message to them. “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) Your feet are only going to be beautiful if you share the gospel.

Sing: Go tell it on the mountain, over the hill and everywhere; go tell it on the mountain, that Jesus Christ is born.

Thought For Today: “For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved. How then shall they call on him in whom they have not believed? and how shall they believe in him of whom they have not heard? and how shall they hear without a preacher? And how shall they preach, except they be sent? as it is written, How beautiful are the feet of them that preach the gospel of peace, and bring glad tidings of good things!” (Romans 10:13-15)

Morning Manna by Rufus Parker - 2025 September 2

What’s Your Cause?

“Produce your cause, saith the LORD; bring forth your strong reasons, saith the King of Jacob.” (Isaiah 41:21)

Today’s Morsel: One of the things I like about God is that He is not afraid to challenge you when you think that He is wrong and that you are right. Even those of you who may worship idols, false gods, and practice false doctrine, God is not afraid to ask you to prove your cause. God says present your case before me. Bring forth your strongest reason that you can come up with, and let’s see if you can prove me wrong and yourself right. The psalmist states: “Their idols are silver and gold, the work of men's hands. They have mouths, but they speak not: eyes have they, but they see not: They have ears, but they hear not: noses have they, but they smell not: They have hands, but they handle not: feet have they, but they walk not: neither speak they through their throat. They that make them are like unto them; so is every one that trusteth in them. O Israel, trust thou in the LORD: he is their help and their shield. O house of Aaron, trust in the LORD: he is their help and their shield. Ye that fear the LORD, trust in the LORD: he is their help and their shield. The LORD hath been mindful of us: he will bless us; he will bless the house of Israel; he will bless the house of Aaron. He will bless them that fear the LORD, both small and great. The LORD shall increase you more and more, you and your children. Ye are blessed of the LORD which made heaven and earth.” (Psalms 115:4-15) He said that idols and false gods can do nothing for you. As Elijah told the false prophets of Baal: “And Elijah said unto the prophets of Baal, Choose you one bullock for yourselves, and dress it first; for ye are many; and call on the name of your gods, but put no fire under. And they took the bullock which was given them, and they dressed it, and called on the name of Baal from morning even until noon, saying, O Baal, hear us. But there was no voice, nor any that answered. And they leaped upon the altar which was made. And it came to pass at noon, that Elijah mocked them, and said, Cry aloud: for he is a god; either he is talking, or he is pursuing, or he is in a journey, or peradventure he sleepeth, and must be awaked.” (1 Kings 18:25-27) You can worship and serve idols and false gods all day long, but there is nothing they can do for you. You need the One true God. So, what is your cause for serving them?

Sing: There is none like You, no one else can touch my heart like You do. I can search through all eternity long and find, there is none like You.

Thought For Today: “To whom then will ye liken me, or shall I be equal? saith the Holy One.” (Isaiah 40:25)

Morning Manna by Rufus Parker - 2025 September 1

God’s Word Stands Forever

“The voice said, Cry. And he said, What shall I cry? All flesh is grass, and all the goodliness thereof is as the flower of the field: The grass withereth, the flower fadeth: because the spirit of the LORD bloweth upon it: surely the people is grass. The grass withereth, the flower fadeth: but the word of our God shall stand for ever.” (Isaiah 40:6-8)

Today’s Morsel: For centuries the Word of God has been an inspiration and strength for many. Many who were lost, confused, depressed, stressed, despondent, and saw life as having no meaning have found their way back with joy and purpose of life, all because of God’s Word. Yes, some have rejected the Bible, citing it as untruth, and as a crutch for the weak and feeble Christians to lean on. But as scripture says, it is the fool which says in their heart there is no God. (My wording, see Psalms 14:1). God’s Word, according to the apostle Paul, was written for our learning that we through patience and comfort of Scripture might have hope. The Word of God can change and turn any life around. The Word of God is not meant to hurt or destroy you, even though some may make it out to be that way. The Word of God is designed to build your character and give you understanding of how to live and enjoy life with abundance.  As Jesus said, “Sanctify them through thy truth: thy word is truth.” (John 17:17)

Sing: I read an old, old story, how the Savior came from glory, how He gave His life on Calvary to save a wretch like me. I heard about His groaning, and His precious blood’s atoning. Then I repented of my sins and won the victory.

O’ victory in Jesus, my Savoir forever. He sought me, and He bought me with His redeeming blood. He loved me ere I knew Him, and all my love is due Him. He plunged me to victory, beneath the cleansing flood. 

Thought For Today: “Heaven and earth shall pass away, but my words shall not pass away.” (Matthew 24:35)