Don't Trade Milk for Water

Isaiah 51:1 "Ho, everyone that thirsteth,come ye to the waters,and he that hath no money;come ye, buy and, eat yea,come, buy wine and milk without money and without price"

In the bible milk is referred to as the beginning stages of learning about the word God.  Hebrews 5:13 " For everyone that useth milk is unskillful in the word of righteousness : for he is a babe."  Milk nourishes the body and helps it to grow.  The more you drink the more you grow.   1 Peter 2:2 " As newborn babes,desire the sincere milk of the word, that ye may grow thereby".  Infants thrive on milk because it is essentially the only thing they can digest.  Once an infant gets older food is given in stages.  This is equivalent to how we should be as we learn more and more about His word.  Learning the word of the Lord is a growing process and we will mature the more we yearn for the word.  The word of the Lord will also strengthen us if we are weak.  Isaiah 40:31 " The spiritual milk of the word is an excellent restorative for a consumptive,wasted Christian: "But they that wait on the Lord shall renew their strength."
In the bible water is the first mention of life, and this life comes from water.  Genesis 1:20  "And God said,Let the waters flow abundantley the moving creature that hath life,and fowl that may fly above the earth in the open firmament of the heaven."  Water is essentially the major component of anything that physically contains liquid. This of course includes milk.  Without water milk would utimately dry and of no substance.   Without water we would die.  In Genesis 2 the perfect conditions of the Garden of Eden are watered by a river.  Without water the garden would have died along with the plants,animals and human beings.  The river in a sense is dipicted as the life that Christ gives His children through the Spirit of God.
So the phrase "Don't trade milk for  water" actually means that in order to understand the word of God we can't drink the milk if we have not been born (again).  John 3:5  "Except a man be born of water and of the Spirit he cannot enter the kingdom of God."  In this verse a water birth (physical) comes before the Spirit birth (spiritual).  The realistic view of this can be compared to a woman in the natural can't give birth until her water breaks.  We cannot be spiritually reborn until we have naturally been born.  You have to recieve the Lord God as your personal Lord and savior in order for Him to work his miraculous wonders in and through you.  1 John 5:12 " He that hath the Son hath life; he that hath not the Son of God hath no life".   Without water there is no life:  Without the Lord Jesus Christ there is no eternal life.

The Clay Pot

 Jeremiah 18:4 But the pot he was shaping from the clay was marred in his hands; so the potter formed it into another pot, shaping it as seemed best to him.

A few weeks back my daughter came home with a list of things in which she could do for a class project.  The class project was to create your own artifact correlating to what they had been learning about.  My daughter decides on making a clay pot.   My daughter is the creative type so she used a simple mixture from right out of the cupboard to make the clay.  She shaped it into a pot and sat it up on a shelf to dry for a few days.  She then pulled out her paint and painted it a brown and put some kind of design on it.   The only thing I thought was missing was the gloss that most clay pots have when you buy them.  I myself was doubtful that she wouldn’t  get a good grade on it just because of that cause I had an inkling that some other students project  was going to look nice and glossy like it had either been made a pottery place or their parents had a big influence on the project.  By chance parent teacher conference happened to be that week and I got to see all the other kids’ projects.  I myself was impressed with some of the pottery I seen at glance but deep in my heart all I could think was that these children’s   parents had helped them and not given their child a chance to show their own personal creativity.  When I got to my daughters pot it was all crumbled in pieces.  I felt awful but the teacher reassured me that the reason that it was in pieces was because all the children had been playing with it. Why you might ask? Because they were all interested on how she made the clay all by herself.   My daughter got an A on her project.  Her teacher said that it was creative and knew that she actually made it herself.  

In Jeremiah 18:1-6 God tells Jeremiah to go down to the potter’s house. Once he got to the potters house he observed the potter making a clay pot that fell apart in his hand so he begins to reshape it. As Jeremiah is watching God spoke to him telling Jeremiah  as the clay is in the potter’s hand, so are you in My hand.   Only God can shape and reshape us.   We are the clay and He is the Potter.  He is the one who created us and can mold us.  It doesn’t matter if we are broken in spirit because only He can put us back together.  Sometimes God breaks us down to build us up into something bigger and better

Treasure

Knowledge is the treasure of a wise man.-William Penn


Matthew 6:21 states:  "For where your treasure is,there will your heart also be".  Treasure is defined as accumulated wealth, anything greatly valued, or to prize and to put away for future use.  When we treasure something it is usually something that we put in high regard.  What is it that we are to treasure? Isaiah 33:6 states: "And there shall be stability in your times, an abundance of salvation,wisdom,and knowledge; the reverent fear and worship of the Lord is your treasure and His."
What are we treasuring in our lives? For most of us it is money and material possessions. We are in a sense hoarding possessions and we don't realize it.  Keeping our treasures to ourselves cannot and will not save our lives. Job 20:20-29(MSG):"Such God-denying people are never content with what they have or who they are; their greed drives them relentlessly.  They plunder everything but they can't hold on to any of it.  Just when they think they have it all,disaster strikes;they're served up a plate full of misery.  When they've filled their bellies with that, God gives them a taste of his anger,and they get to chew on that for a while.  As they run for their lives from one disaster,they run smack into another.  They're knocked around from pillar to post,beaten within an inch of their lives.  They're trapped in a house of horrors,and see their loot disappear down a black hole.  Their lives a total loss-not a penny to their name,not so much as a bean.  God will strip them of their sin-soaked clothes and hang their dirty laundry out for all to see.  Life is a complete wipe out for them,nothing surviving God's wrath. There!That's God's blueprint for the wicked-what they have to look forward too."
Matthew 6:19 states: "Do not gather and heap up and store up for yourselves treasures on earth,where moth,rust and worm consume and destroy,and where thieves break through and steal."  This shows us how vain it is to store up treasures and what the consequences are when we store up treasures.
Matthew 13:44 states: "The kingdom of heaven is like treasure hidden in field. When a man found it,he hid it again,and then in his joy,went and sold all he had and brought that field."Treasure is a precious possession. We attempt as believers in Christ to obtain eternal life. Are treasures worth more than eternal life? Absolutely not. The things that we treasure here on earth are of no use in heaven. What we all need to realize is that the ultimate treasure is eternal life and not our material possessions.  What you treasure here on earth should be more of a mindset and not earthly possessions.

Faith

Without faith,nothing is possible. With it, nothing is impossible.                                                                

Faith has a two noted definitions in the bible. One definition that you find about faith is that it means trust and reliance. Another definition found means fidelity and trustworthiness.  In Romans 3:3 is where the faith of God means his strict observance to promise. What if some did not believe and were without faith? Does there lack of faith and their faithlessness nullify and make ineffective and void the faithfulness of God and His fidelity[to his word]? Romans 3:3. Most scripture found about faith relates to fidelity and trustworthiness.

The effect of faith is noted in Galatians 5:5-6 For we,[not relying on the Law but]through the[Holy] Spirits [help],by faith anticipate and wait for the blessing and good for which our righteousness and right standing with God [our conformity to His will in purpose,thought and action,causes us]to hope. For[if we are]in Christ Jesus,neither circumcision or uncircumcision counts for anything,but only faith activated and energized and expressed and working through love.  The righteousness of faith is noted in Romans 1:17 For in the Gospel a righteousness which God ascribes is revealed,both streaming from faith and leading to faith[disclosed through the way of faith that arouses to more faith].As it is written,The man who through faith is just and upright shall live and shall live by faith.

Faith is trust in Jesus.  Unbelief or therefore lack of faith in the Gospel appears everywhere as a supreme evil.  By not making a clear decision to respond to God's offer in Christ means that one will remain in sin are eternally lost.  Faith alone can save them. The value of faith is noted in Romans 11:20 That is true.But they were broken[pruned] off because of unbelief(their lack of real faith),and you are established through faith[because you do believe].So do not become proud and conceited, but rather stand in awe and be reverently.

Born of Grace

But when He,Who had chosen and set me apart [even] before I was born and had called me by His grace (His undeserved favor and blessing),saw it fit and was pleased. Galatians 1:15 

To be born with grace is to be born with God's unmerited favor.  Grace is something that we do not deserve. Grace has the characteristics of being favorable for our salvation and for the redemption of our sins.  God's grace is abounding. It surmounts everything that we know.  It is something to be sought after.

For the Lord is a Sun and Shield;the Lord bestows [present]grace and favor and [future]glory(honor,splendor,and heavenly bliss)!No good thing will He withold from those who walk uprightly. Psalm 84:11

 The Grace of God is something man cannot obtain on his own.  Man cannot forgive himself for his own sins.

For it is by free grace(God's unmerited favor)that you are saved(delivered from judgement and made partakers of Christ's salvation)through[you]faith.And this[salvation] is not of yourselves[of your own doing,it came not through your own striving],but it is a gift of God.  Ephesians 2:8

It is by Grace in which we are saved. Grace is a gift of God.  Jesus is our Grace because he indeed is the gift of God.  Jesus died on the cross for our sins. Through Christ,God shows us His love,mercy and favor.  Through Christ we have the hope of salvation.

For with the heart a person believes(adheres to,trust in,and relies on Christ)and so is justified(declared righteous,acceptable to God),and with the mouth he confesses(declares openly and speaks out freely his faith)and confirms [his] salvation. Romans 10:10

Grace appears in us all but that does not make everyone saved.  We all have the chance to take advantage of the gift of God, Jesus Christ our Lord and personal Savior.  Salvation only comes through our faith in Him when we do what Grace tells us to do.  The Grace of God came by the resurrection of Jesus Christ.  The fact that Jesus died and then rose again on the third day is of great significance.  It was through the resurrection that God's Grace became effective.

Praise(honored,blessed)be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ(the Messiah)!By his boundless mercy we have been born again to an ever living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, 1 Peter 1:3

When we are baptized,we are baptized into the likeness of Christ's death,burial and resurrection.  This is where we realize the true meaning of God's Grace. We were dead to our sins until Jesus Christ came back.  Christ came because we were in our sins.  We where dead in our sins but with Christ we became alive.

Even when we were dead(slain)by[our own]shortcomings and tresspasses,He made us alive together in fellowship and in union with Christ;[He gave us the very life of Christ Himself ,the same new life with which He quickened Him,for]it is by grace(His favor and mercy which you did not deserve)that you are saved)delivered from judgment and made partakers of Christ's salvation. Ephesians 2:5

Sin is our own debt.  Unforgiven sin is spiritual death. "For the wages of sin pays in death,but the [bountiful] free gift of God is eternal life through(in union with)Jesus Christ our Lord." Romans 6:23.
That debt does not have to be paid if we accept Grace from God.  His love for us has been extended through Grace.  God has given us all chances to ask for forgiveness. Take the time out to ask for forgiveness by being obedient to His word.  No one is excluded when asking for forgiveness.  If we choose not to ask for His forgiveness,we make our struggle alot harder than what it has to be.  When then have to deal with God's wrath because of disobedience. "It is on account of these [very sins]that the [holy]anger of God is ever coming upon the sons of disobedience(those who are obstinately opposed to the divine will)." Colossians 3:6.
The Grace of God is the gift of Jesus Christ our Lord Savior.  He died so that we all may be saved, but we all must remember that we are responsible for our own salvation.  Just calling on Him is not enough,we must do the will of the Father and stay obedient to His word." [Live] as children of obedience[to God];do not conform yourselves to the evil desires[that governed you]in your former ignorance[when you did not know the requirements of the gospel] 1 Peter 1:14."

Bread and Water

When we think of the phrase bread and water we typically think of as what was given to prisoners as nourishment while imprisoned. 1 Kings 22:27 And say, Thus saith the king, Put this fellow in the prison, and feed him with bread of affliction and with water of affliction, until I come in peace. Today as I walked in my kitchen I took notice to a few items sitting on the counter.  It was a loaf of bread and a case of water.  The label on the bread bag read "Holsum King." Upon closer inspection of the case of water printed on the side read "Pure."
In Ruth 1:6 Then she arose with her daughters in law, that she might return from the country of Moab: for she had heard in the country of Moab how that the LORD had visited his people in giving them bread., and Matt 6:11  Give us this day our daily bread., bread is described as being given by God.  In Job 28:5  As for the earth, out of it cometh bread: and under it of is turned up as it were fire. and in Isaiah 55:10 For as the rain cometh down, and the snow from heaven, and returneth not thither, but watereth the earth, and maketh it bring forth and bud, that it may give seed to the sower, and bread to the eater: bread is described as by being yielded by the earth .  In Psalms 104:15 And wine that maketh glad the heart of man, and oil to make his face to shine, and bread which strengtheneth man's heart.,bread is used for nutrition and strengthening. 
In Matthew 26:26 And as they were eating, Jesus took bread, and blessed it, and brake it, and gave it to the disciples, and said, Take, eat; this is my body.,and in 1 Corinthians 11:23-24  For I have received of the Lord that which also I delivered unto you, That the Lord Jesus the same night in which he was betrayed took bread: And when he had given thanks, he brake it, and said, Take, eat: this is my body, which is broken for you: this do in remembrance of me.,bread is being broken.    John 6:33-35  For the bread of God is he which cometh down from heaven, and giveth life unto the world. Then said they unto him, Lord, evermore give us this bread. And Jesus said unto them, I am the bread of life: he that cometh to me shall never hunger; and he that believeth on me shall never thirst.,shows us one the best explainations of what bread really is.
Water is an element of the world.  Gen 1:2 And the earth was without form, and void; and darkness was upon the face of the deep. And the Spirit of God moved upon the face of the waters.,is the first time water is mentioned in the bible.  In Gen 1:6-7 And God said, Let there be a firmament in the midst of the waters, and let it divide the waters from the waters. And God made the firmament, and divided the waters which were under the firmament from the waters which were above the firmament: and it was so.,God originally created the firmament to divide.  Gen 2:5-6 reads And every plant of the field before it was in the earth, and every herb of the field before it grew: for the LORD God had not caused it to rain upon the earth, and there was not a man to till the ground. But there went up a mist from the earth, and watered the whole face of the ground.  This shows us that water is vital in our growth with God.  Water is also described as a necessity in the comfort and happiness in a man,Isaiah 41:17 When the poor and needy seek water, and there is none, and their tongue faileth for thirst, I the LORD will hear them, I the God of Israel will not forsake them. Zechariah 9:11 As for thee also, by the blood of thy covenant I have sent forth thy prisoners out of the pit where in is no water.,gives us examples.  Water is also noted in several miracles. Water has been turned into wine in John 2:7-9 Jesus saith unto them, Fill the waterpots with water. And they filled them up to the brim. And he saith unto them, Draw out now, and bear unto the governor of the feast. And they bare it. When the ruler of the feast had tasted the water that was made wine, and knew not whence it was: (but the servants which drew the water knew;) the governor of the feast called the bridegroom.  Water is also noted to be used as a refreshing; Proverbs 25:25 reads:  As cold waters to a thirsty soul, so is good news from a far country.
Bread and water go together like a hand in a glove.  They just fit!!!They are a necessity in life.  For they nourish us,and with out them we can not survive.  For they are the essentiel nutrients for the nourishment of our souls.  Without bread and water we would be nothing.

Woman of Integrity

To understand integrity you would have to have a clear understanding of  what the word means. One definition I found it to say that it simply just meant to be honest.  Integrity is described as the state of being whole,entire,or undiminished. It is also described as unity and wholeness. The story of Abigail in 1 Samuel 25 shows us a perfect example of integrity.
Abigail was married to a  man named Nabal. Nabal was asked by servants of David for neccesarry supplies because they had been traveling and had run out and Nabal refused foolishly. David and his servants were indeed protecting Nabal and his family from outside sources. One of David's servants in turn tells Abigail of what her husband had done.  As soon as she heard of what her husband had done she begin to make preparations to make up for her husbands foolish actions.  Abigail and her servants prepared large amounts of food and drink and begin to travel towards where David and his men were camped.  Abigail prevented a disaster regarding herself and her family by humbling herself before David.Abigail offered what we would call a peace offering.  Abigail did an extraordinary thing by taking the blame of her husbands sin.  She humbled herself an interceded for her people before David.  Interceding on ones behalf takes a person of integrity.  The end result is David's heart was softened and he accepted the peace offering and there was no bloodshed.
The question to ask ourselves is what part of integrity do you display in your life on  the day to day basis? Integrity is an adherence to moral principles. Are you willing to display integrity and courage in your life as Abigail did in carrying out the Lord's will?