The Bod of Christ

(THE BODY OF CHRIST – This is US)

By: Nathlee Grant

We have prayed, pastors preached/taught.  Now it is time to get moving…

The body of Christ is one body with many members; each member has his/her responsibilities and role/s. The body of Christ is not limited to the offices/ministries of a church but plays major role in our daily lives. This means therefore that we are called to first identify and acknowledge the part of the body we are. understand the roles associated with that part, accept and own these roles and most importantly play them.  We are also called to support, encourage and let me emphasize respect ours and the other body parts as well as the roles they play, knowing that all parts are working together for a common good.

More than often we tend to think higher of the other roles than ours, and bring about jealousy, resentment and lack confidence in the knowledge and the importance of our roles. Once a part of the body is malfunctioned or not functioning accordingly because of whatever reason, it brings about strain on the other parts, which eventually worn out the entire body. Our roles vary depending on the relation, thus parent-child, husband-wife, brother-sister, aunt/uncle-neice/nephew, shepherd-sheep, friend-friend, and when we not confident enough in our particular role that relationship begins to sink (body wears out) naturally there is more stress on one side. think about it. But when we love what we do and are confident in that which we do our relationSHIPS sail (Bodies are healthy) think about it 

"If you are faithful in little things, you will be faithful in large ones. But if you are dishonest in little things, you won't be honest with greater responsibilities.” Luke 16:10

I hope I can be trusted to become the HEAD one day…More responsibilities, but for now I’ll just be humble with my small tasks...Less responsibility.

Let us continue to strive always to DO Good, Live Right, Be Just and LOVE unconditionally. 

Matthew 20:- The parable of the workers in the vineyard

Matthew 20:- The parable of the workers in the vineyard

By: Nathlee Grant

I read this scripture more than once, and during reading I feel the same way the workers felt, who worked the full day. I shared their anger and just exploded during reading, this happen every single time I read this passage, how can they work such short time and get the same paid as I do. But stop this is what landowner said, why are you angry, is it because you are bad mind or because I am generous? Whoops, I didn’t think about that, I just felt it wasn’t right and saw a bit of unfairness, but again what is unfair about it, I agreed to work for a denarius (a day’s wage) I am thinking now that it could really be bad mind, jealousy is probably a better word.

In all honesty, real life situation now, this is happening to me, “MAN “this landowner prefer those lazy worker more than me, how can I work so hard and he couldn’t see it fit to “up” increase my wage a little but instead pay us the same, in other words him up theirs, here it comes again is it always about the “ME”, Now I am moving in another direction, this is not even jealousy this is selfishness. Why couldn’t I see from beginning that the landowner is trying to give everybody an equal opportunity….. But you know what is true about this feeling, it is REAL and lives deep within, and even when we can theoretically give the appropriate answer, our habitual reaction/ learnt action would always manifest itself first, our real feeling. This is so deep and grounded that even after the fact, Let me talk about me now, and I say to self, “child you know you could have done it this way”, the truth is the next time which is sometimes just a minute afterward, my habitual reaction seemed to always get there first . Question, what is the drilling process that can be used to override this habit and create a new response method in dealing with the situation, the correct way?  Similar as in the case of those constant fire drills, these drills are done to ensure employees do not jump through the window from the top floor in the event of a fire. Trust me it is always easy to say what you would have and would not do in any given situation, until you are in the position. Peter told Jesus confidently, that  he would not betrayed him and you know the story, when he was put in the situation he betrayed Christ, I am sure if he had some test runs/drills, he would have probably reacted differently. Well we can also say he did not pray to be protected, but even after prayer there is something that we need to do, “PRACTICE” and again, what should I practice?

These learnt ways we have acquired from birth, that caught root, the only way we know to do the things we do, even when it is not working, but our minds are already conditioned, we even get defensive, upset when we are questioned about these ways, which we have already deemed to be right. Where do we begin to unlearn, relearn then retrained our minds? Think on this, are we robots to this world system?

The first Manufacturer

The First Manufacturer to create a Written Manual

By: Nathlee Grant

God, the first creator, created us then gave us our manual with a toll free 24/7 contact access and a lifetime guarantee. The manual states whatever conditions you are in called me, I will fix you. You cannot be damaged enough beyond repair or far away beyond my reach. This is the best customer service ever! RELIABLE, TRUSTWORTHY, HONEST –WHAT YOU SEE IS WHAT YOU GET!!!

When a product is developed its purpose and potential are coded within, cell phones, hair dryer, pen, clock etc. Therefore the product will leave the factory knowing fully its use. Let us look at a battery, a battery has a life span that comes into effect only when it is used or it reaches its expiry date, hence the owner of the battery can choose to have the battery live without maximizing its purpose or use to its fullest before it takes it rest. In the same case a seed, lets say a mango  is found, this seed can either live the rest of its life being a seed or maximized it s purpose by becoming a tree and produce fruits. How? If the seed sit around then nothing will happen, however if it is placed in soil, watered and receive adequate sunlight then surely it will reach its goal. From the above cases we can derive that the future does not rely on further time or tomorrow only, it in fact needs action but mostly it needs to be realized or known.

Since every other manufacturers create their product base on the first manufacturer’s standard then the same principle is true for us human; the original creation.  Clearly if we don’t know our purpose we will sit around waiting on our expiry date. How do we know our purpose? Check the manual; the Bible and or call the developer; God. Any other manual will give incorrect instructions. Remember this too, even though we are all human we have a different chip coded inside us to carry out different function, like the cell phones we carry different serial numbers; which helps the developer to quickly make reference and readily identify our functionality.

Who is our Master?

Our Boss
By: Nathlee Grant

Who and or What are you working for?

Who and or What makes you work hard, tirelessly and endlessly?

Who and or What gives you that burning drive/desire/passion?

 

when you find the answer......

 

Chew on this

Is it fair to say  that "Who and or what" we are working for is really our BOSS/MASTER.....

 

Family I want my life to be this; a devotee to Christ, who is the HEAD of my life, in fact, my BOSS/MASTER which means therefore, working hard, tirelessly and endlessly must be for HIM (and I am comforted knowing that He gives rest to those he love Psalm 127:1-3)  carry the same passion he had when he was on earth - Matt 9:36 When he saw the crowd he had compassion, when he saw the city Jerusalem he wept Luke 19:41.

This therefore means that I want people needs to fill me with compassion so that I will have the drive, desire and passion to work hard, tirelessly and endlessly to give them the hope and peace of GOD...God  who is indeed the BOSS/MASTER.

My Prayer: (Thanks Lois)

Lord, show me your way, I want to be one of your servants to give help to your people. Show me what to do and how to do it, place me in the position to be your voice, your hands and your feet as Moses was. Let me be as brave and courageous as Joshua, be patient with me Lord as I struggle with doubt as Gideon, give me enough testing that I may be as Abraham; full of faith and trust, to trust you wholeheartedly. Lord I devout myself to you this day to do you work according to your plans. Let my ears become attentive to your voice, my eyes to you vision, fill my heart with your compassion and my mind to with your wisdom, all this I ask in Jesus name AMEN.

"We are all servants of the Lord"

If we continue to seek HIM (GOD); we will have life and have it abundantly. Our father wants to withhold nothing from us; especially when we ask believing. Matt 21: 22

Do not compromise with the enemy

Do not compromise with the enemy

By: Nathlee Grant

Do not compromise with the enemy - situations, fear, anger, greed, etc, watch the emotions & desires, negotiations with the enemy tie God's hand and compromises His plans. Continue praying and wait because he is always on time. 

 

David and Bathsheba (Is it fair to say that they were meant to be husband and wife since Solomon was ordained to build the temple of God ) 2 Samuel 11

 

He said to me (David): 'Solomon your son is the one who will build my house and my courts, for I have chosen him to be my son, and I will be his father. 1 Chron. 28:6

 

Negotiations often bring lost, disgrace; anguish etc. 2 Samuel 12, Proverbs 5: 7 -14,

Lamentation 1: 7

 

Where there is compromising, plans have changed, God is no longer in control but the will of man. David had to now start planning Uriah’s life and hope it play out according to his interest.

What are we giving God to work with?

What are we giving God to work with?

by: Nathlee Grant

In recent times I have been wrapping my mind on the story in the book of Joshua in particular the wall of Jericho.  In my own analysis, in Joshua 2, two spies were sent to the city to spy it out; I am guessing that this was done so that they could come up with some formation and strategy to attack the city, while they were there Rahab did the most honorable thing, which was in favour to God and them, she hid them.  In Joshua 6, the big day to take down the city Jericho, I was anticipating while reading the story some top a top formation, skills and strategy instead God told them in simplicity to the human mind to march around the city. It worked! My thing is why then was it important for the spies to into the city at all. 

There is no coincident where God is concern, and I can bet they (the spies) went into the city only to bring out RAHAB out just as Noami went all the way to Moab for bring RUTH out. But, they both  i.e. Rahab and Ruth needed to give God something to work with, just as the boy with the fish and bread, Mary and Martha rolled the stone away, Mary the mother of Jesus ask the servant to do as Jesus ask fill the pan with water. Hear this part “Enter the house of the harlot and rescue the woman and everyone connected with her”.  Go into the house and rescue the woman from what? My guess again, rescue her from prostitution. Rahab gave a change of heart, which was all God needed to finished his purpose in her life, Philippians states it better… He who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus. Ruth gave a made up MIND!

What are we giving God to work with?