Priesthood of All Believers (October 2023)

**A talk I gave in October 2023. Please note an outline is provided for these particular talks with rights to the speaker to add in personal testimony and make the words flow in a way that is natural to them. Key points must remain so I do not take credit for the entirety of this talk. 

Voice Recording of Talk (just click below and give it about 8 seconds to start)

    

    As I was preparing for today, I really wanted to share about all the times I heard the statement, "I don't know how you do it." My response was and is always, "The grace of God." These conversations were always in reference to my children's health battles. But as I really reflected and sought God's guidance, I realized it's not a testimony or me sharing my story of how I made it through those times. I began to realize it's all the little things~and times~ when I've listened to God and extended His grace towards others. 

    I'm sure many of us have experience at least one of the following~ or something similar: 

1. The person who cut you off in traffic.
2. The restaurant getting your order wrong, being slower than you want, being out of food. 
3. The person who snaps at you for anything at all.
4. The child or spouse who forgets or is late or damages something unintentionally. Or many similar situations. 

    And instead of reacting in a negative way, you pause a moment, take a deep breath, and extend God's grace...

1. You realize the person in traffic may be rushing to a loved one who is injured...or maybe it's a student driver learning how to navigate the road...or any other scenario you can think of. 
2. You smile at the restaurant worker, say "thank you, I see it's been busy" or "I see you are short staffed" and then offer a word of prayer for the rest of the day. You may even leave a nicer than usual tip. 
3. You smile at the person who snapped at you and ask, "Are you doing okay? Would you like to just sit and talk a moment?"
4. You love on your child or spouse, forgiving them immediately...maybe even laughing at what happened. 

    You see all these little opportunities of "inconvenience" and possible frustration. The times when you are tempted...notice I say tempted...to say some unkind things or react in unkind ways...these can all be used by the enemy to keep trying to darken the world. Or these can be ways that you...we...can step up and shine the light of God. Allowing others to see Him--These are all just some small ways we can begin living out the priesthood we are called to. 

    My name is Brandi Cade, and the title of this talk is Priesthood of All Believers. 

    Much of the world today has turned away from God. Evidence of this abounds. There are so many examples of this from dishonesty to violence to various forms of abuse. For example, this month (October) many wear purple to bring awareness to domestic violence. It's a month to acknowledge survivors and be a voice for victims. Another example is from my called path in life as a school teacher, we can no longer just teach academic subjects such as reading, writing, math, science, and social studies. Instead we teach children to be aware of their bodies and the importance of reporting unsafe or inappropriate touch. We teach them how to take cover in the event of an intruder. As a teacher we watch about 7 hours worth of videos at the start of each year and many are on things such as Erin's Law which helps to train us in signs of sexual abuse, we watch videos about bullying behaviors, we are trained on suicide awareness and prevention. A common saying from my mouth is "eyes up" and "be aware of your surroundings." These are just a few examples of how the world has turned from God. We wouldn't have such an increase in all these awareness and trainings if they didn't exist---if they weren't becoming more and more common. 

    While the situation today can be discouraging, the proper attitude of the Christian is not to complain but to seek solutions to problems and apply them. 

    True happiness in humanity will be found only in God and the grace of Jesus Christ. 

    Keep in mind this is not an oversimplification. 

    You see, through salvation offered in Jesus Christ, God has bridged the gap of sin and death that separates people from God, and people from other people (see 2 Corinthians 5:18-20; again, that's 2 Corinthians 5:18-20). 

And all of this is a gift from God, who brought us back to himself through Christ. And God has given us this task of reconciling people to him. For God was in Christ, reconciling the world to himself, no longer counting people's sins against them. And He gave us this wonderful message of reconciliation. So we are Christ's ambassadors; God is making His appeal through us. We speak for Christ when we plead, "Come back to God!"

~2 Corinthians 5:18-20

    Moreover, God calls forth persons in each generation---people like you and me---to stand in the gap with Christ and bridge the separation between people and God where the grace of Christ needs to be made real. 

Priesthood of All Believers

    So what is the priesthood of all believers? The priesthood of all believers is a biblical concept that is important for understanding the church and the role of laity in the church. All believers, laity and clergy alike, are called and given authority to be priests to one another. 

    All believers are baptized in Christ and are one in Christ (see Romans 6:3-4 and Galatians 3:27-29)

    All are members in the body of Christ, every member is important, and no individual is more important than another. (see 1 Corinthians 12:12-27)

    This means the popular notion that clergy "do ministry" and laity consume it is wrong and unbiblical. 

What is a priest?

1. One: A priest functions as God's representative in the world, communicating God's word and shedding light on God's will in people's lives. A priest pronounces God's word of forgiveness and healing grace. 
2. Two: A priest also acts as the people's representative to God. A priest intercedes for the people, going to God for the sake of the people, and offering sacrifices of love on their behalf. 
3. Three: A priest is not only the ordained clergy, but anyone who has experienced the love, acceptance, and forgiveness of God, and who helps others experience that grace as well. 

Jesus is the great high priest, the supreme mediator between God and people (See Hebrews 6:20 and 7:23-28). In Christ, the separation between God and humanity is overcome. 

Jesus is God's representative to us. He is the Word made flesh, mediating God's grace and truth to us. 

Jesus is our representative to God. He shared our humanity and lovingly sacrificed his life for our salvation. John 1:29 shares with us: "Here is the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world!"

All believers share in this priesthood---in partnership with Christ. The members of the Christian community are a royal priesthood. 

1 Peter 2:4-5 says: 

    You are coming to Christ, who is the living cornerstone of God's temple. He was rejected by people, but he was chosen by God for great honor. And you are living stones that God is building into his spiritual temple. What's more, you are his holy priests. Through the mediation of Jesus Christ, you offer spiritual sacrifices that please God. 

And then in 1 Peter 2:9-10

    But you are not like that, for you are a chosen people. You are royal priests, a holy nation, God's very own possession. As a result, you can show others the goodness of God, for he called you out of the darkness into His wonderful light. 

Once you had no identity as a people; 

now you are God's people.

Once you received no mercy, 

now you have received God's mercy. 

    As part of the priesthood of all believers, each of us is called to represent Christ and share His grace with others. Believers are called to bridge the separation between people and God, to stand in the gap with Christ. 

    As part of the priesthood of all believers, we participate in Christ's ministry when we perform loving, sacrificial acts and share the good news of God's grace and forgiveness. 

    Do not misunderstand: the phrase "priesthood of all believers" does not mean every person acts as his or her own priest. Rather, believers are given the authority of love to be priests to one another. Christ laid down his life for others to make the grace of God real; we too are called to do this. 

    The church is the body of Christ--people who have experienced the love, acceptance, and forgiveness of God and have committed their lives to Christ and to His ministry of sharing God's grace with others. 

The Priesthood of All Believers Has A Mission

    Before I share the mission, I want to share with you a time that really stands out to me as a time when I participated in the priesthood of all believers. 

   

    One thing I had just barely gotten started with on a more participatory level right before COVID hit, was Salkehatchie. Salkehatchie Summer Service is a way for teens, young college students, and other members of the church and community to come together and work as the hands and feet of Christ. Typically you spend a week in a location somewhere in SC with others and you work on a home (or homes if your camp is large enough) to make it safer and more livable for the residents of that home. You may build ramps, porches, put up walls, replace flooring, paint, and so much more. 

    

    Well, on my first real working opportunity, I remember thinking, "God, help me to see. Help me to get past the thoughts the enemy keeps planting...thoughts of: 

    

    Why are we doing this? Will these people even care? Will all this work really change their circumstances? Will they go right back to the same old thing and have a home that is falling apart a year later? Sure, we got them running water now, how are they going to pay the bill? 

    

    And on and on...I had no idea where these thoughts were coming from...well, I did...the enemy...but they came at me so fast and without warning. I had supported Salkehatchie for years and dreamed of one day working it. So why all these thoughts? I was finally doing what I dreamed of doing. 

    

    Fast forward a little, God....came....through...as He always does...and the questions left. It didn't matter what was going to happen or how the people got to this point. What mattered was God can work all things for good..AND my role...was to be obedient to God...and while I didn't call it being a priest or being part of the priesthood of all believers...that's essentially what it was...what it is. 

    

    During the Salkehatchie weeks, I got to be part of extending God's grace and showing His love:

• to families...both through the work and talking with them about God,
• to the community...because we had such a huge community, involvement...so we fellowshipped, shared stories...we were being God's light to more than just the families in the homes we worked at, 
• to the hosting church...to many, many youth
• Teaching them to be servant oriented, teaching them life skills, teaching them about God and how to grow in relationship with Him, sharing devotionals, laughter, tears.

    

    I realize this is more of a big example, but this is something we can do in our workplace, our community, and yes, even our churches. Yes...even our own church needs us. We can be the priests God called us to be by spending time, listening, talking, and sharing who God is and what He's done. 

   

    So what is the mission of the priesthood of all believers? 

    The mission is:

1. To make Christ real for people; to incarnate Christ in all circumstances of life: personal, family, work, leisure, etc. The church is not a building or an institution, but a ministry of love. The church is the community of believers in ministry, the royal priesthood who are the body of Christ in the world. We do not just belong to the church; we are the church, wherever we go. 
2. To be channels of God's grace; to share love, acceptance, and forgiveness with other people. God has put in our hands the keys of the kingdom---the power to bind or unbind people (see Matthew 16:19) by how we share or withhold the grace God has given us.       To a person in pain, the words "God loves you," "You are forgiven," or a simple prayer can be a word from God. To someone drowning in difficulty, the touch of a hand on the shoulder, the company of a friend, or an offer of help can represent the presence of God. 
3. And three, the mission is: to "proclaim the mighty acts of God" (see 1 Peter 2:9) with all of our lives. This may mean reflecting light in the midst of darkness and promise in the midst of problems or overcoming deadly attitudes of narcissism, cynicism, fatalism, and hopelessness, which are widespread in our world today.

The Characteristics of the Mission

    First, the mission is personal. Start with yourself. Jesus struggled in the wilderness with his own temptations before setting out on his mission. Be authentic. Avoid religious language and stereotypes. Witness for Christ in a way that is natural to you. 

    

    Second, it is spiritual. The spiritual is not life after death, but the wholeness of life in this world according to God's will. Jesus worked for God's deepest desire for people in this world: life in the fullness of God's grace and truth. This is our mission from God. The priest helps interpret God's will for people's lives. 

    

    Third, it is service oriented. We do not act on our own authority, but as representatives of our Master. Our mission is to serve as Jesus served (see John 13:12-15). 

   

     Fourth, it is shared. The mission requires teamwork. This includes laity and clergy working as partners. None of us can accomplish Christ's ministry alone. Jesus' first action was to call together twelve others to share His life and mission. 

    

    Last, it call for our best. This is not something we leave to the last; it calls for our best in attitude, ability, and action. Jesus Christ gave his best for us (see John 3:16). In turn, we are called to give our best for Christ. 

    

    One last personal note~ when you feel the Holy Spirit nudge you to do something~ or say something~ DO IT!!!

    I ask God often to open my eyes to the opportunities and to give me the words. I don't always listen, but I'm getting better...so you can now find me: hugging, holding hands, and praying with the homeless person who stepped into the church. You can find me doing the same in the aisles of the store when someone bumps into me or asks for financial help. You can find me laying hands on the sick and praying. You can find me sending voice messages of prayer to people God places on my heart. I'm not waiting for the pastor to do these things. I'm doing them myself because that's what God has called us to do. You can do these things too. 

    As this talk comes to a close, remember; God calls Christians today not to be passive participants in the problem but to be active partners in the mission---to be the church. There's a Casting Crowns song called, "If We Are the Body". In the lyrics it says; 

  

  "If we are the body, why aren't His arms reaching?

Why aren's His hand healing? Why aren't His words teaching?

And if we are the body, Why aren't His feet going?

Why is His love not showing them there is a way?

There is a way."

   

     In another song by them~ the one playing right before this talk~ called "Start Right Here" we are called to reflect on our actions as well, but this one goes on to share a solution....to share "the way". A solution each and every one of us can use, the song asks, 

"What if the church on Sunday, 

is still the church on Monday too?"

and it goes on to say...

"It's gotta start right here, 

It's gotta start right now."

Y'all, it starts with you and me. It starts right here, right now.

    Ladies, we have the opportunity to make our lives modern-day translations of the Gospels. Each of us has a personal and nontransferable mission: to make Christ real in our lives and share His grace so that others may know God's salvation. So let's be the body, let's reach, let's heal, let's teach, let's go, let's love, and show the way. Let's be the church where we are and help resolve the crisis of spiritual leadership in our world. 

START HERE. START NOW.

De Colores. 

Praise Through It All

This week someone at work mentioned that another co-worker said I have a large amount of patience. Apparently at the time of that conversation I texted to share a positive about a situation. Timely as she then shared that, "Yes, and she can find the positive through it all."

Or something along those lines. I didn't plan to share about the conversation, but that's the gist of what was said. 

I think about that conversation as I share 3 more songs today and tie them together. These are songs that will be sung at church tomorrow as we worship together. I think of that conversation, because the words in some of the songs have to do with praising Him even in the lowest valley. 

You see I've always been one to see the positive, to find the good. Although I don't always do that for myself. Something I'm definitely working on though. But I do, I look for the positive even when the negative is abounding. This approach most certainly helped me in my early years with Bradley and his diet became more and more restricted. If I looked at all he couldn't have, live would have been hard. Instead the focus was on what he could have. And even when all that was taken away, it became a praise that we had access to a specialized formula and a feeding tube to nourish his body. I got my baby boy back. Why wouldn't I praise that? 

1 Thesssalonians 5:18 reminds us to give thanks in ALL circumstances. But do we do this? Is it your first thought to praise Him when you are in the lowest valley just like you praise Him when you are on top of the mountain? 

I've learned that it is so much more peaceful and reassuring when I turn to God no matter the circumstances, no matter how heave my heart might be. You see when He is put first all other things melt away. He never fails me, He never shows up late, and He will always work things out for the good of those who love Him and are called according to His purpose. He works all things out (see Romans 8:28) I have clung to this verse since I was 15 years old and it has never failed me. 

Song number 1 that helps us remember this: "Yes I Will" by Vertical Worship

Sometimes even though we may give thanks to Him through it all, we struggle from time to time and feel like we keep messing up. We feel like there are times we are constantly calling on Him, we are constantly feeling like we've failed Him in some way. 

BUT GOD....

He gives us grace that surpasses anything we can imagine. We can call on Him anytime from anywhere. He's with us through it all. It's okay to call out to Him that we need Him. It's okay to admit we've screwed up. His word promises us that He will never leave nor forsake us. His grace is sufficient and as this next song says His forgiveness is like sweet, sweet honey. It's the sound of a symphony. It's like Holy Water on our skin. 

YES! His grace is all this and more. And as much as we call that we don't want to abuse His grace, I don't think He sees it that way. I think He sees His child coming to Him. Think about it, as a parent, don't we love when our children come to us instead of turning to the world? So why wouldn't our Father in Heaven feel the same way? 

And if I'm being honest, when we are seeking Him first, staying in His word, communing with Him, then it becomes easier and easier for us...or at least for me...to fall into His grace and start changing in ways that cause us (me) to not keep repeating the same things over and over. And if we (I) slip up, He doesn't turn us away. He doesn't kick us out of His family. I am ADOPTED! I am CHOSEN! I am HIS CHILD. So are you.

Song number 2 is "Holy Water" by We the Kingdom. It reminds us that despite the road we are walking, we can turn to Him...it's okay to admit we need Him everyday. As a matter of fact, He prefers that we rely on Him and not on our own strength or abilities. 

And as we fall into that grace and constantly sing praise to Him even in the lowest of valleys, we are reminded that His Name....is beautiful, wonderful, and powerful. He was the Word..yes...Jesus was there from the very beginning. Yes, Jesus came to earth to save us. He took on all our shame, our sin, our wounds. He took it all on Himself and because of this we are FREE. We are free from sin, we are healed, we are His. Because of this I will sing of how beautiful, wonderful, and powerful His name is. How about you? 

Final song for this post: "What a Beautiful Name" by Hillsong Worship.

We Are Not Given a spirit of fear

I posted all the below on Facebook September 20, 2024 after a few nights of dreams and beautiful reminders from God. My posts are as much for myself as they are for others who may need these reminders or things to think about as well. I've missed writing and have fought for years to get back to it. I'm back!  Please hold me accountable. 

I'm sure I'm not the only one who could use these reminders. 

This morning is includes multiple songs telling a bigger story. 

2 Timothy 1:7 says...
For God has not given us a spirit of fear and timidity, but of power, love, and sound mind. 

Sometimes...or maybe often, I don't know...when we move in a direction God has called us, there is some uprooting that takes place. Some things have to fall away and some things that we need to be reminded of get brought back to the surface. This brings me to song number 1: "Look What You've Done" by Tasha Layton. 

🎵🎶🎵🎶 The lies I believed
They got some roots that run deep
I let 'em take a hold of my life
I let 'em take control of my life

Standing in Your presence, Lord

I can feel You diggin' all my roots up

I feel Ya healin' all my wounds up

All I can say is hallelujah🎵🎶🎵🎶

And as you go through this process of uprooting, sometimes those lies try to creep back in, looking for holes in your armor. Looking for ways to bring you back down, to cause you to stumble, to cause doubts, fears, and timidity...BUT that's NOT God! God didn't give us those spirits, instead He gave us a spirit of POWER, LOVE, and SOUND MIND! PRAISE GOD! 🙌

So because of what God has given us, the reminder song to go with the verse is "Power, Love, Sound Mind" by Matthew West. 

🎶🎵🎶 I have not been given a spirit of fear, but of power, love, sound mind. Love, sound mind.

I don't have to give in to a spirit of fear....
I AM power, love, sound mind, love, sound mind...🎵🎶🎶🎶

And as you remember who you are and WHOSE you are. As God reminds you that you are not alone. That when you feel like your roots are being dug up...it's not just lies that try to creep in during that uprooting. There is also the TRUTH. There is the strong root system that is revealed that is your foundation in Christ. And through that, you remember to walk in the fact that God is your joy, your song, your rock, your place of refuge, your protector, your defender. He's your portion, your salvation. His love defends you. He never leaves nor forsakes you. His promises are true. He is true to His Word. His promises are yes and amen!

PRAISE GOD! 🙌 🙌 🙌

The third song as I close out is "Your Love Defends Me" by Hannah Kerr. 

Here's a playlist with all the songs and a few more: Playlist for Sept. 20, 2024

Bradley

Grow Through Study

 ***I went looking for this talk that I shared in 2017, but couldn't find it so here I am years later, making sure I have a digital footprint of it. I went digging because today I finally watched "I Still Believe" about Jeremey Camp and his first wife, Melissa. Right before my talk that is listed below, I had Jeremy Camp's song "Living Word" play for all to hear. As you listen to the song, keep in mind that when I had it played, it was around 8 or 9 something in the morning, and no other talks the previous day included music....especially not this upbeat tempo. 

****A template for several points was provided so the format and flow is not my own. Some of the steps and excuses were generally provided and I added my own spin on things. 

When I was in 3rd or 4th grade ~maybe a little older~ I heard about a special Bible. A Bible given to my mom when she was a young teen~ a Bible that she was missing and hadn't seen since her marriage to my dad. It was white, with a zipper that went around it to close it up, and the zipper pull was a cross. It sounded amazing to my young ears. 

That summer while visiting my dad in Virginia, I went digging around...I just knew it had to be there. I would steal moments to dig while he was working on a car at the station. I would sneak into the closet in the main store building, sift through stuff, searching for that missing Bible. Finally I struck gold...or rather a black, grimy, filthy Bible with a zipper that closed it. A Bible that was once a bright white. A Bible where the dedication page proudly displayed my mother's name. That summer, I got my mom's Bible back to her. 

That's probably when I first fell in love with the Bible and longed for one of my own. I just knew it held all the answers. I just knew I had to have one just like hers. But I never found one. 

Fast forward a few years. I finally had a white Bible to call my own and I proudly carried it to church whenever I got to go. It was a New King James Version with Christ's words in red. The only kind I thought you were supposed to read. Trust me when I say I read from a variety of translations today. But that white Bible was mine and the closest I could get to one like my mom's. It still holds my highlights, my specials notes from friends, and even some old church bulletins. But as much as I loved that Bible and would read it from time to time; I never really studied the Bible. 

Fast forward some more. I started trying really hard to read through the Bible while in my 20s. I tried so hard to focus on reading the Bible in its entirety. I knew if I could just read through the Bible, I would finally have the answers. I tried it all...checklists, devotions, women's study Bibles, front cover to back cover. One chapter a day, multiple chapters a day. Nothing ever seemed to work. Then one year for Lent instead of giving up something superficially, I decided to add something. I put forth more effort than I ever did before and I started my one year journey of reading through the Bible. Every morning while I ate my cereal I would read the Bible using my daily reading plan on the Bible app I was using. And I read....every.....single.....morning. One year later I could finally say....I read the whole Bible!

But I quickly learned that for me just reading through the Bible to check it off my list wasn't the "answer" I was seeking. Of course at the time, I don't even think I knew what the question was. 

It took me several more years to realize that it wasn't about reading through the Bible...it's about growing, transforming...and one way to grow is through study. 

Now some of you may be groaning and thinking, "I don't want to study"  or "I was never any good at studying while I was in school" or you may be thinking, "YES! Finally something I can do well. I aced all my tests because I knew how to study." But I ask you right now to put aside your already formed thoughts about study. I ask you to open up your mind, open yourself up right now to let the Holy Spirit work within you. 

Let's take a look at what it is to study. Study can be one of the most energizing, liberating, and deepening of human activities. Study can be an adventure. It can be a doorway to discovery. Study can help us move beyond narrow, superficial understandings and help us begin to see more deeply into reality. 

I realize some of us probably thought study was simply memorizing just enough information to pass a test or that it's something only a select few can do really well. But the type of studying we are going to learn about is different. It's more than getting information. 

The studying we are learning about today is the kind that transforms every aspect of our lives. Study helps us grow. And the aim of study for a Christian is growth in spiritual wisdom and the mind of Christ. 

I'm going to say that again...The aim of study for a Christian is growth in spiritual wisdom and the mind of Christ. 

In Romans 12:2, the apostle Paul we are transformed through the renewal of our minds. And then in Philippians 4:8, we learn that we renew our minds by applying them to those things that are most worthy. And in John 8:32, Jesus himself tells us that the knowledge of truth will set us free. 

 

The knowledge of truth will set us free. Isn't that amazing and comforting! Shouldn't that be enough to make us all want to dive into study right now?

But this transformation, renewal of mind, and freedom are all things we can't get, we can't do, if we approach study the way we typically think of studying. Sure you will see some similarities, but this type of study goes deeper. You see the aim for Christian study is to go beyond the human desire for information and knowledge...hence why my just reading through the Bible didn't leave me changed or with the answers I was seeking. It was a decent start, but it was simply seeking knowledge...what does the Bible say (on the surface). The aim of study for a Christian is to seek the deeper transformation of our hearts and lives...spiritual wisdom and the mind of Christ. 

So how are we going to do this? How are we going to get there?

As an instructional coach, I spend much of my time working with teachers; helping them learn how to differentiate instruction to meet the wide variety of learning needs within a classroom. In turn, I do the same for the teachers I work with. They all have different learning needs, just like the students in their classrooms.

Each one of us in this room today has different needs. We are all at different places in our journey, on our path that God designed for us. So we are each going to need a unique plan for study. One that works for us to enable us to grow toward Christian maturity. 

This talk aims to help us learn how to give God our minds. 

What is Christian Study?

1. Study is a constant part of our life
• Children are busy studying the world around them, figuring out how things work. We pick up newspapers or watch the news to study what's going on in the world. We study a new skill we are trying to learn. We study how to get better at something. We study for our job....so we can get better at it. 
• But how much time do we spend studying our Christian priority? Are we maturing...growing...in our understanding of Christian faith and life?
2. Study is spiritual discipline that involves seeking understanding for one's faith; exchanging old thought patterns for new, life giving thought patterns. 
3. Growth through study involves our being informed of the truth and being formed in the truth. Let me say that one more time... Growth through study involves being informed of the truth and being formed in the truth. 
4. Finally, Christians must study so that we are equipped to share a Christ centered outlook and realistic faith with a complex world. We must study so we are equipped to share. Think about it this way...what if I told you, that you had to come up here next and teach all of us how to play the violin? Or you had to come up here and teach us about biometrics and why we should care about it? Now unless one of you knows how to play the violin or one of you studies biometrics, you are probably thinking I'm crazy and there's no way you could do that. You're probably thinking you would need to do a lot of STUDYING first and even then you aren't sure you would be able to do it. The same holds true about sharing Christ with others and not just share Christ, but share a Christ centered outlook. Big difference there. It's going to be very difficult to do this, if you don't spend time and GROW through STUDY.

So What Should We Study?

Here are 8 areas to spend time in study: The good news, scripture, yourself, others, spiritual classics, the church, history, and the world. 

1. The good news...Know the Good News. God freely gives grace to everyone in Christ Jesus. Seek and ever deepening understanding of this mystery and LEARN to SHARE your faith in a way that is authentic and true.
2. Scripture...Study scripture to know the heart and will of God. The central purpose of scripture study is not religious information or doctrinal purity for its own sake. The central purpose is for inner transformation. (See 2 Timothy 3:16-17)
3. Yourself...Know yourself. Sounds odd? It's not really. God made each and every one of us uniquely and for a purpose. You need to know that you are a child of God and He equipped you with special gifts for the purpose of sharing His grace in your particular situation. Seek to know your gifts, your purpose, your motives, your needs, your weaknesses. I tell you, this is an area that I'm only just now starting to really understand and be confident in...and it's only through study and faith in God that this transformation is occurring. 
4. Others... Get to know others. Listen to them. Hear their stories. Ask God to help you see them as He sees them. Seek to know their needs and how the Christian message can reconcile and make their lives new. 
5. Spiritual Classics...Study the lives and wisdom of saints, the writings of masters of the spiritual life, and the experiences of great people whose lives exemplify true humanity. 
6. The Church...study its history, its role in society and the ever recurring challenges and controversies. Study your own denomination. Now that's a "fun" one for me. I grew up back and forth between Baptist and Methodist churches. My mom grew up Baptist, my pop grew up Methodist, and my grandfather on my dad's side was a Freewill Baptist Preacher and I LOVED going to church with him when I visited them in Virginia. I've had to do some studying just to understand what goes on in my own church...and I've still got a lot to figure out. Especially now that I work so closely with our youth. Become an informed member. 
7. History...Studying history helps to give us perspective, helps us to be humble, helps us to see God's activity over time, and helps us avoid making the same mistakes over and over. 
8. World...Study current events, human issues, and the state of humanity today. God loved the world so much that His Son died for it, for us. So we must love and seek to understand our world because God calls us to ministry in the midst of it. 

But as we are studying, we must keep it in perspective. Though it's a means to holiness, it is NOT holiness itself. The reason for study is growth and maturing in faith...NOT acquiring knowledge for its merit. 

Now if you are anything like me, I'm thinking you've probably come up with some excuses on why you can't do this or why it's going to be too hard for you to do. But we must trudge forth past those excuses. 

Excuses:

1. "I don't have time..." There's a quote that pops up on my Facebook page from time to time reminding me that we make time for what's important to us. I promise I struggle with time too. I have 3 kids, 2 of them with medical issues. I have a full time job and a part time job. Depending on the "season" of life at the moment, I can go days with barely anytime at home...eat, sleep, rush back out the door. So I get it. Life can pull us all in a million different directions, everything and everyone vying for our time. It's up to you to decide what is worth your time and what you are going to prioritize doing. 
2. "I don't know what to study..." It's okay, I used to think there was only the Bible and attending church. But there's more than just the Bible!   Seriously, remember how we just learned you need to study yourself? Think about what you are most interested in, or about an area of life you want to work on. And then talk to your pastor, other church leaders,  a person at church whose opinion and insight you value, share what you want to find and seek their advice. Check out your local Christian bookstore. Turn to technology....do some Google searches. Find a Facebook group. Simply put the question out there on social media and see what your friends, family, followers have to say. I've gotten some great recommendations that way.
3. "I don't like to read books..." Okay, this one is hard for me to swallow, I'm at a teacher at heart, but I understand. And sometimes it's not so much reading a book that's the problem, it's that you don't have much time to read a book. There are alternatives...join a small group study, read articles, follow some of the authors who write books on social media or find out if they write a blog regularly, watch videos....there's YouTube...and there's also God Tube. Find something you can listen to as you drive to work. There are plenty of options these days. Find what will work for you.
4. "I don't understand parts of the Bible..." Guess what! Neither do I! It's okay! There are resources out there to help with that too, from books that help you study to online tutorials. There are commentaries and study Bibles. One thing I've found I love to do especially for a verse or section I am having trouble understanding, I go and read 2 or 3 more translations of the same scripture. Notice the words that are the same and those that change. Sometimes it's a simple change of one or two words...or the slight change in sentence structure and suddenly the passage makes much more sense. 
5. "Theology confuses me..." Don't worry about that at first. Theology is nothing more than the study of God. 

So now that we've talked past all those excuses and we know what we need to do to Grow Through Study, let's figure out how to develop a personal study plan. 

Personal Study Plan

1. Decide to make it a priority.
2. Carve out time for study.
• Do what works for you. If you are not a morning person, don't force it. Do it at a time that works for you.
3. Find the right place. 
• Find a place that is comfortable, quiet, with minimal distractions. Have your supplies there or in a container that can easily be brought to your study space. 
4. Choose a balanced diet of study materials...Bible, books, devotions, etc.
5. Keep a reading journal...write down quotes, summarize, write your questions, sketch....
6. Find a way to SHARE...we learn the most when we share with others. 

For me, I've done it many ways. Especially when I was trying to figure out how to get the Bible read from cover to cover. Finding quiet, alone time is hard with an 11 year old, a 9 year old, and a 5 year old all wanting your attention. Not to mention my husband, the dogs, and of course work. I've tried reading while I eat breakfast (and usually no one else is up) and because I just couldn't stay awake long enough to read at night. After a lot of trial and error over the years, I think over the past 1-2 years I've finally figured out a routine that works for me...most of the time. Now I have a combination of morning, day, and evening study. 

Mornings are my time for prayer and sharing a Christian song with others on Facebook. If I'm in the middle of a book, I'll read, highlight, and jot down notes while I dry my hair. 

In the evenings, I write in my prayer journal, read a quick devotion, and then read a short piece in the Bible. A few years ago I started Bible journaling and when I started doing that I started focusing on just a verse or a short selection of verses at a time. This allowed me to go deeper with my understanding because I was spending time rereading, thinking about the text, journaling, and drawing. This is when I finally started to change....to transform...in a way that I have trouble describing. The Bible came to life, my relationship with God grew closer. So now after I read in my Bible, I try to journal, sometimes through highlighting and underlining, other times through writing in my journal or in my Bible, and sometimes through drawing. And then I share with others via social media...my personal Facebook pages as well as through a group I manage called Scripture Sketchers. Sometimes I share by leading small groups at my church and nearby churches on how to Bible Journal...and that it's not just coloring. It's growing in faith, growing in God. 

So those answers to that unknown questions that I didn't find after reading through the whole Bible, I'm finding now. Sometimes it's in a quick 5 minute read and write...other times it's losing myself for an hour or more as I study the word and respond. 

My advice...find what works for you. My mom, she reads and studies in her car on her lunch hour. That's what works for her. 

So here's your challenge...and my challenge too!

Grow Through Study

1. If we are to grow and be effective, we can't stop studying. 
2. Also, we cannot be mature Christians in our thoughts and actions if we stopped our Christian study with a confirmation class or a Sunday School youth class.
3. Remember life brings change. But we must not let the world determine how we will change. 
4. We must be intentional if we are to grow with grace in the image of God and the mind of Christ. 

There's Hope...part 2

Overcome with sleep, she nodded off while waiting in the car for dance practice to end. 

Okay, I really set up the jacket between the driver's side window and the visor so the sun would be blocked, kicked off my shoes, reclined the seat back and purposely closed my eyes...

What I thought was only a few minutes of sleep actually ended up being closer to an hour. Ooops.....

The past couple of weeks, I've been hit with sudden tiredness and a strong desire to take a nap. Nothing regular to it, no rhyme or reason. It's the tired I remember feeling at the end of a school year filled with teaching and participating in my own classes.  Since March 2020, life has been "on" and there has been no off switch. No down time....not even when forced to stay at home. Hello...INTROVERT HERE! I need to be alone to recharge. 

I knew a couple of months into the pandemic that this introvert's batteries were going to deplete and I know that's part of what's happening right now. The batteries are almost dead. Or are they?

You see there's something else behind the tiredness. The desire to take a nap while waiting on my dancer. When I shared in part 1 of "There's Hope" that there would be a part 2 that would include my story, I didn't realize God would use the very next day (today) to give me the start to part 2, but it makes sense. "Here you go Brandi, you need to talk about being tired. You need to talk about rest."

You see with Mark going to church now and setting the expectation for the children to attend, there's been a shift in how we worship. That's really what I thought this would be about....stepping back, letting my husband take the lead. It's no longer me "forcing" the kids to go someplace when "dad gets to stay home." It's no longer me "carrying the load" of leading my family while desperately praying for my husband. It's no longer me holding onto frustrations of 'doing it alone'. 

This tiredness, is from trying to do it all. Trying to do more than I should have. God carried me through it all and He's reminding me to stay in prayer. God's letting me know that the shift that's taking place right now was no small feat. He carried me, He equipped me, but now He's saying to ease up, let go, let Mark take on some of the load. He's reminding me to TRUST HIM! to keep my eyes on HIM! to REST in HIM. 

I share all this with you because none of this is what I expected. When I felt the weight lift from my shoulders several weeks ago, I was overcome with peace and relief. Years of faithful prayer being answered!

And if you are anything like me, you want to be in control. You want to make the decisions....just not the decision about "what's for dinner?" You spend so much time being "in charge" of certain things, that when things suddenly change, you don't know what to do. 

Thankfully God knows me so well, He knows how I operate and so He's quick to provide me with just what I need. I was so busy focused on Him and working things out for myself and what I needed to walk away from, that I almost didn't notice the shift in dynamics for our family unit. I kinda was not even home to be part of Mark getting everyone ready for church because I was working at one church then rushing to the next church so I could be with my family. 

Then it hit me one day, "My husband is leading the family to worship together." And the weight lifted even more.  

Is it perfect?.....Absolutely NOT! But that's not what it's about. 

When I shared in part 1 that a change would happen, I meant it. God knew how to ease me into the change so I wouldn't take control. I trust He will do the same for you. I know He has me sharing with you now because of all that I didn't expect. So when your help arrives or steps up to lead, let him. Be willing to step back just enough. Trust God and take advantage of resting in Him. Keep your eyes focused on Him.  And then listen, because God is going to whisper your name. 

Y'all I don't know where all this is going to lead. What I do know is God has been here every step of the way....even when I get in the way. He has a purpose and a plan for each of us. We may not see it or understand it, but we need to step out in faith. We need to trust and obey. I can't help but be excited for all God has planned. 

There's Hope...part 1

Not a really creative title, I know. But God has been onto me all year about getting back to writing. I preach and preach about needing to share our story. I question if you are using the gifts God gave you. Yet, here I sit once again having to admit that I don't always use what God has given me. 

So here I am....a little rusty, but with something that He says I must share and that I need to stop waiting until the "right" moment. 

You see those journals in the picture? Those are the physical evidence from 2017 where I wrote prayers and praises almost daily from March 11 to December 30, 2017. Prayers and praises to God for my husband. 

I had prayed daily for him for years, but in February 2017 something changed and for some reason the next month I decided to write those prayers down. 

Through this prayer time I grew and changed as a prayer warrior. My prayer language changed. They weren't the most eloquent prayers....and guess what, they didn't have to be. Sometimes they were short, sometimes long and detailed. I tried to read through some of them just now, but can't without a ton of tears. 

I stopped writing the prayers down at the end of 2017...not sure why, I just did. I'm sure something else took it's place, but I never stopped praying. Praying for Mark, but also praying for me. Praying for God to keep working on me so I could be the wife He created me to be for Mark. 

I share all this tonight because many of those prayers included the words "patient" or rather impatient. I was impatient. I wanted God to reach Mark right then and there. I wanted my husband at church with me and the kids right then and there. I was impatient!

I was blessed...am blessed...that I have many around me that shared their testimony and through that I remained hopeful. God would open my eyes to the possibilities and reminders to be still and quit trying to rush things as I would hear the testimonies of others. Testimonies of not coming to Christ until mid-life and sometimes later. But oh, I could get so frustrated and jealous sometimes. Frustrated because I wanted things happening on my time. Jealous because others around me had what appeared to be the very thing I wanted.

Now here I am, 4 years after the journal entries, and even more years than that in prayer for my husband. I share with you tonight because for almost 4 months now, my husband has attended church regularly. Not only that, he gets the kids there too. There's no "oh, well they can just stay home" or anything like that. And it's not just a "let's go get this hour over with then rush out the door." Instead it's "let's sit around, fellowship, break bread, and more." Yes, I know 4 months is a short time in the grand scheme of things, but PRAISE GOD! HALLELUJAH! 4 Months! 

I share tonight, because others shared with me and gave me hope. Now it's my turn. Ladies, if you've been in prayer for your husband, keep it up! Trust God. Write your prayers out, what language are you using? What if you changed your language to turn inward and focus on a transformation within yourself instead of something that sounds like "God, please fix him"?

Gentlemen, if you've been in prayer for your wife, keep it up! Trust God. Note your language just like I shared with the ladies. 

I can't help you know the when, but I can promise that all things are possible in Christ. 

God's not done with me. He's not done with my family. He's not done with you. He's not done with your family. 

My husband's testimony is in the making. It will not be mine to share. It will be his. 

Part 2 will pick up with me. You see when there's a shift in how your family worships, there's going to be some changes. Are you ready?