Brandi's Lifesong: 2024

**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:

The person who cut you off in traffic.
The restaurant getting your order wrong, being slower than you want, being out of food.
The person who snaps at you for anything at all.
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...

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.
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.
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?"
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?

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.
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.
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:

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.
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.
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.

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.