Pastor Billy and I are usually quiet during our ride home after church. I’m thinking about the day’s events–sabbath school, praise and worship, who was not there and the sermon (yes, I think about it 
But today, I spent most of the ride home thinking about my conversation with one of our members over lunch. We were talking about the Church’s blog and she suggested (oops! I hope I did not give it away) that the Pastor’s Blog be renamed “Simon Says…” How fun I thought! What kid in America has not played the game – Simon Says. When I was growing up we would play Simon Says during recess. Everyone would line up and face the leader. The leader would call out commands such as “Simon says touch your nose”, or” Simon says stand on one foot.” Participants were to follow only the commands that were prefaced with Simon Says. If you obeyed a command that did not begin with Simon Says then you were out. Now, nobody wanted to be out because it meant standing on the sidelines watching everyone else still playing the game. The game was over when only one person was left…this person was the winner…they had followed all the commands correctly…yeah!
Playing Simon Says is not as easy as it may sound. Each time we started a new game, I would vow to listen more carefully…stay focused….keep my eyes straight ahead. But invariably, I would get distracted….loose focus….and start watching the person next to me.. ..sadly I would hear the words….you’re out. I would begin asking….”What’s wrong with me? Why can’t I follow simple commands?” Well, in a spiritual sense, I often feel the same way. Why do I keep messing up? What keeps me from staying focused on God and His Word? There I am standing on the sidelines, wondering if there’s any hope for me…I want to stay in the game….I want to win.
God says that He has provided a way for me to win. It’s found in I John 1:9 …”But if we confess our sins to him, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and cleanse us from all wickedness.” As I ponder all the times that I have been forgiven, I realize that with all my faults and deficiencies, God continues to offer me outrageous grace. It’s crazy…it does not make sense…but it can be my reality if I believe God’s word. You might think that this undeserved grace would cause me to just go for it…do whatever…but I can’t. This is a love I don’t understand, but I want so much to experience it. The more I realize what He’s done for me the more I love Him. His love constrains me. His love causes me to want to listen more closely….stay focused…and keep my eyes straight ahead on Jesus. Do I win? God says, yes I do….because Jesus did.
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“His love constrains me.” I like that thought! I envision one of those hugs. I’m sure you’ve experienced them. When the one hugging you doesn’t let go. You’re standing there, arms pinned to your sides, you can only move at the wrists, maybe the elbows. And, oh yes, your feet are coming off the ground. You can barely squeak out, “I can’t breathe.” before you get released. I really want Jesus to hug me like that. I want Him to lift my feet off the ground and not set me down again for a thousand years.
I have a wonderful visual when I read your comment, Patti. Yes Lord, hug me tight and don’t let me go…
Dear Patti,
I am looking for people that want to spread the word of their religion and feel it is a blessing to do so. We want people who are well spoken, nice, and have a real calling. I am currently casting a feel good, positive show and I am excited to have my name attached to it.
We are looking for individual people as well as groups who feel that it is their duty and calling to spread the word. I have talked to many people who are Seventh Day Adventists, and I feel that after talking to many of them, these individuals feel a strong relationship to God and would feel it necessary to spread the word and educate others. This is an amazing opportunity to do just that!
Thank you so much for your time and I look forward to hearing from you. You have a fantastic page and it seems as if you have a wonderful church together.
Best,
Brooke Tonelli
RelativityREAL
Casting