Author Archives: billtonnis

About billtonnis

Child of God, Pastoral Minister, Chaplain, Music Minister, Jail Minister, singer-songwriter, author, activist, former radio news anchor, imperfect follower of Jesus inspired by God's unconditional love, proud uncle... what else is there?

Source of Joy

Posted on February 1, 2013 by billtonnis

Psalm 37:4 Find your delight in the Lord who will give you your heart’s desire. That deep yearning inside you is the groaning of “your heart’s desire.” The trouble is…our egos want to satisfy that yearning with physical or material … Continue reading →

Posted in Today's Contemplation | Tagged delight, desire, dying, ego, false self, God, gospels, groaning, heart, Jesus, joy, Lord, Psalm 37, rising, spiritual, Take the Road Less Traveled, true self, yearning | 1 Comment

God’s Reflection

Posted on January 31, 2013 by billtonnis

Mark 4:21 He said to them, “Is a lamp brought in to be placed under a bushel basket or under a bed, and not to be placed on a lampstand?” Are you keeping the good news of God’s unconditional love, … Continue reading →

Posted in Today's Contemplation | Tagged compassion, forgiveness, gifts, God, good enough, lamp, lampstand, light, Listen to Your Heart, Mark, may I be light, mercy, moment, talents, unconditional love | Leave a comment

Spiritual Pollution

Posted on January 30, 2013 by billtonnis

Mark 4:18-19 “Those (seeds) sown among thorns are another sort. They are the people who hear the word, but worldly anxiety, the lure of riches, and the craving for other things intrude and choke the word, and it bears no … Continue reading →

Posted in Today's Contemplation | Tagged anxiety, craving, fruit, God, growth, Listen to Your Heart, Mark, riches, scripture, seeds, silent prayer, soil, sown, spiritual, thorns, turn off the noise, word | Leave a comment

Trust

Posted on January 29, 2013 by billtonnis

Psalm 40:2, 4 I waited, waited for the Lord; who bent down and heard my cry, and put a new song in my mouth, a hymn to our God. This Psalm is very powerful and meaningful to me because it … Continue reading →

Posted in Today's Contemplation | Tagged cry, God, inspiration, live to love, Lord, new song, Psalm 40, Singing My Song, struggling, suffering, transformation, trust, wait, yearning | Leave a comment

Transforming Struggle

Posted on January 28, 2013 by billtonnis

2 Timothy 1:8 …bear your share of hardship for the gospel with the strength that comes from God. If you follow Jesus you are called to make love, mercy, forgiveness and compassion your motivations in life. Others who are motivated … Continue reading →

Posted in Today's Contemplation | Tagged clash, compassion, follow, forgiveness, God, gospel, grace, hardship, I surrender, Jesus, live to love, love, mercy, motivations, possessions, power, prestige, St. Paul, strength, struggle, Timothy | Leave a comment

The Way to Freedom

Posted on January 25, 2013 by billtonnis

Mark 3:13 He went up the mountain and summoned those whom he wanted and they came to him. Jesus called his apostles and they followed him. He called them to a new way of life. They left whatever lives they … Continue reading →

Posted in Today's Contemplation | Tagged apostles, called, ego, follow, God, heart, Jesus, kingdom of God, letting go, life, Listen to Your Heart, Mark, talents, true self, voice | Leave a comment

God’s Love Is All You Need

Posted on January 24, 2013 by billtonnis

Psalm 40:7,17 Sacrifice and offering you do not want; but ears open to obedience you gave me. But may all who seek you rejoice and be glad in you. Making sacrifices and giving things up are in and of themselves … Continue reading →

Posted in Today's Contemplation | Tagged God, God's love is all you need, Listen to Your Heart, love, offering, Psalm 40, pursue, rejoice, relationship, sacrifice, seek | Leave a comment

Love Rules

Posted on January 23, 2013 by billtonnis

Mark 3:2 They watched him closely to see if they might accuse him. It was the sabbath and so under the religious laws…work was forbidden. The law’s purpose was to help people focus on their relationship with God. But when … Continue reading →

Posted in Today's Contemplation | Tagged accuse, commandment, God, heart, Jesus, law, live to love, love, Love God, Mark, Pharisee, rules | 1 Comment

Path to Transformation

Posted on January 22, 2013 by billtonnis

Hebrews 6:11-12 We earnestly desire each of you to demonstrate the same eagerness for the fulfillment of hope until the end, so that you may not become sluggish, but imitators of those who, through faith and patience, are inheriting the … Continue reading →

Posted in Today's Contemplation | Tagged compassion, cross, faith, forgiveness, fulfillment, God, Hebrews, hope, Jesus, life, live to love, love, mercy, pain, patience, persecute, persevere, resurrection, salvation, suffering, unconditional | Leave a comment

Word of Life

Posted on January 18, 2013 by billtonnis

Mark 2:1-2 When Jesus returned to Capernaum after some days, it became known that he was at home. Many gathered together so that there was no longer room for them, not even around the door, and he preached the word … Continue reading →

Posted in Today's Contemplation | Tagged Capernaum, contemplate, God, hope, Jesus, listen, Listen to Your Heart, love, Mark, peace, prayer, preach, unconditional, word | Leave a comment