Just Be You

Posted on January 2, 2018 by billtonnis

guitar_man_art

May your life express the love that you are.

(Listen to my song “Shall We Sing” on YouTube by clicking HERE)

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Psalm 98:1

Sing a new song to the LORD.

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Is there a song inside of you waiting to be sung?

There is only one you.

Only you can sing your song.

You are unique and precious in God’s eyes.

What you have to offer is also unique and precious.

It doesn’t have to be spectacular in the world’s eyes. It can be very simple.

But whatever it is…it’ll be special…something you alone can offer.

Love has breathed life into you. How will you respond?

For the kingdom of God to come alive in the present…you must agree to cooperate.

Let all the masks you have worn to satisfy other voices fall to the ground.

It’s time for your true self to emerge.

Be open and allow Love to express itself with your life.

God wants to sing and dance through you.

It’s a new year. How about offering a new song and dance?

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Listen to the song of the day “Shall We Sing” on the Listen to Your Heart album by clicking HERE.

Sample and/or purchase my songs on iTunes by clicking HERE.

Remember…God loves you!

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Christmas

Posted on December 25, 2017 by billtonnis

nativity_scene

May the Word become flesh…in you.

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John 1:1, 14

In the beginning was the Word,

and the Word was with God,

and the Word was God.

And the Word became flesh.

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Listen to my song “Let It Be Done to Me” on the Mercy Reigns album by clicking HERE.

Sample and/or purchase my songs on iTunes by clicking HERE.

Remember…God loves you!

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Be Your True Self

Posted on December 21, 2017 by billtonnis

peace_heart_monitor

Listen to your heart…then take action.

(Listen to my song “Listen to Your Heart” on YouTube by clicking HERE)

(Sample and/or purchase my songs on iTunes by clicking HERE)

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Luke 1:45

“Blessed are you who believed that what was spoken to you by the Lord would be fulfilled.”

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Have you ever heard the voice of God in your heart?

Have you ever just had a thought pop into your mind out of nowhere…that seemed to be an answer to a question or problem?

Did you ever get an internal nudge to do something for a good cause?

I’ve had many such promptings…but I can’t say I have always acted on them.

Nor can I say that I have always believed that what I thought I was hearing would actually come to pass.

A few years ago when I was amidst my CPE (Clinical Pastoral Education) training, I was confused as to how my one calling to write and sing spiritual songs seemed to diverge from this new calling to listen to and pray with people who were sick.

Then one day while listening to a priest talk about a man who uplifted a hospital patient with his guitar, I heard in my heart: “What if I asked you to play for an audience of one?”

So…I talked to my CPE supervisor who said it would be a great idea for me to bring my guitar to patient visits.

Today, I sing my songs on occasion to shut-ins and nursing home residents.

Many times…I still have doubts when discerning God’s messages and prompts…but I am indeed blessed when I look at prior promises…fulfilled.

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Listen to the song of the day “Listen to Your Heart” on the Listen to Your Heart album by clicking HERE.

Sample and/or purchase my songs on iTunes by clicking HERE.

Remember…God loves you!

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Divine Transformation

Posted on December 20, 2017 by billtonnis

butterfly_flower_colorful

Trust that God is making all things new…including you.

(Listen to my song “Changed” on YouTube by clicking HERE)

(Sample and/or purchase my songs on iTunes by clicking HERE)

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Luke 1:36-37

“And behold, Elizabeth, your relative, has also conceived a son in her old age, and this is the sixth month for her who was called barren; for nothing will be impossible for God.”

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Where in your life do you feel barren?

Where is it in your life that you are struggling and in need of new life?

Trust that God is able and willing to do the seemingly impossible!

See that God gave Elizabeth a son in her old age…a son who became John the Baptist.

And God gave Mary a Son who became the Messiah.

Yet Mary remained a “virgin-mother.”

Impossible?

Nothing is impossible for God!

Allow this paradox of “virgin-mother” to open your mind to a deeper mystery and a deeper truth.

God is a God of “both-and” not “either-or.”

The Love that continues to create the universe wants to transform you…but that can only happen if you have an open mind and heart and are willing to be changed.

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Listen to the song of the day “Changed” on the Give Praise and Thanks album by clicking HERE.

Sample and/or purchase my songs on iTunes by clicking HERE.

Remember…God loves you!

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Glory

Posted on December 19, 2017 by billtonnis

mountains_blue_lake

Let go into the flow…and live.

(Listen to my song “How Magnificent, Wondrous and Glorious” on YouTube by clicking HERE)

(Sample and/or purchase my songs on iTunes by clicking HERE)

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Psalm 71:16

I will speak of the mighty works of the Lord.

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I highly recommend keeping a journal to write about what is going on in your life.

When I look back over each day’s happenings…usually I can find one or two things that seem to be outpourings of God’s grace…sometimes many more.

There are incidents that have been life-giving or eye-opening.

Sometimes I can see a subtle thread of grace running through what appeared to be meaningless events.

As spiritual writer Paula D’Arcy says, “God comes to you disguised as your life.”

When you start noticing the “mighty works of the Lord” in your midst…it will change you. And then you will want to tell others about it.

You will understand that you are part of something magnificent, wondrous and glorious.

There is a Love embracing and supporting all of creation.

You and I are a part of this unfolding masterpiece.

That is reason to smile…and rejoice.

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Listen to the song of the day “How Magnificent, Wondrous and Glorious” on the Mercy Reigns album by clicking HERE.

Sample and/or purchase my songs on iTunes by clicking HERE.

Remember…God loves you!

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Eternal Light

Posted on December 15, 2017 by billtonnis

Ocean_sun_waves

Trust that the Source of all life is Love with no end.

(Listen to my song “Make Your Way” on YouTube by clicking HERE)

(Sample and/or purchase my songs on iTunes by clicking HERE)

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Isaiah 48:17

I, the Lord, your God, teach you what is for your good, and lead you on the way you should go.

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At the time it happened…suffering a ruptured appendix was seemingly one of the worst times in my life.

I now look upon it as one of the most wonderful times.

It was during that time of suffering and loss of control that I came to know God’s grace.

I came to know a Great Love beyond all understanding.

I experienced compassion at a very deep level.

It was life changing.

Wherever you are experiencing pain and hurt right now…open your heart and allow God to enter in an embrace you.

You are already being held in an immense Love…larger than you can imagine.

Trust.

God (Love) will lead you to a better place and transform you.

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Listen to the song of the day “Make Your Way” on the Mercy Reigns album by clicking HERE.

Sample and/or purchase my songs on iTunes by clicking HERE.

Remember…God loves you!

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Living Praise

Posted on December 14, 2017 by billtonnis

vine_berries_leaves_sun

When you are your true self…God’s glory shines.

(Listen to my song “The Way You Are” on YouTube by clicking HERE)

(Sample and/or purchase my songs on iTunes by clicking HERE)

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Psalm 145:10-11

All your works give you thanks, O Lord, and your faithful bless you. They speak of the glory of your reign and tell of your great works.

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All living things are themselves with all they can be.

They are all in as is.

They don’t wish they could be something else.

They do not look in envy on anything else…comparing or judging.

They have no schemes or ulterior motives.

They live with clear purpose.

Trees, birds, animals, insects, etc. simply are themselves to the fullest extent of their being.

In doing so they are in a constant state of thanksgiving…giving glory to their Maker. 

May we be mindful of this and do the same in each moment of our lives.

Simply be present.

Be yourself.

It’s the only way that God’s kingdom can come…and God’s will can be done “on earth as it is in heaven.”

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Listen to the song of the day “The Way You Are” on the Mercy Reigns album by clicking HERE.

Sample and/or purchase my songs on iTunes by clicking HERE.

Remember…God loves you!

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Path to Wholeness

Posted on December 13, 2017 by billtonnis

candles_peace

Hand your struggles over to the God who makes all things new.

(Listen to my song “I Will Give You Rest” on YouTube by clicking HERE)

(Sample and/or purchase my songs on iTunes by clicking HERE)

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Matthew 11:28

“Come to me, all you who labor and are burdened, and I will give you rest.”

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Life brings its share of challenges.

Those challenges can become burdens unless we trust in a Higher Power.

There is a Divine Benevolence at work.

If we go with the flow and have faith…new life will spring forth.

We will be led through the struggle and will undergo transformation.

Jesus invited all those who were struggling to bring those struggles to him.

He shows us the face of a God who would never abandon us…but wants to be with us in our human experience.

Jesus showed us that even the worst case scenario…like a crucifixion…leads to resurrection when we let go…and let God.

Keep your focus on the Divine Presence…and find rest.

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Listen to the song of the day “I Will Give You Rest” on the Live to Love album by clicking HERE.

Sample and/or purchase my songs on iTunes by clicking HERE.

Remember…God loves you!

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Turn Off the Noise

Posted on December 12, 2017 by billtonnis

lake_dusk_silence

How can we experience the Presence of God if we are not present ourselves?

(Listen to my song “Turn Off the Noise” on YouTube by clicking HERE)

(Sample and/or purchase my songs on iTunes by clicking HERE)

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Zechariah 2:17

Silence, all people, in the presence of the Lord! For he stirs forth from his holy dwelling.

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The prophet’s advice from 500 years before Jesus remains a profound one today.

How can we expect to hear God speak to us if we are continuously bombarded with noise…constant audio and visual stimulation…not to mention our minds’ addiction to chronic busy-ness?

God speaks in silence.

Only God can tell us who we are and why we are here.

Why would we not create a space of silence so we could hear what God is saying? 

It would seem that most religious leaders of our time have failed to teach us this…despite the fact that most religions at one time were steeped in contemplative prayer or meditation of some kind.

When Jesus was asked by his followers to teach them how to pray he said, “When you pray, go to your inner room, close the door, and pray to your Father in secret. Do not babble like the pagans, who think that they will be heard because of their many words” (Matthew 6:6-7).

Advent is the perfect time to stop…wait…let-go…and listen.

Peace is available…right now.

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Listen to the song of the day “Turn Off the Noise” on the Listen to Your Heart album by clicking HERE.

Sample and/or purchase my songs on iTunes by clicking HERE.

Remember…God loves you!

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Radically Okay

Posted on December 11, 2017 by billtonnis

autumn_leaves_sun

We are all part of God’s love story.

(Listen to the song of the day “Radically Okay” by clicking HERE)

(Sample and/or purchase my songs on iTunes by clicking HERE)

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Isaiah 35:4

Say to those whose hearts are frightened: Be strong, fear not! Here is your God, he comes with vindication; With divine recompense he comes to save you.

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First off…we know that God is love (1 John 4:8).

Secondly, we know: “There is no fear in love, but perfect love drives out fear because fear has to do with punishment, and so one who fears is not yet perfect in love” (1 John 4:18).

Know this: YOU. ARE. LOVED!

The God of Love loved you into existence!

You are God’s child.

The Prophet Isaiah spoke of the coming of the Messiah hundreds of years before Jesus was born.

Jesus showed us the face of this loving God in all that he did.

And he said this: “Everything that the Father gives me will come to me, and I will not reject anyone who comes to me” (John 6:37).

So…what is there to fear?

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Listen to the song of the day “Radically Okay” on the Mercy Reigns album by clicking HERE.

Sample and/or purchase my songs on iTunes by clicking HERE.

Remember…God loves you!

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