The Gospel

Posted on November 6, 2017 by billtonnis

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Since God is Love…Love is the beginning and the end.

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

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Romans 11:32

For God delivered all to disobedience, that he might have mercy upon all.

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God purposely made us imperfect knowing that we would disobey…so that God could show us love, mercy, forgiveness and compassion.

Life is not about us being perfect. That would set us up for failure.

It’s about us being perfectly loved by God.

It’s about us receiving love in our imperfection…and then sharing it.

That’s how you learn the depths of love. Someone has to model it to you.

God doesn’t love us because we are good but because God is good.

It is easy to love those who love you back…but what about those who don’t?

What about those who are hard to love because of their imperfections?

Being a Christian is not about being perfect but being in need of the Great Physician.

It is only when we experience the love and compassion of God in our imperfection that we can be transformed and be able to extend the same kind of love, mercy, forgiveness and compassion to others. 

As Jesus said, “When you hold a banquet, invite the poor, the crippled, the lame, the blind; blessed indeed will you be because of their inability to repay you” (Luke 14:13-14).

God is inviting you to the banquet. Invite someone else as well!

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Listen to the song of the day “God Is” 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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Love Rules

Posted on November 3, 2017 by billtonnis

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May all our actions be regulated by compassion.

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

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Luke 14:5-6

Then Jesus said to them, “Who among you, if your son or ox falls into a cistern, would not immediately pull him out on the Sabbath day?” But they were unable to answer his question.

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Jesus had just healed a man in front of the Pharisees (the religious leaders) on the Sabbath day.

This broke the Jewish law which banned any sort of work on the day of rest.

Jesus broke that law.

However, Jesus told them that love is always the determining factor when it comes to our actions.

Love wins out over the law. 

The Pharisees (and many people today) are stuck in an “either-or” mind.

For them, the law is the determining factor.

Either you keep the law and are in…or you don’t and are out.

Jesus is saying we need a “both-and” mind. 

I can both keep the law and break it when Love says to do so.

Following the rules can make someone “right” but also self-righteous and heartless.

Compassion and forgiveness require an open mind and a transformed heart.

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Listen to the song of the day “Mercy Reigns” 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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Resurrection Ahead

Posted on November 2, 2017 by billtonnis

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Struggles and sorrow lead to new life and joy if we trust in Love.

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

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Wisdom 3:2-3, 7

They seemed, in the view of the foolish, to be dead; and their passing away was thought an affliction and their going forth from us, utter destruction. But they are in peace. They shall shine, and shall dart about as sparks through stubble.

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On this “All Souls Day”…to those who have lost a loved one or are dealing with a recent loss or an impending loss…take comfort in today’s scripture.

“Dying and rising” happens over and over throughout our lives.

Struggles and defeats are transformed into sources of strength and victories.

It happens when seemingly “bad” times are resurrected into “good” times through the transforming power of Love.

These transformations give us hope that when our physical life ends…a glorious transformation is in the works.

Cling to Jesus who showed us that the path to death always leads to resurrection and new life.

Always!

Have no fear.

As Jesus said, “And this is the will of the one who sent me, that I should not lose anything of what he gave me, but that I should raise it on the last day” (John 6:39).

Count on it!

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Listen to the song of the day “Salvation” 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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Happiness

Posted on November 1, 2017 by billtonnis

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To be fully me…is to be free of any attachments.

(Listen to my song “Glorify You with Me” on YouTube by clicking HERE)

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Matthew 5:3

“Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.”

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Everyone wants to be happy…and in the Beatitudes, Jesus gives us the blueprint for being happy.

The very first line (today’s scripture verse) is the key to having life to the full.

Cling to nothing!

Do not hold on to anything so as to be attached or identified by it. But, at the same time…do not renounce those things.

Be able to both accept and enjoy the blessings God brings into your life and be able to let them go…passing them on to others.

When we are not attached to things that don’t last…we will be open to experiencing the things that do last. 

We will be able to begin experiencing the kingdom of God…right now.

We will be able to begin experiencing the joy of the Divine Presence.

Unhindered by attachments, each of us is free to love fully and to be the unique, beloved child of God that God intended. 

As it says in the First Letter of John, “Beloved, we are God’s children now; what we shall be has not yet been revealed. We do know that when it is revealed we shall be like him, for we shall see him as he is” (1 John 3:2).

For when I am fully me…God’s glory is fully revealed.

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Listen to the song of the day “Glorify You with Me” 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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Cultivate Compassion

Posted on October 31, 2017 by billtonnis

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May we all plant seeds of goodness today.

(Listen to my song “May I Be Light” on YouTube by clicking HERE)

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Luke 13:18-19

Then Jesus said, “What is the kingdom of God like? To what can I compare it? It is like a mustard seed that a person took and planted in the garden. When it was fully grown, it became a large bush and ‘the birds of the sky dwelt in its branches.'”

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Jesus is again alluding that we all have a part in helping the “kingdom of God” be manifested in the here and now.

When we plant seeds of goodness such as love, mercy, forgiveness, and compassion…they secretly sprout out of sight and with little fanfare.

But slowly this goodness grows and attends to the needs of all creation.

We don’t have to wait for a future heaven for God’s kingdom to show itself.

How can each of us plant seeds of love, mercy, forgiveness and compassion this very day?

We may not see the end result…but that tiny seed may one day grow to something grand, beautiful and life-giving.

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Listen to my song “May I Be Light” 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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Death to Life

Posted on October 30, 2017 by billtonnis

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Practice letting go…so that a new Spirit can rise in you.

(Listen to my song “Pour Me Out” on YouTube by clicking HERE)

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Romans 8:16-17

The Spirit itself bears witness with your spirit that we are children of God, and if children, then heirs, heirs of God and joint heirs with Christ, if only we suffer with him so that we may also be glorified with him.

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You and I are children of God and heirs of God…”joint heirs with Christ.”

You know this is true because the Spirit bears witness of this to your heart.

That is Good News!

But St. Paul also tells us that this is “if only we suffer with him so that we may also be glorified with him.”

When the unconditional love and compassion of God became flesh in Jesus, those with the wealth and power opposed him. They didn’t want equal love and fairness for all.

Jesus showed us true unconditional love and compassion…even when he was rejected and executed.

He showed us that the path of unconditional love is one of self-emptying, one of “dying to self” in order that our true selves can rise and be vessels of Unconditional Love to the world.

We are called to do this as followers of Jesus.

Be assured that through the hardships and suffering you encounter…you will be transformed!

You will become whole (“holy”) and experience a peace that the world cannot give (John 14:27).

Life is a series of trials…little deaths and resurrections.

If we follow Jesus…New Life will always result!

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Listen to the song of the day “Pour Me Out” 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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Be Inspired

Posted on October 27, 2017 by billtonnis

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Love transforms apparent weakness to strength.

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

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Romans 7:19

For I do not do the good I want, but I do the evil I do not want.

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St. Paul is telling us about his ongoing inner-conflict.

It’s no doubt familiar to each of us…this struggle between wanting to do what is good and another desire to do what is not.

This is not the place to hide from God in shame…but is instead the place to surrender to God’s grace.

We are not involved in some “worthiness” contest to achieve or merit God’s love.

Look at what happened to St. Paul. When he was still known as Saul…he was a persecutor of Christians. His conversion came by the total grace of God…no achievement of his own.

Did it ever occur to you that God wants to be with you in your inner turmoil?

How else would you ever experience what Unconditional Love is?

Several verses after today’s scripture above, St. Paul went on to write, “Miserable one that I am! Who will deliver me from this mortal body? Thanks be to God through Jesus Christ our Lord” (Romans 7:24-25).

The name “Jesus” literally means “Yahweh saves.” Jesus has already shown us that God is willing to go to any length to show us Love.

Allow this Love to transform you.

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Listen to my song “Come to Jesus” 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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Solidarity

Posted on October 26, 2017 by billtonnis

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No matter our differences…we are one human family.

(Listen to my song “All Are Welcome” on YouTube by clicking HERE)

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Luke 12:51

“Do you think that I have come to establish peace on the earth? No, I tell you, but rather division.”

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What’s this?

I thought Jesus was the “Prince of Peace“?

Well…he is.

But Jesus knew that calling everyone to extend unconditional love, peace and equal justice to all would not sit well with the people who held all the power. 

That would mean they would have to step down from their lofty positions and be willing to reach out to the people below.

That would mean everyone would have to work on accepting those who look different or act differently than them.

A follower of Jesus is called to help build God’s kingdom here…a place of peace, love, compassion and justice. 

But you are guaranteed to meet stiff resistance. You will cause division.

It got Jesus nailed to a cross.

Can we respond to persecution as Jesus did…with both strength and compassion?

If we do…the kingdom of God will be at hand.

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Listen to the song of the day “All Are Welcome” 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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Comfort

Posted on October 25, 2017 by billtonnis

stars_night_person

The Love that made all things…is sustaining you.

(Listen to my song “How Wonderful to Me” on YouTube by clicking HERE)

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Psalm 124:8

Our help is the name of the Lord, the maker of heaven and earth.

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The Creator of the universe…made you.

You are part of the grand masterpiece that is still unfolding.

God (or whatever name you have for our loving Creator) is sustaining and holding it all together.

The relational nature of God is reflected in Jesus who shared in humanity’s joys and sorrows while showing us the way of love, mercy, forgiveness and compassion.

He demonstrated the ultimate act of forgiveness when from the cross he said, “Father, forgive them, they know not what they do.”

That is the kind of Love that God has for you as well.

It’s unconditional and eternal.

So whatever is causing you pain or uncertainty now…call on the Maker of heaven and earth.

Help is as close to you…as your very breath.

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Listen to the song of the day “How Wonderful to Me” by clicking HERE.

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

Remember…God loves you!

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Listen to Your Heart

Posted on October 24, 2017 by billtonnis

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God’s love for you has no strings attached.

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

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Psalm 40:7

Sacrifice and offering you do not want; but ears open to obedience you gave me.

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God is interested in your heart…your desire to spread the love of God.

God is not interested in you proving yourself worthy of anything.

It’s not just today’s psalm that states God is not interested in your sacrifice.

The Prophet Hosea also stated the same sentiment: “For it is loyalty that I desire, not sacrifice, and knowledge of God rather than burnt offerings” (Hosea 6:6).

Jesus referred to this twice: “Go and learn the meaning of the words, ‘I desire mercy, not sacrifice.’ I did not come to call the righteous but sinners” (Matthew 9:13); “If you knew what this meant, ‘I desire mercy, not sacrifice,’ you would not have condemned these innocent men (Matthew 7:12).

The message Jesus wanted us to hear is that we are already completely loved by God just as we are. 

St. Paul said that God “chose us in Jesus, before the foundation of the world, to be holy and without blemish before him” (Ephesians 1:4).

God chose you “before the foundation of the world”!

Instead of spending your time trying to prove yourself worthy of God’s love…try spending time in silent acceptance that you are eternally loved.

Listen to the yearnings of your heart as to how God wants to love the world…through you.

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

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

Remember…God loves you!

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