Eternal Wealth

Posted on October 23, 2017 by billtonnis

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Love is the greatest treasure.

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

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Luke 12:15

“Take care to guard against all greed, for though one may be rich, one’s life does not consist of possessions.”

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This statement made by Jesus is ridiculous in the eyes of our current culture.

Greed is what fuels the economy.

Advertisers bank on you wanting more and more of whatever they are peddling.

In today’s scripture verse, Jesus tells the parable of the “Rich Fool”…the man who builds bigger barns to store a bountiful harvest of grain and other goods for himself. However, little does that rich man know that that very night…he would die.

Are we living to collect possessions?

What possessions are we so attached to that we lose sight of what’s really important in life? 

How sad it would be to come to our earthly end…and realize we have spent our lives collecting possessions that will all stay here…while our souls move on.

How sad it would be to realize that we spent our earthly years focused on stuff that will one day disintegrate.

How much time are we spending on learning to love and to be loved?

That is where eternal treasure will be found.

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Listen to the song of the day “Pour Me Out” by clicking HERE.

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

Remember…God loves you!

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Let the Joy Rise

Posted on October 20, 2017 by billtonnis

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We are all immersed in Amazing Grace.

(Listen to my song “Let the Joy Rise” on YouTube by clicking HERE)

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Luke 12:6-7

“Are not five sparrows sold for two small coins? Yet not one of them has escaped the notice of God. Even the hairs of your head have all been counted. Do not be afraid. You are worth more than many sparrows.”

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“I’m not good enough.”

If you’ve ever felt that way…you are not alone.

This is a common feeling that stems from a culture that espouses perfection and being “number one” as the goal.

It is also a lie…because you are good enough.

You are more than good enough.

You are eternally loved just as you are.

Trying to prove you are worthy of attention or love is a human game.

God showers you with love no matter what you do. There are no conditions.

Look at the beauty of creation.

It is one of the many unmerited gifts to each of us.

Jesus says that five sparrows might not be given much value by human beings…but they are treasured by God.

And we are treasured many times more.

So…what is there to fear?

Rejoice and be glad!

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Listen to the song of the day “Let the Joy Rise” by clicking HERE.

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

Remember…God loves you!

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Listen

Posted on October 19, 2017 by billtonnis

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God speaks in the silence.

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

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Psalm 130:5

I wait with longing for the Lord, my soul waits for his word.

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The act…or should I say non-act…of “waiting” is not appreciated by our culture.

We are compulsive doers.

Patience is clearly not highly regarded.

Most modern religion has utterly failed to teach contemplation…the ability to wait in open attentiveness.

It’s a “non-doing”.

To simply be silent and let our thoughts disperse…is a practice of waiting in longing for God’s word.

The word could actually be a word or two…or possibly be a state of inner peace and joy.

In the practice of contemplation we experience God’s presence…because God is present.

If you are never actually present…but instead are mulling over the past or fretting about the future…then how can you experience the True Presence?

I think many people are so afraid of experiencing that inner-longing calling us to the Intimate Presence that they busy themselves with many activities…as if that would cause the longing to subside.

It doesn’t!

There is a longing inside of you…a deep yearning.

What will satisfy this craving?

There is a “hole in your heart” that can’t be filled-in by anything of this world.

Could it be that God yearns deeply to fill that void?

Are you giving God a chance?

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Listen to the song of the day “Turn Off the Noise” by clicking HERE.

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

Remember…God loves you!

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We Are Called

Posted on October 18, 2017 by billtonnis

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Be messengers of mercy, healing and restoration.

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

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Luke 10:8-9

“Whatever town you enter and they welcome you, eat what is set before you, cure the sick in it and say to them, ‘The kingdom of God is at hand for you.'”

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Jesus sent out his messengers to tell everyone the Good News that would free them and heal them.

It’s very simple: God’s love is unconditional.

It does not have to be earned.

It does not depend on your performance or achievement.

God’s love is such that it pours itself out for the beloved…even to the point of death.

Jesus showed us this in his path to the cross.

Pure love heals.

It comforts.

It restores.

Be a channel of this Love.

Pass along God’s mercy, forgiveness and compassion to others not only through your words but through the way you live your life.

Whenever you do this…the kingdom of God is at hand.

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Listen to the song of the day “Mercy Reigns” by clicking HERE.

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

Remember…God loves you!

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Awe and Wonder

Posted on October 17, 2017 by billtonnis

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We are part of a Divine masterpiece in progress.

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

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Psalm 19:2

The heavens declare the glory of God; the sky proclaims its builder’s craft.

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A friend of mine who is quite the astronomy buff…once pointed out a bright star in the sky overhead and mentioned that it is 200 trillion miles from Earth.

That’s right…trillion.

And that’s one of the closer stars!

Ponder that for a while.

It is truly mind boggling.

And yet the same awesome God who made the magnificent universe…also made you.

You are a part of this wondrous creation.

Your very existence declares the glory of God! 

The stars shine in praise of the Creator.

May you also shine in praise by simply being you in all your beautiful uniqueness.

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Listen to the song of the day “Glorify You with Me” by clicking HERE.

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

Remember…God loves you!

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Divine Harmony

Posted on October 16, 2017 by billtonnis

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Be your unique self with joy.

(Listen to my song “Sing a New Song” by clicking HERE)

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Psalm 98:1

Sing a new song to the Lord, who has done marvelous deeds.

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Every morning birds wake up and start singing as if to say, “I am! I am! I am!“

By their song they proclaim God’s handiwork. 

By their music they add beauty to our lives.

They don’t dwell on past disappointments or fret over future concerns.

Take a moment to see all the wonders and blessings poured out in abundance in your life.

Each breath is a gift.

All of nature and creation…is a gift.

It’s all gift. 

You don’t have to prove your worthiness to receive these gifts.

You don’t have to prove your worthiness to be accepted into God’s kingdom.

You already belong.

So be you.

Sing your song!

A symphonic masterpiece is in progress…and your notes are eternally essential.

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Listen to the song of the day “Sing a New Song” by clicking HERE.

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

Remember…God loves you!

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Mercy Reigns CD Release Concert

Posted on October 15, 2017 by billtonnis

Mercy Reigns CD Cover (Bill Tonnis) Final-1_1600x1600 (2)

Hello to all my blog followers!

I’m trying to raise the funds to cover the $1500 cost of my CD Release Concert coming up on November 12th here in Cincinnati.

Mercy Reigns is my 4th album of inspirational, Christian-based music to promote the unconditional, healing love of God for all people.

I have an Indiegogo campaign to raise the money which is up to over $500 but in reality I have $1200 raised through checks and cash given to me by supporters!

Would you consider being one of 10 people to contribute $30 by credit card at the secure Indiegogo site?

See the site for more information…and thank you!

Mercy Reigns CD Release Concert Indiegogo site.

 

 

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One Human Family

Posted on October 13, 2017 by billtonnis

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What if we all tried to be channels of God’s peace?

(Listen to my song “Make Me a Channel” by clicking HERE)

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Luke 11:23

“Whoever does not gather with me scatters.”

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When Jesus was physically on this earth, his mission was to heal and restore…by reaching out to those who had been excluded and calling attention to injustice so that all might be treated fairly.

His mission was also to preach the good news of God’s kingdom…where Unconditional Love reigns and everyone belongs.

By his life he gave us a blueprint of how we are to live our lives. 

Jesus was not giving us an evacuation plan to get to the next world…but was giving us a way to live now to make this world a more compassionate and just place.

He said the most important commandments were to love God and to love your neighbor as yourself.

When we love…we work to unite.

Each of us needs to ask ourselves, “Do I speak and act in ways that gather…or in ways that scatter?

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Listen to the song of the day “Make Me a Channel” by clicking HERE.

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

Remember…God loves you!

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You Are Precious

Posted on October 12, 2017 by billtonnis

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Love is the Source that breathed all things into existence.

(Listen to my song “Breathe On Me” on YouTube by clicking HERE)

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Luke 11:13

“If you then, who are wicked, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will the Father in heaven give the holy Spirit to those who ask him?”

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Jesus speaks of God as being like a loving, doting father.

You and I are children of that God.

Do you believe that?

YOU are a child of God.

Each of us has been spawned by the Love that created the universe.

Just before saying the scripture line above, Jesus had said that “everyone who asks, receives.” But note that he says that those who ask will be given the “holy Spirit.”

Jesus doesn’t say you’ll be given whatever you want.

What loving parent would give their child whatever their whim?

A parent would give their children what they truly need.

When we die to our egos and are in tune with the groanings of the Spirit at our core…we will receive even more of that Spirit because it is already yearning for exactly what we need.

The question is…are we spending quiet time getting in touch with the Spirit’s yearning in our hearts?

God wants intimacy with you.

What do you want?

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Listen to the song of the day “Breathe On Me” by clicking HERE.

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

Remember…God loves you!

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Good News

Posted on October 11, 2017 by billtonnis

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Just a reminder that God is Love.

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

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Psalm 86:5

Lord, you are kind and forgiving, most loving to all who call on you.

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When you or I turn from God and choose to make ourselves the center of the universe…God does not get angry but continues to love us.

Sometimes it takes hitting rock bottom for us to realize the emptiness and dead-end of our ego’s incessant pursuit of self-centered satisfaction…before our true self is able to emerge from the ego’s grip and turn back to God who is Love itself (1 John 4:8).

And in return for our egregious behavior…wonder of wonders…we are met by the open arms of Unconditional Love and Total Forgiveness.

This is hard for many minds to grasp since we were poisoned with the toxic myth of a tyrannical, punishing God.

But the truth is…God only wants to love you.

And that, my friend, is the Good News!

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Listen 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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