Love Connection

Posted on March 30, 2017 by billtonnis

Sunlight_trees

When you are your true self…heaven rejoices.

(Listen to my song “Take the Road Less Traveled” by clicking HERE)

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John 5:44

“How can you believe, when you accept praise from one another and do not seek the praise that comes from the only God?”

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Are you a people-pleaser?

Many of us are raised to please others so that we only feel good inside when we are earning their praise. It starts with our parents…then friends…then teachers, etc.

We are trained that the only way for us to be happy…is to make someone else happy or perform in ways they expect. We many times believe that to be loved…we need to please the other person. Our self-worth depends on what others think of us.

The shocking truth is…God loves us even when we do nothing. 

God loved us before we did anything…and there is nothing we can do to stop God from loving us! That is what “unconditional” love is.

Jesus reflected that love in human form. He gave us the perfect model of how to be human.

He let go of any ego-centered desires. Jesus did not need anyone’s praise (John 5:41). He only tried to please God. “Not my will but yours be done” (Luke 22:42).

Jesus was connected to God…the very Source of Love. God’s love could then flow freely through him to others. It is only in doing the same that we live as our “true selves.”

When we are being fully what God intended us to be…we are showing the glory of God. As St. Irenaeus stated, “The glory of God is the human being fully alive.”

What does God want you to be?

You of course.

When you are being you…your Creator is singing your praises.

The process of letting go of your ego’s desires so that your true self can emerge may lead you down a road less traveled. But simply listen to the gentle, loving voice in your heart and then follow where it leads you.

On the way…you will discover great peace and joy.

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Listen to the song of the day “Take the Road Less Traveled” by clicking HERE.

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

CD’s available for purchase at BillTonnisMusic.com by clicking HERE.

Remember…God loves you!

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God Is For You

Posted on March 29, 2017 by billtonnis

bench_lake_mountain

An Eternal Love will never give up on you.

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

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Psalm 145:14

The Lord supports all who are falling and raises up all who are bowed down.

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Our Creator is holding everything in a loving embrace.

Everything.

Love is transforming everything into the fullness of being.

Everything.

There is a trajectory toward goodness and wholeness.

You and I are included in this process. It’s happening now.

We need to trust that when things are not going the way we want…that our Loving Source has not abandoned us.

As God told the prophet Isaiah: “Can a mother forget her infant, be without tenderness for the child of her womb? Even should she forget, I will never forget you” (Is. 49:15).

Usually it takes some form of suffering before we will stop clinging to control and allow ourselves to fall into the arms of God.

You cannot ultimately save yourself or avoid loss. Eventually we all discover this.

In the end…there is a loving Creator always wanting to raise you to New Life.

Jesus showed us this….and it saves me every day.

I am called to follow his example.

Why not come to know this Loving Presence now?

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Listen to the song of the day “God Is” by clicking HERE.

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

CD’s available for purchase at BillTonnisMusic.com by clicking HERE.

Remember…God loves you!

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Following Jesus

Posted on March 28, 2017 by billtonnis

world_team_clipart

When facing a dilemma…do the most loving thing.

(Listen to my song “I Want to Follow You” by clicking HERE)

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John 5:15-16

The man went and told the Jews that Jesus was the one who had made him well. Therefore, the Jews began to persecute Jesus because he did this on a sabbath.

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This is what happens when you have either-or thinkers whose minds see either black or white…and no gray in between.

The Pharisees were the rule keepers who held the people to the letter of the law every time.

But Jesus seemed quite content in breaking a religious rule in the name of love.

In today’s scripture, Jesus healed a man who had been sick for 38 years. Seems like a great thing! But, Jesus carried out the miraculous healing on a sabbath day breaking the rule against working on a day designated for rest and prayer.

This is a great example of how dualistic minds are always quick to judge what’s in or what’s out; what’s right or what’s wrong…with no consideration for the unique details.

Instead of an either-or situation…Jesus looked at it as a both-and. So the answer is to both honor the Sabbath by following the rules and break them when it’s the loving thing to do.

Love is always the top priority.

We are called to do the same.

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Listen to the song of the day “I Want to Follow You” by clicking HERE.

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

CD’s available for purchase at BillTonnisMusic.com by clicking HERE.

Remember…God loves you!

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Rejoice

Posted on March 27, 2017 by billtonnis

dancers_abstract

Each of us is being transformed by an Eternal Love.

(Listen to my song “Lift Up Our Voices” by clicking HERE)

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Psalm 30:12-13

You changed my mourning into dancing. With my whole being I sing endless praise to you.

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Let’s face it. When we are at the top of our game and everything is going our way…we have no conscious need of God.

We would likely not actually say that…but we certainly are not thinking we need any help from anyone.

It’s only when things are not going according to our plans…when we encounter some form of adversity…that we turn to our Maker.

I believe a Loving Force…a Divine Benevolence…has turned many of my lowest points into highest points in due time.

That’s because God is in the redemption business.

That’s what Love does.

God’s glory is truly shown in transforming our apparent defeats into victories.

Jesus was always joining those on the fringes and margins of society…those who counted as nothing…so that they would know that they truly did count.

He healed the sick, restored sight to the blind and freed the oppressed.

Jesus showed that God’s love does not depend on our goodness…but God’s.

Even when we ignore God…God does not ignore us. It’s like the unconditional love a parent has for a beloved daughter or son.

Kind of makes you want to sing and dance…doesn’t it?

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Listen to the song of the day “Lift Up Our Voices” by clicking HERE.

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

CD’s available for purchase at BillTonnisMusic.com by clicking HERE.

Remember…God loves you!

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Top Priority

Posted on March 24, 2017 by billtonnis

Flowers_rayofsun

Let Love be your main motivation.

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

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Psalm 81:10

There shall be no foreign god among you; you shall not bow down to an alien god.

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Can any of us say that we have no foreign gods?

What are we obsessed with?

What is the one…or two or three things that we can’t imagine being without?

To what do we devote most of our time?

What if God was our top priority?

What if pleasing God was our motivation each day?

And how do we “please” God? Not by accomplishing anything…but simply by being present to the Divine Presence.

When I’m fully present…I lack nothing.

I am filled with the awe and wonder of all the blessings that surround me.

I realize that I am a child of God…and cherished as such.

And when I realize this…I can’t help but to want to share it with someone else…like you.

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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.

CD’s available for purchase at BillTonnisMusic.com by clicking HERE.

Remember…God loves you!

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Listen

Posted on March 23, 2017 by billtonnis

meadow_fog

God speaks in silence.

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

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Jeremiah 7:23,25-26

Listen to my voice; then I will be your God and you shall be my people. From the day that your fathers left the land of Egypt even to this day, I have sent you untiringly all my servants the prophets. Yet they have not obeyed me nor paid heed.

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God’s consistent message is to listen…because God is speaking.

God is speaking in each of our hearts a tender message of unconditional love…a message that tells us who we are.

Each of us is God’s beloved.

Unfortunately, most of us are not hearing the message because we have only been taught verbal prayer and nothing about silent, listening prayer.

That’s despite Jesus himself stating, “When you pray, go to your inner room, close the door, and pray to your Father in secret. And your Father who sees in secret will repay you. In praying, do not babble like the pagans, who think that they will be heard because of their many words. Do not be like them. Your Father knows what you need before you ask him (Matthew 6:6-8).”

God has spoken for thousands of years through the prophets as well…delivering message after message that we must turn away from our ego’s insatiable desires for power, prestige and wealth – and turn back to the God Who calls us to love and serve all as one.

But those in power have consistently thrown out the prophets.

The prophets are still being thrown out…and God is still speaking!

During this period of Lent…let us set aside time to go into the spiritual desert so we can listen to God’s silent voice.

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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.

CD’s available for purchase at BillTonnisMusic.com by clicking HERE.

Remember…God loves you!

 

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Forgiveness Transforms

Posted on March 22, 2017 by billtonnis

flower_sunshine

Love overrules the rules.

(Listen to my song “God’s Love Is All You Need” by clicking HERE)

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Matthew 5:20

“I tell you, unless your righteousness surpasses that of the scribes and Pharisees, you will not enter into the kingdom of heaven.”

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Jesus had just finished telling his followers that he would fulfill God’s law and “not the smallest letter or the smallest part of a letter” of God’s law would fail to come to pass.

But then he added the line above.

The religious leaders held everyone strictly to the rules without bending.

But Jesus sometime overruled the rules. 

That was unthinkable to the scribes and Pharisees who were “either-or” thinkers preaching that you either followed the rules and passed, or you didn’t follow them and failed.

On the other hand…Jesus was a “both-and” thinker who preached that you both followed the rules and were willing to bend them when it was the compassionate thing to do.

Did you ever think about how God overrules the Ten Commandments whenever God forgives us for breaking them?

That’s because Love is the number one priority.

Jesus said the greatest commandments are to love God with all your heart, mind and soul and to love your neighbor as yourself (Matthew 22:37-39).

It’s only through compassion and forgiveness that we enter the kingdom of heaven.

That process begins now.

Who needs your compassion and forgiveness?

Besides others…it could also be you!

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Listen to the song of the day “God’s Love Is All You Need” by clicking HERE.

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

CD’s available for purchase at BillTonnisMusic.com by clicking HERE.

Remember…God loves you!

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Thy Will Be Done

Posted on March 21, 2017 by billtonnis

plant_green_bark

It is in letting go…that new life can begin.

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

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Psalm 25:4

Make known to me your ways, Lord; teach me your paths.

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Most people have no idea that their ego is running their lives until it is suggested to them. Even then…they may not understand.

I had no concept of this until I read authors like Richard Rohr, Thomas Keating and Thomas Merton.

When the ego is in charge…you operate as though you are center of the universe which creates inner angst and turmoil since you clearly are not! 

An ego-centered person looks at the world with a judgmental eye…dividing everything into what “I” like and what “I” don’t like. This is in and this is out.

The truth is…God is at the center.

God holds all and loves all equally and wants us to do the same.

All things belong.

We and everything else are here through our Loving Creator’s desires.

To know God’s ways…we first must die to our ways.

In other words, our egos must lose control.

Contemplative prayer and meditation are practices that will help.

Jesus gave us the perfect model of “kenosis” which is defined as the ‘self-emptying’ of one’s own will in order to become entirely receptive to God’s divine will.

This is the path of coming to know your true self.

It’s also the path to participating in making the world a more loving, merciful, forgiving and compassionate place (kingdom of God).

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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.

CD’s available for purchase at BillTonnisMusic.com by clicking HERE.

Remember…God loves you!

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Divine Presence

Posted on March 19, 2017 by billtonnis

Gethsemani_2017_1

The key to peace and contentment…is being attuned to the now.

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

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Matthew 1:20

The angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream and said, “Joseph, son of David, do not be afraid to take Mary your wife into your home. For it is through the holy Spirit that this child has been conceived in her.”

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God is in the business of transforming apparent obstacles into opportunities.

If you have faith…amazing things will happen. But you may be taken way out of your comfort zone.

What a deeply spiritual man Joseph must have been to accept Mary when all conventional wisdom said to reject her. How connected he must have been to God…open to receiving a message from a divine source.

The message he received in a dream was enough to change his mind about Mary and to change the whole course of his life.

Are you open to hearing and seeing messages from God? 

Are you paying attention to your dreams?

Are you expecting a life-changing message that will lead you to wholeness and peace?

The messages might not be dramatic…but subtle.

You will need to cultivate your spiritual receptivity.

Are you setting aside quiet time for contemplative prayer or meditation?

Or are you immersing yourself further and further into the noise of the world?

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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.

CD’s available for purchase at BillTonnisMusic.com by clicking HERE.

Remember…God loves you!

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Vineyard of God

Posted on March 17, 2017 by billtonnis

Vineyard_grapes_leaves

What if we all cultivated a more compassionate community?

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

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Matthew 21:43

“Therefore, I say to you, the kingdom of God will be taken away from you and given to a people that will produce its fruit.”

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Jesus had kind, compassionate words for most people.

The only ones he repeatedly reprimanded were the scribes and Pharisees.

They were the ones who laid heavy burdens upon the people and didn’t lift a finger to help them carry the load. They held them to strict laws and rituals even when it meant being cold-hearted to those in need.

What is the fruit of such behavior? Gloom and doom.

What is the fruit of the kingdom of God? Love, mercy, grace, forgiveness and compassion!

When we are producing this fruit…we are experiencing a taste of the kingdom of God.

Are we producing such fruit with our lives? What about the churches we attend?

Perhaps if we opened our hearts to being instruments of God’s love…the kingdom of God would truly be at hand!

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Listen to the song of the day “Shall We Sing” by clicking HERE.

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

CD’s available for purchase at BillTonnisMusic.com by clicking HERE.

Remember…God loves you!

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