Becoming Whole

Posted on November 25, 2016 by billtonnis

figs_leaves_sky

When we live to love…new life and unity are in progress.

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

+++

Luke 21:29-31

Jesus told his disciples a parable. “Consider the fig tree and all the other trees. When their buds burst open, you see for yourselves and know that summer is now near; in the same way, when you see these things happening, know that the kingdom of God is near.

+++

Jesus consistently spoke about the “kingdom of God” as not some distant destination…but as something near and at hand.

Everything Jesus did was aimed at bringing the “kingdom of God” alive in the present.

He instructed his followers to pray, “Your kingdom come, Your will be done, on earth as in heaven” (Matthew 6:10). Please note the words, “on earth.”

God’s kingdom can only come “on earth” with our help.

Jesus wants our cooperation in this endeavor by following him in all his ways.

Reach out to those on the fringes.

Feed the hungry, clothe the naked, comfort the sick, and visit those who are imprisoned.

When we do this, just as when the buds of a tree first burst open, we will experience new life emerging in the present moment.

God’s kingdom will truly be near!

+++

Listen to the song of the day “Shall We Sing” 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!

Posted in Today's Contemplation | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 1 Comment

Give Thanks

Posted on November 24, 2016 by billtonnis

denali-national-park_beauty

Everyone and everything is imbued with the Grace of God.

(Listen to my song “Give Praise and Thanks” by clicking HERE)

+++

Luke 17:15-16

And one of them, realizing he had been healed, returned, glorifying God in a loud voice; and he fell at the feet of Jesus and thanked him. He was a Samaritan.

+++

Jesus had just healed ten lepers and told them to show themselves to the priests. This is so all of them…outcasts due to their disease…would be returned to their communities.

God is all about oneness and community.

But only one of the miraculously healed men, a Samaritan, returned to thank Jesus. At that time…Jews and Samaritans did not associate with each other.

Jesus showed us again that God has no favorites. Or should I say…God has ALL favorites.

God accepts all people as one. All are included.

That means you!

Jesus showed us the face of a God who loves, forgives and cares for all without divisions and regardless of beliefs.

We are called to do the same.

And whatever it is about yourself that you think separates you from God…know that it doesn’t.

God rejects no one!

Forgiveness and new life are freely given…no strings attached.

That’s what Grace is all about.

Let us all give thanks!

+++

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

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

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

Remember…God loves you!

Posted in Today's Contemplation | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

The True You

Posted on November 23, 2016 by billtonnis

santiago_path

The path of love leads to wholeness, peace and freedom.

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

+++

Luke 21:17-19

“You will be hated by all because of my name, but not a hair on your head will be destroyed. By your perseverance you will secure your lives.”

+++

Jesus promised his followers that they would be persecuted.

When you preach love and equality for all…you can expect to be targeted by those who disagree with you.

But Jesus also promised that if we persevere in following him…our lives will be saved. My advice is to please stop thinking of being “saved” as avoidance of hell.

God has no plans to punish anyone…only to love all. That’s what Love does!

“Whoever is without love does not know God, for God is love” (1 John 4:8).

This is Good News!

Following Jesus puts you on the path to wholeness. This path allows your true self to emerge from the chaos (“salvation”).

Jesus will lead you through struggles to new life. He gave us the ultimate example in his death and resurrection.

Any struggle can lead to a deeper and fuller spiritual awareness and experience of God’s love…if we let go of our ego’s desires and go with the flow of Goodness.

Death and defeat do not have the final say! God’s desire is that each of us has life to the full (John 10:10)! It is then that we will have inner peace and joy even amidst the trials.

We will become more fully alive as Christ lives more fully in us.

What could be more important than to discover the true you as a beloved child of God?

That’s who you are…right now…and that is something to be truly thankful for!

+++

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!

Posted in Today's Contemplation | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Omega Point

Posted on November 22, 2016 by billtonnis

milky-way_stars

When we love…we are taking part in an eternal endeavor.

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

+++

Luke 21:6

“All that you see here–the days will come when there will not be left a stone upon another stone that will not be thrown down.”

+++

Jesus’ words predicting the destruction of the temple are just as true about any material thing we have…or will ever have.

That beautiful, shiny sports car will one day be a rusted piece of junk; that beautiful multi-million-dollar mansion will be in ruins; that high-fashion, designer clothing will be in tatters.

Our power, prestige and possessions will all disappear…either slowly over time or quite suddenly when our earthly lives end.

Our kingdoms will disintegrate…but God’s kingdom will never end.

And it starts now for those who are willing to experience it!

Jesus said when you love God and your neighbor as yourself…you are not far from God’s kingdom (Mark 12:34).

When we accept God’s Love and share it…we are part of an Everlasting Flow of on-going creation moving toward a magnificent climax.

Are you living for something that is destined to disintegrate…or are you living for something that’s Dynamic and Eternal?

+++

Listen to the song of the day “God Is the Goal” 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!

Posted in Today's Contemplation | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Let Go and Live

Posted on November 21, 2016 by billtonnis

leaf_falling_sky

In the midst of your struggle…know that God’s Love is carrying you.

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

+++

Luke 21:1-4

Jesus saw some wealthy people putting their offerings into the treasury and he noticed a poor widow putting in two small coins. He said, “I tell you truly, this poor widow put in more than all the rest; for those others have all made offerings from their surplus wealth, but she, from her poverty, has offered her whole livelihood.”

+++

The widow did not give to God her surplus…she gave to God her all.

Everything she had.

Jesus gave all of himself to show us how to live.

He showed us the path to transformation through letting go…new life through death.

He showed us what unconditional love is.

God is all in.

God’s love is not rationed. It is poured out in never-ending oceans and oceans upon each of us from now to eternity.

This Love does not change…no matter what we do.

Jesus demonstrated God’s Unconditional Love by loving all the way to the cross…and then, while hanging there dying, stating: “Father, forgive them, they know not what they do” (Luke 23:34).

Jesus is our example of how to love and how to give our very selves in love to others and all creation.

We are called to love in the same way.

It takes grace to be able to do it…a Grace that is always being poured out.

Even though we fail…it’s good to know that God continues to love us regardless.

Take a few moments to contemplate such a love for us.

God is crazy in love with you!

How will you respond?

+++

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!

Posted in Today's Contemplation | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Listen

Posted on November 18, 2016 by billtonnis

sunset_lake_sky

Turn off the noise.

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

+++

Luke 19:48

“…all the people were hanging on his words.”

+++

What was it like to actually hear Jesus speak?

People were drawn to him and his words inspired, healed, brought peace and transformed those who listened to him.

While we cannot hear Jesus speak in the flesh today…we can still hear him speak by reading his words in the Gospels…and then ruminating over those words in the silence of our hearts.

We can also simply be silent.

Find a quiet place and practice letting go. Allow your thoughts to cease.

This will not be easy. You will have to let go again, again, and again.

Settle into the silence.

As St. John of the Cross said, “Silence is God’s first language.”

Be present to the Divine Presence. Let that Presence settle into your whole being.

Allow that silence to fill you and nourish you.

You will find yourself hanging on each silent word.

“In the beginning was the Word,

and the Word was with God,

and the Word was God.

He was in the beginning with God.

All things came to be through him,

and without him nothing came to be.

What came to be through him was life,

and this life was the light of the human race.” (John 1:1-4)

Listen.

+++

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!

 

Posted in Today's Contemplation | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Keys to Peace

Posted on November 17, 2016 by billtonnis

alpine_darkclouds_ray

Love and forgiveness dispel fear and anger.

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

+++

Luke 19:41-42

As he drew near, he saw the city and wept over it, saying, “If this day you only knew what makes for peace—but now it is hidden from your eyes.”

+++

Jesus, who came to be known as the “Prince of Peace,” was thoroughly rejected.

He called himself “the way and the truth and the life” (John 14:6) because he revealed the way to peace and true life.

But his own people…and everyone else…turned against him.

They were blind.

How are we still blind to the message of Jesus? 

We still have violence and hate.

Jesus instructed us to love God, our neighbor as ourselves…and even our enemies.

All that…while also standing up and working for justice.

This is a tall order!

But deep inside…we know it’s the solution that’s never been tried.

May each of us resolve to try again today.

+++

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.

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

Remember…God loves you!

Posted in Today's Contemplation | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Glory Be

Posted on November 16, 2016 by billtonnis

washington_landscape

All creation sings for joy in its very being.

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

+++

Psalm 150:6

Let everything that has breath give praise to the Lord! Hallelujah!

+++

The Love of God is what energizes everything that is.

God’s grace is flowing…everywhere.

God’s constant, never-changing love is what makes all things exist.

And through being…all things give praise to God.

A tree is praising God each second by whole-heartedly being a tree. Of course, it has no choice! We are the only beings on this planet who have a choice as to how we want to live out our lives.

Stop…and truly be present to God.

Awaken to the Divine Presence within you and to your oneness with all that is.

The Maker of the universe who willed you into existence…loves you with an eternal love that is unconditional…just as you are.

This is salvation.

Accept it.

God is with you.

May your life…this day and forever more…be a resounding “Hallelujah”!

+++

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.

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

Remember…God loves you!

Posted in Today's Contemplation | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Dialogue Dissolves Divisions

Posted on November 15, 2016 by billtonnis

mix_arrow

If we loved instead of judged…everything would change.

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

+++

Luke 19:5-7

Jesus looked up and said to him, “Zacchaeus, come down quickly, for today I must stay at your house.” And he came down quickly and received him with joy. When they all saw this, they began to grumble, saying, “He has gone to stay at the house of a sinner.”

+++

Zacchaeus is described as a “chief tax collector” and a “wealthy man.” He was quite the sinner in the eyes of the Jews.

Why would Jesus even acknowledge his existence?

He could have simply told Zacchaeus to “get his act together” or he could have organized an effort to picket his home.

But instead…Jesus warmly reached out to this great sinner…and invited himself to go to this hated man’s house to stay with him.

What?!

Is this how we treat someone we disagree with? 

Look at the level of public discord over the recent political election! Many of today’s self-described “Christians” shun and ridicule people whom they disagree with!

What happened to “love your neighbor”? What happened to “love your enemies”?

Perhaps we should re-think how we treat those who don’t agree with us or live up to our standards.

How different life would be if we would recognize the DNA of God in everyone…and everything!

+++

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!

Posted in Today's Contemplation | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Path to Wholeness

Posted on November 14, 2016 by billtonnis

blinds_sun_hand

Be humble and steadfast in pursuing Goodness.

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

+++

Luke 18:41-42

Jesus asked him, “What do you want me to do for you?” He replied, “Lord, please let me see.” Jesus told him, “Have sight; your faith has saved you.”

+++

When a blind man heard that Jesus was passing by…he called out to Jesus…and kept calling out to Jesus…even to the point that others in the crowd were telling him to be quiet.

Notice that Jesus did not simply assume that the blind man wanted to see. Jesus asked him what he wanted him to do for him.

While his blindness was obvious…most of our blindness is not.

Do you realize that you are also blind to things beyond your current understanding?

I know that I am!

But how many people…especially when it comes to the topic of religion…think they know everything there is to know?

Instead of pontificating and judging…what if such people put as much effort into humility and compassion? What if they practiced what Jesus called the “greatest commandments”: to love God and their neighbor as themselves (Matthew 22:37-39)?

Perhaps then their eyes would be opened and their blindness removed.

If we humbled ourselves like the blind man…we, too, would be on the path to restoration, wholeness and discovering our true selves (“saved”).

Do you want to see?

+++

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!

Posted in Today's Contemplation | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment