Christian

Posted on August 10, 2016 by billtonnis

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A true mentor leads you to your true self.

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

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John 12:26

“Whoever serves me must follow me, and where I am, there also will my servant be.”

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Jesus seemed much more interested in a person’s actions than beliefs.

He never asked anyone’s assent to a set of doctrines before he associated with them.

What Jesus did ask…was that people follow him.

Being a Christian involves taking part in a transformative journey with the risen Christ.

Jesus lived his life in service to those in need. His mission was oneness.

In order to follow him…we, too, must live our lives in the service of others.

The big picture…is the oneness of all.

That will mean letting go of self-centered, egocentric desires…and using our gifts and talents to help others.

This will feel like dying…but paradoxically it will lead to more life than you can imagine…as well as finding your true self.

As Jesus said, “Unless a grain of wheat falls to the ground and dies, it remains just a grain of wheat; but if it dies, it produces much fruit” (John 12:24).

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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 by clicking HERE.

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

Remember…God loves you!

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True Greatness

Posted on August 9, 2016 by billtonnis

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May you be motivated by Love in all that you do.

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

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Matthew 18:1-4

At that time the disciples approached Jesus and said, “Who is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven?” He called a child over, placed it in their midst, and said, “Amen, I say to you, unless you turn and become like children, you will not enter the kingdom of heaven. Whoever humbles himself like this child is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven.

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Our culture says the one who wins…who comes out on top…is the one who is exulted.

The person who attains the most power, prestige and possessions receives the glory.

That person is the greatest.

Jesus, however, says the opposite.

He says the one who is humble…who reaches out to help those in need and joins those at the bottom…that person gets is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven.

Jesus praises the one who trusts and depends on God like a child depends on a parent.

There is certainly nothing wrong with receiving praise from an achievement. The question is…what is your motivation? Are you responding to the call of God…or the call of your ego?

Which kingdom are you serving…God’s or your own?

Are you building your own kingdom…or are you humbling yourself and allowing God to lead you in helping to build God’s kingdom?

This is a great question to ask yourself each day. I know for me…it is very humbling to see my mixed motivations!

The more you humble yourself and allow your ego’s desires to diminish…the more God’s desires can grow in you…and the clearer your calling will become.

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

Sample and/or purchase my songs by clicking HERE.

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

Remember…God loves you!

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Pour Me Out

Posted on August 8, 2016 by billtonnis

waterfall_green

The path of love leads to your true self.

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

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Matthew 17:22-23

As they were gathering in Galilee, Jesus said to them, “The Son of Man is to be handed over to men, and they will kill him, and he will be raised on the third day.” And they were overwhelmed with grief.

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Jesus showed us who God is: a never-ending-out-pouring of Love.

For Jesus, that meant standing with the oppressed. It meant telling those in power that they were meant to serve…not to be served.

It also meant telling the Jews that God’s salvation was for all…not just them.

Jesus knew that if he carried out this message…lived it…those in power would react against him. Jesus also knew that if he did not resist…but only responded to persecution with love…it would lead him to execution on a cross.

He also knew that death was the ultimate path to life…now and always.

Jesus trusted that resurrection and new life would follow.

We are also called to stand for the oppressed, to serve, to build bridges across boundaries and to respond with love when we are persecuted.

Are you ready to be a radical follower of Jesus?

This is your calling…your path to wholeness and living as your true self.

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

Sample and/or purchase my songs by clicking HERE.

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

Remember…God loves you!

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Beloved Child of God

Posted on August 5, 2016 by billtonnis

tulips_yellow_red

Do you know your true self?

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

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Matthew 16:24-26

Then Jesus said to his disciples, “Whoever wishes to come after me must deny himself, take up his cross, and follow me. For whoever wishes to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for my sake will find it. What profit would there be for one to gain the whole world and forfeit his life? Or what can one give in exchange for his life?”

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It’s a paradox.

When you let go of what you thought your life was about…you find what your life is truly about.

When you let go of self-centered desires…it’ll feel like dying.

But when you surrender your ego’s insatiable desires for power, prestige and possessions…while asking for God to show you God’s desires for you…you will be on the path of uncovering your true self.

This is the path of letting go of all the layers of “stuff” that you thought defined you. After you strip away all the “masks” you were wearing…what remains is the beloved child of God that you are.

Then you are free to use your gifts and talents to help those in need.

Those who do not share your desire to lift the ones who have fallen through the cracks or the ones on the fringes…will try to block your path. You will be called to respond to your persecutors with love…just as Jesus did.

In letting go of what your false self wanted…you will find what your true self needed.

What could be more important than that?

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

Sample and/or purchase my songs by clicking HERE.

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

Remember…God loves you!

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The Way of Love

Posted on August 4, 2016 by billtonnis

waterfall_rainbow_man

Let go…let God…and live.

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

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Matthew 16:23

“You are thinking not as God does, but as human beings do.”

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We tend to base so much of our lives on our own ability to reason…and yet Jesus was quite clear in his response to Peter that our thinking can be far from God’s.

Who would not have sided with Peter when he rejected Jesus’ prediction that he would suffer greatly at the hands of the religious leaders and be killed?

But how else would God show us what true, unconditional love was? How else…but to be hated, persecuted, and crucified…and then to respond with loving forgiveness?

I cannot buy the idea that this was some payment to “even the score” with God. God is God…who can forgive always…without limits.

Jesus told us to forgive an infinite number of times…so why wouldn’t God do the same?

What Jesus gave us was a model to follow…a model of living that will lead us to transformation and new life. It is the way in which the kingdom of God truly comes!

Jesus is inviting us into a life-changing, life-transforming journey of letting go of the false self…so the true self can emerge.

As St. Paul says, “Be renewed in the spirit of your minds, and put on the new self, created in God’s way in righteousness and holiness of truth” (Ephesians 4:23-24).

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

Sample and/or purchase my songs by clicking HERE.

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

Remember…God loves you!

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Good News

Posted on August 3, 2016 by billtonnis

sunshine_ocean

Love is our Source and Destination.

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

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Jeremiah 31:3-4

With age-old love I have loved you; so I have kept my mercy toward you. Again I will restore you, and you shall be rebuilt.

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God did not make us imperfect in order to punish and condemn us for our imperfection.

Besides not making sense…a God who did such a thing would be a cruel tyrant.

God made us imperfect so God could be with us in our imperfection…so that we could then experience and come to know true unconditional love, mercy, forgiveness and compassion…and be transformed in the process.

If you look at the story of God’s people throughout the bible it is one example after another of the people rejecting God…and God relentlessly pursuing and calling them back…over and over and over.

Sound familiar?

Do we not do the same thing?

Jesus showed us that God will go to any lengths to show us love in the face of rejection…and that love will win in the end.

Our Loving Source will never stop working to restore and redeem us.

This is the Good News of salvation!

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

Sample and/or purchase my songs by clicking HERE.

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

Remember…God loves you!

 

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Have Faith

Posted on August 2, 2016 by billtonnis

sunset_seas

In times of trouble…do not fear. New life is coming.

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

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Matthew 14:29-31

Jesus said, “Come.” Peter got out of the boat and began to walk on the water toward Jesus. But when he saw how strong the wind was he became frightened; and, beginning to sink, he cried out, “Lord, save me!” Immediately Jesus stretched out his hand and caught him, and said to him, “O you of little faith, why did you doubt?”

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Are you distressed about something that has  come up?

Have you become anxious and fearful over life’s circumstances?

What if the seemingly frightful turn of events is actually a new door opening…and invitation to new life?

Situations in and of themselves simply are what they are. Your reaction to them is another matter. What thoughts are being produced by your mind?

Be still.

In the storm…Jesus walked on the water to his fearful followers. He was the calm in the center of the storm.

Just as he invited Peter to step out of the boat…he invites you to step out of your comfort zone…where you might feel safe but are paralyzed to any real growth.

Step out into the waves…but make sure you keep your eyes on Jesus. In his calmness…he invites you to “come.”

Know that the Source of Life is drawing you forward. The experience will lead you to growth and a deeper discovery of your true self.

Should you falter and begin to sink…your Loving Creator will always catch you. That’s what Love does…time after time after time.

Have faith! As Jesus told Peter, “Take courage, it is I; do not be afraid” (Matthew 14:27).

A Great Love is leading you to new life and wholeness!

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

Sample and/or purchase my songs by clicking HERE.

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

Remember…God loves you!

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Restoration in Progress

Posted on August 1, 2016 by billtonnis

earth_planet

Work for unity.

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

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Matthew 14:13-14
When Jesus heard of the death of John the Baptist, Jesus withdrew in a boat to a deserted place by himself. The crowds heard of this and followed him on foot from their towns. When he disembarked and saw the vast crowd, his heart was moved with pity for them, and he cured their sick.

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The people of Israel were yearning for a savior…someone to free them from bondage.

John the Baptist pointed them to Jesus. After John’s murder…the crowds flocked to him. But Jesus did not come to free the people from the oppression of the Romans…but to free them from the oppression of following paths that were leading them away from God.

He showed them the path to becoming their true selves.

Jesus was always acting in love, mercy, forgiveness and compassion…restoring people to wholeness.

Those who were physically sick were outcasts due to the false belief that God had inflicted them with illness for something they had done. Jesus wanted them to know that that was not true.

He was always letting them know that God loved them unconditionally…no matter what they did or what illness befell them.

Let that same knowledge settle in your soul.

Let it transform and free you now.

Jesus shows us the way to wholeness and freedom.

As Ilia Delio writes in her book, The Emergent Christ: “Those who live in Christ bear the fruits of love, peace, charity, kindness, forgiveness, compassion, and reconciliation; through their lives God is born into the world in new ways, through new relationships, through greater unity.”

Jesus was always about the work of creating “wholes”. Why not be a whole-maker as well? The world needs you!

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

Sample and/or purchase my songs by clicking HERE.

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

Remember…God loves you!

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Love Conquers Hate

Posted on July 29, 2016 by billtonnis

easter_sun_cross

When you are a whole-maker…persecution is inevitable.

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

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Psalm 69:8-10

For your sake I bear insult, shame covers my face. I have become an outcast to my kin, a stranger to my mother’s children. Because zeal for your house consumes me, I am scorned by those who scorn you.

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Have you ever been ridiculed for doing the compassionate thing?

When you follow the model Jesus gave us for living our lives…reaching out to the excluded and the poor…working for justice while showing compassion and mercy…you will face insults. You will be scorned.

Sometimes when you follow God’s call to love all people…you are met with derision and rejection from those who define themselves by whom they are against.

Sometimes the worst assault may come from those closest to you who feel uncomfortable about how you’ve changed…when they haven’t. 

Jesus felt the same scorn when he returned to Nazareth. He said, “A prophet is not without honor except in his native place and in his own house” (Matthew 13:58).

So if you’ve ever felt this way…you are in good company.

Your persecutors are actually your greatest teachers. They are the hardest to love…and yet that is exactly what you are called to do!

Don’t lose heart!

Follow Jesus and speak the words he inspires…even though it may lead you down a road less traveled.

Live from the reality of oneness that is hidden by the delusion of separateness.

Lives will be changed for the better…including yours.

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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 by clicking HERE.

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

Remember…God loves you!

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You Are a Masterpiece

Posted on July 28, 2016 by billtonnis

potters_molding

Allow Love to form you.

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

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Jeremiah 18:6

Indeed, like clay in the hand of the potter, so are you in my hand, house of Israel.

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Just as God’s words came to the prophet Jeremiah…they are still true for each of us today.

No matter what you’ve done in the past…no matter how badly you have messed-up your life…God can mold you again. 

You are a work of art…in progress. You are actually already a masterpiece in the eyes of God…but perhaps are unaware of your beauty due to life’s circumstances.

Like clay in the hand of the potter…God wants to re-fashion you again and again and again to carry on the on-going love story of creation.

This story is like a cosmic dance with God…accompanied by the most amazing music!

You are part of the story.

You are included.

God never turns away from you.

The invitation to the dance is never withdrawn and is always being offered as long as you have breath.

Will you accept the invitation?

The time to do so…is now.

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

Sample and/or purchase my songs by clicking HERE.

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

Remember…God loves you!

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