Let It Be Done to Me

Posted on May 31, 2016 by billtonnis

person_jumping_joy

May each of our lives be a song of praise.

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Luke 1:46-47

“My soul proclaims the greatness of the Lord; my spirit rejoices in God my savior.”

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Mary’s statement resounds within my heart.

When I am in the flow of the will of God…my inner-most-being exults. Even midst the struggles…there seems to be an inner calm…a certain “yes” that pervades my interior.

There are really no words to describe this feeling accurately. It is at the soul level.

It is a mystery.

When I am going with the flow of God’s love…I am saying “yes” to this great Mystery while observing my egocentric desires diminish. And in the process I am becoming more fully awake…more fully present to the Presence.

I accept what is.

God’s will is being done to me more than I am doing anything.

I wish I could say that I’m living like this all the time…but I am not. My ego continually tries to re-take control. I must return…over and over and over…to “letting go.”

Each moment is an opportunity to surrender to God’s desires and say, “May it be done to me according to your word” (Luke 1:38).

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Listen to the song of the day “Lift Up Our Voices” 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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All Shall Be Well

Posted on May 30, 2016 by billtonnis

sea_fish

Each of us is like a fish in an ocean of God’s love.

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Psalm 91:2

Say to the Lord, “My refuge and fortress, my God in whom I trust.”

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God never leaves us no matter how many times we, in a sense, leave God.

Of course…we can’t really leave God because God is the sustenance of everything that is! God pervades all things, encompasses all things and holds all things.

But we do sometimes choose our own egocentric desires over the desires God has for us. A person’s ego is only concerned about self-centered interests. God is concerned about all creation’s interests.

However, even when we turn away from caring for all and focus only on our own desires…God never turns away from us.

Our Creator is always supporting us and loving us.

So no matter what you’ve done…no matter how far you drifted from the path you were meant to be on…all you have to do is turn around and you will see that the Great Love that made you has never left you…but has been pursuing you the whole time.

Ponder this as you deal with whatever struggles or transitions you are facing…and trust in a Higher Power to get you through.

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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 by clicking HERE.

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

Remember…God loves you!

 

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Reign of God

Posted on May 27, 2016 by billtonnis

collage_pond_butterfly

May you share your gifts and talents for the sake of love.

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1 Peter 4:10

As each one has received a gift, use it to serve one another as good stewards of God’s varied grace.

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As our Creator gives each of us special talents and abilities…we are meant to use them for the purpose of love and goodness.

What a wonderful world we would have…if only everyone took this to heart!

For those who are Christians…they are supposed to be following Jesus…which requires serving others.

The natural inclination is to serve ourselves…each of us looking out at the world as if we are the center of the universe.

What’s in it for me?

But at some point…our egocentric “it’s-all-about-me” world comes crashing down. It may be due to illness or a great loss.

Many times it is only in our brokenness when we are able to experience the unconditional love, mercy, forgiveness and compassion of God.

It is total gift…freely given to us without any merit of our own. We know we did nothing to deserve it!

Feel this Unconditional Love for you in this moment. Let it wash over you.

Now…what is your gift or talent…freely given to you by God…that you can use to extend that same compassion to someone in need?

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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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Redemption in Progress

Posted on May 26, 2016 by billtonnis

spring-awakening_bloom

Have faith! New life is about to bloom…

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Mark 10:51-52

Jesus said to him in reply, “What do you want me to do for you?” The blind man replied to him, “Master, I want to see.” Jesus told him, “Go your way; your faith has saved you.” Immediately he received his sight and followed him on the way.

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The blind man, Bartimaeus, was calling out so loudly as Jesus passed by that he could be heard over the noise of the sizable crowd. Even when people in that crowd told Bartimaeus to be quiet…he yelled even louder, “Jesus, son of David, have pity on me.”

The blind man wasn’t so blind…when it came to his faith!

Despite his physical blindness…he recognized that Jesus was a great healer.

However, many sighted-people were spiritually blind!

Jesus confirmed that Bartimaeus’ faith would lead him to wholeness (salvation)…before miraculously restoring his sight.

Actually…the greater result is that the man is restored to his community. He was no longer cast-out on the fringes…but was again included.

Not everyone receives miraculous physical healing…but I believe that when people in need have faith…they will receive restoration in the way they (and those around them) most need it spiritually.

Bartimaeus did not run off to celebrate…but with his restored sight he joined the others in following Jesus “on the way” to new life.

Jesus invites us to do the same.

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Listen to the song of the day “Come to Jesus” 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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Counterculture

Posted on May 25, 2016 by billtonnis

mist_roadYour true self will be found in service.

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Mark 10:43

“Whoever wishes to be great among you will be your servant.”

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This is another great counter-cultural teaching from Jesus.

Two of the apostles had just boldly asked him to allow them to sit at his right and left when he comes into glory. They were expressing the world’s philosophy that being great means having power and prestige.

Being great in the world’s view is when you are being served.

But that’s the kingdom of the world…not the kingdom of God.

In God’s kingdom…you are great if you serve.

You are great if you “die” to your ego’s desires…so that God’s desires might rise in you. You are great if you are with those who are considered the “least” by the world.

Jesus showed us the most excellent example of dying to self in the name of unconditional love and justice. He showed us that this path leads to transformation and new life.

Jesus taught us to pray that God’s kingdom would come. This is our task…to cooperate with the Holy Spirit in bringing about God’s kingdom in the here and now.

For this to happen…we must take on the heart of a servant. Every person is called to take part in this divine, evolving plan.

Let the power of God’s love transform you. Then…be that love to someone in need.

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Listen to the song of the day “You’ll Lead 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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Awaken

Posted on May 24, 2016 by billtonnis

water_lake

A Zen master once asked, “What, at this moment, is lacking?”

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Mark 10:29-30

Jesus said, “Amen, I say to you, there is no one who has given up house or brothers or sisters or mother or father or children or lands for my sake and for the sake of the gospel who will not receive a hundred times more now in this present age.”

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Our culture encourages us to grab as much as we can for ourselves.

This is consumerism.

Jesus calls us to turn away (“repent”) from this way of trying to attain happiness. Instead…he instructs us to give.

While many believe their possessions or status defines them…Jesus says the opposite. You will never know who you truly are until you disassociate yourself from those things.

Notice that he did not say to renounce those things. This is not getting rid of…but simply not clinging to.

It is only when you let go of the things your mind has been craving and your hands have been grasping…that you will be free to do God’s work (your work).

It’s only in giving yourself away in the service of others that you will finally find your true self…your true calling.

That will be worth a hundred times more now than all the possessions you could ever hold!

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Listen to the song of the day “Singing My Song” 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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Let Go

Posted on May 23, 2016 by billtonnis

clouds_blocking_sun

Attachments block the flow of life.

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Mark 10:21

Jesus, looking at him, loved him and said to him, “You are lacking in one thing. Go, sell what you have, and give to the poor and you will have treasure in heaven; then come, follow me.”

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Eternal life in the Christian tradition (or “enlightenment” in the Buddhist) can be tasted now for those who are truly in the flow of God’s will.

The “rich man” in today’s scripture passage wanted to know what he must do to “inherit eternal life.” He was doing all the right things…following all the commandments and religious rules…but he knew something was missing.

Jesus knew that the man’s disorienting dilemma was that he was attached to his many possessions.

That attachment blocked him being present to the flow of God’s goodness. It prevented him from knowing God’s call and becoming his “true self.”

Notice that Jesus “loved him” while calling him to make a major change. Love was Jesus’ motivation…not chastisement.

Possessions in and of themselves can be good if we are good stewards and generous with them. Renouncing them is not a requirement. However…it is difficult to have many possessions and not be attached to them…obsessed with protecting and increasing them.

We mistakenly believe that power, prestige and possessions will bring us happiness. Maybe they will briefly. But all those things will eventually disintegrate.

The source of lasting happiness is letting go of all that will not last.

What is left is the Presence of God alone.

Material possessions will fade away…but God’s love will never end.

What or who is blocking you from the free flow of God’s love and being your true self?

Following Jesus will show you the way.

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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 to purchase at BillTonnisMusic.com by clicking HERE.

Remember…God loves you!

 

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Grace Upon Grace

Posted on May 13, 2016 by billtonnis

landscape_sun

May you be filled with the awareness of the Creator’s eternal love for you.

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Psalm 103:1-2

Bless the Lord, my soul; all my being, bless his holy name! Bless the Lord, my soul; do not forget all the gifts of God.

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How amazing that the Creator of the universe created you and me!

From space dust our bodies are fashioned. As Teilhard de Chardin said, “We are spiritual beings having a human experience.”

We have been graced with eternal life.

It’s a totally free gift from our Maker who loved us into existence and who could not stop loving us any more than we could stop loving our own sons or daughters…or any more than we could stop the sun from shining.

The Love that shines upon us has nothing to do with what we do to merit it, or any achievements or accomplishments…or mistakes we make or struggles we have…but it has everything to do with Who God Is: Love. 

As St. Paul says, “For I am convinced that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor present things, nor future things, nor powers, nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord” (Romans 8:38-39).

Alleluia! Amen.

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Listen to the song of the day “How Wonderful to 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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Love Includes

Posted on May 12, 2016 by billtonnis

rose_field_sun

Are you trying to unite or divide?

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Acts 23:6-8,10

Paul called out before the Sanhedrin, “I am on trial for hope in the resurrection of the dead.” When he said this, a dispute broke out between the Pharisees and Sadducees, and the group became divided. For the Sadducees say that there is no resurrection or angels of spirits, while the Pharisees acknowledge all three. The dispute was so serious that the commander, afraid that Paul would be torn to pieces by them, ordered his troops to go down and rescue him…

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Some things never change…groups arguing and dividing over religious and theological differences…even to the point of threatening Paul’s life.

It still goes on today…some people literally killing others over religious beliefs while others rejecting and disassociating from those who don’t share their beliefs.

Meanwhile, if you examine the ministry of Jesus you will be hard-pressed to find him arguing theological points with anyone!

Instead, he was forgiving a woman caught in adultery, hanging out with tax collectors and prostitutes, and was on his knees washing the feet of his totally clueless disciples!

Instead of arguing to change minds, Jesus was extending compassion, mercy and forgiveness…and thereby changing hearts.

Instead of being right…he was concerned about being in right relationship.

What about you?

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Listen to the song of the day “Mercy Reigns” 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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Harmonize

Posted on May 11, 2016 by billtonnis

clef_music_song

What is the unique note you are meant to add to God’s ongoing symphony?

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John 17:16,18

“They do not belong to the world any more than I belong to the world. As you sent me into the world, so I sent them into the world.”

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Ever get the feeling that you just don’t fit in?

Are you trying hard to fit into the world’s idea of normal, acceptable or “cool”? 

Some people have fallen so far into this trap that they have wrapped themselves in many layers of illusion.

They have accumulated many masks.

Such a person is quite unaware of his or her “true self.”

How sad!

We are not meant to mirror the world…but to mirror God to the world.

You and I are unique expressions of God (Love) who are meant to be the one and only you and me in order to channel Love to the world.

How else will God’s “kingdom come on earth as in heaven” (Matthew 6:10)?

What is your part in this evolving expression of Love?

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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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