Path to Life

Posted on April 26, 2016 by billtonnis

way_path_field_mountains

Living to love will mean letting go of ego.

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Acts 14:22

They strengthened the spirits of the disciples and exhorted them to persevere in the faith, saying, “It is necessary for us to undergo many hardships to enter the kingdom of God.”

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Paul and Barnabas were rallying the followers of Jesus in the aftermath of his death and resurrection.

It was not easy to be a follower of Christ…and still isn’t.

Paul had literally been stoned but somehow survived. Most of the apostles would be martyred. Jesus had warned his followers that they would be persecuted.

But following Jesus is a path that leads to true life.

The path requires dying to self…the false ego-centered self…so that the true self can rise.

It means carrying your cross…being an agent of mercy, compassion, forgiveness and justice while facing the resulting repercussions.

Jesus showed us that this path leads to growth, transformation, wholeness and being our true selves.

It’s the process through which we begin to experience the building of the kingdom of God in the present.

What could be more important?

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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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Be Still

Posted on April 25, 2016 by billtonnis

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We all abide within a Great Love.

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1 Peter 5:7

Cast all your worries upon him because he cares for you.

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Why do we worry?

How can worry possibly help us?

I sometimes catch my mind as it repeats the same old “what if?” scenarios…usually with painful outcomes! Thankfully, I now also hear what’s becoming a more familiar “other” voice.

It says, “Do not fear.”

Jesus said that over and over. “Can any of you by worrying add a single moment to your life-span (Matthew 6:27)?”

The only time that is real…is now. God is in this moment.

And in this moment God loves us thoroughly and completely just as we are.

There is nothing we have to do to earn that love. We have nothing to prove.

How freeing that is…if you only believe it!

Why not accept this Good News? It is the Gospel!

Open yourself to God’s abiding Presence within you…then feel your worries dissolve.

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Listen to the song of the day “God Is” 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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Make a Difference

Posted on April 22, 2016 by billtonnis

love_Jesus

Belief is meaningless without action.

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John 14:5-6

Thomas said to him, “Master, we do not know where you are going; how can we know the way?” Jesus said to him, “I am the way and the truth and the life.”

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Are you unsure of your direction…which way to turn…how to make that next step in your life?

Jesus gave us the template of how to live.

Believing what he said is one thing…that’s just “brain” stuff. It doesn’t make any real difference.

But following him and doing what he said and did…this is “heart” stuff.

This is the path to transformation and true life.

This is how the kingdom of God truly comes (as in, “Your kingdom come, your will be done, on earth as in heaven.” Matthew 6:10).

Jesus went to great lengths to show us that the path to life included dying…dying to selfish desires, letting go of all the trivial pursuits to attain things that won’t last.

This is the path that leads us to our true selves: beloved children of God.

Following Jesus…is the way to freedom and new life…now and forever.

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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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Unconditionally Loved

Posted on April 21, 2016 by billtonnis

landscape_sky

Just wanted you to know that God cherishes you…forever.

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Psalm 89:2-3

The promises of the Lord I will sing forever, proclaim your loyalty through all ages. For you said, “My love is established forever; my loyalty will stand as long as the heavens.”

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God loved us from the very beginning…before the beginning of time as we know it.

That’s beyond our mind’s ability to grasp.

God does not change by whims and moods like we do.

God simply loves and promises to do so…forever.

God is Love (1 John 4:8).

Jesus demonstrated God’s love with his life. Even when humans killed him on the cross…Jesus responded with forgiveness: “Father, forgive them, they know not what they do” (Luke 23:34).

Then the resurrected Christ didn’t seek retribution or reproach against those who killed or abandoned him…but offered peace: “Peace be with you” (John 20:19).

This is the love our Creator has for us!

Alleluia!

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Listen to the song of the day “My Lord and My God” 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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Divine Radiation

Posted on April 20, 2016 by billtonnis

sun_light_leaves

The Light of Love shines on all creation.

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John 12:44-46

Jesus cried out and said, “Whoever believes in me believes not only in me but also in the one who sent me, and whoever sees me sees the one who sent me. I came into the world as light, so that everyone who believes in me might not remain in darkness.”

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If we know Jesus…then we know God. That’s what Jesus said.

We did not see Jesus being vindictive or threatening. He only exemplified compassion, mercy and forgiveness.

Jesus shined God’s loving light…or better yet…he shined the light of Love…to dispel the darkness of people’s selfish ways and of injustice.

The Light does not pick and choose who and what it shines upon.

The Light shines on all humanity and all creation.

Each of us is a tiny reflector of that Light…called to shine these rays of Goodness in the unique ways that only each of us can.

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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 Shepherd

Posted on April 19, 2016 by billtonnis

flock-of-sheep

A Great Compassion is sustaining and guiding us.

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John 10:27-28
“My sheep hear my voice; I know them, and they follow me. I give them eternal life, and they shall never perish. No one can take them out of my hand.”

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We are the sheep of the Good Shepherd who cares tenderly for each of us.

Jesus said he knows us…which means he knows both the light and the shadow side of each of us. Jesus doesn’t say we have to get rid of the shadow side before he will care for us.

This is the Love of God!

The love of God does not depend on our worthiness. We don’t have to merit it.

God’s love is a gift.

Eternal life is a gift.

Jesus promises that no one can take us out of his hand.

Doesn’t that make you want to listen for his voice…and to follow?

I guarantee it will lead you to a place of inner peace.

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Listen to the song of the day “I Will Give You Rest” 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 Are Welcome

Posted on April 18, 2016 by billtonnis

gate_open

Be still and know Love that has no end.

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John 10:9

“I am the gate. Whoever enters through me will be saved, and will come in and go out and find pasture.”

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Jesus said he was “the way and the truth and the life (John 14:6).”

He shows us the template of how to live so that we can be the full, unique reflections of God’s love that only each of us can be.

Following his way is like entering a gate. This gate leads us to safety as well as freedom.

Through it we come to know God’s unconditional love and mercy.

Through it we also are freed of all the worldly distractions that divert us from being our true selves. We are promised genuine freedom and inner peace.

Entering this gate is possible in each and every moment.

All are invited.

The time to do it…is now.

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Listen to the song of the day “All Are Welcome” 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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Be Merciful

Posted on April 15, 2016 by billtonnis

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Compassion changes hearts and transforms lives.

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Acts 9:17
“Saul, my brother, the Lord has sent me, Jesus who appeared to you on the way by which you came, that you may regain your sight and be filled with the holy Spirit.”

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When Saul was blinded by a flash of light on the way to Damascus…he was heading there to persecute Christians (he was “breathing murderous threats”).

This is the person the risen Christ chose as his “instrument” of love, mercy, grace, forgiveness and compassion.

How’s that for counter-intuitive?

God’s way is clearly not our way!

In a vision Jesus spoke to a man named Ananias to go to Saul and to lay hands on him so that he might regain his sight. Through this entire mystical experience Saul was transformed into one of the greatest evangelists in Christianity later known as St. Paul.

His change did not come by way of punishment and retribution…but by way of mercy and compassion.

God never gives up on anyone…including your worst enemy.

Including you!

How might God want to transform you?

How might you be an instrument of God’s transformation for someone else?

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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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God Speaks in Silence

Posted on April 14, 2016 by billtonnis

tree_sky_silence

Silent self-emptying will transform your life.

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John 6:45
“Everyone who listens to my Father and learns from him comes to me.”

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It’s not what we do that brings us closer to God but what we let be done to us by God.

Our lives are not an achievement contest or a life-long SAT test!

It’s about simply being in relationship with of our Loving Creator.

Allow God to draw you closer.

Listen.

Hear that you are God’s beloved child.

Bask in that awareness.

Then your actions will not be to merit or achieve anything…but will simply be your response to being loved.

Come to Christ in your brokenness…just as you are. Allow God’s unconditional love to transform you.

It’s only then that you can be a channel of that same Love and Compassion to others.

For this to happen…it’s essential to set aside quiet time in the presence of the Divine Presence.

Just listen.

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Listen to the song of the day “Turn Off the Noise” 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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Radical Grace

Posted on April 13, 2016 by billtonnis

sunset_tree_forest

God is transforming everything to goodness.

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John 6:37-39
“Everything that the Father gives me will come to me, and I will not reject anyone who comes to me, because I came down from heaven not to do my own will but the will of the one who sent me. And this is the will of the one who sent me that I should not lose anything of what he gave me, but that I should raise it on the last day.”

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This is Good News!

Read it again and allow it to sink in.

Jesus promises that he will not lose anything of what God gave him.

God has given all of creation to Jesus. That includes you, me…and everyone.

Our salvation is not based on our merit. It is not based on our goodness…but God’s goodness.

God is the relentless lover Who pursues us…Who shows us in Christ that Love wins.

Dying is always followed by rising.

New Life is promised…not just to you and the people you like…but to everyone.

That is the radical grace Jesus spoke about. This is what God is doing. It’s the grand plan.

Your choice is whether you want to cooperate with this plan.

If you do…you are in store for amazing happenings. As Jesus said, “Whoever believes in me will do the works that I do, and will do greater ones than these” (John 14:12).

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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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