Transformation In Progress

Posted on February 2, 2016 by billtonnis

caterpillar_transformation

Trust that a Great Love is leading you to new life.

Hebrews 2:18

Because he himself was tested through what he suffered, he is able to help those who are being tested.

~

The world is full of egos vying for control, power and prestige.

The question is: Do we notice how our own egos are doing the same?

When we take notice of our own egos…they will start to diminish. This “dying” to our false selves gives our true selves the opportunity to slowly emerge. Jesus shows us the way. He healed and loved others while working tirelessly for justice and equality for all without a trace of egotism. He carried out his calling even when he was soundly rejected…persecuted and hung on a cross.

It appeared to be a total defeat.

Yet in the face of his impending execution he said to God, “Not my will but yours be done” (Luke 22:42). Jesus gave us a radical example of how to accept what “is”.

He showed us how to trust that all struggles and all sufferings eventually lead to new life.

The Loving-Source-of-all promises to “make all things new” (Revelation 21:5).

That includes you!

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Listen to the song of the day “Changed” 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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Coalesce

Posted on February 1, 2016 by billtonnis

tree_sky_oneness

Reach out to those left out.

Mark 5:5-7

Night and day among the tombs and on the hillsides he was always crying out and bruising himself with stones. Catching sight of Jesus from a distance, he ran up and prostrated himself before him, crying out in a loud voice, “What have you to do with me, Jesus, Son of the Most High God?”

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Have you ever felt like a reject…like you were completely unlovable?

Have you ever felt like God could never care for you because of things you’ve done, because you don’t fit in or because you feel like you just aren’t good enough?

In today’s scripture we see an apparently deranged man who had been cast out of his community to roam about tombs and hillsides.

Sometimes a society, community, or simply a circle of friends…throws out the ones who are different, difficult or who threaten the status quo. Many continue to define themselves by who they are against. They have to have an “enemy” to hate…a scapegoat…despite Jesus’ command to love everyone.

The man in today’s scripture seemed quite astounded that Jesus would have anything to do with him…because apparently no one else would.

The lesson is: When others reject you…indeed when you reject yourself…God does not…nor will God ever. That’s what Unconditional Love is all about! That’s the kind of Love your Creator has for you. Jesus healed this man and sent him home to be restored to his community. As followers of Jesus…we are called to do the same for others.

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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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Go with the Flow

Posted on January 29, 2016 by billtonnis

waterfall_flow_river

A Great Love is secretly energizing you, me and all creation.

Mark 4:26-27

He said, “This is how it is with the kingdom of God; it is as if a man were to scatter seed on the land and would sleep and rise night and day and the seed would sprout and grow, he knows not how.”

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When Jesus spoke of the “kingdom of God” he was almost never talking about some distant reward. He interchangeably talked about the “kingdom of God” and the “kingdom of heaven”…but was almost always talking about the now.

That is obvious in today’s scripture.

Jesus also said that the kingdom of God…or what we sometimes refer to as the reign of God…is “among you” (Luke 17:21). This can also be translated as “within you.”

Whether we are aware of it or not…the kingdom of God is growing in our very midst.

It is at work in the very fiber of all that is. As St Paul says, “We know that all creation is groaning in labor pains even until now” (Romans 8:22). All of creation began with Love’s spark and will end in a grand finale of Love’s masterpiece. It’s just a matter of time.

The question is: Will we take part in it?

Most of creation has no choice. We do. Each of us can cooperate in the on-going-coming of the kingdom of God…a place of love, mercy, forgiveness, justice and compassion…or we can choose not to. Or…we can be completely unaware of it happening.

May we awaken to the reign-of-God-in-progress…and take part.

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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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Shine Your Light

Posted on January 28, 2016 by billtonnis

Lamp_home

Mark 4:21

He said to them, “Is a lamp brought in to be placed under a bushel basket or under a bed, and not to be placed on a lampstand?”

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The Good News of God’s unconditional love, mercy, grace, forgiveness and compassion is meant to shine brightly to this world…through each of us.

God is Love.

Let each person you meet…as well as all of creation…know this Good News!

The light of God’s love is not meant to be hidden inside you.

Let it shine!

How can you use your unique gifts and talents to shine the light of Love to the world?

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Listen to the song of the day “May I Be Light” 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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Look and Listen

Posted on January 27, 2016 by billtonnis

life_landscape_mountains

Mark 4:18-19

“Those (seeds) sown among thorns are another sort. They are the people who hear the word, but worldly anxiety, the lure of riches, and the craving for other things intrude and choke the word, and it bears no fruit.”

God’s word will always communicate unconditional love, mercy, forgiveness and compassion.

It comes to us in many ways: in scripture, in silence, in music, in nature, through other people, etc. There are many “seeds” being sown…but what is the condition of our “soil”?

Are we cultivating our soil so that the seeds of Love take root?

What other words, music, entertainment, social media or people might be poisoning our soil and choking God’s seeds?

Stop for a moment.

Be aware.

Listen.

God is speaking words of love all around you…and in your heart.

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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Be You

Posted on January 26, 2016 by billtonnis

Bird_singing_2

Psalm 96:1

Sing to the LORD a new song; sing to the LORD, all the earth.

Each day gives us a new opportunity to sing a new song to our loving Creator.

Whatever happened yesterday is over and gone.

What will be in the future is only God’s to know.

The only time that is real…is now.

Each moment is a gift…a true “present.” It is where we meet the true Presence of God.

So be fully present to that gift.

Live each moment and be who you are…channeling God’s love and goodness through your unique gifts. All living things are singing their unique songs in each successive moment.

May each of us join the chorus!

Listen to the song of the day “Sing a New 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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Good News of Great Joy

Posted on January 25, 2016 by billtonnis

sprout_asphalt_new_life

Mark 16:15

Jesus said to them, “Go into the whole world and proclaim the gospel to every creature.”

God loves you unconditionally.

That is the good news…the “gospel” message. Jesus wanted his followers to not only proclaim that message but to be that message to “every creature.” He modeled that message perfectly…giving himself in love, mercy and compassion…even when faced with unjust persecution and execution.

Jesus showed us that death is not final.

It always leads to resurrection and new life. It was the Risen Christ who told the apostles to spread this good news. God’s love for us is infinite! That is hard to comprehend until you truly experience it. Look at St. Paul. While he was persecuting Christians he had a mystical experience of the Risen Christ that completely changed him into one of the greatest proclaimers of the gospel. Information about Jesus (and God’s love) is one thing…but until you experience him (and God’s love) at the heart-level…there will be no transformation.

Each of us is called to be a part of a great Love story in progress.

Accept it.

Live it!

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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Trust

Posted on January 21, 2016 by billtonnis

moon_11-26-15_2

Psalm 56:3

O Most High, when I am afraid, in you I place my trust.

God is always there for you even when it feels otherwise. Feelings of God’s presence are nice but even when you don’t feel that Presence…God is still there. Mother Teresa and many other mystics knew this feeling as the “dark night of the soul.” Even Jesus experienced this “dark night” hanging on the cross when He cried out, “My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?”

But God did not abandon Jesus. Resurrection followed Jesus’ bodily death.

God is Love. Love never fails. Death…and all the little deaths we suffer in life…always result in new life. Night turns to day…winter turns to spring. Such Love embraces all of creation. So if you are struggling or in a dark place…know that you are God’s beloved.                          Rest in that knowledge.

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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Be a Wholemaker

Posted on January 20, 2016 by billtonnis

circle-unity

Mark 3:5

Looking around at them with anger and grieved at their hardness of heart, he said to the man, “Stretch out your hand.” He stretched it out and his hand was restored.

Jesus was always about bringing people together and restoring them to wholeness.

But the religious leaders at the time were more concerned about “doing” their religion and keeping to the letter of the law. They were angry that Jesus’ disciples were picking heads of grain on the sabbath and that Jesus Himself cured a man’s withered hand on the sabbath.

Your religion should be helping you to become more merciful, loving, compassionate and forgiving. It should be leading you to reach out in acceptance and love to others. It should be leading you on a transformational journey to wholeness and your true self.

Jesus never made it a rule that “sinners” needed to “get their act together” before he would dine with them or heal them. As a matter of fact…he sought out those who were not included. Jesus said, “Go and learn the meaning of the words, ‘I desire mercy, not sacrifice.’ I did not come to call the righteous but sinners” (Matthew 9:13). Many so-called “religious” people seem to believe the exact opposite!

Jesus’ mission was to restore the broken to wholeness.

May it be our mission as well.

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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Mercy Reigns

Posted on January 19, 2016 by billtonnis

wheat_field_sun

Mark 2:23-24

As he was passing through a field of grain on the sabbath, his disciples began to make a path while picking the heads of grain. At this the Pharisees said to him, “Look, why are they doing what is unlawful on the sabbath?”

Jesus seemed to break many of the religious rules. Rules are good and necessary. They provide a great foundation as you start out in life…a place of definite “white and black” boundaries. But as you grow and experience more of life you will find yourself being drawn into the gray areas…where unbendable rules become problematic. Jesus allowed his followers to pick heads of grain on the sabbath (when the religious rules did not allow work of any kind) because his followers were hungry. Jesus knew that love and compassion always trumped following a rule. He still obeyed the rules…but just knew when it was okay to break them! Life is full of paradox and contradictions. When confronted with such situations, consult Church teaching, consult tradition, consult an expert…but at the end of the day…what does your conscience say? Do what is merciful and compassionate…like Jesus.

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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