Love Is Calling

Posted on September 18, 2015 by billtonnis

20150729_092651

1 Timothy 6:7, 9, 11

For we brought nothing into the world, just as we shall not be able to take anything out of it. Those who want to be rich are falling into temptation and into a trap and into many foolish and harmful desires, which plunge them into ruin and destruction. Instead, pursue righteousness, devotion, faith, love, patience, and gentleness.

In this passage St. Paul is preaching an entirely different philosophy of living than the world preaches. The point is this: What is your main motivation in life? Are you pursuing wealth or are you pursuing God’s desires for you? Wealth in itself is not evil…only when it becomes an attachment. It is so easy for the pursuit of wealth to become the main objective. What about simply being present to God and how God sees you? Listen to God’s voice in the silence of your heart. Hear that you are the beloved. How might you then share your gifts and talents to channel God’s love and compassion to the world? This is the path to inner peace, wholeness and your true self.

Listen to the song of the day “Take the Road Less Traveled” by clicking HERE.

All my songs available for free sampling and/or purchase by clicking HERE.

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

Remember…God loves you!

Posted in Today's Contemplation | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 2 Comments

Path to Wholeness

Posted on September 17, 2015 by billtonnis

meditation_balance

1 Timothy 4:14, 16

Do not neglect the gift you have. Attend to yourself and to your teaching; persevere in both tasks, for by doing so you will save both yourself and those who listen to you.

What is your gift? We all have some talent or ability which God has given us to help ‘build of the kingdom of God’…or in other words…to make the world a more loving, merciful, forgiving, just and compassionate place. St. Paul encouraged Timothy to persevere in developing, nurturing and using his talent for teaching the Good News. But he also reminded Timothy to attend to himself…in other words…take care of himself. Be good to yourself. Attend to your physical, mental, emotional and spiritual needs. Because if you are exhausted and depleted of energy…how can you give anything to another? Take time to work, rest, pray and play. Then, when you use your gifts and talents for God’s purposes…not only will you be on your way to “wholeness” (saved) but you will help others on their paths to wholeness as well. If we all lived in this manner…what a glorious change would take place in the world. It’s a team effort!

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

All my songs available for free sampling and/or purchase 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

All Are Welcome

Posted on September 16, 2015 by billtonnis

Welcome_languages

Luke 7:34

“The Son of Man came eating and drinking and you said, ‘Look, he is a glutton and a drunkard, a friend of tax collectors and sinners.'”

Have you ever been falsely judged? You are in good company…because Jesus was as well. I’m sure Jesus didn’t approve of all the behaviors of the people in his company…but that didn’t keep him from hanging out and partying with those people who were often the outcasts…those who had been kicked-out by society or religious leaders. Jesus wanted them to know that they were all God’s children…all worthy of God’s unconditional love. Jesus accepted everyone at His table. How else might they come to know a better way to the fullness of life than by spending time with Jesus? Who am I “kicking-out” or excluding? How can I change in order to accept that person at my table with the same unconditional love of God? How can I be Jesus to someone in need?

Listen to the song of the day “All Are Welcome” by clicking HERE.

All my songs available for free sampling and/or purchase 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

Be In Harmony

Posted on September 15, 2015 by billtonnis

Harmony_clef_heart

Psalm 101:1-2

I sing of love and justice; to you, Lord, I sing praise. I follow the way of integrity.

If I love God with all my heart, mind and soul and I love my neighbor as myself…it will naturally lead me to being an agent of justice. When I realize that God’s love for me is unconditional and that it has nothing to do with my merit or achievement…I can’t help but want to share this love with others. How can others know God’s love when they are being unjustly treated? How can they know God’s love, mercy and compassion when they are suffering, in need or perhaps experiencing a tragedy? Through you and me…that’s how. How can our lives be a song of love and justice to the world? God is calling each of us to use our unique talents and passions to reach out to others so that what Jesus called the “kingdom of God” can truly “come on earth as it is in heaven.”

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

All my songs available for sampling and/or purchase 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

Pour Me Out

Posted on September 14, 2015 by billtonnis

waterfall_pourmeout

Philippians 2:5-7

Have among yourselves the same attitude that is also yours in Christ Jesus, Who, though he was in the form of God, did not regard equality with God something to be grasped. Rather, he emptied himself…

Jesus did not exult himself in his Divinity…but emptied himself in all that is human so that he could show us the way to true happiness and wholeness in a life of self-giving. He did not hoard the immense love of God but allowed it to pour forth through him to all. Do we take his example and empty ourselves…letting go of our egocentric desires so that our true selves can emerge to serve our fellow sisters and brothers?  Or…do our egos have control of our lives causing us to grasp for more and more stuff and to live more and more in the delusion that our egos are at the center of the universe? The truth is…the more I “die to myself” (ego) the more Christ’s life (my true self) comes to life. How am I being called to detach from power, prestige and possessions (false self)…so that I am free to be me (true self)?

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

All my songs available for free sampling and/or purchase 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

Make Me a Channel of Your Peace

Posted on September 11, 2015 by billtonnis

adriatic-sea-channel

Luke 6:42

“How can you say to your brother, ‘Brother, let me remove that splinter in your eye,’ when you do not even notice the wooden beam in your own eye? You hypocrite! Remove the wooden beam from your eye first.”

The outcome of being a Christian is that through following Christ…I am changed…that I am transformed by God…not that I change someone else. It is not about my worthiness or my achievement…but about coming to know the grace and unconditional love of God in my brokenness. In the light of such Grace…I am changed! Jesus never seems angry with those who are struggling in their behavior…but is quite emphatic that He doesn’t approve of those who are trying to find fault in others. Instead of trying to change someone else…what if each of us focused on ourselves and asked God to open our hearts so that each of us could be more loving, merciful, forgiving and compassionate? Perhaps then each of us would be transformed into the unique channels of God’s compassion that we were created to be for this time and this place. It is then that the kingdom of God would truly “come on earth as it is in heaven.”

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

All my songs available for free sampling and/or purchase 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

Be Free

Posted on September 10, 2015 by billtonnis

chains_lock_door

Luke 6:27-28

Jesus said to his disciples: “To you who hear I say, love your enemies, do good to those who hate you, bless those who curse you, pray for those who mistreat you.”

Following Jesus means living a radical life. He says things that contradict our natural human response. It takes a new…transformed mind to be able to love your enemies…a “non-dualistic” mind that is able to see all things as one. The fact is…there are no boundaries in the Kingdom of God. Jesus was saying that all people are one in the Body of Christ. God loves everyone equally as daughters and sons. There are countless true stories of people who forgave others who were guilty of horrible crimes. That forgiveness in turn helped transform the people who perpetrated the crimes into changed people who ended up doing great things. There is a saying that refusing to forgive is like drinking poison hoping it hurts the person who wronged you. Anger and vengeance wrap themselves around you like chains. By forgiving and loving those who hate you…you end up freeing yourself and allowing God’s love to transform the world. It’s really a matter of perspective. Are you living your life as though you are the center of the universe…or are you living as though God is at the center? Oh…one more thing. While you’re at it…forgive yourself. God does.

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

All my songs available for free sampling and/or purchase by clicking HERE.

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

Remember…God loves you!

Posted in Today's Contemplation | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 3 Comments

Be the True You

Posted on September 9, 2015 by billtonnis

masks

Colossians 3:3-4

For you have died, and your life is hidden with Christ in God. When Christ your life appears, then you too will appear with him in glory.

Whatever most people think is their identity…it usually isn’t. Your true identity does not come from your status, job, prestige or possessions. It doesn’t come from what others say about you. All those things will pass away…quite literally when we die. That will end up being quite a painful experience…unless we practice dying to ourselves every day…as in dying to our false selves. Your false self is the product of your ego and the various masks it puts on in order to fit in or to feel worthy or superior. This is not who you really are. Your true self is grounded in the love of God. You are God’s beloved! One path to living this truth…is by following Jesus and his example of being present to the needs of others and not becoming attached to anything that is fleeting. Jesus also took time for silent prayer to be open to what God was saying in his heart. By doing this he was able to respond to life by doing what was just and compassionate at all times…giving himself freely to others out of love…even unto death. As St. Paul said in today’s scripture…when your false self diminishes or dies…Christ grows in you and your true self emerges. Christ, God’s life, your Loving Source, wants to live in you now. Open yourself to this truth…and the result will be glorious.

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

All my songs available for free sampling and/or purchase 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

The Love Evolution

Posted on September 8, 2015 by billtonnis

sun-rise

Romans 8:28

We know that all things work for good for those who love God, who are called according to his purpose.

Be reluctant to label anything as “good” or “bad” because what seems “good” or “bad” may end up being the opposite. Labels are generally not a good idea because God is not separating the field but is including all things in the grand plan. Jesus said not to remove the weeds from the wheat (Matthew 13:29). He also said not to call anyone “good” but God (Luke 18:19). My ruptured appendix episode in 1998 seemed like the worst thing that ever happened to me when I was going through it. At the time if I had been given the opportunity to avoid such a “bad” thing from happening I would have done so in an instant. However, today I am forever grateful that I wasn’t given the opportunity to avoid what became one of the most transforming, God-filled, spiritual experiences of my life. In the midst of your struggles and pain…be present to the Presence of God Who will lead you through it to great growth and goodness. Why? Because God is Love…and that’s what Love does! We only need to surrender to this Love…Who will never abandon us.

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

All my songs available for free sampling and/or purchase 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

God Is Love

Posted on September 4, 2015 by billtonnis

space_universe

Colossians 1:16-17

All things were created through him and for him. He is before all things, and in him all things hold together.

We all start our lives believing we are at the center of the universe. Unfortunately, some never really break from that delusion. Everybody’s ego lobbies for the position that everything revolves around it and its satisfaction. Dying to this…letting go of this stance…is the process through which we follow Christ and find our true selves. It’s the path of letting go of all things…not renouncing them but not becoming attached to anything. We are called to let go of our ego’s desires…so God’s desires can rise within us. Jesus showed us the way…by being present to everyone and everything in the spirit of service. He showed us how to be forgiving and compassionate and at the same time to work for justice through peace. For God…Christ is at the center of all things and holds all things together as one…the broken, the sinners, the saints and all creation. That includes you and me. This is truly Good News.

Listen to the song of the day “God Is” by clicking HERE

All my songs available for free sampling and/or download 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