God Speaks in Silence

Posted on August 6, 2015 by billtonnis

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Mark 9:7

Then a cloud came, casting a shadow over them; then from the cloud came a voice, “This is my beloved Son. Listen to him.”

This is one of those major moments in the life of Jesus known as “The Transfiguration” when Peter, James and John hear God’s voice giving them a powerful message. Jesus is the beloved Son of God…and they should listen to Him. As followers of Jesus…we also are called to listen to Him. How do we do this? Try spending some time in solitude reading Jesus’ words in the Gospels and then sit in silence and allow those words to speak to you in the depths of your heart. “Listen to him.” These are God’s words to each us. Are we taking time to listen? If you do…I promise that your life will change for the better. Yes…you will be asked to make some changes…changes that can initially be unsettling. But if you trust…you will eventually be lead to new life, inner peace and your true self.

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

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

CD’s (and “Listen” t-shirts) available for purchase at BillTonnisMusic.com by clicking HERE.

Remember…God loves you!

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All Are Welcome

Posted on August 5, 2015 by billtonnis

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Matthew 15:27-28

She said, “Please, Lord, for even the dogs eat the scraps that fall from the table of their masters.” Then Jesus said to her in reply, “O woman, great is your faith! Let it be done for you as you wish.” And her daughter was healed from that hour.

Jesus had just appeared to insult a woman who had asked that He heal her daughter. He had said that it was not right to take the food of the children and throw it to the dogs. The woman was a Canaanite…and the Jews did not associate with them. However…she persisted. She did not react in malice to the insult. Notice how Jesus was not concerned about her personal religious beliefs…but simply whether she had faith in Him. Jesus showed His followers in an over-the-top, dramatic fashion that He did not come to give God’s unconditional love only to the Jews…but to all people. Who are today’s outcasts…rejected and not included…regarded as “not us” or “the enemy”? How can I channel God’s love to those people? How can I…even while perhaps disagreeing with the “other” still work for unity instead of division? How can I be changed by God’s love for all?

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!

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New Life Ahead

Posted on August 4, 2015 by billtonnis

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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?”

Is there something in your life now that is causing you to be anxious or fearful? Whatever it is…is actually your invitation to new life. Jesus walks with you amidst the troubling waves. He is the calm in the center of the storm. He invites you to step out of the safety zone of the boat…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. He invites you to “come.” Know that the Source of Life is drawing you forward. The experience will lead you to growth and discovery of your true self. Should you falter…which is inevitable due to our humanity…Jesus (or your Loving Source) will always catch you. He will do it 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!

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

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Live in Oneness

Posted on August 3, 2015 by billtonnis

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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.

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 Jesus. But while Jesus did not free them from the oppression of the Romans, He did 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 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”. Be a whole-maker. The choice to follow in Christ’s path…is yours.

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!

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Seeds of Silence

Posted on July 24, 2015 by billtonnis

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Matthew 13:22-23

“The seed sown among thorns is the one who hears the word, but then worldly anxiety and the lure of riches choke the word and it bears no fruit. But the seed sown on rich soil is the one who hears the word and understands it, who indeed bears fruit and yields a hundred or sixty or thirtyfold.”

Much of what Jesus spoke about is largely ignored and certainly not practiced. When most of us are planted in a culture that promotes amassing riches and encourages wealth as the way to happiness…we have little affinity to Jesus’ warning about “worldly anxiety and the lure of riches.” The “lure of riches” is what fuels our entire economy! God has so much to say to us about how we can live life to the fullest…but it has to do with letting go of worldly things…not grabbing for more. God is speaking to us constantly through each of our senses. But many people are not only unaware of this…they also can’t “hear” because their senses are being bombarded with an abundance of “noise.” It is a case of media overload. We have to be attentive to “hear” what God is saying. This will require making time for silent (listening) prayer, reflecting on scripture and being open to the movement of the Spirit. Jesus gives us the perfect example of how to live so that we are planted in rich soil…so that we can be open to God’s voice and wishes. It’s the only way we can actually be our true selves. What kind of spiritual soil are you cultivating in yourself?

Listen to the song of the day “Turn Off the Noise” 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!

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Give Thanks

Posted on July 23, 2015 by billtonnis

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Daniel 3:52

Blessed is your holy and glorious name, praiseworthy and exalted above all for all ages.

Do you ever get worn-down by the endless senseless acts in the news and the pettiness you encounter in day to day interactions? It seems that many are “unconscious” of a bigger picture…what Jesus called, “the kingdom of God.” Stop and ponder that there is an Infinite Compassion that is holding and sustaining each of us. This Eternal Love has been, is, and will be. When we speak the name “God”…we are boxing up into a three-letter word that which is infinite. How do we define the undefinable? How do we address Who is so profound and distant and yet so intimately Present and palpable? When Moses asked for a name…God replied, “I am who am.” God is Being itself! God Is. And “God is love” (1 John 4:8). As we see in the life, death and resurrection of Jesus…God’s love wins. Jesus called God “Abba”…sometimes translated as “Daddy”…a mixture of fatherly strength and motherly tenderness. This is Who regards each of us as treasured sons and daughters. Stop for a moment…to give praise and thanks!

Listen to the song of the day “Give Praise and Thanks” 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!

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Honoring Mary Magdalene

Posted on July 22, 2015 by billtonnis

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John 20:18
Mary of Magdala went and announced to the disciples, “I have seen the Lord,” and what he told her.

Today is the Memorial of St. Mary Magdalene. Scripture says that she was present at the crucifixion, when Jesus’ body was taken from the cross and when He was put in the tomb. What strength! Isn’t it interesting that Jesus selected her to be the first witness to his astounding resurrection and to be the first person to announce the most amazing news that had ever or would ever happen? In a world dominated by men, where women were servants and had no rights, it was Mary of Magdala who was selected to inform the other disciples of the Good News! I wonder how well that went over with the other disciples? In St. Luke’s account, two angels told Mary of Magdala and other women that Jesus had risen. When the women told the apostles…they did not believe them. It will be uncomfortable for each of us at times to preach the Good News and to live it. It will be uncomfortable to follow Jesus down the road of self-surrender so that God’s unconditional love may be extended and evolve in this world. On such occasions…take courage…and think of Mary of Magdala.

Listen to the song of the day “Glorify You with 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!

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Work for Oneness

Posted on July 21, 2015 by billtonnis

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Matthew 12:49-50

“And stretching out his hand toward his disciples, he said, “Here are my mother and my brothers. For whoever does the will of my heavenly Father is my brother, and sister, and mother.”

Jesus was all about respecting and honoring his family…so he wasn’t shunning them when they showed up at his door. He made the above comment because He wanted to make the point that we all at some point need to get beyond the borders of family, neighborhood, city, state, country, race, gender or any other division…and realize that we are all one Body of Christ. Boundaries are illusions. They are created or imagined by humans to separate one from another. However…we are all family in God’s eyes. And when we treat all people and all creation with love, mercy, forgiveness and compassion…we are doing the will of our Creator…working together in one great dance…building the kingdom of God.

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

All my songs available to sample free and/or purchase by clicking HERE.

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

Remember…God loves you!

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Let Love Lead You

Posted on July 20, 2015 by billtonnis

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Exodus 14:12

“Did we not tell you this in Egypt, when we said, ‘Leave us alone. Let us serve the Egyptians’? Far better for us to be the slaves of the Egyptians than to die in the desert.”

How many times in our lives does it seem that just when things go well…something happens to pull the proverbial rug out from under us? Many times it’s then when we rail against God for supposedly leaving us. The Israelites were jubilant in following Moses out of Egypt after hundreds of years of captivity until Pharaoh changed his mind about releasing them and sent hundreds of Egyptian soldiers after them in the desert. So the Israelites turned on Moses and on God in despair. There are peaks and valleys in our lives. Hard times can come due to the free will choices we make or others make…or just by chance. The story of salvation history shows us that despite the people turning against God…God never left them. Over and over and over God remained loyal while the people did not. Jesus showed us the extreme lengths God will go in the face of total rejection to say, “I love you. I forgive you. I will never let you go…never.” If you’re struggling…you can either let your struggles make you bitter…or make you better. Your struggle is the exact place where you will encounter the unconditional love of God ready to lift you, transform you, and lead you to a better place. God is always with you!

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

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Look Through the Lens of Love

Posted on July 17, 2015 by billtonnis

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Matthew 12:1-2, 7

His disciples were hungry and began to pick the heads of grain and eat them. When the Pharisees saw this, they said to him, “See, your disciples are doing what is unlawful to do on the sabbath.” Jesus said to them, “If you knew what this meant, ‘I desire mercy, not sacrifice,’ you would not have condemned these innocent men.”

Rules are all well and good to keep us from running wild…giving us healthy boundaries so that we can truly become what God intended. For the young and immature…clear rules are necessary. But as we grow in age and consciousness…we need a bigger picture. Rules remain important…but Jesus clearly says that mercy and love trump the rules. The disciples were hungry…so it was okay for them to eat even though they were breaking sabbath rules. When your mind is looking through an “either-or” lens (like the Pharisees) you can only see black and white. You either follow the rule and you are good…or break it and you are bad. Jesus looks through a “both-and” lens seeing the grays of life. You can both keep the rules and break them when it’s in the name of love and mercy…and still be good. Your mind may be rebelling against this concept. Perhaps you need a new lens! As St. Paul says, “be renewed in the spirit of your minds and put on the new self” (Ephesians 4:23-24).

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!

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