Be Renewed

Posted on July 16, 2015 by billtonnis

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Matthew 11:28

“Come to me, all you who labor and are burdened, and I will give you rest.”

Jesus counters the heavy rules and regulations of the scribes and Pharisees (religious leaders) with His unconditional love. There were no prerequisites or set of conditions you had to fulfill…for you to come to Jesus. His message was to ‘come as you are.’ Life is not about you and I passing some test in order for God to like us. God already loves us infinitely. Jesus showed us this by the way He lived and by the way He died…responding throughout the journey with love, mercy, forgiveness and compassion…even when that response wasn’t merited. Did you know that you are the beloved son/daughter of God? Allow this fact to sink into your heart. There is nothing you have done or can do to change this! Find rest in the Presence of your Loving Creator.

Listen to the song of the day by “I Will Give You Rest” 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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Love Embraces Everything

Posted on July 15, 2015 by billtonnis

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Exodus 3:2-3

As Moses looked on, he was surprised to see that the bush, though on fire, was not consumed. So Moses decided, “I must go over to look at this remarkable sight, and see why the bush is not burned.”

God comes to Moses in both the ordinary (the bush) and the extraordinary (a flaming bush not being consumed) at the same time. First off, God is present in the ordinary. Are we being present enough to experience the Divine Presence? Are we paying attention? Secondly, God comes…not in a clear “black and white” concept…but in a contradiction: a burning bush that at the same time is not burned. We can take comfort in knowing that God is present amidst the contradictions of life and amidst our struggles with them…all the while holding them together as one. God seems perfectly comfortable with paradoxes like, “Whoever finds his life will lose it, and whoever loses his life for my sake will find it” (Matthew 10:39)  or “virgin mother.” It would seem that we are being invited into the contradictions and paradoxes of life where there are no easy answers. As Rainer Maria Rilke stated: “Do not seek answers which cannot be given you because you would not be able to live them. Live the questions now. Perhaps you will then, gradually, without noticing it, live along some distant day into answer” (Letters to a Young Poet, New York: Norton, 1954, pp. 34-5). So perhaps we are being taught to get beyond our “either-or” judgmental thinking…so we can experience a “both-and”…all-loving God. God is holding our contradictions…and responding with acceptance and love. Thank God!

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!

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God Is Love

Posted on July 14, 2015 by billtonnis

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Psalm 69:3, 34

I have sunk into the mire of the deep, where there is no foothold. I have gone down to the watery depths; the flood overwhelms me. The Lord hears the poor, does not spurn those in bondage.

Sometimes it takes sinking to the deepest depths before our pride is weakened enough to allow our egos to surrender so that we can fall into the loving arms of God. God has no intention of letting go of us because we are God’s beloved daughters and sons. This is why the depths of your deepest fall, the place of your most painful wound, becomes the place of your most wondrous redemption and healing. It’s the only place where you can truly experience the transforming unconditional love of God. Why sink any further…when you can turn to your loving Creator now…right where you are?

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

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

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

Remember…God loves you!

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Resurrection In Progress

Posted on July 13, 2015 by billtonnis

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Matthew 10:38-39

“Whoever does not take up his cross and follow after me is not worthy of me. Whoever finds his life will lose it, and whoever loses his life for my sake will find it.”

When we follow Jesus it requires doing what He does. Jesus returns love and compassion when persecuted. He showed us this when He literally picked up a cross and carried it…finally forgiving those who crucified Him and saying, “Father, forgive them, they know not what they do.” Following Jesus will require letting go of self-centered desires (ego) and then carrying the burdens that come with surrendering ourselves to a Greater Power. Jesus promised that if we did this and followed His example we would lose the lives our egos were demanding…but find the lives God wanted for us. In other words…we would discover our “true selves.” Surrender your struggles to God, follow Jesus and find true life. As Jesus put it, “This is the time of fulfillment. The kingdom of God is at hand” (Mark 1:15).

Listen to the song of the day “Breathe On 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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Listen to Your Heart

Posted on July 10, 2015 by billtonnis

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Psalm 37:4

Find your delight in the Lord who will give you your heart’s desire.

I am overwhelmed by the truth of this passage. How long I tried to find delight in my ego’s desires…and kept plunging further into emptiness and misery. It wasn’t until I (under the control of my ego) was thoroughly frustrated that…by the grace of God…I heard the Spirit ask me (my true self) to pick up the guitar I hadn’t touched in ten years. How could that possibly turn things around for me?! Well…God’s ways are not our ways. How things have changed! Over the last 15 years I have: produced 3 original music albums; formed a music ministry; became a youth minister; then became chaplain and jail minister…all the while using the music God inspired in me in my various ministries. I had no clue that I would be doing any of this! What is God calling you to do with your life? What do you enjoy doing…something that gives you deep joy? Whatever it is…how can you do it to serve others and help make the world a more compassionate place? Listen to your heart…and follow. Your heart’s desire awaits you!

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

All my songs available to sample free 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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Recipe for Wholeness

Posted on July 10, 2015 by billtonnis

I wholeheartedly suggest that you follow this this blog by Dennis Ference!

den169's avatarMerging Traffic

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Recipe for Wholeness

To equal parts effort and surrender
add a generous dash of gratitude and praise.
Stir well and pour into a large baking dish
lined with tested selfless love.
Bake for the rest of your earthly life
while tasting and sharing often.

© 2015 Dennis Ference

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Be Compassionate

Posted on July 9, 2015 by billtonnis

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Matthew 10:7-8

“As you go, make this proclamation: ‘The kingdom of heaven is at hand.’ Cure the sick, raise the dead, cleanse lepers, drive out demons. Without cost you have received; without cost you are to give.”

Ever notice how Jesus never seemed to be telling people about some future heaven…or how they need to get there someday? He was all about getting them there now. How did we miss this for so long? Jesus brings the kingdom of God alive in the present by curing the sick, raising the dead and healing those suffering from various afflictions or addictions. He says that the “kingdom of heaven” (or interchangeably the “kingdom of God”) is “at hand.” This place of healing, love, mercy, forgiveness and compassion is the kingdom of God. You and I are freely given this by our Divine Source and are sent to freely give it to others in an unending flow of grace. Let us go with that flow…right now! To paraphrase St. Catherine of Siena: It’s heaven all the way to heaven.

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

All my songs available to sample for free 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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Harmonizing with God

Posted on July 8, 2015 by billtonnis

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Psalm 33:2-3

Give thanks to the Lord on the harp; on the ten-stringed lyre offer praise. Sing to God a new song; skillfully play with joyful chant.

St. Ignatius said he and all people were made to praise, reverence and serve God. What if we all used our talents to praise, reverence and serve God? How are you doing this in your life? How is God calling you to use your gifts and talents? If you were to “give thanks” to God in the way that you use your gifts and talents…how would you do it? As a singer/songwriter…I love to open myself to Divine Inspiration and create songs about the unconditional love of God and then share them. What song does God want to co-create with you? Whatever talents God has given you…you have also been given free will to do with them as you please. What if you used them to show others the unconditional love of God? Talk about a beautiful ‘harmony’! What better way could you possibly say “thank you” to the One who created you?

Listen to the song of the day “Sing a New Song” 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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Gospel of the Kingdom

Posted on July 7, 2015 by billtonnis

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Matthew 9:35-36

Jesus went around to all the towns and villages, teaching in their synagogues, proclaiming the gospel of the kingdom, and curing every disease and illness. At the sight of the crowds, his heart was moved with pity for them because they were troubled and abandoned, like sheep without a shepherd.

Do you ever feel like one of the people in this crowd? Are you troubled over something or feel abandoned? Each of us has a wounded place inside in need of unconditional love and compassion. We have an issue or a struggle that we just can’t seem to deal with on our own. It is a part of the human condition that Jesus knew well. Jesus did not come to these people with a message of condemnation or fear. He came with a message of compassion and comfort. Jesus went everywhere “proclaiming the gospel of the kingdom, and curing every disease and illness.” He wanted to be with the people who were suffering and in need of help. He wanted them to know that all were included and accepted in the eyes of God. In the “gospel of the kingdom”…Love overcomes and prevails. God’s grace wins the day! The Risen Christ wants to be your shepherd today. Bring your troubles to Him.

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

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

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

Remember…God loves you!

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Be Healed

Posted on July 6, 2015 by billtonnis

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Matthew 9:20-22

A woman suffering hemorrhages for twelve years came up behind him and touched the tassel on his cloak. She said to herself, “If only I can touch his cloak, I shall be cured.” Jesus turned around and saw her, and said, “Courage, daughter! Your faith has saved you.” And from that hour the woman was cured.

Is there something you are struggling with? Is there a problem, hurt, or issue that you can’t seem to shake? The woman in today’s scripture suffered a horrible medical problem for 12 years…one that would have made her “unclean” in the eyes of her community. According to the religious rules at the time…this woman would have been cast out by her church community. She not only was suffering physically but emotionally and spiritually. But she persevered and put her hope in Jesus. Her hope was in a Higher Power…a Love that would not forsake her. This was an Unconditional Love…one that has no boundaries…a Love that includes and shows mercy and compassion to all. What wound(s) do you carry? It may take time…it may not happen the way we want it to…but if we persevere and reach out to Jesus (God, Divine Source) in faith—healing, wholeness and new life are assured.

Listen to the song of the day “Heal Me” by clicking HERE

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

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

Remember…God loves you!

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