“The soul is immediately at one with God, when it is truly at peace in itself.”
— Julian of Norwich
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All Is One
Posted in Today's Contemplation
Tagged Christianity, compassion, contemplation, God, inspiration, love, mysticism, peace, spiritual
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Guatemala
In a land of drastic material and financial poverty I discovered a treasure: people with an abundance of love and generosity.
What is your treasure?
Posted in Today's Contemplation
Tagged Christianity, contemplation, ego, faith, God, inspiration, mysticism, peace, religion, social justice, spiritual, true self
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Hiatus
Hello friends…just letting you know I’m taking a short hiatus for a little adventure.
Peace,
Bill
Posted in Today's Contemplation
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Spiritually Rich
Matthew 6:20-21
“Store up treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor decay destroys, nor thieves break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there also will your heart be.”
Are your treasures material or spiritual? We know that anything material will eventually turn to dust or end up in a garbage dump. Jesus tells us that true wealth is spiritual and comes in various forms like love, mercy, forgiveness, faith, hope, wisdom, wonder and compassion. All these will last for eternity. Our Loving Creator…by sheer grace…has breathed life into each of us and has freely given all to us through Unconditional Love. In response to this, to which things do we devote more of our time and passion: material or spiritual? Giving your heart to material things (that cannot last) leads to emptiness…but giving your heart to spiritual things (that are eternal) leads to an abundant life…filled with the treasures of peace, love and joy! Listen to your heart and follow its yearnings to true riches.
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 available for purchase through BillTonnisMusic.com by clicking HERE
Remember…God loves you!
Posted in Today's Contemplation
Tagged Christianity, compassion, contemplation, faith, grace, hope, inspiration, Jesus, joy, Listen to Your Heart, love, mercy, peace, prayer, spiritual
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The Great Adventure
Matthew 6:10
“Your kingdom come, your will be done, on earth as in heaven.”
Jesus continues his lesson today on how to pray. Yesterday’s lesson was to “go to your inner room” and to refrain from using many words because God “knows what you need before you ask.” In today’s scripture Jesus teaches what has become known as “The Lord’s Prayer.” Probably His followers found it difficult to simply practice silent (contemplative) prayer (because it is!). So Jesus gives them words. He tells them to pray that God’s kingdom would “come”…be made real in the present…right here “on earth.” We’re told to pray that God’s will would be done…not our will. How can God’s kingdom come and will be done here on earth if we don’t cooperate? This is our calling! May we open ourselves to receive the grace to take part in building God’s kingdom through the circumstances of each of our lives by using the talents and gifts we’ve been given. God wants to work with us in those circumstances. As author and retreat leader Paula D’Arcy says, “God comes to you disguised as your life.”
Listen to the song of the day “Shall We Sing” by clicking HERE
All my songs available to sample and/or purchase by clicking HERE
CD’s available for purchase through BillTonnisMusic.com by clicking HERE
Remember…God loves you!
Posted in Today's Contemplation
Tagged Christianity, compassion, contemplation, faith, inspiration, Jesus, kingdom of God, Lord's Prayer, love, mysticism, Paula D'Arcy, pray, spiritual, true self
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Listen
Matthew 6:6-8
“When you pray, go to your inner room, close the door, and pray to your Father in secret. And your Father who sees in secret will repay you. In praying, do not babble like the pagans, who think that they will be heard because of their many words. Do not be like them. Your Father knows what you need before you ask him.”
Could Jesus have been any clearer in His instruction on how to pray? Prayer is a very intimate encounter with your Loving Creator where you spend time in the Presence of Love. God knows what you truly need…so why not go to the quiet place inside yourself? Allow your ego’s wants and insatiable cravings to empty. Let your incessant thoughts dissipate. Only then can you allow God to fill you with what you need. As the old saying goes, “Let go…and let God.” What God wants for us is infinitely better than anything we could possibly imagine. Besides…what we truly need will be what our true self really wants. Allow your Divine Source to tell you.
Listen to the song of the day “Turn Off the Noise” by clicking HERE
All my songs available to sample and/or purchase by clicking HERE
CD’s available to purchase through BillTonnisMusic.com by clicking HERE
Remember…God loves you!
Posted in Today's Contemplation
Tagged Christianity, compassion, contemplation, Contemplative prayer, ego, God, inspiration, Jesus, love, mysticism, pray, religion, spiritual, true self
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Christianity 101
Matthew 5:43-45
“You have heard that it was said, ‘You shall love your neighbor and hate your enemy.’ But I say to you, love your enemies, and pray for those who persecute you, that you may be children of your heavenly Father, for he makes his sun rise on the bad and the good, and causes rain to fall on the just and the unjust.”
This is one of the teachings of Jesus that He clearly lived and expected us to follow. But most people (and Christians) simply ignore it. We make many Church teachings non-negotiable but for some reason a direct teaching from Jesus like this one is hardly ever quoted, preached upon or practiced. That’s because it’s hard. It seems impossible. But is this not what saves us…the unconditional love and forgiveness of God? Jesus reached out to “sinners” (like us) and showed us that God accepts everyone right where they are. Otherwise God’s love would be conditional…right? Jesus showed us that God’s love is not about our worthiness or merit. It’s about Who God Is – Love. To love our enemy we must see that person as God does…as a beloved son or daughter. God’s light is present in our enemies…no matter how hidden that light may appear. Loving God…help us to love and forgive like You…because forgiveness is the only way that Your kingdom can truly come.
Listen to the song of the day “All Are Welcome” by clicking HERE
All my songs available to sample and/or purchase by clicking HERE
CD’s available to purchase through BillTonnisMusic.com by clicking HERE
Remember…God loves you!
Posted in Today's Contemplation
Tagged Christianity, compassion, contemplation, enemies, forgive, God, inspiration, Jesus, kingdom of God, love, neighbor, peace, religion, spiritual
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God Is Present. Are You?
2 Corinthians 6:2
Behold, now is a very acceptable time; behold, now is the day of salvation.
This whole business about being present and being centered in the now…is not some new age concoction. St. Paul was aware of the importance of the moment. Mystics and contemplatives from every generation were aware that the only time that is real…the only time that you can connect with the Living God…is now. What happened yesterday is a shadow and what is to happen in the future is unknown. God is present here and now and it’s the only place and time where our Loving Source can be with us. It’s the only place and time where you can rest in a Love that is unconditional…a Love that completes and saves you. Stop. Slow down. Take a deep breath. Allow that Presence to fill you. Now is a very acceptable time!
Listen to the song of the day “God’s Love Is All You Need” by clicking HERE
All my songs available to sample and/or purchase by clicking HERE
CD’s available to purchase through BillTonnisMusic.com by clicking HERE
Remember…God loves you!
Posted in Today's Contemplation
Tagged Christianity, compassion, contemplation, contemplative, faith, God, inspiration, love, mysticism, peace, prayer, presence, salvation, spiritual
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Be Not Afraid
Ephesians 3:17-19
That you, rooted and grounded in love, may have strength to comprehend with all the holy ones what is the breadth and length and height and depth, and to know the love of Christ that surpasses knowledge, so that you may be filled with all the fullness of God.
God’s love is so immense…it is boundless. Infinite. And St. Paul says that each of us is “grounded” in that Love. It is beyond anything we can grasp with our finite minds (“surpasses knowledge”). The question is: Are we aware of our rootedness in Love? This takes surrendering our ego’s insatiable desires…a ‘self-emptying’ if you will. We must follow Jesus’ example: “Who, though he was in the form of God, did no regard equality with God something to be grasped. Rather, he emptied himself, taking the form of a slave, coming in human likeness, and found human in appearance, he humbled himself, becoming obedient to death, even death on a cross” (Philippians 2:6-7). When I empty myself of “my” desires (ego)…only then can I be “filled with all the fullness of God.” Paradoxically, it is then that I am born to new life and I discover my true self…love grounded in Love. This is truly Good News!
Listen to the song of the day “Pour Me Out” by clicking HERE
All my songs available for sampling and purchase by clicking HERE
CD’s available for purchase through BillTonnisMusic.com by clicking HERE
Remember…God loves you!
Posted in Today's Contemplation
Tagged Christ, Christianity, compassion, contemplation, ego, God, inspiration, Jesus, love, mysticism, peace, spiritual, St. Paul, true self
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Unique Calling
Acts 13:2-3
While they were worshipping the Lord and fasting, the holy Spirit said, “Set apart for me Barnabas and Saul for the work to which I have called them.” Then, completing their fasting and prayer, they laid hands on them and sent them off.
When was the last time you “heard” the Holy Spirit “speak” to you? The Holy Spirit is alive and well. The Spirit is still among us and “speaking”…but we must be open to “hearing.” Try taking ten minutes of quiet time to clear your mind…sitting in silence…perhaps after reading a bible verse. This is not an mental exercise but a spiritual one. Just let go of all your incessant thoughts. You will certainly begin to “feel” in your heart (more than “hear” with your ears) the nudges of the Spirit who is calling you to a unique mission in spreading the unconditional love, mercy and forgiveness of God. Your great adventure starts now.
Listen to the song of the day “The Spirit’s Alive” by clicking HERE
All my songs can be sampled and purchased by clicking HERE
CD’s available for purchase through BillTonnisMusic.com by clicking HERE
Remember…God loves you!
Posted in Today's Contemplation
Tagged calling, Christianity, compassion, contemplation, God, holy Spirit, inspiration, love, mercy, mission, mysticism, prayer, spiritual, vocation
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