Let the Joy Rise

Posted on April 22, 2015 by billtonnis

John 6:37-39

“Everything that the Father gives me will come to me, and I will not reject anyone who comes to me, because I came down from heaven not to do my own will but the will of the one who sent me. And this is the will of the one who sent me, that I should not lose anything of what he gave me, but that I should raise it on the last day.”

This is one of the most profound and amazing statements made by Jesus. For those who mistakenly believe in some fear-based religion in which you are constantly trying to do things to make God somehow love you or so that you can appease God enough to let you into some distant heaven…please re-read today’s scripture verses. Read them slowly…and then re-read and then re-read them again. What seems too good to be true…is so. Jesus said it. Believe it! This is the Good News of Christ!

Listen to the song of the day “Let the Joy Rise” by clicking HERE

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Remember…God loves you!

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Prophets Needed

Posted on April 21, 2015 by billtonnis

Acts 7:52

“Which of the prophets did your ancestors not persecute?”

The prophets got plenty of praise after they were long dead. While they were alive they generally got persecuted by those who were in power…whether government or religious leaders. The prophets were always calling attention to the ways that the people of God were failing to make their top priority to serve God. The prophets had to be prayerful to listen to the inner voice of God and then they had to be brave in speaking out to those in power…both government and religious leaders…in the name of compassion, fairness and justice. For the prophet Stephen…it cost him his life. Following God’s will is not always easy but it is everyone’s calling! This is the only way to true freedom as well as to becoming your true self. Who are today’s prophets? They are likely the ones being persecuted and thrown out by those holding the power. God is still calling prophets to stand for those being treated unjustly and unfairly. Maybe God is calling you?

Hear today’s song of the day “Singing My Song” by clicking HERE

All of my songs are available for download and purchase by clicking HERE

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Remember…God loves you!

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Be of Service

Posted on April 20, 2015 by billtonnis

John 6:27

“Do not work for food that perishes but for the food that endures for eternal life, which the Son of Man will give you.”

So many people work for gaining material possessions, power and prestige. It’s the result of living in a consumeristic society. This philosophy of life is starkly different than the lives of the earliest followers of the risen Christ who worked to make sure everyone in the community was taken care of. Life was not about amassing individual possessions which will all eventually disintegrate. In a couple of hundred years each of our bodies will be dust. Jesus said He would give us what would endure forever. Listen to Him. Allow His words to sink into your soul and open your mind to a deeper truth and a bigger dream. His main message was to love God, neighbor and self. Empty your ego’s desires so God’s desires can fill you. Do this and you will find spiritual riches that flow abundantly now and forever.

Listen to the song of the day “Glorify You with Me” by clicking HERE

All my songs available for download and purchase by clicking HERE

CD’s available for purchase by clicking HERE

Remember…God loves you!

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Do Not Be Afraid

Posted on April 17, 2015 by billtonnis

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Psalm 27:1

The Lord is my light and my salvation; whom do I fear?

One of the most quoted phrases of Jesus was “Do not be afraid.” So why is there so much “fear-based” religion? Why is there such dwelling on a “reward-punishment” scenario? Jesus virtually never addresses such things (and the scant scriptures that could fit such a scenario could also have a much deeper meaning). Jesus is relentlessly speaking about the “kingdom of God” in the here and now. He is relentlessly leading all the sinners to healing and wholeness without a hint of any threat of retribution. When we follow Jesus and His example of how to live and allow His words to sink into our hearts…we are truly free, fulfilled, alive and whole. So tell me that…what is there to fear?

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

All my songs available for download and purchase by clicking HERE

CD’s available for purchase by clicking HERE

Remember…God loves you!

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Give Praise and Thanks

Posted on April 16, 2015 by billtonnis

Psalm 34:2

I will bless the Lord at all times; praise shall be always in my mouth.

This seems to be a common theme in the spiritual writings throughout history. Even in the struggles…spiritually conscious people were thanking and praising God. God can use even the seemingly bad situations…for good…if you allow your loving Creator to work through you. Trust that God is in the process of leading you through the darkest struggles…to the brightest victories. New life is always in the making. Praise God!

Listen to the song of the day “Give Praise and Thanks” by clicking HERE

All my songs available for download and purchase by clicking HERE

CD’s available for purchase by clicking HERE

Remember…God loves you!

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Unconditional Love

Posted on April 15, 2015 by billtonnis

John 3:16-17

For God so loved the world that he gave his only Son, so that everyone who believes in him might not perish but might have eternal life. For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but that the world might be saved through him.

What if God taking flesh was not “plan B”…but “plan A”? This is what many theologians believe…and so do I. God becoming human bridges the gap of spirit and matter. God is part of it all. God celebrates with us…and suffers with us as well. God shows us that the path to wholeness (salvation) is the downward path of letting go of power and privilege. It’s the path of becoming one with all. Jesus said, “I am the way and the truth and the life” (John 14:6). God did not send his Son to condemn us (despite our many rejections) but to save us (show us the way to wholeness)…even though God knew we would kill Jesus. God (in Jesus) actually became one of us in the flesh. Matter became divine. The earth and all creation became filled with God. Let us take a few moments to contemplate such self-emptying Love…and be thankful!

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

All my songs are available for download and purchase by clicking HERE

CD’s available for purchase by clicking HERE

Remember…God loves you!

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Be a Wholemaker

Posted on April 14, 2015 by billtonnis

Acts 4:32

The community of believers was of one heart and mind, and no one claimed that any of his possessions was his own, but they had everything in common.

We live in a consumeristic society that espouses gaining more and more possessions. It’s all about the individual. It’s all about “me.” The original community of Christians saw themselves as each part of a whole…not a separate part. It was about the “body of Christ.” Whatever resources we have are truly from God…because without God nothing would exist. Everything belongs to God. All our possessions will one day disintegrate. The possessions themselves are not the problem. The problem is our attachment to them! If we truly lived as the community of believers did following the resurrection of Jesus…we would not cling to and identify ourselves by our attachments. Our community and the world would be a different place. It would be the Kingdom of God where all are one. There are no boundaries in the Kingdom of God. The world we live in does not function by this philosophy. How can each of us be the change to bring about more unity? How can each of us let go of attachments…and work to make God’s kingdom come alive in the here and now?

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

All my songs available for download and purchase by clicking HERE

CD’s available for purchase by clicking HERE

Remember…God loves you!

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Be Healers

Posted on April 13, 2015 by billtonnis

Acts 4:29-30

“And now, Lord, take note of their threats, and enable your servants to speak your word with all boldness, as you stretch forth [your] hand to heal, and signs and wonders are done through the name of your holy servant Jesus.”

Peter and the followers of Jesus were impassioned by the Holy Spirit to spread the words of Jesus and to allow His healing and love to be channeled through them…even to those who were threatening them. Jesus said to build the kingdom of God here and now through love, mercy, forgiveness, compassion and justice. He also said to love our enemies. How is that possible? Only through God’s grace! As Jesus said, “No one can see the kingdom of God without being born from above” (John 3:3). In other words…you have to be willing to throw-out your old way of thinking and allow the mind of Christ to be born in you. It takes transformation. You have to take on a whole new way of thinking! You and I are a part of a much bigger picture. We are part of a bigger plan. The path we are on is one of faith and grace…not merit. It is not your doing…but a being-done-to!

Listen to the song of the day “I Want to Follow You” by clicking HERE

All my songs available for download and purchase by clicking HERE

CD’s available for purchase by clicking HERE

Remember…God loves you!

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Give Thanks

Posted on April 10, 2015 by billtonnis

Psalm 118:1
Give thanks to the LORD, for he is good, his mercy endures forever.

Pause for a moment to give thanks. God’s love is unconditional. Nothing we can do can make God love us more…or less. God’s mercy and forgiveness are freely given…if we accept it. No matter how many times we slip and stumble…God graciously picks us up and embraces us. All we need to do…is allow it. It’s an endless cycle of love. We are invited to take part in this never-ending-flow of Trinitarian Love. Let us give thanks!

Listen to the song of the day “Give Praise and Thanks” by clicking HERE

All my songs available for download and purchase by clicking HERE

CD’s available for purchase by clicking HERE

Remember…God loves you!

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Be At Peace

Posted on April 9, 2015 by billtonnis

Luke 24:36-37

Jesus stood in their midst and said to them, “Peace be with you.” But they were startled and terrified and thought that they were seeing a ghost. Then he said to them, “Why are you troubled? And why do questions arise in your hearts?”

Jesus appeared to His disciples after the resurrection…the ones who had abandoned Him…the ones who had turned their backs and ran away. But Jesus didn’t return with threats of reprisal and punishment. He didn’t even call them on the carpet and scold them. No…instead Jesus said, “Peace be with you.” We’ve all been there. We’ve all turned our backs on Jesus. We’ve all chosen our own selfish interests over choices we knew were the more caring and compassionate to others. We have all been troubled and have doubted. But we are told that the risen Christ stood in the midst of all who had turned their backs on Him and offered “peace.” Fear and doubt dissolve in the presence of the Risen Christ. This is the Love that holds all things together…the so-called “good” and “bad”…and offers the peace of acceptance. The peace of Christ is with you. Pass it on to someone else today.

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

All my songs available for download and purchase by clicking HERE

CD’s available by clicking HERE

Remember…God loves you!

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