God Is Talking

Posted on April 8, 2015 by billtonnis

Luke 24:32

Then they said to each other, “Were not our hearts burning within us while he spoke to us on the way and opened the scriptures to us?”

I truly believe God is speaking to us all the time…but we are not paying attention. How often when driving are we in such deep thought about something that we can’t remember anything about the last five or ten minutes? How often have we stared blankly at what’s in front of us only to be amazed by some spectacle like a beautiful sunset or starry sky that we would have totally missed had someone not jostled us from our daze and pointed it out to us? How often have we had our minds made up and were completely closed to miraculous possibilities? The two disciples on the way to Emmaus finally recognized Jesus…but only in retrospect could they recognize the “burning” in their hearts when Jesus had “opened up the scriptures” to them. Wake up! God is speaking to us in many ways if we’d only pay attention. As Paula D’Arcy says, “God comes to you disguised as your life.”

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

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Remember…God loves you!

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Death Leads to Life

Posted on April 7, 2015 by billtonnis

John 20:15-16

Jesus said to her, “Woman, why are you weeping? Whom are you looking for?” She thought it was the gardener and said to him, “Sir, if you carried him away, tell me where you laid him, and I will take him.” Jesus said to her, “Mary!” She turned and said to him in Hebrew, “Rabbouni,” which means Teacher.

How hard it is to lose someone we love. Mary of Magdala had witnessed her beloved friend…the one who had turned her life around…brutally killed on the cross. Mary of Magdala had been one of the few who did not abandon Jesus when He was crucified. She was also one of the few who were there when His body was taken from the cross. When Jesus’ followers were all hiding in fear…she had come to hold vigil at His tomb. She must have been crushed by all that had happened. What amazing love she must have had for Him! What joy she must have experienced…and what joy we should all experience in realizing that the risen Christ lives! Death is not the end. Allow this to lift you! Death leads to life! Alleluia!

Listen to the song of the day “Lift Up Our Voices” by clicking HERE

All my songs available for download and purchase by clicking HERE

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Remember…God loves you!

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Let Go and Live

Posted on April 3, 2015 by billtonnis

Psalm 31:6
Into your hands I commend my spirit; you will redeem me, Lord, faithful God.

Jesus shows us the face of God throughout His ministry…all the way to the end. He responds even to His persecutors and killers with love, mercy and forgiveness. He hangs on the cross for you and me (not in place of) and with you and me. No matter what suffering or injustice you are going through…Jesus is hanging there with you and showing you that this is not the end. Love wins…not death. Jesus also shows us that making someone the “scapegoat”…trying to “get rid” of someone you have deemed the “problem” or a “trouble-maker”…is wrong. He becomes the one “thrown-out” and rejected…and then forgives. Gaze upon Him on the cross and see the result of engaging in this kind of “scapegoating”! Jesus also shows us how to respond to life’s struggles. This is our model to live by…the “way and the truth and the life” (John 14:6). This is the way that the Kingdom of God becomes present.  Cling to Him in your struggle and respond in love and forgiveness…for your resurrection is coming!

Listen to the song of the day “Changed” 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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The Way to Wholeness

Posted on April 2, 2015 by billtonnis

John 13:14-15
If I, therefore, the master and teacher, have washed your feet, you ought to wash one another’s feet. I have given you a model to follow, so that as I have done for you, you should also do.”

In today’s scripture verse, Jesus, the Son of God, had just washed the feet of His followers…while on His knees. This is the Messiah…our salvation…our model for living our lives.  The Creator of all things…self-emptying…to become the servant of all. This is quite a different path than the model given to us by our consumer economy, celebrity culture, entertainment industry, etc. Jesus tells us that the way to the top in God’s kingdom…is by going to the bottom! Until we follow Jesus as servants to others…reaching out to all those left behind and on the outside-looking-in…true inner peace and lasting happiness are impossible. The risen Christ is calling you to follow in His footsteps. How are you being called to serve?

Listen to the song of the day “Pour Me Out” 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 Compassionate

Posted on April 1, 2015 by billtonnis

Psalm 69:9-10
I have become an outcast to my kin, a stranger to my mother’s children. Because zeal for your house consumes me, I am scorned by those who scorn you.

Jesus became the “outcast”…the “scapegoat”…so that we could see what happens when we make someone the “rejected other” in the name of being “right” or more “worthy.” We are called to follow Jesus…to feed the hungry…clothe the naked…comfort those who are sick…visit those who are imprisoned…and to love our enemies. It’s a tall order! If you do this you will see wonders and will experience the kingdom of God breaking into the present. You will also discover your “true self.” But you will also experience scorn and you will likely be cast-out by others who love separating the world into those who are “in” and those who are “out.” (Those same people always define themselves as “in” of course!) Will you be able to respond to such scorn with a loving response, “Father, forgive them, they know not what they do”…as Jesus did?

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

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CD’s available for purchase by clicking HERE

Remember…God loves you!

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Be Free

Posted on March 31, 2015 by billtonnis

John 13:21
Jesus was deeply troubled and testified, “Amen, amen, I say to you, one of you will betray me.”

Before we look down on Judas and lay the blame on him…let us remember that we are all Judas. We have all turned our backs on Jesus and His teachings over and over and over again. Thankfully, God is an unconditional lover. Jesus told His followers to forgive…always. Take a moment and contemplate the forgiveness you’ve been given so freely. Now ask yourself, “Who needs the same kind of forgiveness from me?” Could it be that besides someone else…I need to forgive myself?  Invite Jesus…the suffering servant and unconditional lover of all…into your heart. Receive forgiveness. It’s that easy…and it’s totally free!

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

All my songs available for download and purchase by clicking HERE

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Remember…God loves you!

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Let Your Light Shine

Posted on March 30, 2015 by billtonnis

Isaiah 42:6-7
I formed you, and set you as a covenant of the people, a light for the nations, to open the eyes of the blind, to bring out prisoners from confinement, and from the dungeon, those who live in darkness.

God spoke these words through the prophet Isaiah about the coming Messiah…700 years before Jesus was born. Jesus would read these words and realize that they were speaking of Him and His mission. God is very patient and creative…yearning to have us all take part in a wonderful love story that has been evolving for billions of years. There were many characters in this story leading up to Jesus…and there have been many after. We are the current characters in God’s great, unfolding love story…each of us. It’s a unique part that only you can play. If you are a follower of Jesus…then you are also meant to take part in His mission of unconditional love and justice stated above. If you use your unique talents and passion to carry out this mission…you will reflect God’s light to the world and will discover inner peace as well as your true self.

Listen to the song of the day “May I Be Light” 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 Thankful

Posted on March 27, 2015 by billtonnis

Psalm 18:2-3

I love you, Lord, my strength, Lord, my rock, my fortress, my deliverer, my God, my rock of refuge, my shield, my saving horn, my stronghold!

God is the thread that is wound through all that is. God, our Loving Source, is holding all things and accepting all things as they are. God is constantly loving all…drawing all things to be a part of an on-going creative masterpiece. Wherever and whenever we are weak and stumble…God is there ready to strengthen us and lift us, embrace us, redirect us and carry us. God is always with you. God will deliver you!

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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Reflections of God

Posted on March 26, 2015 by billtonnis

John 8:54

Jesus answered, “If I glorify myself, my glory is worth nothing; but it is my Father who glorifies me, of whom you say, ‘He is our God.'”

Ask yourself a question before engaging in any activity: “What is my motivation in doing this?” The best motivation would be that I am doing whatever it is because God desires me to do it. I desire to please God’s calling in my heart. We need to honestly ask ourselves whether we are trying to please God…or trying to please our egos. Is my action spawned by Love? Am I reflecting God’s light so that God is glorified…or am I doing something so that I am put in the spotlight? This is the project of the ego. When we allow our egos to diminish…we become better reflectors of God’s light. Then others won’t see our glory…but God’s. Discerning my own mixed motivations should keep me way too busy to ever question anyone else’s.

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

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Remember…God loves you!

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Victorious Surrender

Posted on March 25, 2015 by billtonnis

Luke 1:38
Mary said, “Behold, I am the handmaid of the Lord. May it be done to me according to your word.”

Mary gives us the perfect example of openness to God. She is open to receiving a divine message. She is open to setting aside her own ego and its desires and is open to allowing God to do something with her life that she could never have dreamed on her own. She trusts that God’s plan has to be better than any plan she could come up with. Are you following Mary’s example? What passion has your Creator placed inside of you to inspire you to live-out your uniqueness in a way that reflects the glory and love of God to the world? How is the “Word” becoming flesh in you? Listen to your heart. You have a calling that will lead you to an abundant life the moment you say, “May it be done to me according to your word.”

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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