Shades of Gray

Posted on February 10, 2015 by billtonnis

Mark 7:8-9
“You disregard God’s commandment but cling to human tradition.” Jesus went on to say, “How well you have set aside the commandment of God in order to uphold your tradition!”

Jesus was quite at home with all people including the people thrown-out by their own religion as well as a wide variety of “sinners.” The only group Jesus sharply criticized was the Pharisees…the religious leaders! They held the people to strict religious rules no matter what the situation…not allowing any exception based on compassion and grace. They saw everything as “black” or “white” when real life is made up of many shades of gray. Rules are nice to have to give us some guidance. But don’t forget that Jesus said the two greatest commandments are to love God with all your heart, soul and mind…and then to love your neighbor as yourself (Matthew 22:38-39). This is the top priority. It allowed Jesus to set aside rules quite frequently (How can anyone miss this?). Rules must be filtered by mercy and forgiveness. View the world and all that you do…through the lens of love.

Suggested song of the day– “Salvation” on the Live to Love album.
Hear free clips of Bill’s songs by clicking HERE.
CD’s available for purchase by clicking HERE.
Remember…God loves you!

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All Are One

Posted on February 9, 2015 by billtonnis

Mark 6:56
Whatever villages or towns or countryside he entered, they laid the sick in the marketplaces and begged him that they might touch only the tassel on his cloak; and as many as touched it were healed.

Jesus’ mission was to open the eyes of the blind and free the oppressed. Basically, Jesus wanted all people to know that God yearns for them to be whole. That is what God wants now for us. All of us are broken and wounded in one way or another. Instead of turning to worldly pursuits for ‘quick fixes’ at making us feel better…why not turn to the Master Healer? Jesus will embrace you in your brokenness with total acceptance and love. You don’t have to get cleaned up or in some way make yourself “worthy.” Come as you are to the One who loves unconditionally. Experience spiritual transformation, new life and wholeness! God’s arms are open wide to accept and include you right now! You are God’s beloved.

Suggested song of the day– “Come to Jesus” on the Live to Love album.
Hear free clips of Bill’s songs by clicking HERE.
CD’s available for purchase by clicking HERE.
Have a blessed day!

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Saved by Grace

Posted on February 6, 2015 by billtonnis

Hebrews 13:5
Let your life be free from love of money but be content with what you have, for he has said, “I will never forsake you or abandon you.”

Are you consumed with striving to make more money and gain more material things…or are you content with what you have? There is no harm in wanting to provide more for your family…but where is your heart in the matter? Is your heart consumed with striving for more money…or striving to love more and better? The fickle economy and death itself are good reminders that the stuff of this world will not last. But the risen Christ said in the last line of the gospel of Matthew: “I am with you always, until the end of the age” (Matthew 28:20). God is with you now…in this moment…drawing you forward to a greater love and fullness of being. Jesus said, “I came that they might have life and have it more abundantly” (John 10:10). Jesus meant for you to have an abundant life now. This abundance or wholeness in this present moment does not depend on money…but on Unconditional Love. Jesus modeled for us the way to have life to the full…and as Hebrews 13:8 states: “Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today and forever.” Seems like the perfect model to follow.

Suggested song of the day– “I Want to Follow You” on the Listen to Your Heart album.
Hear free clips of Bill’s songs by clicking HERE.
CD’s available for purchase by clicking HERE.
Remember…God loves you!

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Kingdom of God

Posted on February 5, 2015 by billtonnis

Mark 6:8
He instructed them to take nothing for the journey but a walking stick—no food, no sack, no money in their belts.

I once heard a financial adviser on the radio talking about how people need to have a million dollars saved up in order to retire at age 65. Somehow that comment and the one from Jesus above seem at odds. The world places its security in material things…while Jesus places His security in God alone. Jesus says many things that turn our ways of thinking upside down. In today’s scripture verse Jesus is sending out His Apostles to spread the Good News without regard to how they will be materially sustained. Is He not calling each of us to do the same? And what is “the Good News“? It is that God loves us all…unconditionally. Did Jesus say anything about amassing money and possessions? Yes! He said you cannot serve both God and material wealth (Matthew 6:24). While we certainly need to be responsible with our finances…money cannot be our top priority. What material things are standing in the way of you living the “Good News”?

Suggested song of the day– “Listen to Your Heart” on the Listen to Your Heart album.
Hear free clips of Bill’s songs by clicking HERE.
CD’s available for purchase by clicking HERE.
Have a blessed day!

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Love Overcomes

Posted on February 4, 2015 by billtonnis

Hebrews 12:14
Strive for peace with everyone, and for that holiness without which no one will see the Lord.

It seems like there is so much cynicism and dissension in the world. Do we respond with more of the same? The fact is…all people are children of God and are divinely connected. To live in opposition to this deep truth means to live in a delusion. Jesus said to love your neighbor…and just to make it clear that that means everyone…He said to love your enemies as well! This is extremely difficult if not seemingly impossible! But with God…all things are possible. Loving God…help me to let go of myself…my ego…and allow You to live in me. For I know that when this happens…I am made whole (or “holy”) and You bring me peace. Then…may I extend that peace to others so that they may come to know You as well.

Suggested song of the day– “Make Me a Channel” on the Listen to Your Heart album.
Hear free clips of Bill’s songs by clicking HERE.
CD’s available for purchase by clicking HERE.
Remember…God loves you!

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Salvation

Posted on February 3, 2015 by billtonnis

Hebrews 12:3-4
Consider how he endured such opposition from sinners, in order that you may not grow weary and lose heart. In your struggles against sin you have not yet resisted to the point of shedding blood.

Sometimes life is hard. There seems to be so much opposition to leading a moral life. Sometimes life’s twists and turns knock us to the ground. There are so many temptations to lure us away from being our true-selves and instead to build false-selves based on our egos’ insatiable desires for power, prestige and possessions. Jesus gave us the ultimate example of letting go of all the stuff that will never truly satisfy our souls. He lived a life of love, mercy, forgiveness and compassion while standing up for justice…despite the most unfair persecution and finally death on a cross. Through it all He only expressed God’s love and forgiveness in return. He is the one who invites us to bring our burdens to Him so that He can give us rest (Matthew 11:28). Jesus shows us a God who will never abandon us in our struggles. Let this Good News settle in your soul.

Suggested song of the day– “Salvation” on the Live to Love album.
Hear free clips of Bill’s songs by clicking HERE.
CD’s available for purchase by clicking HERE.
Remember…God loves you!

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Let Go and Live

Posted on February 2, 2015 by billtonnis

Hebrews 2:14-15
Through death he might destroy the one who has the power of death, that is, the devil, and free those who through fear of death had been subject to slavery all their life.

By becoming human Jesus showed us the path to freedom: Letting go. When we do not cling to things of this world…a Greater Love leads us to freedom. Following Jesus and loving God and our neighbor free us from the worldly attachments that we sometimes cling to due to our fear of death. All possessions, power and prestige in this life come to an end. But through Jesus’ life, death and resurrection…we see that there is nothing to fear in death. Eternal life is promised. In the end…love wins…not death. By living a life of love we will simply move freely into the joy of God when this life ends. Now…let this knowledge set you free!

Suggested song of the day– “Breathe On Me” on the Listen to Your Heart album.
Hear free clips of Bill’s songs by clicking HERE.
CD’s available for purchase by clicking HERE.
Remember…God loves you!

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Good News

Posted on January 30, 2015 by billtonnis

Mark 4:26-27
Jesus said, “This is how it is with the kingdom of God; it is as if a man were to scatter seed on the land and would sleep and rise night and day and the seed would sprout and grow, he knows not how.”

God is in a constant state of loving us. That is what unconditional Love does. There is a Great Love drawing us forward to the fullness of who we are as beloved sons and daughters of God. This is the coming of the kingdom of God. Jesus is asking us to be a partner in building God’s kingdom here on Earth…in the community where we live and beyond…by spreading seeds of that same Unconditional Love to others and all of creation. If we would do that…amazing things would surely happen!

Suggested song of the day– “Shall We Sing” on the Listen to Your Heart album.
Hear free clips of Bill’s songs by clicking HERE.
CD’s available for purchase by clicking HERE.
Have a blessed day!

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Happy Faults

Posted on January 29, 2015 by billtonnis

Mark 4:21-22
He said to them, “Is a lamp brought in to be placed under a bushel basket or under a bed, and not to be placed on a lampstand? For there is nothing hidden except to be made visible; nothing is secret except to come to light.”

Jesus certainly wants us to channel the light of God’s unconditional love to the world and not keep it hidden. How is God calling you to shine that Light? But beyond that…could Jesus also be telling us not to be afraid of the darkness inside of us…the things we struggle with and aren’t proud of? God knows these things about us and does not reject us. What if we didn’t try to hide those things…but instead lifted our defenses and allowed God’s Light to shine into those areas? Those are the areas where we can truly experience God’s unconditional love! Jesus never condemned or accused those who brought their struggles to Him…but instead reached out to them in love and transformed them. God wishes to do the same for you.

Suggested song of the day– “May I Be Light” on the Listen to Your Heart album.
Hear free clips of Bill’s songs by clicking HERE.
CD’s available for purchase by clicking HERE.
Remember…God loves you!

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Let Go of Attachments

Posted on January 28, 2015 by billtonnis

Mark 4:18-19
“Those (seeds) sown among thorns are another sort. They are the people who hear the word, but worldly anxiety, the lure of riches, and the craving for other things intrude and choke the word, and it bears no fruit.”

Often have we heard the words of Jesus either read to us at church or in our own reading of scripture. But the question is…have the “seeds” (Jesus’ words) sprouted and taken root? How fertile is our soil? Do we spend time tending the soil in silent prayer, contemplating bible verses and spiritual reading? Perhaps if we spent more time cultivating our soil…the thorns (all the distractions of the world) would wither…and our lives would blossom in ways we could never have imagined!

Suggested song of the day– “Turn Off the Noise” on the Listen to Your Heart album.
Hear free clips of Bill’s songs by clicking on Bill Tonnis’ Music on iTunes.
CD’s available for purchase by clicking HERE.
Remember…God loves you!

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