Trust In God

Posted on January 13, 2015 by billtonnis

Mark 1:23-26
In their synagogue was a man with an unclean spirit; he cried out, “What have you to do with us, Jesus of Nazareth? Have you come to destroy us? I know who you are–the Holy One of God!” Jesus rebuked him and said, “Quiet! Come out of him!” The unclean spirit convulsed him and with a loud cry came out of him.

Each of us is no doubt plagued with an “unclean spirit” of some sort. As St. Paul wrote in Romans 7:15, “What I do, I do not understand. For I do not do what I want, but I do what I hate.” We all struggle with a “thorn in our sides” so to speak that we just can’t seem to get rid of. Notice how Jesus does not criticize or scold the man afflicted by the so-called “unclean spirit.” Jesus does not distance Himself from him. Instead, Jesus gladly restores the man to wholeness. God will surely use whatever affliction we have…to bring us to completion in ways that are beyond us. In the Catholic Easter Vigil, “sin” is called a “happy fault.” It is the place where we can’t save ourselves and only God can! Bring your affliction to Jesus without fear. Experience the compassion of God. Then go forth and be that compassion for someone else.

Suggested song of the day– “Pour Me Out” on the Give Praise and Thanks album.
Hear free clips of Bill’s songs by clicking on Bill Tonnis’ Music on iTunes to the right.
CD’s available for purchase by clicking “home” and then the “store” tab.
Remember…God loves you!

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Becoming Whole

Posted on January 12, 2015 by billtonnis

Mark 1:16-18
As he passed by the Sea of Galilee, he saw Simon and his brother Andrew casting their nets into the sea; they were fishermen. Jesus said to them, “Come after me, and I will make you fishers of men.” Then they left their nets and followed him.

Jesus is calling each of us to follow Him. When we follow Jesus we become the people we were made to be. We find our calling. Ideally, when others see how we follow Jesus…they will also want to follow Him. But following Jesus will require changing our direction. For me…it meant leaving a career in radio news. Changes are never easy…but I can assure you…following Jesus will lead you to more joy, contentment and fulfillment than any other pursuit in this life! What is God calling you to do so that you can be a ‘fisher of people’ as well? How does God want you to be a channel of love, mercy, forgiveness and compassion to this world? In silent prayer…open your heart to receive God’s Love. Allow it to nurture you and lead you. Read the words of Jesus in scripture and let them settle in your soul. Start following…or keep following Him…and amazing things will happen.

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 on Bill Tonnis’ Music on iTunes to the right.
CD’s available for purchase by clicking “home” and then the “store” tab.
Remember…God loves you!

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Contemplative Prayer

Posted on January 9, 2015 by billtonnis

Luke 5:15-16
The report about him spread all the more, and great crowds assembled to listen to him and to be cured of their ailments, but he would withdraw to deserted places to pray.

Jesus modeled how to live our lives. He took loving action with compassion for those in need…but he also took time to “withdraw to deserted places to pray.” He needed this balance between action and contemplation. He needed to cultivate an interior stillness before He could be effective in the chaos of the world. Jesus regularly set aside time to be with God in a quiet, peaceful place. Do you?

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 to the right.
CD’s available for purchase by clicking “home” and then the “store” tab.
Remember…God loves you!

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All Inclusive

Posted on January 8, 2015 by billtonnis

1 John 4:21
This is the commandment we have from him: whoever loves God must also love his brother.

Who is the one person that you just don’t want to have to deal with? Who is that one person that just pushes all the wrong buttons inside you? That is precisely the person God calls you to love. Loving those whom you like is easy…but loving those whom you don’t like is hard. This is the type of endeavor that requires dying to self…letting go of what your ego wants…letting go of the need to be right. It takes grace. Ask God for help in wishing that person well. Try it and see if a transformation starts to occur…in the other person and inside yourself. For the kingdom of God will be at hand!

Suggested song of the day– “Shall We Sing” on the Listen to Your Heart album.
Hear free clips of Bill’s songs by clicking on Bill Tonnis’ Music on iTunes to the right.
CD’s available for purchase by clicking “home” and then the “store” tab.
Remember…God loves you!

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God Is Love

Posted on January 7, 2015 by billtonnis

1 John 4:18
There is no fear in love, but perfect love drives out fear because fear has to do with punishment, and so one who fears is not yet perfect in love.

Only God loves perfectly…because God is Love (1 John 4:8). God (or Love) does not desire to instill fear in you…but joy. God (or Love) does not desire to punish you…but to love you. What else would Love do? So when we are afraid…we know it is not from God. Hand your fear over to Jesus…who says: “Come to me, all you who are labored and are burdened, and I will give you rest” (Matthew 11:28).

Suggested song of the day– “God Is” on the Give Praise and Thanks album.
Hear free clips of Bill’s songs by clicking on Bill Tonnis’ Music on iTunes to the right.
CD’s available for purchase by clicking “home” and then the “store” tab.
Have a blessed day!

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Follow Jesus

Posted on January 6, 2015 by billtonnis

1 John 4:9
In this way the love of God was revealed to us: God sent his only Son into the world so that we might have life through him.

God…scripture says…is Love. It’s an incomprehensible…unconditional Love. This love took flesh in Jesus. His whole life was to show us the love, mercy, forgiveness and compassion of God…as well as God’s equal acceptance and inclusivity of all people. Of course…this brought Him persecution and crucifixion. But resurrection and new life followed. Let this knowledge set you free! That same new life is promised to each of us…not only at death but through each daily struggle and “dying” to ourselves. If you want to have life and have it more abundantly (John 10:10)…then follow Jesus.

Suggested song of the day– “Pour Me Out” on the Give Praise and Thanks album.
Hear free clips of Bill’s songs by clicking on Bill Tonnis’ Music on iTunes to the right.
CD’s available by clicking “home” and then the “store” tab.
Have a blessed day!

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Body of Christ

Posted on January 5, 2015 by billtonnis

Matthew 4:23
He went around all of Galilee, teaching in their synagogues, proclaiming the gospel of the kingdom, and curing every disease and illness among the people.

What is the “gospel of the kingdom”? Just before this statement…Matthew wrote that Jesus proclaimed that the “kingdom of heaven is at hand.” The first tastes of heaven begin here and now when we follow Jesus and extend mercy, compassion, love and forgiveness to others…when we work for healing, unity and wholeness. Jesus doesn’t want us to wait for some future heaven. As Thomas Merton said, it is not about our own “private salvation project.” Jesus calls us to action…to help awaken all to the presence of God’s kingdom in the present. As Ilia Delio writes in her book The Emergent Christ, “Earth is not a training ground for heaven. It is, rather, the very place where heaven unfolds.”

Suggested song of the day– “Salvation” on the Live to Love album.
Hear free clips of Bill’s songs by clicking on Bill Tonnis’ Music on iTunes to the right.
CD’s available for purchase by clicking “home” and then the “store” tab.
Remember…God loves you!

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Life Changing

Posted on December 24, 2014 by billtonnis

Luke 1:76-77
“And you, child, will be called prophet of the Most High, for you will go before the Lord to prepare his ways, to give his people knowledge of salvation…”

John the Baptizer’s father prophesied what was ahead for his son while John was still in the womb. Are we not all called to do what the Baptizer would do? Aren’t we all called to prepare the way for Christ to come into the lives of all people we meet? We are called to be channels of God’s unconditional love and acceptance of all people and everything that is. Following Jesus truly brings peace and wholeness both now and always. If you think that you don’t have your life together enough to do this…relax! Join the club of sinners! We’re all messed-up in some manner but Christ invites us…one and all…to His table. It’s a beautiful story! What seems too good to be true…is true! It has nothing to do with merit. All we have to do is accept it. Allow this Good News to settle in your soul! Christ…Love incarnate…becomes one of us. Welcome this Love into your life at this moment…just as you are! Now…invite someone else to do the same…because all are welcome!

Suggested song of the day– “All Are Welcome” on the Give Praise and Thanks album.
Hear free clips of Bill’s songs by clicking on Bill Tonnis’ Music on iTunes to the right.
CD’s available for purchase by clicking “home” and then the “store” tab.
Have a blessed day!

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Be

Posted on December 23, 2014 by billtonnis

Psalm 25:4-5
Make known to me your ways, LORD; teach me your paths. Guide me in your truth and teach me, for you are God my savior.

Do you ever feel lost…like you just really have no idea what your next step should be in dealing with a situation…a relationship…or your life’s direction? Who would have a better idea of the best-next-step…than God? Loving God, make known to me Your will! There is so much NOISE distracting me! Help me to hear Your gentle voice in the silence of contemplative prayer…through the words of scripture…through my participation with a community of worshippers…through Your wondrous creation and through the words and actions of others. May all people allow themselves to enter into the flow of Your grace. Amen.

Suggested song of the day– “You’ll Lead Me” on the Listen to Your Heart album.
Hear free clips of Bill’s songs by clicking on Bill Tonnis’ Music on iTunes to the right.
CD’s available for purchase by clicking “home” and then the “store” tab.
Remember…God loves you!

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Release Attachments

Posted on December 22, 2014 by billtonnis

Luke 1:53
The hungry he has filled with good things; the rich he has sent away empty.

Those who are hungry or empty will many times turn to God for help. They are open to God’s loving care because their backs are against the wall. They have no other options. Those who are rich or filled often believe they are just fine without God or are completely unaware of their true need of God. Spiritually speaking…the poor can be rich while the rich can be poor. Loving God, help me to dissolve my attachments to power, prestige or material possessions which block my relationship with You and all that You want to give me!

Suggested song of the day– “I Surrender” on the Live to Love album.
Hear free clips of Bill’s songs by clicking on Bill Tonnis’ Music on iTunes to the right.
CD’s available for purchase by clicking “home” and then the “store” tab.
Remember…God loves you!

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