All Is One In God

Posted on November 24, 2014 by billtonnis

Psalm 24:1
The earth is the Lord’s and all it holds, the world and those who live there.

God created the Earth, all creatures, all living things, and human beings and said it was all very good. Everything is filled with God’s Presence. It is all sacred. Humans were meant to preserve, tend and care for every bit of it. We are called to be in solidarity with all people and all the Earth…because all is One in God. There are no divisions in Christ. What happened to God’s beautiful vision? Each of us needs to ask ourselves…how do I need to change to be in union with God’s vision? How can I work to bring about oneness, harmony and unity?

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 on “home” and then the “store” tab.
Remember…God loves you!

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Love Lasts Forever

Posted on November 21, 2014 by billtonnis

Psalm 119:72
Teaching from your lips is more precious to me than heaps of silver and gold.

Many people seem to be on a never-ending treadmill to make it, succeed or to win. And when they reach the new prize…the pay-off…the satisfaction quickly fades…and the treadmill begins again. Or did it ever stop? The rewards of this world are nothing compared to the promises of God. Jesus shows us the face of God. In Luke 19:48 it is written that “all the people were hanging on his words.” His words were life-changing. They spoke of a God of compassion and healing. His most quoted phrase was “do not be afraid.” When we read the words of Jesus in the gospels in a quiet place and allow them to sink in…we realize God’s way is radically different from the world’s way. Listen to the teaching of Jesus and allow the Holy Spirit to transform your mind and heart. The pay-off will be inner-peace, wholeness and much joy.

Suggested song of the day– “Changed” 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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Following Jesus

Posted on November 20, 2014 by billtonnis

Luke 19:41-42
As he drew near, he saw the city and wept over it, saying, “If this day you only knew what makes for peace–but now it is hidden from your eyes.”

Jesus wept as he looked over Jerusalem. He knew His earthly journey ended there. The people did not get it. They didn’t understand that the kingdom of God was not about power, might and prestige…but about mercy, forgiveness, compassion, humility and oneness. Jesus would willingly give the ultimate example of God’s unconditional love, forgiveness and solidarity…allowing Himself to be crucified so that He could look upon all of His persecutors and say, “Father, forgive them, they know not what they do” (Luke 23:34). Now we are called to follow His example of self-emptying love, compassion and oneness with all. As Jesus looks over the world today…is He weeping? How am I working for peace, compassion and solidarity? How am I using my gifts and talents in following Jesus?

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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Give Praise

Posted on November 19, 2014 by billtonnis

Psalm 150:6
Let everything that has breath give praise to the Lord! Hallelujah!

Stop a moment and be truly present to God. God’s grace is flowing right now…everywhere. God’s constant, never-changing love is what makes all things exist. A tree is praising God every second by whole-heartedly being a tree. Of course, it has no choice! We are the only beings on this planet who have a choice as to how we want to live out our lives. All creation sings praise to God in its very existence. Awaken to the Divine Presence within you and to your oneness with all things. The Maker of the universe who willed you into existence…loves you with an eternal love that yearns for you to know the wholeness of your God-given goodness just as you are. This is redemption. Accept it! Open yourself to be immersed in God’s unconditional Love. Then may your life…this day…be a resounding “Hallelujah”!

Suggested song of the day– “Glorify You with Me” 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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Find Your Life

Posted on November 18, 2014 by billtonnis

Revelation 3:17-18
For you say, ‘I am rich and affluent and have no need of anything,’ and yet do not realize that you are wretched, pitiable, poor, blind, and naked. I advise you to buy from me gold refined by fire so that you may be rich, and white garments to put on so that your shameful nakedness may not be exposed, and buy ointment to smear on your eyes so that you may see.

Those who are wealthy are not bad people because of their wealth. The question is…what is their top priority? Our first motivation must be to love God and love our neighbor as ourselves. But wealth does make this challenging. It’s easy for wealth to blind us to the needs of the poor and make it appear that we are doing just fine without God as well. The book of Revelation is rich in symbolism. The writer says we all need God’s grace and spiritual healing…so that we can see as God sees. God scolds us to change our ways as a parent whose motive is love. God wants to save us…not punish us. God wants us to experience the wholeness of living as our true selves. In the Gospel of Luke, Jesus says: “For the Son of Man has come to seek and to save what was lost.” Jesus showed us how to “die to ourselves”…to let go of our ego’s desires. He showed us that such dying always leads to new life. How am I lost? What “affluence” is blinding me to those in need of my compassion? How is this blocking me from living as my true self? Like gold from a refiner’s fire…it sometimes takes an experience of suffering before we are able to drop our attachments to things that don’t matter…so that we can attend to the things that do.

Suggested song of the day– “Come to Jesus” 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 on “home” and then the “store” tab.
Remember…God loves you!

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Your Holy Longing

Posted on November 17, 2014 by billtonnis

Luke 18:40-43
Jesus asked the blind man, “What do you want me to do for you?” He replied, “Lord, please let me see.” Jesus told him, “Have sight; your faith has saved you.” He immediately received his sight and followed him, giving glory to God.

Do you pursue Jesus as the blind man did…who even after being told to be silent kept calling out to Jesus as He was passing by? What do you want Jesus to do for you? Have faith that He will provide you what you need. However…what you need may be different than what you want! Notice how Jesus was not concerned with any belief system the blind man had…only that he had faith that Jesus would heal him. Notice also that when the man was given sight…he followed Jesus. The outcome was a changed life. It’s not just physical healing that Jesus wants for us…but inner healing and transformation…so that we also follow Him with a transformed way of life that leads to wholeness and inner peace.

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.
CDs available for purchase by clicking “home” and then the “store” tab.
Remember…God loves you!

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Becoming Your True Self

Posted on November 14, 2014 by billtonnis

Luke 17:33
“Whoever seeks to preserve his life will lose it, but whoever loses it will save it.”

Life is a process of letting go. It’s just the opposite of what our egos and our culture tell us. They say…grab all you can and stockpile it and define yourself by it…whether it is money, material possessions, degrees or titles. Jesus says that if you cling to these things…you will never discover your true self…the life that you were meant to have. All those things will sooner or later deteriorate and eventually disintegrate. When you are willing to release those things from your grasp…enjoying them for what they are…but not defining yourself by them…you will actually discover your true self…the you that God intended. You are ultimately a child of God and loved infinitely for no other reason than that.

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.
CDs available for purchase by clicking “home” and then the “store” tab.
Have a blessed day!

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All Is Sacred

Posted on November 13, 2014 by billtonnis

Luke 17:20-21
Asked by the Pharisees when the kingdom of God would come, he said in reply, “The coming of the kingdom of God cannot be observed, and no one will announce, ‘Look, here it is,’ or, ‘There it is.’ For behold, the kingdom of God is among you.”

When you read what Jesus said…can there be any doubt that life is not one giant “reward-punishment” saga in which you “make it” to heaven some day in the future? Jesus said the kingdom of God would be in the here-and-now…but many remain oblivious to this. God’s kingdom is available in the present moment to those who are aware…to those who are awake to each grace-filled second of God’s unconditional love and care. When we are truly present to all creation…when we are loving God and our neighbor as ourselves…we are in the midst of the ‘Reign of God.’ When we accept the invitation to take part in God’s on-going out-pouring of love…the kingdom of God will take you by surprise…for it is among you and within you!

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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Grace Upon Grace

Posted on November 12, 2014 by billtonnis

Titus 3:4-7
But when the kindness and generous love of God our savior appeared, not because of any righteous deeds we had done but because of his mercy, he saved us through the bath of rebirth and renewal by the holy Spirit, whom he richly poured out on us through Jesus Christ our savior, so that we might be justified by his grace and become heirs in hope of eternal life.

St. Paul can surely write long sentences! But this one is full of powerful meaning. St. Paul…whose life was transformed by a mystical encounter with the risen Christ…knew intimately what salvation was all about. It’s not something we earn or achieve…but is a total gift of God! It is all grace. Everyone is forgiven and free in God’s unconditional love. Slowly read again the scripture verses above and know in your deepest self that there is no need to fear anything. This is Good News!

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

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Know Peace

Posted on November 11, 2014 by billtonnis

Psalm 37:4
Find your delight in the Lord who will give you your heart’s desire.

What is your heart’s desire? Maybe it is clear to you…but maybe due to the many mixed messages and the noise of the world we live in…your heart’s desire might not be so easy to figure out. What we can do is focus more on Jesus and following His example. Try listening to Him in scripture and talking to Him in inner prayer. Then rest in the silence of the Presence of God. Feel the warmth of total acceptance and unconditional love. Once we start “delighting” in our relationship with the Divine Presence…our heart’s true desire will surely awaken.

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

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