Let Your Light Shine

Posted on October 27, 2014 by billtonnis

Ephesians 5:8
For you were once darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Live as children of light.

When each of us believes our ego is the center of the universe and everything revolves around “me”…we are in darkness. It is living a delusion since in reality we are all one with God and unified as one Body of Christ. When we let go of this delusion and the “false me” of my ego (that little voice that keeps saying, “What’s in it for me?”) then God’s light shines ever more brightly through us. The more our egos diminish…the more Christ grows in us…the more God’s Light shines. Loving God, may Your will be done…not mine. May I be a reflection of Your Light to the world.

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 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!

Posted in Today's Contemplation | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Live Your Calling

Posted on October 24, 2014 by billtonnis

Ephesians 4:1-3
I, then, a prisoner for the Lord, urge you to live in a manner worthy of the call you have received, with all humility and gentleness, with patience, bearing with one another through love, striving to preserve the unity of the spirit through the bond of peace.

What is your “call”? A good point to ponder! While you and I are called to reflect God’s love in our own unique ways, everyone is called to be humble, patient, caring and to bring people together. Do you and I do this? It’s much easier when life is easy and everything is going our way…but not so easy when circumstances are difficult. That’s exactly when we are challenged to be the face of Jesus to others. St. Paul wrote today’s scripture passage…while in prison! May we be inspired by his courage and perseverance in responding with love, mercy, forgiveness and compassion.

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 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!

Posted in Today's Contemplation | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Rooted In God

Posted on October 23, 2014 by billtonnis

Ephesians 3:17-19
…that you, rooted and grounded in love, may have strength to comprehend with all the holy ones what is the breadth and length and height and depth, and to know the love of Christ that surpasses knowledge, so that you may be filled with all the fullness of God.

St. Paul is trying to describe the love of Christ…a love that is so vast that it is beyond human understanding. That’s the love He has for you. It’s a love that would do anything for you…even die on a cross. For even when He had done nothing to deserve death…He continued to respond with love and forgiveness. “Father, forgive them, they know not what they do” (Luke 23:34). This is the kind of love that frees us to live in the joy of our belovedness in God. It is a boundless, unconditional Love that embraces you. It’s as close to you as the very air you breathe. Allow that Love to fill you…so that it can, in turn, be poured out for others.

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

Posted in Today's Contemplation | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Love Excludes No One

Posted on October 22, 2014 by billtonnis

Ephesians 3:4-6
When you read this you can understand my insight into the mystery of Christ, which was not made known to human beings in other generations as it has now been revealed to his holy apostles and prophets by the Spirit, that the Gentiles are coheirs, members of the same body, and copartners in the promise in Christ Jesus through the gospel.

God was always revealing Himself to humanity…but Christ was the ultimate revelation. Through dying and rising we are all promised new life…now and always. That saving Love of Christ is promised not to just a few…but to everyone. St. Paul wrote that all are included in the Body of Christ. He said that each of us is a “copartner in the promise in Christ Jesus.” There are no boundaries. No one is left out. Jesus described Himself as the “Good Shepherd” who would not let even one sheep get lost. That’s the gospel we are meant to share with all people!

Suggested song of the day– “Lift Up Our Voices” 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.
Remember…God loves you!

Posted in Today's Contemplation | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 2 Comments

The Time Is Now

Posted on October 21, 2014 by billtonnis

Luke 12:35-37
…light your lamps and be like servants who await their master’s return from a wedding, ready to open immediately when he comes and knocks. Blessed are those servants whom the master finds vigilant on his arrival. Amen, I say to you, he will gird himself, have them recline at table, and proceed to wait on them.

Are you “ready”? When you are “ready” for whatever it may be…you are fully present to the moment…not daydreaming or rehashing something from the past or worrying about something in the future. When we are living each moment, fully aware that God loves us and is with us, and we are fully present to those around us…willing to serve whoever comes into our presence to the best of our abilities…then we will find the God of the universe is humbly ready to serve us as well. That is really 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!

Posted in Today's Contemplation | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Be You with Joy

Posted on October 20, 2014 by billtonnis

Ephesians 2:10
For we are his handiwork, created in Christ Jesus for the good works that God has prepared in advance, that we should live in them.

God uniquely makes each of us. The Creator of the universe infinitely loves each of us. We in turn can “live-out” our uniqueness by using our gifts and talents for our own purposes…or for God’s purposes. We have the opportunity to be a channel of our Creator’s unconditional love. Jesus showed us the way. Die to self-serving desires…so that God’s desires can rise in us. You are God’s “handiwork”…God’s beloved work of art just as you are. Allow that knowledge to transform you. Then use your gifts and talents to do good works so that you are a part of the flow of God’s love. How are you being called to be a unique expression of the love of God?

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

Posted in Today's Contemplation | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Let the Joy Rise

Posted on October 17, 2014 by billtonnis

Luke 12:6-7
Are not five sparrows sold for two small coins? Yet not one of them has escaped the notice of God. Even the hairs of your head have all been counted. Do not be afraid. You are worth more than many sparrows.

Fear. How often does it stop us in our tracks…or push us to do what we don’t want to do or not do what we want to? And yet one of Jesus’ most quoted phrases was: “Do not be afraid.” Do we fear that God really doesn’t love us? Jesus says that we are loved beyond what words can express…no matter what we do! We are free from the bondage of having to earn God’s love. It has already forever been given. As St Paul stated, “In him we were also chosen, destined in accord with the purpose of the One who accomplishes all things according to the intention of his will, so that we might exist for the praise of his glory…”(Ephesians 1:11-12).
Fear not…you are God’s beloved!

Suggested song of the day– “Let the Joy Rise” 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.
Remember…God loves you!

Posted in Today's Contemplation | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Give Praise and Thanks

Posted on October 16, 2014 by billtonnis

Ephesians 1:5-6
In love (God) destined us for adoption to himself through Jesus Christ, in accord with the favor of his will, for the praise of the glory of his grace that he granted us in the beloved.

Many times when I read the words of St. Paul, I have to re-read them and re-read them to let the meaning sink in…because his words are sometimes so profound. Just ponder in your hearts what he said. We were “destined” to be with God through Jesus…in this relational flow of total, unconditional love; Destined because of the “favor of his will.” There is nothing we have to do to earn it. It’s grace! Just accept it. That is truly Good News! So take a moment…and bask in that understanding!

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

Posted in Today's Contemplation | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Lens of Love

Posted on October 15, 2014 by billtonnis

Galatians 5:19, 22-23
Now the works of the flesh are obvious. In contrast, the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, generosity, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control. Against such there is no law.

As Jesus rails against the Pharisees for their narrow focus on following the law without regard to love, St. Paul writes on the same topic to the Galatians. Rules and laws are necessary to keep us all in check. But what is most important is that all the rules are tempered by love. Otherwise they are rigid and heartless. Being right…is not as important as being in right relationship. We first need to form a relationship with God. We can do this through contemplative prayer, reading and meditating on the words of Jesus as well as following Him, and simply by being present. For then the Holy Spirit will begin to transform our hearts. The fruit…or results of that…will be “love, joy, peace, kindness, generosity, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control.” Who doesn’t want more of that in their lives?

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

Posted in Today's Contemplation | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Encourage Oneness

Posted on October 14, 2014 by billtonnis

Luke 11:38-39
The Pharisee was amazed to see that (Jesus) did not observe the prescribed washing before the meal. The Lord said to him, “Oh you Pharisees! Although you cleanse the outside of the cup and the dish, inside you are filled with plunder and evil.

How many times do we wear masks…putting on false outer appearances…when inside we have very different motives and feelings. Jesus knew that what really mattered was what was in a person’s heart. Doing all the rituals and following all the rules doesn’t mean anything if the inner motivation isn’t love. If you don’t undergo an inner transformation through which you become more loving and compassionate…then what good is it? It’s interesting to see that Jesus had nothing but compassion for those who struggled and failed…who humbly admitted it. His contempt was for those who judged others and looked down on them…putting the Law ahead of Love.

Suggested song of the day– “Singing My Song” 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!

Posted in Today's Contemplation | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment