Building the Kingdom of God

Posted on July 8, 2014 by billtonnis

Matthew 9:37
Then Jesus said to his disciples, “The harvest is abundant but the laborers are few; so ask the master of the harvest to send out laborers for his harvest.”

Each one of us is called to spread the Good News that all are loved unconditionally by God and that following Jesus is the path to wholeness (salvation). There is nothing to fear. Everything that is…is a gift from God! We are called to cooperate with God in building God’s kingdom here by allowing God to work through us. God has a dream for all of creation. God has a dream for you, for everyone and everything. What will be your unique contribution to God’s ongoing creation? The answer will be found in your talents, gifts and inner passions. Allow God to send you out in the service of all. It is the path to fulfillment, freedom and your true self.

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

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The Great Compassion

Posted on July 7, 2014 by billtonnis

Psalm 145:8-9
The LORD is gracious and merciful, slow to anger and abounding in love. The LORD is good to all, compassionate to every creature.

Jesus says if you know Him then you know God (John 14:7). Who do we see in Jesus? We see a man who reaches out to those in pain, suffering and need. We see a man who does not condemn a woman caught in adultery but instead forgives her in love and thereby transforms her. We see a man who likens Himself to a “Good Shepherd” who refuses to let one sheep go astray. We see a man who personifies love, mercy, forgiveness and compassion. We see a man who would permit others to kill Him so that He could show that God responds with love even when rejected in the most extreme fashion. So this is Who God Is. And our Creator feels the same about not only each of us but about all of creation: “God looked at everything he had made, and found it very good” (Genesis 1:31). Allow this experience of God to 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 on Bill Tonnis’ Music on iTunes to the right.
CDs available by clicking on “home” and then the “store” tab.
Remember…God loves you!

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Grace

Posted on July 4, 2014 by billtonnis

Matthew 9:10-12
While he was at table in his house, many tax collectors and sinners came and sat with Jesus and his disciples. The Pharisees saw this and said to his disciples, “Why does your teacher eat with tax collectors and sinners?” He heard this and said, “Those who are well do not need a physician, but the sick do.”

Life is not a contest to achieve worthiness of being loved by God. If that were the case…we would all fail. We are all sinners. At times we all choose our own selfish interests over God’s interests for us. Jesus was quite comfortable sitting with all the sinners at table…which would have been quite scandalous! The religious leaders took issue with Jesus sharing a meal with such people. But the only people Jesus seemed to take issue with were the religious leaders who wanted to separate themselves from those they deemed unworthy. (Who are the people we separate ourselves from today?) Jesus showed quite clearly that God wants to be with sinners. How else will each of us truly experience the unconditional, transforming love of God? Jesus wants to sit at table with you and me. 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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True Faith

Posted on July 3, 2014 by billtonnis

John 20:27-29
Then he said to Thomas, “Put your finger here and see my hands, and bring your hand and put it into my side, and do not be unbelieving, but believe.” Thomas answered and said to him, “My Lord and my God!” Jesus said to him, “Have you come to believe because you have seen me? Blessed are those who have not seen and have believed.”

Who is not like Thomas at times? How often do we say, “Show me the proof!”? Since the risen Christ is not standing before us with all His wounds we must ponder and struggle to come to grips with what is said to have happened. Whatever it was…it so changed the apostles that they went from hiding in fear for their lives to boldly proclaiming the Good News of the kingdom of God and that Jesus was alive…even though most were martyred for their proclamations. Do we have the same kind of passion for following the risen Christ? Being a Christian means more than just believing…it means following! It’s in the following that we find fulfillment and our true selves.

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.
Remember…God loves you!

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Make Me a Channel of Your Peace

Posted on July 2, 2014 by billtonnis

Psalm 50:14
Offer praise as your sacrifice to God; fulfill your vows to the Most High.

Making sacrifices for God is a worthy gesture…if our hearts are in the right place. What is our motivation? Are we truly “giving up something” to get closer to God and to improve our relationship with God? Or are we trying to manipulate God to give us what we want? Are we trying to “win God over” to favor us? God already eternally loves us and favors us. Could it be that we find this hard to believe? The psalmist says that God needs nothing in the way of sacrifice. What God wants is a relationship with each of us. God wants to shower us with unconditional love to transform our hearts so that we become channels of God’s unconditional love in the world. When we are using our unique gifts and talents in the service of others we are giving praise to God!

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

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Be Still and Know I Am God

Posted on July 1, 2014 by billtonnis

Matthew 8:24-26
Suddenly a violent storm came up on the sea, so that the boat was being swamped by waves; but he was asleep. They came and woke him, saying, “Lord, save us! We are perishing!” He said to them, “Why are you terrified, O you of little faith?” Then he got up, rebuked the winds and the sea, and there was great calm.

Most of us are control freaks. That’s why we freak-out so much when we encounter storms in our lives. But Jesus’ message to His followers is to trust Him when those storms pop up. This is when our faith can be nurtured as we admit that we are not in control. Jesus constantly told His followers: “Do not be afraid.” God’s unconditional love for us never changes. It is only in those times of turmoil that we can truly experience what faith is and how it can transform us. Practice turning to Jesus by setting aside times of quiet meditation or silent time with Him. Then even when storms surround us…inner calm will remain. What are the storms that are raging in your life? Are you turning to Jesus for inner calm?

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

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Detachment Leads To Delight

Posted on June 30, 2014 by billtonnis

Matthew 8:19-20
A scribe approached and said to him, “Teacher, I will follow you wherever you go.” Jesus answered him, “Foxes have dens and birds of the sky have nests, but the Son of Man has nowhere to rest his head.”

With each passing year I see the folly in following the ways of the world and the fulfillment of following Jesus. The pursuit of prestige, power and possessions (all the trappings of a consumeristic culture) leads to a dead-end. We can take none of that with us when we make the great transition at the end of our earthly lives. But the fulfillment of following Jesus will never end. The key is to start dying now to those dead-end-trappings. Following Jesus now requires detaching ourselves from prestige, power and possessions…as well as to a place to “rest our heads.” Following Jesus will lead you out of your comfort zone and to letting go of things that won’t last. It may feel like “dying”…but it will paradoxically lead you to a place of joy, fulfillment, love, wholeness and new life.

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

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Listen to Your Heart

Posted on June 27, 2014 by billtonnis

Matthew 11:25
Jesus said in reply, “I give praise to you, Father, Lord of heaven and earth, for although you have hidden these things from the wise and the learned you have revealed them to the childlike.”

Our egos and intellects are in such control that we are often quite unaware of God’s presence and communications. We must be willing to open ourselves to the un-knowable…the Mystery of God. This takes much humility and letting-go…surrender to that which is beyond us…a childlike suspension of our need to be sure and right. If a person is only motivated by his or her ego’s insatiable desires for power, prestige and material things…that person will never truly become the “true self” that God intended…but only a “false self.” Simply observe your ego’s demands. This will begin the process of the ego’s diminishment. Jesus opened Himself totally to God’s will and allowed God to define Him. For us to know who we truly are…we must put a childlike trust in our Creator…open our ears, eyes and hearts…listen…and then begin to live the answer.

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

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Be the Good News

Posted on June 26, 2014 by billtonnis

Matthew 7:21
“Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only the one who does the will of my Father in heaven.”

Jesus would alternately use the phrases ‘kingdom of heaven’ and ‘kingdom of God.’ He would sometimes say that the kingdom of God “is at hand.” He also said to someone else who understood that the greatest Commandment was to love both God and neighbor that he was “not far from the kingdom of God.” The kingdom of God begins to break into the present moment whenever someone loves God and neighbor…whenever someone does the will of God. A person can go to church, do rituals, say prayers and utter words like ‘Lord, Lord’ all they want…but if that person isn’t also living the gospel…being Jesus’ hands and feet in the world…channeling God’s love (doing the will of God)…then he or she is not entering…or experiencing…the kingdom. This requires both faith and action. Many times this will only happen by way of a transformed heart. And that may only happen through a painful struggle and loss of control…when we can truly experience God’s unconditional love.

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

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Awaken

Posted on June 25, 2014 by billtonnis

Psalm 119:37
Avert my eyes from what is worthless; by your way give me life.

It’s not just our ears that are constantly assaulted by noise…it’s also our eyes. We’re seeing a barrage of billboards on the road, ads on the internet, and commercials on TV. Let’s face it…we are under a non-stop sensory bombardment! How can God break through to us when we are completely distracted by all the noise? Are we just blindly bouncing around like a pinball…numb to God’s attempts to be with us? God wants to deliver a unique message to each of us…a very loving message that will help us find our place in this world. But are we making an attempt to listen? Set aside twenty minutes each morning to sit quietly with God. It will lead you to true life!

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

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