Let Your Light Shine

Posted on June 10, 2014 by billtonnis

Matthew 5:14-15
“You are the light of the world. A city set on a mountain cannot be hidden. Nor do they light a lamp and then put it under a bushel basket; it is set on a lampstand, where it gives light to all in the house.”

You have a light inside you given by God…a light that is a reflection of your Creator. Remember…you are made in God’s image. Your unique light was meant to shine God’s light into the darkness of the world to bring hope…compassion…mercy…forgiveness and justice. How will you shine your light using the unique lenses of your gifts, talents and passions? This is your calling and path to your true self. You are the light of the world! The world and all creation is waiting and yearning for your special light to shine!

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

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God Alone Satisfies

Posted on June 9, 2014 by billtonnis

Matthew 5:3
“Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.”

Our culture says, “Happy are you who are rich in power, prestige and possessions, for yours is the kingdom of this world.” Jesus says, “Happy are you who are attached to nothing…for yours is God’s kingdom…now!” In the Our Father we pray, “Thy kingdom come on earth as it is in heaven.” How can the kingdom come “on earth” without our cooperation in the here and now? Dear God, give us the grace to let go of our attachments to things that will not last…so we can experience the joy of Your everlasting love and grace in the present moment.

Suggested song of the day– “Breathe On 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 by clicking on “home” and then the “store” tab.
Remember…God loves you!

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Love Your Neighbor

Posted on June 6, 2014 by billtonnis

John 21:17
Jesus said to him the third time, “Simon, son of John, do you love me?” Peter was distressed that he had said to him a third time, “Do you love me?” and he said to him, “Lord, you know everything; you know that I love you.” Jesus said to him, “Feed my sheep.”

Jesus knew that Peter had denied Him three times before His crucifixion…and so now the resurrected Jesus gave Peter three chances to make amends. Jesus knew that Peter loved Him. There was no chastisement or guilt trip from Jesus…only an open invitation for Peter to receive forgiveness. Have you ever denied Jesus? Let’s face it…we all have. And yet Jesus does not scold us or condemn us…but simply invites us back offering forgiveness and unconditional love. Today…picture Jesus asking you, “Do you love me?” If you do love Him…then receive His unconditional love and acceptance. Now…how will you spread that same forgiveness and unconditional love to others? How will you ‘feed His sheep’?

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

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All Is One

Posted on June 5, 2014 by billtonnis

John 17:22
“And I have given them the glory you gave me, so that they may be one, as we are one, I in them and you in me, that they may be brought to perfection as one, that the world may know that you sent me, and that you loved them even as you loved me.”

As Jesus spoke to God…do you get the feeling that the meaning of life is so much deeper than an intellectual assent to a set of beliefs? Jesus is speaking of a certain Oneness of all things that goes beyond any left-brained, logical explanation. Jesus is putting into words that which can only be absorbed and experienced in a deeply felt and abstract way. Due to God’s Love…we are being brought to perfection as One…in Christ…in God. Is there anything to fear here? No! Rest in that.

Suggested song of the day– “Breathe On 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 by clicking on “home” and then the “store” tab.
Remember…God loves you!

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Modern Disciple

Posted on June 4, 2014 by billtonnis

John 17:18
As you sent me into the world, so I sent them into the world.

Jesus did not ask for anyone to worship Him…only to follow Him. Not that there is anything wrong with worshiping Him…but it seems many Christians forget about the “following” part. His whole life is a model for each of us to emulate. It’s a blueprint for our happiness and wholeness. Jesus showed us how to live and how to love. He showed us how not to cling to anything of this world but to joyfully tend to the needs of all people and all creation. He ultimately showed us how to lay down our lives for justice…returning hate and scorn with love and forgiveness. Now…Christ sends us to do the same.

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

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Grace Giver

Posted on June 3, 2014 by billtonnis

Acts 20:24
“Yet I consider life of no importance to me, if only I may finish my course and the ministry that I received from the Lord Jesus, to bear witness to the gospel of God’s grace.”

At this point Paul is in such communion with the risen Christ that he knows in the deepest way that true joy and peace can only come through carrying out his calling in each moment. He realized that the world’s ways of supposedly attaining happiness would all eventually lead to emptiness. We are all called to “bear witness to the gospel of God’s grace”…in other words…to bear witness to the Good News of God’s freely given love and forgiveness. How do we do this with the talents, abilities, and deep passions we’ve received from our loving Creator? As soon as you decide to allow Christ to lead you in this quest…you are truly in a graced moment. The kingdom of God is at hand! How are you called to bear witness to the gospel of God’s grace with your life?

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

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Body of Christ

Posted on June 2, 2014 by billtonnis

John 16:32-33
“But I am not alone, because the Father is with me. I have told you this so that you might have peace in me. In the world you will have trouble, but take courage, I have conquered the world.”

Jesus knew that He would be abandoned and crucified alone…with only a few of His followers remaining throughout His ordeal. Jesus also knew that God would never abandon Him…even though that was how it felt when He hung on the cross. Jesus felt every rejection and unjust persecution imaginable…but He knew that the cross was not the end. Though it appears to be a dead-end to the world…in reality…it was the gateway to the ultimate New Life. You may recall that Jesus cried out from the cross, “My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?” Did you know that He was quoting the beginning of Psalm 22? While the psalm starts out in lament…it ends in praise of God’s faithfulness. Know that whatever you are struggling with…God is there with you. The power, prestige and possessions of this world will disintegrate…but the love modeled by Jesus and the New Life God promises…will last forever!

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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Greatest Commandment

Posted on May 30, 2014 by billtonnis

John 15:12-13
“This is my commandment: love one another as I love you. No one has greater love than this, to lay down one’s life for one’s friends.”

That’s it in a nutshell. That’s the message. Love one another as God loves us. Jesus said that if we know Him then we would know God. Jesus lived His life by channeling love, mercy, forgiveness and compassion to all…even when He was persecuted and killed. What could prove God’s love more than to be totally and thoroughly rejected…but then to respond with forgiveness? From the cross He asked God to forgive “for they know not what they do.” That is unconditional Love. Allow the awe and wonder of it to fill you! Now…God commands us to live the same way.

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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Resurrection Promised

Posted on May 29, 2014 by billtonnis

John 16:20
“Amen, amen, I say to you, you will weep and mourn, while the world rejoices; you will grieve, but your grief will become joy.”

Jesus knew his followers would grieve when he was killed…but he also knew that they would rejoice after His resurrection. Such it is in life when we lose something or someone…or even as we slowly lose the false image of ourselves. Our egos are more concerned about an image reflected by our power, prestige and possessions. If we awaken from the delusion of this image…we realize that these things will not last. As we grow…the egocentric version of ourselves must die so that our true selves can rise…the self that reflects the unique image of God that we were meant to reflect. Observe your ego and its self-centered ways. Do not fight it or repress it…as it is not your “bad” self…but your “false” self. Simply observe it and see it for what it is…and it will begin to fade. The decline of the false self will always cause pain. But as Jesus showed us…something old must end for something new and beautiful to start!

Suggested song of the day– “Take the Road Less Traveled” 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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Make Me a Channel of Your Love

Posted on May 28, 2014 by billtonnis

Acts 17:24-25
“The God who made the world and all that is in it, the Lord of heaven and earth, does not dwell in sanctuaries made by human hands, nor is he served by human hands because he needs anything. Rather it is he who gives everyone life and breath and everything.”

We cannot put God in a box. We cannot contain or define the Creator…the Infinite and Loving Source of all that is. God gives freely expecting nothing in return. All that we have and all that surrounds us is pure gift. What about those who are being unjustly treated in the world? It is our responsibility to be God’s instrument in bringing them the Good News of God’s unconditional Love. God’s love is a free gift to everyone…and everything! It is not based on merit! How can I be a channel of that Love with my life?

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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