Grace Happens

Posted on May 9, 2014 by billtonnis

Acts 9:17
“Saul, my brother, the Lord has sent me, Jesus who appeared to you on the way by which you came, that you may regain your sight and be filled with the holy Spirit.”

When Saul was blinded by a flash of light on the way to Damascus…he was heading there to persecute Christians (he was “breathing murderous threats”). This is the one that the risen Christ chose as His “instrument” of love, mercy, grace, forgiveness and compassion! Clearly it had nothing to do with his worthiness. God’s way is not our way! In a vision Jesus spoke to a man named Ananias to go to Saul and to lay hands on him so that he might regain his sight. The process was underway that would transform Saul into the one who would come to be known as St. Paul. Saul met God…not by way of his worthiness…but by way of his sinfulness! God’s justice was not retributive but restorative. Saul’s brutality was met with love, mercy, grace, forgiveness and compassion…and he was changed. He was being made whole…on the path to becoming his “true self.” God never gives up on anyone…including you. How might Christ want to transform you?

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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You Are a Child of God

Posted on May 8, 2014 by billtonnis

John 6:45
“Everyone who listens to my Father and learns from him comes to me.”

It’s not what we do that brings us closer to God but what we let be done to us by God. It is not an achievement contest or a life-long SAT test! It’s about becoming a fully human, unique creation and expression of God’s love! Allow God to draw you closer. Hear that you are God’s beloved child…fully accepted as you are. Live in this knowledge and awareness. Allow God to channel Love and Compassion through you. Then the motivation for your actions will not be to merit or achieve anything…but will simply be your response to being loved. For that to happen…you’ll need to spend some quiet time…listening.

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

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Good News

Posted on May 7, 2014 by billtonnis

John 6:37-39
“Everything that the Father gives me will come to me, and I will not reject anyone who comes to me, because I came down from heaven not to do my own will but the will of the one who sent me. And this is the will of the one who sent me that I should not lose anything of what he gave me, but that I should raise it on the last day.”

This is Good News! Read it and allow it to sink in. Jesus promises that He will not lose anything of what God gave Him. God has given all of creation to Jesus. That includes you, me…everyone and everything! As St. Paul said, “We know that all creation is groaning in labor pains even until now; and not only that, but we ourselves, who have the firstfruits of the Spirit, we also groan within ourselves as we wait for adoption, the redemption of our bodies” (Romans 8:22-23). Our salvation is not based on our merit. It is not based on my goodness…but God’s goodness. God is the relentless lover Who pursues us…Who shows us in Christ that Love wins. Dying is always followed by rising. New Life is promised. There is really nothing else to say…except “Thanks and Alleluia!”

Suggested song of the day– “Give Praise and Thanks” 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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Life Changing

Posted on May 6, 2014 by billtonnis

Acts 7:58
They threw Stephen out of the city, and began to stone him. The witnesses laid down their cloaks at the feet of a young man named Saul.

Stephen, the first martyr, was wrongly accused…thrown-out and murdered by the people who thought they were following God! And the young man complicit in this crime, Saul, became an infamous persecutor of Christians. However…following an encounter with the risen Christ…this same man was later transformed. Saul became one of Christ’s most famous followers…St. Paul! Whatever you have done in the past…God continues to love you. It is precisely that place where you think God could not love you…that God wants you to experience a love that will transform you! That Love is unconditional. And the person who seems the most despicable to you now…is equally loved by God! The risen Christ wants to transform that person as well. Perhaps you could be God’s agent for that transformation?

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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Becoming the True You

Posted on May 5, 2014 by billtonnis

John 6:27
“Do not work for food that perishes but for the food that endures for eternal life, which the Son of Man will give you.”

How are you spending your life? How are you nourishing your soul? You have been gifted by God with unique talents and attributes so that you can reflect the Divine in the way only you can. God wants to work with you in co-creating and bringing alive what Jesus called the “kingdom of God.” It’s a place of love, mercy, justice and compassion for all where all are one. Allow Jesus to be your guide. Allow Him to be the food that provides you fuel and inspiration for your purpose and direction. If you follow Him…you will be on the path of discovering your “true self.” For that to happen…you’ll have to spend some quality time reading His words in the Gospels and sitting in silent reflection. Then…listen to your heart.

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

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Becoming Your True Self

Posted on May 2, 2014 by billtonnis

John 6:15
Since Jesus knew that they were going to come and carry him off to make him king, he withdrew again to the mountain alone.

Jesus had just fed thousands with five barley loaves and two fish. He had performed many miracles…not for the purpose of seeking fame, power and prestige for Himself…but to show the unconditional love of God to all. Yet the people wanted to make Him king. They wanted Jesus to be a powerful ruler. He, however, came to be a humble servant. Our society promotes pursuing power, prestige and wealth; Jesus promotes pursuing humility, unconditional love, mercy, forgiveness, compassion, service and detachment from possessions. The first way leads you to a false self that cannot last. The way of Jesus leads you to your true self…the person God made you to be. Which path will you choose?

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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Follow Jesus

Posted on May 1, 2014 by billtonnis

John 3:35-36
The Father loves the Son and has given everything over to him. Whoever believes in the Son has eternal life, but whoever disobeys the Son will not see life.

We have a lot of information about Jesus and many of us admire Jesus and are fans of Jesus…but how many of us follow Him? That’s really what He asked us to do…to follow Him. Jesus was the ultimate model for how we should live our lives. He showed us how to be human. So if we believe all Jesus told us and obey…in other words, follow Him, then we will have eternal life…not just some day in the future…but in a limited sense…right now. You will begin to experience God’s dream for you both now and forever. The kingdom of God…will be at hand!

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

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Way of Life

Posted on April 30, 2014 by billtonnis

Acts 5:19-20
But during the night, the angel of the Lord opened the doors of the prison, led them out, and said, “Go and take your place in the temple area, and tell the people everything about this life.”

The apostles had been thrown in jail for preaching about the resurrected Jesus. An angel freed them and told them to “tell people everything about this life.” This “life.” The angel didn’t say to tell everything about a “set of beliefs”, a “set of practices,” or a “set of rules.” Jesus showed us the way of life that would free us now…bring salvation to us now…help us to bring about the kingdom of God now. The rules and guidelines are a nice start and necessary foundation…but they are meaningless if we aren’t living the way of Jesus. Are we a living example of mercy, forgiveness and compassion? How are we doing with loving our neighbor and loving our enemies?

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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Detachment

Posted on April 29, 2014 by billtonnis

Acts 4:32
The community of believers was of one heart and mind, and no one claimed that any of his possessions was his own, but they had everything in common.

The followers of Jesus were transformed. They had been changed. They were not attached to their possessions but willingly shared all they had so that no one was in need. It was not about amassing wealth. It was not about consuming and taking but about giving and receiving. It was about loving God…and loving your neighbor. This is about as “counter-cultural” a message as possible! The truth is…the more attached we are to power, prestige and possessions…the more in bondage we are. Letting go of these things gives us the freedom to know what is truly important in life. How can I take this message to heart? What do I need to let go of? How can I live in this way?

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

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Kingdom of God

Posted on April 28, 2014 by billtonnis

John 3:3
Jesus answered and said to him, “Amen, amen, I say to you, no one can see the kingdom of God without being born from above.”

You cannot think your way into the kingdom of God. All the information in the world will not transform you. A new birth is required…a “being born from above” in the Spirit. But a “birthing” is never easy and involves pain (just look at the way Saul was transformed into St. Paul). Jesus was always talking about the kingdom of God becoming present in the here and now (“Thy kingdom come, Thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven”). To Jesus, the “kingdom of God” was about a changed life…not simply believing a list of dogmas and doctrines like the Pharisees. Be open, be present, be loving and forgiving…do not cling to power, prestige and possessions…and then see how the kingdom of God comes alive!

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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