Peace Be with You

Posted on August 5, 2021 by billtonnis

Image by Shutterbug75 from Pixabay

“Attachment is the great fabricator of illusions; reality can be attained only by someone who is detached.” – Simone Weil

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Listen to my song “Love God” on YouTube by clicking HERE.

Support my ministry by purchasing my songs and books (Mercy Reigns & Listen to Your Heart). Thank you!

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Matthew 16:19

“I will give you the keys to the kingdom of heaven. Whatever you bind on earth shall be bound in heaven; and whatever you loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven.”

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As I have mentioned before, Jesus spoke of the kingdom of God or heaven being among you or within you (Luke 17:21).

The loving realm of spacious freedom (like the sky) is always available within you.

When you connect to this place, although it’s not really a place but a state of being, you have total peace no matter what your life situation is.

So, in today’s scripture, Jesus is saying that whatever you bind up on earth, in other words, whatever you cling to and attach yourself to in life, will remain bound up in your interior state of being.

It will stifle your freedom and peace.

Whatever you loose on earth, whatever you let go of and detach from, will be released in your interior state of being.

These are the keys to your freedom and peace.

Jesus goes on to say, “You are thinking not as God does, but as human beings do” (Matthew 16:23).

This should give us all pause.

Before being so sure we are right and others are wrong, we would do well to try to analyze why we judge the way we do.

What is our cultural and educational training that created the lens through which we view and judge the world?

Jesus reflects the thinking of God who is Love (1 John 4:8).

Jesus tells us to love all people – even our enemies (Matthew 5:44)!

He says whatever we do to the least of these, we do to him (Matthew 25:40).

Jesus also said to “Give and gifts will be given to you” (Luke 6:38).

Forgiveness and unconditional love are required to enter the kingdom of heaven, the place of total freedom and peace.

Detaching from possessions and other worldly allures is also required.

Are you “bound” or “loosed”?

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Listen to the song of the day “Love God” on the Live to Love album by clicking HERE.

Stream and/or purchase my songs on Amazon Music by clicking HERE.

Purchase my new book “Listen to Your Heart: A Daily Devotional of Calling, Purpose and New Life” on Amazon by clicking HERE.

Purchase my book “Mercy Reigns: A Daily Devotional of Compassion, Comfort and Healing” on Amazon by clicking HERE.

Remember: God loves you!

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Homeward Bound

Posted on August 4, 2021 by billtonnis

Image by Larisa Koshkina from Pixabay

“We must accept finite disappointment, but we must never lose infinite hope.” – Martin Luther King

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Listen to my song “Love Will Always Lead You Home” on YouTube by clicking HERE.

Support my ministry by purchasing my songs and books (Mercy Reigns & Listen to Your Heart). Thank you!

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Psalm 106:14, 21

In the desert they gave in to their cravings, tempted God in the wasteland. They forgot the God who had saved them.

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The stories in the bible are the stories of humanity.

We can all relate to the struggles that those people went through.

The Israelites were led by Moses out of bondage in Egypt but when they found themselves lost in the desert, they rebelled.

“How could God do this to us!”

They forgot how they had credited God with saving them from the Egyptians.

When these new troubles overwhelmed them, they lost faith.

Many times I have done the same thing.

I rejoiced and praised God when I was seemingly saved from an ordeal, only to later find myself in another mess.

When I look back at these events now in retrospect, I see that many times it was I who had wandered off course.

My ego had taken over and I had given in to temptations of one kind or another.

Sometimes it was simply life that handed me a new dilemma.

That’s what life does.

A life situation does not have to be a cause of suffering.

Yes, it can be a challenge.

But it only turns into suffering when we allow our minds to make up a dreadful story about it.

I know this sounds trite, but such situations can be obstacles or opportunities.

God is still with us.

The very name Yahweh connotes our breath.

“Yaaaaahhhhh – wehhhhhh.

The name is spoken every time we inhale and exhale.

God remains our life-giving force, the Love that sustains us, in joys and sorrows.

The only way out of a new challenge is by going through it, not by somehow going around it or retreating.

And what I have found is that this Life-Giving-Force, if we hang in there and trust, will always lead us safely through to new life.

Always!

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Listen to the song of the day “Love Will Always Lead You Home” on the Mercy Reigns album by clicking HERE.

Stream and/or purchase my songs on Amazon Music by clicking HERE.

Purchase my new book “Listen to Your Heart: A Daily Devotional of Calling, Purpose and New Life” on Amazon by clicking HERE.

Purchase my book “Mercy Reigns: A Daily Devotional of Compassion, Comfort and Healing” on Amazon by clicking HERE.

Remember: God loves you!

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Contemplation

Posted on August 3, 2021 by billtonnis

Image by Couleur from Pixabay

“Put your mouthful of words away and come with me to watch the lilies open in such a field, growing there like yachts, slowly steering their petals without nurses or clocks.” – Anne Sexton, The Complete Poems

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Listen to my song “I Will Give You Rest” on YouTube by clicking HERE.

Support my ministry by purchasing my songs and books (Mercy Reigns & Listen to Your Heart). Thank you!

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Matthew 14:22-23

Then Jesus made the disciples get into the boat and precede him to the other side, while he dismissed the crowds. After doing so, he went up on the mountain by himself to pray. When it was evening he was there alone.

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Jesus demonstrates for us today the importance of balancing contemplation and action.

Just before this passage, Jesus ministered to a crowd of thousands.

Following this, “he went up on the mountain by himself to pray.”

His action is followed by contemplation.

To avoid burn-out, we must self-care.

We need to take time to go to our inner room, close the door, and pray to God in secret (Matthew 6:6).

That’s how Jesus had instructed his followers to pray, to not use many words (Matthew 6:7-8).

Contemplative prayer is characterized by silence.

It is more about listening than speaking.

It is resting in the Divine Presence.

This is the place of replenishment.

Some form of meditation such as Centering Prayer is a great help.

Simply be present to the now without judgment or mental commentary.

Allow this Presence to speak to you and comfort you.

What else would Love do?

After all, “God is love” (1 John 4:8).

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Listen to the song of the day “I Will Give You Rest” on the Live to Love album by clicking HERE.

Stream and/or purchase my songs on Amazon Music by clicking HERE.

Purchase my new book “Listen to Your Heart: A Daily Devotional of Calling, Purpose and New Life” on Amazon by clicking HERE.

Purchase my book “Mercy Reigns: A Daily Devotional of Compassion, Comfort and Healing” on Amazon by clicking HERE.

Remember: God loves you!

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Give

Posted on August 2, 2021 by billtonnis

Image by Jill Wellington from Pixabay

“Just as ripples spread out when a single pebble is dropped into water, the actions of individuals can have far-reaching effects.” – Dalai Lama

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Listen to my song “Pour Me Out” on YouTube by clicking HERE.

Support my ministry by purchasing my songs and books (Mercy Reigns & Listen to Your Heart). Thank you!

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Matthew 14:15-16

When it was evening, the disciples approached Jesus and said, “This is a deserted place and it is already late; dismiss the crowds so that they can go to the villages and buy food for themselves.” Jesus said to them, “There is no need for them to go away; give them some food yourselves.”

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I know there is disagreement over what exactly happens in this story about Jesus feeding the vast crowd that had gathered.

Following the quote above, the disciples answered Jesus that they only had five loaves and two fish, so in other words, feeding the crowd was impossible.

Then, Jesus goes on to gather that poultry amount of food, blesses it, and passes it out.

The crowd of over five thousand were not only fed but twelve wicker baskets full of left-overs were gathered.

Many want to see this as Jesus supernaturally multiplying the food and are not happy when they hear the other possibility.

I favor the other, but we really don’t know the answer.

The version I prefer is based on Jesus’ telling them, “There is no need for them to go away; give them some food yourselves (emphasis is mine).”

You are free to believe Jesus magically pulled mass quantities of food out of the little basket he had, but to me, that loses the importance of his instruction to give them some food yourselves.

And it loses the significance of Jesus’ practice of always reaching out to help those in need, and his expressed desire that we “follow him.”

He wanted people to do as he did.

Feed the hungry (Matthew 25:35).

Jesus’ message was not to sit there and rely on God to provide for those in need.

His message was to do something for them!

I think this story is far more powerful to believe that when the crowd saw Jesus and his followers sharing the small amount of food they had, that they all in turn shared the small amounts of food they had.

And, lo and behold, all were satisfied!

This would reflect what Jesus said elsewhere: “Give and gifts will be given to you; a good measure, packed together, shaken down, and overflowing, will be poured into your lap. For the measure with which you measure will in return be measured out to you” (Luke 6:38).

That is how agape love works in the universe.

It creates a circle of total, self-giving love poured out unconditionally.

This is who God is: Love itself (1 John 4:8).

When you let go of your self-centered desires and allow this Love to act on you, you become a vessel of this Love for the world.

And then, as Jesus put it, “You are not far from the kingdom of God” (Mark 12:34).

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Listen to the song of the day “Pour Me Out” on the Give Praise and Thanks album by clicking HERE.

Stream and/or purchase my songs on Amazon Music by clicking HERE.

Purchase my new book “Listen to Your Heart: A Daily Devotional of Calling, Purpose and New Life” on Amazon by clicking HERE.

Purchase my book “Mercy Reigns: A Daily Devotional of Compassion, Comfort and Healing” on Amazon by clicking HERE.

Remember: God loves you!

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True Self

Posted on July 30, 2021 by billtonnis

Image by Kiều Trường from Pixabay

“Tell me, what is it you plan to do with your one wild and precious life?” – Mary Oliver, The Summer Day

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Listen to my song “Take the Road Less Traveled” on YouTube.

Support my ministry by purchasing my songs and books (Mercy Reigns & Listen to Your Heart). Thank you!

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Matthew 13:54-57

Jesus came to his native place and taught the people in their synagogue. They were astonished and said, “Where did this man get such wisdom and mighty deeds? Is he not the carpenter’s son? Is not his mother named Mary and his brothers James, Joseph, Simon, and Judas? Are not his sisters all with us? Where did this man get all this?” And they took offense at him.

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There comes a time when you have to leave.

It’s so easy to stay in your comfort zone where everyone knows their place and no one rocks the boat.

But if you stay, you don’t grow.

You wither on the vine and die.

After you are nurtured as a child, you must go off and embark on your own personal journey of self-discovery.

In reality, the true you is always there at your core.

But usually in order for it to emerge, you must leave all the old safe structures behind.

As Jesus put it, “No one pours new wine into old wineskins. Otherwise, the wine will burst the skins, and both the wine and the skins are ruined. Rather, new wine is poured into fresh wineskins” (Mark 2:22).

Usually you end up discovering deep truths that you never would have gleaned had you stayed in your comfort zone.

You grow and change.

Jesus discovered that when you return to your native place a transformed person, you likely will not be welcomed.

Those who have refused to change will take offense at you.

That is okay.

You are not here in this life to please others, but to please your true self and therefore to please the One who created everything.

All things are being drawn to the fullness of life, the Omega Point as Pierre Teilhard de Chardin put it.

Allow this Pull-Toward-Goodness-and-Wholeness to lead you.

Let the adventure continue!

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Listen to the song of the day “Take the Road Less Traveled” on the Live to Love album by clicking HERE.

Stream and/or purchase my songs on Amazon Music by clicking HERE.

Purchase my new book “Listen to Your Heart: A Daily Devotional of Calling, Purpose and New Life” on Amazon by clicking HERE.

Purchase my book “Mercy Reigns: A Daily Devotional of Compassion, Comfort and Healing” on Amazon by clicking HERE.

Remember: God loves you!

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Wholeness

Posted on July 29, 2021 by billtonnis

Image by Pexels from Pixabay

“He who would be serene and pure needs but one thing, detachment.” – Meister Eckhart

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Listen to my song “Make Your Way” on YouTube.

Support my ministry by purchasing my songs and books (Mercy Reigns & Listen to Your Heart). Thank you!

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Psalm 84:3

My heart and flesh cry out for the living God.

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We all have this existential longing, a yearning that seems built-in to our very cells.

It is very likely in our DNA.

Unfortunately, many allow their egos to try to satisfy this longing.

Due to our identification with our egos, we think more power, prestige or possessions is the answer.

When this is our motivation, we will find ourselves on an endless cycle of wanting more and more and more.

Because whatever you get, it will never be enough.

As Wayne Dyer once said, EGO stands for “Edging God Out.”

As scripture tells us, “God is love” (1 John 4:8).

We come from Love and we will return to Love.

Love is what is energizing the universe.

God is still pouring Godself out in a Creative Flow.

All the stuff of ego-gratification – winning, accolades, fame, wealth – will one day dissolve.

The vast majority of Near Death Experiencers say that when they had a “life-review” in the Light of a Love beyond description, the only thing that mattered was how they had loved in life.

Winning didn’t seem to mean anything to Jesus.

He said, “Unless a grain of wheat falls to the ground and dies, it remains just a grain of wheat; but if it dies, it produces much fruit” (John 12:24).

Dying to your ego’s desires leads to the birth of your true self and abundant life.

The way of Jesus was downward to join the poor and the suffering in order to bring them relief and healing.

There is nothing wrong with trying to win games of friendly competition.

But making winning the main motivation in life leads to emptiness.

Making love the main motivation leads to fullness.

As Jesus put it: “What profit would there be for one to gain the whole world and forfeit his life?” (Matthew 16:26)

Our inner longing is for oneness with Love.

This Love resides within you right now and always.

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Listen to the song of the day “Make Your Way” on the Mercy Reigns album by clicking HERE.

Stream and/or purchase my songs on Amazon Music by clicking HERE.

Purchase my new book “Listen to Your Heart: A Daily Devotional of Calling, Purpose and New Life” on Amazon by clicking HERE.

Purchase my book “Mercy Reigns: A Daily Devotional of Compassion, Comfort and Healing” on Amazon by clicking HERE.

Remember: God loves you!

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Free Treasure

Posted on July 28, 2021 by billtonnis

Image by Pexels from Pixabay

“It is not uncommon for people to spend their whole life waiting to start living.” – Eckhart Tolle

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Listen to my song “Breathe On Me” on YouTube.

Support my ministry by purchasing my songs and books (Mercy Reigns & Listen to Your Heart). Thank you!

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Matthew 13:45-46

“The kingdom of heaven is like a merchant searching for fine pearls. When he finds a pearl of great price, he goes and sells all that he has and buys it.”

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Wouldn’t you say that whatever the “kingdom of heaven” is, it would be something we’d all desire?

While most think of heaven as a future destination, Jesus stated that this kingdom of heaven was here.

“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” (Luke 17:20-21).

That is also translated by some as “within you.”

When Jesus likens the kingdom of heaven to a pearl of great price, he intimates that it is available now.

All it takes for the merchant in his story to experience it – is to sell everything he owns.

The kingdom (the loving realm) of heaven (peaceful spaciousness) is available now for you and I to experience, we only have to detach ourselves from everything else that we cling to.

When you are compassionately present to life without judging, dividing, and separating, literally being here, the kingdom of heaven comes.

Abundant life happens.

Some type of meditation such as Centering Prayer is a helpful practice of letting go and being present.

The pearl of great price is readily available to everyone.

And it’s totally free.

All that’s required is to let go of everything else.

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Listen to the song of the day “Breathe On Me” on the Listen to Your Heart album by clicking HERE.

Stream and/or purchase my songs on Amazon Music by clicking HERE.

Purchase my new book “Listen to Your Heart: A Daily Devotional of Calling, Purpose and New Life” on Amazon by clicking HERE.

Purchase my book “Mercy Reigns: A Daily Devotional of Compassion, Comfort and Healing” on Amazon by clicking HERE.

Remember: God loves you!

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Love Is the Answer

Posted on July 27, 2021 by billtonnis

Image by FelixMittermeier from Pixabay

“The whole idea of compassion is based on a keen awareness of the interdependence of all these living beings, which are all part of one another, and all involved in one another.” – Thomas Merton

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Listen to my song “Mercy Reigns” on YouTube.

Support my ministry by purchasing my songs and books (Mercy Reigns & Listen to Your Heart). Thank you!

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Psalm 103:8

Merciful and gracious is the LORD, slow to anger, abounding in mercy.

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Jesus said that if you know him, then you know God.

He told his followers, “From now on you do know him and have seen him” (John 14:7).

Jesus’ entire ministry was about healing and restoring people.

His message was that we must forgive always (Matthew 18:21-22) and that we must love our enemies (Matthew 5:44).

Jesus forgave his killers from the cross when they had not even asked for forgiveness (Luke 23:34)!

This is the true reflection of who God is.

God is love (1 John 4:8).

We are loved unconditionally!

Does this mean there aren’t consequences for our hurtful actions?

No, of course there are.

Good works have reverberations throughout all of creation and so do bad works.

Many Near Death Experiencers have described how they went through a “life-review” before returning to their bodies.

They felt the pain that they had inflicted on others and they also experienced the joy of others whom they had uplifted.

But what made this so transforming was that they experienced it all in the Light of total Love.

They realized they were here in this earthly realm to learn to love and to share that love.

They learned that everything-is-connected.

These NDE’ers returned to their bodies as changed people with a whole new outlook on life.

What if we all believed this and lived our lives in this Light of Love?

Then what Jesus called the “kingdom of God” would come alive in this place and time.

Jesus called each of us to follow him.

We are to be the hands, feet, and voice of Divine Mercy.

May it be so!

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Listen to the song of the day “Mercy Reigns” on the Mercy Reigns album by clicking HERE.

Stream and/or purchase my songs on Amazon Music by clicking HERE.

Purchase my new book “Listen to Your Heart: A Daily Devotional of Calling, Purpose and New Life” on Amazon by clicking HERE.

Purchase my book “Mercy Reigns: A Daily Devotional of Compassion, Comfort and Healing” on Amazon by clicking HERE.

Remember: God loves you!

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Abundant Life

Posted on July 26, 2021 by billtonnis

“It is inner stillness that will save and transform the world.” – Eckhart Tolle

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First, listen to my song “Make Me a Channel” on YouTube.

Support my ministry by purchasing my songs and books (Mercy Reigns & Listen to Your Heart). Thank you!

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Matthew 13:31-32

Jesus proposed another parable to them. “The kingdom of heaven is like a mustard seed that a person took and sowed in a field. It is the smallest of all seeds, yet when full-grown it is the largest of plants. It becomes a large bush, and the ‘birds of the sky come and dwell in its branches.’”

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Jesus was often speaking about the “kingdom of heaven” coming about here on Earth.

He also said that it was already here, that the kingdom of God is among you (Luke 17:21).

Many translate “among you” as “within you.”

The phrases “kingdom of God” and “kingdom of heaven” seemed to have been used interchangeably.

This is one of Jesus’ key teachings.

Each of us is to be open to this kingdom of heaven being birthed in us.

This kingdom (or compassionate realm) of heaven (or peaceful spaciousness) is within us.

All we need to do is access it.

And it’s not really a “doing” but an “allowing.”

It’s a non-doing.

Turn inward – as in going to what Jesus called your “inner room” (Matthew 6:6).

When you live from this compassionate realm of peaceful spaciousness, amazing things happen.

A tiny mustard seed secretly sprouts underground until you end up with a large plant in which the ‘birds of the sky come and dwell in its branches.’

Like this, you will see amazing growth and fruit in your life that will secretly bloom from your inner stillness as you attend to each moment.

You will be a vessel of compassion to others, as the mustard plants provided rest to the birds.

Note that the tiny seeds did not turn into great Redwood or Sequoia trees, but plants that can grow to between 6 and 20 feet tall.

Against the backdrop of mammoth trees, they would appear insignificant in the eyes of the world.

But to each individual, seemingly insignificant bird, the plants would unassumingly provide shelter, comfort, and rest.

This is the abundant life (John 10:10) that Jesus wanted for all.

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Listen to the song of the day “Make Me a Channel” on the Listen to Your Heart album by clicking HERE.

Stream and/or purchase my songs on Amazon Music by clicking HERE.

Purchase my new book “Listen to Your Heart: A Daily Devotional of Calling, Purpose and New Life” on Amazon by clicking HERE.

Purchase my book “Mercy Reigns: A Daily Devotional of Compassion, Comfort and Healing” on Amazon by clicking HERE.

Remember: God loves you!

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Golden Rule

Posted on July 23, 2021 by billtonnis

Image by Lolame from Pixabay

“Would you know Your Lord’s meaning in this thing? Know it well. Love was His meaning. Who showed it to you? Love. Why did He show it to you? For Love.” – Julian of Norwich

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Listen to my song “May I Be Light” on YouTube.

Support my ministry by purchasing my songs and books (Mercy Reigns & Listen to Your Heart). Thank you!

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Psalm 19:9

The precepts of God are right, rejoicing the heart. The command of God is clear, enlightening the eye.

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Jesus put into perspective all the laws of God.

He said, “Do to others whatever you would have them do to you” (Matthew 7:12).

When Jesus was asked what was the greatest commandment, he said: “You shall love the Lord, your God, with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind. This is the greatest and first commandment. The second is like it: You shall love your neighbor as yourself” (Matthew 22:37-39).

Love is the bottom line.

It’s all that matters.

God is love (1 John 4:8).

When we are present to this Love, our hearts do rejoice.

When we understand that Love is our Source, our Life, and our Destiny, our eyes are enlightened.

This is God’s command, not suggestion, but command, that we love all people and all of creation.

May it be so!

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Listen to the song of the day “May I Be Light” on the Listen to Your Heart album by clicking HERE.

Stream and/or purchase my songs on Amazon Music by clicking HERE.

Purchase my new book “Listen to Your Heart: A Daily Devotional of Calling, Purpose and New Life” on Amazon by clicking HERE.

Purchase my book “Mercy Reigns: A Daily Devotional of Compassion, Comfort and Healing” on Amazon by clicking HERE.

Remember: God loves you!

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