Called to Love

Posted on April 10, 2014 by billtonnis

Genesis 17:3-4
Abram fell face down and God said to him: For my part, here is my covenant with you: you are to become the father of a multitude of nations.

God makes a covenant with each of us. God will do God’s part. We just have to follow God. God will never stop loving us. Each of us is God’s beloved daughter or son. Following God involves learning to love as God loves…and then loving God and neighbor…as ourselves. Now that’s hard! Love God…neighbor (meaning everyone)…and myself. I don’t know about you, but loving myself is sometimes the biggest challenge. We all do things that we are ashamed of…but God loves us just the same. We are asked to do the same…using our gifts and talents as channels of that love. God calls each of us in unique ways. Abram…who became Abraham…was called at an old age to a new project. He did indeed become “the father of a multitude of nations” after first humbling himself before God and basically saying, “May Your will be done.” What is God calling you to do…in this place…in this moment of time…to channel God’s 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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Life-Giving Words

Posted on April 9, 2014 by billtonnis

John 8:31-32
“If you remain in my word, you will truly be my disciples, and you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.”

What would you give to be free? What about surrendering all the things your ego wants…and handing it all over to God? After all, our Loving Creator is the One responsible for everything you have and everything you ever will have. Instead of putting your trust in your ego’s desires…why not put your trust in God’s desires for you? Jesus says to “remain in my word.” Do we do that? Do we read His words in the gospels and spend time allowing those words to sink in? He promises that if we do this…He will lead us to truth and freedom. You will be on the path of discovering your true self.

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

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Silent Prayer

Posted on April 8, 2014 by billtonnis

John 8:29
“The one who sent me is with me. He has not left me alone, because I always do what is pleasing to him.”

Jesus knew who He was. He came to know this through His close relationship with God. This was something no doubt modeled to Jesus by His father and mother, Joseph and Mary. Jesus then cultivated this relationship with God through quiet prayer…spending time in prayerful meditation alone. He allowed God to name Him and define Him. “This is my beloved Son, with whom I am well pleased” (Matthew 3:17). The relationship was intimate. God wants the same relationship with you. Set aside some special one-on-one time with God.

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

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Eternal Connection

Posted on April 7, 2014 by billtonnis

Psalm 23:4
Even when I walk through a dark valley, I fear no harm for you are at my side.

When you feel rejected…buried in troubles…lost…remember that Jesus felt the same feelings in the most extreme way. The Son of God chose to take on human flesh. He experienced all that we experience. He allowed Himself to become the one rejected, cast-out, despised and finally nailed to a cross to die in the most painful and humiliating way…so He could show each of us that God’s love is unconditional. It’s as if God was saying, “Don’t you see? No matter what you do…I will hang with you and not reject you…even when you thoroughly reject Me!” This is God’s Love for you…both now…and forever!

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

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Keep the Faith

Posted on April 4, 2014 by billtonnis

Psalm 34:19
The LORD is close to the brokenhearted, saves those whose spirit is crushed.

God is love and you are made in God’s image. You are a child of God…part of our Loving Creator’s grand plan from the beginning of time. If you are struggling…if you feel you can’t do it alone…if something has happened that has caused you great pain…call on God for help. Your Maker longs to free you from fear, despair and all pain. The way to transformation is by going through the struggle with Jesus and allowing God to raise you to new life. Jesus was always seeking out the lost…reaching out to them with total acceptance and healing. Call out to Him! He is always with you in your time of need.

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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God First

Posted on April 3, 2014 by billtonnis

Psalm 106:19-20
At Horeb they fashioned a calf, worshiped a metal statue. They exchanged their glorious God for the image of a grass-eating bull.

When we hear what God’s people did after God had faithfully freed them from oppression through the leadership of Moses…we shake our heads. How could they actually worship a statue of a bull? And yet, what takes center-stage in our lives? Instead of a statue of a bull…is it our televisions? Is it our smart phones, laptops, Facebook and Twitter? Is it money, alcohol, sex? How about fashion? Celebrities? Is it sports? Is our “church” a metal structure called a stadium and do we glorify and worship the team on the field? Jesus showed us how to turn away from all the false gods and give Himself totally to the One God. What needs to change in my life…for me to do the same?

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

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Amazing Love

Posted on April 2, 2014 by billtonnis

Isaiah 49:15
Can a mother forget her infant, be without tenderness for the child of her womb? Even should she forget, I will never forget you.

When you feel like you’re alone…that you’ve been rejected…take comfort during this Lent season that Jesus became the one totally rejected. He became the one cast-out. He knows what it feels like in the most extreme manner. Yet…Jesus continued to respond with love. This is the kind of love God has for you. Even when we think no one could love us because of something we’ve done…God does not leave us. Even death cannot stop this Love. Jesus rose and broke the chains of death…filling all things with new life. God wishes to fill you with that same Life! Through the Prophet Isaiah…God gives each of us a message. God is like a Mother and you are like her precious baby who is forever treasured.

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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God Is with You

Posted on April 1, 2014 by billtonnis

Psalm 46:2-3
God is our refuge and our strength, an ever-present help in distress. Thus we do not fear, though earth be shaken and mountains quake to the depths of the sea.

God is always here. God Is. When Moses asked God for His name, God said: “I Am.” God is “ever-present.” Are you? Are you focused on living in the now(where God is)…or are you holding on to a past injury or are you worrying over something that is in the future? God is present to you now and wants nothing more than to be with you now because you are God’s beloved child. It has nothing to do with your worthiness…but everything to do with God’s goodness. Rest in that. Allow that knowledge to settle in your heart and soul. So if you are in distress…take a deep breath and be still. What is there to fear?

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

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New Life in Progress

Posted on March 31, 2014 by billtonnis

Isaiah 65:17-18
Lo, I am about to create new heavens and a new earth; The things of the past shall not be remembered or come to mind. Instead, there shall always be rejoicing and happiness in what I create.

God is always about the business of loving and creating. The hurts and the pains of the past are shadows. They are gone. Where there is pain and suffering…God is reaching out to be a Loving Presence. Those who are open to God’s Presence in times of suffering can be transformed. It is usually when we are powerless to stop our pain…when our only hope is a Higher Power…that such transformation is possible. This is when our egos are forced to let go. When we are relying on God as fully as possible, we can become channels of God’s love to others in need. Know this: In each moment, God is renewing all things. Are you open to being a conduit of God’s loving creativity? How are you offering your gifts and talents to be a part of the flow of God’s goodness in building God’s kingdom?

Suggested song of the day– “God’s Love Is All You Need” 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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Love Is the Answer

Posted on March 28, 2014 by billtonnis

Mark 12:32-34
The scribe said to Jesus, “Well said, teacher. You are right in saying, ‘(God) is One and there is no other than he.’ And ‘to love him with all your heart, with all your understanding, with all your strength, and to love your neighbor as yourself’ is worth more than all burnt offerings and sacrifices.” And when Jesus saw that he answered with understanding, he said to him, “You are not far from the kingdom of God.”

The scribe had asked Jesus what the greatest commandment was and Jesus had answered that it was to love God with all your heart, soul, mind and strength and to love your neighbor as yourself. How are you doing with that? Jesus taught us in the “Our Father” to pray: “Thy kingdom come, Thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven.” Did you catch the “on earth” part of that sentence? Why do so many Christians make their faith an “evacuation” project to a future heaven…when Jesus clearly wants it to be a “redemption” project in the here and now? Jesus is interested in each of us being transformed in the present…not just getting to a future heaven. Each of us has to take this greatest commandment to heart. If we lived it each moment…we would be not “far from the kingdom of God.”

Suggested song of the day– “Changed” 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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