Live to Love

Posted on November 25, 2013 by billtonnis

Luke 21:1-4
Jesus saw some wealthy people putting their offerings into the treasury and he noticed a poor widow putting in two small coins. He said, “I tell you truly, this poor widow put in more than all the rest; for those others have all made offerings from their surplus wealth, but she, from her poverty, has offered her whole livelihood.”

The widow did not give to God her surplus…she gave to God her all. Jesus gave all to show us what true, unconditional love is. God loves us no matter what we do. Jesus loved even when persecuted and sent to the cross. “Father, forgive them, they know not what they do” (Luke 23:34). He is our example of how to love and how to give our very selves in service. Do we love others even when it’s not convenient or easy? It takes grace to be able to do it. Even though we fail…it’s good to know that God continues to love us regardless. Take a few moments to contemplate such a love for us. How will you respond?

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…you are loved!

Posted in Today's Contemplation | Tagged , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Turn Off the Noise

Posted on November 22, 2013 by billtonnis

Luke 19:48
“…all the people were hanging on his words.”

What was it like to actually hear Jesus speak? People were drawn to Him and His words inspired, brought peace and transformed those who listened to Him. While we cannot hear Him speak in the flesh today…we can still hear him speak by reading His words in the four Gospels…and by silent, contemplative prayer. Find a quiet place…read Jesus’ words…and let them settle into your whole being. Your soul yearns to be all that it was created to be. God is yearning to lead you there…to becoming your true self. Open your heart…then transformation will already be underway.

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…you are loved!

Posted in Today's Contemplation | Tagged , , , , , , | Leave a comment

True Love

Posted on November 21, 2013 by billtonnis

Luke 19:41-42
As he drew near, he saw the city and wept over it, saying, “If this day you only knew what makes for peace–but now it is hidden from your eyes.”

Jesus shows us the face of a loving and caring God who “wept” when looking upon the city where the people were not following His example of unconditional love, mercy, forgiveness and compassion. They just didn’t see…didn’t realize He had the answers that would bring them peace and fulfillment…if they would only follow Him. What would it take to show us how much God loves us? Jesus continued to show love, mercy, forgiveness and compassion…all the way to the cross. Then…when no one even asked for forgiveness…he gave it! That…is the way to peace! That is God. Love has the final say!

Suggested song of the day– “Salvation” on the Live to Love album.
Hear free clips of Bill’s songs by clicking Bill Tonnis’ Music on iTunes to the right.
CDs available by clicking “home” and then the “store” tab.
Remember…you are loved!

Posted in Today's Contemplation | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Give Praise

Posted on November 20, 2013 by billtonnis

Psalm 150:6
Let everything that has breath give praise to the LORD! Hallelujah!

The only reason you and I are existing at this very moment is because God is willing it to be. God’s grace is flowing right now…everywhere. God’s constant, never-changing love is what makes all things exist. A tree is praising God every second by fully being a tree. Of course, it has no choice! We are the only beings that have a choice as to how we will live our lives and whether we will genuinely be the unique person God created. Will we choose our ego-centric desires…or open ourselves to God’s desires for us? Keep asking in prayer…listen…and follow Jesus…and you will be on the path to discovering your true self. Your life will be a gift of praise to the God!

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 “home” and then the “store” tab.
Have a blessed day!

Posted in Today's Contemplation | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Spiritual Riches

Posted on November 19, 2013 by billtonnis

Revelation 3:17-18
For you say, ‘I am rich and affluent and have no need of anything,’ and yet do not realize that you are wretched, pitiable, poor, blind, and naked. I advise you to buy from me gold refined by fire so that you may be rich, and white garments to put on so that your shameful nakedness may not be exposed, and buy ointment to smear on your eyes so that you may see.

Those who are wealthy are not bad people because of their wealth…as long as they keep God as their top priority…as well as care for the poor. But wealth does make this challenging. It’s easy for wealth to blind us to the needs of the poor and to our need for God. The book of Revelation is rich in symbolism. The writer says we all need God’s spiritual wealth so that we may be healed of our blindness and see as God sees. God scolds us to change our ways as a parent whose motive is love. God wants to save us (make us “whole”)…not punish us. Jesus says in the last line of today’s Gospel (Luke 19:10): “For the Son of Man has come to seek and to save what was lost.”

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 on “home” and then the “store” tab.
Remember…you are loved!

Posted in Today's Contemplation | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , | 2 Comments

Path to Wholeness

Posted on November 18, 2013 by billtonnis

Luke 18:41-42
Jesus asked him, “What do you want me to do for you?” He replied, “Lord, please let me see.” Jesus told him, “Have sight; your faith has saved you.”

When a blind man heard that Jesus was passing by…he kept calling out to Jesus…even to the point that others in the crowd were telling him to be quiet. Do we pursue and call out to Jesus with the same persistence and faith? More important than the physical healing Jesus gave this man was that he restored the blind man to wholeness. Jesus’ mission is not to get us safely into some distant heaven but to show us the path to wholeness and restoration. Whenever I see the word “saved” or “salvation” I like to translate it as “whole” or “wholeness.” I believe this is much closer to the true meaning. God wants us to become our true selves…the whole and complete unique reflection of our Maker. Following Jesus will show us the way.

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…you are loved!

Posted in Today's Contemplation | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Designed by God

Posted on November 15, 2013 by billtonnis

Luke 17:33
“Whoever seeks to preserve his life will lose it, but whoever loses it will save it.”

Statements like this one from Jesus really make us think. What things in our lives do we hold on to and become identified with? It could be our possessions, our titles, our positions, our popularity or our abilities. Are these things not gifts from God that sooner or later…will not last? When we do not cling to those things and are willing to let them go and to use them to serve others…when we give our lives and strip away the masks that we wear…we find our true selves. Who am I essentially at the most basic level? A child of God…loved by our Creator for no other reason…than that.

Suggested song of the day– “How Wonderful to Me” on the Live to Love album.
Hear free clips of Bill’s songs by clicking Bill Tonnis’ Music on iTunes to the right.
CDs available by clicking “home” and then the “store” tab.
Remember…you are loved!

Posted in Today's Contemplation | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Kingdom of God Is at Hand

Posted on November 14, 2013 by billtonnis

Luke 17:20-21
Asked by the Pharisees when the kingdom of God would come, he said in reply, “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.”

What do you think of when you hear the phrase: “The kingdom of God”? Many jump to thoughts of heaven and eternal life…but this does not seem to be what Jesus is talking about! He says, “The kingdom of God is among you.” Could it be we can begin to “enter the kingdom of God” when we are truly loving God and loving our neighbor as ourselves? We are meant to be a part of building the kingdom of God…in the here and now! This is your mission. Don’t miss it!

Suggested song of the day– “Shall We Sing” 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…you are loved!

Posted in Today's Contemplation | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Amazing Love

Posted on November 13, 2013 by billtonnis

Titus 3:3-7
For we ourselves were once foolish, disobedient, deluded, slaves to various desires and pleasures, living in malice and envy, hateful ourselves and hating one another. But when the kindness and generous love of God our savior appeared, not because of any righteous deeds we had done but because of his mercy, he saved us through the bath of rebirth and renewal by the holy Spirit, whom he richly poured out on us through Jesus Christ our savior, so that we might be justified by his grace and become heirs in hope of eternal life.

Wow…that is a LOT to digest. St. Paul’s writings tend to ramble…but they are filled with deep meaning! Paul’s life was completely turned around through an encounter with the living Love of God…the risen Jesus Himself. It came at a time when Paul was persecuting Christians…not loving them. He did not merit such a meeting with Jesus. There is nothing we need to do to earn this Love. You see…it is freely given to you and me by a God whose love is beyond our understanding. That is truly GOOD NEWS!

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…you are loved!

Posted in Today's Contemplation | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Listen to Your Heart

Posted on November 12, 2013 by billtonnis

Psalm 37:4
Find your delight in the Lord who will give you your heart’s desire.

What is your heart’s desire? Maybe it is clear to you…but due to the many mixed messages and noise of this world…our heart’s desire is many times not so easy to figure out. What we can do is focus more on Jesus. Try listening to Him in scripture and quiet inner-prayer (contemplative prayer). The fact is…we need a relationship with God. God yearns for a relationship with you. Once we start “delighting” in our relationship with God…our heart’s true desire will become clear.

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 along the left margin.
Remember…you are loved!

Posted in Today's Contemplation | Tagged , , , , , , , | Leave a comment