Calm

Posted on July 22, 2021 by billtonnis

Image by Ildigo from Pixabay

“Peace comes from within. Do not seek it without.” – Siddhartha Gautama

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Listen to my song “Slow Me Down” on YouTube.

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

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Psalm 63:2

O God, you are my God—it is you I seek! For you my body yearns; for you my soul thirsts, in a land parched, lifeless, and without water.

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Ever feel like you are yearning for something in your bones?

Ever have such a deep pining that you feel desperate for satisfaction?

But you don’t know what exactly it is you are yearning for?

I have.

If you obsessively feel a lack of satisfaction, it is likely your ego clamoring for attention.

Our minds can run non-stop with endless loops of complaints about a perceived lack.

It tells you that if you only had this…or if you only had that…or whatever…then, THEN you would be satisfied.

Truly, you do not lack anything.

I know this is hard to grasp at first.

I still have to deal with this reoccurring challenge.

Yes, on this earthly plain, we do need certain things to survive and there are survival needs to be attended to.

But it would be helpful if we would take a moment to realize that we are all here – every-one-of-us – breathing the same air and are being energized by the same Loving Source.

You have to admit that when you stop…are still…then take a deep breath.

At this moment – you lack nothing.

You and I are part of the Great “I Am” – the name God disclosed to Moses (Exodus 3:14).

It is in this “I Am” that “we live and move and have our being” (Acts 17:28).

Much of the time we are simply lost in the workings of our minds, attached to each thought that assails us.

Wake up!

Jesus taught us that God is with us.

He said, “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” (John 16:33).

As he showed us, trouble comes from cravings for worldly things which cannot deliver the satisfaction we seek.

As Jesus also taught us, “Go to your inner room” (Matthew 6:6).

That is the place where peace beyond all understanding (Philippians 4:7) is readily available, always satisfies, and never ends.

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Listen to the song of the day “Slow Me Down” 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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Alive

Posted on July 21, 2021 by billtonnis

Image by Andreas Hensel from Pixabay

“Spiritual Awakening is awakening from the dream of thought.” – Eckhart Tolle

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Listen to my song “Turn Off the Noise” on YouTube.

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

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Matthew 13:7-8

“Some seed fell among thorns, and the thorns grew up and choked it. But some seed fell on rich soil, and produced fruit, a hundred or sixty of thirtyfold.”

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So, how do you make sure your soil is rich so that seeds produce a bountiful amount of fruit?

I’m no farmer, that’s for sure, but I’m betting you take care of the soil.

You nurture it.

You take time to make sure it’s going to be fertile ground so you get a good return on the crops.

Jesus was telling his listeners that, in the same way, they have to take care of their body, mind and spirit so as to hear God’s word and have it take root.

How do we do this?

By listening with an open heart unimpeded by our addictive mental commentaries.

How often are we truly present to the Divine Presence?

Or are we lost in the non-stop chatter and narratives of minds?

I’m sure that many (if not most) people never consider this.

They are so addicted to their mind’s constant commentaries that they think they are those non-stop thoughts.

Your mind is a wonderful and essential tool to function on this earthly plain, but your mind is not you.

The next time your mind is going on and on about some topic, probably judging someone or something, catch it.

Take note of it.

“Aha, there you go again with your commentaries!”

Who is observing your runaway mind at work?

The real you, that’s who!

That “you” is your spiritual being, your consciousness, the you that will go on after your physical body ceases.

Take some time for meditation such as Centering Prayer and/or nature walks each day.

Simply observe your environment wherever you are without labeling or mental commentary.

When we are truly present, we are fertile ground to see, hear, feel, smell, and taste the Sacredness of all things.

True abundant life can blossom.

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Listen to the song of the day “Turn Off the Noise” 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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Here We Are

Posted on July 20, 2021 by billtonnis

Image by mikegi from Pixabay

“We’re all limbs and parts of one Whole. Hence, of each other.” – C.S. Lewis

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Listen to my song “All Are One” on YouTube.

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

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Matthew 12:49-50

And stretching out his hand toward his disciples, Jesus said, “Here are my mother and my brothers. For whoever does the will of my heavenly Father is my brother, and sister, and mother.”

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This was Jesus’ response when told that his mother and brothers were outside waiting to speak to him.

Jesus once again uses an exaggeration to make a point.

He would never intentionally insult his own family.

But the point is: When we are consciously awake to God’s loving Presence, when we are living in the Flow of life as the beloved children of Yahweh, we are all one.

Actually, we are all one in God in whom “we live and move and have our being” (Acts 17:28) whether we are conscious of it or not.

But when we are not awakened to this truth, we create divisions and the “other” and live in delusion.

When we are aware of this Oneness in which we are part, life unfolds with a sense of peace even amidst the storms that are inevitable due to the disharmony of those acting out of the delusion of separation.

All creation is groaning in labor pains (Romans 8:22) for the realization of the Oneness that is being realized on this earthly plain and in the entire universe.

The best way to awaken to this truth is to be present.

Meditate, practice Centering Prayer, take nature walks in total openness to all that is.

Breathe deeply.

Be.

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Listen to the song of the day “All Are One” 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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Take Courage

Posted on July 19, 2021 by billtonnis

Image by ctvgs from Pixabay

“New beginnings are often disguised as painful endings.” – Lao Tzu

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Listen to my song “Take the Road Less Traveled” on YouTube as part of this reflection.

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

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Exodus 14:11

The people of Israel complained to Moses, “Were there no burial places in Egypt that you brought us to die in the wilderness? What have you done to us, bringing us out of Egypt?”

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It seemed that Moses couldn’t win.

First, God tells him to go to Pharaoh and demand that he release the people of Israel from Egypt’s captivity.

How in the world could such a powerless person as him do such a thing?

Then when Pharaoh inexplicably does release the Israelites, first Moses is a hero.

But then the people experience the struggles of their new-found freedom in the desert.

Pharaoh changes his mind and sends Egyptian soldiers after the Israelites.

So now the people turn on Moses.

How easy it is to stay in our comfort zones.

How easy it is to choose safety and security over actual change and growth.

Comfort zones soon become prisons.

There is no growth without change.

There is no resurrection without death.

For something new to start, something old must end.

Only you know what the Loving Source is calling you to do so as to be free.

But I can guarantee you it will mean letting go.

It’ll mean losing your life to find it (Matthew 16:25).

As Jesus 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).

Let go and fall into the now.

(Some form of meditation such as Centering Prayer or nature walks will be helpful.)

Be present.

Experience the total love and acceptance of God.

Live from that place and each new step will be a grand adventure.

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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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Grace

Posted on July 16, 2021 by billtonnis

Image by Gordon Johnson from Pixabay

“God’s love for us existed before we were born and will exist after we have died.” – Henri Nouwen

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Listen to my song “How Wonderful to Me” 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 116:12

How can I repay God for all the great good done for me?

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The answer is: You can’t.

You can’t possibly repay God for granting you life.

If you are operating under the motivation of repaying God, you are setting yourself up for a never-ending and frustrating path where it’ll never be enough.

You are creating a complex in which you will never feel enough.

And the truth is: You are enough.

You are more than enough.

You are loved unconditionally.

You are God’s beloved.

God gives us life out of an eternal reservoir of Love.

That’s because God is Love (1 John 4:8).

God is in whom “we live and move and having our being” (Acts 17:28).

Our life on Earth is not some test to see if we pass.

Our life is to experience love and to share it; to be who we are: expressions of Love.

First, you have to know in your heart that you are loved.

This is difficult because most examples of love in this world are conditional, as in, I’ll love you if you love me.

If you’re lucky, you’ll get an inkling of a greater love from someone.

But many times it seems that we have to crash in some way first, to feel really unlovable, so that a Great Love can swoop in quite unexpectedly.

It could come through another person who has been awakened to the Flow of Love pulsating throughout creation, someone who has experienced Unconditional Love.

Or, it might come in a mystical way that would be hard for you to ever explain.

When you experience Grace, your life changes.

And then you can’t help but to share the same love with others.

If you want to know more about this amazing love, read the words of Jesus in the gospel.

His life is a testament to this unconditional love and Grace.

The same Love and Grace is available every moment.

All you need to do, is take a deep breath.

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Listen to the song of the day “How Wonderful to Me” 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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Peace Be with You

Posted on July 15, 2021 by billtonnis

Image by berkanbicakhan from Pixabay

“Meditation is not evasion; it is a serene encounter with reality.”- Thich Nhat Hanh

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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 11:28

“Come to me, all you who labor and are burdened, and I will give you rest.”

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This is such a comforting invitation from Jesus – but how do we come to him to receive this rest?

Jesus said that the kingdom of God is right here (Luke 17:21).

Jesus also used the phrase kingdom of heaven.

It’s the peaceful realm of spaciousness and freedom.

All you have to do to experience it is to turn inward and be present.

As Jesus also said when asked how we should pray: “Go to your inner room…” (Matthew 6:6).

God is as close to us as the air that we breathe.

When Moses asked God’s name, God said: “I am who I am” (Exodus 3:14).

Total Beingness.

Presence.

As Psalm 46:11 states: “Be still and know that I am God.”

A meditation practice such as Centering Prayer is a great help in bringing this Presence and peace into your very being.

Contemplate these words of Jesus: “Peace I leave you; my peace I give to you. Not as the world gives do I give it to you. Do not let your hearts be troubled or afraid” (John 14:27).

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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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Open to Awe

Posted on July 14, 2021 by billtonnis

Image by Lalelu2000 from Pixabay

“I am youth. I am joy. I am freedom!” said Peter Pan. – J.M. Barrie

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Listen to my song “How Magnificent, Wondrous and Glorious” 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 11:25

Jesus said in reply, “I give praise to you, Father, Lord of heaven and earth, for although you have hidden these things from the wise and the learned you have revealed them to the childlike.”

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I once had a very meaningful dream in which I came upon a very happy baby lying in a cradle on the floor of a room.

I was drawn to this smiling little girl, and knelt down beside her to simply be with her and bask in her innocent joy and curiosity.

Suddenly the baby’s entire head was covered by a hood and there was a small gem in the forehead area.

Just as quickly, the hood disappeared.

Then, telepathically, the baby told me her name was “Free”.

The gem’s position was in the place of what is known as the “third eye chakra” in the Hindu/Yoga tradition.

That energy center is said to be connected to wisdom, intuition, spiritual perception, and universal connection.

At the time, I knew nothing of that.

After much reflection and research, what I have taken from this dream is the following.

When I live from the place of childlike wonder and curiosity, I am open to the spiritual realm in the here and now, as well as the Oneness of all in God.

This is the state of being in which wisdom flows.

It is the state of being in which I am truly free.

I am free from the tyranny of my mind’s addictive thoughts, constant commentaries and closed positions.

I think Jesus’ teachings were heavily influenced by Eastern philosophy but were often completely missed due to the Western preoccupation with beliefs and rules.

We disconnected from our universal connection with creation.

We lost our childlike openness to the sacredness of all things.

One day when I was on retreat at the Abbey of Gethsemani in Kentucky, I was walking on an early spring morning in the parking area, just soaking in the cool air, listening to the birds and looking about with no expectations.

I was just being present.

I was looking at everything with openness and curiosity.

As I was about to pass my own car, I noticed something on the front hood.

I approached and discovered it was a praying mantis.

The large green insect’s front half was arched upward toward the sky, and its front arms appeared raised as though in an act of praise.

It was directly facing the sun which appeared as a large, orange ball of fire just to the right on the horizon.

The praying mantis remained in this position for quite some time.

I found myself in awe and wonder of this moment of sacred connection with creation.

Jesus’ words come back to me now: “I give praise to you, Father, Lord of heaven and earth, for although you have hidden these things from the wise and the learned you have revealed them to the childlike.”

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Listen to the song of the day “How Magnificent, Wondrous and Glorious” 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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Love Transforms

Posted on July 13, 2021 by billtonnis

Image by PublicDomainPictures from Pixabay

“The wound is the place where the Light enters you.” – Rumi

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Listen to my song “Changed” 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 69:3

I have sunk into the mire of the deep, where there is no foothold. I have gone down to the watery depths; the flood overwhelms me.

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I read this and I get goose bumps.

Back in 1997, I was thoroughly miserable with my life even though most people had no idea.

I appeared quite successful as a radio news anchor and reporter, but inside I felt lost.

In retrospect, my true self was crying out from under the many masks my ego had concocted to conform with the world’s idea of success and of being important.

It was a major flood of the Ohio River that literally overwhelmed me.

My soul had already sunk into the mire of the deep from years of having to immerse myself in bad news and announce it on the airwaves.

Then came the first week of March when there was a terrible flood that lasted weeks.

(Photo from WLWT)

I spent that first week covering story after story after story of devastation to people’s properties and lives.

On that Friday, I came home in the evening exhausted and empty.

I sank into my couch and in complete surrender cried out to God saying, “I—give—up.”

And it was then, in the watery depths of despair, that I heard a whisper in my heart that simply said, “Get your guitar.”

What?

That made no worldly sense because I had not even touched my guitar in a decade, nor had I really played it much at all since I was a kid.

How could that be an answer to my troubles?

The experience was so real that I did get my childhood guitar out of its dusty case, and from that afternoon on, I began to play again.

And to write.

I started writing songs.

The songs led me into a deeper dive into my Christian faith and especially into the life of Jesus, which led me to many experiences of new life.

Today I have four albums of original songs as well as two books about listening to the Spirit’s silent voice and about the unconditional love of God for all people.

The loss of all I thought was important has led to the gain of more life and love than I can express.

My message to you is this: Trust that you came from Love, are here to experience and share Love, and that you will one day return to the Love that made you.

Allow this Love to change you.

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Listen to the song of the day “Changed” 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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Eternal Now

Posted on July 12, 2021 by billtonnis

Image by David Mark from Pixabay

“The secret of life is to “die before you die” – and find that there is no death.” – Eckhart Tolle

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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 10:39

“Whoever finds his life will lose it, and whoever loses his life for my sake will find it.”

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This is another of those key teachings of Jesus which many times simply gets glossed over.

Jesus was trying to teach his followers the way to life in the here and now.

His way is the path to freedom from the bondage of attachments, to the endless pursuit of power, prestige and possessions which leads to a dead end.

This is very much like the Zen Buddhist koans, which were paradoxical riddles to hopefully provoke enlightenment.

When you concoct some image of yourself based on what your ego desires, you end up losing the real life God wants for you.

When you let go of the false self your ego has created, in a sense lose that life, you will actually find the life meant for you.

You will be living as your true self.

Some form of meditation such as Centering Prayer is very helpful in practicing letting go.

When you are detached from all the glitter that is attracting your ego, when you are simply living in the present moment, you are truly free and truly alive.

As Jesus said, “I came so that they might have life and have it more abundantly” (John 10:10).

As he also said, “The kingdom of heaven is at hand.”

The peaceful realm of vast spaciousness and life is right here.

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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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Be You

Posted on July 9, 2021 by billtonnis

Image by Free-Photos from Pixabay

“Some people around you will not understand your journey. They don’t need to; it’s not for them.” – Paulo Coelho

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Listen to my song “Take the Road Less Traveled” 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 37:4

Find your delight in the LORD who will give you your heart’s desire.

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At first glance, this statement might strike you as untrue.

You may say, “I’ve had a lot of great desires that have not come true despite my faith in God.”

Well, first off (and I am preaching to myself as well), we need to ask ourselves: Am I finding my delight in God?

This is the first part of today’s scripture verse and what comes first in this process.

This takes a LOT of letting go of trying to delight myself.

Is it my ego that is in charge or is it my true self?

When I allow my ego to diminish, my true self can rise.

When I am simply present to life as it unfolds, I find I am delighting in God.

It’s then that I find all kinds of delights around me.

Instead of being lost in my thoughts, I am smiling at strangers and even starting conversations that lead to new delights that I never would have known.

There was a time in my life that I would have never chosen to visit the sick or the imprisoned.

But due to many life changes and a whole lot of letting go, Life directed me to many new things that have warmed my heart.

Be present to each moment of your life with the curiosity and wonder of a child.

Joy is in the making.

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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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