Spiritual Inspiration Now

Posted on October 15, 2013 by billtonnis

Luke 11:38-39
The Pharisee was amazed to see that (Jesus) did not observe the prescribed washing before the meal. The Lord said to him, “Oh you Pharisees! Although you cleanse the outside of the cup and the dish, inside you are filled with plunder and evil.

How many times do we wear masks…putting on a false, outer appearance…pretending we have it all together when we are quite messed up inside? Jesus knew that what really mattered was what was in a person’s heart. Doing all the rituals and following all the rules doesn’t mean anything if the inner motivation isn’t love. It’s interesting to see that Jesus had nothing but compassion for those who struggled and failed…who humbly admitted it. His contempt was for the self-righteous…those who looked down on others…putting the law ahead of Love. Our imperfection isn’t scorned by God…it is rather the very means by which we experience God’s unconditional love and acceptance. It’s the place where we need God. If you are struggling with something…you are the type of person that Jesus wants to be with. Bring your struggles to Him and be free.

Suggested song of the day– “Come to Jesus” on the Live to Love album.
Listen to 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.
Have a blessed day!

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Grace Is Free

Posted on October 11, 2013 by billtonnis

Galatians 3:10
All who depend on works of the law are under a curse.

Sounds confusing. We are told to follow the rules…but then St. Paul tells us that if we depend on “works of the law” that we “are under a curse.” Well…following the rules does keep us in line. We know that rules and guidelines are essential with children. They need rules to make sure they don’t get into trouble. But when we grow up…while the rules are still good…if our motives are only guided by being a “rule-follower”…where is the compassion and love in that? Many times Jesus broke the religious rules when they became obstructions to love. Jesus said when you get down to it…the only two things that mattered were to love God and your neighbor as yourself. No one can ultimately follow the rules perfectly so if you are holding yourself to that level of perfection…you are indeed “under a curse.” For it is only in our imperfection that we can experience the unconditional love of God. It is in that experience that we are transformed so that we in turn can also extend the same compassion to others in their imperfection. Following rules will not make us whole (or “holy”). That’s up to God’s grace.

Suggested song of the day– “Changed” on the Give Praise and Thanks album.
Listen to free clips of Bill’s songs by clicking Bill Tonnis’ Music on iTunes to the right.
CDs available by clicking on “home” and then the “store” tab.
Have a blessed day!

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God Is On Your Side

Posted on October 10, 2013 by billtonnis

Luke 11:9, 11, 13
“Ask and you will receive; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you. What father among you would hand his son a snake when he asks for a fish? If you then, who are wicked, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will the Father in heaven give the holy Spirit to those who ask him?”

If we open ourselves to the Holy Spirit and surrender our desires to God…then the yearnings that bubble up inside of us will actually be the Holy Spirit’s groaning in us for what our hearts truly need. As St. Paul explained it, “for we do not know how to pray as we ought, but the Spirit itself intercedes with inexpressible groanings” (Romans 8:26). So let us ask God to help us be in tune with what the Spirit is yearning for inside each of us. If we surrender to those “groanings” then we will be asking for what God already desires for us. When we seek…we will be on the path of receiving because God has already begun the process of giving. Jesus tells us that God always answers our pleas. However, what we receive may not be what our egos want…but will always be what our souls (true selves) need.

Suggested song of the day– “Breathe On Me” on the Listen to Your Heart album.
Listen to 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!

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Your Kingdom Come

Posted on October 9, 2013 by billtonnis

Luke 11:1-2
Jesus was praying in a certain place, and when he had finished, one of his disciples said to him, “Lord, teach us to pray just as John taught his disciples.” He said to them, “When you pray, say: Father, hallowed be your name, your kingdom come.”

The disciples must have been impressed as they watched Jesus pray in quiet solitude. They wanted to know how they could have the same intimate connection with God. In Matthew’s gospel account, Jesus first tells them to go to their inner room, close the door and pray to God in secret (Matthew 6:6). But most people still have trouble with such “listening” prayer…as did the disciples. So Jesus gave them words to say…the prayer known as the “Our Father.” While we can all rattle-off the words to the prayer, we might ask ourselves if we truly mean what we are saying. By the way each of us lives our lives…are we cooperating with God’s desire that His “kingdom come on earth as it is in heaven”? This is not a passive waiting for some future heaven…but a call to active participation in cooperating with God in bringing the kingdom…into the present.

Suggested song of the day– “Shall We Sing” on the Listen to Your Heart album.
Listen to 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.
Have a blessed day!

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Contemplation and Action

Posted on October 8, 2013 by billtonnis

Luke 10:40-42
Martha, burdened with much serving, came to him and said, “Lord, do you not care that my sister has left me by myself to do the serving? Tell her to help me.” The Lord said to her in reply, “Martha, Martha, you are anxious and worried about many things. There is need of only one thing. Mary has chosen the better part and it will not be taken from her.”

While Martha was running around trying to make sure everyone who had come to hear Jesus speak were fed…her sister Mary was calmly sitting by Jesus listening to him. What was Martha’s motivation in serving others? The text says she was “burdened with much serving.” Perhaps her motivations were selfish ones driven by her ego? Otherwise, would she not have been joyfully serving regardless of the actions of her sister? Each of us might ask ourselves whether we are motivated by serving God or by serving our egos. To Martha’s credit…serving others is definitely what we are called to do…but without listening to God we will be lost as to our true motivations. Mary knew this. (And by the way…she was breaking all the cultural rules by joining the men at the feet of Jesus! Women were not allowed to be students of the rabbi.) After listening to Jesus and reflecting on His words…I’m quite certain Mary’s next step would be to take some type of action in the service of others. Reflection is followed by action, then reflection, then action. Are you taking time each day to sit at the feet of Jesus…and listen to Him? What is your motivation? Why not reflect on scripture…perhaps this reading…sit in silence…and just listen?

Suggested song of the day– “Turn Off the Noise” on the Listen to Your Heart album.
Listen to a free clip of Bill’s songs by clicking “Bill Tonnis’ Music on iTunes” to the right.
CDs available by clicking “home” and then the “store” tab.
Have a blessed day!

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Good Samaritan

Posted on October 7, 2013 by billtonnis

Luke 10:36-37
[Jesus asked,] “Which of these three, in your opinion, was neighbor to the robbers’ victim?” He answered, “The one who treated him with mercy.” Jesus said to him, “Go and do likewise.”

Today’s Gospel reading is about the “Good Samaritan.” In Jesus day the Jews didn’t associate with Samaritans. So when Jesus was making a point to a Jewish scholar about the greatest commandment being to love God and to love your neighbor as yourself, He chose a Samaritan as His example of someone who loved his neighbor. While others passed by the robbery victim, the Samaritan stopped to help. It doesn’t seem too difficult to treat someone in need as your neighbor…until it is someone you don’t like or has wronged you. Jesus tells us to be compassionate and merciful to them as well. Be an agent of God’s love, mercy, forgiveness and compassion to all.

Suggested song of the day– “Salvation” on the Live to Love album.
Listen to 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!

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Wonderfully Made

Posted on October 4, 2013 by billtonnis

Psalm 139:1-2, 7, 13-14
O LORD, you have probed me, you know me: you know when I sit and stand; you understand my thoughts from afar. Where can I hide from your spirit? From your presence, where can I flee? You formed my inmost being; you knit me in my mother’s womb. I praise you, so wonderfully you made me; wonderful are your works! My very self you knew.

King David is said to have written this Psalm in praise to God around 3000 years ago. The same God who brought the universe into being…Who wills everything to be or it would simply disintegrate…also willed you and me into being. Scripture tells us that we are made in God’s image and that God looks on all of creation as “good.” You and I are children of this wonderful God! If you don’t feel like a wonderful work of God…take heart. It doesn’t matter how you feel. It is not based on your behavior or achievement. It’s simply because each of us is a beloved son or daughter of God. Nothing can change that. Our goodness comes from God…not from anything we do. So wherever it is inside you where you feel no one could love you…that is exactly the place where God wants to love you and be with you. Open your heart and believe it!

Suggested song of the day– “How Wonderful to Me” on the Live to Love album.
Listen to 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!

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Last Is First

Posted on October 3, 2013 by billtonnis

Matthew 18:1-4
At that time the disciples approached Jesus and said, “Who is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven?” He called a child over, placed it in their midst, and said, “Amen, I say to you, unless you turn and become like children, you will not enter the kingdom of heaven. Whoever humbles himself like this child is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven.

What patience Jesus must have had with His disciples who wanted to know the formula for becoming “the greatest in the kingdom of heaven.” Our egos all want to be first and the best. Our culture encourages this. But Jesus said the most highly regarded in the eyes of God is the servant! “The last will be first and the first will be last” (Mt 20:16). Can you imagine His disciples’ shock when Jesus pulled the child over and said that they must become like children? What He meant was…they must be dependent on God as a child is on their parents. Are we being humble servants of God?

Suggested song of the day– “Glorify You with Me” on the Give Praise and Thanks album.
Listen to 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.
Have a blessed day!

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Spiritual Inspiration Now

Posted on October 2, 2013 by billtonnis

Luke 9:61-62
Another said, “I will follow you, Lord, but first let me say farewell to my family at home.” Jesus answered him, “No one who sets a hand to the plow and looks to what was left behind is fit for the kingdom of God.”

If a farmer turned to look back at what he had plowed…he would not be focused on where he was pushing the plow and would get off line. This is a great lesson about staying focused on what’s happening now…in this moment. Now is the only time that is real. It’s when God is truly present. It’s when the kingdom of God can truly be at hand. The past is over. Hand over your past mistakes to God. Forgiveness is freely given. God will help you use those mistakes…to become your true self and to empathize with someone else going through the same things. If we’re not paying attention to following Jesus in each moment of our lives…we’ll miss God’s presence and direction. Without that connection…how will we become our true selves? We will also miss the peace and joy that God wants to give us.

Suggested song of the day– “You’ll Lead Me” on the Listen to Your Heart album.
To hear free clips of Bill’s songs click on “Bill Tonnis’ Music on iTunes” to the right.
CDs available by clicking on “home” and then the “store” tab.
Have a blessed day!

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Love Is the Answer

Posted on October 1, 2013 by billtonnis

Luke 9:52-55
Jesus sent messengers ahead of him. On the way they entered a Samaritan village to prepare for his reception there, but they would not welcome him because the destination of his journey was Jerusalem. When the disciples James and John saw this they asked, “Lord, do you want us to call down fire from heaven to consume them?” Jesus turned and rebuked them.

Years of differences between the Jews and Samaritans resulted in the Samaritans shunning the messengers Jesus had sent ahead. Two of Jesus’ disciples asked Him if they could call on God to destroy the Samaritans in retaliation. Isn’t this the natural, human reaction…to attack someone who has wrongly treated us? It’s been going on for years…and years…and years…and years. Jesus’ answer to his disciples’ question was a stern “no.” If we all respond in love and compassion to those who wrong us instead of seeking revenge…while still standing for justice…wouldn’t the world be a better place? Jesus lived that message all the way to the cross. Death was not the end. Resurrection followed. Love wins. Be the change that you want to see in the world!

Suggested song of the day– “Salvation” on the Live to Love album.
Listen to 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!

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