God Centered

Posted on June 3, 2013 by billtonnis

Psalm 112:1, 4
Happy those who fear the Lord, who greatly delight in God’s commands. They shine through the darkness, a light for the upright; they are gracious, merciful, and just.

Today’s scripture says so much. We are all looking for happiness…but happiness is not something you search out and find. It is a by-product of the journey…of each moment that you are truly present to God in yourself, in others and in all of creation. Be present to the One who loves you unconditionally…the Source of all life. Let go of your rambling thoughts and constant judgments…and simply allow that Presence to fill you. It’s only then that you will be able to begin to reflect the same compassionate Light to the world.

Suggested song of the day– “May I Be Light” on the Listen to Your Heart album.
All songs available on iTunes. Click on the link under blogroll to the right.
CDs available by clicking on “home” and then the “store” tab.
Have a blessed day!

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Less Is More

Posted on May 31, 2013 by billtonnis

Psalm 149:4
For the Lord takes delight in his people, honors the poor with victory.

While the consumeristic culture urges us to add more to our lives…amass more and more wealth, power and prestige…the inner spirit urges us to do the opposite. The spiritual journey is a constant subtraction…a taking away of things that vie for our attention…so that in the end there is nothing separating us from God. This is why some people at life’s end have no trouble passing quietly into eternal life…while others fight in bitter anguish to cling to what is disintegrating. This is why the poor…or those who have no attachment to material possessions, power or prestige (the “poor in spirit”)…are many times further along in their spiritual journeys. They have had no other option but to turn to God for help in their struggles. What is blocking your path from the victory of oneness with God?

Suggested song of the day– “Turn Off the Noise” on the Listen to Your Heart album.
All songs available on iTunes. Click on the link under blogroll to the right.
CDs available by clicking on “home” and then the “store” tab.
Have a blessed day!

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Reason to Smile

Posted on May 30, 2013 by billtonnis

Psalm 33:3, 9
Sing to God a new song; skillfully play with joyful chant. For he spoke, and it came to be, commanded, and it stood in place.

There is reason to sing for joy. God loves all of creation…and that includes you! God’s Word became flesh in Jesus and it became flesh in you as well. You are God’s beloved son or daughter. God will never forsake you, never let you go, no matter how shaky the circumstance or how hard the struggle might appear. God, the Loving Source of all, embraces you always…even when times seem dark. It is only in the darkest of times that God’s light can make the most dramatic difference…and lead you to the most dramatic transformation. For when God’s Light breaks through your darkest night…you will have quite the story to share…a new and glorious song to sing.

Suggested song of the day– “Sing a New Song” on the Live to Love album.
All songs available on iTunes. Click on the link under blogroll to the right.
CDs available by clicking on “home” and then the “store” tab.
Have a blessed day!

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True Greatness

Posted on May 29, 2013 by billtonnis

Mark 10:43
“Whoever wishes to be great among you will be your servant.”

Two of the apostles had just boldly asked Jesus to allow them to sit at his right and left when he comes into glory. They were expressing the world’s philosophy that being great means having power and prestige. But that’s the kingdom of the world…not the kingdom of God. In God’s kingdom…you are great if you serve. You are great if you are with the least of these. Jesus taught us to pray to God: “Thy kingdom come.” This is our task…to cooperate with God in bringing about God’s kingdom in the here and now. For this to happen…our egos must diminish so Christ can increase in us. Will you serve your ego…or God?

Suggested song of the day– “Salvation” on the Live to Love album.
All songs available on iTunes. Click on the link under blogroll to the right.
CDs available by clicking on “home” and then the “store” tab.
Have a blessed day!

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Letting Go

Posted on May 28, 2013 by billtonnis

Mark 10:29-30
Jesus said, “Amen, I say to you, there is no one who has given up house or brothers or sisters or mother or father or children or lands for my sake and for the sake of the gospel who will not receive a hundred times more now in this present age.”

Our culture encourages us to grab as much as we can for ourselves. This is consumerism. Jesus calls us to turn away (“repent”) from this way of trying to attain happiness. He says we instead should give. While many believe their possessions or status defines them…Jesus says the opposite. You will never know who you truly are until you disassociate yourself from those things. This is not getting rid of…but simply not clinging to. It is only when you let go of the things you’ve been grasping…that your hands will be free to do God’s work. It’s only in giving yourself away in the service of others that you will finally find your true self…your true calling. That will be worth a hundred times more now than any possession you could ever hold!

Suggested song of the day– “I Surrender” on the Live to Love album.
All songs available on iTunes. Click on the link under blogroll to the right.
CDs available by clicking on “home” and then the “store” tab.
Have a blessed day!

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Attachments

Posted on May 27, 2013 by billtonnis

Mark 10:21
Jesus, looking at him, loved him and said to him, “You are lacking in one thing. Go, sell what you have, and give to the poor and you will have treasure in heaven; then come, follow me.”

Eternal life can be tasted now for those truly in the flow of God’s will. The “rich man” in today’s scripture verse wanted to know what he must do to “inherit eternal life.” He was doing all the right things…following all the commandments and religious rules…but was he being in right relationship with God and with others? Jesus knew that the man was attached to his many possessions. That attachment prevented him from truly being free to give of himself in the service of God. It prevented him from freely following God’s call and becoming his “true self.” Notice how it says that Jesus “loved him” while calling him to make a major change. Possessions in and of themselves can be good if we are good stewards and generous with them. However, it is difficult to have many possessions and not be focused on clinging to them. We mistakenly believe that power, prestige and possessions will bring us happiness. The source of lasting happiness is God alone. Material possessions will fade away…but God’s love will never end. What or who is blocking you from serving God, following Christ and becoming your true self?

Suggested song of the day– “I Want to Follow You” on the Listen to Your Heart album.
All songs available on iTunes. Click on the link under blogroll to the right.
CDs available by clicking on “home” and then the “store” tab.
Have a blessed day!

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Faithful Friend

Posted on May 24, 2013 by billtonnis

Sirach 6:14-15
A faithful friend is a sturdy shelter; he who finds one finds a treasure. A faithful friend is beyond price, no sum can balance his worth.

Take a moment to cherish any true friendship you may have. Such a friend is with you through all the ups and downs as well. If your heart aches to find such a friend as this…turn first to Jesus. He will never abandon you and is always for you. Befriend Him in your heart…then look around you. Who else needs a friend? Could that friend be you?

Suggested song of the day– “Make Me a Channel” on the Listen to Your Heart album.
All songs available on iTunes. Click on the link under blogroll to the right.
CDs available by clicking on “home” and then the “store” tab.
Have a blessed day!

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Becoming Your True Self

Posted on May 23, 2013 by billtonnis

Mark 9:43
“If your hand causes you to sin, cut it off. It is better for you to enter into life maimed than with two hands to go into Gehenna, into the unquenchable fire.”

Jesus used hyperbole…an exaggeration…to make his point. It certainly grabs your attention, doesn’t it? Whatever it is in your life that is influencing you to choose to make a selfish, non-life-giving choice…that influence needs to be removed. If not…you are basically throwing away your “true self” into a garbage dump (which is what Gehenna was at the time…a place outside the city where garbage was constantly being burned). By choosing to satisfy your ego…or “small self”…you will never discover the “true self” that God is calling you to be. The “you” that God made you to become can only become a reality if you surrender the insatiable demands of your ego for self-gratification and use your talents to make the world a more loving, compassionate and just place.

Suggested song of the day– “Salvation” on the Live to Love album.
All songs available on iTunes. Click on the link under blogroll to the right.
CDs available by clicking on “home” and then the “store” tab.
Have a blessed day!

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The Big Picture

Posted on May 22, 2013 by billtonnis

Mark 9:38
John said to him, “Teacher, we saw someone driving out demons in your name, and we tried to prevent him because he does not follow us.”

You’ve got to love the apostles as they give us hope! They are an imperfect bunch (like us)…but that is just fine with Jesus. Notice how John doesn’t like the fact that someone is doing good works in the name of Jesus…because the guy isn’t in the “in” group…John’s group of course. This is the ego speaking. Jesus tells John not to prevent the other man from doing his good works. The Holy Spirit is free and creative. Do we sometimes judge others as “wrong” who might be doing God’s work in ways that are different from ours?

Suggested song of the day– “Take the Road Less Traveled” on the Live to Love album.
All songs available on iTunes. Click on the link under blogroll to the right.
CDs available by clicking on “home” and then the “store” tab.
Have a blessed day!

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Last Is First

Posted on May 21, 2013 by billtonnis

Mark 9:35
Then he sat down, called the Twelve, and said to them, “If anyone wishes to be first, he shall be the last of all and the servant of all.”

The apostles had just been arguing over who among them was the greatest. Most of civilization continues to this day to preach competition as a way of life. When winning is said to be everything…it sets up a situation where there are a whole bunch of losers. Jesus sided with the losers…the ones who were cast out…the ones on the fringe who were not accepted. He told us that serving all others…was the way to be “first” in the kingdom of God. It’s the big picture where all is one and there are no divisions. Preaching this message won’t win you many friends. But it was a clear command of Jesus…who then told us to “follow Him.”

Suggested song of the day– “I Want to Follow You” on the Listen to Your Heart album.
All songs available on iTunes. Click the link under blogroll to the right.
CDs available by clicking on “home” and then the “store” tab.
Have a blessed day!

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