Bill Tonnis Ministries

Source of Life

Posted on April 15, 2013 by billtonnis

John 6:27
“Do not work for food that perishes but for the food that endures for eternal life, which the Son of Man will give you.”

How are you spending your life? You have a unique, creative, eternal purpose based on your gifts and talents. Allow Jesus to be your guide. Allow Him to be the food that provides you fuel and inspiration for your purpose and direction. For that to happen…you’ll have to spend some quality time reading His words in the Gospels and sitting in silent reflection. Then…listen to your heart.

Suggested song of the day– “Listen to Your Heart” 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!

Posted in Today's Contemplation | Tagged direction, endures, eternal, food, gifts, gospel, heart, inspiration, Jesus, John, life, Listen to Your Heart, purpose, reflection, Son of Man, talents | Leave a comment

Humble Servant

Posted on April 12, 2013 by billtonnis

John 6:15
Since Jesus knew that they were going to come and carry him off to make him king, he withdrew again to the mountain alone.

Jesus had just fed thousands with five barley loaves and two fish. He had performed many miracles…not to seek fame, power and prestige for Himself…but to show the unconditional love of God to all. Yet the people wanted to make Him king. They wanted Jesus to be a powerful ruler. He, however, wanted to be a humble servant. Our society promotes power, prestige, wealth and celebrity; Jesus promotes unconditional love, mercy, forgiveness, compassion and humility. There are two very different paths. Which path will you choose?

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!

Posted in Today's Contemplation | Tagged alone, celebrity, compassion, fame, God, humble, humility, Jesus, John, king, live to love, love, mercy forgiveness, miracles, power, prestige, ruler, servant, Take the Road Less Traveled, unconditional love | Leave a comment

Follow Jesus

Posted on April 11, 2013 by billtonnis

John 3:35-36
The Father loves the Son and has given everything over to him. Whoever believes in the Son has eternal life, but whoever disobeys the Son will not see life.

We have a lot of information about Jesus and many of us admire Jesus and are fans of Jesus…but how many of us follow Him? That’s really what He told us to do…to follow Him. Jesus was the ultimate model for how we should live our lives. He showed us how to be human. To Believe in Jesus means to obey his directives…in other words…to follow Him. If we do this…we will have life now and forever. We will be on the path of discovering our true selves. This is God’s dream for you. The kingdom of God…will be at hand!

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!

Posted in Today's Contemplation | Tagged believe, eternal, father, human, I want to follow you, Jesus, John, kingdom, life, Listen to Your Heart, love, model, Son, true selves | Leave a comment

The Way

Posted on April 10, 2013 by billtonnis

Acts 5:19-20
But during the night, the angel of the Lord opened the doors of the prison, led them out, and said, “Go and take your place in the temple area, and tell the people everything about this life.”

The apostles had been thrown in jail for preaching about the resurrected Jesus. An angel freed them and told them to “tell people everything about this life.” This life. The angel didn’t say to tell everything about a set of beliefs or a set of rules. Jesus showed us the way of life that would free us now…bring salvation to us now…help us to bring about the kingdom of God now. The rules and guidelines are a nice start and necessary foundation…but are we living the way of Jesus? Are we a living example of mercy, forgiveness and compassion? How are we doing with loving our neighbor and loving our enemies?

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

Posted in Today's Contemplation | Tagged Acts, angel, apostles, beliefs, compassion, enemies, forgiveness, free, God, Jesus, kingdom, life, live to love, Lord, mercy, neighbor, preach, rules, salvation | Leave a comment

Body of Christ

Posted on April 9, 2013 by billtonnis

Acts 4:32
The community of believers was of one heart and mind, and no one claimed that any of his possessions was his own, but they had everything in common.

The followers of Jesus were transformed. They had been changed. They were not attached to their possessions but willingly shared all they had so that no one in their community was in need. It was not about amassing wealth. It was not about consuming and taking but about giving and receiving. It was about loving God and loving neighbor. This was the way of the first Christians. How can I take this message to heart? How can I live in this way?

Posted in Today's Contemplation | Tagged Acts, attached, believers, Christians, common, community, consuming, followers, giving, God, heart, Jesus, Listen to Your Heart, mind, neighbor, one, possessions, receiving, share, transform, wealth | Leave a comment

Transformation Required

Posted on April 8, 2013 by billtonnis

John 3:3
Jesus answered and said to him, “Amen, amen, I say to you, no one can see the kingdom of God without being born from above.”

You cannot think your way into the kingdom of God. All the information in the world will not transform you. A new birth is required…a “being born from above” in the Spirit. A new mind is needed (Romans 12:2). But like birth…it will not be easy and may be painful (just look at the way Saul was transformed into St. Paul!). Be open, be present, be loving and forgiving. Follow Jesus…let go…and then see how the kingdom of God comes alive!

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!

Posted in Today's Contemplation | Tagged above, birth, born, forgiving, God, I surrender, Jesus, John, kingdom, live to love, loving, mind, Paul, present, Saul, spirit, transform | Leave a comment

Thankful

Posted on April 5, 2013 by billtonnis

Psalm 118:1
Give thanks to the LORD, for he is good, his mercy endures forever.

Pause for a moment to give thanks. God’s love is unconditional. Nothing we can do can make God love us more…or less. God’s mercy and forgiveness are freely given…if we accept it. No matter how many times we slip and stumble…God graciously picks us up…and embraces us. All we need to do…is allow it. It’s an endless cycle of love. We are invited to take part in this never-ending-flow of Trinitarian Love. Let us give thanks!

Suggested song of the day– “Shall We Sing” on the Listen to Your Heart album.
All songs are 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!

Posted in Today's Contemplation | Tagged cycle, endures, forever, forgiveness, God, good, Listen to Your Heart, love, mercy, Psalm, Shall We Sing, thanks, trinitarian, unconditional | Leave a comment

Fear No More

Posted on April 4, 2013 by billtonnis

Luke 24:36-39
While they were still speaking about this, he stood in their midst and said to them, “Peace be with you.” But they were startled and terrified and thought that they were seeing a ghost. Then he said to them, “Why are you troubled? And why do questions arise in your hearts? Look at my hands and my feet, that it is I myself.

After suffering the greatest injustice in history…the resurrected Jesus returns to His followers…well…His deserters at this point…and He wishes them “peace.” There was no condemnation…no reprimands. He tells them not to be afraid or troubled. Why fear anything anymore? Jesus has showed them (and us) the path to wholeness and peace. Death does not win. New Life is assured. But notice that the scars remain on Jesus’ body. While they are no longer bleeding…the marks are still there. The struggles, pains, and sufferings of life are a necessary part of the journey that leads to wholeness and your true self.

Posted in Today's Contemplation | Tagged afraid, condemnation, death, fear, injustice, Jesus, journey, life, live to love, Luke, pain, peace, resurrected, scars, struggles, suffering, Take the Road Less Traveled, terrified, troubled, true self, wholeness | Leave a comment

Bread of Life

Posted on April 3, 2013 by billtonnis

Luke 24:30-31
And it happened that, while he was with them at table, he took bread, said the blessing, broke it, and gave it to them. With that their eyes were opened and they recognized him, but he vanished from their sight.

The resurrected Christ appeared to two of His followers on the road to Emmaus…and they didn’t even recognize Him! Not until He broke the bread at table did they realize this was indeed their Messiah! Jesus became the bread broken and given for others. In the same way, He calls us to do the same. How will you give of yourself to become an experience of Christ for others?

Suggested song of the day– “You’ll Lead Me” 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!

Posted in Today's Contemplation | Tagged blessing, bread, broke, broken, Christ, Emmaus, Jesus, Listen to Your Heart, Luke, resurrect, You'll Lead Me | Leave a comment

Blind Faith

Posted on April 2, 2013 by billtonnis

John 20:15-16
Jesus said to her, “Woman, why are you weeping? Whom are you looking for?” She thought it was the gardener and said to him, “Sir, if you carried him away, tell me where you laid him, and I will take him.” Jesus said to her, “Mary!” She turned and said to him in Hebrew, “Rabbouni,” which means Teacher.

How hard it is to lose someone we love. Mary of Magdala had witnessed her beloved friend…the one who had turned her life around…brutally killed on the cross. She must have been crushed! She is so overwhelmed by grief that she doesn’t even recognize that Jesus is standing in her midst. What an example of faith Mary of Magdala is for us. When all the male followers of Jesus had run away…she was present at His crucifixion, at His burial and was the first person the resurrected Christ appeared to…and the first person He sent to tell the good news. Her steadfast faith is inspiration for all of us.

Posted in Today's Contemplation | Tagged Christ, cross, crucifixion, faith, grief, I want to follow you, inspiration, Jesus, John, Listen to Your Heart, Magdala, Mary, Rabbouni, resurrect, sent, teacher | Leave a comment