Inspiration

Posted on March 15, 2013 by billtonnis

Matthew 1:20
The angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream and said, “Joseph, son of David, do not be afraid to take Mary your wife into your home. For it is through the holy Spirit that this child has been conceived in her.”

What a deeply spiritual man Joseph must have been! How connected he must have been to God…open to receiving a message from a “Higher Source” than his own ego. The message he received in a dream was enough to change his mind about Mary…and to change the whole course of his life! Are we open to hearing and seeing messages from God? Are we expecting a life-changing message that will lead us to wholeness and peace? Or are we clinging to our comfort zones and immersing ourselves further and further into the noise of the world? God is calling…but are you listening?

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!

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Top Priority

Posted on March 14, 2013 by billtonnis

Psalm 106:19-20
At Horeb they fashioned a calf, worshiped a metal statue. They exchanged their glorious God for the image of a grass-eating bull.

When we hear what God’s people did after God had faithfully freed them from oppression through the leadership of Moses…we shake our heads. How could they actually worship a statue of a bull? And yet, what takes center-stage in our lives? Instead of a statue of a bull…is it our various media devices? Is it our computers and the internet? Is it money, alcohol, sex, etc.? Is it sports? Is our “church” a metal structure called a stadium and do we glorify and worship the team on the field? Jesus, you turned away from all the false gods…and gave yourself totally to the One God. Help me…to do the same!

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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Eternally Treasured

Posted on March 13, 2013 by billtonnis

Isaiah 49:15
Can a mother forget her infant, be without tenderness for the child of her womb? Even should she forget, I will never forget you.

When you feel like you’re alone…that you’ve been rejected…take comfort during this Lent season that Jesus became the one totally rejected. He continued to respond with love to mirror for us the face of God. God raised him to New Life…breaking the bounds of death…filling all things. God will do the same for you! Through the Prophet Isaiah God gives each of us a message. God is like a Mother and you are like her precious baby who is eternally treasured.

Suggested song of the day– “God’s Love Is All You Need” 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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Be Not Afraid

Posted on March 12, 2013 by billtonnis

Psalm 46:2-3
God is our refuge and our strength, an ever-present help in distress. Thus we do not fear, though earth be shaken and mountains quake to the depths of the sea.

God is always there. God IS. When Moses asked God for his name God said: “I Am.” God is “ever-present.” Are you? Are you focused on living in the now…or are you holding on to a past injury or are you worrying over something that is in the future? God is present to you now and wants nothing more than to be with you because you are God’s beloved child. Rest in that.

Suggested song of the day– “I Will Give You Rest” 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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Loving Creator

Posted on March 11, 2013 by billtonnis

Isaiah 65:17-18
Lo, I am about to create new heavens and a new earth; The things of the past shall not be remembered or come to mind. Instead, there shall always be rejoicing and happiness in what I create.

God is always about the business of loving and creating. The hurts and the pains of the past are shadows. They are gone. Where there is pain and suffering…God is reaching out to be a Loving Presence. Those who are open to God’s Presence are able to mirror that love to those in need. In each moment, God is renewing all things. Are we open to being channels of God’s loving creativity? How are you using your gifts and talents to be a part of building God’s kingdom?

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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Greatest Commandment

Posted on March 8, 2013 by billtonnis

Mark 12:32-34
The scribe said to Jesus, “Well said, teacher. You are right in saying, ‘(God) is One and there is no other than he.’ And ‘to love him with all your heart, with all your understanding, with all your strength, and to love your neighbor as yourself’ is worth more than all burnt offerings and sacrifices.” And when Jesus saw that he answered with understanding, he said to him, “You are not far from the kingdom of God.”

The scribe had asked Jesus to tell him the greatest commandment and Jesus had answered that it was to love God with all your heart, soul, mind and strength and to love your neighbor as yourself. How are you doing with that? God is not asking for sacrifices as such but is asking us to sacrifice our ego-centered desires…for a Higher Purpose. God loves all and asks that we do the same. It will require that each of us change. Jesus is interested in our transformation. Each of us has to take this greatest commandment to heart. If we lived it each moment…we would not be far from the kingdom of God!

Suggested song of the day– “Love God” 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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Reflection and Action

Posted on March 7, 2013 by billtonnis

Jeremiah 7:23
This rather is what I commanded them: Listen to my voice; then I will be your God and you shall be my people. Walk in all the ways that I command you, so that you may prosper.

“The kingdom of God is at hand.” Jesus said this so that we would know that “God’s reign” (read God’s dream for you) is possible in this very moment. Our Loving Creator wants each of us to be a part of building the kingdom of God…using our gifts and talents to make a more compassionate world. But it’s not possible if we are holding on to past hurts or are constantly looking ahead or worrying about the future. What are the “ways” God is asking us to walk in now so that we truly prosper…as in grow, become whole…become our true selves? Are we listening to God’s voice?

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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Undying Love

Posted on March 6, 2013 by billtonnis

Deuteronomy 4:9
“However, take care and be earnestly on your guard not to forget the things which your own eyes have seen, nor let them slip from your memory as long as you live, but teach them to your children and to your children’s children.”

God’s constant message from the beginning of the bible to the end is: “I love you.” There are no strings attached. But the people seem to have short memories…easily forgetting God’s fidelity and care…slipping away to worship other idols. This continues today. But God still does not abandon us…no matter how many times we turn away. Just so we can’t miss the message…Jesus allowed Himself to be crucified and then while hanging on the cross…He forgave us…even when no one had asked to be forgiven! That’s Unconditional Love! God’s love is constant. Let us remember this…and pass it on!

Suggested song of the day– “How Wonderful to Me” 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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Key to Life

Posted on March 5, 2013 by billtonnis

Matthew 18:21-22
Then Peter approaching asked him, “Lord, if my brother sins against me, how often must I forgive him? As many as seven times?” Jesus answered, “I say to you, not seven times but seventy-seven times.”

Jesus says we must forgive…always. It frees us from bondage. That doesn’t mean we have to accept being treated unjustly or to accept others being treated unjustly. Jesus confronted all the unjust systems of government and religion and worked at changing them…but he did it with love and compassion…not with hate and aggression. We will also encounter resistance and struggles…in other words…the Cross. But Jesus showed us that we can do it…if we let Him walk with us. Many who witness your walk will then be open to God’s transformative Love. Jesus showed us that in the end…there will be resurrection and new life.

Suggested song of the day– “Salvation” on the Live to Love 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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Spiritual Thirst

Posted on March 4, 2013 by billtonnis

Psalm 42:2-3
As the deer longs for streams of water, so my soul longs for you, O God. My being thirsts for God, the living God.

We each have a deep yearning inside…a yearning that longs to be satisfied. Why is it that we either try to numb that yearning…cover it up…or try to satisfy it with material or physical things? The yearning is on the “soul” level. It’s a spiritual longing. How is it that you experience God? Is it in music, quiet time, art, creation, scripture or something else? Maybe all of those! Allow God to nourish you. Spend some time with your loving Creator…Who yearns to embrace you!

Suggested song of the day– “I Will Give You Rest” 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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