Let Love Guide You

Posted on March 1, 2013 by billtonnis

Matthew 21:43
“Therefore, I say to you, the kingdom of God will be taken away from you and given to a people that will produce its fruit.”

The only ones whom Jesus repeatedly reprimanded for “not getting it” were the priests and Pharisees. They held tight to laws and rituals even when it meant being cold-hearted to those in need. What is the “fruit” of the kingdom of God? Love…mercy…grace…forgiveness and compassion! Are we producing such fruit with our lives? Perhaps if we let go of our agenda we would be open to cooperate with God’s agenda for our lives. Then the kingdom of God would truly be at hand! Loving God, help me to produce the fruit of Your 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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Living Water

Posted on February 28, 2013 by billtonnis

Jeremiah 17:7-8
Blessed is the man who trusts in the Lord, whose hope is the Lord. He is like a tree planted beside the waters that stretches out its roots to the stream.

God plants seeds in our hearts. They are God’s dreams for us. However, sometimes our egos have more self-centered dreams for us. God’s seeds are ignored. They wither. Or the materialism and consumerism of our culture can drown God’s dreams. If God’s seed is watered and nourished it will grow into a tree with deep roots that stretch to the never-ending stream which is God. Do you know God’s dream for you? Turn to your Loving Creator…open your heart…and listen.

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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Dying and Rising

Posted on February 27, 2013 by billtonnis

Psalm 31:5-6
Free me from the net they have set for me, for you are my refuge. Into your hands I commend my spirit; you will redeem me, Lord, faithful God.

Sometimes it feels like everyone and everything is conspiring against us. Jesus felt this. When the Son of God was thoroughly rejected and hanging on the cross He quoted Psalm 31: “Into your hands I commend my spirit.” Life is a moment-by-moment “letting go”…surrendering the things we thought at one time were so important but which really aren’t important at all. It’ll feel like dying. When we “let go” of these “attachments” and turn ourselves over to God…God redeems us…in other words…makes us whole. God gives us what we truly need. It’s the path of dying and rising. It’s the only path to becoming your true self.

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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Called to Serve

Posted on February 26, 2013 by billtonnis

Matthew 23:11-12
“The greatest among you must be your servant. Whoever exalts himself will be humbled; but whoever humbles himself will be exalted.”

What Jesus is telling us is exactly the opposite of what our culture tells us. It tells us to be first…to beat all the competition…to win the applause of all…to be the “American Idol”! Jesus tells us to “die to ourselves”…let go of our egos. It’s up to God to do any “exalting.” We have a choice. God gave us free will for a reason. Which philosophy will you follow?

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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Radical Grace

Posted on February 25, 2013 by billtonnis

Luke 6:36-37
“Be merciful, just as [also] your Father is merciful. Stop judging and you will not be judged. Stop condemning and you will not be condemned. Forgive and you will be forgiven.”

The world has not changed. Humans continue to fight with each other and to kill each other. Jesus says to “love your enemies” (Luke 6:27). This is hard. It also would change the world. Some will never buy it. What about you? This is what Jesus told us to do. When we mirror the mercy, forgiveness and compassion God gives us to others…we are in the flow of the Trinity…a never-ending outpouring of unconditional love. Allow today’s scripture verses to sink into your soul. It’s the path to transformation. The kingdom of God is at hand…if we cooperate.

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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Divine Presence

Posted on February 22, 2013 by billtonnis

Psalm 23:1
The Lord is my shepherd; there is nothing I lack.

Is God at the center of your life…or you? What is the motivating source? Are you trying to please God or your ego…or others? When we let go of our attachment to material or worldly things…in a sense “emptying ourselves“…we can allow God to fill us with the Divine Presence. When God is our primary focus and we are totally present to God…we lack nothing. We have all that we truly need. Try practicing contemplative prayer by sitting quietly for ten minutes…allowing all your thoughts to slowly slip away. You will lack nothing.

Suggested song of the day– “Breathe On 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!

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Path to Wholeness

Posted on February 21, 2013 by billtonnis

Matthew 7:7
“Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you.”

Jesus is quite the teacher. He is not saying that God is a genie waiting to grant your wishes nor is He saying that God is some cosmic Santa Claus. What God wants you to have does not come wrapped in a box. God wants you to become your “true self.” This is the deepest desire of your heart. Whatever that desire is…God is the one who has placed it there to begin with! So you see…you are already on the path to finding. Ask for God’s help. Seek! It is in the seeking…that you will find!

Suggested song of the day– “Singing My 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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Be Renewed

Posted on February 20, 2013 by billtonnis

Psalm 51:12
A clean heart create for me, God; renew in me a steadfast spirit.

Whatever you have done to turn away from God…is in the past. That time no longer exists. As St. Paul says in 2 Corinthians 6:2, “Behold, now is a very acceptable time; behold, now is the day of salvation.” Now is the only time where God is present…where the kingdom of God comes alive. God always looks at us with open arms. Open your heart and allow Compassion itself…your loving Creator…to renew you. During this time of Lent, take the opportunity to simply turn back to God. As Jesus said in Matthew 6:6, “When you pray, go to your inner room, close the door, and pray to your Father in secret. And your Father who sees in secret will repay you.” Spend some quiet time with God.

Suggested song of the day– “Come to Jesus” 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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Your Kingdom Come

Posted on February 19, 2013 by billtonnis

Matthew 6:8-10
“Your Father knows what you need before you ask him. This is how you are to pray: Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name, your kingdom come, your will be done, on earth as in heaven.”

A toddler wants all kinds of stuff…but a loving parent knows what the toddler truly needs. How much more is this so with our Loving Creator? You are the beloved child of the Maker of the Universe! Jesus said that the will of God was that His kingdom would come “on earth as in heaven.” The question is…am I more interested in building my kingdom or God’s? What we truly need is God’s kingdom. How will God’s kingdom come about “on earth” if not through the cooperation of you and me? Dear God, how do you want to do this…through me?

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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True Fasting

Posted on February 15, 2013 by billtonnis

Isaiah 58:6-7
“This, rather, is the fasting that I wish: releasing those bound unjustly, untying the thongs of the yoke; setting free the oppressed, breaking every yoke; Sharing your bread with the hungry, sheltering the oppressed and the homeless; Clothing the naked when you see them, and not turning your back on your own.”

The prophet Isaiah lived over 700 years before Jesus but spoke powerfully of the true Messiah to come. Jesus would not be a king of military might but one of love, mercy, forgiveness and compassion. Isaiah told the people quite pointedly that God does not desire fasting and sacrifices if they are to gain God’s favor. That is not what impresses God. What God wants is for us to sacrifice our ego-centered desires for the sake of those who are oppressed, hungry, homeless, and in need. This is the radical call of Christ!

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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