Life-Changing Words

Posted on November 23, 2012 by billtonnis

Luke 19:48
“…all the people were hanging on his words.”

What was it like to actually hear Jesus speak? People were drawn to Him and His words inspired…brought peace and transformed those who listened to Him. While we cannot hear Him speak in the flesh today…we can still read His words in the four Gospels. Find a quiet place, settle your mind…and read the words of Jesus. Listen…and get ready for your heart to be transformed. It’s the path to peace and wholeness.

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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The Way to Wholeness

Posted on November 22, 2012 by billtonnis

Luke 19:41-42
As he drew near, he saw the city and wept over it, saying, “If this day you only knew what makes for peace–but now it is hidden from your eyes.”

Jesus shows us the face of a loving and caring God…weeping over the sight of all His children turning away from Him. They were not following His example of love, mercy, forgiveness and compassion. They just didn’t see…didn’t realize that Jesus was showing them the way that would lead them to peace and wholeness…if only they would follow Him. What would it take for them to realize how much God loves us? It would take responding to persecution with love, mercy, forgiveness and compassion…all the way to the cross. We are called to do the same.

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!

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Living Praise

Posted on November 21, 2012 by billtonnis

Psalm 150:6
Let everything that has breath give praise to the LORD! Hallelujah!

The only reason you and I are existing at this very moment is because God is willing it to be. God’s grace is flowing right now…everywhere…and it has nothing to do with our worthiness. God’s constant, never-changing love is what makes all things exist. A tree is praising God every second by being the best tree it can be. Of course, it has no choice! We are the only beings with a free will to choose how we respond to God’s love. What if our response was to be the best version of our unique selves? Keep asking in prayer…listen…and follow Jesus…and your life will be a gift of praise to the Lord!

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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Under the Affluence

Posted on November 20, 2012 by billtonnis

Revelation 3:17-18
For you say, ‘I am rich and affluent and have no need of anything,’ and yet do not realize that you are wretched, pitiable, poor, blind, and naked. I advise you to buy from me gold refined by fire so that you may be rich, and white garments to put on so that your shameful nakedness may not be exposed, and buy ointment to smear on your eyes so that you may see.

Wealth is not evil of itself…only if it blocks God’s grace in our lives. Those who are wealthy can still be open to God’s grace…if they keep God as their top priority as well as care for the poor. But wealth does make this challenging. It’s easy for wealth to blind us to our need for God and the needs of the poor. The book of Revelation is rich in symbolism. The writer says we all need God’s grace and spiritual healing…so that we can see as God sees. God scolds us to change our ways as a parent whose motive is love. God wants to free us from our attachment to affluence and greed. As Jesus said, “For the Son of Man has come to seek and to save what was lost” (Luke 19:10).

Suggested song of the day–“I Surrender” on the Live to Love album.
All songs available by 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!

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Blind Faith

Posted on November 19, 2012 by billtonnis

Luke 18:41-42
Jesus asked him, “What do you want me to do for you?” He replied, “Lord, please let me see.” Jesus told him, “Have sight; your faith has saved you.”

When a blind man heard that Jesus was passing by he kept calling out to Him…even to the point where others in the crowd were telling him to be quiet. Do we pursue and call out to Jesus…with the same persistence? More important than the physical healing Jesus gave this man was that the blind man had faith that Jesus could help him. Jesus restored the man to “wholeness.” Do we have the faith that Jesus can do the same for us?

Suggested song of the day–“Heal 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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Let Go

Posted on November 16, 2012 by billtonnis

Luke 17:33
“Whoever seeks to preserve his life will lose it, but whoever loses it will save it.”

Statements like this one from Jesus really make us think. What things in our lives do we hold on to and become identified with? It could be our possessions, our titles, our positions, our popularity or our abilities. We become attached to these things. But none of it will last. When we do not cling to those things but are willing to use those things to serve others…when we give our lives and strip away the masks that we wear…we find our true selves. We are children of God…loved by our Creator for no other reason…than that.

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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Now Is the Kingdom

Posted on November 15, 2012 by billtonnis

Luke 17:20-21
Asked by the Pharisees when the kingdom of God would come, he said in reply, “The coming of the kingdom of God cannot be observed, and no one will announce, ‘Look, here it is,’ or, ‘There it is.’ For behold, the kingdom of God is among you.”

What do you think of when you hear the phrase: “The kingdom of God”? Many jump to thoughts of heaven and eternal life…but this does not seem to be what Jesus is talking about! He says, “The kingdom of God is among you.” Could it be we can “enter the kingdom of God” when we are truly loving God and loving our neighbor as ourselves? The kingdom of God starts now…if we choose it.

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

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Grace Poured Out

Posted on November 14, 2012 by billtonnis

Titus 3:3-7
For we ourselves were once foolish, disobedient, deluded, slaves to various desires and pleasures, living in malice and envy, hateful ourselves and hating one another. But when the kindness and generous love of God our savior appeared, not because of any righteous deeds we had done but because of his mercy, he saved us through the bath of rebirth and renewal by the holy Spirit, whom he richly poured out on us through Jesus Christ our savior, so that we might be justified by his grace and become heirs in hope of eternal life.

Wow…that is a lot to digest. St. Paul’s writings tend to ramble…but they are filled with meaning! Paul’s life was completely turned around through an encounter with the living Love of God…the risen Christ. There is nothing we need to do to earn this Love. It is freely given to you and me by a God whose love is beyond our understanding. That is truly GOOD NEWS!

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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Sing Your Song

Posted on November 13, 2012 by billtonnis

Psalm 37:4
Find your delight in the Lord who will give you your heart’s desire.

What is your heart’s desire? Maybe it is clear to you…but maybe due to the many mixed messages and noise of this world…our heart’s desire is not so easy to figure out. What we can do is focus more on Jesus. Try listening to Him in scripture and talking to Him in inner-silence. Once we start “delighting” in our relationship with the Lord…we may find ourselves living our heart’s true desire!

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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Breaking Chains

Posted on November 12, 2012 by billtonnis

Luke 17:4
If someone wrongs you seven times in one day and returns to you seven times saying, ‘I am sorry,’ you should forgive him.”

Forgiveness is one of the main keys to the Kingdom of God. When we forgive…we not only free the person who wronged us…but we free ourselves as well! The kingdom of God…is then truly at hand. As a follower of Christ…we are also called to take action to correct any social injustice being done…while maintaining a forgiving heart. Always forgive…and be free.

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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