Eternal Perspective

Posted on September 27, 2012 by billtonnis

Psalm 90:3-5
A thousand years in your eyes are merely a yesterday, but humans you return to dust, saying, “Return, you mortals!” Before a watch passes in the night, you have brought them to their end.

Life can seem meaningless when viewed in a “worldly” perspective. Without a belief in something more when this life ends, “dust” would be our final destination. But thanks to Jesus…we believe that God loves us and that there is life after death. Many witnessed the resurrected Jesus. This gives us hope. Jesus instructed us to start building God’s Kingdom now by spreading this good news (Gospel) and by living a life of love, mercy, forgiveness and compassion. Our bodies may end this life in dust…but our spiritual lives will continue in a way that is a mystery to us. Jesus promised that God would transform this world into a new creation. We are called to take part in that on-going transformation!

Suggested song of the day–“God Is the Goal” 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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God’s Way

Posted on September 26, 2012 by billtonnis

Luke 9:2
Jesus sent them to proclaim the kingdom of God and to heal (the sick).

Jesus wanted all to know that when you follow His ways and love others…you are bringing about the kingdom of God. The “kingdom” starts here. You and I are being called to do this. We have to ask ourselves whether we are proclaiming this “kingdom” of unconditional love that reaches out to those in need of healing…whether it be emotional, physical, or spiritual healing. Do others know of God’s amazing, unconditional love…just by witnessing our lives? Perhaps you are in need of healing. Ask God to send healers into your life.

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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Listen Then Act

Posted on September 25, 2012 by billtonnis

Luke 8:20-21
Jesus was told, “Your mother and your brothers are standing outside and they wish to see you. He said to them in reply, “My mother and my brothers are those who hear the word of God and act on it.”

Jesus was not disrespecting his mother and family with this comment. Jesus also preached to “honor your father and mother” and that you should “love your neighbor as yourself.” Here He was making a point that all those who hear God’s call and then act on it are family…one body of Christ. It’s a team effort! Are we listening to Jesus’ words…and then acting on them? The kingdom of God is depending on it!

Suggested song of the day–“Shall We Sing” 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 “home” and then the “store” tab.
Have a blessed day!

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God Reflector

Posted on September 24, 2012 by billtonnis

Luke 8:16
“No one who lights a lamp conceals it with a vessel or sets it under a bed; rather, he places it on a lampstand so that those who enter may see the light.”

How hard it is to be a light in this world when the people you are with don’t seem very receptive…if not downright resistant to it! Sometimes we can lack confidence that we’ll be able to say what will truly matter in those tough situations. But, to paraphrase part of a prayer Mother Teresa often quoted: “Do it anyway.” It’s not our job to change people’s minds or to change their hearts…that’s up to the Holy Spirit. Our job is to reflect the light of God in our actions and words as best we can through the imperfect faculties we’ve been given. Remember…we are the caregivers. God…is the cure-giver.

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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Something to Live For

Posted on September 21, 2012 by billtonnis

Luke 8:1-3
Afterward Jesus journeyed from one town and village to another, preaching and proclaiming the good news of the kingdom of God. Accompanying him were the Twelve and some women who had been cured of evil spirits and infirmities, Mary, called Magdalene, from whom seven demons had gone out, Joanna, the wife of Herod’s steward Chuza, Susanna, and many others who provided for them out of their resources.

Are you looking for some real purpose in your life…something to get fired-up about and make you feel alive? What was it that inspired the group following Jesus in today’s scripture to make such a drastic change in their lives? These followers were quite the mixture of people. Besides the assorted men who included fishermen and a tax collector…we sometimes overlook that there was also quite the assortment of women. Some of these women must have been wealthy because they “provided for them out of their resources.” All these people left their previous lives to follow Jesus. Perhaps the more we get to know Jesus through reading about him and allowing Him to speak to us in the silence of prayer…we might be equally inspired to follow Him and find the true purpose of our lives. Then we would proclaim the good news of the kingdom of God as well.

Suggested song of the day–“I Want to Follow You” on the Listen to Your Heart album.
All songs available by clicking 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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Love

Posted on September 19, 2012 by billtonnis

1 Corinthians 13:4-6
Love is patient, love is kind. It is not jealous, (love) is not pompous, it is not inflated, it is not rude, it does not seek its own interests, it is not quick-tempered, it does not brood over injury, it does not rejoice over wrongdoing but rejoices with the truth.

This is a great standard to measure our conduct in every-day life. Are we operating under the motivation of love in all that we do…or is our motivation self-interest? Isn’t it also refreshing to know that God IS love…and therefore always acts according to that standard in dealing with each of us?

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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Team Effort

Posted on September 18, 2012 by billtonnis

1 Corinthians 12:27-28
Now you are Christ’s body, and individually parts of it. Some people God has designated in the church to be, first, apostles; second, prophets; third, teachers; then, mighty deeds; then, gifts of healing, assistance, administration, and varieties of tongues.

Each of our lives is meant to be lived-out as a part of the “body of Christ.” This is where you will find true fulfillment. Under which of the designations written by St. Paul above do you fit? Finding your place in the body of Christ is life’s great adventure!

Suggested song of the day–“Show Me…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” link.
Have a blessed day!

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Your Will Be Done

Posted on September 17, 2012 by billtonnis

Psalm 40:17
But may all who seek you rejoice and be glad in you. May those who long for your help always say, “The LORD be glorified.”

What is it that you are seeking in your life? There is a yearning for something to satisfy a void inside each of us. Could it be that God wants to fill that void? Are you seeking the One who created you? Make it a habit to spend some time in silence with God. Let your mind slow to silence. Allow yourself to be empty so God can fill you and tell you how you are a unique and beloved son or daughter. Be that unique, beloved child of God in the world so that God can truly be glorified through you.

Suggested song of the day–“Shall We Sing” 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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Open My Eyes

Posted on September 14, 2012 by billtonnis

Luke 6:42
“How can you say to your brother, ‘Brother, let me remove that splinter in your eye,’ when you do not even notice the wooden beam in your own eye? You hypocrite! Remove the wooden beam from your eye first; then you will see clearly to remove the splinter in your brother’s eye.”

Jesus also tells us not to judge others…but that doesn’t mean we have to “turn our brains off.” We do have to “judge” what is in our best interest. We also can’t help but to “judge” as in “determine in our own minds” whether we think what someone else is doing is a good idea or not. What Jesus doesn’t want us to do is to make any judgments about another person’s salvation or inner goodness. After all, we don’t know all the reasons why that person may be doing what they are doing or what experiences might have influenced that person’s actions. A “wooden beam” in my eye might be obstructing a clear view and I might be completely clueless that the “beam” is even there.
Dear God, remove anything that may be blocking me from seeing the goodness in all people…even the ones that give me a hard time.

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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Radical Love

Posted on September 13, 2012 by billtonnis

Luke 6:27-28
“But to you who hear I say, love your enemies, do good to those who hate you, bless those who curse you, pray for those who mistreat you.”

Following Jesus…means living in a radically different way. He says things that contradict our natural human response. But there are countless true cases of people who forgave others who were guilty of a horrible crime where the person responsible for the crime ended up being transformed by that forgiveness and ended up doing great things. Have you ever heard that refusing to forgive is like drinking poison and hoping it hurts the person who wronged you! Anger and vengeance wrap themselves around you like chains. By forgiving and loving those who hate you…you end up freeing yourself and allowing God’s love to transform the world. It’s really a matter of perspective. Are you living your life as though you are the center of the world…or are you living as though God is at the center?

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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