Bill Tonnis Ministries

John 14:7
“If you know me, then you will also know my Father. From now on you do know him and have seen him.”

We all have wrestled with the concept of “God.” Who is our Creator? This is all in the realm of mystery…so beware of people who have it all figured out! We see how people tried to get a handle on God all throughout the Old Testament. God seemed somewhat vindictive and harsh. This is because they were mirroring their own vindictiveness and harshness on God! Then we have Jesus telling his followers that you can know God…if you know Him. Is Jesus vindictive and harsh? No. Is Jesus arrogant, critical, judgmental and condemning? No. Jesus is loving, merciful, forgiving and compassionate. He reaches out and spends time with those who are “sinners.” The only ones Jesus does criticize are the Pharisees…the religious leaders who are always holding people to the letter of the law. If you are a sinner (and who isn’t!) then Jesus wants to be with you. That is Who God Is. This is Good News!

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!

Acts 13:2
While they were worshipping the Lord and fasting, the holy Spirit said, “Set apart for me Barnabas and Saul for the work to which I have called them.”

What is God calling you to do? You are a unique expression of God who is meant to be a unique expression of God’s love to the world. What is your part in building the kingdom of God? Quite honestly, you probably can’t come up with the answer by way of your mind. It’s more of a “heart” thing than a “thinking” thing. How can you “hear” the Holy Spirit calling you to your next step on the journey? Just like anything…it takes practice. If you want to get better at anything you have to invest some of your time. You have to sit still…and listen. Let the thinking mind be quiet. Be present to God in the silence. What is God saying to you in the patterns of your life?

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

Acts 9:15-16
But the Lord said to him, “Go, for this man is a chosen instrument of mine to carry my name before Gentiles, kings, and Israelites, and I will show him what he will have to suffer for my name.”

It seems many people wrestle with feelings of unworthiness…that they just don’t measure up to God’s demands. From the deepest part of my heart I know that God wants me to tell you that this is totally untrue! God loves us in our weaknesses and failings. That is what UN-conditional love means! Each of us is loved as a newborn son or daughter. God knows full well of our inability to be perfect because that’s the way God made us. Saul was the worst of the worst. He was persecuting Christians…even leading them to their deaths. But God chose him to be an instrument to preach the name of Jesus! Saul became St. Paul…the most influential evangelist ever. His zeal for the Lord no doubt came directly from his knowledge that he had been forgiven and that it had nothing to do with his worthiness, ability or merit. It was pure Grace. It was simply a gift from God. God’s love is transforming. Accept it. Allow it to transform you.

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!

Acts 8:29
The Spirit said to Philip, “Go and join up with that chariot.”

When Philip joined the man in the chariot he ended up being just the one who could make a difference in the life of the man operating it. Are you open to the Holy Spirit’s voice? First of all, you have to be listening and that takes practice. Are you paying attention to your inner-voice? Secondly, are you taking time to nurture an “inner-life” through daily periods of scripture reading and silence? Thirdly, it also takes time to figure out if the voice you are hearing is actually just your voice or your ego speaking. If the voice is asking you to do something that will be a channel of love, mercy, forgiveness or compassion…or if it is prompting you to take action in the name of justice…then perhaps it is the voice of the Holy Spirit. The Spirit’s voice will never be harsh or demeaning. It will never be belittling nor will it have personal gain as an objective. When we are attuned to the Spirit’s voice…we are led to build the kingdom of God.

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!

1 Peter 5:7
Cast all your worries upon him because he cares for you.

Why do we worry? How can worry possibly help us? I sometimes catch my mind as it is repeating the same old “what if?” scenarios (usually with all painful outcomes!) and often I then hear what’s becoming more and more a familiar “other” voice. It says, “Be not afraid.” Jesus said it over and over. The only time that is real…is now. God is in this moment. God is loving us thoroughly and completely as we are…right now. We have nothing to prove. How freeing that is…if you believe it! Why not accept this Good News? It is the Gospel!

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!

Acts 7:58, 8:1
They threw Stephen out of the city, and began to stone him. The witnesses laid down their cloaks at the feet of a young man named Saul. Now Saul was consenting to his execution.

Stephen was the first martyr to die for preaching about the risen Jesus. And the young man mentioned named Saul who stood in approval of the stoning of Stephen…was a Pharisee…one of the religious leaders. He became one of the most infamous persecutors of Christians…all in the name of God by the way! This same Saul later became known as St. Paul after undergoing an amazing conversion. St. Paul became one of the greatest Christian preachers. God loves all people including those who do evil things. Jesus told us to love our enemies. Stephen’s act of martyrdom no doubt planted an early seed that one day would play a part in Saul’s coming to understand who Christ really was. If the evil-doing Saul had simply been eliminated by the “good guys”…there never would have been a St. Paul. Something to ponder. Besides this…who are we throwing out and trying to silence today?

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!

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 many of us are working for “food that perishes”? Each of us needs to ask ourselves, “For what purpose am I using my time, talent and treasure?” Is it to stockpile possessions, power and prestige…to build my own kingdom? Or is it to build God’s kingdom…in making the world a more loving, merciful, forgiving and compassionate place? How often do we spend quiet time with the Risen Christ…asking Him to show us how we can die to ourselves and surrender our egocentric desires so that we might experience the resurrection and new life? It’s the only way to discover your true self…the person made in the image of God. Using our time, talent and treasure for God’s purposes is what leads to fulfilling and joyful lives that never end.

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!

Psalm 27:13-14
But I believe I shall enjoy the Lord’s goodness in the land of the living. Wait for the Lord, take courage; be stouthearted, wait for the Lord!

Following Jesus is not about trying to make the cut in an evacuation plan to get to heaven one day. Jesus called on us to follow him now…while picking up our cross (whatever particular struggles or obstacles we are dealing with). Jesus wants us to experience His love, mercy, forgiveness and compassion now (“in the land of the living”). It’s not about our goodness earning God’s love…but God’s goodness poured out generously and unconditionally upon us now because God is good, generous and loving. God is Love! Let that knowledge sink in. Rest in it. And if you are not experiencing this amazing acceptance and love at the moment…take courage! Wait for the Lord! While you are consciously waiting…you are present…and in the Presence you will find the unconditional love of God.

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

Acts 5:29
But Peter and the apostles said in reply, “We must obey God rather than men.”

Peer pressure and the ways of our culture can be tough to go against. Most of the time we might not even think to question our personal habits and business practices. But if we are to follow Jesus, it means doing so even when it would be easier to blend in with the crowd and just do what everyone else is doing. It also means we obey God when it comes to how we spend our money, how we vote, what television shows we watch, what we do on the internet and how we spend our free time. What is my motivation in doing the things that I do? Staying in tune with your inner voice, those little tugs on your heart can reveal the desires God has for you. Spend ten minutes each morning in silence in your “inner room” with God. Empty yourself so God has a place to fill. Then when faced with day-to-day decisions, you will more clearly be able to hear God’s voice amidst the chatter of the world.

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

John 3:16-17
For God so loved the world that he gave his only Son, so that everyone who believes in him might not perish but might have eternal life. For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but that the world might be saved through him.

God became one of us in Jesus and showed us how to live and how to die. If we follow His way…we find true life right here and now. It’s the way of dying to our own selfish desires and using our gifts and talents in the service of others’ needs. Pursuing our own egocentric desires leads to an endless quest for more which eventually leads to a dead-end. But when we let go of our attachments to possessions, prestige and power, we paradoxically receive all that we need. Unencumbered by these attachments…we find freedom, peace and joy. In other words…we find abundant life that is both now and eternal. Jesus almost always talked about the “kingdom of God” in terms of the present. Turn to Jesus…follow Him…and discover true life now.

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