Bill Tonnis Ministries

Psalm 51:10
Create in me a clean heart, O God, and put a new and right spirit within me.

Lent is a perfect time to repent…change directions…turn back to God…allow God to change our hearts. How is my heart in need of change? Where does it need to be cleansed of a wrong spirit…a spirit not of God but of my own self-centered desires? Generally we are blind to the answers to these questions. Lent is a good time to go into the desert with Jesus…find some quiet time…and allow the Holy Spirit to open our eyes to the places in our hearts that need God’s love, mercy, grace, forgiveness and compassion. For this to happen…we need to be open to this healing Grace.

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.
Have a blessed day!

Matthew 6:7-8
“In praying, do not babble like the pagans, who think that they will be heard because of their many words. Do not be like them. Your Father knows what you need before you ask him.”

Jesus just told his followers to go to their “inner room” and pray to God “in secret.” He further emphasizes His point by telling them “do not babble” with many words. God already knows what we need. The question is…do we? We all think we know what we want but only God knows what we truly need. Jesus goes on to tell His followers to pray to God that “your kingdom come, your will be done.” God wants the best for us. So why not simply sit in silent reverence before our Loving Creator and say, “Not my will…but Yours be done.” Ask the Blessed Mother for help.

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.
Have a blessed day!

Matthew 25:40
“Amen, I say to you, whatever you did for one of the least of these, you did for me.”

The measuring stick for success in our culture is the amassing of possessions (wealth), power and prestige. The measuring stick of success in the kingdom of God is how well we followed Jesus. And Jesus gave us His definition of success succinctly when he said, “For I was hungry and you gave me food, I was thirsty and you gave me drink, a stranger and you welcomed me, naked and you clothed me, ill and you cared for me, in prison and you visited me” (Matthew 25:35). The season of Lent is a time to repent…which means to “turn around” and “change our direction.” It’s a good time to ask ourselves how we can change direction…so that we are using our gifts and talents to be a success in the eyes of God.

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.
Have a blessed day!

2 Corinthians 6:2
Behold, now is a very acceptable time; behold, now is the day of salvation.

As Lent begins may each of us focus on this moment…the only time that is real. The past is gone. The future is yet to be. Now is the place and time where God dwells and wants to be with you to bring you to completion and wholeness. That is salvation! So be present to the Divine Presence. God is everywhere and as close to you as your breath. Over these next 40 days may each of us open our hearts to God who wants nothing more than to see us become the unique expression that God intended. Here are two other scriptures to complete this thought:
“Yet even now, says the Lord, return to me with your whole heart.” –Joel 2:12
“But when you pray, go to your inner room, close the door, and pray to your Father in secret.” — Matthew 6:6

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.
Have a blessed day!

Mark 9:35
Jesus said to them, “If anyone wishes to be first, he shall be the last of all and the servant of all.”

The apostles had given up possessions but they were having trouble letting go of the other two “P’s”…power and prestige. They were discussing who among them was the greatest. Jesus is always turning the world’s ways on its head. Our culture tells us that winning is everything. We are taught to strive to be first. Of course…when someone wins…everyone else loses. Jesus told his followers that in God’s kingdom the highest place of honor goes to the person who willingly descends to being with the least…to serve those who are counted as last and on the fringes. When we serve others we are serving Christ. Each of us needs to ask ourselves, “Am I serving me…or God? Am I building my kingdom…or 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.
Have a blessed day!

James 2:15-16
If a brother or sister has nothing to wear and has no food for the day, and one of you says to them, “Go in peace, keep warm, and eat well,” but you do not give them the necessities of the body, what good is it?

Faith in Christ as our Savior is life changing. It’s not just a rational acknowledgment that frees us to do as we please…assured of a future trip to heaven. Jesus showed us the path to life now. He washed the feet of his followers and told them to do the same. Acknowledging Christ as my Savior is one thing on the “head” level, but it’s quite another on the “heart” level. Jesus showed us how to live by loving God and neighbor unconditionally. That same love is freely given to us through no merit of our own. He told us to do the same…even to love our enemies! Jesus taught us to pray that God’s will would “be done on earth as it is in heaven.” That will not only require faith, but plenty of action as well.

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.
Have a blessed day!

Psalm 34:5
I sought the Lord, who answered me, delivered me from all my fears.

The sooner you come to know God as an unconditional lover and forgiver the sooner you will be able to live an authentic life. God does not love you because of your goodness but because of God’s goodness. You do not have to prove yourself worthy! God does not want to punish you but to see you whole and healed…and God loves being the One restoring you and healing you! Jesus showed us this quite clearly. So why not seek Christ throughout the day? He will never desert you and promises to deliver you from all fears!

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.
Have a blessed day!

James 1:22
Be doers of the word and not hearers only, deluding yourselves.

Christianity is not about just believing certain things. Jesus never seemed to be interested in passing on beliefs as much as He was interested in restoring people to health, wholeness and community. He never asked those that he healed what their beliefs were before he healed them. The unconditional love, mercy and forgiveness of God transformed each person who came into a true encounter with Christ. Transformed Christians are the ones whose beliefs have now moved to their hearts. They can’t help but pass on the love of God to others. Have you experienced the unconditional love, mercy and forgiveness of God in your life? They are all free gifts from God…to those who open their hearts to receive!

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.
Have a blessed day!

James 1:14-15
Each person is tempted when he is lured and enticed by his own desire. Then desire conceives and brings forth sin, and when sin reaches maturity it gives birth to death.

We are all tempted and have fallen…and will no doubt fall again. Each of us seems to have at least one major flaw that we just can’t seem to kick…that proverbial “thorn in our flesh” as St. Paul might have put it. If we didn’t have this secret place where we just can’t save ourselves, we wouldn’t need God, would we? As is sung in the Easter Vigil liturgy in The Exsultet, “O happy fault, O necessary sin of Adam, which gained for us so great a Redeemer!” What if Christ wants nothing more than to be with us in our failings? What if Christ wants to embrace us and tell us He loves us anyway? I have experienced the love of Christ after falling. Sin in itself leads to a dead end. But with Christ it leads to transformation, new life and redemption!

Suggested song of the day–“Salvation” on the Live to Love album.
All songs available on iTunes. Click on the link under blogroll to right.
Have a blessed day!

James 1:11
For the sun comes up with its scorching heat and dries up the grass, its flower droops, and the beauty of its appearance vanishes. So will the rich person fade away in the midst of his pursuits.

Be on guard against the pursuit of power, prestige and possessions. In and of themselves they are not evil as long as you do not identify with them or get attached to them. When used for good they each can be sources of great good. But when they become ends in themselves…when they become our first priority…when we attach them to our own identity…they lead to a dead end…and will lead you completely away from ever discovering your true self. Jesus seemed to enjoy a good party. He said in Matthew 11:19 that some criticized Him because he “came eating and drinking and they said, ‘Look, he is a glutton and a drunkard.'” Jesus seemed to enjoy life while not becoming attached to any of it…freely passing on all that He was given by God. When you are grounded in a relationship with God…your motivations will not be self-centered but for the good of all.

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.
Have a blessed day!