Bill Tonnis Ministries

Psalm 81:10
There must be no foreign god among you; you must not worship an alien god.

I use to think it was weird talking about not worshipping an “alien god“…as though we would start worshipping gold and silver statues like in the old bible stories. But the point is…those people were putting these idols ahead of the one true God. It’s easy to start giving higher priority to other things when God is sometimes so hard to find…since God, after all, is a Mystery. Perhaps God is hard to find because we have put all our attention elsewhere…on material things…on maintaining a personal image…on other pursuits…like more power…more prestige…a nicer car…a bigger house. Perhaps if we simply didn’t cling to those things…but practiced letting go of our attachments to those things…the one true God might just be difficult to miss…might be overwhelmingly Present to us.

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.
Have a blessed day!

Mark 7:24
Jesus entered a house and wanted no one to know about it, but he could not escape notice.

It’s very refreshing to realize that Jesus did not want notoriety. He did not strive for the spotlight of stardom. His mission was to heal and to restore people to wholeness and community. The message was not that people should simply come to him for a “presto” healing and be on their way as though He was Santa Claus. The message was that God wants to be with you in your brokenness, loves you unconditionally and wants to lead you to healing and wholeness. In my life…it was God’s intimate embrace during my struggles that transformed me. The journey itself is intertwined with God…so that we live the answers and are healed as we continually grow in Christ. As writer and retreat leader Paula D’Arcy said, “God comes to you disguised as your life.”

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.
Have a blessed day!

Psalm 37:5
Commit your way to the Lord; trust that God will act.

When you let go of your need for control…when you surrender your ego and it’s self-centered desires…and turn yourself over to the will of God…you will seldom get clear answers. You will seldom see a direct path. That’s what faith is about…not having the answers and not seeing the road in front of you…but trusting in the providence of God. Try journaling about what happens in your life. Then look back and see if you can spot the running thread of God’s direction. It may not be clear…but faith is about not knowing…and still trusting.
I’m reminded of the prayer of Thomas Merton:
“MY LORD GOD, I have no idea where I am going. I do not see the road ahead of me. I cannot know for certain where it will end. Nor do I really know myself, and the fact that I think I am following your will does not mean that I am actually doing so. But I believe that the desire to please you does in fact please you. And I hope I have that desire in all that I am doing. I hope that I will never do anything apart from that desire. And I know that if I do this you will lead me by the right road, though I may know nothing about it. Therefore I will trust you always though I may seem to be lost and in the shadow of death. I will not fear, for you are ever with me, and you will never leave me to face my perils alone.”

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.
Have a blessed day!

Psalm 84:3
My soul yearns and pines for the courts of the Lord. My heart and flesh cry out for the living God.

This is profoundly true but most are probably quite unaware of it! Everyone is yearning…pining for something. Our hearts and flesh are crying out for something to satisfy us! Isn’t this true for you? The problem is that most people try to satisfy and fulfill this yearning and longing with the three “P’s”: possessions, power and prestige.” These things will only satisfy the constant craving temporarily before it continues to yearn for more. That’s because the yearning isn’t for something physical, emotional or psychological…but for something spiritual. God made each of us with a yearning that only God can fill. When we empty ourselves of our egos’ desires…God has the opportunity to fill us. When we die to ourselves…we paradoxically find ourselves. This is impossible without practicing contemplative prayer. God is as close as your very breath. Take a few minutes to simply be silent and to be aware of your breathing. See what happens.

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 6:56
Whatever villages or towns or countryside he entered, they laid the sick in the marketplaces and begged him that they might touch only the tassel on his cloak; and as many as touched it were healed.

Can you imagine what it was like for Jesus as everyone came to Him expecting to be healed? How overwhelming! And yet this was His mission…to heal and to preach the unconditional love of God. Let’s face it. We all have need of healing. We all have wounds…whether physical, psychological, emotional or spiritual. These are sacred wounds…not places to conceal and be ashamed of…but places to invite Jesus to be with us! These are the places where we are not in control…the places that we have no choice but to “die” to our “false selves” and be truly honest and vulnerable to God. God’s desire is not to punish us but to redeem us and make us whole. Sometimes our wounds are the only places where we can truly experience the unconditional, unmerited and transformational love of God.

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!

Sirach 47:8
With his every deed he offered thanks to God Most High, in words of praise.

The word “Eucharist” comes from a Greek word and literally means “thanksgiving” or “giving thanks.” When we receive the Eucharist into our bodies the Eucharist literally becomes part of our bodies. We are being asked to become “thanksgiving” to the world. Wouldn’t the world be a beautiful place if we all became thanksgiving to God with every deed we did? Our very giving of ourselves would be an act of praise to God. Why not start now?

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!

Hebrews 2:18
Because he himself was tested through what he suffered, he is able to help those who are being tested.

Jesus experienced all the joys and sorrows of being human. God actually became one of us to show that our flesh and all of creation…is good! Everything is sacred! As St. Irenaeus said, “The glory of God is the human fully alive.” All of human experience is sacred…the joys and sorrows. Whatever pain and suffering you are going through…know that Jesus went through the pain of total rejection, extreme persecution and what appeared to be total defeat. But He did so while responding with love, mercy, forgiveness and compassion. Total defeat was transformed into total victory in the resurrection. Your pain will either transform you or you will transmit that pain to the world. Walk with Jesus in your pain and He will lead you to transformation and new life! Then you will be a source of transformation and new life for others.

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.
Have a blessed day!

Mark 6:4
Jesus said to them, “A prophet is not without honor except in his native place and among his own kin and in his own house.”

When Jesus returned to His hometown of Nazareth He astounded the people with his teaching. At first they were impressed. But then they asked, “Is he not the carpenter, the son of Mary?” And then the scripture says, “They took offense at him.” Following your heart…giving your all to be the person you were meant to be…becoming your true self…will mean growth and change. Some people will not be comfortable with that! As a matter of fact, unfortunately, sometimes your closest friends and family can be the very ones who will give you a hard time. When you follow the dream God has given you and begin to live it…you will be growing and moving out of your comfort zone. This will challenge others around you to do so as well…and they might not like it! Remember…you are not meant to please them…but to please God! Listen to your heart…and then follow Jesus. It’s the way to finding your true self.

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.
Have a blessed day!

Mark 5:41-43
Jesus took the child by the hand and said to her, “Talitha koum,” which means, “Little girl, I say to you, arise!” The girl, a child of twelve, arose immediately and walked around. At that they were utterly astounded. He gave strict orders that no one should know this and said that she should be given something to eat.

Can you imagine being present in that room when Jesus actually brings this girl back to life? I’m sure we would all be “utterly astounded“! We all go through various “deaths” as we take our spiritual journeys. It seems the pain and sorrows we encounter are necessary so that we let go of our ego-centered selves…and enter into a bigger story…God’s story for our lives. It seems to be the only way our egos will willingly let go. Otherwise, our lives become all about gratifying the insatiable desires of this ego…or as the famous monk Thomas Merton would have called it, our “false selves.” Jesus showed us that His concern is for the healing and wholeness of the person. Notice how He wants the miracle to remain a total secret! It is not about Him…but about the wholeness of the girl. He has that same concern for you! If you need new life…do not fear. Turn to Jesus and hear His voice say, “Arise!”

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!

Mark 5:5-7
Night and day among the tombs and on the hillsides he was always crying out and bruising himself with stones. Catching sight of Jesus from a distance, he ran up and prostrated himself before him, crying out in a loud voice, “What have you to do with me, Jesus, Son of the Most High God?”

Have you ever felt like a reject…like you were completely unlovable? Have you ever felt like God could never care for you because of things you’ve done? In today’s scripture we see a man possessed by demons…completely wild and mentally unstable…who has been cast out of his community to roam about tombs and hillsides. He seems quite astounded that Jesus would have anything to do with him…because apparently no one else will. When others reject you…indeed when you reject yourself…Jesus will not…nor will He ever. Jesus healed this man and sent him home to be restored to his community. Turn to Him and expect total acceptance and healing. As followers of Jesus…we are called to do the same for others.

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.
Have a blessed day!