Bill Tonnis Ministries

Mark 1:35-38
Rising very early before dawn, he left and went off to a deserted place, where he prayed. Simon and those who were with him pursued him and on finding him said, “Everyone is looking for you.” He told them, “Let us go on to the nearby villages that I may preach there also. For this purpose have I come.”

Notice how Jesus goes off to “a deserted place” and prays in silence. He gets away from any distractions to commune in solitude with God. How often do we do this? Notice how Simon and the others find Jesus and try to get Him to return to the people who have already experienced the power of His preaching and healing. But does Jesus simply go along with what others want Him to do? No. He doesn’t. Jesus knows his mission is to move on to preach and heal elsewhere. He knows this through His heart-to-heart time in prayer with God. Do we follow our hearts or do we follow the pressures of what others want us to do? For us to know our calling and mission…we must take time in silence to open up a heart-to-heart communication with God.

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.
Have a blessed day!

1 Samuel 2:6
The Lord puts to death and gives life.

Death and life are part of one whole. You can’t have one without the other. It’s not an “either-or” but a “both-and” proposition. This is our “blueprint” for how God operates. Life and death is the pattern for each day with the rising and setting of the sun. It’s the pattern of the seasons with spring leading to winter. It’s the pattern Jesus showed us in His life and death on the cross. But remember: Each night is followed by a new dawn; each winter is followed by a new spring; the crucifixion was followed by the resurrection. Christ lives! All our struggles will lead to new life. Just follow Jesus!

Suggested song of the day—“Seasons” 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!

Isaiah 42:6-7
I, the Lord, have called you for the victory of justice, I have grasped you by the hand; I formed you, and set you as a covenant of the people, a light for the nations, to open the eyes of the blind, to bring out prisoners from confinement.

The Prophet Isaiah foretold the Messiah’s mission 600 years in advance. It would not be to crush the enemies of Israel. It would instead be to heal all people and to free them from oppression and injustice. This is what Jesus did and what each of us as followers of Him is called to do. Why do we make it so complicated? Jesus simply told us to love God and our neighbor as ourselves.
Dear God, help me to love as You loved. Help me to heal as You healed. Help me to free victims of oppression from injustice as You did.

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!

1 John 5:5
Who indeed is the victor over the world but the one who believes that Jesus is the Son of God?

The “world“…meaning the value system of materialism, power, prestige and being first…leads to a dead end. Following such a system will never satisfy the insatiable desires of the ego to build its own kingdom. Jesus has a different philosophy…one of love and service…using your gifts and talents to build God’s kingdom. Following the “world’s” philosophy leads to an endless grab for more…as well as anxiety and stress over holding onto what you’ve grabbed. Following Jesus leads to freely sharing your treasures…not being “attached” to them. It also leads to inner peace and contentment. Which path do you choose?

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!

1 John 3:16-18
The way we came to know love was that he laid down his life for us; so we ought to lay down our lives for our brothers. If someone who has worldly means sees a brother in need and refuses him compassion, how can the love of God remain in him? Children, let us love not in word or speech but in deed and truth.

Wow! What more is there to say? Jesus showed us that the path to life was attained by loving all people…even when they persecuted him…and even in the most extreme act of injustice: when they nailed the Son of God to a cross! While on the cross…even though no one asked for forgiveness or deserved it…He freely gave it! Gaze for a moment upon Jesus hanging on the cross…while still extending unconditional love. This is how much God loves you. You do not have to earn it. It’s given. Accept it…allow it to sink into your heart…and pass it on to others!

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!

John 1:38
Jesus turned and saw them following him and said to them, “What are you looking for?”

Interesting question…isn’t it? So…what are you looking for? You can look for possessions, power and prestige if you wish and will likely find a certain amount of pleasure there. But it won’t last. Jesus said that you couldn’t serve both money and God. It’s really a question of whether you are looking to build your own kingdom…or God’s kingdom. When you look to build God’s kingdom you are open to using your gifts and talents to serve others in making the world a more loving, forgiving and compassionate place. A good way to start is by following Jesus and His example.

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.
Have a blessed day!

1 John 3:2
Beloved, we are God’s children now; what we shall be has not yet been revealed. We do know that when it is revealed we shall be like him, for we shall see him as he is.

You are God’s beloved. This is true and yet…do you believe it? Or are you endlessly trying to prove yourself worthy of God’s love? Or do you think that perhaps you aren’t worthy of it? Fortunately, worthiness has nothing to do with it! God’s love is simply a free and undeserved gift. It’s Grace. God loves us into existence! God’s only desire is that you receive this Love and then freely give it away. In doing this…each of us becomes the full and unique expression of the Love God intended…and we become like God. One sure way to be one with God’s desires…is to follow Jesus. It is the path to becoming your “true self.”

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.
Have a blessed day!

John 1:1,14
In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. And the Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us.

The Letter to Titus 2:11
For the grace of God has appeared, saving all.

How’s that for a Christmas present? Peace and joy to you all!

Song of Songs 2:11-12
“For see, the winter is past, the rains are over and gone. The flowers appear on the earth, the time of pruning the vines has come, and the song of the dove is heard in our land.”

God is constantly wanting to give life…to fill that which is empty…to birth something new…to re-birth where new life is needed. The cycle of the seasons shows us this. So do the life, death and resurrection of Jesus. Each of us receives the gift of life and is invited into the cycle of receiving and letting go…giving back. It is a beautiful cycle of unconditional love…of participating in the very nature of God and the Trinity. The invitation is always being given! What do you need to let go of so God can give birth to something new this Christmas?
Wishing you much peace and joy!

Suggested song of the day—“Seasons” 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!

Luke 1:36-37
“And behold, Elizabeth, your relative, has also conceived a son in her old age, and this is the sixth month for her who was called barren; for nothing will be impossible for God.”

Where in your life do you feel barren? Where is it in your life that you are struggling and in need of new life? Trust that God is able and willing to do the seemingly impossible! For God gave Elizabeth a son in her old age…a son who became John the Baptist. And God gave the Virgin Mary a Son who became the Messiah. Yet Mary remained a “virgin-mother.” Impossible? Nothing is impossible for God! Allow this paradox of “virgin-mother” to open your mind to a deeper mystery and a deeper truth.

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!