Bill Tonnis Ministries

Luke 10:8-9
“Whatever town you enter and they welcome you, eat what is set before you, cure the sick in it and say to them, ‘The kingdom of God is at hand for you.'”

Jesus sent out His followers with a mission. It was not to indoctrinate people to believe in Him. It was not to make sure that they followed a new set of rules to get them into heaven one day. The mission was a call to action…to “cure the sick“…heal them of whatever was causing their brokenness…and make them whole. He told His followers to then tell those people, “The kingdom of God is at hand for you.” Not some day…but now! As followers of Jesus we have a mission to help heal all who are broken (which is everyone!) and be builders of the kingdom of God. When we take part…the kingdom of God is in the process.

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.
Have a blessed day!

Luke 12:15
“Take care to guard against all greed, for though one may be rich, one’s life does not consist of possessions.”

Jesus goes on to tell the crowd a parable in which a rich man whose land produced a bountiful harvest goes on to build larger barns to store it all for himself. He then rejoices in his riches and says to himself, “Rest, eat, drink, be merry!” But God’s response is, ‘You fool, this night your life will be demanded of you; and the things you have prepared, to whom will they belong?” One of the false programs for happiness that is so hard to shake is that if we just gathered more…just had a bigger bank account…just had a bigger 401k…just had that latest techno-gadget…well then we would be perfectly happy. Jesus shows us that the one who has much love, mercy and compassion…and freely shares it with their time, talent and treasure…is the one who is truly rich.

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!

Luke 12:6-7
“Are not five sparrows sold for two small coins? Yet not one of them has escaped the notice of God. Even the hairs of your head have all been counted. Do not be afraid. You are worth more than many sparrows.”

God knows all and is in all. God told Moses that His name was “I Am” (Exodus 3:14). God is being itself. God Is. We cannot comprehend the One who created both the universe and the amoeba. Yet Jesus says that God knows you intimately down to each hair on your head. God knows each little sparrow intimately as well. Jesus tells us, “Do not be afraid.” That’s because each of us is a precious daughter or son of God. All people are God’s precious sons and daughters. Do we treat all people as such?

Suggested song of the day—“How Wonderful to 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!

Psalm 130:1-2
Out of the depths I call to you, Lord; Lord, here my cry!

Do you experience that deep yearning…an insatiable craving for something more? You cannot satisfy that craving with anything of this world. Many fall into the trap of thinking if they just had more of this or that then they’d be satisfied. Not so! For as St. Paul says, “All creation is groaning in labor pains” (Romans 8:22). He goes on to say that “we do not know how to pray as we ought, but the Spirit itself intercedes with inexpressible groanings” (Romans 8:26). St. Paul says the groanings are the Holy Spirit interceding for us according to God’s will. God is luring you…lovingly drawing you…leading you to wholeness, healing and completion. The pain comes in that we have to let go of our grasp on things that don’t matter. God continues to give us plenty of things to enjoy along the way…just don’t cling to them…for that is not love.

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!

Psalm 62:2
My soul rests in God alone, from whom comes my salvation.

This sounds trite but is profound. It’s the key to life to the full. Only God will bring you to completion and fullness (salvation!). Do not read this through the lens of “reward and punishment.” God is not out to get you…but to complete you! God wants you to grow into the fullness of the unique expression of God-self. Other than God, nothing…absolutely nothing…can lead you to the fulfillment of your purpose. Practice contemplative prayer…spending time in silence…allowing the distractions to drift away…so that your soul will experience truly resting in the Divine Presence. The more you do this…the more that Silent Presence will manifest itself amidst the struggles and busy-ness of your day.

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!

Romans 1:20-21,25
Ever since the creation of the world, his invisible attributes of eternal power and divinity have been able to be understood and perceived in what he has made. As a result, they have no excuse; for although they knew God they did not accord him glory as God or give him thanks. They exchanged the truth of God for a lie and revered and worshipped the creature rather than the creator, who is blessed forever.

Paul spoke these words nearly 2000 years ago…and humans are still doing the same thing! God’s glory is all around but many times we aren’t aware. Last night after a youth meeting we were talking in the parking lot when one of the teens pointed to the sky overhead and said, “A God-spot”!” We looked up and saw one of the most incredible night skies I have ever seen. The moon was glowing amidst an expansive pattern of small round patches of clouds…as if the clouds had been set there by a massive cookie-cutter. It was quite spectacular…but we all might have missed this wonder of God’s on-going creation if not for one observant young lady. While glory is all around us…our culture reveres and worships celebrities, athletes and youthfulness that will all fade away. How much time and energy do we put in giving thanks and praise to God each day?

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!

Psalm 98:1
Sing a new song to the Lord, who has done marvelous deeds.

Every day birds wake up and start singing as if to say, “I am me! I am me! I am me!” By their song they proclaim God’s handiwork. By their very being they add beauty and music to their surroundings and our surroundings. They don’t dwell on past disappointments or fret over future concerns. Take a moment to see all the wonders and blessings in your life. Each breath is a gift. All of creation…is a gift. It’s all gift. You do not have to prove your worthiness to be accepted into God’s kingdom. You already belong. So be you…sing your song!

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

Luke 11:23
“Whoever does not gather with me scatters.”

When Jesus was on this earth His mission was about healing…reaching out to those who had been excluded…and calling attention to injustice so that all might be treated fairly. By His life He gave us a blueprint on how we are to also live our lives. Jesus was not giving us an evacuation plan to get to the next world…but was giving us a call to action to make this world a compassionate and just place. Each of us needs to ask ourselves, “Am I one who gathers in the way I speak and act…or am I one who scatters?

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!

Luke 11:10 “For everyone who asks, receives; and the one who seeks, finds; and to the one who knocks, the door will be opened.”

Jesus told us in the Lord’s Prayer to pray to God, “Your will be done on earth as it is in heaven.” When we pray to God…that means we ought to be asking for the Holy Spirit’s guidance to find God’s will for us. We should not be asking for my will and desires…but God’s will and desires for me. God’s desires will always lead me to fulfillment, peace and joy because I will experience these things in the very process of following the Holy Spirit’s guidance. It’s the only way to my wholeness and true self. When we ask for God’s will and truly open ourselves to receiving it…we are receiving it. When we truly seek it…we are finding it. Trust the process.

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!

Luke 11:2
Jesus said to them, “When you pray, say: Father, hallowed be your name, your kingdom come.”

Jesus told his followers that they should pray for God’s kingdom to come. That means here…now. How can God’s kingdom come now? Only through us! Jesus clearly showed us how to cooperate with God’s plan in the way that He lived His life. Jesus told us to feed the hungry, clothe the naked, care for the sick, visit the imprisoned and to welcome the stranger (Matthew 25:35-36). He said “whatever you did for one of these least of mine, you did for me (Matthew 25:41). This is how we become Christ to others. This is how we build up the Body of Christ…the kingdom of God. Be a channel of God’s love, mercy, grace, forgiveness and compassion.

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!