Bill Tonnis Ministries

Luke 10:41-42
The Lord said to her in reply, “Martha, Martha, you are anxious and worried about many things. There is need of only one thing. Mary has chosen the better part and it will not be taken from her.”

While Martha was said to be “burdened with much serving” her sister Mary was sitting peacefully at the feet of Jesus “listening to him speak.” It would have been absolutely unheard of and scandalous at that time for a woman to be taking that position only reserved for men. Serving the men with her sister Martha would have been her expected role. But Mary’s true motivation was to do what God was calling her to do…to listen to Jesus. Martha’s motivation was her own ego. If Martha’s motivation had been to truly serve the Lord she would have done so without regard to what others were saying or doing. Mary chose “the better part“…listening to her heart and following Jesus. Ask yourself if your motivation in doing whatever you are doing is to serve God…or to serve your ego?

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!

Luke 10:29
He said to Jesus, “And who is my neighbor?”

A scholar of the law told Jesus that he knew how to inherit eternal life: Love God and love his neighbor. We know much about what Jesus said…but do we live it? Jesus goes on to tell the scholar the parable of the Good Samaritan. In the story a Samaritan comes to the aid of a Jew who had been attacked by robbers. A Levite and a priest, two Jewish religious men, had ignored the victim because he was bleeding and would have been considered “unclean” by religious law. But the Samaritan, considered an enemy of the Jews at that time, shows the victim compassion. Who is my neighbor? All people…especially the one person who I really don’t want anything to do with! Who is that person for you? We have to ask ourselves, “How can I change to show compassion to all people?”

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

Baruch 1:21-22
For we did not heed the voice of the Lord, our God, in all the words of the prophets whom he sent us, but each of us went off after the devices of our own wicked hearts, served other gods, and did evil in the sight of the Lord, our God.

Well…600 years after this was written…not much has changed! Ever notice how God’s love is not conditional like ours is many times? God kept loving…keeps loving…despite being rejected over and over and over. If you are struggling and are not proud of some of the things you’ve done…take comfort in the fact that God is not giving up on you. God made us imperfect so that we could learn to love, to forgive and to have compassion. It is only when we are in need of such love and forgiveness that we can experience the transformation required to become compassionate ourselves. God is not looking to punish you…but to love you. Whatever your “shadow side” might be…it will likely be the key ingredient in your transformation. So…surrender your “shadow side” to God…and see what happens!

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!

Psalm 138:1-2
I thank you, Lord, with all my heart. I praise your name for your fidelity and love.

Sometimes I find myself dwelling on all the things I don’t have instead of being thankful for the things I do have. Last Sunday at my concert to raise funds for St. Leo’s parish, everyone witnessed a group of refugees from Burundi (Africa) sing and dance in praise to God. We also witnessed a group of immigrants from Guatemala sing a joyful song of praise. Both had been forced to flee their homeland due to oppression. The Burundis fled for their lives…and now basically only have the clothes on their backs…yet they were praising God in thanks! Perhaps if we let go of our preoccupation and obsession with material things we would see how bountifully blessed we are! Perhaps if we lived in “thanksgiving” we would become “thanksgiving” to others. The word “Eucharist” means “thanksgiving.” We are all called to become this to the world. The God of the universe calls each of us beloved son or daughter. That is quite enough. Praise God!

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!

Luke 9:48
“For the one who is least among all of you is the one who is the greatest.”

Our egos tell us to strive to be “number one”…to be praised and always “right.” Jesus’ followers were actually arguing over which of them was the greatest. You can just see Jesus shaking his head and asking Himself, “Will they ever get it?” The path to finding yourself and to life…is in letting go, dying to self (ego), so to allow God to fill us. When we are full of ourselves (ego) there is room for God to fill! Follow Jesus and His ways…serve…and He will lead you to wholeness.

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 9:18-20
“Who do the crowds say that I am?” They said in reply, “John the Baptist; others, Elijah; still others, ‘One of the ancient prophets has arisen.'” Then Jesus said to them, “But who do you say that I am?”

Ah…that is the question! How you answer it will be life changing. At some point (if you haven’t done so already) you must hear Jesus ask that question directly to you. If Jesus is “the way, the truth and the life” as he said…then what implications does that have on your life? The only thing Jesus asks of those who believe in Him…is to follow Him. Following Him will require letting go of many things and making tough changes. But Jesus will never abandon you in the struggle. It will be in the process of following Jesus that you will find yourself…and in each moment of that journey…you will experience amidst the struggles…ever deepening joy and peace.

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!

Luke 9:9
“Who then is this about whom I hear such things? And he kept trying to see him.”

Herod was a ruthless ruler who had John the Baptist put to death. When he heard of the miraculous things Jesus was doing…he had to find Him. Herod wanted to protect his power and status and was threatened by any fame that Jesus was gaining. Jesus attracted crowds of followers despite the fact that He never wanted fame or ever tried to draw attention to Himself. Now two-thousand years later…there is no name in history that is better known than “Jesus”. When we live out our call, get our egos out of the way and follow the path where God leads us…amazing things will happen.

Suggested song of the day—“Take the Road Less Traveled” on the Live to Love album.
All songs available on iTunes. Click the link under blogroll to the right.
Have a blessed day!

Ephesians 4:1-3
I, then, a prisoner for the Lord, urge you to live in a manner worthy of the call you have received, with all humility and gentleness, with patience, bearing with one another through love, striving to preserve the unity of the spirit through the bond of peace.

What “call” have you received? Everyone has a calling. God made you to be a unique channel of God to the world…to cooperate in God’s unfolding creation and to help build the kingdom of God. If you don’t know your calling…you need to spend more time communing with God in silent, self-emptying prayer…and then to follow the yearnings God places in your heart. It won’t be easy. It will mean making changes. St. Paul encouraged Christians from prison. But this former anger-filled persecutor of Christians had been transformed by the unconditional Love of God into the person he was called to be. Open yourself to that same transforming Love!

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!

Luke 8:19-21
Then his mother and his brothers came to him but were unable to join him because of the crowd. Jesus was told, “Your mother and your brothers are standing outside and they wish to see you.” He said to them in reply, “My mother and my brothers are those who hear the word of God and act on it.”

Following Jesus means no one gets VIP treatment no matter who they are. Christians work to dismantle divisions that separate us. Jesus was using exaggeration to make His point because He clearly loved and respected His mother and relatives. In the kingdom of God where people “hear the word of God and act on it”…all are equal and one. There are no “special” people or celebrities, no status or prestige of any kind. All people have significance and equal worth as children of God. We are called to work to bring about this kind of world.

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!

Psalm 126:5
Those who sow in tears will reap with cries of joy.

There is no escaping struggles and suffering in this life. But if you keep the faith…cling to God alone and continue to channel God’s love in times of sorrow…you will receive a bountiful harvest of new life. The pattern is shown to us in all of creation, in the seasons and in Christ’s life, death and resurrection. New Life always follows the dying. What is it in your life that you need to let go of…so that a joyous new life can begin?

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!