Bill Tonnis Ministries

1 Timothy 6:7, 9, 11
For we brought nothing into the world, just as we shall not be able to take anything out of it. Those who want to be rich are falling into temptation and into a trap and into many foolish and harmful desires, which plunge them into ruin and destruction. Instead, pursue righteousness, devotion, faith, love, patience, and gentleness.

St. Paul is preaching an entirely different philosophy of living than the world preaches. What is your main motivation in life? Are you pursuing wealth or are you pursuing God’s desires for you? Listen to God’s voice in your heart. Use your talents to channel God’s love and compassion to the world and you will find true contentment and wholeness. You will find yourself. Answer this question: Am I building my kingdom…or God’s kingdom? Which path are you choosing?

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!

1 Timothy 4:14, 16
Do not neglect the gift you have. Attend to yourself and to your teaching; persevere in both tasks, for by doing so you will save both yourself and those who listen to you.

What is your gift? We all have some talent or ability which God has given us to help ‘build of the kingdom of God’…or in other words…to make the world a more loving, forgiving and compassionate place. St. Paul encouraged Timothy to persevere in developing and using his talent for teaching the Good News. When we use our gifts and talents for God’s purposes…not only will we be on our way to “wholeness” (saved) but we will help others on their paths to wholeness as well.

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!

Philippians 2:5-8
Have among yourselves the same attitude that is also yours in Christ Jesus, Who, though he was in the form of God, did not regard equality with God something to be grasped. Rather, he emptied himself, taking the form of a slave, coming in human likeness; and found human in appearance, he humbled himself, becoming obedient to death, even death on a cross.

Our way to wholeness and completion (salvation) is through our human experience. Jesus “saves” us by showing us this. He gives us the “blueprint” to follow so that each of us can become the unique child of God that God intended. Empty yourself of selfish desires, serve others humbly without looking for gain, and accept whatever losses you are faced with in the journey (dying to self)…so that when life’s end comes…the transition to eternal life will be seamless, smooth, and joyful…because it had always been well-practiced.

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!

Psalm 101:1-2
I sing of love and justice; to you, Lord, I sing praise. I follow the way of integrity.

If I love God with all my heart, mind and soul and if I love my neighbor as myself…it will naturally lead to being an agent of justice. When I realize that God’s love for me is unconditional and that it has nothing to do with my merit or achievement…I can’t help but want to share this love with others. How can others know God’s love when they are being unjustly treated? How is God calling us to serve others to make the world a more just place so that the kingdom of God can truly “come on earth as it is in heaven“?

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!

Psalm 28:7
The Lord is my strength and my shield, in whom my heart trusted and found help.

To whom do I run when I need help? Do I look to God during my daily struggles? Jesus healed and restored to health all who came to Him in faith. Ask the Risen Christ for healing. He knows your struggles and inner pain intimately. Pray for an infusion of the Holy Spirit. God may not give you what you want…but it will be what you need for healing, restoration and wholeness.

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!

Luke 6:42
“How can you say to your brother, ‘Brother, let me remove that splinter in your eye,’ when you do not even notice the wooden beam in your own eye? You hypocrite! Remove the wooden beam from your eye first.”

The idea of being a Christian is that through following Christ…I am changed…that I am transformed by God…not that I change someone else. It is not about my worthiness or my achievement…but it is purely through the grace and unconditional love of God that I am changed! Jesus never seems angry with those who are struggling in their behavior…but is quite emphatic that He doesn’t approve of those who are trying to find fault in others. Instead of trying to change someone else…what if we all asked Christ to open our hearts so that each of us could be transformed so that each of us could be the unique channels of God’s unconditional love, mercy and compassion that we were created to be for this time and this place? Maybe then the kingdom of God would truly “come on earth as it is in heaven.”

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!

Romans 8:28
We know that all things work for good for those who love God, who are called according to his purpose.

Be reluctant to label anything as “good” or “bad” because what seems “good” or “bad” may end up being the opposite. Labels are generally not a good idea because God is not separating the field but is including all things in the grand plan. Jesus said not to remove the weeds from the wheat and He also said not to call anyone “good” but God. My ruptured appendix episode over ten years ago seemed like the worst thing that ever happened to me when I was going through it. If God had given me the opportunity to avoid such a “bad” thing from happening I would have done so in an instant. Today I am forever grateful that I wasn’t given that opportunity…because I would have missed the most transformational, God-filled, spiritual experience of my life. Your struggles and pain will eventually lead to great growth and goodness if you surrender yourself to God who Is Love…and Who will never abandon you!

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!

Colossians 3:3-4
For you have died, and your life is hidden with Christ in God. When Christ your life appears, then you too will appear with him in glory.

Whatever most people think is their identity…it usually isn’t. Your true identity does not come from your status, job, prestige or possessions. It doesn’t come from what others say about you. All those things will pass away…quite literally when we die. This is why we need to practice dying to ourselves every day…as in dying to our false selves. If we follow Jesus then we must follow His example of denying selfish desires and giving freely of Himself to others out of love…even unto death. For as St. Paul says in today’s scripture…when our false self diminishes (dies)…Christ grows in us…and our true self emerges. Christ wants to live in you now! Open yourself to this truth…and the result will be glorious!

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!

Luke 6:17-18
A great crowd of his disciples and a large number of the people from all Judea and Jerusalem and the coastal region of Tyre and Sidon came to hear him and to be healed of their diseases; and even those who were tormented by unclean spirits were cured.

Jesus’ mission was to free people who were oppressed in any way…whether the oppression was political…religious…or in health. He was always healing people…physically, mentally, emotionally and spiritually. Jesus wanted to restore all those who were suffering to wholeness. This is what Jesus wants to do for you! We all are broken. Jesus said that He came to be with those who needed a physician. Bring your pain to the Divine Healer. He wants to be the one to lead you to wholeness and healing.

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!

Colossians 1:16-17
All things were created through him and for him. He is before all things, and in him all things hold together.

We all start our lives believing we are at the center of the universe. Unfortunately, some never come to realize it’s a delusion. Everybody’s ego lobbies for the position that everything revolves around it and it’s satisfaction. Dying to this…letting go of this stance…is the process through which we follow Christ and find our true selves. It’s the path of letting go of all things…even our lives…by being forgiving and compassionate in the service of others. For God…Christ…is at the center of all things and holds all things together as one…the broken, the sinners, the saints and all creation. That includes you and me. This is Good News!

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!