Bill Tonnis Ministries

Matthew 22:9-10
“Go out, therefore, into the main roads and invite to the feast whomever you find.” The servants went out into the streets and gathered all they found, bad and good alike, and the hall was filled with guests.

Jesus likens the kingdom of God to a wedding feast. Most of the people the king invited were too busy or simply didn’t care to come. The king (God) then invited all people…”bad and good alike.” Notice that the so-called “bad” people were not tested or rebuked in any way…they were simply welcomed to the feast. The only one who is escorted out is the one who refuses to wear a wedding garment…which by the way would have been provided. He simply did not want to be with such a diverse bunch…you know…all those “bad” people. The kingdom of God is not an exclusive country club…but a place where all are welcome through the unconditional love and mercy of God. Are you ready to join the table?

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!

Matthew 20:4
“You too go into my vineyard, and I will give you what is just.”

Jesus tells the parable of the landowner who hires laborers to work in his vineyard at the start of the day…during the middle of the day…and at the end of the day. They are all paid the same wage causing the ones who worked the longest to grumble. Jesus likens the vineyard to the “kingdom of heaven.” This is the kind of world God wants. The landowner is God. At the end of the parable the landowner asks the grumbling workers, “Are you envious because I am generous?” God’s love is free and abundant. There is no end. And it has nothing to do with our earning it or being worthy of it. This is Good News! We are all called to be happy for anyone who turns to God at any time of their life’s journey. God’s justice is restorative…not punitive. In the kingdom of God all are loved equally and abundantly. It has nothing to do with our goodness…but everything to do…with God’s.

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!

Matthew 19:23
Then Jesus said to his disciples, “Amen, I say to you, it will be hard for one who is rich to enter the kingdom of heaven.”

Many have made the teachings of Jesus into an evacuation plan for getting to heaven one day. This is not true. Jesus was talking about how we can play a part in bringing about the kingdom of heaven…now. The reason it is hard for a rich person to enter the kingdom of heaven is because they are clinging to all their riches. When you stop clinging to things…you are open to God’s presence and desires. The pursuit of material wealth can be a barrier to hearing and seeing God. If we’re focused on God’s kingdom then material wealth can be used to make the world a more compassionate place. I think this is a good question to ask at any moment: Am I trying to build God’s kingdom…or my kingdom?

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!

Luke 1:45
“Blessed are you who believed that what was spoken to you by the Lord would be fulfilled.”

Mary was perfect model of saying “yes” to God’s plans and “no” to her own plans. She put her trust in the Lord…no matter how crazy it may have seemed. What plan does the Lord have for you? What is the one thing that has been placed in your heart to carry out with your life? Perhaps you can’t “hear” God’s silent voice in your heart…because you aren’t taking time to sit in silence…and listen.

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!

Psalm 136:1
Praise the Lord, who is so good; God’s love endures forever.

We all get caught up in a false premise that we need to earn God’s love. We get caught up in a worthiness contest…a game we play to win God’s favor. This is an illusion. God loved you before you were born, loves you now, and will love you forever. In each moment God’s love is being poured out in and through all things. It cannot be withheld because that’s what God does…fills all things with love…even when it’s hard to see and feel it. Trust. God’s love never ends…and that is Good News and reason to give thanks!

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!

Matthew 18:21-22
Then Peter approaching asked him, “Lord, if my brother sins against me, how often must I forgive him? As many as seven times?” Jesus answered, “I say to you, not seven times but seventy-seven times.”

Forgiveness is the key to freedom…and to the kingdom of God. It’s not optional but mandatory. There are things we make of prime significance that Jesus never seemed to mention that we know of. But forgiveness is something He definitely did speak about…and He made it a non-negotiable. It sets us free. Jesus came to show us how to be fully human…and if the Son of God can be persecuted, beaten, spit on, jeered at and nailed to a cross and say, “Forgive them, they know not what they do”…then we have no excuses not to do the same. Each of us is in need of unlimited forgiveness. Dear God, forgive us our trespasses as we forgive those who trespass against us. Who do you need to forgive? Do it now…and be free!

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!

John 12:24
“Amen, amen, I say to you, unless a grain of wheat falls to the ground and dies, it remains just a grain of wheat; but if it dies, it produces much fruit.”

This is one of Jesus’ most profound statements and expresses a core teaching. You can either live for your ego’s insatiable desires and be trapped in a never-ending cycle of wanting more and more…or you can surrender and let your ego…go. When you allow your ego to “die” you will paradoxically start to truly live. New life will sprout in abundance and you will be amazed at how little you had to do with it. What will you to do with your gifts and talents? Your ego’s desires will lead to a cycle of dissatisfaction. God’s desires will lead to deep joy and freedom!

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!

Matthew 18:12-14
“If a man has a hundred sheep and one of them goes astray, will he not leave the ninety-nine in the hills and go in search of the stray? And if he finds it, amen, I say to you, he rejoices more over it than over the ninety-nine that did not stray. In just the same way, it is not the will of your heavenly Father that one of these little ones be lost.”

Have you ever strayed from God? I’m sure you have…as have I. Perhaps you are off track now? Perhaps you have done things that you think could never be forgiven or disqualify you from God’s love? Not so! Jesus says that there is nothing you can do to stop God from seeking you out and returning you to the fold. God loves you because you are a son or daughter…and nothing can change that! All you need to do is to forgive others and yourself…then return into God’s open arms.

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!

Matthew 17:22-23
As they were gathering in Galilee, Jesus said to them, “The Son of Man is to be handed over to men, and they will kill him, and he will be raised on the third day.” And they were overwhelmed with grief.

God’s ways are not our ways. Jesus knew the path to true life was through dying to His own desires…His ego’s cravings…emptying Himself so that God could fill Him. It’s the way to finding your “true self” by letting go of your “false self.” Jesus was also about bringing the kingdom of God into the present. He called on those who held the power and wealth to care for those who were struggling and poor. Jesus knew, of course, that this would not be acceptable to those who held power in government and religion. He knew that eventually it would lead to the cross. Jesus showed us that it was only through dying that we could ever experience new life…whether it is in our daily struggles or at the end of our earthly lives. When we give ourselves to God’s purposes…letting go of selfish desires…amazing things happen…and we get little glimpses of the kingdom of God.

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

What is the foreign god among us? What idol has displaced our Creator from first priority in our lives? Could it be a material possession…or maybe it’s power, control or prestige? Could it be vanity? Could it be the need to be right? What is the one thing in your life that you could not let go of…if God asked you for it? What is blocking God from giving you what will truly bring you peace?

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!