Bill Tonnis Ministries

Psalm 145:14
The Lord supports all who are falling and raises up all who are bowed down.

Our Creator is holding all things in a loving embrace…all things. God wants to transform everything into the fullness of being. God wants to make you whole and complete. For that to happen…we need to trust that when things don’t go our way…that our loving Source will not abandon us. As God told the prophet Isaiah (Is. 49:15), “Can a mother forget her infant, be without tenderness for the child of her womb? Even should she forget, I will never forget you.” Usually it takes some form of suffering before we will stop clinging to control and allow ourselves to fall into the arms of God. You cannot save yourself or avoid loss. Eventually we all discover this. So in the end…is there a loving Creator to raise you to New Life? Jesus showed us that there is! Why not come to know this Loving Presence now?

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!

Psalm 30:12-13
You changed my mourning into dancing. With my whole being I sing endless praise to you.

Let’s face it. When we are at the top of our game and everything is going our way we have no need for God. At least, we don’t think we do. It’s only when things do not go according to our plans…when we encounter some form of suffering…that we turn to our Maker. God has turned many of my lowest points into highest points in due time. God is in the redemption business! God’s glory is truly shown in lifting us from our failings. Jesus was always joining those on the fringes and margins of society…those who were not in the “in” crowd (do we?). For God’s love does not depend on our doing or achieving anything. It’s the unconditional love a parent has for a beloved daughter or son. Kind of makes you want to sing…doesn’t it?

Suggested song of the day—“Singing My 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!

Mark: 12:30-31
“You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, with all your mind, and with all your strength. The second is this: You shall love your neighbor as yourself. There is no other commandment greater than these.”

Jesus modeled perfect unconditional love for us. He loved even when He was rejected, persecuted and killed. The ultimate demonstration was forgiving those who killed him while hanging on the cross. This is the kind of love that makes a person want to love such a God back! But let’s face it…most of the time we don’t carry out the two greatest commandments. When was the last time we skipped a major sporting event to do something spiritual? When was the last time we skipped a favorite TV show for something spiritual? When was the last time we chose a spiritual book over a fashion or celebrity magazine? When was the last time we made it a spiritual quest while surfing the web? When was the last time we chose to let go of a grudge…or to give up some free time to do some service? How great is our God who would continue to love us unconditionally!

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!

Jeremiah 7:23,25-26
Listen to my voice; then I will be your God and you shall be my people. From the day that your fathers left the land of Egypt even to this day, I have sent you untiringly all my servants the prophets. Yet they have not obeyed me nor paid heed.

God’s consistent message is to listen…because God is speaking. God is speaking in each of our hearts a tender message of unconditional love…a message that tells us who we are! Unfortunately, we have not been taught very well to listen to that voice in silent prayer. Prophets have spoken for God as well…delivering the message that we must turn away from our insatiable desires for power, prestige and wealth (ego)…and turn back to the God Who calls us all to be one body. But those in power have consistently thrown out the prophets. Jesus calls each of us to reach out to the poor and the outcast. During this period of Lent…let us take time out to go into the spiritual desert so we can listen to God’s silent message.

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!

Matthew 5:20
“I tell you, unless your righteousness surpasses that of the scribes and Pharisees, you will not enter into the kingdom of heaven.”

Jesus had just finished telling his followers that He would fulfill God’s law and “not the smallest letter or the smallest part of a letter” of God’s law would fail to come to pass. But then He adds the line above. The religious leaders held everyone strictly to the rules without bending. But Jesus said the most important commandment was to love God and love your neighbor as yourself…and this sometimes will trump the rules. The scribes and Pharisees were “either-or” thinkers…espousing that either you follow the rules or you are out! Jesus…on the other hand…was a “both-and” thinker…espousing that you both follow the rules and be willing to bend them when it’s the compassionate thing to do. God overlooks His own rules…when God forgives. It’s only through compassion and forgiveness that we enter the kingdom of heaven…which can begin right now! Who needs your compassion and forgiveness?

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!

Psalm 25:4
Make known to me your ways, Lord; teach me your paths.

Most people have no idea that their ego is running their lives until it is suggested to them. I had no idea until I started reading authors like Richard Rohr and Thomas Keating. The ego believes you are the center of the universe…which creates quite a lot of turmoil inside since you are clearly not! God is the center of all things. As we say in Catholic liturgy, “Through Him, with Him, and in Him, in the unity of the Holy Spirit, all glory and honor is yours, almighty Father, for ever and ever.” We are here only through our Loving Creator’s wishes. Jesus showed us the perfect model of dying to Himself (ego) and giving of Himself to others to make the world a more loving, merciful, forgiving and compassionate place (kingdom of God). Dear God, how do you want me to do the same?

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!

Psalm 42:2-3
As the deer longs for streams of water, so my soul longs for you, O God. My being thirsts for God, the living God.

All of us are yearning for God…but I think most people are unaware. What they think is a physical craving is actually a spiritual one. So they try to satisfy this insatiable desire by obtaining wealth, power, prestige or perhaps the perfect relationship. While all these things might bring happiness…it will only be temporary and the inner craving will return. I believe God created us with that inner emptiness that only our Loving Creator can fill…and wants to fill with love. But…God won’t force this love on us. That wouldn’t be love…would it? What are you trying to obtain to satisfy your soul craving? Let go of your attachments so that the Living God can fill you. Spend some quiet time with the One who has loved you for all time.

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 1:37
“For nothing will be impossible with God.”

Do you believe that? It’s what the angel Gabriel said to a virgin named Mary after she questioned how she would conceive the Son of God. And she said, “May it be done to me according to your word.” What amazing plans does your Loving Creator have in mind for you to help transform this world into the Kingdom of God…the compassionate place God intended? Over ten years ago I “heard” in my heart the voice that asked me to pick up a guitar I had abandoned for over ten years. How could such a crazy idea be the answer to changing my miserable life? Picking up that guitar that day led to two original music albums, a masters degree in religious and pastoral studies, becoming a youth minister…and having amazing experiences in Guatemala, Assisi, and others too numerous to mention! What dream is God trying to awaken in your heart? Follow Christ and He will lead you to becoming your true self…the unique person God yearns for you to be!

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!

Jeremiah 17:5
Thus says the Lord: Cursed is the man who trusts in human beings, who seeks his strength in flesh, whose heart turns away from the Lord.

We spend so much time trying to please other people or fit into some image that other people or our society says is cool or “successful.” But what does God say? Why do we put so much credence in what others think or say and not our Creator? There is a great quote in a wonderful documentary titled “The Human Experience” in which a rabbi says something to the effect that life is a grand musical composition…and God is waiting for you to provide your note. Are you looking to God…listening to God in your heart…to discover that unique note that only your life can play…or are you looking to human beings? Are you looking for your purpose in “fleshly” things…or in the spiritual?

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 31:6
Into your hands I commend my spirit; you will redeem me, Lord, faithful God.

It seems that only when we experience the unmerited, unearned redemption of God that we are able to extend that same redemption to others through our words and actions. Allow yourself to contemplate the unconditional love demonstrated to us by Jesus when he responded with compassion when He was brutally persecuted…and when He forgave his persecutors from the cross…even when they had not asked for forgiveness! Allow that amazing truth to sink into your soul. How can you do anything else…but to fall into the loving embrace of such a God? It is not by our strength or doing anything that we are redeemed…but only through the Grace of God. For in my very weakness…I am strong in Christ! (“For when I am weak, then I am strong.” 2 Corinthians 12:10)

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