Bill Tonnis Ministries

Matthew 23:11-12
“The greatest among you must be your servant. Whoever exalts himself will be humbled; but whoever humbles himself will be exalted.”

Jesus is totally counter-culture. He espouses the exact opposite of what our world promotes. Instead of defeating others Jesus says to serve others. Instead of ascending the ladder of praise, honor and glory Jesus says to descend and take company with the lowly, the poor and the outcast. And the kicker is…it’s only through following Christ and his example of emptying Himself for others that we paradoxically will find meaning, fulfillment, wholeness and completion…in other words…salvation. The kingdom of God is at hand right now…in this moment…depending on which philosophy you choose. I’ve tried both. One leads to life…while the other to a dead-end. Listen to your heart…and choose Christ now…in this moment.

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 6:37
“Stop judging and you will not be judged. Stop condemning and you will not be condemned. Forgive and you will be forgiven.”

This is not some threat by a God who is waiting to slam you. This is simple truth. Jesus says that when you judge someone…you separate yourself from him or her. When you condemn…you separate yourself from the other. You choose to isolate yourself…elevate yourself. When you forgive…you bring yourself in union with all. Jesus showed us that the kingdom of God is about unity. There are no divisions…no borders…no nations…in the kingdom of God. Mercy, forgiveness and compassion are the keys to the kingdom. We receive it from Christ. Will we pass it on? Ask for the grace to do so.

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 130:5-6
I wait with longing for the Lord, my soul waits for his word. My soul looks for the Lord more than sentinels for daybreak.

How attentive are we for God’s word? Is your soul looking for God? Most of us are in the mistaken belief that we are our thinking. Our minds are constantly working…thoughts are constantly bombarding us…and we mistakenly believe we are those thoughts. We are not. Sit and be silent. Observe the thoughts. Who is doing the observing? The real you of course! Take some quiet time to allow the thoughts to drift away. Cultivate a contemplative place in your soul. Then as you live each day…be present to the moment. As I walked this morning…the sound of the birds could have been meaningless noise beyond the chatter of my thoughts. Instead…as I calmed my mind and focused on the present…the beautiful chirping became God’s harmonious music singing, “I Am here. I Am with you.”

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!

Matthew 7:9-11
“Which one of you would hand his son a stone when he asks for a loaf of bread, or a snake when he asks for a fish? If you then, who are wicked, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your heavenly Father give good things to those who ask him.”

If a child asked to have a gallon of ice cream for breakfast, lunch and dinner…what loving parent would say ‘yes’? We may really want something…but is what we want simply to satisfy our egos…to satisfy a self-centered desire…or is it something that will be life-giving to us and others? If God is like a loving Father…we must trust that such a God would give each of us what we need so that each of us can fully become the unique person that we were intended to be. This is what God wants for you. Ask the Holy Spirit to give you the desire to ask God for what you truly need. Perhaps you have all you really need…right now.

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 51:18-19
For you do not desire sacrifice; a burnt offering you would not accept. My sacrifice, God, is a broken spirit; God, do not spurn a broken, humbled heart.

We’re all broken in some way…messed-up somewhere inside. But most people try to hide it…pretend it’s not there…and sometimes beat themselves up over it…feeling like a failure…feeling like God is pointing to it in disdain. What if God wanted to love you in your brokenness? What if God…knowing this brokenness…wanted nothing more than to be with you precisely in that place to let you know you are loved unconditionally! Remember that Jesus said, “Father, forgive them, they know not what they do” as he hung on the cross. What more proof do you need? Instead of trying to earn points with God by making sacrifices this Lent, why not give up your ego? Why not offer to God your brokenness? Sacrifice your ego…let it go…so God can fill you and lead you to healing, wholeness and your true self.

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!

Matthew 6:7-8
“In praying, do not babble like the pagans, who think that they will be heard because of their many words. Do not be like them. Your Father knows what you need before you ask him.”

Jesus advises us to pray by saying little. The only words he instructs His followers to pray are “The Lord’s Prayer” where He tells us to say to God, “Thy will be done”…which also means…not my will. We need to get out of the way. By “we” I mean our egos…our non-stop chattering minds. If, as Jesus tells us, God knows what we need before we ask…why not ask God what that is? The only way “God’s will” can be done is if we hear what it is that God wants us to do to make it happen. The only way that will happen is if we go to our “inner room” as Jesus puts it in Matthew 6:6, turn off the noise…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!

Matthew 25:35-36
“For I was hungry and you gave me food, I was thirsty and you gave me drink, a stranger and you welcomed me, naked and you clothed me, ill and you cared for me, in prison and you visited me.”

When Jesus tells us about the “final judgment” it seems to have nothing to do with the Ten Commandments. Those, of course, are vitally important. But Jesus takes it a lot further! It’s not about you getting all the rules right…but about you loving your neighbor. And as a matter of fact…when you love your neighbor…you are loving Christ Himself! The fact is…when measured against the standard Jesus sets in this scripture…none of us can possibly measure up…except maybe people like Mother Teresa! Perhaps Jesus wants to pull the rug out from under the ‘self-righteous’ who believe their pious, self-centered religious practices are what God wants of us? Perhaps we all need to “die to ourselves” and identify with those who have not been included, those who have been cast out by society? After all…aren’t we all lacking in some way and in need of the mercy and compassion of God?

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!

2 Corinthians 6:2
Behold, now is a very acceptable time; behold, now is the day of salvation.

Ash Wednesday is a great time for a new beginning. We are surrounded by God’s blueprint for life…plants, creatures and the very seasons themselves. It’s a continuous cycle of dying and rising. Our lives are made up of a series of little deaths to self…and then rising again…when we’re made new through the experience of the struggle. Jesus showed us that even the final death…is not the end at all…but the ultimate new beginning. So when will it be time for your new beginning…your step into becoming the unique expression of God’s love to the world? Now…of course. It’s the only time that is real. It’s the time and place where God is “present.” It’s the time for your healing and the beginning of your road to wholeness (salvation). Rise from the ashes! The time is now. Are you ready to start? “A clean heart create for me, God; renew in me a steadfast spirit” (Psalm 51:12).

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!

Psalm 112:7
They shall not fear an ill report; their hearts are steadfast, trusting the Lord.

Why do we fear? How many things actually turn out to be “the end of the world?” I often repeat this phrase to myself when in the midst of a challenging situation: “This, too, will pass.” God will never abandon you no matter how bleak the situation may appear. Even when Jesus felt abandoned on the cross…He wasn’t. God was there! On the other side of death was resurrection and new life! I remember how devastated I was when a great friend of mine was diagnosed with advanced cancer several years ago. Sadly, he died seven months later. But my friend is now experiencing the wonders of paradise. One of Jesus’ most repeated messages was that we should not be afraid! Trust the One who showed us that even death is not the end…but a new beginning.

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 112:1,4
Happy those who fear the Lord, who greatly delight in God’s commands. They shine through the darkness, a light for the upright; they are gracious, merciful, and just.

Today’s scripture says so much. We are all looking for happiness…but happiness is not something you search out and find. It is a by-product of the journey…of each moment that you are truly present to God and how God is speaking to you. When you truly are in awe of God…the One who loves you unconditionally…you are taking time to connect with the Source of all life. This will require quiet reflection time with the Lord. You will find yourself enjoying the ways God’s Light begins to fill you…and before you know it…you will be shining the same compassionate Light on others.

Suggested song of the day—“May I Be Light” 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!