Bill Tonnis Ministries

Psalm 149:4
For the Lord takes delight in his people, honors the poor with victory.

While the consumeristic culture urges us to add more to our lives…amass more and more wealth, power and prestige…the inner spirit urges us to do the opposite. The spiritual journey is a constant subtraction…a taking away of things that vie for our attention…so that in the end there is nothing separating you from God. This is why some people at life’s end have no trouble passing quietly into eternal life…while others fight in bitter anguish. This is why the poor…or those who have no attachment to material possessions, power or prestige…are many times further along in their spiritual journeys. They have had no other option but to turn to God for help in their struggles. What is blocking your path from the victory of oneness with God?

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 33:3,9
Sing to God a new song; skillfully play with joyful chant. For he spoke, and it came to be, commanded, and it stood in place.

There is reason to sing for joy! God loves all of creation…and that includes you! God’s Word became flesh in Jesus and it became flesh in you as well. You are God’s beloved son or daughter. God will never forsake you, never let you go, no matter how shaky the circumstance or how hard the struggle might appear. God, the Loving Source of all, embraces you always…even when times seem dark. It is only in the darkest of times that God’s light can make the most dramatic difference…and lead you to the most dramatic transformation. For when God’s Light breaks through your darkest night…you will have quite the story to share…a new and glorious song to sing.

Suggested song of the day—“Sing a New 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 10:43
“Whoever wishes to be great among you will be your servant.”

Two of the apostles had just boldly asked Jesus to allow them to sit at his right and left when he comes into glory. They were expressing the world’s philosophy that being great means having power, prestige and possessions. But that’s the kingdom of the world…not the kingdom of God. In God’s kingdom…you are great if you serve. In the prayer that Jesus taught us He told us to pray to God: “Thy kingdom come.” This is our task…to bring about God’s kingdom here and now. But God can only work through us with our cooperation. For this to happen…our egos must diminish so Christ can increase in us. Will you serve your ego or God?

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!

Mark 10:29-30
Jesus said, “Amen, I say to you, there is no one who has given up house or brothers or sisters or mother or father or children or lands for my sake and for the sake of the gospel who will not receive a hundred times more now in this present age.”

Our culture encourages us to grab as much as we can for ourselves. This is consumerism. Jesus calls us to turn away (“repent”) from this way of trying to attain happiness. He says we instead should give. While we believe our possessions or status define us…Jesus says the opposite. You will never know who you truly are until you disassociate yourself from those things. It is only when you let go of the things you’ve been grasping…that your hands will be free to give. It’s only in giving yourself away in the service of others that you will finally find your true self…your true calling. That will be worth a hundred times more than any possession you could ever hold!

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!

Mark 10:21
Jesus, looking at him, loved him and said to him, “You are lacking in one thing. Go, sell what you have, and give to the poor and you will have treasure in heaven; then come, follow me.”

This “rich man” was doing all the right things…following all the commandments and religious rules. He had many possessions. But he wanted to know what it would take to enter eternal life. Eternal life or the kingdom of God is available whenever we are totally present to God and God’s will. This is only possible when we detach ourselves from possessions, people and other things that we mistakenly believe will give us happiness. The source of happiness is God alone. Material possessions, loved ones, and other things are not bad…as long as they are not blocking you from serving God. What or who in your life is blocking you from serving God and following Christ?

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!

Sirach 6:14-15
A faithful friend is a sturdy shelter; he who finds one finds a treasure. A faithful friend is beyond price, no sum can balance his worth.

Take a moment to cherish any true friendship you may have. Such a friend is with you through all the ups and downs as well. If your heart aches to find such a friend as this…turn first to Jesus. He will never abandon you and is always for you. Befriend Him in your heart…then look about you. Who in your life needs a friend? Could that friend be you?

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!

Mark 9:43
“If your hand causes you to sin, cut it off. It is better for you to enter into life maimed than with two hands to go into Gehenna, into the unquenchable fire.”

Jesus used hyperbole…an exaggeration…to make his point. Whatever it is in your life that is influencing you to choose to make a selfish, non-life-giving action…that influence needs to be removed. If not…you are basically throwing away your “true self” into a garbage dump (which is what Gehenna was at the time…a place where garbage was constantly being burned). By choosing to satisfy your ego…or “small self”…you will never discover the “true self” that God is calling you to be. The “you” that God made you to become can only become a reality if you surrender the insatiable demands of your ego for self-gratification…and use your talents to make the world a more loving, compassionate and just place.

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!

Mark 9:38
John said to him, “Teacher, we saw someone driving out demons in your name, and we tried to prevent him because he does not follow us.”

You’ve got to love the apostles as they all give us hope! They are an imperfect bunch just like us…but that is just fine with Jesus. Notice how John doesn’t like the fact that someone is doing good works in the name of Jesus…because the guy isn’t in the “in” group…John’s group of course. This is the ego speaking. John is concerned about the power and prestige he has for being in the elite group of apostles. Jesus tells John not to prevent the other man from doing his good works. Perhaps following Jesus just may lead us to a different path than others will appreciate or accept. But the Spirit is free and creative. Do we sometimes judge others as “wrong” who might be doing God’s work in ways that are different from ours?

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!

Psalm 23:4
Even when I walk through a dark valley, I fear no harm for you are at my side.

Life is filled with ups and downs. I am basking in the glow of an amazing high school retreat…and yet I am deeply saddened by the sudden death of the brother of one of our college leaders on Sunday. Our pastor, who was an inspiring addition to the retreat this year, also lost his father on Sunday. Jesus showed us the pattern of salvation throughout His ministry. Suffering and brokenness would be transformed into new life and wholeness by the grace and unconditional love of God. The blind would see, the deaf would hear, and the dead would be raised. Death could not defeat Jesus…and so it cannot defeat us either. Cling to Christ in the dark valley and the Good Shepherd will lead you to a shining mountaintop. Love, mercy, grace, forgiveness and compassion will triumph!

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!

Mark 8:35
“For whoever wishes to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for my sake and that of the gospel will save it.”

Jesus often expresses a paradox…defined as “a seemingly contradictory statement that may nonetheless be true.” When you save your life…you actually lose it. But when you lose your life for the sake of spreading Jesus’ message…you actually save your life. It may not have been totally on the conscious level…but I wanted a certain amount of fame and respectability when I was a radio news anchor. But I was miserable! When I followed what I felt was Christ’s call…I dropped 20 years of what I had worked to become. In my ego crushing, faltering steps into ministry and Christian song writing…I have found more life than I ever knew was possible. Jesus knows what He’s talking about! What is He asking you to let go of…in order to follow Him?

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!