Bill Tonnis Ministries

Luke 1:76-77

“And you, child, will be called prophet of the Most High, for you will go before the Lord to prepare his ways, to give his people knowledge of salvation…”

John the Baptizer’s father prophesied what was ahead for his son while John was still in the womb. Are we not all called to do what the Baptizer would do? Are we not all called to prepare the way for Christ to come into the lives of all people we meet? Following Christ truly brings fulfillment, wholeness…salvation! If you think you don’t have it together enough to do it…relax. Join the club of sinners! We’re all messed-up in some manner…but Christ invites us to be with Him…one and all…all together at His table. It’s a beautiful story! What seems too good to be true…is true! It has nothing to do with merit. Christ becomes one of us. Welcome Him into your life at this moment…just as you are! Now…invite someone else…because all are welcome!

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!

Psalm 25:4-5
Make known to me your ways, Lord; teach me your paths. Guide me in your truth and teach me, for you are God my savior.

There are many voices calling to us telling us that this is the way to find happiness or this is the way to find fulfillment. But there is only One voice that can lead us to our completion and wholeness…in other words…our salvation. It takes dedication and determination to hear the One voice that matters. There are many wide pathways promoted in our culture as the ways to happiness. But your life is not about you…but about God and God’s desire to live in you and bring you to completion! It’s a beautiful unfolding love story for those attentive to God’s voice…for those ready to follow Christ along the narrow path.

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!

Luke 1:46-47
And Mary said: “My soul proclaims the greatness of the Lord; my spirit rejoices in God my savior.”

Mary said ‘yes’ to God and the Word became flesh in her. How will the Word become flesh in you this Christmas? When we empty ourselves of our selfish desires…and allow God to fill us and Christ to live and grow in us…we end up realizing who we really are…the beloved son or daughter of God! We also find our calling. Author Frederick Buechner said that you would find your vocation “where your deep gladness and the world’s deep need meet.” It is in that place where each of us can proclaim the greatness of God Who saves me…and completes me!

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!

Song of Songs 2:13,14
Arise, my beloved, my beautiful one, and come! Let me see you, let me hear your voice, for your voice is sweet, and you are lovely.

For those who have experienced loving another person…the desire to pour yourself out for that person…to lay down your life for that person…be grateful. It is just a tiny fleck of the immense Love God has for you! If for some reason you feel no one could love you…know that this is not true! As one of my favorite authors, Richard Rohr, says, “One of the major problems in the spiritual life is our attachments to our own self-image–either positively or negatively created. We confuse the idea of ourselves with who we actually are in God. Ideas about things are not the things themselves.” For each of us is the beloved son or daughter of God.

Suggested song of the day—“Take Me Now, Forever” 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 1:38
Mary said, “Behold, I am the handmaid of the Lord. May it be done to me according to your word.”

Mary felt sure that God was calling her to be a virgin and yet then an angel tells her she will conceive a child. How can this be? The angel tells her that “nothing will be impossible for God.” And then Mary lets go of her desires…empties herself of them…and gives her consent to God. What an amazing example to us all! Then…what appears impossible…happens. Mary becomes a virgin-mother. What appears impossible in your life? Why not bring it to the God who makes the impossible…possible? Allow God to lead you to your true heart’s desire! May it be done to me according to Your word!

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 72:17
May his name be blessed forever; as long as the sun, may his name endure.

God has all the time in the world. God is outside of our time. Prophets foretold of the coming of the Messiah for hundreds and hundreds of years before the birth of Jesus. The Savior had a lot of shady characters as ancestors! And when the Word became flesh…it was not as a powerful, wrathful God…but as a gentle, defenseless baby. His words were not of retribution and punishment…but of forgiveness and mercy. God desires our wholeness and redemption. How will the Word become flesh in you…in a new way this Christmas?

Suggested song of the day—“My Lord and My 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!

Isaiah 54:10
Though the mountains leave their place and the hills be shaken, My love shall never leave you nor my covenant of peace be shaken, says the Lord, who has mercy on you.

How quickly we lose faith in God when troubles come or things don’t go the way we want them to. But God never turns away! Do we not actually put our faith mostly in things of the world? It’s only when some hardship comes along that we come to see that all the world’s possessions, prestige or power will crumble. We cannot save ourselves. We are unable to control the uncontrollable. It’s in these times that God remains present. Try this exercise. In silence take a long breath inward while praying “Yah”…and then let that breath out while praying “weh.” Yahhhhh…wehhhhh. Yahhhhhhh…wehhhhhh. Yahweh. God is as close to you…as your next breath. God will never leave you. 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!

Luke 7:20, 22
When the men came to Jesus, they said, “John the Baptist has sent us to you to ask, ‘Are you the one who is to come, or should we look for another?'” And he said to them in reply, “Go and tell John what you have seen and heard: the blind regain their sight, the lame walk, lepers are cleansed, the deaf hear, the dead are raised, the poor have the good news proclaimed to them.”

Jesus was not the type of Messiah that any Jew had expected. They wanted a military ruler to put them into power. John the Baptist was given the grace to recognize the Promised One…but even he needed reassurance. Who are you looking for to save you? Who or what are you expecting to fill the gaping hole in your heart…to bring you satisfaction and completion? God created that hole in your heart so that only God can fill it. Follow Jesus…the Wounded Healer…and allow God to lead you to wholeness.

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!

The powerful grow poor and hungry, but those who seek the Lord lack no good thing.

It’s a paradox. The more material stuff you collect…the more your ego wants and can never be satisfied. It will always want more! And so those who spend their time grasping for more stuff…grow poorer and hunger spiritually. But when we put God first in our lives…when we seek God in this moment…tell me…what is lacking? When we empty ourselves of our desires…and open ourselves to God’s desires…inner peace and contentment will be ours. The kingdom of God…will be at hand!

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!