What Is Your Motivation?

Posted on March 2, 2021 by billtonnis
Image by Gordon Johnson from Pixabay

“In every religion there is love, yet love has no religion.” – Rumi

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Listen to my song “Radically Okay” on YouTube by clicking HERE.

Support my ministry by purchasing my songs and books at the links following the scripture reflection. Thank you!

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Matthew 23:3-4

“Therefore, do and observe all things whatsoever (the scribes and Pharisees) tell you, but do not follow their example. For they preach but they do not practice. They tie up heavy burdens [hard to carry] and lay them on people’s shoulders, but they will not lift a finger to move them.”

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Jesus told his followers to do what the scribes and Pharisees say, but do not do what they do.

Because the religious leaders of his day had a habit of laying the law down on the people like a load of bricks without any regard to mercy or compassion.

The point of the law was to give people some boundaries that would hopefully give them discipline in avoiding the pitfalls that can derail you in your pursuit of God.

But the focus of their religion was not meant to be the law, but God.

Following the law hopefully freed you from harmful diversions so that you were free to see and hear God in your daily life.

After all, as Jesus said, the most important commandments were to love God with all your heart, soul, and mind and to love your neighbor as yourself (Matthew 22:36-40).

Love was to be the main objective, not following rules.

For me, I know that I need to stop often to examine my motives.

Am I doing the loving, compassionate thing, or am I just wanting to prove something or be right?

Is my next action based on ego or God?

As the late spiritual teacher Wayne Dyer used to say, EGO stands for Edge God Out.

This is not an easy thing, determining if my ego or my true self is controlling my life.

Some form of meditation or contemplative prayer such as Centering Prayer is helpful.

Jesus wanted to show his followers that while the law was important, it shouldn’t impose such a burden as to squash a person’s spirit.

Love and compassion should always be the main objective.

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Listen to the song of the day “Radically Okay” on the Mercy Reigns album by clicking HERE.

Stream and/or purchase my songs on Amazon Music by clicking HERE.

Purchase my new book “Listen to Your Heart: A Daily Devotional of Calling, Purpose and New Life” on Amazon by clicking HERE.

Purchase my book “Mercy Reigns: A Daily Devotional of Compassion, Comfort and Healing” on Amazon by clicking HERE.

Remember: God loves you!

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Us

Posted on March 1, 2021 by billtonnis
Image by Enlightening Images from Pixabay

“We are already one. But we imagine that we are not.” – Thomas Merton

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Listen to my song “Love God” on YouTube by clicking HERE.

Support my ministry by purchasing my songs and books at the links following the scripture reflection. Thank you!

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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.”

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These words from Jesus are hard for us to accept.

It seems so unfair because, if we are honest, there are certain people we want to be condemned…or at least severely chastised!

Our binary minds are always judging what’s good and what’s bad, who’s good and who’s bad, who’s on our side and who is not.

This is the dualism that separates us from our fellow human beings.

Jesus wants us to realize that we are all one in God.

That’s why he commanded us to love our enemies (Matthew 5:44) because we are all children of God, who “makes his sun rise on the bad and the good, and causes rain to fall on the just and the unjust” (Matthew 5:45).

Jesus said that whatever we do to the least of these, we do to him (Matthew 25:40).

We actually do it to Jesus.

Can you understand that?

Now, can you see the oneness of all?

That’s why Jesus could order us to love your neighbor as yourself (Matthew 22:39).

As yourself.

As if your neighbor is you.

That’s why judging or condemning another is having it come back on you.

That’s why forgiving another is having it come back to you.

So beautiful and transforming – and yet, also sadly lacking!

This is why G.K. Chesterton wrote: “The Christian ideal has not been tried and found wanting. It has been found difficult; and left untried.”

Each of us is called to try.

As I said in my last reflection: How else will God’s kingdom come on earth as it is in heaven (Matthew 6:10)?

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Listen to the song of the day “Love God” on the Live to Love album by clicking HERE.

Stream and/or purchase my songs on Amazon Music by clicking HERE.

Purchase my new book “Listen to Your Heart: A Daily Devotional of Calling, Purpose and New Life” on Amazon by clicking HERE.

Purchase my book “Mercy Reigns: A Daily Devotional of Compassion, Comfort and Healing” on Amazon by clicking HERE.

Remember: God loves you!

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Diverse Yet One

Posted on February 26, 2021 by billtonnis
Image by ooceey from Pixabay

“We must learn to live together as brothers and sisters or perish together as fools.” – Martin Luther King, Jr.

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Listen to my song “Breathe On Me” on YouTube by clicking HERE.

Support my ministry by purchasing my songs and books at the links following the scripture reflection. Thank you!

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Matthew 5:21-22

Jesus said, “You have heard that it was said to your ancestors, ‘You shall not kill; and whoever kills will be liable to judgment.’ But I say to you, whoever is angry with his brother will be liable to judgment, and whoever says to his brother, ‘Raqa,’ will be answerable to the Sanhedrin, and whoever says, ‘You fool,’ will be liable to fiery Gehenna.”

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We live in a society where name-calling and ridicule have been lifted up as perfectly acceptable.

Bullying seems to be in fashion.

This type of behavior appeals to the lowest level of consciousness in humans to separate everything into a binary.

It’s the land of either–or.

It’s either this or that.

It’s either right or wrong.

Sometimes this is true.

But certainly not always.

To the person operating out of ego consciousness, it feels great to be with the “right” group because you are superior to the “wrong” group, which of course is never your group!

Perhaps as a society we had to see just how ugly this kind of dualistic thinking is before we could change.

In today’s scripture, Jesus raised demeaning name-calling to the level of killing.

That’s because murder usually rises out of anger.

Without anger, there is little likelihood of killing.

The word “raqa” is an Aramaic word likely meaning imbecile or blockhead.

When you label people with derogatory names it often dehumanizes them.

It demonizes them (and is therefore profoundly not “pro-life”).

Many genocides began with such name-calling.

Over time it can lead people into very unconscious behavior such as killing the people who, after all, are so evil that God must not like them either.

Such is the delusional spiral that can lead people to do all sorts of atrocities in the name of God.

Jesus likens such unrighteous anger to throwing your life into an unquenchable fire.

That’s because you are separating yourself from another child of God.

You are breaking the Sacred Unity of all things, which St. Paul equated to “the body of Christ.”

When you live as though we are not one body, you are living in delusion.

(This is sin.)

The gospel teaches us that each of us must engage in the struggle to restore unity.

How else will God’s kingdom come on earth as it is in heaven? (Matthew 6:10)

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Listen to the song of the day “Breathe On Me” on the Listen to Your Heart album by clicking HERE.

Stream and/or purchase my songs on Amazon Music by clicking HERE.

Purchase my new book “Listen to Your Heart: A Daily Devotional of Calling, Purpose and New Life” on Amazon by clicking HERE.

Purchase my book “Mercy Reigns: A Daily Devotional of Compassion, Comfort and Healing” on Amazon by clicking HERE.

Remember: God loves you!

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Sacred Presence

Posted on February 25, 2021 by billtonnis
Image by Daniel Perrig from Pixabay

“It is better in prayer to have a heart without words than words without heart.” – Mahatma Gandhi

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Listen to my song “Slow Me Down” on YouTube by clicking HERE.

Support my ministry by purchasing my songs and books at the links following the scripture reflection. Thank you!

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Matthew 7:7

“Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find.”

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Jesus’ words to his followers here can make you scratch your head.

Really?

All I have to do is ask God for something and, presto, I’ll get it?

We all know this is not true!

Well, it depends on adding more context.

Jesus was talking in regard to prayer requests.

And then he added: “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” (Matthew 7:9-11).

Jesus puts this in the context of God being your loving parent.

For any of you who are parents, do you just give your kids anything they ask for, or do you consider their request as to whether what they’re requesting is good for them?

And, as Jesus said, If you know how to give what is good to your children, how much more will God give you good things?

Remember, “God is love” (1 John 4:8).

Love can only take part in the flow of Love.

The requests Jesus mentioned are requests for food, the very sustenance of life.

They are not about material things.

Material things are fine as long as you don’t get attached to them and connect the meaning of your life to them.

Our lives here on Earth in these physical bodies are not about amassing material things.

Our lives are about giving and receiving love.

As St. Paul said, If I do not have love, I am a resounding gong or a clashing cymbal (1 Corinthians 13:1).

As Pierre Teilhard de Chardin said, “We are spiritual beings having a human experience.”

We need to connect with the Love of the Universe on a spiritual level, surrendering our ego’s desires, and then asking for what we truly need.

Centering Prayer or other forms of meditation can play an integral part in this process.

Sit silently, allow your thoughts to diminish over and over and over again, and be present.

When you are an open vessel, you are in the perfect position to receive.

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Listen to the song of the day “Slow Me Down” on the Mercy Reigns album by clicking HERE.

Stream and/or purchase my songs on Amazon Music by clicking HERE.

Purchase my new book “Listen to Your Heart: A Daily Devotional of Calling, Purpose and New Life” on Amazon by clicking HERE.

Purchase my book “Mercy Reigns: A Daily Devotional of Compassion, Comfort and Healing” on Amazon by clicking HERE.

Remember: God loves you!

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Rejuvenate

Posted on February 24, 2021 by billtonnis
Image by RÜŞTÜ BOZKUŞ from Pixabay

“To follow Jesus is to be a wholemaker, essentially to love the world into new being and life.” – Ilia Delio, Making All Things New

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Listen to my song “God’s Love Is All You Need” on YouTube by clicking HERE.

Support my ministry by purchasing my songs and books at the links following the scripture reflection. Thank you!

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Psalm 51:12

A clean heart create for me, God; renew within me a steadfast spirit.

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God is in the restoration business.

The whole universe is being restored in a continual process of dying and rising.

When large stars burn all their fuel, eventually their core can explode forming supernovas sending large amounts of energy and material into space. This creates new stars.

God makes all things new (Revelation 21:5).

Or as God spoke through the prophet Isaiah, “Remember not the events of the past, the things of long ago consider not; See, I am doing something new! Now it springs forth, do you knot perceive it? In the wilderness I make a way, in the wasteland, rivers” (Isaiah 43:18-19).

God is still creating in the process of evolution, the dying and rising and dying and rising cycle.

Jesus demonstrated in a very personal way for each of us that our dying will lead to new life.

As for ongoing renewal, whatever you have done in the past is behind you.

It is now a memory.

You can’t change it, but you can let it change you.

You can make amends for anything you may be sorry about.

You can ask whomever you hurt for forgiveness.

You can extend forgiveness as well.

This is a way of taking part in the energies of love.

God is always gazing upon each of us as a beloved offspring.

The Love that is rejuvenating every fabric of the universe is ready to clean your heart.

Ask for forgiveness and receive it.

Welcome a renewed steadfast spirit within you.

Allow it to energize the creative spark within you!

Let go of the constant judgements and narratives of your mind.

Observe those thoughts and let them dissolve. (Centering Prayer is a way of practicing this.)

In the present moment, feel the love and acceptance of God.

Engage in each unfolding moment in the spirit of God’s ongoing creativity…and be free.

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Listen to the song of the day “God’s Love Is All You Need” on the Listen to Your Heart album by clicking HERE.

Stream and/or purchase my songs on Amazon Music by clicking HERE.

Purchase my new book “Listen to Your Heart: A Daily Devotional of Calling, Purpose and New Life” on Amazon by clicking HERE.

Purchase my book “Mercy Reigns: A Daily Devotional of Compassion, Comfort and Healing” on Amazon by clicking HERE.

Remember: God loves you!

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Vocation

Posted on February 23, 2021 by billtonnis
Image by Milos Rakic from Pixabay

“Before I can tell my life what I want to do with it, I must listen to my life telling me who I am.” – Parker Palmer, Let Your Life Speak

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Listen to my song “Listen to Your Heart” on YouTube by clicking HERE.

Support my ministry by purchasing my songs and books at the links following the scripture reflection. Thank you!

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Isaiah 55:10-11

Just as from the heavens the rain and snow come down and do not return there till they have watered the earth, making it fertile and fruitful, giving seed to the one who sows and bread to the one who eats, so shall my word be that goes forth from my mouth; It shall not return to me empty, but shall do what pleases me, achieving the end for which I sent it.

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God’s word comes to us in many ways: From the mouths of the prophets like Isaiah; from the mouth of Jesus in the gospels; from other scripture verses.

When we allow God’s word to soak into our hearts, it can take effect.

There is little chance of that happening if we are not setting aside time to allow it.

Lectio Divina is one practice in which you slowly read scripture and listen for words or phrases that draw you.

You then read the verses again while continuing to be sensitive to the alluring words or phrases.

You then sit with that word or phrase and ponder it in your heart.

Ask God if there is something going on in your life that might be the reason why you are drawn to this word or words.

Then, read the passage a third time.

This time, sit with the word or words that are drawing you and ask God if you are being called to do something.

This is how the Word takes root in you and produces fruit.

Sometimes it’s difficult to allow our minds to settle long enough to listen.

Centering Prayer is a wonderful practice that, over time, will result in more inner calm, a more fertile soil for God’s word to take root.

That word can also be experienced in creation itself.

As Richard Rohr wrote, “The first Bible is the Bible of nature. It was written at least 13.8 billion years ago, at the moment that we call the Big Bang, long before the Bible of words” (Center for Action and Contemplation reflection).

Immerse yourself in nature and just be present to it.

God is speaking everywhere!

Allow your heart to be moved.

Then the life that blooms will be pleasing indeed because you will be living as you true self.

It will result in a life poured out in love for the world.

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Listen to the song of the day “Listen to Your Heart” on the Listen to Your Heart album by clicking HERE.

Stream and/or purchase my songs on Amazon Music by clicking HERE.

Purchase my new book “Listen to Your Heart: A Daily Devotional of Calling, Purpose and New Life” on Amazon by clicking HERE.

Purchase my book “Mercy Reigns: A Daily Devotional of Compassion, Comfort and Healing” on Amazon by clicking HERE.

Remember: God loves you!

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Agape

Posted on February 22, 2021 by billtonnis
Image by beate bachmann from Pixabay

“God loved us before he made us; and his love has never diminished and never shall.” – Julian of Norwich

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Listen to my song “God Is” on YouTube by clicking HERE.

Support my ministry by purchasing my songs and books at the links following the scripture reflection. Thank you!

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Psalm 23:6

Indeed, goodness and mercy will pursue me all the days of my life; I will dwell in the house of the LORD for endless days.

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Are you a glass half-empty or a glass half-full person?

Or, how about, are you a glass-half-filled-is-enough person?

Let’s face it, much of life is perspective.

It’s how you approach life.

How do you make meaning of it all?

I think the answers to these questions say a lot about whether we think this is a benevolent universe or a cold-hearted, brutal or even meaningless one.

Due to my Christian faith, I believe that the foundation of all that is…is Love.

As I often quote: “God is love” (1 John 4:8).

Jesus said if you know him then you would also know God (John 14:7).

Jesus demonstrated God’s ways in caring for the least of these and in standing up to those who misused their power.

He healed the sick and he ordered his followers to forgive always and to even love their enemies!

This means that God certainly forgives always and loves everyone!

I believe this because I have experienced this Love over and over when I least deserved it.

When you know you are loved despite your faults, then the fabric of the universe is Love.

If you anchor yourself in this belief, then even amidst the storms of life, you will have an inner calm.

Centering Prayer is very helpful in manifesting this inner calm in your life.

I also recommend looking for the thread of goodness and mercy in the happenings of your life and then journaling about them.

Review these things often.

Meeting with a spiritual director is also a great idea.

At every moment you can access the Love that is grounding all that is by turning inward.

Then you will be able to say confidently: “The Lord is my shepherd; there is nothing I lack” (Psalm 23:1).

And even when it seems you are walking through the valley of the shadow of death, or one day when you literally are, you will be comforted (Psalm 23:4).

Because you will be quite familiar with the Goodness and Mercy that has always pursued you.

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Listen to the song of the day “God Is” on the Give Praise and Thanks album by clicking HERE.

Stream and/or purchase my songs on Amazon Music by clicking HERE.

Purchase my new book “Listen to Your Heart: A Daily Devotional of Calling, Purpose and New Life” on Amazon by clicking HERE.

Purchase my book “Mercy Reigns: A Daily Devotional of Compassion, Comfort and Healing” on Amazon by clicking HERE.

Remember: God loves you!

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Change of Heart

Posted on February 19, 2021 by billtonnis
Image by Gerd Altmann from Pixabay

“I really only love God as much as I love the person I love the least.” – Dorothy Day

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Listen to my song “Pour Me Out” on YouTube by clicking HERE.

Support my ministry by purchasing my songs and books at the links following the scripture reflection. Thank you!

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Isaiah 58:6-7

Is this not, rather, the fast that I choose: releasing those bound unjustly, untying the thongs of the yoke; Setting free the oppressed, breaking off every yoke? Is it not sharing your bread with the hungry, bringing the afflicted and the homeless into your house; Clothing the naked when you see them, and not turning your back on your own flesh?

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In the Christian tradition, Lent is a time of fasting.

It is a time to remember the 40 days Jesus spent in the desert before he began his ministry in earnest.

It is a time when Christians are to supposed to also spend time in a metaphorical desert to practice self-denial and fasting.

The purpose of the self-denial was not meant to be gaining favor with God!

God already loves you infinitely!

The point was that through your self-denial, as in the ego’s self-centered desires, that you would be better able to manifest God’s desires.

You would be better able to act out of your true self in sharing the Unconditional Love that you’ve been so freely given.

If such self-denial only makes you grouchy and mean, then you’d be better off not doing it.

If the self-denial is done as a badge of honor, as a way for the ego to take pride, then it is also a complete failure.

As God spoke in the scripture through the prophet Isaiah, any fasting or self-sacrifice is meant to get you out of the way, as in your egotistical self, so that you are open and free enough to see the needs of others and then to respond.

(A good way to practice “letting go and letting God” is the Christian form of meditation known as Centering Prayer.)

The importance of serving others cannot only be taught at the intellect level, although that’s important and many times sadly lacking.

Serving others is not usually spawned by an act of the brain, but of the heart.

Your self-denial’s revelation of the needs of others is meant to warm and transform your heart.

May the unconditional love of the Holy One inflame our hearts to channel love and mercy to all people, especially the least of these.

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Listen to the song of the day “Pour Me Out” on the Give Praise and Thanks album by clicking HERE.

Stream and/or purchase my songs on Amazon Music by clicking HERE.

Purchase my new book “Listen to Your Heart: A Daily Devotional of Calling, Purpose and New Life” on Amazon by clicking HERE.

Purchase my book “Mercy Reigns: A Daily Devotional of Compassion, Comfort and Healing” on Amazon by clicking HERE.

Remember: God loves you!

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Be You

Posted on February 18, 2021 by billtonnis
Image by Lars_Nissen from Pixabay

“Life is not a matter of creating a special name for ourselves, but of uncovering the name we have always had.” – Richard Rohr, Immortal Diamond

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Listen to my song “Make Your Way” on YouTube by clicking HERE.

Support my ministry by purchasing my songs and books at the links following the scripture reflection. Thank you!

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Luke 9:23-25

Then Jesus said to all, “If anyone wishes to come after me, he must deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow me. For whoever wishes to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for my sake will save it. What profit is there for one to gain the whole world yet lose or forfeit himself?”

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As I once heard someone say, “Jesus didn’t ask for fans. He asked for followers.”

And following Jesus means dying to self.

He wasn’t talking about final physical death (although that is part of the deal here).

He was talking about each day, each moment, letting go of your ego’s motives in favor of God’s motives.

You have to deny all those ego enticements that form a false identity based on power, prestige and possessions.

Those things are fine as long as they are used for the greater good, but not when they become attachments that define your life.

When you let go of those attachments, you are free to discover your true self.

When you follow Jesus you will also be led to feed the hungry, welcome the stranger, clothe the naked, care for the sick, and visit those in prison (Matthew 25:31-46).

When you go to bat for the “least of these,” make no mistake, you will be met with derision from those in power and those who are only interested in their own welfare.

This is the cross Jesus mentioned, the one you have to carry daily in order to follow him.

We are called to enter into the process of dying before dying.

The Christian form of meditation known as Centering Prayer is an actual practice of this dying to the ego’s desires.

The paradox is: The more you die to your false self, the more alive you become as your true self.

As Jesus also put it: “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” (John 12:24).

Dying is the proverbial elephant in the room.

It’s the topic our culture refuses to deal with or pretends can be avoided.

In reality, death is the key to life.

So, best start making dying a part of your daily living.

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Listen to the song of the day “Make Your Way” on the Mercy Reigns album by clicking HERE.

Stream and/or purchase my songs on Amazon Music by clicking HERE.

Purchase my new book “Listen to Your Heart: A Daily Devotional of Calling, Purpose and New Life” on Amazon by clicking HERE.

Purchase my book “Mercy Reigns: A Daily Devotional of Compassion, Comfort and Healing” on Amazon by clicking HERE.

Remember: God loves you!

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Sacred Journey

Posted on February 17, 2021 by billtonnis
Image by jplenio from Pixabay

“Tell me, what is it you plan to do with your one wild and precious life?” – Mary Oliver, The Summer Day

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Listen to my song “Shall We Sing” on YouTube by clicking HERE.

Support my ministry by purchasing my songs and books at the links following the scripture reflection. Thank you!

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2 Corinthians 5:20

We are ambassadors for Christ, as if God were appealing through us.

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The incarnation is not just a one-time event in history.

Yes, we as Christians believe that God incarnated as human in Jesus of Nazareth.

Jesus became the very embodiment of the Divine and reflected that Light to the world.

He showed us how to reflect that Light.

He showed us how to be that Light with our words and actions.

He showed us how to love and to care for the least of these (Matthew 25).

He showed us how to die before we die, to die to the false self so that the true self can live.

On this Ash Wednesday, we acknowledge that we will return to dust in the not-so-distant-future.

Our time as spiritual beings having a human experience (Pierre Teilhard de Chardin) is short indeed.

It’s a time we’ve been graced with in order to cooperate in the building of the kingdom of God, or in incarnating Unconditional Love in this time and this place.

As St. Paul said, “Working together, then, we appeal to you not to receive the grace of God in vain…Behold, now is a very acceptable time; behold, now is the day of salvation” (2 Corinthians 6:1-2).

All of creation is participating in the incarnation of God!

It’s happening now.

We, as humans, are given the choice as to whether we will accept the invitation to participate.

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Listen to the song of the day “Shall We Sing” on the Listen to Your Heart album by clicking HERE.

Stream and/or purchase my songs on Amazon Music by clicking HERE.

Purchase my new book “Listen to Your Heart: A Daily Devotional of Calling, Purpose and New Life” on Amazon by clicking HERE.

Purchase my book “Mercy Reigns: A Daily Devotional of Compassion, Comfort and Healing” on Amazon by clicking HERE.

Remember: God loves you!

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