Transformation in Progress

Posted on February 2, 2021 by billtonnis
Image by Marek Studzinski from Pixabay

“Love is the funeral pyre where the heart must lay its body.” – Hafiz

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Listen to my song “Love Will Always Lead You Home” on YouTube by clicking HERE.

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

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Hebrews 2:18

Because he himself was tested through what he suffered, he is able to help those who are being tested.

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Jesus is the way, the truth and the life (John 14:6).

He is the blueprint, if you will, on living a human life.

One of Jesus’ key teachings was: “For whoever wishes to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for my sake will find it” (Matthew 16:25).

So letting go of your ego’s understanding of self is the path to having your true self manifest and rise.

Dying and rising is part of our everyday life.

You have to lose your false self to find your true self.

Jesus’ ultimate lesson was given on the cross.

He demonstrated a loving response to the most unjust offense possible: his state and religion-sanctioned murder.

From the cross he forgave all who were killing him even when they had not even asked for forgiveness!

If Jesus can endure this most extreme test and respond with love, then what about us?

Jesus gave us the example.

Whatever you are going through, whatever unjust treatment or seemingly unfair hand you’ve been dealt, know that God is always with you helping you through the struggle.

Jesus showed us that resurrection and new life are on the horizon.

When you make it through, then the very thing that was your stumbling block will become the gift you share with others to help them in their journey to wholeness.

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Listen to the song of the day “Love Will Always Lead You Home” 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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You Are God’s Beloved

Posted on February 1, 2021 by billtonnis
Image by Myriams-Fotos from Pixabay

“The eye through which I see God is the same eye through which God sees me; my eye and God’s eye are one eye, one seeing, one knowing, one love.” – Meister Eckhart

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Listen to my song “There Are Three” on YouTube by clicking HERE.

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

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* Trigger warning in case of depression *

(I am no expert on depression and mental illness but I am about to comment on the topic, so please be kind to yourself if you are struggling and know I am hoping to be helpful and not hurtful. Please do not read further if this could is troubling in any way.)

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Mark 5:5-7

Night and day among the tombs and on the hillsides he was always crying out and bruising himself with stones. Catching sight of Jesus from a distance, he ran up and prostrated himself before him, crying out in a loud voice, “What have you to do with me, Jesus, Son of the Most High God?”

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The man Jesus encountered living among tombs was believed to be possessed by demons.

I have no idea if that was literally true or if he was simply mentally ill.

People who were mentally ill would have been assumed to be possessed back in those days.

It’s very symbolic that the man is roaming among the dead.

How many people today are in similar straits?

How many are in the depths of despair over life experiences, injustices done to them, or simply due to mental illness?

Just as this man was bruising himself with stones, troubled people today are known to cut themselves.

Do we ignore such people or do we help them?

Jesus goes to help this man despite the troubling circumstances.

Like a chaplain, he comes along side this man in his pain and suffering.

How many people today are at risk of suicide or even hurting others because we as a society turn away from them?

The man goes on to tell Jesus his name is Legion meaning there are “many of us.”

Are these the many voices that have belittled this man or have told him in so many ways that he was not loved?

Jesus does not abandon him but, wonder of wonders, shows compassion to him and orders the “unclean spirit” to leave him.

Jesus includes the man among the beloveds of God.

Loving presence and compassion were Jesus’ remedies.

Perhaps instead of judging those who are acting out of their pain, we would do well to come alongside them.

Sure, it’s risky.

But what would Jesus do?

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Listen to the song of the day “There Are Three” 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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Do Good

Posted on January 29, 2021 by billtonnis
Image by Pexels from Pixabay

“Each day, in itself, brings with it an eternity.” – Paulo Coelho, The Alchemist

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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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Mark 4:26-28

Jesus said, “This is how it is with the kingdom of God; it is as if a man were to scatter seed on the land and would sleep and rise night and day and the seed would sprout and grow, he knows not how. Of its own accord the land yields fruit, first the blade, then the ear, then the full grain in the ear.”

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This is the main theme of Jesus’ mission.

He is instigating the coming of what he called the kingdom of God here on Earth.

He was inviting his followers into actively cooperating in the coming of this kingdom in the here and now.

His concern was not in getting us safely evacuated from here to a distant heavenly reward.

Many have missed this somehow.

It’s really quite amazing how many people miss it and continue to miss it.

I was among them until an awakening that inspired me to immerse myself into the gospels.

The kingdom of God is the experience of being under God’s reign.

Jesus tells us what is required to experience this now.

First, he gave us the two greatest commandments: “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” (Mark 12:30-31).

He then commanded us to love our enemies (Matthew 5:44).

In the Beatitudes, Jesus said blessed are the merciful and the peacemakers (Matthew 5:7 and 5:9).

Then he made it quite clear how we are to put the love, mercy and peace of God’s kingdom into action: “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” (Matthew 25:35-36).

Jesus added, “Whatever you did for the least of these, you did for me” (Matthew 25:40).

It’s in carrying out these works of compassion in each moment that the kingdom of God blooms.

Then one day, perhaps God’s kingdom will come on earth as it is in heaven.

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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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Shine

Posted on January 28, 2021 by billtonnis
Image by Günther Schneider from Pixabay

“There is a crack in everything. That’s how the light gets in.” – Leonard Cohen

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As part of this reflection, listen to my song “The Way You Are” on YouTube by clicking HERE.

Support my ministry by scrolling down below the reflection for links to purchase my books and songs. Thank you!

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Mark 4:21-22

Jesus said to them, “Is a lamp brought in to be placed under a bushel basket or under a bed, and not to be placed on a lampstand? For there is nothing hidden except to be made visible; nothing is secret except to come to light.”

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We are all meant to be a light in this world.

THE light is God as many Near Death Experiencers have attested to.

Many who were clinically dead but later resuscitated have claimed they were in a heavenly realm where they basked in a Light of total love and acceptance, such that they had never experienced even a fraction of before.

Scripture tells us that Jesus is also light: “What came to be through him was life, and this life was the light of the human race; the light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it” (John 1:4-5).

Jesus himself is quoted as saying, “I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will not walk in darkness, but will have the light of life” (John 8:12).

If you are a Christian, you are a follower of Jesus and therefore meant to be a reflection of his light with your life.

But many feel lacking in this regard due to shame.

We all have shadows and wounds from what we’ve done and what has been done to us.

But God’s light shines on us regardless.

That’s what Unconditional Love does!

It’s through this healing Light that our wounds become beacons of light for others.

The very places of shame are transformed and used for good.

This is the Good News!

Share it with someone who needs to hear it today.

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Listen to the song of the day “The Way You Are” 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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Free to Be

Posted on January 27, 2021 by billtonnis
Image by Jordan Holiday from Pixabay

“The best things to do with the best things in life is to give them away.” – Dorothy Day

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Listen to my song “You’ll Lead Me” on YouTube by clicking HERE.

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

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Mark 4:18-19

“Those (seeds) sown among thorns are another sort. They are the people who hear the word, but worldly anxiety, the lure of riches, and the craving for other things intrude and choke the word, and it bears no fruit.”

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Worldly anxiety, the lure of riches, and the craving for other things.

Anyone relate?

Today’s scripture is from Jesus’ “Parable of the Sower.”

The seed the sower is planting is the Word of God.

That Word, in my opinion, is the expression of the unconditional love that God has for all of creation.

It’s a love that when it takes root in you, so to speak, it energizes you to be that love in each moment.

Then you become a mini-but-imperfect-expression of this Love as you use your gifts and talents.

This is the blueprint for living as your true self.

Sounds great…but unfortunately “worldly anxiety, the lure of riches, and the craving for other things intrude and choke the word, and it bears no fruit.”

This is a daily challenge.

It’s hard to be selfless when the culture you live in continually tells you that success is having more power, prestige and possessions.

Jesus tells us that success is measured in giving: “Give and gifts will be given to you; a good measure, packed together, shaken down, and overflowing, will be poured into your lap. For the measure with which you measure will in return be measured out to you” (Luke 6:38).

The world says grab more, Jesus says give it away.

I have tried both paths and have experienced the deep, satisfying joy of following Jesus’ path.

When you serve others as life unfolds, “Then the God of peace will be with you” (Philippians 4:9).

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Listen to the song of the day “You’ll Lead 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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Good News

Posted on January 26, 2021 by billtonnis
Image by Larisa Koshkina 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 “Pour Me Out” on YouTube by clicking HERE.

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

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2 Timothy 1:8

Bear your share of hardship for the gospel with the strength that comes from God.

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St. Paul is cluing us in that standing up for the gospel and preaching the gospel will not be easy.

You will be met with resistance.

The key point I want to make about this is: What is the gospel?

What is the Good News?

Christians differ on this.

Some claim the gospel is that Jesus died for our sins, taking them upon himself and paying the price of death that we deserved due to our sinfulness so that God would then allow us into heaven.

This is known as the substitutionary atonement theory.

Sounds pretty ugly.

I thought God was love itself (1 John 4:8)?

You mean to tell me that God could not forgive us?

God commands us to forgive everyone but God couldn’t do it?

Did God make us imperfect and then condemn us for being imperfect?

Besides, we’ve been evolving for thousands of years.

Did God say one day: “Let’s see who passes the test and accepts that Jesus died for them? If they fail, then they go to hell for eternity.”

I completely reject this as many theologians have over the years including the Franciscan Duns Scotus who lived in the 13th century.

As Richard Rohr put it: “If forgiveness needs to be bought or paid for, then it is not authentic forgiveness at all. Love and forgiveness must be freely given or they do not accomplish their deeply transformative healing. Self-serving love does not change the heart. It must be free and undeserved love or transformation does not happen” (Center for Action and Contemplation, Reflection for Feb. 6, 2019).

Jesus was demonstrating for us what love is all about.

It pours itself out for the beloved.

He was showing us what unconditional love carried out to the end looks like.

When you stand up to those who are unjust but do it in love, you do it with nonviolence. You can be sure this will bring you hardship.

For Jesus (and others like Martin Luther King Jr.), it brought death.

But this gave Jesus the opportunity to give us the most profound example of forgiveness when he said from the cross, “Father, forgive them, they know not what they do” (Luke 23:34).

Forgiveness was given when no one had even asked for it!

This is unconditional love personified.

And by the resurrection we know that death did not win.

This is what saves me every day.

The crux is: we are called to follow this same transformational path.

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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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Christianity Is Nonviolent

Posted on January 25, 2021 by billtonnis
Image by Gordon Johnson from Pixabay

“Love is the only force capable of transforming an enemy into a friend.” – Martin Luther King Jr.

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Listen to my song “Make Me a Channel” on YouTube by clicking HERE.

Please support my ministry by purchasing my songs and books at links below following the reflection. Thank you!

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Acts 22:3-4

I was zealous for God, just as all of you are today. I persecuted this Way to death, binding both men women and delivering them to prison.

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In today’s scripture, St. Paul was reflecting back to when he was known as Saul.

At that time, Saul was sure that he was doing God’s work when he was terrorizing the early Christians known as the “Way”.

He was described as “breathing murderous threats” (Acts 9:1).

Saul was organizing round-ups of these followers of Jesus and having them dragged off to prison.

Some were killed.

Does that sound like a “man of God” to you?

Saul ends up having a mystical encounter on the road to Damascus when he is knocked to the ground by a blinding light.

That’s when he hears a voice stating, “I am Jesus whom you are persecuting.”

Since Jesus had been crucified, this came as a great shock to Saul.

And quite the revelation as well.

Jesus said that Saul was persecuting him by persecuting his followers.

Saul eventually became one of the most zealous followers of Jesus whose writings have influenced millions.

If you are persecuting people, anyone actually, with hateful words or actions, in the name of God – this should give you pause.

While we are called to work for justice, we are called first and foremost to love God and our neighbor as ourselves.

Jesus said these were the greatest commandments.

Paul would go on to write: “Love is patient, love is kind. It is not jealous, love is not pompous, it is not inflated, it is not rude, it does not seek its own interests, it is not quick-tempered, it does not brood over injury, it does not rejoice over wrongdoing but rejoices with the truth. It bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things” (1 Corinthians 13:4-7).

It’s obvious that Love had powerfully transformed this man.

May each of us humbly examine our own hearts and allow Love to transform us.

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Listen to the song of the day “Make Me a Channel” 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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Be True

Posted on January 22, 2021 by billtonnis
Image by Free-Photos from Pixabay

“I never been ordained by God to preach the gospel. I have a calling. It’s called to perform and sing.” – Johnny Cash

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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 end of the following reflection. Thank you!

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Mark 3:13

Jesus went up the mountain and summoned those whom he wanted and they came to him.

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Jesus is calling you.

Yes you.

You know that, right?

I used to think God only called people to be a priest or a sister.

That was pretty much what I was taught as a kid in Catholic schools.

While God does call some people to religious life, not most.

This caused me great inner turmoil for years as I wrestled with what this inner gnawing was all about!

I’m reminded of the wise words of Rainer Maria Rilke who said, “Live the questions now. Perhaps you will then gradually, without noticing it, live along some distant day into the answer.”

I have found this to be profoundly true.

As you stumble and sometimes crawl as you struggle to progress through life’s complex questions, one day you may suddenly feel a strange sense of peace.

It happened for me.

However, I hate to tell you, it’s a never-ending process.

The call is always evolving.

God’s call…Christ’s call if you will…is unique with each person.

Each of us is a tiny, imperfect reflection of the Divine.

The Love that created you, me, and all things is transforming us in the cauldron of contradictions and complexities we face.

Let this Love lead you.

Be this Love as best you can.

Share this Love through your gifts, talents, words and actions.

I promise you – you will be very glad you did!

Start now.

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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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Love Is Flowing

Posted on January 21, 2021 by billtonnis
Image by Antonios Ntoumas from Pixabay

“Most of us were taught that God would love us if and when we change. In fact, God loves you so that you can change.” – Richard Rohr

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

Please support my ministry by purchasing my songs and books at the end of my reflection below. Thank you!

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Psalm 40:7-9

Sacrifice and offering you do not want; you opened my ears. Holocaust and sin-offering you do not request; so I said, “See; I come with an inscribed scroll written upon me. I delight to do your will, my God; your law is in my inner being!”

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God does not want our sacrifices as some sort of offering to “make-up” for our sinful ways.

Jesus stated this as well: “Go and learn the meaning of the words, ‘I desire mercy, not sacrifice.’ I did not come to call the righteous but sinners” (Matthew 9:13).

Back in Jesus’ time, people were sacrificing little animals as an appeasement to God for sins.

Think about that!

Jesus states quite clearly that God wants mercy from us.

God wants us to sacrifice our egos’ needs for power, prestige and possessions.

Then we are free to serve others by sharing the unconditional love and mercy that God showers upon us.

When we are unbound from these worldly yearnings, we realize we have enough.

We are enough.

A friend texted to me a photo of a sign he saw hanging on the wall of an eatery.

This quote from the Greek storyteller Aesop still rings true.

Here’s another good one from Zen master Rinzai: “What in this moment is lacking?”

Psalm 23 states: “The Lord is my shepherd; I lack nothing.”

In this moment, we have the fullness of God’s love poured out to us with no strings attached!

How can you help but feel gratitude?

Gratitude leads to thanksgiving.

Thanks-giving is giving-thanks.

We give ourselves in gratitude.

It springs from our inner being!

Then it is a delight to give ourselves for the sake of the Greater Good.

May it be so!

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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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Love Rules

Posted on January 20, 2021 by billtonnis
Image by JuergenPM from Pixabay

“Out beyond ideas of wrongdoing and rightdoing, there is a field. I’ll meet you there.” Rumi

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Listen to my song “Make Me a Channel” on YouTube by clicking HERE.

Support my ministry by purchasing my songs and books below today’s reflection. Thank you!

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Mark 3:4-6

Then Jesus said to the Pharisees, “Is it lawful to do good on the sabbath rather than to do evil, to save life rather than to destroy it?” But they remained silent. Looking around at them with anger and grieved at their hardness of heart, he said to the man, “Stretch out your hand.” He stretched it out and his hand was restored. The Pharisees went out and immediately took counsel with the Herodians against him to put him to death.

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Jesus picks up where he left off in yesterday’s scripture reflection with another lesson on dualism.

That is the tendency of the human brain to separate everything in the field into opposites.

The subject in mind is determined to be either good or bad.

Dualism is the tendency to divide everything as either in or out.

It’s all or nothing.

It’s a revelation to many people that there are gray areas in between.

Sure, there are some definite rights and wrongs, but life is usually more complicated than that.

The religious leaders were once again trying to trap Jesus into doing something that violated their laws so they could kill him.

(Note to self: Religious leaders plotting to kill anyone is a problem!)

Jesus again showed them that curing someone on the Sabbath might violate the law that prohibited work, but it was the loving thing to do!

Love needs to be our main motivator when living our lives.

It will definitely make matters messy and complicated.

But if entered into with integrity, compassion and transformation will blossom.

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Listen to the song of the day “Make Me a Channel” 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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