True Self

Posted on December 21, 2020 by billtonnis
Image by Bessi from Pixabay

“It is the self-planted in us by the God who made us in God’s own image – the self that wants nothing more, or less, than for us to be who we were created to be.” – Parker Palmer, Let Your Life Speak

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Listen to my song “Let It Be Done to Me” on YouTube by clicking HERE. Support my ministry by scrolling down past the reflection and purchasing my songs and books. Thank you!

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Luke 1:45

“Blessed are you who believed that what was spoken to you by the Lord would be fulfilled.”

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As scripture tells it, an angel told Mary she would conceive and bear a son named Jesus who would be great and called “Son of the Most High.”

Talk about a curve ball!

That was certainly not in her plans!

But Mary replied, “May it be done to be according to your word” (Luke 1:38).

Each Christmas we are reminded that “the Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us” (John 1:14).

How is the Word to become flesh in you this Christmas?

How are you being called to become the incarnation of God in your flesh?

It doesn’t mean you are being called to do some great feat (although it could).

It just means you are being called to let go of your ego’s idea of you, so that God’s idea of you can manifest.

Of course, this requires that we first listen to the silent, gentle, inner voice of God.

Setting aside time for contemplative practices is key.

It might be meditation, Centering Prayer, or simple walks in nature.

What is important is that you set aside your thoughts and open wide your heart.

What are you being called to do in this time and place?

What gives you inner joy and peace?

Start there.

May it be done!

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Listen to the song of the day “Let It Be Done to Me” 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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Counterculture

Posted on December 16, 2020 by billtonnis
Image by Tumisu from Pixabay

“The Christian ideal has not been tried and found wanting. It has been found difficult; and left untried.” – G.K. Chesterton

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Listen to my song “I Want to Follow You” on YouTube by clicking HERE. Please support my ministry by scrolling below the following reflection and purchasing my songs and books. Thank you!

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Luke 7:18-19

John (the Baptist) summoned two of his disciples and sent them to the Lord to ask, “Are you the one who is to come, or should we look for another?”

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This was a very perplexing time for John the Baptist.

He had been so sure that the messiah he was anticipating was Jesus.

But now he wasn’t sure.

The reason?

Jesus had been curing people of diseases, healing them of their suffering, restoring sight to the blind, opening the ears of the deaf, cleansing lepers, and proclaiming the good news to the poor.

John likely thought the messiah would come in power to vanquish the Roman oppressors.

But instead, Jesus was spending his time with all the so-called “sinners” and letting them know that they were unconditionally loved by God.

When we follow Jesus, it will change the way we live our lives: how we shop, how we vote, how we interact with others.

It will lead us to toward caring for those at the bottom, not climbing to the top.

Are we tending to the sick, the down-trodden, the suffering?

Are we proclaiming the good news to the poor?

Are we changing our worldview and lifestyle to fit Jesus or are we changing Jesus to fit our worldview and lifestyle?

Those in power, those at the top of society, many times do not react kindly to the way of Jesus.

As Jesus told John’s two disciples: “Blessed is the one who takes no offense at me” (Luke 7:21).

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Listen to my song “I Want to Follow You” 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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Hope

Posted on December 15, 2020 by billtonnis
Image by Peter H from Pixabay

“We must accept finite disappointment, but never lose infinite hope.” – Martin Luther King, Jr.

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Listen to my song “Love Will Always Lead you Home” on YouTube by clicking HERE. Please consider supporting my ministry by scrolling down and purchasing my music or books. Thank you!

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Psalm 34:19

The LORD is close to the brokenhearted, saves those whose spirit is crushed.

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I’m sure there are a lot of people who feel as though their spirit has been crushed.

The pandemic has caused lots of hardship.

On top of that, I’m also sure many have endured losses of loved ones or jobs or businesses that have fallen apart.

But fear not!

There is hope.

There is a Love that is eternal.

Death does not have the last say.

Jesus showed us this with his life as he went around restoring many to wholeness and fixing many broken hearts.

And in the end, he trusted that when he delivered his spirit into God’s hands, there would be new life.

We believe there was!

And this means not only for him but for all!

Love is at work below the surface of all the turmoil providing the nutrients for new life to bloom.

Hang in there.

Clear your mind of all the false narratives your brain may have concocted.

In the silence you will find rejuvenation from this eternal Love that will never abandon you but is always leading you to new life.

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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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Be Here

Posted on December 14, 2020 by billtonnis

“God comes to you disguised as your life.” – Paula D’Arcy

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Listen to my song “Breathe On Me” on YouTube by clicking HERE. Please support my ministry by scrolling below the following reflection and purchasing my songs and books.

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Psalm 25:4

Make known to me your ways, LORD; teach me your paths.

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Do you ever wish God would just show you your next step?

Just make that next step crystal clear.

I don’t think that is the usual way things work in this realm.

It might happen on occasion, but I think we usually find our way through a more collaborative process.

We have to be engaged with our life and the situations that unfold.

The main problem we encounter is with our own thinking.

We want to figure out the next step which usually means too much of our egos are involved.

When Jesus was confronted with his apparent appointment with execution, he initially wrestled with what was unfolding.

But in the end, he said: “Not my will but yours be done” (Luke 22:42).

St. Paul wrote about this way of life that Jesus was demonstrating: “Though he was in the form of God, he did not regard equality with God something to be grasped. Rather, he emptied himself” (Philippians 2:6-7).

This is the way – the self-emptying path.

Jesus’ also put it this way: “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).

First, we must let go and be present to what our lives are presenting us.

Then, we must move in the direction we are being invited.

The invitation is usually through a gentle nudge which might only be perceptible if you are docile and open.

A meditation practice such as Centering Prayer is very helpful.

Take a moment often throughout the day and simply stop your thoughts, breathe deeply, and be attentive to everything.

Just breathe.

Be.

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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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True Self

Posted on December 10, 2020 by billtonnis
Image by Ray Miller from Pixabay

“The snow goose need not bathe to make itself white. Neither need you do anything but be yourself.” – Lao Tzu

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Listen to my song “Glorify You with Me” on YouTube by clicking HERE.

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Psalm 145:10

All your works give you thanks, LORD.

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All living things are simply be-ing.

They are being true to their being-ness.

A tree is not trying to be a plant.

A horse is not trying to be a dog.

They don’t possess the type of free will that is required to pretend being something other than who you are.

Human beings are the only living creatures that seem to have the choice about whether to be their true selves.

You don’t have to accomplish anything to be your true self.

Accomplishing things and having goals are fine as far as they go.

That’s all well and good if what you are doing is springing from the authenticity of who you are.

If those things are spawned by your ego, however, then it’s all about you and not about the common good.

You are already your true self at core.

You are already perfect and eternally loved by the Love of the universe that created you.

You can’t improve on that you.

You can’t be a “better version” of that you.

Sure, you can be a “better version” by the world’s standards as to accomplishments and accolades.

But the perfect pearl of who you are and have always been and always will be cannot be improved upon.

You are that pearl, that diamond, right now and forever.

Live from that place.

Be you because no one else can do it.

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Listen to the song of the day “Glorify You with Me” 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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Living Grace

Posted on December 9, 2020 by billtonnis
Image by Myriams-Fotos from Pixabay

“I am a Christian, not because someone explained the nuts and bolts of Christianity, but because there were people willing to be nuts and bolts.” – Rich Mullins

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Listen to my song “I Will Give You Rest” on YouTube by clicking HERE.

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Psalm 103: 8-10

Merciful and gracious is the LORD, slow to anger, abounding in mercy. He will not always accuse, and nurses no lasting anger; He has not dealt with us as our sins merit, nor requited us as our wrongs deserve.

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People seem to have such a hard time believing that God is merciful.

They seem to prefer a God of vengeance which, of course, would give them license to also be vengeful.

However, scripture tells us God is love (1 John 4:8).

While the God of the Old Testament is perceived to have done some horribly vicious things, these are only the interpretations of people who were trying to make sense of life.

Their consciousness of “God” was in development.

When Jesus came along, he provided more clarity.

He said that if you knew him then you would know God (John 8:18-19).

Jesus reflected a God of compassion and mercy.

He also reflected a God of justice, but not of punitive or retributive justice.

Jesus’ justice was restorative.

We see this most clearly in the story of the woman caught in adultery.

Here, Jesus told the men who wanted to stone the woman that the one without sin should cast the first stone (John 8:1-11).

When they all dropped their stones and left, Jesus told the woman that he didn’t condemn her, but she should go and not sin any more.

This gave her the mercy she needed to change her ways and be restored.

It wasn’t a free pass to live a sinful life.

Basically, such a life would lead to the ruin she had found herself in.

It wouldn’t have caused God to love her any less, but she would have ended up quite miserable living as a “false self” and not as the “true self” she was meant to be.

As the true self, we live our lives serving others through the unique talents we were given and spreading love and forgiveness.

In doing so, we contribute in bringing about what Jesus called “the kingdom of God” in the here and now.

So, if you are struggling and yearning to break the chains binding you from the addictions and delusions of your false self, hear the words of Jesus: “Come to me, all you who labor and are burdened, and I will give you rest” (Matthew 11:28).

Allow the Unconditional Love of the universe to transform you.

Then, be that love in the world.

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Listen to the song of the day “I Will Give You Rest” 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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Yes, And

Posted on December 8, 2020 by billtonnis
Image by Free-Photos from Pixabay

“Surrender is the simple but profound wisdom of yielding to rather than opposing the flow of life.” – Eckhart Tolle

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Listen to my song “Let It Be Done to Me” on YouTube by clicking HERE.

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Luke 1:38

Mary said, “Behold, I am the handmaid of the Lord. May it be done to me according to your word.”

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When we rebel against what is, we create suffering for ourselves.

It’s pretty much that simple.

It doesn’t mean we have to like what reality hands us, but we must accept it for what it is.

Then, if we wish to change what is occurring, we certainly have the option to plan how to do that.

But refusing to accept what is, arguing in our minds as to why it happened or lashing out in anger at God, only creates suffering.

Besides, God is not doing anything to you.

Whatever is happening, it’s part of what life at this moment is dictating.

There are multiple factors including the actions or inactions of others, the actions or inactions of yourself, and the actions and inactions of all the rest of creation down to the submolecular level.

Human beings have free will and it appears nature also has a freedom to do what it does in order that life as we know it continues.

Much of it is a Mystery.

The point is, Mary could have said, “No way, not me, this wasn’t my plan!”

But instead, knowing that the Divine plan has to be better than hers, she says, “May it be done to me.”

When we accept what is, sit with it, and be with it, then transformation can occur.

Some events that appeared to be the worst when they occurred eventually turned into the most transformative events of my life.

Dare I say, I now view them as the best events!

This reminds me again of a quote that is one of my favorites by Paula D’Arcy: “God comes to you disguised as your life.”

God isn’t doing anything to you, but God or Love itself will help ignite the fires of transformation within you.

Do not be quick to judge, but practice presence.

Centering Prayer or some other form of meditation would be very helpful.

Approach every new moment with, “May it be done to me according to your word.”

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Listen to the song of the day “Let It Be Done to Me” 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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Making All Things New

Posted on December 7, 2020 by billtonnis
Image by Sonja Alphonso from Pixabay

“God is ever newness in love. Transcendence, therefore, is the future beyond that draws us in the present movement toward greater wholeness and unity.” – Ilia Delio, The Emergent Christ

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Listen to my song “Give Praise and Thanks” on YouTube by clicking HERE

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Isaiah 35:4-7

Be strong, do not fear! Here is your God, he comes with vindication; With divine recompense he comes to save you. Then the eyes of the blind shall see, and the ears of the deaf be opened; Then the lame shall leap like a stag, and the mute tongue sing for joy. For waters will burst forth in the wilderness, and streams in the Arabah. The burning sands will become pools, and the thirsty ground, springs of water.

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Despite this positive scripture (and the many times Jesus told us not to fear), I hear a high level of fear being expressed by people in regard to God.

I visit a lot of older people who are facing their mortality.

Many of them are hoping they “make the cut” so to speak.

How sad!

In my opinion, there is such a warped idea of our existence.

Did God make us so we could be put onto the Earth as some sort of game to see if we are “good enough” to come to heaven one day?

This is an idea that needs to be thoroughly rejected.

God is love (1 John 4:8), remember?

God is creating from the Love that God is, and we are part of this on-going creation.

Our souls are eternal.

We are wonderfully made (Psalm 139:14)!

Evolution is God’s method of creating in this realm.

Everything is sacred.

We are already infinitely loved.

Today’s scripture from Isaiah speaks of a God who is in the transformation business.

All things, not just human beings, but ALL things, are being transformed.

Death is constantly being changed to life.

It’s all part of the Divine plan.

Jesus showed us this.

Death is both an ending and a beginning.

Give praise and thanks!

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Listen to the song of the day “Give Praise and Thanks” 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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Source of Life

Posted on December 4, 2020 by billtonnis
Image by David Zydd 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.

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Psalm 27:1

The LORD is my light and my salvation; whom should I fear?

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There is a Presence that pervades all things.

You can experience it.

Take a moment to sit in a quiet spot.

Close your eyes and stop thinking.

Let your mind be still.

Stop.

Ahhhhh.

Feel that wondrous stillness?

You are part of something vast and life-giving.

You are held by it.

It’s interesting to me that many of the people who have had a Near Death Experience tell of a common phenomenon about a being of light.

They encounter this Light that exudes such love that they claim there are no words to describe the magnitude.

In the presence of this Light, they feel total acceptance and peace.

There is no fear.

There is a scripture verse that explains this: “There is no fear in love, but perfect love drives out fear because fear has to do with punishment, and so one who fears is not yet perfect in love” (1 John 4:18).

And remember: “God is love” (1 John 4:8).

So stop.

Take a deep breath.

Slowly exhale.

Be grateful and experience “the peace of God that surpasses all understanding” (Philippians 4:7).

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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 Is a Verb

Posted on December 3, 2020 by billtonnis
Image by eliola from Pixabay

“Love in action is a harsh and dreadful thing compared to love in dreams.” – Dostoyevsky’s The Brothers Karamazov

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

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Matthew 7:21

“Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only the one who does the will of my Father in heaven.”

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Saying nice words and having pious beliefs doesn’t mean much without accompanying action.

As it says elsewhere in scripture: “Faith without works is dead” (James 2:26).

Jesus tells his followers that people simply reciting “Lord, Lord” or other such prayerful recitations doesn’t result in any transformation.

He says such people must also do the will of God or what good are the words?

And what is the will of God?

Well, since Jesus said the greatest commandments were to love God with all your heart, mind and soul and then to love your neighbor as yourself (Matthew 22:36-39), I’m betting God’s will is that we love.

And that doesn’t mean only loving the people we like.

Remember that he also commanded us to love our enemies (Matthew 5:44).

So, when we are being compassionate, merciful, and forgiving as well as helping to free the oppressed (Luke 4:18), we can safely say that we are in close proximity of doing God’s will.

This requires action which at times will be very difficult.

How does one get to the point of being of such service to the world?

The best way is to truly experience that you are the beloved of God.

That’s the only way you’ll be able to act from a place of love.

Do you know that you are loved unconditionally and eternally by God?

You are.

Believe it!

Allow this to move your heart.

When this happens, the kingdom of heaven will be at hand!

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Listen to the song of the day “Pour Me Out” 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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