Be You

Posted on December 9, 2019 by billtonnis
Image by Anita S. on Pixabay

When we are simply being our unique selves…we are praising God.

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

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Ephesians 1:11-12

In him we were also chosen, destined in accord with the purpose of the One who accomplishes all things according to the intention of his will, so that we might exist for the praise of his glory, we who first hoped in Christ.

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St. Paul speaks with deep mystical knowledge.

He tries to put into words what is beyond words – wisdom he gained through his encounters with the Transcendent.

He says that each of us has been chosen in Christ…in the Word that was at the beginning.

That is how long each of us has been cherished by God.

And each of us has been destined by the One…the Creator…to exist for the praise of God’s glory.

That is the One’s intent.

We are already one with the One.

We have been from the start.

And all that is expected of us is that we be who we are.

As each of us is eternally loved by the One…each of us is expected to share that Love in the unique way that only each of us was created to share it.

Receive that Love…allow it to bring you peace and joy.

Share 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.

Remember…God loves you!

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Transformation in Progress

Posted on December 6, 2019 by billtonnis

Trust that new life is always in the making.

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(Listen to my song “Love Will Always Lead You Home” by clicking HERE)

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Isaiah 29:17-18

Surely, in a very little while, Lebanon shall be changed into an orchard, and the orchard be considered a forest! On that day the deaf shall hear the words of a scroll; And out of gloom and darkness, the eyes of the blind shall see.

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Transformation is happening…even if we can’t see it.

The Spirit is at work…as sure as the seeds germinating underground that one day will create an orchard and even a forest.

New life is in progress…but it comes from the ashes.

There must be death for there to be life…and there must be life for there to be death.

This is the cycle of God’s creativity.

When we trust God…trust a Higher Power…and surrender our ego’s desires…we may feel as if we are dying.

But this is the path to finding our true selves.

As Jesus said, “Unless a grain of wheat falls to the ground and dies it remains a grain of wheat; but if it dies, it produces much fruit” (John 12:24).

So in times of darkness…let go…and trust that you are being led to new life.

Love will always lead you home.

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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.

Remember…God loves you!

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Serve

Posted on December 5, 2019 by billtonnis

May our actions be living signs of God’s love.

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(Listen to my song “You’ll Lead Me” 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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You’ve heard the saying, “Actions speak louder than words.”

What Jesus is trying to get across in today’s scripture verse is that words don’t always cut it.

Praying words such as ‘Lord, Lord’ without any accompanying action, is only halfway.

For instance, there are people in need of help.

If all we ever do is utter words of prayer…that’s something…but what is really needed is for us to take action to actually help.

Jesus often talked about the “kingdom of God” or the “kingdom of heaven” being among us.

It’s a state of being when the Love of God actually becomes tangibly real in the present.

This requires that we awaken to this Divine Presence, let go…and allow it to move us to do good.

When we do this…the kingdom of heaven will truly be at hand.

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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.

Remember…God loves you!

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Eternal Compassion

Posted on December 4, 2019 by billtonnis

The love of God is pouring forth from an endless ocean.

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

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Matthew 15:32

Jesus summoned his disciples and said, “My heart is moved with pity for the crowd, for they have been with me now for three days and have nothing to eat.”

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Has your heart ever been “moved with pity” for someone?

The translation of Jesus’ words here using the word “pity” might better be translated “compassion.”

The Latin root means to suffer with.

This is not simply feeling bad for someone momentarily and then moving on.

It’s feeling the pain of another and then being moved to join with that person in that uncomfortable spot.

When you do this…it brings comfort to the person who is in pain.

I have experienced this numerous times…especially in ministering to the sick.

There were many times in my chaplain training when I prayed at the bedside of someone who was very sick and afraid.

I held their hand…listened to them…and would simply be with them.

In those moments…there was a palpable warmth…a deep sense of a Divine Presence enveloping us both.

At one time in my life…I would have rather run in the other direction than be with someone who is in pain.

But then came the time I needed the compassion of others…and received it.

My life was changed.

I realized that Life was bigger than me.

The love of God has no boundaries.

It is a Great Compassion embracing you now.

Know that.

Be a channel of that Compassion to those you meet today.

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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.

Remember…God loves you!

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Meaning of Life

Posted on December 3, 2019 by billtonnis

Each of us is called to love.

(Listen to my song “May I Be Light” on YouTube by clicking HERE)

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Isaiah 11:6

Then the wolf shall be a guest of the lamb, and the leopard shall lie down with the young goat; The calf and the young lion shall browse together, with a little child to guide them.

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The prophet Isaiah describes for us this utopian vision when love will reach its fullness.

Could this be the end result of God’s kingdom coming “on earth as it is in heaven”?

Could this also be the “second coming of Christ” when the fullness of Christ fills everything?

Could this be the end result of evolution…what science clearly shows us God has been doing for the past nearly 14 billion years?

We are all part of this unfolding, creative vision.

Each of us is called to do our little part…being a conduit of the Love that is animating and creating everything.

How do we do that?

By doing the next loving thing.

That’s it.

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

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

Remember…God loves you!

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All Are Welcome

Posted on December 2, 2019 by billtonnis

Grace has no rules or prerequisites.

(Listen to my song “All Are Welcome” on YouTube by clicking HERE)

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Matthew 8:10-11

When Jesus heard this, he was amazed and said to those following him, “Amen, I say to you, in no one in Israel have I found such faith. I say to you, many will come from the east and the west, and will recline with Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob at the banquet in the Kingdom of heaven.”

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A centurion, a military officer of the Roman army, had just asked Jesus to heal one of his servants who was “suffering dreadfully.”

When Jesus agreed to come with him…the centurion said there was no need for him to come.

He said, “Only say the word and my servant will be healed.”

That’s when Jesus spoke the scripture verses above.

This centurion, a member of the government oppressing the Jews and not a believer in the God of Israel, had faith in this miracle worker he must have heard about.

Jesus then indicated that the centurion would be welcome at the banquet table that he frequently equates with the “Kingdom of heaven.”

This seems to indicate that we need to be far, far, far more welcoming and broad in being Christ to all people…and seeing Christ in all people.

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Listen to the song of the day “All Are Welcome” on the Give Praise and Thanks album by clicking HERE.

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

Remember…God loves you!

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You Can’t Take It with You

Posted on November 26, 2019 by billtonnis

What is the top priority in how you live your life?

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(Listen to the song of the day “The Way You Are” on YouTube by clicking HERE)

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Luke 21:5-6

While some people were speaking about how the temple was adorned with costly stones and votive offerings, he said, “All that you see here—the days will come when there will not be left a stone upon another stone that will not be thrown down.”

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What are you living for?

Are you living for material things?

Are you living for prestige or power?

Even devout religious people can be living for the accolades or prestige of being highly regarded and seemingly holy.

All those things will disintegrate in time.

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

If you are a Christian…then these commandments should be our top priorities in life.

Each of us is loved by God unconditionally just the way we are…so that we in turn can be this love in the world.

When the time comes to leave our human bodies…the only thing that will matter is how well we loved.

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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.

Remember…God loves you!

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Be Free

Posted on November 25, 2019 by billtonnis

When we give all…we gain all.

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

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Luke 21:1-4

When he looked up he saw some wealthy people putting their offerings into the treasury and he noticed a poor widow putting in two small coins. He said, “I tell you truly, this poor widow put in more than all the rest; for those others have all made offerings from their surplus wealth, but she, from her poverty, has offered her whole livelihood.”

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Jesus goes to the heart of the matter in this scripture.

We all have to ask ourselves: Am I giving the bare minimum?

Do I only reach out to help others on rare occasions or when some need confronts me face-to-face?

Do I even respond then?

Or…am I giving all that I am in love and compassion in living my life?

As St. Paul said near the time of his martyrdom, “I am already being poured out like a libation” (2 Timothy 4:6).

Guilt cannot be our motive.

God knows our hearts.

Consider that God has already given each of us unconditional love and eternal life!

We are truly free.

How amazing is this!

So…what is our response?

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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.

Remember…God loves you!

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All Belong

Posted on November 19, 2019 by billtonnis

Let’s look for ways to enter into positive dialogue.

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(Listen to my song “All Are Welcome” on YouTube by clicking HERE)

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Luke 19:5

Jesus looked up and said to him, “Zacchaeus, come down quickly, for today I must stay at your house.”

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Zacchaeus is described as a “chief tax collector” and “a wealthy man.”

As a tax collector…he would have been a villain to the Jewish people.

He was getting rich off their backs while helping the oppressive government.

What seems to be the usual human reaction to such people?

They are ridiculed and ostracized.

But that is not what Jesus does.

Zacchaeus, who is described as short in stature, climbed a tree so he could get a glimpse of the much-talked-about preacher.

Jesus did not shun him…or even chide him…but instead invited himself to the tax collector’s house.

That was not a popular decision!

The people grumbled about Jesus going to “stay at the house of a sinner.”

Instead of being given the cold shoulder or rejected…as I’m sure Zacchaeus was used to…Jesus wanted to enter into relationship with him.

Jesus wanted to break bread and dialogue with him.

We, too, are called to listen to and dialogue with those we disagree with.

Who knows? Through doing this…we just may see a positive transformation occur in the other person…and in ourselves.

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Listen to the song of the day “All Are Welcome” on the Give Praise and Thanks album by clicking HERE.

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

Remember…God loves you!

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Wholemaker

Posted on November 18, 2019 by billtonnis

Each of us is called to be the compassionate change that is needed.

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(Listen to my song “Salvation” on YouTube by clicking HERE)

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Luke 18:35-38

Now as he approached Jericho a blind man was sitting by the roadside begging, and hearing a crowd going by, he inquired what was happening. They told him, “Jesus of Nazareth is passing by.” He shouted, “Jesus, Son of David, have pity on me!”

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Jesus did not take up residence in a synagogue and wait for people to come to him.

As a matter of fact, he apparently didn’t even have a place to call home.

Scripture quotes Jesus as saying, “Foxes have dens and birds of the sky have nests, but the Son of Man has nowhere to rest his head” (Luke 9:58).

Jesus was out and about.

He was going where the Spirit led him…not knowing what or who he would encounter.

His mission was to restore people to wholeness.

Jesus actively sought people on the margins of society…the outcasts.

The blind man in today’s scripture verse would not have had his sight restored…had Jesus not decided to seek out those in need.

How will people today come to know the love, mercy, grace, forgiveness and compassion of Jesus…if you and I don’t become his hands and his feet?

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

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

Remember…God loves you!

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