Compassion Needed

Posted on July 19, 2019 by billtonnis

We can be both just and merciful when seeing through the lens of love.

(Listen to the song of the day “Mercy Reigns” on YouTube by clicking HERE)

+++

Matthew 12:7

“If you knew what this meant, ‘I desire mercy, not sacrifice,’ you would not have condemned these innocent men.”

+++

The Pharisees had just criticized Jesus for allowing his followers to pick the heads of grain and eat them on the Sabbath.

Their actions violated the religious rules that banned working on the Sabbath.

The religious leaders were adhering to the rules with no flexibility.

This is what happens when you have dualistic, “either-or” type thinking.

Their view was “black or white” with no gray area.

Jesus response to them (above) reflected non-dualistic, “both-and” type thinking.

You can both follow the rules and break them when mercy demanded it.

Jesus was quoting the prophet Hosea (6:6)…where the line is sometimes translated as God stating, “I desire love, not sacrifice.”

Love and mercy are the determining factors in how to respond…not simply following the letter of the law.

We see this playing out now in a brutal fashion at the southern border of the United States where many immigrants have entered the country illegally out of desperation to save their lives.

Many others are following the law by turning themselves in and legally seeking asylum.

We need more people who are trying to solve complex problems such as this in both a just…and compassionate manner.

Be that person.

+++

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

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

Remember…God loves you!

Posted in God, inspiration, music, progressive Christianity, religion, spirituality, Today's Contemplation | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

The Great I Am

Posted on July 18, 2019 by billtonnis

One sure way to know and experience God…is by being present.

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

+++

Exodus 3:13-14

“But,” said Moses to God, “if I go to the Israelites and say to them, ‘The God of your ancestors has sent me to you,’ and they ask me, ‘What is his name?’ what do I tell them?” God replied to Moses: I am who I am. Then he added: This is what you will tell the Israelites: I AM has sent me to you.

+++

God’s self-proclaimed identity is “I Am.”

This should really be quite the revelation that shatters many horrible images of God and also ushers us into Great Mystery.

God is beingness—Being itself.

One way to experience our connection with God is to be aware.

God is present all around us and through us.

As St. Paul said, “In him we live and move and have our being” (Acts 17:28).

It is we who often are not present.

Instead…we are identifying with our mind’s constant flow of thoughts…usually repetitive thoughts about what has happened in the past.

Meanwhile…real time is ignored.

That would be now…the only time that is actually real…the time where God is…and where we can encounter God in our midst.

When we are present to this expansive Presence of God…we feel an acceptance of who we are at our core.

That Presence is in all things…and as scripture says, “God is love” (1 John 4:8).

When we are present to the Divine Presence…we are experiencing Love…and are then able to share it with others.

+++

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.

Remember…God loves you!

Posted in God, inspiration, music, progressive Christianity, religion, spirituality, Today's Contemplation | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

In the Name of Love

Posted on July 17, 2019 by billtonnis

God wants to collaborate with you…just as you are.

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

+++

Exodus 3:10-11

Now, go! I am sending you to Pharaoh to bring my people, the Israelites, out of Egypt. But Moses said to God, “Who am I that I should go to Pharaoh and bring the Israelites out of Egypt?”

+++

This cuts right to the awful stumbling block of worthiness…and the fallacy that God demands it.

Moses is basically saying to God, “I am not worthy.”

He doesn’t feel he measures up to doing some great task for God.

Isn’t that the classic response we all have?

Friends…we need to let go of this!

It is not about our worthiness!

God loves us just as we are…infinitely loves us!

We don’t have to prove ourselves to God.

As the saying goes: God does not call the qualified…but qualifies the called.”

This is how St. Paul could say, “I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me” (Philippians 4:13).

The Spirit is imbued in all of creation…including you and me.

When our egos get out of the way and we surrender to a Higher Power…then the magic can begin.

I struggle with this every day like anyone else mostly due to the false image of God that was portrayed in my religious conditioning.

We have to keep aware of what our minds are saying…the incessant judgmental thoughts and accusations…and learn to let them go.

Some form of meditation or contemplative prayer is extremely helpful.

The more I am able to simply let go into each moment and experience the Divine Presence while trusting the process…responding in love and attention to whatever unfolds…the more I experience God and my true self.

And the more I experience God’s presence in everyone and everything.

It happens one step at a time.

+++

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!

Posted in God, inspiration, music, progressive Christianity, religion, spirituality, Today's Contemplation | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Kenosis

Posted on July 15, 2019 by billtonnis

Dying to our ego’s pursuits…leads to the fullness of life.

(Listen to the song of the day “Breathe On Me” on YouTube by clicking HERE)

+++

Matthew 19:39

“Whoever finds his life will lose it, and whoever loses his life for my sake will find it.”

+++

This is an example of one of Jesus’ teachings that for many people probably goes in one ear and out the other.

But in reality…it is a core teaching.

Living the Gospel…following Jesus…requires letting go of our egocentric desires.

That would be all the things we think will bring us happiness…but are mostly centered in our childhood programs for happiness…things that are based on security, control and esteem.

These pursuits will never truly satisfy our cravings but will only lead us to wanting more.

That will lead you to a life of endless, meaningless pursuits.

But when you let go of that stuff and in a sense…lose the life that popular culture entices you to…and instead seek to be a loving presence to life as it unfolds…you actually find your true self.

It’s the life you were meant to take part in.

It’s the very life of God.

+++

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.

Remember…God loves you!

Posted in God, inspiration, music, progressive Christianity, religion, spirituality, Today's Contemplation | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Divine Presence

Posted on July 12, 2019 by billtonnis

To be truly alive…requires a willingness to let go.

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

+++

Matthew 10:19-20

“When they hand you over, do not worry about how you are to speak or what you are to say. You will be given at that moment what you are to say. For it will not be you who speak but the Spirit of your Father speaking through you.”

+++

Jesus is talking about actually living in the flow of God.

We can say “Let go and let God” all we want…but doing it—that’s another matter!

When you enter into the moment and are fully present with someone…you aren’t entering with a preconceived notion of what you are going to say and do…but you are actually listening to them.

You are practicing what 18th century Jesuit priest Jean-Pierre de Caussade called the sacrament of the present moment.

You become the presence of God to that person.

You accept and love that person just-as-they-are-in-that-moment.

Then…when you are nudged to speak…you will be inspired to say what the Spirit wants to convey to that person.

Being totally present to someone would seem like an easy thing to do.

But it isn’t.

That’s because our egos are in such control of our lives.

Try having a conversation with someone without having any thoughts of what you want to say as you enter in.

Simply listen.

Really be there.

One way to help you practice presence…is by practicing some form of meditation.

Centering Prayer is a Christian form of meditation that has helped me immensely.

+++

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.

Remember…God loves you!

Posted in God, inspiration, music, progressive Christianity, religion, spirituality, Today's Contemplation | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Be the Change

Posted on July 11, 2019 by billtonnis

When you look through the lens of love instead of fear…transformation is possible.

(Listen to the song of the day “Shall We Sing” on YouTube by clicking HERE)

+++

Genesis 45:4-5

“Come closer to me,” Joseph told his brothers. When they had done so, he said: “I am your brother Joseph, whom you sold into Egypt. But now do not be distressed, and do not be angry with yourselves for having sold me here. It was really for the sake of saving lives that God sent me here ahead of you.”

+++

Joseph’s response to his brothers required a higher level of consciousness.

He had been treated with extreme harshness by his brothers many years before out of jealousy.

They basically sold him into slavery and then told their father that Joseph had been killed by a wild animal.

But instead of wanting revenge, Joseph was now able to stand back and see a bigger picture.

He had gone through many struggles which led to much wisdom and growth.

It allowed him to look upon his brothers with mercy and forgiveness.

Sometimes it’s through great suffering or tragedy that we are most open to receiving God’s constant flow of grace.

Joseph saw that God turns all things to good if we cooperate.

That is how St. Paul could say, “We know that all things work for good for those who love God, who are called according to his purpose” (Romans 8:28).

It is also why Jesus commanded us to love our enemies.

Retribution continues the cycle of hate and violence.

Love stops it.

Love transforms and restores.

Love is what God is doing throughout all of creation.

Love will win.

Why not take part?

+++

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.

Remember…God loves you!

Posted in God, inspiration, music, progressive Christianity, religion, spirituality, Today's Contemplation | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Purpose in Life

Posted on July 10, 2019 by billtonnis

Love was Jesus’ message and mission. What’s yours?

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

+++

Matthew 10:7

“As you go, make this proclamation: ‘The kingdom of heaven is at hand.’”

+++

We’ve made Christianity into such a list of doctrines and dogmas…when Jesus seemed to make it all pretty simple.

He said the most important thing was to love God and your neighbor as yourself.

And then he gave this mission to his followers: Tell everyone that the realm of God (the place of unconditional Love)…is absolutely at hand.

Jesus says it’s right here.

Where?

HERE!

Everywhere…and nowhere.

It’s not a place per se…but an experience.

When love is activated…there is the kingdom.

Simply breathe in…and breathe out.

Be present to the eternal now where with each breath…God is saying, “I love you.”

Proclaim this love…with your life.

+++

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!

Posted in God, inspiration, music, progressive Christianity, religion, spirituality, Today's Contemplation | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Be Healed

Posted on July 9, 2019 by billtonnis

Love cures all ills.

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

+++

Matthew 9:35

Jesus went around to all the towns and villages, teaching in their synagogues, proclaiming the gospel of the kingdom, and curing every disease and illness.

+++

There are some very bizarre beliefs about what “the gospel of the kingdom” is.

The word “gospel” means “good news.”

It’s hard to relate to “kingdoms” these days…but I think if Jesus were speaking in today’s world…he’d be talking about the “realm of God.”

So…the good news of the realm of God is that we all are loved unconditionally…and so is all of creation.

Jesus wanted everyone to know that God is love and that they were all being held in that love.

One way to experience that in a direct human way would be to be cured of a disease or illness on the spot.

That would sure get your attention quickly!

But we know that God loves us even when we aren’t cured of an illness.

God’s love brings us inner peace and wholeness.

We experience that love in each moment…beyond space and time…in the Divine Presence.

Right now.

It is freely given and has nothing to do with worthiness.

Be present to this Flow of Love and Creativity that is ongoing in each moment.

Rest in it.

Allow it to fill you and carry you.

Share it with all of creation through your presence and actions.

+++

Listen to the song of the day “Heal Me” 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!

Posted in God, inspiration, music, progressive Christianity, religion, spirituality, Today's Contemplation | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

The Great Compassion

Posted on July 8, 2019 by billtonnis

The Loving Source of all…is always with us.

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

+++

Psalm 91:15

He will call upon me and I will answer; I will be with him in distress.

+++

Is this how we envision God responding to us?

Or do we instead see a harsh taskmaster who is always looking to criticize our shortcomings?

Is our idea of God more like someone who is like Santa Claus…as in “making a list, checking it twice, going to find out who’s naughty and nice”?

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

Jesus was always reaching out to those in need with healing and forgiveness.

The only people Jesus criticized were the religious leaders who were being harsh taskmasters!

Remember…scripture tells us that God is Love (1 John 4:8).

Love always responds with…well…love!

If you call out to God…compassion is what you will get.

Compassion literally means “to suffer together.”

God joins us in our sufferings and our joys…communes with us and brings us comfort and peace.

So be present to this Divine Presence.

From this place…we can truly heal, grow, and become whole.

+++

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!

Posted in God, inspiration, music, progressive Christianity, religion, spirituality, Today's Contemplation | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment