Breath of God

Posted on March 11, 2019 by billtonnis

Our Loving Source is in you, me and every living thing.

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

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Matthew 25:40

“And the king will say to them in reply, ‘Amen, I say to you, whatever you did for one of these least brothers of mine, you did for me.’”

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In today’s scripture verse, Jesus gives us the bottom line.

Actions speak louder than words.

While love of God, neighbor and self are of the utmost importance…love can only be known through expression.

And Jesus made it clear that it was not sufficient to be compassionate only to those close to us.

It had to be extended across all boundaries…especially to those who were seen as “least” or last in society and culture.

For Christ is found in all people.

We are one in Christ.

Meditate on this until its truth resonates in you and all you see.

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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 iTunes by clicking HERE.

Remember…God loves you!

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Agent of Mercy

Posted on March 8, 2019 by billtonnis

Each of us is called to serve in the unique way that only each of us can.

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

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Isaiah 58:6-7

Is this not, rather, the fasting I wish: 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.

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The heading for this passage in Isaiah is “True Fasting.”

The prophet states quite clearly that God is not interested in personal sacrifices unless you are sacrificing your own personal desires so that you can serve others.

Sacrifices are not meant to somehow earn points with God.

You’ve already hit the jackpot on points before doing anything.

God already loves you infinitely.

The point of giving up some self-satisfying-pleasure is not to impress God but to free you up to take care of those in need.

Jesus makes this crystal clear in Matthew 25:31-46.

And he also underlines the importance of taking action on behalf of others in his statement: “Go and learn the meaning of the words, ‘I desire mercy, not sacrifice’” (Matthew 9:13).

So it’s not a matter of what you are giving up for Lent. It’s a matter of what you are doing to help others now that you’ve set aside your own self-centered pursuits.

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

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

Remember…God loves you!

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This Is the Moment

Posted on March 7, 2019 by billtonnis

Do not fret over past actions…for now is the time of salvation.

(Listen to my song “Take the Road Less Traveled” on YouTube by clicking HERE)

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Deuteronomy 30:15

See, I have today set before you life and good, death and evil.

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Moses told the people that they would find “life and good” if they followed the commandments.

This was a good first step.

The commandments are solid laws of what not to do…so as to be living right.

When Jesus came along, though, he said it’s not so much about not doing what is wrong…but doing what is good and life-giving.

He said it really comes down to love: Love God and your neighbor as yourself.

And that means loving your neighbor as if they were you!

Because when you get down to it…they are you.

We are all part of the One Body of Christ.

We are in God. As St. Paul put it: God is in whom “we live and move and have our being” (Acts 17:28).

But we have a choice.

We can do what is good and have life…or we can do what is evil and have death.

When we do the good we take part in the life of God which leads to an abundant life.

But when we do evil, we take part in delusion that leads to an empty life.

Each moment…provides yet another choice.

God’s love, however, is constant and unchanging.

Rest in that…and be thankful.

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Listen to the song of the day “Take the Road Less Traveled” on the Live to Love album by clicking HERE.

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

Remember…God loves you!

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Project Love

Posted on March 6, 2019 by billtonnis

We are meant to be part of the grand, evolving work of creation.

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

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2 Corinthians 5:20

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

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There is a Goodness at work…a Benevolent Flow that is evolving all that is toward a Grand Wholeness.

Sometimes it’s hard to see this due to all the evil things that are done…but that doesn’t mean that it’s not happening.

Jesus spoke of this in the parables of the mustard seed and the yeast (Matthew 13:31-33). We many times are not noticing the overwhelming amount of good that is covertly and not so covertly being done.

We are all called to be part of this Flow of Good…using our gifts and talents to be agents of love.

In other words, we are “ambassadors for Christ, as if God were appealing through us.” St. Paul also put it this way: “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 not for us to see the end result…but to humbly take part in the Process.

This takes much self-emptying…and presence.

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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 iTunes by clicking HERE.

Remember…God loves you!

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Original Unity

Posted on March 5, 2019 by billtonnis

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

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

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Mark 10:31

“But many that are first will be last, and [the] last will be first.”

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Our culture is obsessed with being first.

Whoever is first…wins.

Everyone else loses.

The victor is praised and glorified.

Jesus says this is not the way of God.

In the realm of God…being last is considered the best.

Jesus teaches those who are first to reach out to those who are last to help them.

He actually teaches not only to reach out to those in need…but to join them.

That’s because, in reality, we are all one in the body of Christ.

We share in the One Life.

When we live in this truth…there is no first or last.

As Thomas Merton stated in The Asian Journal of Thomas Merton: “What we have to recover is our original unity. What we have to be, is what we are.”

It is from this foundation that Jesus commanded us to love our enemies (Matthew 5:44).

If you identify as “Christian” then you are a follower of Jesus…and therefore are supposed to be working for this kind of world.

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

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

Remember…God loves you!

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Awakening Grace

Posted on March 4, 2019 by billtonnis

How present are you?

(Listen to my song “Turn Off the Noise” on YouTube by clicking HERE)

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Mark 10:23

Jesus looked around and said to his disciples, “How hard it is for those who have wealth to enter the kingdom of God!”

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Jesus is not talking about a place of eternal reward.

He’s talking about now.

The kingdom of God is more an experience than a place.

When the Pharisees asked Jesus when the kingdom of God would come, he said: “The coming of the kingdom of God cannot be observed, and no one will announce, ‘Look, here it is,’ or, ‘There it is.’ For behold, the kingdom of God is among you” (Luke 17:20-21).

Just before today’s scripture verse, a rich man had asked Jesus how he could “inherit eternal life.” I think what Jesus was saying in his reply is that eternal life starts now.

The only life is always now.

You can’t inherit or merit some future reward in God’s economy of grace.

So Jesus tries to refocus the rich man into the present.

I think that many times it’s hard for a rich person to be present. That’s because he or she spends so much time engaged in things that their wealth supplies them.

It doesn’t make the wealth bad…as it can surely do much good. But it can create many distractions and attachments.

When you are attached to stuff…you aren’t able to be open to the present moment.

Experiencing Presence requires openness and letting go.

We get glimpses of the kingdom of God when we are present to life and those we encounter…especially those in need of help.

Those are the times when love takes us by surprise and all we can do is say…thank you.

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

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

Remember…God loves you!

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Build Bridges

Posted on March 1, 2019 by billtonnis

Reach out to those who are left out.

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

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Sirach 6:14-15

Faithful friends are a sturdy shelter; whoever finds one finds a treasure.

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If you have a special friend or two…you are indeed blessed.

We all need a friend whom we can confide in, commiserate with or celebrate with.

We are not meant to be alone (Genesis 2:18).

If you feel lonely…why not try to volunteer for some charity or outreach?

You will likely find a community of people similar to you in such activities.

Know that Jesus spent much of his time reaching out to those on the margins, those who were rejected or thrown out for various reasons.

Jesus demonstrated the heart of God who never rejects anyone.

The Living Christ is always ready to welcome you and be with you.

As Jesus said, “For where two or three are gathered together in my name, there am I in the midst of them” (Matthew 18:20).

The Living Love of God is present everywhere energizing all that is.

Even when you can’t feel it…this Love is there in the deepest part of your being.

Be present to this Love as you breathe in…and breathe out.

Look around you. Who else is in need of a friend?

Perhaps you could be that special person?

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

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

Remember…God loves you!

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Let It Be Done to Me

Posted on February 28, 2019 by billtonnis

To know a Higher Power…you have to be willing to surrender.

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

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Sirach 5:1-2

Do not rely on your wealth, or say, “I have the power.” Do not rely on your strength in following the desires of your heart.

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When we are able to let our egos’ control over our lives diminish, there’s a chance for our true selves to actually emerge.

We will also then be in touch with a Higher Power.

St. Paul put it this way: “For when I am weak, then I am strong” (2 Corinthians 12:10).

When he was able to surrender his stubborn will…he had experienced that a Higher Power could take over.

John the Baptist had a similar “letting go” experience when Jesus came on the scene. That’s when John knew it was time for him to step aside: “He must increase; I must decrease” (John 3:30).

Mary also knew when it was time to jettison her plans when she replied to the angel, “I am the handmaid of the Lord. May it be done to me according to your word” (Luke 1:38).

Jesus emptied all of his desires in deference to God when he said, “Not my will but yours be done” (Luke 22:42).

St. Paul saw all of Jesus’ life as a self-emptying: “He emptied himself, taking the form of a slave, coming in human likeness; and found human in appearance, he humbled himself, becoming obedient to death, even death on a cross” (Philippians 2:7-8).

When we let go of our egos’ desires…we give our true self’s desires a chance to be realized.

This letting-go takes practice.

A meditation or contemplative prayer practice is essential.

It is your path to freedom.

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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 iTunes by clicking HERE.

Remember…God loves you!

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Allow

Posted on February 26, 2019 by billtonnis

It is what it is…for now.

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

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Sirach 2:4-6

Accept whatever happens to you; in periods of humiliation be patient. For in fire gold is tested, and the chosen, in the crucible of humiliation. Trust in God, and he will help you; make your ways straight and hope in him.

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When we don’t accept what is…we create suffering for ourselves.

This does not mean we cannot work to change a situation that we don’t like or is unjust.

But we first must accept the present moment.

Simply be present to what is.

That’s it.

No mental commentary.

This current moment may be one of transition when life is telling you it’s time to make a change.

But taking offense, mentally rebelling or ranting are all signs that your ego is in charge.

Let go of that!

Simply observe what your mind is doing…going on endless commentaries and diatribes.

Situations change.

Remember: This, too, will pass.

Allow the cauldron of life’s current situation to lead you to the change that will free you.

Trust that a Great Love is evolving all that is on an arc towards Goodness and Wholeness.

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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 iTunes by clicking HERE.

Remember…God loves you!

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Let Love Lead You

Posted on February 25, 2019 by billtonnis

Life is not about easy answers…but living through tough questions.

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

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Mark 9:23-24

Jesus said to him, “‘If you can!’ Everything is possible to one who has faith.” Then the boy’s father cried out, “I do believe, help my unbelief!”

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A desperate father’s final hope was that maybe…just maybe…Jesus could cure his son from a long illness.

Maybe?

It’s Jesus…for crying out loud!

Well, of course, we read these words in hindsight after reading the stories in the gospels. We have faith that Jesus was a healer.

Or do we?

I must admit…I have prayed over many people. Some have recovered…but none in such a dramatic, instantaneous way.

People close to me have died despite my prayers.

So I find myself relating to this man who cried out, “I do believe, help my unbelief!”

I truly have no doubt in Jesus being a healer and that the healing power of Christ is still pulsing through the universe.

But what I don’t know is the big picture.

I don’t know why many die while others are cured. I do know that God is love (1 John 4:8) and I have experienced that Love even when members of a family have gathered round a dying loved one to pray only to see that person slip away.

I also believe that that loved one is not dead…but transformed…and is deliriously happy in that transformation.

I’m convinced of this after reading many accounts of amazing Near Death Experiences and having spoken to several who have had an NDE.

All I can say is this: Faith is not about being given easy answers…but about living through the questions believing that Love will always triumph.

Poet Rainer Maria Rilke put it this way: “Be patient toward all that is unsolved in your heart and try to love the questions themselves, like locked rooms and like books that are now written in a very foreign tongue. Do not now seek the answers, which cannot be given you because you would not be able to live them. And the point is, to live everything. Live the questions now. Perhaps you will then gradually, without noticing it, live along some distant day into the answer.”

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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 iTunes by clicking HERE.

Remember…God loves you!

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