Grateful

Posted on September 20, 2018 by billtonnis

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Take stock of your blessings…beginning with your next breath.

(Listen to the song of the day “Give Praise and Thanks” on YouTube by clicking HERE)

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Psalm 118:1

Give thanks to the LORD, for he is good, his mercy endures forever.

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Having an attitude of gratitude will change your life.

You are alive!

You have the gift of life and eternal life.

You are a spiritual being having a human experience.

You come from Love itself (1 John 4:8).

Being Love itself…God is most definitely good.

So do not fear but be thankful…even for the things that on the surface appear bad.

You can still work to change those things…but you must first accept what is as it is…because not accepting reality would be delusional.

You would only cause suffering for yourself by resisting it.

Once accepting the present moment…you can decide what step to take to change something that needs to change.

But as you accept the moment…you accept God’s presence with you in it.

God is always present…and God, being Love and Goodness, will always be with you…with a mercy that never ends.

Give thanks!

Amen!

Alleluia!

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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 iTunes by clicking HERE.

Remember…God loves you!

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Main Motivation

Posted on September 19, 2018 by billtonnis

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Enter the present moment with compassion.

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

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1 Corinthians 13:4-6

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.

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This passage from St. Paul gives us a great standard to measure our conduct in everyday life.

Are we operating under the motivation of love in all that we do…or is our motivation self-interest?

None of us meets this standard perfectly.

Jesus gave us the blueprint of how to love…even when faced with persecution and execution.

Could it be that our human experience is meant to be a “learning ground” for love?

Our lives provide us plenty of challenges to being able to love in the face of adversity.

We are provided ample opportunities to set aside our egos so as to see and respond to the needs of others.

Jesus basically showed us how to accept what is and to respond with love.

We are called to love all people…even those we disagree with or dislike.

Jesus specifically instructed his followers to love their enemies (Matthew 5:44). This is undoubtedly his most ignored teaching of all.

Why? It’s a tall order!

But isn’t it refreshing to know that God is love (1 John 4:8)…and therefore always acts according to that standard in dealing with each of us?

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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 iTunes by clicking HERE.

Remember…God loves you!

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Calling

Posted on September 18, 2018 by billtonnis

team_hands_arms

Each of us is meant to be a missionary of compassion.

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

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1 Corinthians 12:27-28

Now you are Christ’s body, and individually parts of it. Some people God has designated in the church to be, first, apostles; second, prophets; third, teachers; then, mighty deeds; then, gifts of healing, assistance, administration, and varieties of tongues.

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What is your purpose in life?

St. Paul said each of us has a part to play in God’s unfolding creation.

We are all here to channel God’s love to the world.

Each of us does that in a unique way that only we can do because there is only one of each of us.

We are instruments of God’s love by sharing our unique talents and gifts.

Our lives are part of a bigger picture…our Creator’s masterpiece is in progress.

Do what you love and you will love what you are doing.

If you are unsure of what it is you would love to do…simply open yourself to God’s unconditional love and pass it along to others.

God will lead you to finding your place in the body of Christ.

This is life’s great adventure!

How are you being called to bring the kingdom of God alive in this place and time?

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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 iTunes by clicking HERE.

Remember…God loves you!

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Path to Peace

Posted on September 17, 2018 by billtonnis

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Less is more on the spiritual journey.

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

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Psalm 40:17

But may all who seek you rejoice and be glad in you. May those who long for your help always say, “The LORD be glorified.”

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What are you seeking?

There is a deep yearning in each of us.

The advertising industry has reaped great profits by telling us we can satisfy this yearning through gaining material things. But this will never work!

Our yearning is actually on the spiritual level.

It’s a desire to be who we were meant to be.

St. Paul puts it this way: “We know that all creation is groaning in labor pains even until now” (Romans 8:22). “Groaning in labor pains.”

We all are in labor pains…to birth our true selves.

Your soul is trying to emerge from beneath the layers of masks and pretenses your ego has invented.

Many people fall into various addictions as they try to satisfy their soul cravings with material or physical things.

What you need is a spiritual solution.

It can only come from your Source.

Are you seeking the One who created you with all your heart?

When you let go of your attachments and empty yourself…you are free to receive what God wants to give you.

It happens now…in this moment.

Your yearning is actually your Divine nature groaning to express itself.

When you are free to creatively express your uniqueness…you will truly be glad.

In your very beingness…God will be glorified.

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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 iTunes by clicking HERE.

Remember…God loves you!

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How to Be You

Posted on September 14, 2018 by billtonnis

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Letting go leads to life to the full.

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

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Philippians 2:5-8

Have among yourselves the same attitude that is also yours in Christ Jesus, Who, though he was in the form of God, did not regard equality with God something to be grasped. Rather, 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.

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I think St. Paul demonstrates in today’s scripture verses that he understood Jesus famous saying, “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).

Our path to being our true self comes through self-emptying.

Our way to wholeness (salvation) is through letting go.

My ego must, in a sense, die. It needs to take a back seat.

Jesus saves us by showing us this path.

He saves me every day by delivering me from the delusional path of materialism, consumerism and any other “ism” that separates me from the oneness of God’s Love.

He gives us the “blueprint” to follow so that each of us can be the unique child of God that God intended.

When we empty ourselves of selfish desires and truly humble ourselves…we are then free of the attachments that kept us unconscious of our true divine nature.

Letting go then becomes a way of life…allowing us to experience God’s Presence in each moment.

We are free to engage others from a place of love and compassion.

Then, when our physical life comes to an end one day…the transition to eternal life will be seamless, smooth, and joyful…because dying has always been so very well-practiced.

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Listen to my song “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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Radical Grace

Posted on September 13, 2018 by billtonnis

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Forgiveness is the key that opens the doors to freedom.

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

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Luke 6:27-28

Jesus said to his disciples: “To you who hear I say, love your enemies, do good to those who hate you, bless those who curse you, pray for those who mistreat you.”

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Following Jesus will make a radical change in your life.

As in today’s scripture verse, he instructs us to do things extremely counter to our usual human response.

It takes a new, transformed mind to be able to love your enemies…a non-dualistic mind that is able to not divide and separate…but instead see all people as brothers and sisters.

We all, in fact, are one. Many have not yet awakened to that reality.

There are no boundaries in the Kingdom of God.

Jesus was saying that all people are one in the Body of Christ. God loves everyone equally as daughters and sons.

There are countless true stories of people who forgave others who were guilty of horrible crimes. That forgiveness in turn helped transform the people who perpetrated the crimes into changed people who ended up doing great things.

There is a saying that refusing to forgive is like drinking poison hoping it hurts the person who wronged you.

Anger and vengeance wrap themselves around you like chains.

By forgiving and loving those who hate you…you end up freeing yourself and allowing God’s love to transform the person who wronged you.

You don’t have to like that person or even be around them if they are a threat to you. But you do have to drop your resentment and wish God’s blessings upon them.

The person you most dislike actually turns into your greatest teacher…the one who instigates your greatest transformation.

God wants that person to know love and to be restored.

You may be God’s instrument in doing it.

So forgive…and while you’re at it…forgive yourself, too. God does.

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Listen to the song of the day “Radically Okay” 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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Calling

Posted on September 12, 2018 by billtonnis

heart_ocean

To love is our main mission in life.

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

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Luke 6:24-25

“But woe to you who are rich, for you have received your consolation. But woe to you who are filled now, for you will be hungry.”

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This is not a dress rehearsal.

This is your life.

Each moment is the real deal.

The big question is: Why are we here?

We must ask ourselves this question.

Pretend it is sometime in the future and you are on your death bed. Are you able to look back at your life and be at peace with how you spent it?

Jesus told us that the two most important commandments were to love God and our neighbor as ourselves (Matthew 22:36-39).

Love is what matters.

In today’s scripture verses, Jesus isn’t saying that being rich is bad…but he is saying that being rich isn’t what life is about.

That’s why he said “woe to you who are rich”…because if that’s your only aim in life…you will already have received your consolation.

This is not a threat of punishment.

But Jesus is telling us that it will be distressing for anyone who stands in the light of God’s eternal Love and reviews whether they did the one thing that they were made for: Did they channel Love with their life.

Did they share their resources in the service of others…or did they horde their wealth?

And Jesus told us how to love: Did we feed the hungry, clothe the naked, care for the sick and visit the imprisoned (Matthew 25)?

We come from Love and will one day return to Love. In the meantime, the only thing that truly matters…is how we love.

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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 iTunes by clicking HERE.

Remember…God loves you!

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Thanks to “Espirational” for interviewing me on their wonderful site!

Posted on September 12, 2018 by billtonnis

Today I would like to introduce you to singer-songwriter Bill Tonnis. I am so grateful for Bill and others who are writing and singing such beautiful music while spreading their inspiring spiritual message. Bill has graciously agreed to “chat” with me a bit and answer a few questions. Thank you so much for doing this […]

via Please Welcome Bill Tonnis  — Espirational

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Transforming Silence

Posted on September 11, 2018 by billtonnis

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A daily practice of stillness and quiet…will change your life.

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

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Luke 6:12

In those days he departed to the mountain to pray and he spent the night in prayer to God.

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It’s amazing to me that…at least in my upbringing in Christianity and more specifically Catholicism, there was virtually no training in contemplative prayer.

We were pretty exclusively taught to recite written prayers…over and over. It was a completely left-brained exercise.

Despite that, I remember at an early age talking to God interiorly…as though God was very close.

It wasn’t until well into my adult years that, through reading the works of the likes of Thomas Merton and Richard Rohr…that I discovered contemplative prayer.

Instead of doing all the talking…we were actually supposed to listen.

We were supposed to be silent. This was a right-brained exercise.

How could we miss the example that Jesus often gave us in scripture when he would go off to the mountain or a deserted place to pray…or especially when he specifically taught his followers to pray by going to their inner room, closing the door, and to not use many words (Matthew 6:6-8).

Have you tried this?

You don’t need a mountain…you only need a special place by yourself.

You only need the solitude of the present moment…minus your thoughts.

A practice of setting aside 20 minutes each day to sit in silent openness to God will change your life for the better. It changed mine.

You will find a new inner peace and purpose.

God speaks in silence.

And remember…God’s voice will always be a voice of love, mercy, forgiveness and compassion.

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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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Restorative Justice

Posted on September 10, 2018 by billtonnis

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When you follow the Way of Jesus, love always trumps law.

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

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Luke 6:9-11

Then Jesus said to them, “I ask you, is it lawful to do good on the sabbath rather than to do evil, to save life rather than to destroy it?” Looking around at them all, he then said to him, “Stretch out your hand.” He did so and his hand was restored. But they became enraged and discussed together what they might do to Jesus.

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In today’s scripture, Jesus was held in contempt by the religious leaders for doing a good work on the Sabbath.

He healed a man with a withered hand.

How could he do such a thing on the Sabbath when the law clearly states that no “working” is permitted?

It takes an expanded consciousness to be able to see issues in a “both-and” perspective…rather than a rigid “either-or.”

Jesus knew how to both keep the law and to break it when love demanded it.

Some things never change.

Many in the U-S today are treating immigrants who have fled their countries in desperation and illegally entered this country in search of safety and a better life as though they are criminals…no different than someone who had robbed a bank at gunpoint. They are being locked up and separated from the children they love.

This viewpoint is through an either-or lens: Either you broke the law (and are a crook)…or you didn’t.

A both-and lens would see both the law and the special circumstances…and would be able to weigh the situation with compassion.

This is the difference between “retributive law” and “restorative law.”

As Jesus put it, “I ask you, is it lawful to save life rather than to destroy it?”

How can we both uphold laws…and uphold human dignity?

I’m siding with Jesus and invite you to as well.

Of course, that means you can expect persecution.

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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 iTunes by clicking HERE.

Remember…God loves you!

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