All Are One

Posted on August 21, 2018 by billtonnis

space_galaxies

Ego attachments prevent us from being our true selves.

(Listen to the song of the day “All Are One” on YouTube by clicking HERE)

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Matthew 19:29-30

“And everyone who has given up houses or brothers or sisters or father or mother or children or lands for the sake of my name will receive a hundred times more, and will inherit eternal life. But many who are first will be last, and the last will be first.”

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The kingdom of God throws this world’s values upside down.

Those who are first by our culture’s standards…meaning those who win and reap huge monetary rewards…will be last by God’s standards.

God does not measure success in power, prestige and possessions…but in love.

When we reach the end of our days on earth, God will not ask us how much money we made…but how much we loved.

Jesus said the greatest commandments were to love God with your whole heart, soul and mind…and then to love your neighbor as yourself (Matthew 22:37-39).

Jesus pretty much laid out what God holds as important when he said, ‘For I was hungry and you gave me food, I was thirsty and you gave me drink, a stranger and you welcomed me, naked and you clothed me, ill and you cared for me, in prison and you visited me’ (Matthew 25:35-36).

The key is relinquishing all self-centered attachments…which is the path of Jesus. This transfers our attention from our ego’s desires…to the needs of others and all of creation.

Then we truly enter into the present moment and God’s Presence. In that awareness, nothing is interfering with our openness to God.

This eternal now is where the kingdom of God is manifested.

It’s where God’s dream for us can be known.

Here…there is no such thing as being first or being last. 

All are equal and one.

This is what God wants. Do we?

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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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Divine Presence

Posted on August 20, 2018 by billtonnis

flower_pink

Eternal Love is available now for everyone.

(Listen to my song “I Want to Follow You” on YouTube by clicking HERE)

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Matthew 19:16-17

“Teacher, what good must I do to gain eternal life?” Jesus answered him, “Why do you ask me about the good? There is only One who is good. If you wish to enter into life, keep the commandments.”

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Eternal life is a gift…it’s not something we merit.

So the man’s question to Jesus is nonsensical.

You can’t “score points” to be rewarded with heaven one day.

This is what has so many Christians confused.

The man asking Jesus how to “gain” eternal life was also attached to many possessions and viewed eternal life as a commodity to gain through his own works.

If you had to earn heaven…you’d be on a never-ending-treadmill of trying to do good deeds that would never-be-good-enough. This would make for a very frustrating and guilt-laden life!

Jesus makes the issue very present. He tells the man that if he wishes to “enter into life,” he should keep the commandments.

In other words, as St. Catherine of Siena reportedly said, “It’s heaven all the way to heaven.”

Now is what matters. It’s all about life. It’s how you are present to others and all of creation.

We each receive an outpouring of love from the “only One who is good”…God who is love (1 John 4:8). So we are meant to receive that Love and share that Love.

That’s why Jesus said that the greatest commandments were to love God, and to love your neighbor as yourself.

We are here for a purpose as in building the kingdom of God. While we know that certain acts are good and others are bad…labeling anything as either “good” or “bad” is generally not a good idea.

God can use all that happens for good. As St. Paul said, “We know that all things work for good for those who love God” (Romans 8:28).

In my life there have been many times when something happened that appeared to be bad at the time but in the long run turned out to be very good.

My whole experience of having a ruptured appendix appeared to be the worst thing that ever happened to me at the time…but in retrospect I now view the experience as one of the most deeply spiritually transforming ones of my life. So it was actually very good!

Jesus goes on to advise this man to sell his possessions, give to the poor, and then to “come, follow me” (Matthew 19:21). Jesus knows that the man is attached to his many possessions…which are what is keeping him from engaging in life.

The question for each of us is, “What attachments do I need to let go of in order to follow the path of love right now?

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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 iTunes by clicking HERE.

Remember…God loves you!

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Amazing Grace

Posted on August 17, 2018 by billtonnis

leaves_changing_colors_sunshine

There is an Infinite Love yearning to transform us.

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

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Ezekiel 16:62-63

For I will re-establish my covenant with you, that you may know that I am the Lord, that you may remember and be covered with confusion, and that you may be utterly silenced for shame when I pardon you for all you have done, says the Lord God.

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The prophet Ezekiel tells us of a God who confounds logic.

This is not a God who punishes those who were completely unfaithful…but a God who instead pardons.

This God simply forgives…and those who are forgiven are “utterly silenced for shame.”

So it’s not like we will be simply let off the hook.

We will instead have to face the devastating awareness that we failed to love the way we were meant to…and we’ll have to face it in the Light of Love itself.

The prophet shows us that we are all part of a great love story…and are meant to take part in it.

God is the Unconditional Lover. The objects of God’s Love, human beings, have been betraying God since the very beginning.

And yet…God remained faithful. Despite that…we continued to turn away.

Humans are still doing horrendous things to other humans…as well as to other creatures and to the earth itself.

And still…God relentlessly pursues us saying, “I love you! I love you!” 

How many times have we experienced this Infinite Love?

How many times…have we turned away?

How many times have we been “utterly silenced for shame” when God pardons us again…and again…and again? 

Take a few moments and try to comprehend such an Amazing Love.

Allow it to melt your heart so others may know this Love through you.

It’s a Love that will not relent…until the love story is complete.

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Listen to my song “The Way You Are” 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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Just Do It

Posted on August 16, 2018 by billtonnis

chain_broken

Forgiveness frees you.

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

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Matthew 18:21-22

Then Peter approaching asked him, “Lord, if my brother sins against me, how often must I forgive him? As many as seven times?” Jesus answered, “I say to you, not seven times but seventy-seven times.”

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Forgiveness is truly the key to the kingdom of heaven.

When someone forgives…the kingdom of God manifests in the present moment.

Forgiveness frees us from chains that shackle us.

You may not be able to like the person who wronged you or even be around that person…but Jesus says that you must forgive that person an infinite number of times.

That’s more than saying the words “I’m sorry.”

It’s actually letting go of all hostility in your heart toward that person.

And while you are at it…forgive yourself as well.

Let go of the shame you are carrying over past transgressions.

Turn them over to God.

Forgiveness is always granted.

Jesus gave us the ultimate example of forgiveness when he hung on the cross.

He said, “Father, forgive them, they know not what they do” (Luke 23:34).

Jesus forgave…even when no one had asked for it!

Accept that forgiveness, pass it on…and be free. 

This is the pathway to wholeness (salvation) and life to the full.

What’s stopping you?

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Listen to my song “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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Fullness of Life

Posted on August 14, 2018 by billtonnis

children_playing_water

Enter the moment with sacred awe.

(Listen to my song “Shall We Sing” on YouTube by clicking HERE)

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Matthew 18:3-4

“Amen, I say to you, unless you turn and become like children, you will not enter the kingdom of heaven. Whoever humbles himself like a child is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven.”

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In our culture, the greatest is the person who stands with arms raised in triumph after winning a title.

Not so in the kingdom of heaven.

Jesus turns our culture inside out.

He said that the greatest in the kingdom of heaven is not the gold medal winner, the one who wins the trophy, the champion, or the brash celebrity.

The greatest in God’s kingdom is someone who humbles himself or herself like a child.

This is not something you can fake. It has to be genuine.

A child tends to live very keenly in the present moment.

A child is open to the awe and wonder of the moment…in the simplest of things.

A child is playfully present.

Being totally enthralled in the present moment is the entrance way into the kingdom of heaven.

It’s the place where you are detached from all ego enticements of power, prestige and possessions so that the Divine Presence might be fully experienced.

And the paradox is…when you are humbly present, you actually discover your true self.

As Jesus said, “For whoever wishes to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for my sake will find it. What profit would there be for one to gain the whole world and forfeit his life?” (Matthew 16:25-26)

It’s never too late to enter God’s kingdom.

All it takes…is letting go.

You can start…right now.

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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 iTunes by clicking HERE.

Remember…God loves you!

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Blessings Abound

Posted on August 13, 2018 by billtonnis

sunset_mountains_rocks

Each of us is a part of a magnificent masterpiece in progress.

(Sing my song “How Magnificent, Wondrous and Glorious” on YouTube by clicking HERE)

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Psalm 148:11-13

You kings of the earth and all peoples, princes and all who govern on earth; Young men and women too, old and young alike. Let them all praise the Lord’s name, for his name alone is exalted, majestic above earth and heaven.

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Stop for a moment and consider all your blessings.

Look back at all the amazing, wonderful people who made a difference in your life.

Without them…you would not be the person you are today.

Look at the blessings that surround you now.

Your senses are immersed in gifts from God.

Each breath is a gift.

Yes…each of us has struggles. But at the same time…God never stops showering us with free gifts of love, mercy, grace, forgiveness and compassion.

Even the struggles are transformed into blessings…if we trust and persevere.

It is only through the struggles that we can truly experience God’s unconditional love.

Sometimes it is only through the struggles that we can let go of things that need to be set aside…so that we can experience something new.

God is so close to each of us.

At our deepest core…our deepest essence…is in God.

Our Creator has loved each of us into existence and will never abandon us.

How amazing is the One who made us!

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Listen to the song of the day “How Magnificent, Wondrous and Glorious” on the Mercy Reigns album by clicking HERE.

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

Remember…God loves you!

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Sweet Surrender

Posted on August 10, 2018 by billtonnis

dandelion_seeds_falling

Your ego will never lead you to your true self.

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

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John 12:24-26

“Amen, amen, I say to you, 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. Whoever loves his life loses it, and whoever hates his life in this world will preserve it for eternal life. Whoever serves me must follow me, and where I am, there also will my servant be.”

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This is a key teaching of Jesus to help you discover who you are.

It seems in order to discover our true selves…we have to let go of our false selves.

The false self is the person our ego creates…which is usually based on what our culture tells us is the definition of success.

It is usually about power, prestige and possessions. All these things will not last…nor will the false self.

The worst case scenario is that they all disintegrate when we die. How awful it would be to see it all slipping away on our death beds and to realize we were never our true selves!

Jesus said the false self must fall to the ground and die.

If we love the life this world wants for us…we will lose the life we were meant to live. But if we hate the life that this world tells us to live…we will find the life meant for us.

This requires us to change. Most of us don’t like change.

But to be a Christian we must change. It requires letting go of our egos’ desires…letting them die…so that God’s desires can grow in us. 

Jesus shows us the way.

That’s why being a fan of Jesus is practically meaningless.

We must actually follow him!

This will take you on the path of dying…then rising.

It will require making changes in how we live our lives…how we treat people and the environment. It will require some painful yet exciting and growth-filled transitions.

The payoff will be inner-peace, being a positive influence in the world, experiencing a taste of the kingdom of God…and discovering your true self.

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Listen to my song “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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The Way of Love

Posted on August 9, 2018 by billtonnis

man_openarms_mountains

Let go…let God…and live.

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

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Matthew 16:23

“You are thinking not as God does, but as human beings do.”

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We tend to base so much of our lives on our own ability to reason…and yet Jesus was quite clear in his response to Peter that our thinking can be far from God’s.

Who would not have sided with Peter when he rejected Jesus’ prediction that he would suffer greatly at the hands of the religious leaders and be killed?

Peter based his response on the faulty premise that Jesus was to be their new king who would lead them out of bondage and into power.

But that was not the mission of Jesus.

Jesus wanted to show that God was intimately with all people and all creation.

He wanted to show that God’s love was not just for some but everyone…especially the poor and disenfranchised.

Love was the purpose of everything.

This is what got him killed.

But how else would God show us what true unconditional love was?

How else but to be hated, persecuted, and crucified…so he could then respond to the most heinous injustice…with loving forgiveness!

This was not a payment to God or a punishment he suffered in place of us.

God is God…who can forgive without limits. Jesus told us to forgive an infinite number of times…so why wouldn’t God do the same?

What Jesus gave us was a model to follow…a model of living that will lead us to transformation and new life.

This is the way in which the kingdom of God truly comes!

Jesus is inviting us into a life-changing, life-transforming journey of letting go of the ego-generated false self…so the true self can emerge and God’s love can be manifested in this time and place.

As St. Paul says, “Be renewed in the spirit of your minds, and put on the new self, created in God’s way in righteousness and holiness of truth” (Ephesians 4:23-24).

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Listen to my song “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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Good News

Posted on August 8, 2018 by billtonnis

grass_sun_trees

Love is our Source and Destination.

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

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Jeremiah 31:3-4

With age-old love I have loved you; so I have kept my mercy toward you. Again I will restore you, and you shall be rebuilt.

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God’s justice is not retributive…but restorative.

God is Love (1 John 4:8).

Love has no interest in punishment.

God did not make us imperfect in order to punish and condemn us for our imperfection.

Only a cruel tyrant would do such a thing!

We were made imperfect so that we could experience and come to know what true unconditional love, mercy, forgiveness and compassion are…and be transformed in the process.

That is what God wants to do for us.

God has been at this redeeming business for a long time.

If you look at the story of God’s people throughout the bible it is one example after another of the people rejecting God…and then God relentlessly pursuing and calling them back over and over and over.

This is our story as well!

Jesus showed us that God will go to any lengths to show us love in the face of rejection…and that love will win in the end.

Actually…it is in the process of winning now.

Our Loving Source will never stop working to restore and redeem us.

This is the Good News of salvation!

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Listen to my song “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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New Life in Progress

Posted on August 7, 2018 by billtonnis

wave_storm

The storms of life beckon us on a transforming journey.

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

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Matthew 14:29-31

Jesus said, “Come.” Peter got out of the boat and began to walk on the water toward Jesus. But when he saw how strong the wind was he became frightened; and, beginning to sink, he cried out, “Lord, save me!” Immediately Jesus stretched out his hand and caught him, and said to him, “O you of little faith, why did you doubt?”

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Fear.

It is something we all deal with in our lives.

Many times it surfaces when we have to face the unknown.

Have you become anxious and fearful over circumstances in your life?

What if the seemingly frightful turn of events is actually a new door opening…an invitation to new life?

Situations in and of themselves simply are what they are. Your reaction to them is another matter.

What thoughts are being spun by your mind?

Is your mind creating worry and unnecessary suffering?

Notice those thoughts. Let your mind rest.

Be still.

Your mind is creating a story that is not real.

When the disciples were caught in a storm aboard a boat…Jesus walked on the water to them. He was the constant calm in the center of the storm.

Just as he invited Peter to step out of the boat…he invites you and me to step out as well.

Get out your comfort zone of control where you might feel safe but are paralyzed from making any real growth.

Step out onto the waves…but make sure you keep your eyes on Jesus. He invites you to “come.”

Know that the Source of Life is drawing you forward.

Transformation is in progress.

The experience will lead you to a deeper understanding of your true self.

Should you falter and begin to sink…know that there is a Higher Power that will carry you.

That’s what Love does…time after time after time.

Have faith!

As Jesus told Peter, “Take courage, it is I; do not be afraid” (Matthew 14:27).

A Great Love is leading you to new life and wholeness!

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Listen to my song “Heal Me” on the Live to Love album by clicking HERE.

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

Remember…God loves you!

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