Grace

Posted on July 9, 2018 by billtonnis

desert_sun

Have no fear for Love will always lead you home.

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

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Hosea 2:16

So, I will allure her, I will lead her into the desert and speak to her heart.

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Sometimes we have to be in a desolate place where we have no control…before we are open to hearing God’s voice…before we can feel God’s presence.

But it’s so uncomfortable to our egos to not be in control…to not be comfortable…that we will seldom willingly go to such a place.

It’s as if God lovingly lures us to the desert for our own good.

It’s not that our Creator wants us to suffer…but wants us to be free of all the stuff that held us in bondage.

When we are finally free of all those attachments, God can finally commune with us.

Did you ever feel like everything is falling apart…like all the things you were so sure about are crumbling? Welcome to the desert!

There will come times in all our spiritual journeys when we must move out of our comfort zones so that we can grow.

As Jesus said, “No one pours new wine into old wineskins. Otherwise, the wine will burst the skins and both the wine and the skins are ruined. Rather, new wine is poured into fresh wineskins” (Mark 2:22).

For the Spirit to act in new ways we need to be open to new ways of being.

However, most of us will not willingly move into the desert. We will not want to let go of all the familiar ways that no longer give us life but we don’t know how to part with.

It will feel like dying.

But what if we go with the Flow and allow it to allure us?

In the desert we will be free to hear God’s gentle, kind whisper in our hearts…a whisper that will always lead us to transformation, healing, wholeness and peace.

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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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Have Faith

Posted on July 3, 2018 by billtonnis

light_forest_man

The Light of Unconditional Love dissolves the shadows of doubt…if you say yes.

(Listen to my song “I Stand in the Light” on the Mercy Reigns album by clicking HERE)

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John 20:25

“Unless I see the mark of the nails in his hands and put my finger into the nailmarks and put my hand into his side, I will not believe.”

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Thomas seems to get a bad rap because he doubted that Jesus had actually risen from the grave.

He will forever be known as “doubting Thomas” because of this scripture.

But let’s face it…would any of us have believed the news that Jesus had actually been seen alive after we witnessed his brutal execution?

I highly doubt it!

We all have our moments of doubt when it comes to matters of faith. 

But notice how Thomas was not scolded by the resurrected Christ.

When Jesus eventually appeared to Thomas in the flesh he said, “Peace be with you.”

His doubt is met with love.

Thomas made it possible for us all to witness how God does not reject us…even when we doubt.

All people would forever be able to identify with Thomas…and how Jesus offered him peace…not scorn.

His is a peace that surpasses all understanding (Philippians 4:7).

Whatever it is that you doubt…know that it is precisely in that doubt that God is inviting you deeper into the Mystery that only wants you to know Love that is eternal.

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Listen to the song of the day “I Stand in the Light” 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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Set Free

Posted on July 2, 2018 by billtonnis

mountains_redflowers

Letting go of attachments leads to new life.

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

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Matthew 8:19-20

A scribe approached and said to him, “Teacher, I will follow you wherever you go.” Jesus answered him, “Foxes have dens and birds of the sky have nests, but the Son of Man has nowhere to rest his head.”

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Jesus must have been quite an impressive speaker and also must have had a certain charisma that drew people to him.

So following him was probably something very attractive…until he told you the deal.

When you follow Jesus…you have to let go of your attachments to everything that the world says is important.

Now…that doesn’t mean you have to renounce those things. Jesus apparently enjoyed himself. “The Son of Man came eating and drinking and they said, ‘Look, he is a glutton and a drunkard, a friend of tax collectors and sinners’” (Matthew 11:19).

But he didn’t cling to any material thing.

Jesus made it clear that you can’t serve both God and money (Matthew 6:24).

With each passing year I see the folly in following the ways of the world and the fulfillment of following Jesus.

The pursuit of prestige, power and possessions leads to a dead end. Those three “P”s will disappear when we make the great transition at the end of our earthly lives.

But the fulfillment of following Jesus and growing in love will never end.

The key is to start dying to those dead-end trappings now.

Following Jesus will lead you out of your comfort zone and to letting go of things that don’t matter.

It may feel like dying…but it will paradoxically lead you to a place of joy, fulfillment, wholeness and new life.

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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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Great Adventure

Posted on June 29, 2018 by billtonnis

Jesus_statue_bluesky

When you follow Jesus…your whole life will change.

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

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Matthew 16:15

“But who do you say that I am?”

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This is a pivotal question that Jesus asked his followers…and one that he asks each of us.

It’s a life-changing question…at least it should be.

I remember over 20 years ago how that question suddenly struck me personally.

I knew I had to honestly answer the question. I had to really re-examine everything I had been taught…and look again at all that Jesus was credited with saying in the gospels.

I looked at the changed lives of the apostles who claimed the crucified Jesus was not stopped by death. I realized that Jesus showed us all how to live and how to die…and that God’s love was unconditional and forever.

And I realized that he asked me…not just to believe in him…but to follow him.

This is the difference between what I call Churchianity and Christianity.

Just going to a church does not make you a follower of Christ.

That requires actually reflecting Christ to the world in all you do.

I realized that just as I had received the unconditional love, mercy and forgiveness of God…I had to share it with others…and especially “the least of these” (Matthew 25).

My life did indeed start to change…and it has been a wild, adventurous, fulfilling ride ever since.

It hasn’t come without great struggles and conflict with a world that follows a different path…but I wouldn’t trade it for anything!

So…who do YOU say that Jesus is?

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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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WWJD

Posted on June 28, 2018 by billtonnis

hands_word_help

Love is a meaningless word without compassionate action.

(Listen to the song of the day “I Want to Follow You” 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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Jesus often says things to shake us awake.

Since he’s all about love…and perfect love drives out fear (1 John 4:18), the point here isn’t to scare you but to get your attention about a serious matter!

The point is that addressing Jesus is not having a relationship with him.

Knowing his name does nothing to make a meaningful difference here and now.

To experience the “kingdom of heaven”…you need to take action for the sake of love.

You must be love…to experience love.

Beliefs, rituals and actions in and of themselves are meaningless if they don’t make you a more loving, compassionate, forgiving person.

You can enter God’s kingdom (the realm of God)…in this moment…by following Jesus and cultivating a relationship with him.

This is the same as following the path of love and forgiveness in all that you do.

As Jesus later makes clear in today’s reading…what he wants is to know you.

That takes more than just calling out his name.

It takes a relationship…a relationship that will change the way you live your life and open the kingdom of heaven both now and always.

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Listen to the song of the day “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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Option for the Poor and Vulnerable

Posted on June 27, 2018 by billtonnis

Guat_Concepcion_2kids

Jesus calls us to help those in need.

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

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Psalm 119:37

Avert my eyes from what is worthless; by your way give me life.

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Instead of averting our eyes from what is worthless…I’m thinking many times we avert our eyes from what is of worth.

Our eyes…or our attention…can many times get obsessively focused on “what’s in it for me.”

Our consumer culture is constantly telling us we need to buy something else to be whole and happy.

Let’s face it; compared with most of the world…we are living in the lap of luxury. Not everyone, I know, but compared to most of the world…we are rich.

Many around the world are starving and persecuted.

If I adhere to what Jesus commanded us to do as Christians…then I must love God and my neighbor as myself (Matthew 22:37-39). My neighbor, of course, is everyone.

And I also must treat others as I would want to be treated (Matthew 7:12).

To do this…I must focus my eyes and attention on injustices. And then I must do something about it.

In Jesus’ famous parable about the final judgment, he makes it clear that whatever we do to the marginalized and powerless…we do to him.

There are many seeking asylum at the U-S/Mexican border who are fleeing violence and poverty. They’ve traveled hundreds and hundreds of miles out of desperation at great personal risk. They are in need of help.

These families do not need to be separated and caged. This is not a compassionate response.

Yes, laws are important…but Jesus consistently sided with compassion over the law.

He did it with the woman caught in adultery and in his parable of the Prodigal Son. He did it whenever he healed someone on the Sabbath and when he allowed his hungry disciples to pick the grains in the field to eat on the Sabbath.

The rule was broken in favor of compassion.

We must figure a way to be both a country of laws and a country of compassion at the same time. Why can’t we do this?

No one is calling for “open borders.” We need protection from those who would do us harm. But what is needed is compassionate and fair treatment of those in need.

And there is also a desperate need for the reform of immigration laws so that people actually have a reasonable opportunity to migrate legally without the process taking 20 years like it does now!

We are all one family in God’s eyes.

God sees Jesus in everyone. We are called to do the same.

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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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Freedom

Posted on June 26, 2018 by billtonnis

path_forest_lightahead

The road less traveled leads you to your true self.

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

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Matthew 7:14

“How narrow the gate and constricted the road that leads to life. And those who find it are few.”

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Many think freedom is having everything and being able to grab for more and more.

In truth…that only leads to bondage to stuff and insatiable cravings for more.

Jesus knew that all we really need is God. 

And God is Love…as it says in 1 John 4:8.

So love is what satisfies.

We need to allow God to fill us. It could happen this moment…but that would require dropping our attachments.

The path of love will seem like a constricted road because it requires letting go of a lot of false gods…like money, power, security, nationalism, materialism, etc.

But, paradoxically, this path will lead you to a life filled with joy.

It will lead you to being the true you that God created…the you that God wants to live through in making the world a better place.

This is the “kingdom of God” that Jesus spoke of so frequently.

Are you living in peace and joy…or angst and misery?

If you want more peace and joy…you must stop identifying with your egos’ cravings and your mind’s non-stop commentaries.

Not easy!

It requires much practice.

Try sitting in silence for ten to 15 minutes to allow our loving Creator to bring you the healing you need. 

It’s a practice that will feel like going through a narrow gate…but it will lead you to true freedom.

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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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Broken and Blessed

Posted on June 25, 2018 by billtonnis

sunshine_beach

In the Light of Love…we all are accepted.

(Listen to my song “I Stand in the Light” on YouTube by clicking HERE)

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Matthew 7:1-2

“Stop judging, that you may not be judged. For as you judge, so will you be judged, and the measure with which you measure will be measured out to you.”

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Jesus teaches us today not to divide the field as to who is in and who is out…but to accept what is.

Everyone and everything belongs in the eyes of God.

But this does not mean we can’t “judge” as in determine whether some action is advisable or not.

The type of judging Jesus is telling us not to do is the kind that deems a person as accepted or rejected.

It’s the type of judging that assumes I am superior to someone else…and that I am right and someone else is wrong. In such a scenario, I am the sole determiner of right and wrong!

Jesus tells us that before we notice the “splinter” in our neighbor’s eye…we should attend to the “wooden beam” in our own (Matthew 7:3-5). This comment shows Jesus had a great sense of humor…along with keen insight.

How often do we look out at everything in our line of vision and simply judge what’s good and what’s bad, what’s acceptable and what’s not, what’s “in” and what’s “out”?

We often take for granted that we know all there is to know to make such a judgment.

Jesus cautions that we have more than enough debris in our eyes to cloud our vision…so we’d best focus our attention on our own improvement before focusing on someone else’s.

God has made each of us flawed…with areas of brokenness.

That isn’t so God can then judge us as unworthy…but so God can come to our aid and embrace us in our struggles and redeem us.

Our broken places are where we truly encounter God’s unconditional love!

From this experience…we learn to feel compassion for others…something sorely needed in today’s world.

Our broken places then become sacred places of transformation.

If it weren’t for the broken places in each of us…how would God’s Light shine in?

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Listen to the song of the day “I Stand in the Light” 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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Infinite Worth

Posted on June 22, 2018 by billtonnis

treasure_chest_rose_heart

The greatest wealth is an abundance of love.

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

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Matthew 6:21

“For where your treasure is, there also will your heart be.”

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When we think of the word “treasure” we usually think of material things.

If this meaning does not change for us…it sets in motion a never-ending quest of amassing more and more things.

Is that where your heart is?

The actual greatest treasure of all is love.

To love and to experience love…that is the most valuable treasure.

God challenges us to a never-ending quest of experiencing what it is to love and to be loved.

May your heart be filled with this treasure and then may you freely share it.

And through this experience…may you know who you truly are: Love.

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Listen to the song of the day “Listen to Your Heart” 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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Main Motivation

Posted on June 21, 2018 by billtonnis

man_holding_child_hand

Let us focus on love…because it’s the only thing that really matters.

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

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Psalm 97:7

All who serve idols are put to shame, who glory in worthless things.

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There is much idol worship today.

What is it that we adore and glorify these days?

It’s likely whatever gets most of our undivided attention.

It becomes our main motivation.

Is it something that is life-giving…something that makes us more loving, forgiving and compassionate?

Or is it something that makes you more greedy, covetous, self-centered and exclusionary?

Many things can be idols: sports, entertainment, sex, politics, nationalism…patriotism…and even religion.

Religion is supposed to be a pointer. At its best…it points us to an experience of God.

Our main motivation needs to be God.

And since God is Love (1 John 4:8), then we can say that Love needs to be our main motivation…which is why Jesus said the greatest commandments were to love God and your neighbor as yourself (Matthew 22:36-40).

Love is the only thing that will last…the only thing that will satisfy our deep yearning for satisfaction.

It’s a “holy longing” that we are trying to quench…and nothing else will suffice.

When our earthly life comes to an end…all our material things and obsessions will be left behind.

But Love will go on to ever deeper and deeper levels.

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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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