Faith

Posted on March 27, 2018 by billtonnis

forest_path_lightatend

The path of Love is unclear but always leads you home.

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

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John 13:36

Simon Peter said to him, “Master, where are you going?” Jesus answered [him], “Where I am going, you cannot follow me now, though you will follow later.”

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Peter was really clueless on what was going down with Jesus.

This is comforting because we all are clueless in many ways…when it comes to this human and spiritual adventure.

As Jesus was about to lay down his life…Peter still had his own idea of who Jesus was and what he would do…and it did not include dying!

Peter’s understanding did not include a Messiah that would respond to persecution with love and forgiveness.

Jesus had to show him…and all of us…that he really meant that we had to love our enemies.

He had to show us what Unconditional Love looked like.

Jesus demonstrated what it looked like to be the grain of wheat that falls to the ground and dies so as to produce much fruit (John 12:24).

He showed us what it looked like to die to himself…letting go of his ego’s desires…so that his true self could rise.

What appeared to be a miserable ending…would actually lead to a glorious new beginning…a resurrection.

Such transformation is possible only by following Jesus’ self-emptying path to the cross.

When met with Love…even the executioner’s instrument is transformed to a gateway to new life. 

This Love would also transform Peter…so that he would indeed follow later.

How about you?

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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.

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

Remember…God loves you!

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Let It Shine

Posted on March 26, 2018 by billtonnis

shining_bubbles

The light of God is in each of us.

(Listen to my song “May I Be Light” on YouTube by clicking HERE)

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Isaiah 42:6-7

I, the Lord, have called you for the victory of justice, I have grasped you by the hand; I formed you, and set you as a covenant of the people, a light for the nations, to open the eyes of the blind, to bring out prisoners from confinement, and from the dungeon, those who live in darkness.

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These words written in the Book of Isaiah about 700 years before Jesus of Nazareth was born…foretell of his ministry.

Jesus would be the servant Messiah, not a militaristic one.

He would show us who God is by being himself. 

“If you know me, then you will also know my Father” (John 14:7).

And who is God? God is love (1 John 4:8).

Love has no boundaries.

This Love was (and is) a light to all nations.

This Love opened (and still opens) the eyes of the blind.

And this Love freed (and still frees) the oppressed.

When you are present to others in love…light shines, eyes are opened and people are freed.

This Love is Eternal Light…and that Light is inside each of us.

As Thomas Merton wrote in Conjectures of a Guilty Bystander, “It is like a pure diamond, blazing with the invisible light of heaven. It is in everybody, and if we could see it we would see these billions of points of light coming together in the face and blaze of a sun that would make all the darkness and cruelty of life vanish completely.”

Allow God’s love to stir up the flame already within you…and then let it shine!

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Listen to the song of the day “May I Be Light” on the Listen to Your Heart album by clicking HERE.

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

Remember…God loves you!

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Christianity 101

Posted on March 23, 2018 by billtonnis

cross_sun_haze

May we be known for our mercy and love.

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

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Jeremiah 20:13

Sing to the Lord, praise the Lord, for he has rescued the life of the poor from the power of the wicked!

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Jeremiah was a very young man when he was called to be a prophet of God.

That was 600 years before the birth of Jesus.

He did not boldly step forward as called…but complained that he was “too young” (Jeremiah 1:6).

But God countered, “To whomever I send you, you shall go; whatever I command you, you shall speak” (Jeremiah 1:7).

It was not an easy road for the young prophet.

Many persecuted him.

But God said to him, “Do not be afraid of them, for I am with you to deliver you” (Jeremiah 1:8).

Jeremiah needed to experience being delivered by God…in order to be able to preach of a God who would save those in need.

We all can look back at times of deep struggle when somehow…somehow…we got through it.

We come to know an Eternal Love carrying us forward.

Jesus modeled this Love.

He was not a mighty king of power…but a humble and dedicated servant of compassion.

This Messiah did not side with the rich and powerful…but with the weak and the poor.

Jesus stood with anyone who was excluded. He rescued the life of the poor.

Christians are supposed to mirror Jesus to the best of their ability in this world.

If you identify as a “Christian” as I do…then each of us must ask ourselves:

How am I doing with that?

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Listen to the song of the day “Mercy Reigns” 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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Glory Be

Posted on March 22, 2018 by billtonnis

man_armsopen_sunshine

When we’re present to life in love…we shine.

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

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John 8:54

Jesus answered, “If I glorify myself, my glory is worth nothing; but it is my Father who glorifies me…”

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Life is all about relationship.

All of universe…all of the creation…is in relationship.

Science is proving this.

Love is at the core of it all.

There is a flow of this Love from God to Jesus and then from Jesus out to all…and therefore back to God.

Jesus is the fullness of this Love.

He gave us the perfect example of how to live.

Jesus emptied his own desires…and opened himself to God’s desires thereby allowing God’s Love to flow through him to others.

Jesus knew that any “glory” that came his way was due to God…not his ego.

The only way your true self can shine through…is if your ego gets out of the way.

That will require a contemplative practice of letting go.

The old adage is true: “Let go. Let God.”

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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.

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

Remember…God loves you!

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Love Leads to Action

Posted on March 21, 2018 by billtonnis

hands_holding_olderhand

Religious beliefs are meaningless without a transformed heart.

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

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John 8:31-32

“If you remain in my word, you will truly be my disciples, and you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.”

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Remaining in Jesus’ word…is more than knowing or believing.

It’s living his word.

It’s being his word.

There are probably many paths to this way of life.

But one way is to actually get to know Jesus.

Making a practice of reading the gospels and pondering his words is a great start.

But just reading his words and knowing them is a “head” thing.

Jesus is talking about a “heart” thing.

Information in your head will not lead to transformation of  your heart.

Try sitting in peace and quiet and dwelling on Jesus’ words.

Allow them to sink into your heart space.

“Remain in my word.”

Be.

Allow.

When we do this…the Holy Spirit is eager to reveal the truth and set you free.

And in that freedom…you will be led to a changed life where Jesus’ mission and your mission will be one and the same:

“The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he has anointed me to bring glad tidings to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim liberty to captives and recovery of sight to the blind, to let the oppressed go free, and to proclaim a year acceptable to the Lord” (Luke 4:18-19).

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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.

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

Remember…God loves you!

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WWJD

Posted on March 20, 2018 by billtonnis

bird_birdbath

When we are truly present to ourselves and others…we are free.

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

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John 8:24

“For if you do not believe that I AM, you will die in your sins.”

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Jesus invites us to go deeper than a superficial understanding.

When Moses asked for God’s name, God said, “I am who I am” (Exodus 3:14).

God is “Being” itself.

In today’s scripture verse, Jesus said he is one with God.

Earlier Jesus had said that if we know him…we know God.

Jesus is at one with our Creator who is always in the now…always present to us.

So for us to be present to God…we must be present to what is.

That requires letting go of our attachments to the things of this world…all the things that entice our egos into thinking that they will bring us lasting happiness…but are actually distractions that will lead us to a self-centered dead end.

When we turn away from what is Life-Giving, we might as well be dead.

Jesus said that he is “the way and the truth and the life” (John 14:6).

He showed us that by following his example of lovingly serving others…we find the path to life.

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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.

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

Remember…God loves you!

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Let Go and Live

Posted on March 19, 2018 by billtonnis

creek_flow_leaves_fall

Each of us has a part in the Creative Flow of God’s Love if we surrender.

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

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Romans 4:13

It was not through the law that the promise was made to Abraham and his descendants that he would inherit the world, but through the righteousness that comes from faith.

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In other words…life is not about our doing something…following some particular rules…so as to earn the world.

It’s not about earning.

It’s not about achieving.

It’s not about being worthy.

It’s not about a check-off-list of righteousness.

Our precious lives and all things have been given to us…by Pure Grace.

It’s all gift.

And each of our lives is meant to be lived so as to share God’s gift of love.

When you give yourself away…you paradoxically inherit everything.

All you have to do is have faith…or in other words…believe.

Awaken to the wonder that each breath you take is a wondrous gift of God.

Go ahead…take a deep breath of Love.

Exhale life-giving carbon dioxide to the plants and trees…which in turn release oxygen back to you and me.

It’s one beautiful cycle of life…all fueled by a Source of Eternal Love.

May we all surrender to the joy of the great gift we have received and are continuing to receive each moment.

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Listen to the song of the day “Breathe On Me” on the Listen to Your Heart album by clicking HERE.

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

Remember…God loves you!

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Eternal Hope

Posted on March 16, 2018 by billtonnis

Brilliant_shining_light

Human created misery cannot extinguish the Divine Light.

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

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Psalm 34:19

The Lord is close to the broken-hearted, saves those whose spirit is crushed.

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Jesus knows what it is like to be “broken-hearted” and to have his “spirit crushed.”

Can you imagine the colossal impact of his rejection?

He had brought the message of God’s unconditional love, mercy and forgiveness to all people. But instead of being embraced, he was beaten like the worst criminal and executed in the cruelest fashion.

That called for revenge and retribution, right? Wrong!

What better way to show what Unconditional Love is…than for Jesus to respond to the most unjust treatment with mercy and forgiveness!

This is the Ultimate Expression of Love and Grace! “Father, forgive them, they know not what they do” (Luke 23:34) is what he said.

And how true! His persecutors were unconscious to reality.

But that was not the end of it.

Death itself could not prevail against the Love of God.

Resurrection and new life followed.

Such transformation awaits each of us whose heart is broken and spirit is crushed.

This is Good News that saves us now and always!

But it also calls us to action to be missionaries of the same love and forgiveness.

May we each follow the way of Jesus…experience salvation…and then pass it on to the world!

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Listen to the song of the day “Make Your Way” 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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Live to Love

Posted on March 15, 2018 by billtonnis

praise_sun

EGO stands for Edge God Out.

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

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John 5:44  

“How can you believe, when you accept praise from one another and do not seek the praise that comes from the only God?”

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In our mainstream culture…ego is king.

It’s all about being first and winning.

It’s also about the praise and adulation that comes with it.

When the praise of others is what we want the most…we know our egos are in charge.

But the ego and its desires can never be satisfied.

Who are we trying to please in the way we live our lives?

Our friends?

Our parents?

Our employer?

Pleasing them can make you feel good…but it can lead you completely away from your purpose in life.

Why did God make you?

Why are you here?

It’s certainly not to “accept praise from another.”

In today’s scripture verse, Jesus says the only praise that matters is the praise that comes from your Creator.

That praise comes when you are being you.

For this to happen, your self-centered ego must diminish so your true self can emerge.

Then you will reflect the Love of God to others and all creation through the use of your gifts and talents.

God’s praise will then rain down upon you…and you, in turn, will praise God by your very being.

Now that’s something to believe in!

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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.

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

Remember…God loves you!

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Homeward Bound

Posted on March 14, 2018 by billtonnis

child_parent

Eternal Love is carrying each of us.

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

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Isaiah 49:15

Can a mother forget her infant, be without tenderness for the child of her womb? Even should she forget, I will never forget you.

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When you feel like you’re alone…like you’ve been rejected…take comfort that Jesus became the one totally rejected.

But in response, Jesus continued to mirror for us the true nature of God.

He forgave his persecutors.

He forgave all those who betrayed him.

God’s love is not based on conditions or expectations.

This does not mean we won’t face struggles in life. As Julian of Norwich stated, “If there is anywhere on earth a lover of God who is always kept safe, I know nothing of it, for it was not shown to me. But this was shown: that in falling and rising again we are always kept in that same precious love.”

Just as Jesus spread God’s love to the world…we are called to do the same.

We are called to respond to persecution as Jesus did…with forgiveness.

And just as Jesus was transformed to new life…we, too, will be transformed.

As the Prophet Isaiah tells us in today’s scripture verses…we are God’s children.

God’s love for each of us is as tender as a mother’s love for her babies.

This love is meant to be shared through us with everyone and all creation.

It’s a Love that will bring us safely from birth….to death…to New Life.

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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.

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

Remember…God loves you!

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