Drop the Call & Reconnect!

I love my cellphone. I love the safe feeling I have knowing I have a way to call for help if needed when traveling. I love that I can send and receive texts when I need to talk to someone but am somewhere where I can’t talk out loud. However, I do not live for my cellphone. It is not the breath of me.

I was on facebook the other day and someone posted a picture of their young daughter with her cellphone at the dinner table. The post had a picture of the girl looking at her phone while in a restaurant and the post said “she’s texting me!” The responding comments were many LOL’s.

My brother is always commenting on how he hates that his kids are always on their cellphones. Yet, he is always on his. It’s so discouraging to go to dinner with them and see my brother constantly checking or clicking away on his cellphone.

Personally, THIS infuriates me. It’s not the fact a cute picture was posted with her on her phone, it’s the fact that as a society we have lost touch of what personal communication really means anymore. I’m sure this blog is going to ruffle some feathers somewhere and this is strictly my opinion.

We, as parents, wonder why we can’t connect with our teenagers or understand the lingo they speak. We wonder why they’re failing in school or why they’re in trouble in school. We wonder why kids are becoming more introverted every day. Being a parent of a teen is hard enough as it is.

My son, now 25, was not permitted to have a cellphone until he was 16 years old. Yes, I said 16. He was made fun of by his friends because he didn’t have a cell phone, but I didn’t care what his friends thought. It wasn’t that I didn’t think he was responsible enough because he was a very responsible teenager. It was simply because I wanted him to learn the basics of how to communicate with people on a personal level. I wanted him to grasp the fact that talking face to face is far more important than clicking keys to talk through text.

I’m not saying my choices as a parent were the best choices….heck I was a drunk who took her anger out on her son when he was little. Praise God that child forgave me for those mistakes!

But, what I am saying is, if we teach our children to put the phone down and to live intentionally with people and around people our children will grow and understand how to communicate face to face. They will learn how to express their feelings and emotions, but most importantly they will learn how to talk and relate on a personal level.

I want those around me to know that they are important. That the short amount of time I might have with them at dinner is far more important than me checking my phone to see the status of my friends on facebook who I don’t even really know or haven’t talked to or seen in 3, 5, 10 or 30 years.

What really matters in my life? What or who is really important? My family, statuses on facebook or the next level of candy crush? I want there to be no doubt to the people who choose to spend time with me, whether it’s a couple hours or a quick lunch, that THEY MATTER MOST. I want to live with intent and I want to talk and laugh and hear and know what they are truly saying. And I want the same in return.

I wonder, how many people have dropped their cell in the toilet? Our cellphones have become idols. There…I said it. We can’t even go to the bathroom without them. I’m guilty. I’ve sent many texts while sitting on the potty. (Not that you wanted that visual!) But, lets be real here.

As a society we have grown to grab that little electronic idol all the time. What would happen if we put it down and focus on our children, focus on our family, focus on God? What would happen if we  re-learned how to communicate with our children, with our family and with God? What if we put God first, family second and our cellphones last?

What if…

If we would reach for God the way we reach for our cell phones.

We would hug our children as tight as we hug our cellphones.

We prayed instead of played candy crush.

We ate dinner without bringing our cellphone to the table and had real face to face interaction.

Just…what if?

I think it's time to drop this stronghold just like it's carriers use to drop our calls.

Just sayin'

Matthew 6:21

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

Matthew 6:33

But seek first His kingdom and righteousness, and all things will be given to you as well.

I found this picture on the internet and it fit perfectly to my blog topic. I have not altered it in any way. Credit is given to who said the quote as well as who used this for their business. I do not know either the person who quoted or the business and do not promote this business. I just used the picture as it was.

Blessings,

Bo

02/04/2015

Reflection of 2014

2014 is now in the past. It was a year where memories were made, heartaches happened, laughter rang out, smiles were shared and tears were shed.

I can't say I enjoyed everything that happened in 2014 because some things felt like they ripped my heart out. But, I wouldn't change it.

The events that happened, good and bad, made me realize I am stronger than I ever imagined. That within me was a woman of Worth. A woman of Love. A woman of Character.

I found a love richer and deeper with Christ that I could have ever imagined. Because of that love I stand in faith stronger than ever before.

My goal for 2015 is to not set resolutions, but to live life falling deeper for His love and walking through my life with more love, laughter and zest.

Join me!!

Family Traditions

I love hearing about family traditions. Whether it’s getting together once a year for a family reunion, having Sunday Fun-Days, 4^th of July blasts, or venturing out to a tree farm to pick out and cut down you own Christmas tree….the list could go on and on.

This sled belonged to one of my clients grandfather.
She used it with her three grandchildren in transporting their Christmas tree.
What a wonderful tradition.

When talking with people I always ask if they have a family tradition. Some do. Some don’t. Time and time again, what I see in people when I ask if they have a tradition is the light in their eyes. There comes a sparkle of excitement. Even when the response shared is that they don’t have a tradition. There is still that sparkle.

But, what is the sparkle? Is it excitement? Is it the joy in knowing you are or could be part of something? I, personally, think its Hope.

Hope is something we all have in common. It’s something we all cling to.

The family that has a Christmas tradition of getting all dolled up to attend The Nutcracker has hope they might see something a tad different than previous year’s performances. The woman sitting in ICU with her child has hope he will recover from his illness. The homeless man has hope he receives a hot meal to nourish his body and warm shelter to bring him comfort from the weather.

Though the situations are different, we are much the same at heart in having hope. We believe in the hope that is instilled within our hearts.

However, hope is not something we see. Just as the wind. You don’t actually it. You see or feel the results of it. As you close your eyes and turn your face towards the refreshing breeze the wind has brought you inhale experiencing something you can only feel, yet not see.

This Christmas, my prayer for you and your family is that you will experience hope in things you can’t see in a way unimaginable.  I pray you experience the refreshing wind. I pray you have faith beyond the size of a mustard seed. But, most importantly I pray you experience the joy and love of Christ and that He would be your hope. That He would become a tradition you would pass down to your family.

Merry Christmas!

Blessings,

Bo

12/24/2014

For His Glory

I’ve never been a big fan of roller coasters. I remember as a kid there was only one roller coaster I would ride. That was “The Racer” at Kings Island in Mason, Ohio. There were two “Racers”. They did just that….they raced. One went forward and one went backwards. I preferred the one that went backwards just so I didn’t have that feeling of “I’m going to fall out of this seat” or “This car is going to flip over itself” just as I saw the downward hill. I only had to see the sky as the thrill of plunging downward began.

I don’t know if there is much difference in the experience of riding the coaster forward or backward….. Either way your stomach ends up in your throat! At least it always did for me. HA!

I’ve attempted to try a few other coasters in my 49 years….but, yeah….for me...the thrill…not so much! I can live without roller coasters.

But, life itself is a roller coaster. Ups, downs, Sometimes we think we’re going forward when actually we’re going backwards, and then the loops and turns and…..shew…I need off already.

I can truly say God led me to a new amusement ride about three months ago. He guided me in starting a photography business. Now, I had dabbled for a couple years, but it was just that…dabble. It took a couple of months with me battling Him and literally screaming at Him, “Are you crazy?” But, He kept bringing it before me. Finally, I bowed down and became obedient.

I knew, without a doubt, that the business name would have to do with blessings. Beautiful blessings from God. So I went with Beautiful Blessings. When I went to get a domain name….it was taken. Trying to stay on the same track, I thought I’d do Bonita Blessings, since my given name is Bonita and it means beautiful in Spanish. However, that, too, was taken.

Now, I was discouraged. I couldn’t figure out what it was supposed to be called and I didn’t want just any ole name. I hit my knees in prayer and in tears. Begging I asked, “What? What am I doing wrong? If this is supposed to be why is coming up with the name so difficult? Why? I don’t understand.” I prayed and I prayed and I prayed some more.

Then one night about 3:30am I sat straight up in bed and said, “I got it! Why didn’t you say that in the first place?!” I had the name all along.

Heartbeats From Heaven.

Heartbeats From Heaven are Beautiful Blessings.

By the fullness of His grace we have all received one blessing after another. James 1:16

From that day forward, my business has been all Gods doing. It’s not my business, it’s His. I’m just the vessel capturing His beautiful blessings.

It's for His glory!

I’m still not so sure what He has planned but I can say, “This ride has been exhilarating!” I know His plan will be magnificent no matter what.

“For I know the plans I have for you” declares the Lord. “Plans to prosper you and not harm you. Plans to give you hope and a future.” Jeremiah 29:11

What has He been speaking into you? Are you kicking and screaming and asking Him if He’s crazy? What would happen in your world if you just trusted Him and became obedient?

Have a little faith and enjoy the ride. I’m certain He has something wonderful planned. Let it be for His glory.

He loves you, you know!?!

Blessings,

Bo 

11/20/2014

If you’d like to see the beautiful blessings I’ve captured through my lens you can find my work at www.heartbeatsfromheaven.com and on Facebook at Heartbeats from Heaven Photography. I’d love to hear what you think!

Not By Chance

The text message read…“GOD’S NOT DEAD.” I knew exactly what that meant and why I had received that text. However, I didn’t recognize the number. Not that it really mattered who sent it but it did matter they thought enough of me to include me in their shout out. 

This is my cousin, Zach, who sent the original message. 

Thanks, Zach for following your heart and sending that text!!

If you’re reading my blog and don’t know why I received that text message then I encourage you to see the movie “God’s Not Dead.”

As I watched my phone blow up with responses of people saying things like “He is Good”, “He is surely alive”, and even “who is this?” all I could do was smile.

Then I received a text from someone I didn’t know. They wanted to know who the original sender was because they didn’t know the number. So I explained who sent the message. The next text read, “I think I was a wrong number.”

"Indeed you were NOT a wrong number!!!! Apparently God intended for you to receive that message” was my reply.

As we text back and forth I found out it was a young lady who was going through some tough struggles and just didn’t know which way to go. Yet…there was her answer. A text from a perfect stranger saying “God’s not dead.”

It was not by chance that she received that text.

God knows exactly when we need to hear His ever soft whisper. 

He knows when we need to see His sign. 

He knows when we need to feel His presence. 

Sometimes…we just need to be still and look up.

I think of that young lady often and pray for her every time she comes to mind. In those moments I send her a text just to let her know I’m praying for her. I never hear back. I often wonder if my simple text is being received right when she needs it. Because it certainly is Not By Chance that she is on my mind.

Where ever you are… know that God’s NOT dead and those small subtle things that happen are not by chance. They are His way of saying….Be Still and Know I am God and I am here for you.

Blessings!

Bo

10/14/2014

Unconditional Love

I type with one finger on my cellphone. I simply cannot master dual thumbs. So when I’m sitting in church and I’m trying to take notes often when I go back to read over my notes I have a good giggle over what I’ve typed trying to decipher what some words are supposed to be. 

This evening as I was spending time in prayer I felt led to go back to my notes from this morning’s message. Much to my amazement I was able to read what I typed. Not only was it not jumbled from me trying to hurry it was all capitalized. The portion of my notes, that I was drawn to, read:

“We must first love ourselves unconditionally before we can love others unconditionally.”

WOW! Think about that for a second.

“We must first love ourselves unconditionally before we can love others unconditionally.”

In scripture we find the two greatest commandments in Mark 12:30-31:

   1.    Love the Lord with all your heart, all your soul, all your mind and all your strength.

   2.    Love your neighbor as yourself.

Love your neighbor as yourself. HA! How on earth do we do that when we are a society that is extremely quick to judge. Without any thought of a possible circumstance at hand we are quick to judge the mother of 4 in line at the grocery store paying for her groceries with food stamps. We are quick to judge the man standing at the red light holding a sign that says, “Will work for food”. We are quick to judge the woman with long beautiful blonde hair walking down the street. We are quick to judge the man driving the red sports car that just went zooming past in the fast lane.

I’m guilty. Are you? Are you guilty of judging someone else without knowing their circumstance? Better yet…are you guilty of judging yourself? Comparing yourself to others and putting yourself down?

If we’re doing all this judging, how on earth are we loving unconditionally? Isn’t unconditional love an accepting love? Maybe, just maybe, if we would ease up and stop our minds in mid thought and just love in the moment we could make a drastic change in not only our lives but the lives of others.

If we aren’t loving ourselves first, how on earth are we supposed to love someone, anyone, else? I’m pretty certain that it would be nearly impossible to love your neighbor as yourself when most of us don’t even like ourselves.

We say such rude things to and about ourselves that if a complete stranger walked up to us and said those things we’d want to throat punch them! So, why is it okay for us to speak so degrading and disrespectful to ourselves?

It’s time to stop!!

Today, I want you to know….I love me. I’m going to love me unconditionally because I’m an unique and divine masterpiece. I’m going to stop judging myself so harshly and forgive myself for the mistakes my flesh has made.

I want to walk forward in this life loving you for all you are and all that you were created to be….no matter who you are! 

So, starting today, I’m choosing to love me in order to be able to do what I’m called to do. Love my neighbors as myself.

No more judging. No more not forgiving myself for my mistakes. No more disrespectful and degrading words about myself in my head. It’s time for me to love me, unconditionally…because it’s what I'm called to do in order to be able to love you unconditionally.

We are made in HIS image. What's there not to love about that????

Blessings~

Bo 

09/29/2014

EVACUATION ROUTE

There are times that the storm is so wicked you can’t seem to escape it. No matter what you do you can’t break free of the cyclone that is crashing in around you. And then…you begin to think about it. You think about it more and more and more. And it becomes stronger and stronger until it has completely consumed your being.

How do you escape the thoughts of the storm? How do you get away and free yourself? The storm seems so strong you’re afraid you might drown.

Ever experienced this? These hopeless feelings of doom where no matter which way you look there seems to be no way out. I’ve been there many times. Too, many to count. And looking back to those circumstance I realized my focus was me and my storm. And that’s all I wanted to focus on. I didn’t want to even fathom the thought of thinking about something else.

In times of a troubled mind we need an evacuation route. Just like people who live on the coast need to know what route to take to escape the hurricane before hits land. Except at this point, our mind is already so consumed with the thoughts of our personal storm that it’s not just hit land it’s embedded upon our being.

More than ever that’s the exact time we need to reach to God. He is our evacuation route. If we cast our fears upon Him He can bring a comfort like no other. He meets us and accepts us right where we are.

He already knows the circumstances. This is a time that needs an evacuation route and that route can be found through prayer. And there is no wrong way to pray. Ever! In my most precious moments of prayer when I can’t think of what to say, I simply whisper, “Jesus. Please help me.”

He is waiting for us to reach to Him. He wants nothing to steal the joy He has given us. NOTHING!

“Consider it pure joy, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know the testing of your faith builds perseverance. Perseverance must be complete so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything.” James 1:2-4

Take the evacuation route. Get out of you mind and stop allowing those thoughts to steal your God-given joy.

Blessings~

Bo

09-25-2014