Sunday, May 10, 2009

They Call Me "Mom"

Happy Mother's Day!

What a special day it was today. I am so blessed to have the privilege to be called "Mom" or "Mommy" to four beautiful children. I also will have the privilege one day to hold my baby whom Jesus is now holding safely in His arms. I wanted to dedicate this blog to them and tell them how much they mean to me.

My beautiful daughter "a pearl of great price" is so special to me. She is very gifted and very fun to be with. I am so thankful for her friendship. She is a busy girl! We work together in the floral business and I love the designs that she puts together and to watch her creative mind at work. She works as nurse as well. She has experienced things that we can only imagine and it has brought her wisdom beyond her years. I am so proud of her. Some of my favorite times with her is when we are so tired that we begin to reminisce about "old" times and laugh so hard, we can't breathe! We are planning her wedding and it is such a blessed time. To see the way the Lord is just allowing all of the pieces to fall in place is such an amazing story. Soon I will "get" another son, and I can't wait for him to join our family. I love you both!

My #1 Son is "a mountain of strength, a teacher and an enlightened one". He has made me so proud. He is also very gifted physically, intellectually and has a big heart. He is so on fire for the Chiropractic profession. God is working mightily in His life and has placed him on a path that he could never have imagined. I love spending time with just the two of us. We talk on the phone often and I am so blessed to have him as a very special friend. He has encouraged me, prayed for me and amazed me by his maturity and his vision for health and life. He can't wait for the opportunity to teach the world how God has designed us to heal from "above, down, inside, out - ADIO". I love you!

My third child was a baby I never got to hold. We lost our baby at 14 weeks of pregnancy. Though our hearts were broken, we knew that God was faithful. We named our baby, Toby, meaning - "God is with us". We look forward to the day that we can hold our baby and until then God continues to heal my heart and dry my tears. Mommy loves you so much!

My fourth child or Baby A was born 100 minutes before his brother. He likes being the "oldest". He is "a prophet of God". He loves to learn and loves technology. He has a beautiful smile and always makes me laugh. He has been a "Mama's Boy" from the first time I held him. He is also gifted musically and is a great actor. I LOVE all of the hugs that he gives me and when he tells me everyday that he loves me. I love the way his mind is always working and to listen to all of his ideas. He LOVES to play games and is the "luckiest duck" in the family! He is always helping me do lots of things. I am so proud of him and can't wait to see what God has planned for his life! I love you Baby A!

And lastly, my Baby B. He will always be my baby - my "angel of God"! He reminds me so much of my oldest son. He loves to play sports, but is also very gifted intellectually. He loves bugs, little creatures and playing in water. He likes the Cubs and building fires in Grandpa's fire pit. He also loves to count my money. We love to look for shapes in the clouds together. He has seen LOTS of heart-shaped clouds and even a blue "W" on New Year's Day this year. We decided it was God's message to him that this is "THE YEAR FOR THE CUBBIES!" You heard it here first, folks! He loves to sit on my lap and for me to give him back rubs. I cherish this time in our lives. I love you Baby B!

Thank you, Lord, for the blessing of my children!
They have brought me so much love, so much life and so much laughter! You have been so good to me to allow me to be the mother of these beautiful lives! Bless each one and draw their hearts to their Heavenly Father who loves them perfectly! And help me to love them the best way that I can as their mother as I draw my strength and wisdom from you. I cherish every day knowing that we never have the promise of tomorrow.
Thank you for my own mother who taught me self-less love.
Lord, THANK YOU for my children and thank you for TODAY!

Monday, May 4, 2009

Daddy!

Do you know that God is our "Daddy!" He's not a grandpa to anyone! Do you know him as Abba, Father? Daddy, God! We never outgrow our need for our Heavenly Father.

Twenty-two years ago, I called out to a God still questioning if he even existed. I had watched the movie, Jesus of Nazareth. At the end of the three night movie, I prayed and said, "God, I feel like you are wanting me to follow you. IF you are real, show me and teach me what it means to follow you!"

He did and I do!

If you have that same "feeling" that this God is seeking you, he is! If you have a desire to know him, but you don't understand ALL of it...it's okay. He promises to teach you as you follow him!

You can pray now:
Heavenly Father, I admit that I can't do life without you. I fall short and I accept that Jesus paid the price for all of my offenses toward you. I want to stop what I am doing and I want to start living a new way - your way. Teach me how to do that.

You need to know that God knows your heart. Maybe you have more to say and more to confess to him. Maybe you have lots of things to ask him about. He's big enough to handle it!

I am so excited for you! Life cannot be more exciting than to know that the God who made everything you see and gives you every breath is walking with you and he is FOR you!

Start getting to know Him by reading the bible. I started in the book of John in the New Testament. I really liked the words in red...they were Jesus' words. Find some Christian friends to do life with...seek a church where you can get connected! I did all of this on my own and God was faithful.

Was it scary...you bet! Was it worth it...absolutely! Are Christians perfect...absolutely NOT! They are just like you and have made a life-changing choice to do life WITH God.

Did I mention already how excited I am for you! Angels are singing in heaven over you and YOUR Daddy has his eye on you!!! He loves you perfectly!

If you have made this decision, would you please email me and tell me your story. I would love to hear how God is working in your life! poppen@mtco.com Bless you!

Stop and Look at Me!

I have recently started reading a book by Tommy Tenney entitled The God Chasers. It is a great encouragement for those wanting "more" of God.

This morning, I read: Do you ever want to climb up on God's lap and take his face in your hands and turn it toward you, so that he is looking right at you!

After reading that question, I immediately went back to the days when my children did that to me. Often, well anytime, they didn't have my full attention and wanted something, they would do that exact thing. It made me smile just thinking of those days. You know your kids feel comfortable doing that. They need you and know how to get access to your face. They need the eye to eye connection so that they know that you are listening to them. I remember times like that when they would look me right in the eye, and I would think you are so cute and so sweet and I love you so much...name it...it's yours!

I haven't forgotten other times, that it was quite irritating to be rudely interrupted. It would be at those times, that God would remind me how precious and innocent these little lives were. And then, I would go back to...you are so cute and sweet and I love you so much...name it...it's yours!

I think that God wants that from us. He wants us to have the confidence to get on his lap and take his face in our hands and turn his head toward us and look him fully in the face. That is where we are filled with him and receive his full blessing.

You know there are days when we are dancing around all of our problems and acting as if it is up to us to solve our problems and our spouse's and our kids' and...the list goes on and on. There is always someone in need. God wants us to stop long enough to look up.

He is always there encouraging us. "Yeah, Tammy, I know what you're looking for! It can only be found in me. I have all the love, all the acceptance, all the wisdom, all the courage, all the strength, all the power you need! Stop and look at me!" Doesn't that sound like a loving father just looking out for you. "Stop and look at me! I have what you need."

I pray you find rest for your weary soul today...looking fully in His wonderful face!