blog is a many splendored thing

Hi Everyone, Gee...   I know it's been a long time since many of you have heard from me.   I've had some issues...     We'll just leave it at that; you don't need or want to know all my "issues".   And, I don't really want to sit here and type them all out for you either (that would be just plain un-fun!). Last night, as I lay sleepless in my bed, I had time to think and I decided that I've let drudgery take over my life.   I'm retired!   I should be out there having a blast; but the time has turned into one long monotonous day after another of the same old thing.   And, that's largely my responsibility. So, I've decided I need to start small; but I want to start. My plan is called Mary Time - Because I'm worth it! I am going to schedule a one-hour appointment with myself each and every day on my Google Calendar (with a reminder notification) so I can set aside some “ QUALITY” Mary Time .   I want to invest in ...

SparkPeople - One Small Change... Wednesday, January 02, 2019 One Small Change... I have had limited success at weight loss and healthy living most of my life. I would try to DO IT ALL, become overwhelmed, and revert back to my old way of life. With SparkPeople I am learning the wisdom of making one small change on a regular basis and am praying that this is the road to success on my journey to improved health and wellness. Please keep me in your prayers as I go... If you want to join me in this wisdom you can read this lesson from The SparkPeople 28 Day Challenge. It was a real eye opener for me.  My SparkPeople username is ManySplendors if you want to friend me or follow my progress.  I'd be glad of the company! SPARKPEOPLE PROGRAM • DAY 4 Learn how to eat healthier--right now  

Photo:  Mary Poggemann - Duke Farms Orchid Greenhouse - May 27, 2013 Hebrews 11:6  --   “But without faith it is impossible to please him: for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him.”   --  KJV Dear Friends and Family... It's been quite a while since I've posted anything here .  I guess you could say that I've been overwhelmed by life, living, and the pursuit of nothingness for so long that I couldn't fathom that you would be interested in anything I had to say. I am writing tonight to say that I am sorry   --  I was wrong to abandon my blog and my few faithful readers.  I would like to ask your forgiveness and ask you for a second chance to do something worthwhile with my God given time and talent. I am writing tonight to share my shortcomings and to ask your help  --  All too often I think of things that I should do; but, that's all I do...  ...

Greetings Friends, Family and Co-Workers... Do you love paper-crafting?  And, do you love getting something fun in the mail?  Do you like projects that are well designed, come with everything you'll need to produce amazing results, and are affordable? If you answered YES to any of these questions...  then, you'll love Paper Pumpkin. Paper Pumpkin - Fun in a box...   Delivered to your home...   Please let me know if you have any questions or if you need help placing your order. Thanks so much! Mary ;-)

Dear Readers, I wrote this post on Monday, January 5, 2015!  I just realized that I never posted it to my blog.   I've decided to post it now because God prompted me to write this, and He may know that someone needs to read it today.  I know I was convicted as I re-read the post....   and I wrote it! Little is Much when God is In It!   The greatest things happen when God is involved!  I got up this morning and wrote my blog, and then my husband got up and we sat down to read our Bibles together.  Then I did my devotions. I do my daily devotions with my Sunday School lesson.  This week's lesson just happened to be on God being with you all the time and on depending on Him to strengthen you, just as my blog post had been.  I love it when God works things out just that way. He put a certain message in my head this morning, he told me what to share with all my reading friends and family, and then he reinforced that message in my S...

1 Corinthians 10:31b (KJV) ...whatsoever ye do, do all to the glory of God. Please  Help Me  Brand  My New  Business! Dear Praying Friends and Family, I have had several great job interviews lately and I am trying to wait patiently for the job that God has for me.  But, while I wait, I have been encouraged to consider what else God may have in mind for me. Jeremiah 33:3 (KJV) -- Call unto me,  and I will answer thee,  and shew thee great and mighty things,  which thou knowest not. To that end, I am thinking and praying about starting my own my own business.  I have had years of experience in accounting, consulting and tax services.  I love working with others, to help them achieve success, and I think I could be of service to our Lord Jesus Christ in this venture. Initially, I would like to headquarter my business at home.  With today's transportation and technology options, I could easily tra...

Dear God, Use Me! Galations 6:10 - As we have therefore opportunity, let us do good unto all men, especially unto them who are of the household of faith. I know I am not everything God intends me to be; I may never be ALL that He wants me to be.  But, abiding in His grace, love, and mercy, each day that I wake up gives me an opportunity to get closer to living as He desires. Satan always attacks in those areas where I am weakest.  Follow through is NOT one of my strong points.  I am great at starting projects but not so great at finishing them.  I am quickly engaged, easily distracted, and sometimes lose focus. When I started this blog, almost a year ago, it was my intention to sit down and write every single day.  I started out with great enthusiasm, I was motivated to tell MY story, I was on fire for God, and I was on fire for Life.  I wanted to share that with everyone I knew. Sadly, I let people and circumstances alter my f...

Proverbs 18:24  A man that hath friends must shew himself friendly: and there is a friend that sticketh closer than a brother. friends are the chocolate chips in the cookie of life Last night was our Secret Pal Christmas Fellowship at church.  We are Baptist, and Baptists like to eat, so there is always a fine selection of food at our fellowships, hahaha!  We Baptists have some great cooks! Our Secret Pal Christmas Fellowship serves several purposes. As mentioned earlier, it is an opportunity to indulge in some good food and fellowship around the tables. Our Pastor’s Wife, a lovely woman with a great sense of humor, always has a great devotional prepared for us. We reveal to ourselves to our Secret Pal, hoping that we haven’t done anything to tip her off to our real identity, and we give her our final gift of the year. We complete new Secret Pal forms, and turn them in to a wonderful loving lady, who collects the forms through the middle of Dece...

At a Crossroad in Life Grace, God's Grace, is always sufficient.  The problem lies in my definition of sufficiency.  Sometimes I mistake my wants for needs and that causes me to doubt God's sufficiency.  It is not that God has failed to meet my needs; but that I have mistakenly categorized my wants as needs!   2 Corinthians 2:9 (KJV)  -  And he [Jesus] said unto me [Paul], My grace is sufficient for thee: for my strength is made perfect in weakness . Most gladly therefore will I rather glory in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me.  Today my husband has been out of work for over seven months, I lost my job last Wednesday.  We are totally dependent upon God, and upon God's Grace, for whatever comes our way.  Please pray for us that we can trust God to provide for us as we look for work. Thanks! Mary  ;-)

Written by Carisa Stahl Set a watch , O LORD, before my mouth; keep the door of my lips.   Psalm 141:3   In days gone by a lot of communication was done with the mouth. In the days we are living in much of our communication is done with our fingers on our phones or computers.   Out of the five ways listed above I have texting and email, and Mary allows me to blog on her blog. Do I always watch what I say with my fingers? I'm sure I do not.  Once we say something via the above ways of communication it's out there forever, able to be found in ways we could never dream of.  Not only do we need to make sure what we say is true, helpful, inspiring, necessary, and kind but if it is all of those is it really something we want the whole world to know?   I've seen Facebook used for written sparring with very nasty, hurtful stuff said. Would the involved people act that way if they were face to face? I feel that v...

Meadow of grasses and wild flowers  © Copyright  Duncan Lilly  and licensed for reuse under this  Creative Commons Licence By Mary Carol Poggemann We live in a rural community and I drive about 15 miles through farm land (and new housing developments) to get to work and to church.  This morning’s drive was a little foggie, a light mist permeated the area, but it didn’t really hinder visibility.  The mist, and the light rains of the last few days, has greened everything up.  The grass is growing like crazy and little wildflowers dot the country side; it is just lovely! I pass a couple of farms where they have horses out in the yard and I noticed something today that I’ve never thought about much; but, today it struck me and I need to share it.  That’s what blogs are all about right???

Written by Amy Stahl- a devotion given at a ladies meeting in July 2013. Psalm 46:10 “Be still, and know that I am God; I will be exalted among the heathen, I will be exalted in the earth.” When Mrs. Woodfield asked me to speak she asked me to speak on the first part of this verse,   "BE STILL AND KNOW THAT I AM GOD." Without going into a lot of details these last few months have been a time in my life when this verse has had a lot of meaning for me. I turned 30 in May. When I was in my early 20’s I thought I would be married and have a few kids by the time I was 30. Well meaning people often say things like,   “You don’t’ have a boyfriend?” “Such a sweet girl like you, we’ll have to find someone for you.” My reply is, “I would rather be single the rest of my life than marry the wrong one.” To me being “be still” means being content where God has me now. Everyone’s life is different. Everyone is in a different season of their life. My season is being single. Eccles...