WELCOME!

UPDATE July 29, 2013:  Donna's second late husband Joe passed away Feb 1, 2013 due to complications from a gallbladder surgery.  She met Joe who was from Iowa in Christian Mingle, Upper Room prayer room with some other pastors at 5 am exactly one year and one week after the death of her first late husband Bart.  They dated long distance flying back and forth meeting for two years to get to know one another.  They were married only 5 1/2 yrs.  She is grateful to God, friends and family who have been so caring in helping her through this time period.  She is reminded that God never gives us more than we can handle and that what doesn't kill us makes us stronger.  Their constant Yorkie companion Gidget also passed away on July 28, 2012.  But, Donna now has a pocket Yorkie named Piper who is one year old and full of energy!  At the same time period she also lost her 19 year old granddaughter Trying times in addition to the many losses experienced just before these recent ones.   People call her a Steel Magnolia, but she knows the real strength in her life is the Lord.

Donna Geertz is an ordained minister who lived with her husband Joe and their adorable 4 lb.  pocket Yorkie named Gidget in Florida.  She and her first late husband pioneered and co-pastored Heart To Heart Christian Church near Charleston, SC.  They were very active in marriage counsel and had a marriage made in heaven for almost 35 yrs. ... they were active in ministering to other pastor couples and their home was nicknamed "Jesus's Inn" ... they were very active in prison ministry and leading many retreats, services and conferences.  They also visited nursing homes and hospitals doing monthly services and serving communion and praying for the sick.  They also were involved in local missions, preaching and counseling.  Her husband enjoyed missions trips to Mexico and Haiti.  She has spoken in many church denominations carrying God's word of hope and restoration, and has led and been a sought after speaker at many retreats and conferences.  She is anointed in the area of deliverance, emotional healing and prophecy. 

Joe, was also an ordained minister and a teacher of the word of God.  He wroteseveral books and has did mission work in India, leading pastors conferences, among many other things in the kingdom.  Joe and Donna were artisans ... creating jewelry designs for people and toy breed dogs.  They were also involved in marketplace ministry.   They loved people and were grateful to be used in any way for God.  Donna's passion is counseling and seeing those in the body come to realize their calling in the Lord. 

Her new delight is writing blogs.  She now has 18 ... all having different themes, but with the same desire... that people would come to realize how much God loves them and that they have a purpose in life!

WELCOME TO
THE COMFORTER'S ARMS!

There is nothing more peaceful and relaxing than being in the arms of someone you love and trust. Every worry, concern and doubt seems to fade away in that place of surrender and dependence. As we come to Father God for comfort, He restores faith, belief, hope and expectation into our lives. Won’t you come with me to that place, and together we will find what we have been searching for.

Sometimes instead of running to the Lord in time of need, we run away.  I have been guilty of that myself at times, but I have found during the times that I don’t understand what God is doing, when I feel abandoned and alone, when I feel God is not listening or has given me way more than what I can take …even when I am angry at Him for what I perceive as a wrong towards me, even though I know in my heart he is perfect…..  that is when I find I need Him the most. 

I so desire to be real, open and vulnerable with you in this little blog,  and share the experiences I have had ... the ups and downs, the good and the bad ... the victories and defeats.  Sharing brings us closer.  None of us have arrived, we are all on a journey, and we were created by God to help one another.  After going through many trials and tribulations, I have found one thing to be true … God is faithful to help us through, and even when we can’t see it, and even believe the contrary… He does always have our best interest in His heart, He has proven that to me over and over.. and sometimes at the eleventh hour!    

I pray as you explore “The Comforter’s Arms”, that you will see glimmers of hope in the midst of despair, and the promise of new life and joy for all mourning.  May you be soothed and encouraged as you encounter life's obstacles, and I pray for those to surround you with encouragement and prayer in trying times.  Most of all I pray that you will find this to be a safe place to share your feelings, thoughts, questions, or any area you need God’s comfort.

Many blessings fellow traveler,

Donsie/Donna
6/7/2011

FOR LO, THE WINTER HAS PAST!

FOR LO THE WINTER HAS PAST!

SPRING HAS COME
4/4/12

 

The word below was written years ago during what I had thought at the time, one of the most trying times in my life...  Ha, ha was I wrong, lol .... But, I would like to lay the ground work first in this letter so you can understand what led up to the word. It was after several years of continuous trauma and overwhelming situations. After my father in law passed from Alzheimer's like disease, my mother in law came to live with us at our home, then moved to a small apartment where we also hired some outside care for her, after a fall and 6 months rehab, another move for her with another fall and then into a nursing home and her death. She lived with us for 5 years. All this time we were pastoring a church we had pioneered with my husband Bart who was my best friend in the world.

My parents were living in Florida at the time and we lived in South Carolina. My father had Parkinson's and my mother was caretaker. We were traveling to Florida to support her so many times we kidded that our car could be put on auto pilot and drive itself! Trying to give my Mom support and coming to terms with my father's deteriorating condition was difficult. In the meantime my favorite Aunt passed away, then my best friend, mentor and one of the elders in our church had a cancerous lung removed and we were her caretakers for a season before she went home to be with family and passed away. My husband and myself were so shaken by this loss as we were very, very close. My sister and brother in law both then had cancer at the same time and then my youngest son in his 20's cancer, and my son in law kidney cancer. Our life seemed to be spinning, and we could barely catch our breath before another incident seemed to occur. I was so unbelievably weary from the spiritual battles on all fronts.

My brother in law passed away but thank God my son, son in law and sister recovered with wonderful stories to tell. But, now my mother needed assistance and came to live with us and then to a nursing home. The selling of her condo and closing it down was so sad for her, and much work for us to set her up first in our home and then her nursing home. but we tried to make the best of it by having a get together for the children to take numbers from a hat and to pick and choose some of her treasured nicknaks and such. I was very close to my mother and it was so traumatic to see her go down hill.

We decided to try to make her last years the best we could for her, just as we did my husband's mother. We had movie night once a week with classics and popcorn, Spa day for toenail polishing and facials and such.. out on the town days and Sunday afternoon wings with a friend of ours and his two children. All during the time of caring for my mother, I was finding my beloved husband to be acting abnormally and after several trips to the doctor with several tests nothing could be found. In the meantime, my favorite aunt who loved me unconditionally and I could always go to passed away. 

Then my mother passed away and we were totally exhausted after taking care all the details.  We went away after her funeral and feeling perhaps maybe now things would calm down and we would be able to live again. But that was not to be. My husband was diagnosed with an inoperable stem cell brain tumor and died only six weeks after the diagnosis. Just months after my mother's death, I lost my dearest friend, my husband. The shock and stress was so great, I ended up in the hospital with atrial fib a few months after his death my heart was running faster than a runner's heart. The doctors wanted to stop my heart and then shock it back to life again.. but the Lord intervened and prevented that from happening. I was in shock, numb, devastated, reeling, overwhelmed, .. and trying to hold on to the Lord all at the same time. I KNOW it was ONLY Abba Father who kept me and carried me during this time and gave me the will to go on. My family and friends were incredible as they so loved my husband and it was so hard seeing them going through their own grief. My girlfriend would call me everyday just to see that I was okay. The Lord sent me a special friend who had been my first boyfriend at age 14 for many years ... during this time who also helped me overcome my fears and grief. We never know in life how we touch other people's lives. Just a kind word, concern, perhaps some practical advise, a word of life can help immeasurably to uplift a person who is in a place of despair.

The rest of the story, is that I found I could not face the reality of all the things that had happened in such a short time. I felt like I had been slapped in the face and wondered what I had done wrong. So, I ran for a while .. People go through the grief process in different ways, for me, I felt if I just kept my hours really busy and went from place to place traveling, then maybe it just all wouldn't be true. I traveled with my girlfriend cross country who was moving to California, and went many other places until I ran myself out. I sold my home and moved to Florida to be nearby three of my four children and their families who live in Florida, and other family. I filled much of my time helping and counseling other people online who were going through their own dark night of the soul and I still do find counsel rewarding as I always have!

I met a wonderful, Godly man who lived in Iowa and had gone through Bible College. We met one year and one week after my husband's death and married after almost two years of dating.  We were married almost three years after Bart's death in our favorite place in the Smokey Mountains Oct 17, 2007, in the darling little chapel I had renewed m 25th Anniversary vows with my late husband.. with our two little pocket toy dogs attending!! We now have just one dog.. Gidget, a 4 lb. Yorkie who is just the cutest little diva. Joe and I love seeking God and worshipping Him together and we sell the perfume and spa items he designs. We both design jewelry. Life for us has set new opportunities for us to trust God like never before due to the economy. We have found that nothing else matters, except for loving God and loving people. Sharing the good news with others and helping encourage the saints of God.

All things happen for a purpose. I am fully convinced of that, and the Lord has our best interest in His heart, even when we find that hard to believe. He will love us through all our sorrows, pain, our questions of "why", our times when we want to give up.. when we doubt, when we are angry with God.. in all our fears. He is God and His arms are there to bring us through the worst of times and the best of times... Blessed be the name of the Lord. I will be happy to pray for anyone who is going through their own "Winter" season when it seems like nothing but blizzards and everything feels cold and lonely and when it feels like an avalanche has hit.  Or perhaps you feel like you have been in a dessert for a long time and their is no water .. nothing is blooming in your life, you feel parched and barren.  God is our lily in our valleys.. He causes us to bloom and be a sweet fragrance even as we go through immense challenges.  He doesn't want us to go through these things alone.   I love the scripture in Song of Solomon when the Shulamite girl (a depiction of the beloved of Christ) comes up and out of the wilderness leaning on her beloved.  That is where we should all be coming through our most trying times.   It is the only place of true safety and comfort. 

Just email me donnatrex@yahoo.com

March 7, 2005

Hello dearest ones..

Forgive me for not writing in while .. I have been on a.. shall I say sabbatical.. anyway friends of God.. something NEW is happening in my heart and I pray it is happening in yours too..

A friend of mine, led a worship time last Saturday that was heavenly!! Our purpose was to come together for a retreat, and just lay aside all our agendas to worship at a pretty little house in the mountains of North Carolina. Our heart was to just be quiet before the Lord to see what He wanted to speak to us. Very little words, just worship and one on one quality time with God. No computers, telephone calls, computers, books .. just "sigh".. time with the lover of our souls.

As I began to enter into the presence of the Lord.. my mind kept going somewhere else to a word someone had told me just before i left for the retreat, whom I had not seen in very many years…"that I was tucked away, zipped in their heart" that I always had been and always will be..  It always amazes me how God seems to send those who will help us through rough times. I kept thinking about how precious that was and then the Lord told me "Donna.. you are tucked away and zipped in MY heart too... tucked away safe and secure, right here in the very center...  enclosed and encapsulated"...  People in our lives will come and go, but the reality is that we have a creator, savior and friend who is jealous for us and the God of the universe has us tucked away in His heart .. how amazing.  I had always know and felt this, but God was reminding me.

God's love has caused us to be in Him and He in us.. so we no longer see with our own eyes.. but are insiders looking out with spiritual eyes, We don't have to keep trying to figure it out.. if we see with His eyes.. the way He sees it.. we will be viewing things from a totally different perspective.. and in that place of safety in Him.. "death is swallowed up in victory (1Cor 15:54) " What a word.. especially for me personally with what I have been going through for the last few months.

I don't know what has been in a death process in your life, but in my own.. I can tell you quite simply .. I had not crossed over into resurrection life in a lot of areas... I was still so to speak spiritually in the tomb, in fact until very recently I felt as if I could not even breath. It was as if my heart had stopped beating. It was not until I started speaking to someone who had meant very much to me in the past that I could literally feel my heart start to beat again… the shock of my husband’s death right after losing my mother and all the many tribulations I had gone through before that was more than I could bear, I had no desire to want to live again, not that I would ever have considered anything like suicide, but I was like a zombie just going through the motions of life, but not really living...but... the Lord used my first boyfriend to help me realize there is always room for new starts. He doesn't leave us abandoned in our darkest hours, but many times sends us friends who are like what I like to call "Jesus with Skin on"!

God said to me.. "New life is coming forth.. can you not see it? New beginnings.. can you not see it budding forth.. tender shoots.. sure as Spring .. sure as I am the author of new beginnings.. it is happening.. and I care for my tender shoots.. I place a blanket of grace over them of protection".. We are in a place of safety and security as He is growing us up so to speak in this new thing He is doing.. I don't fully understand it, but I do know that He is IN IT. And I do know that eye has not seen and ear has not heard or perceived what God has in store for us. I know that he has sent this special friend for such a time as this as a blanket of grace over me. To help me look at life from a different perspective.  I believe we are in each other's lives for "such a time as this"many times, to help each other through some enormous situations.  Sometimes we connect or reconnect with ones that we have history with and trust, where we can help each other in the different  "seasons" we go through ... difficult circumstances, and transition times in our lives.  

Beloved friends... we are coming into a place of new beginnings.. it is NOT going to be business as usual.. for God is calling us to a new commitment, and new place of authority in Christ Jesus.. old dreams are dying and God is giving us New dreams ... self effort is leaving, old habits are leaving, old ways of doing things, leaning on our own understanding, old hurts are leaving, mourning, feelings of failure and disappointment... and His Glory is beginning to rain upon us . Spring rains. Isn't it exciting.. and just when we were at our weakest point.. This has become my very favorite scripture.  My heavenly Father has spoken this to me several times in my life and it has always been so precious to me:

Song 2:10-12 My lover spoke and said to me, "Arise, my darling, my beautiful one, and come with me. See! The winter is past; the rains are over and gone. Flowers appear on the earth; the season of singing has come, the cooing of doves is heard in our land.

The WINTER is PAST.. what an awesome word.. I had felt as though I was frozen in time cold and isolated .. what about you???? I am SO GLAD our spiritual winter season is passing.. can't you feel it happening? ... just like a butterfly who has been in transformation.. in a cocoon.. (did you know that the caterpillar goes into a transparent/translucent state before it becomes a butterfly?).. Some have felt like they have been in the pupa stage in the dark and feeling very alone and as though time has stood still in their yearnings for something incredible to have happen and it never did.. not knowing that God has called them to be a butterfly and to spread their wings and not be earthbound. I believe part of what is happening in our lives right now.. is that we are becoming totally transparent with one another and it is helping us come forth into the new place God has for us.. we are being transformed from the cocoon state to one of being a butterfly... and the cooing of the turtle dove is heard... how romantic!!!!! Our God has a way with words doesn't He?

Haggai 2:9 The glory of this latter house shall be greater than of the former, saith the LORD of hosts: and in this place will I give peace, saith the LORD of hosts.

Anything that God has done for us in the past.. all the good things.. are going to be surpassed.. and we will come to a place of peace... how neat is THAT?!!!

Isa 42:9-10 See, the former things have taken place, and new things I declare; before they spring into being I announce them to you." Sing to the LORD a new song, his praise from the ends of the earth,

What happened yesterday is past.. and yet He is doing New things.. how delightful!!

Isa 43:18-19 "Forget the former things; do not dwell on the past. See, I am doing a new thing! Now it springs up; do you not perceive it? I am making a way in the desert and streams in the wasteland.”

Wow!!! I love that... a way in the desert and streams in the wasteland..

Phil 3:13-14 But one thing I do: Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead, I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus.

Yea and Amen!!

And so.. dearest ones... that is where I have been... hoping you are all doing well .. I am praying that each one of you will experience this wonderful NEW BEGINNING in your own lives.. thank you for all your calls, prayers and love. I know that has been what has sustained me and brought me to this new place. please continue to pray for me for God to guide me and direct me.. .. you are important in my life and I am thankful to God for each and every one of you...

KNOW that no matter what you may be going through in life ... you are ALWAYS "TUCKED AWAY AND ZIPPED IN HIS HEART"

Donna/Donsie

Pastor Donna Trexler additions 4/4/12

Some comments I received:

Donsie: These words are so beautiful and timely, just like you. You have an amazing gift. I am deeply moved. You have a very keen eye and ear. Love Billy

How absolutely wonderful---and I needed to hear it! I am relating to everything you said and I'm loving it.

Let's try to get together one of these days. Let me know how and when, and I will make it happen.

Donna - This is so beautiful. Thank you. It is all true of course. We, as Christians, know it in our heads. We just find it so hard sometimes to move it that short distance to our heart. I thank you for putting so beautifully into words. I am at that place somewhere between head and heart and this was so wonderful to read and so very uplifting. I just keep saying thank you.

Dearest Donna,
Thank you for your always upbeat encouragement

The timeliness of this word for my own life is incredible!

Your wisdom forever amazes me, you are such an over-comer.  I want to be like you when I grow up!

Thanks all for the kind words.. I love you all ... Donna

MAMA'S BROKEN HEART

Hi all ... please listen and watch this song video .. recorded by American top country music artist Miranda Lambert... it was released in January 2013 and written by Brandy Clark, Shane McAnally, and Kacey Musgraves ...  While watching this video ... I received some healing and revelation for my own life that I would like to share with you....

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7yg05svXp98  

 

Here are the words to the song ..

 Miranda Lambert – Mama's Broken Heart

I cut my bangs with some rusty kitchen scissors
I screamed his name til the neighbors called the cops
I numbed the pain at the expense of my liver
Don't know what I did next all I know, I couldn't stop

Word got around to the barflies and the baptists
My mama's phone started ringin' off the hook
I can hear her now sayin' she ain't gonna have it
Don't matter how you feel, it only matters how you look

Go and fix your make up girl it's, just a break up run an'
Hide your crazy and start actin' like a lady 'cause I
Raised you better, gotta keep it together even when you fall apart,
But this ain't my mama's broken heart

I wish I could be just a little less dramatic like a,
Kennedy when Camelot went down in flames
Leave it to me to be holdin' the matches
When the fire trucks show up and there's nobody else to blame

Can't get revenge and keep a spotless reputation
Sometimes revenge is a choice you gotta make
My mama came from a softer generation
Where you get a grip and bite your lip just to save a little face

Go and fix your make up girl it's, just a break up run an'
Hide your crazy and start actin' like a lady 'cause I
Raised you better, gotta keep it together even when you fall apart,
But this ain't my mama's broken heart

Powder your nose, paint your toes line your lips and keep 'em closed
Cross your legs, dot your I's and never let 'em see you cry

Go and fix your make up girl it's, just a break up run an'
Hide your crazy and start actin' like a lady 'cause I
Raised you better, gotta keep it together even when you fall apart,
But this ain't my mama's broken heart

 My thoughts .... Donna Trexler Geertz

Dear Geoff:  thank you for encouraging me to write this even in view of my holding back from doing so .. ~~~!!  I still cannot believe we have known each other since 11 yrs old ... what history we have together, and what a friend you have been to me .. If you had not continued to encourage me to do so after our very late night conversation about this area of my life ... I would not have done so ......here goes..... 

The Mother in this song is ultra conservative, and cares more about reputation, how things look to others, and keeping appearances, than even her daughter’s own feelings.  She conducts herself at a high level of “perfection” and expects the same from her daughter.   The mama sermons her constantly about what she should and shouldn't do to keep herself and the family reputation to the point that the poor girl cannot even express her emotions when she feels like she is falling apart.
 
Instead of being the parent who accepts her daughter unconditionally, there are rules and regulations to that love to keep up appearances..  If you have everything in place .. then you are loved, together enough, thin enough, if your stockings have not even the smallest run, if everything in your room is in order, if you fold the towels correctly and the list goes on. There is constant badgering on what the person needs to do or not do to be accepted.  And in reality control is never satisfied, there are always more regulations and sets of standards to live up to.  It can be exhausting.  It is living under “law” and not “love”.  The letter of the law kills, but the spirit (love) gives life. (2 Corinthians 3:6).  God loved us when we were yet sinners/less than perfect.  He loved us and accepted us where we were at .. it is the whole story of the gospel.  No one could do what was in the law and God knew that.  The law was set in place for us to see that we could NOT meet the standards that were set.  That is why we needed a Savior , someone who was perfect to stand in our place .. Only true and perfect love accepts someone unconditionally.   

The girl SNAPS in the song after a break up with a man who probably left her for someone else.  It was the straw that causes her to explode with emotion and do an extreme thing .. by putting her ex’s house on fire .. The song is very excessive in her behavior, and in reality not the "Christian way" to handle matters.. But,  for her heart to be heard having to do with the prison she had been forced to be in after years of hiding frustrations, she explodes.  Actually her anger is more about her mother and what her mother had done to her over the years .. but the act of her ex somehow rejecting her or perhaps some of her shortcomings, or perhaps the feeling she was not accepted as she was, was enough to tilt the scale for her to lose it.

I began to see that the reason this song has gone viral and sold so tremendously well, and has been the topic of several well known TV talk programs, is because so many women can relate to this song. Although I believe the way this woman handled her “had enough”  was  way out of bounds, crazy.... I do feel it made the point of where she was and how frustrated she had become with having to do everything “right” in life.  This break up was just the thing that tipped the scales for her.  Well, actually what tipped the scales was the fact that her mother was more concerned that her daughter would bring shame to her by acting in a stupid way then acting like a caring mother who would be concerned about her daughter's feelings. Keeping up appearances is such a sad way to have to live. And expectations from parents, friends, and even our own children on how we should act in the midst of hurt can lead a person to close down. 

When I heard this song last night while writing down the words to send to a friend,  the words  >>>>> “and never let ‘em see you cry” … hit me hard in my spirit.  I called my friend Geoff in the midst of this revelation i was having and we talked for hours .... I was getting delivered! 

 I had known that I could cry for others and at sad movies etc .. but to cry for myself.. that just didn't happen very often at all.  The men in my life found that perplexing and could not figure out why that was.  I found it puzzling myself.  But, I realized from the song that was the way I was raised .. being told .. ” just get over it or you can get over this, “you don’t have to cry”.. you are made of strong stock, keep a stiff upper lips so to speak … I was held as a child if I fell and was comforted though, and could cry at sad movies or if it had to do with things like people who were sick or going through difficulties.  I could cry in church with things pertaining to God.  Then it was acceptable to cry.  I also felt that women used crying as a ploy and I really hated manipulation, and so that was another reason to keep my tears to myself.  Over the years I found it hard to cry even if I was alone.  So I learned to bury my emotions .. I was not even allowed to show anger or negative emotions when I grew up.  No temper tantrums, no stomping my feet, nothing.  So what does one do with their emotions when they can’t express their feelings???  They stuff them.  

I don't want you to get the wrong idea... i had amazing parents who truly loved and cared for me ... and I had an incredible childhood.... great friends, popularity ... etc .... but there was always those expectations of perfectionism and extraordinary behavior that was expected ... I call it the "Country Club Facade'"  ... I hated going to the County Club and having to wear certain shoes in different areas . no flip flops here ... no slacks there ... it was so confusing !!!  

Being controlled in ways by a parent who expects “perfection” in life is a very difficult way to live especially when one has been taught respect for elders and honoring, because one feels like they are caught in a web of not wanting to dishonor parents by speaking out, and yet feeling trapped.  They even begin to blame themselves for being angry in their mind about feeling controlled by someone who is overbearing.    It is not surprising that many “retreat” and backcrab to find a safe place to hid when they are feeling helpless.  Perhaps it is not even a parent’s expectations that can cause someone to hid when hurt.  Perhaps it is feelings of not accepting oneself or feeling not accepted by peers or teachers or other family members.  Feelings of unimportance, or popularity, or being included, or insecurities .. all these can prey on a person and cause them to retreat into a shell.  

That was not my case thank God .. I was popular and upbeat with a pollyannna attitude in life and hmmm the cup is half full and not empty type mindset.   

My late husband had all his natural needs met as a young person, but his emotional tank was  left wanting.  There was very little human touch or communication that was meaningful in his family, no one really was involved enough to get to know him and to train him in how to relate in this world .. He went to private school and felt lonely.  and so he retreated to what he called the “cave of self pity”.   Thank God when I met him he had overcome and was a strong self confident man .. popular and filled with purpose and direction.  

He said he spent much time waiting there for someone to rescue him when he was younger ... public display of affection was frowned upon in his family ... a gentle touch or smile or pat was the norm . and he so yearned for affection.  he finally came to the realization that the only one who cared enough to come to his aid was the Lord. Some people who are like this may even appear shy or retiring when all the time all they need is to feel welcome and received.  That wasnt the case with Bart, he became very outgoing and was involved in so many things, and excellent at all of them~ He made an inner vow that one day he would put his whole heart into being all he could be and that he would love the woman in his life with every fiber of his being.  He kept that promise with me !!! God is amazing how he turns things around!

So, what does such a person do to stand up for themselves when they feel out of control?  Some rebel.   They do something that nothing can be done about .. they smoke, drink, play hooky from school, , make poor friend choices, dress in a rebellious way, do drugs, eat too much, wear their hair in a bizarre way, have sex with many partners, steal from a candy store,  get involved with pornography,  do poorly in school, and the like.  Pick your poison.  They do something that they cannot be controlled with.  They do something to make them feel “pseudo” good about themselves.  It is a temporary “fix”. But, they feel they are at least doing something to take back a sense of “self”.  Do they get in trouble for such things at times?  Yes.. but they feel they have to do something to gain some sort of victory in their lives.  I am blessed that I did not take that route nor did Bart ... we were the original "goodie two shoes'!!  Except i did smoke .. thank God I was delivered from that or i know i would be dead today . three packs a day is poison... 

And so the cycle continues until they become old enough to not be under the parents thumb, mature enough to figure out their behavior is hurting no one but themselves or enlightened to the fact that they don’t have to walk in destructive conduct anymore.  The best thing is to come to the realization that no one is perfect except for God and to try to live up to impossible standards is ridiculous.  To just try to be the best that you can be in life is the ideal.  When one learns to accept themselves right where they are, and to love themselves sincerely in that place, then it becomes easy not to care or be swayed by what others think. 

Another way to come to a place of wholeness is to find a safe and secure place where one can express these hidden/stuffed feelings and get them out.  I found solise in a Christian Single's site after my husband died from a brain tumor in 2004.  I had done quite a bit of counseling with others before I joined this site and as I was "Sleepless in Florida" after my husband's death, the cha troom was a good place for me to express my feelings and sorrow as I was going through the process of losing my "best Friend" ... there were others who were going through the same things with death of a spouse or divorce so we had things in common.  There were those in the chat rooms who just listened and loved and others who were who I called the "religious Pharisee" set who would always be giving their words of advise on how one could live their life more perfectly as I call it or just give some glib scripture that we are to rejoice in all things .. or that we just needed to forgive God or ourselves .. etc... and then there were those who encouraged people to just be themselves and vent their feelings .. so the toxic thoughts and actions could be exposed and they could then heal. Such people helped others through the process of all the "WHYs" and "WHAT IF's"  in life  and all the unrealistic expectations.  A person who will not condemn or judge others as they go through this time is truly an example of "one who bears another's burdens, and I believe very pleasing to God. 

That is my prayer for all of us.. that we come to this place of surrendering all the "whys" that we hold on to and realize that we are free to be ourselves .. the best version of ourselves without feeling forced or pushed.   God gives us free will .. the freedom to choose life in all its great aspects .. He gives u the ability to let go of past hurts, unforgiveness,  blame and feelings of inadequacy.  Let's do it together .... I for one can say that I love you ALL unconditionally. 

With Love...

Reverend Donna Trexler Geertz

donnatrex@yahoo.com

A NEW BEGINNING ..HOPE

PUT YOUR HOPE IN GOD

A NEW BEGINNING

I heard many years ago that hope is the rope we hang on to when circumstances seem like they are drowning us in sorrow, despair, misery and desperation.  For me, when I am overwhelmed and feeling hopeless, it is a good time for me to rehearse my verses to the King and to remind myself that I am not alone… realizing others have gone before me with the same difficulties in life and that we have an advocate in the Father on our behalf, begins to build hope within me again.  Our economy and observing what is going on in the world recently is enough to drain hope in people.  When I begin to feel hopless, I need to remind myself that I needd to go to the ROCK (Jesus) who is higher than I.

We can lose hope in many areas of our life.  Health problems, being in constant pain, financial problems, relational difficulties, challenges working within the body of Christ, problems at our workplace, and just plain being overwhelmed by life.  Going to the word of God has a way of uplifting my spirits and puts things back into perspective for me.

I pray these scriptures are a blessing to you, I pray our God who is able will lift you up and out of your dire straits, and hold you close, breathing new hope within you.

When we have Jesus Christ in our hearts, we have reason to hope.  We are no longer far off from the promises of God and alone, but we are brought close to Him through His blood sacrifice for us.  How about this scripture: 

Eph 2:12-13  That at that time ye were without Christ, being aliens from the commonwealth of Israel, and strangers from the covenants of promise, having no hope, and without God in the world: But now in Christ Jesus ye who sometimes were far off are made nigh by the blood of Christ.

Our faith and hope need no longer be in other things including leaning on our own understanding.. we as believers have a reason to hope.  Jesus was raised up from the grave, so we have the promise God will also raise us up not only on the last day, but He will raise us up from all our difficulties and those things that trouble us.

Titus 1:2 Who by him do believe in God, that raised him up from the dead, and gave him glory; that your faith and hope might be in God.

For example: if we are unfairly condemned:  Our Jesus is forever interceding for us. These words should give us hope in times when the enemy and everyone else seems to be coming at us!

Romans 8:34  KJB
Who is he that condemneth? It is Christ that died, yea rather, that is risen again, who is even at the right hand of God, who also maketh intercession for us.

WOW!  We have access to His grace, and we can stand and rejoice and hope in His glory!!  And, not only that, but we can also rejoice in our hard times knowing that God is the midst of them is working beautiful characteristics in us, and we will not be ashamed. 

Romans 5: 2-5   By whom also we have access by faith into this grace wherein we stand, and rejoice in hope of the glory of God.3  And not only so, but we glory in tribulations also: knowing that tribulation worketh patience; 4  And patience, experience; and experience, hope: 5  And hope maketh not ashamed; because the love of God is shed abroad in our hearts by the Holy Ghost

Hallelujah! We have other men and women of God who have gone before us as examples of even hoping against hope believed .. and were rewarded for their faithfulness. 

Romans 4:18  Who against hope believed in hope, that he might become the father of many nations, according to that which was spoken, So shall thy seed be.

Our stronghold is JESUS, and I so long to turn to Him in every area of my life.  I so want to be a prisoner of hope. I fail miserably sometimes and miss the mark, but I do so love the promise that by doing so I will receive double blessing.  Lord, help us all to become prisoners of hope in Your Name. Amen

Zech 9:12  Turn you to the strong hold, ye prisoners of hope: even to day do I declare that I will render double unto thee;

Woooo hoooo!  Our own Lion of Judah will roar… and the heavens and earth shall shake, but it will not come nigh His people, He will fill us with hope and strength!  Glory!!!  Powerful words.                          

Joel 3:16  The LORD also shall roar out of Zion, and utter his voice from Jerusalem; and the heavens and the earth shall shake: but the LORD will be the hope of his people, and the strength of the children of Israel.

Awww.. this is one of my dearest friends favorite verses.. I love it too!  The valley of Achor was a place where God turned away His fierce anger and a memorial of stones was made for the people to remember. 

God is no longer angry with us, the blood of Jesus covers all those who come to Him in repentance.  He wants to give us the areas of productivity in our lives and to remind us and give us hope.  We shall sing, be youthful, as in the day when God delivered His people from bondage in Egypt.  We were all slaves to the enemy and in bondage and captivity until God parted the sea for us to go across unto the promised land of salvation.

Hosea 2:15 And I will give her her vineyards from thence, and the valley of Achor for a door of hope: and she shall sing there, as in the days of her youth, and as in the day when she came up out of the land of Egypt.

As a baby, little ones do fret until they have latched onto their mother for nurturing, sustenance, comfort, and love.  They had reason to hope because mother was consistently there for them.  That is how God is for us.  We have reason to hope in Him, because He has proved himself over and over, that He is there for us.

Psalm 22:9  But thou art he that took me out of the womb: thou didst make me hope when I was upon my mother's breasts

For those of us who have had the privilege of growing up in a Christian home, the blessing of being able to see God’s hand from a young age displayed through our parents, pastors, and other believers, is a rich heritage.  Learning to trust God from a young age is such a blessing, and instills strength for adult years.  For those of you who have not had this, I pray that God will restore those years for you and that God will instill within you supernatural hope.

Psalm 71:5 For thou art my hope, O Lord GOD: thou art my trust from my youth.

This is one of my very favorite verses.  I share it many times with those who are going through bouts of depression.  I am not a depressive type of person, however, everyone gets down at times.  At times when that would happen, my late husband, who was so funny and loving would take me to a place on the wall in the kitchen that he called his “anti-depression button”!!  He would press my finger on the imaginary button and say “there, now you can hope in God, all depression is depressed”!!!  This little comedy skit always made me laugh at myself and my own folly of not trusting in God, and it did help change my countenance!!

Psalm 425  Why art thou cast down, O my soul? and why art thou disquieted in me? hope thou in God: for I shall yet praise him for the help of his countenance.

What about these two?  We don’t have to buckle in the midst of trials.  We can be courageous no matter what we encounter in this life, for our hope is in the LORD!

Psalm 31:24 Be of good courage, and he shall strengthen your heart, all ye that hope in the LORD.

Psalm 33:18 Be of good courage, and he shall strengthen your heart, all ye that hope in the LORD.

God’s mercy is poured upon us according to the degree that we hope in the Lord.

Psalm 33:22  Let thy mercy, O LORD, be upon us, according as we hope in thee.

Hoping in God will cause a merry heart, our whole nature to rejoice and we will find rest in hoping in the Lord.

Psalm 16:9  Therefore my heart is glad, and my glory rejoiceth: my flesh also shall rest in hope.

May the Spirit that raised our Lord Jesus Christ from the dead "quicken" and bring to life everything within us that has been languishing, fading in hopelessness, ... everything that is weary in well doing....every fading ember of hopes and dreams planted in our hearts by the Lord....fill us with strength and might in our inner man...that out of our encouraged hearts our mouths will speak forth the prophetic proclamations and decrees of the Most High - so that NONE SHALL PERISH, but our HOPE is in JESUS CHRIST!

Psalm 38:15 For in thee, O LORD, do I hope: thou wilt hear, O Lord my God.

Expecting and anticipating great things in your life,

Donna/Donsie