LET EVERY HEART PREPARE HIM ROOM

MERRY CHRISTMAS!

LET EVERY HEART PREPARE HIM ROOM!!

Almost every year since I have come to know the Lord .. He has surprised me either on my birthday or afterwards with something special and unique.  He also has done the same for either me personally or when I was co-pastoring our church with my late husband..God would show me something to share with the congregation for Thanksgiving or Christmas or both.  Don't you think it is a hoot that every year for Christ's Birthday, He surprises ME with a gift??? !! Isn't that just like God ?? !! 

One year He caused me to look more closely into the meaning of Emmanuel, God WITH Us .... and what that truly means ... Emmanuel, our God is For us and not against us, He is with us and will not leave us or forsake us.... and so much more.   

Another year I heard the song "Be It Unto Me According to Your Word" (Done Moen) and it caused me to see how just as Mary,  when the word of God penetrates our heart .. our response is to walk in faith believing what God says is true until it comes to pass..  according to His promises .. we can stand secure.  So many of us are shaky in our walk and insecure because we do not know His promises or believe them.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VeOtm_Zs60s

 .. and He birthed a new desire to believe what His word said was true in a new way that year. 

A friend of mine asked:  Did you understand the new way? or did you birth it a new way?

I can't say I immediately understood the new way.. but what it did was cause a paradigm shift in my thinking that when we accept a new thought from God .. and allow it to be planted, if it is HIS word .. it will not return void .. but will accomplish that which it set out to do. 

Did I birth it in a new way my friend inquired?

Yes, I think I did .. I think I received a peace in knowing if God has planted it .. He will work it out.  Mary just had to receive the seed .. and believe .. and carry it even though she knew most people would reject the concept.. .. God did the rest..

A friend asked the following questions ... What did you learn? or perhaps understand?

I learned that we often times breeze over words to songs, what we read, the bible, God's still small voice, friends advise, and miss important things God is trying to speak to us.

and did you smile? and did you feel joy from within?

Yes, I did smile !! God does make me smile and laugh all the time, and He does bring great joy to my life always!!  I continue to stand in awe of the fact that He would even talk to me .. much less carry on conversations, and show me new and wonderous things.  He amazes me daily.  Did I feel joy from within.. yes for sure I did.. when God shows me a new revelation it is like something inside of my jumps for joy ...I at those time can't help but ponder how Mary must have felt when the Christ Child jumped inside of her who would bring forth fresh Revelation to the world...!!

He wants to birth in each of us many things.  visions, plans, hopes... great and mighty things that will take root, grow and be birthed within us, if we will but trust in the Lord and His promises.  He also showed me that Mary pondered ... she took the time to allow the wonder of the miracle of what was happening to her to germinate by faith.  As a sidelight the word ponder makes me think of how in today's day and age young married couples can find out almost immediately when they are going to have a baby and so many times cannot contain their excitement and share their happy news with everyone ... I have no problem with that .. but I do wonder if there is not perhaps something lost in losing that special couple time of pondering ...I wonder how many things have been aborted in my own life in my excitement of sharing what God has told me prematurely until it has had time to begin to mature.   My heart's desire is to never move ahead of God or lag behind.  I want to be "in the moment" of His perfect will .. being led by Him and enjoying every moment of the journey...

My favorite part of the song Be It Unto Me.. is:  "carve upon my heart the truth that sets me free" ...   wow I get chills every time I hear those words.. I so want the Lord's truths to be carved upon my heart.   It makes me think of when young people are in love and many times they will carve a heart on a tree and put their initials inside the heart .. when they go back many years later , the initials are still there.!!  Well, God loves us so much that He wants His love, truth and Initials carved upon our hearts forever!!

This year I was listening to the song  "Joy To the World"  ... and God spoke something to me that caused me to think.   As I was enjoying the song and listening to the words this phrase caught me and touched my heart deeply at which point I knew that was His word for me this year!! 

LET EVERY HEART PREPARE HIM ROOM

The first thing I thought about was the fact that Mary and Joseph were refused entrance to the Inn at Bethlehem..   The meaning of the word Bethlehem is "house of bread" .. isn't it interesting that the "Bread of life" was not welcome in that town?   How many of us have closed the room of the Inn of our hearts to Jesus?  How many of us have not welcomed Him with open arms?  

 Then God said to me "How many do you think have not prepared room in their hearts for me" ...????   I began to cry to think of the amount of people who will not accept God's love for them .. This world has become so callous towards God .. and I wonder sometimes if even a loofah sponge can scrape away the hardness of heart .. due to hurts, disappointments, bitterness etc...  I become frustrated at times knowing how many are missing out on the best thing in life.  The BREAD of LIFE.  ... He sustains us, is one that sticks closer than a brother, (I have never had a brother, so that opened up a whole new meaning when I read that scripture, and someone said to me recently, "I will be your brother"!! wow .. how precious!)  We so need God and we so need each other in this world. 

We can do "good things" in life .. have high morals, give to needy organizations .. but if we do not KNOW Him .. we are lost.  God is after our HEARTS, He longs for and yearns for personal one on one relationship with us.  My prayer this Christmas is that we will all take the time to prepare room for God in our hearts.  It is so simple... and yet so profound.  He makes life as a friend of mine said .. SO much easier.  We can go through life pushing a car around, or we can get into the car and let Him drive.. the choice is ours, and so many miss out on the ride of their lives!!

I was thinking that when a new baby comes .. most parents get excited about preparing a special room for their new bundle of joy.  Special time and care is taken in choosing just the right colors, patterns and pieces of furniture and items to make this baby experience love and acceptance.   But, what kind of preparation do we extend in our hearts towards the one who created us?  I so want to say to God .. "wash me clean ... and help me to remove all the unnecessary things that prevent me from making room for YOU." 

I am adding this thought from my friend.  He makes room in his own heart each Christmas by spending a time period Christmas Eve alone with God.  He shared with me that this is a very special time for him and his favorite Christmas song it Silent Night, God does some kind of miracle for him or within him during this time! How priceless.  


For my whole life Christmas was a time where my whole world was decorated with the Magic of Christmas ... My first late husband, Bart had a nickname from me "Mr. Christmas" as he would get so excited and LOVED everything about this season ... he even began preaching Christmas messages at Thanksgiving !!!   Our home was decorated in Christmas cheer in every room of our home even the bedspreads were Christmas .. bathroom, kitchen .. we had 10 trees of different sizes and shapes ... even one in the laundry room !!  Bart's train room upstairs had a tree too and our office was adorned too.   We always had a large Christmas party that people said they waited all year for too !!   My son had created a Yule Log video chock full of fantastic Christmas music that played the whole season .. in fact our fireplace was used on the cover of the video with our mantle filled with Biblical scene.  I had five different sets of Christmas china that we used from the day after Thanksgiving until the middle of January, my Spode being my favorite with painted Christmas tree scene .. our neighborhood even lit tiny tea lights along the road and our driveways Christmas Eve... and Bart loved all the fun Christmas recipes and meals we had.  We went to shows at Radio City Music Hall... and of course the tree at Rockefeller Center ... Macy's window on Fifth Avenue.. Saks and all the other stores .. Skating at Rockefeller Center ... FAO Schwartz, Tiffany's (by the way, after high school I worked upstairs for the vice pres of an advertising firm and used to love to spend many a lunch break at Tiffanys!)  We also went to St. Patrick's Cathedral, Holiday Concerts, carriage rides in Central Park... and had dinner several times at the top of the building where the towers fell. Our whole family LOVED Christmas!!  


We also had wonderful activities with the people in our church including a Christmas eve candlelight service with party after and  New Year's Eve service with communion at midnight and a fun party after... we went to the James Island Festival of lights which was beautiful and we all had hot chocolate and s'mores and made up Christmas shoe boxes filled with little gifts for the needy.. with salvation tracts... There was a time when we had women from Teen Challenge spend weekends at our home and for Christmas.  And of course always the Christmas party at the Nursing home for the elderly which they loved and Prison ministry...  But, after he died I somehow lost the "MAGIC" of Christmas.  I had no desire to decorate at all ... my new husband got a tree and decorated alone even buying new ornaments as I could not even use the ones that I had used for years.. .. which makes me feel really badly now, but I just could not get into it.  So, for nine years I lost the excitement of the season.

I never lost the "SPIRIT" of the meaning of Christmas ever I always celebrated Christ's birthday ... but the Magic was gone.   My friend from Oregon was decorating his tree for Christmas and said "listen to these songs" and began playing songs from the Trans Siberian Orchestra whom I had never heard of..   As he carefully played one song after another and shared his own stories along with the songs ... I began to cry and realize as he said "Darling, you have not lost Christmas, you have just lost the Magic" .. He has a very gentle and very deep way of ministering and I was set free that day ... It was such a special spiritual time for both of us together, as the Magic was rekindled in my heart and he found such joy in helping that happen. He gave me a gift that no one else could have done.  

The amazing thing is that many people only recognize God during holidays.. they don't realize that the precious baby that was born in a manger is now full grown and resurrected and sitting at the right hand of the Father .. and can live in us continually.   What an amazing concept ... God IN US and WITH US 24/7  All year long!!  Here is a quote from a friend:  my paraphrase .. "Some think Christmas is just a spirit filled season.  I am thinking it goes so far beyond that.  Folks feel joy and the spirit at this time of year, but what is so important is that they feel the spirit beyond Christmas."

I have asked God to expand my heart this year to accept all that He is and to make room for HIM in everything I do.  I want my heart to be filled with Him.. to be exuberant with the fact that the true JOY TO THE WORLD lives in my heart!!  People have asked me how it is that I have gone through the many losses I have encountered.  I can truthfully say that I have not done this alone.. there is a scripture "the joy of the Lord is our strength".   I have come to realize that it is the Lord's Joy.. not mine .. not joy as the world knows .. but a deep and abiding joy that does not move when circumstances do.  It is HIS joy IN us that strengthens us.    

JOY TO THE WORLD THE LORD IS COME ... LET EARTH RECEIVE HER KING .....!!!    MERRY CHRISTMAS ALL !!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=O5hj518Iugk   

JOY TO THE WORLD - Lyrics

Joy to the world! The Lord is come
Let earth receive her King!
Let every heart prepare Him room
And heaven and nature sing
And heaven and nature sing
And heaven, and heaven and nature sing

Joy to the world! the Savior reigns
Let men their songs employ
While fields and floods
Rocks, hills and plains
Repeat the sounding joy
Repeat the sounding joy
Repeat, repeat the sounding joy

No more let sin and sorrow grow
Nor thorns infest the ground
He comes to make
His blessings flow
Far as the curse is found
Far as the curse is found
Far as, far as the curse is found

He rules the world with truth and grace
And makes the nations prove
The glories of His righteousness
And wonders of his love
And wonders of his love
And wonders and wonders of his love

From my Heart to Yours,

Written by Rev. Donna Trexler Geertz

copyright  12/14/13

donnatrex@yahoo.com

Donna/Donsie

CHRISTMAS ... STOP AND SMELL THE PINE TREES!

  STOP TO SMELL THE PINE TREES!

Christmas is the busiest time of the year.  It is not surprising that we can easily lose the significance of the season with all the hustle and bustle of shopping for presents, socking suffers, food for the Holiday table, assorted  grab bag gifts for parties, office activities, and so much more. 

Years ago we had a Christmas party every year.  Everyone would bring hors d'oeuvres and we supplied the special Cranberry Holiday punch, Eggnog, Brandy Alexander, Grasshoppers and Irish Coffee... some of our guests arranged for group babysitters to be at several other homes, with Holiday activities for the children, as it was an adult only party. 

All of this was so much fun, and all of your friends looked so forward to it every year.  A friend of mine has a true Godly father from Scotland who came one year and he was amazed that we were all dressed up and having holiday punch and listening to music on one hand and the conversations on the other hand were intermingled with "Praise the Lord" and talk about God and His goodness ... he said he had never seen that before and he wanted to come to the party every year!!!!  ... 

And, oh that party was oh so fun ...but i think in many places we can allow the focus of all the frivolity take our focus away from the things that count.  I have been corresponding with a friend who reconnected with me.  He went to my church and also my High School.. we graduated together.  Doing this has stirred up many memories for me.  As we were emailing each other, he brought up something that made me think of my Christ Church days, and it then reminded me of a story, my mother relayed to me.  I shared it with our congregation years ago in a sermon and my conversation with my friend encouragement  sparked this blog post.  

When I was young, our pastor asked my mother to take over a Sunday School class of 6^th, 7^th, and 8^th grade boys who no other Sunday School teacher would take as they were distracting the class!  She agreed, as she could never refuse our pastor, even though she had her work cut out for her with this handful of active and a bit unruly boys. We lived close to the church, and so many Sunday mornings if the weather permitted, we would walk to church.  I loved this time with my mother.  I have always been a free spirit who has not much regard for time, except when I have been working ... but, I was about 8-10 at the time and was late most of the time, which just about drove my mother crazy as she was always early.  So this particular morning it was just the beginning of Spring and I was total enamored with all the new activity I was viewing in nature.  My favorite flowers are Spring flowers.  I have never been one who loves store bought flowers that much.  But, a handpicked bouquet with my favorite Spring flowers of Lilacs, Lily of the Valley, Violets, Forsythia, Tulips and such will cause me to squeal in delight!  I was thrilled to see some of my favorite flowers beginning to bloom on the way to chuch.. chipping delightedly to my Mother “Oh Mommy, look at the Forsythia bush starting to bloom, look at my favorite.. the hyacinth.. see the happy little daffodils, the pansies with their cute little faces, and the crocus?”   My mother however, being an “A type personality, with a get it done attitude” had getting to church on time on her mind, wanting to set a good example for her "boys",  and urged me strongly to hurry along.  My heart was to drink in the beauty I was seeing and to stop and smell the flowers, but I obediently obeyed my mother.

Little did I know our pastor, Dr. Ackerman who everyone loved would be giving a sermon that morning on “Stopping to smell the Roses”.  He explained about the importance of majoring on the major things in life and minoring on the minors.  He said many times we get so caught up in the have to’s of life that we forget about stopping along the way to enjoy life and what God has placed in front of us to enjoy!  My mother turned to me with tears in her eyes mouthing the words “I’m sorry”.   

As an adult, I realize there is a need for both getting things done decently and in order, but there also needs to be time taken along the way to stop and smell the roses.

Christmas time is one of those times we can somehow get so caught up with all the details of what has to be done and forget the major thing, which is to celebrate the anniversary of Jesus’ Birth….   I love watching music and movie shows on TV that stir the Christmas Spirit.  I want to enjoy every manger scene at every church I pass.. I want to stop and smell the invigorating scent of pine from our tree, I want to drink in the beauty of the poinsettia plants, and the holly.  I want to read the story of the birth of Christ to my granddaughter..  I want to remember kissing my husbands and family members under the mistletoe too!! 

With so many traditions being taken away from Americans today having to do with Christ and Christmas, it is important that believers do whatever they can in my opinion to keep it alive.  In the endeavor to “not offend anyone” we are offending God in major ways.  Our nation was founded with Christian values and beliefs, and yet today Christ is being pushed out of everything, even the word Christmas is being changed to Holiday.  Don’t you think we as a nation have become more like the frog in the kettle? 

The Holy Spirit is a gentleman and will not stay where He is not invited.  If the restrainer (God) is taken away, we will be in dire straits.  This is happening right before our very eyes, and yet many just sit in the kettle like the frog while the heat is being turned up.. and we don’t even have the sense to jump out of the kettle.  

I believe what is restraining men/women today is biblical morality knit to the human conscience – eternity has been written on the heart of every man/woman, and yet many make up excuses in their own hearts and minds to reject it and the one who has made it possible.  As men and women continue to suppress the truth, or try to justify things such as abortion, their conscience becomes more and more seared and they will throw off the “bonds” of biblical morality.  As the conscience erodes, man will continue to change their own laws to reflect what is alive in their demented conscience.  They will have exchanged truth for  lies, and will mock those who are trying to follow the ways of the bible.  They will defend, rationalize and validate their immoral views and pat themselves on the back for doing so.  Okay.. so now I am done preaching!!! 

My 16 year old grandson is here visiting us this week unexpectedly with my son.  I am delighted to have them both here, but it has been anything but the perfect timing for my husband and me.  We have so much to do with our business with the Christmas Holiday just starting, our bank account is about nil at the moment so it will limit our ability to enter into some of the activities we would like to take them to.  On top of all this my son brought food for a Christmas Dinner complete with Turkey and Ham.  I ended up cooking the dinner which I loved doing, but it really cut into my already busy schedule.  I wouldn’t trade doing this for the world, but on the other hand.. not the best timing! I was lamenting to my husband about how much I would like to be doing more, and his comment was “honey we will do what we can do… how about an old fashioned Christmas where the important thing is being together”?  such wisdom

How true. The IMPORTANT thing is being together.  I have taken his advice and we have been enjoying this unexpected time with my son and grandson.  Talking and laughing together…  tonight we plan to go to a place nearby that sells all kinds of chocolate and has a Christmas Village set up.  After that, we are looking forward to A Christmas Boat Parade at the inlet with boats all decorated with Christmas lights, and my youngest son and his family may attend.  This year is not bedecked on the grandiose scale of Christmas shows .. dinners at special restaurants and lavish gifts of previous years, but that is okay.  This year I am going to try to focus on what is important… The Reason for the season... unto US a gift has been given , my family, my friends, and giving to those who have been forgotten in life.  I want to actively seek even more so those who have a need I can meet.

My prayer for you is that the bells of Christmas will ring loudly in your heart this year awakening you spirit and proclaiming over and over that God loves you SOOO SOOOO much... He was born so you may live a fantastic life filled with wonder all year long!  Please take time this year to stop and smell the pine trees or whatever makes you recall and rekindle all that Christmas encompasses, but please get alone somewhere so you can reflect on the greatest of gifts, remembering the very greatest gift we can give to God is our heart.

I want to take time to smell the roses this Christmas and to be thankful  for the greatest of Gifts…

O’ Come Let Us Adore Him .. Christ the Lord

Christmas Blessings...

Written by: Donsie  12/3/11

STORY OF THE CANDY CANE

The LEGEND of the Candy Cane

A Candymaker in Indiana wanted to make a candy that would help us remember who Christmas is really about. So he made a Christmas Candy Cane. He incorporated several symbols for the birth, ministry, and death of Jesus Christ.

He began with a stick of pure white, hard candy. White to symbolize the virgin birth and sinless nature of Jesus. Hard candy to symbolize the solid rock, the foundation of the Church, and firmness of the promises of God.

The candymaker made the candy in the form of a "J" to represent the name of Jesus. It also represented the staff of the "Good Shepherd".

The candymaker then included “red stripes”.  He used three small stripes and a large red stripe to represent the suffering Christ at the end of His life.

The candy became known as the “Candy Cane”- a decoration seen at Christmas time.  The meaning has faded, but still brings joy to children young and old whom Jesus treasures.

THE HEART OF CHRISTMAS IS LOVE

THE HEART OF CHRISTMAS

The heart of Christmas is LOVE

The LOVE Jesus gives us to share with others

The LOVE that makes each of us special to Him

The heart of Christmas is JOY

The JOY we receive through His grace

the expectant JOY that carries us into a New Year

The Heart of Christmas is PEACE

the peace that comes from knowing Jesus

the blessed assurance that comes from

placing our lives in His hands

MAY THE HEART OF CHRISTMAS

THE LOVE OF JESUS ,

THE JOY OF GRACE

AND THE PEACE OF GOD

BE YOURS NOW AND THROUGHOUT

THE COMING YEAR...

HAVE A BLESSED CHRISTMAS

(John 10:10) ..."I come that they might have LIFE, and that they might have it more ABUNDANTLY "            



With One breathe from Heaven

LOVE was born and 

Peace made a home in our Hearts

Praying you'll be blessed with the Peace of God's

Love and the JOY of Christ's birth   (Phil 4:7)

Written by Donsie 

OUR SAVIOR IS HERE!

 

OUR SAVIOR IS HERE

A MERRY TIME OF YEAR!

A Time for celebrating the Reason for the Season
Proclaiming Peace on Earth, Goodwill towards men.

Preparations planned with care, eggnog, crisp cold air
hot chocolate, mittens and snowflakes everywhere!

Sugarplum fairies dancing in children's heads,
everyone dressed in Green and Reds

Trees decorated with tinsel and bright lights,
chestnuts, wonderland nights, and festive holiday sights

Angels and stars to crown it's splendor,
family times so warm and tender

Packages wrapped with love in shiny bows,
anticipation and Joy from head to toes!

Holiday parties, Christmas recipe delights,
mistletoe and candlelights

Believers gathering within the church,
singing hymns about His birth.

What a memorable and meaningful time of year...

MAY ALL CREATION SING OUR SAVIOR IS HERE!

donsiesdialongs 2011

donnatrex@yahoo.com

CHRISTMAS LETTER 1995 BE IT UNTO ME ACCORDING TO YOUR WORD

BE IT UNTO ME ACCORDING TO THY WORD

"For with God Nothing Shall be Impossible".  (Luke 1:37)

Dear Friends:

We are sending our Christmas letter a little late as we have been preoccupied with some situations that have required our attention.  My mother, who will be 90 in a few days, moved here in July... and has had two unfortunate falls recently, confining her to the hospital over Christmas.   We are now in the process of working out plans to re-pack and distribute her belongings, close out her new apartment that we just unpacked and get her settled in after staying with us at our home.  Now her health is in such a place due to the broken hip that we must place her in a Nursing Home.  In the midst of ALL this, we have been involved in preparing for our Christmas and New Year's Services.  Working outside the church to supplement our income, has helped make it a very busy Holiday Season!  Donna's Dad broke his hip requiring three operations and is also in the last stages of Parkinson's.. so there have been several trips to Florida to be with him and her Mom,  ... who, as primary caretaker, is becoming weary.  She is such a beautiful example of servanthood, never complaining and always encouraging us..we pray for God's will and grace.

We were blessed to have Chip, Suzanne, Colin and their new addition... Brandon, (born on Donna's birthday!) come visit for Thanksgiving vacation. They live in Florida. We had a wonderful time of fellowship and sharing with them...

Todd, our youngest son, came up from Tampa for Christmas college break. He bought a beautiful Rust colored Lab puppy while he was here, with a great temperment, just like Todd!  He is going through a painful breakup and so our hearts have been breaking for him.  He has strong character, so we know in time and some healing he will be fine.

Mark, Michelle, and Mandy (our ONLY girl grandchild!) are all doing well in New York.  Marty, Keri and Jeshua have a new addition to their family also, his name is Zachary.  At present, we thank God for 5 beautiful grandchildren .  Marty and Keri's house burned to the ground with all their belongings, while they were away in Vermont just before Christmas.  They are trusting in the Lord, believing that God will turn this into something good, we are believing also. 

Many of you have requested that we write and tell you what God is doing in our lives as pastors of Heart To Heart....and why it's difficult to reach us, so we'll try to fill you in.... Our church has been in a wonderful time of bonding, molding, and shaping, causing us to be tied with cords of love..as we watch His hand form a Core Group that is focused on HIM.  As a body of believers, we are very close, and knitted together. We have been teaching a series on "Renewing the Mind" and fruit is starting to coming forth.  All in all, it has been a year of growth, change, and stretching.  The precious Holy Spirit has moved mightily and powerfully in our midst to bring much repentance, joy, laughter, and deliverance.  The presence of the Lord has so inhabited our Praise and Worship time, that we have been barely able to stand during many services, Glory to God!  Prophecy has been flowing powerfully from the congregation, as God speaks forth His words of encouragement and direction.  Donna and I continue to serve as clergy on Kairos teams, and other

Prison Ministry functions, as well as our own church ministering together as a team periodically.  What a privilege to serve God in this capacity. I believe the reason we are seeing fruit is because we have purposed in our hearts to love God with our whole hearts and to seek Him and press in for a deeper relationship.

Counseling, as always, continues to require vast amounts of our time, patience and love.  This year, we completed a twenty page Life History Questionnaire, and a ten page Spiritual Walk Questionnaire, to be filled out and returned at least one week prior to counseling.  Our appointments have been booked two months in advance, and even more at times.  God is asking those coming to be willing for change, to be honest with God and themselves, ready to remove all the masks and get REAL.  He is calling for true repentance, and a desire for holiness.  But, none of this will happen unless we are open to His healing love and being open to His healing. 

Those coming are getting set free by God’s grace, (especially Pastors and leaders who have been held captive in bondages for many years)! Hallelujah!  It is so amazing to watch God work.. it is so easy and light when He ordains it, all we need do is yield to Him.  God is looking for relationship.  Everything comes out of that one things.  Loving God. We are also in the beginning stages of preparing a 21 week series, called "Solid Rock", a foundational study in three parts... of 7 teachings each.  

We had the opportunity to preach and minister at many churches in our area this past year, seeing God move in Signs and Wonders, and dramatically change lives causes our hearts to rejoice exceedingly.  The closer I become to the Lord, the more I realize that all I want to be is a lover of God and people.   We have been invited to give our Weekend Marriage Seminar again... ..this time in Georgia.  Both Donna and I are in the embryo stages of several books that God has prompted us to write too.  One of the books Donna hopes to write is on Spiritual Mapping and Intercession.

Let us incline our ear to what the Lord is revealing in this fresh outpouring of His Holy Spirit.  As the challenges for believers in Christ Jesus increases more and more, let us be ever mindful that His abundant Grace increases more and more also to spur us on to do His will and fullfill His unique calling on each one of our lives. God has impressed upon our hearts this year again..that His FAITHFULNESS knows no limits.  May we allow Him to fill us more and more with His FAITH this coming year, so that we may be found FAITHFUL to Him, FULL OF FAITH.  Praise His Holy Name...He reigns victorious in ALL our situations!   

The word He gave us prophetically for this Season, and as a directive for the New Year is.. "Be it unto Me according to thy Word" (Luke 1:38).  We pray you will receive it into YOUR spirits as well.  May He carve upon each one of our hearts the truth that sets us free as we endeavor to trust and serve HIM in unity of purpose and vision.  May God bless you and keep you now and in the upcoming New Year.

Remembering Friends Like You,    

Bart & Donna Trexler 

written 12/28/95

Don Moen ~ Rivers of Joy CD

BE IT UNTO ME

Be it unto me
According to your Word
According to your promises
I can stand secure
Carve upon my heart
The truth that sets me free
According to your Word O Lord
Be it unto me

You promised your word will deliver
Lord, we believe it's true
You promised us joy like a river
Lord we receive it from you
These things you have spoken
And you're bringing to pass
This world's disappearing
But your word will last

Chorus

You promised to carry our sorrows
Lord, we believe it's true
You promised unending tomorrows
Lord we receive them from you
These things you have spoken
And you're bringing to pass
This world's disappearing
But your word will last

Refrain

CHRISTMAS LETTER 2003 MY MOTHER AND HUSBAND'S LAST CHRISTMAS

MY LATE MOTHER DOROTHY BOYCE WITH MY SON TODD KORKER .. HER LAST CHRISTMAS 2003

MY LATE HUSBAND BART CHRISTMAS 2003 HIS LAST CHRISTMAS

PS ….. THIS IS WRITTEN DEC 3, 2009…. As I reread this letter, I realized it was Bart’s last christmas and New Year and my mother’s too.  Whew .. what emotions were stirred up.   My mother went to be with the Lord March 12, 2004… and my husband died Dec 4, 2004 ..from a brain tumor nine months later.. Our times are certainly in God’s hands. God allowed me to have a special Christmas and New Year with both of them.  My life has changed dramatically since that time.  I am now  living in Florida and happily remarried by God’s grace to a wonderful, Godly man named Joe...we married October 17, 2007 almost three years after Bart's passing away.

The will of God will not take you were the Grace of God cannot keep you.

Hi Friends and Family!  Christmas Letter 2003

We just got home from a long time away.    We had a blessed time with Mom at the Christmas show that was given by the Nursing Home she is living at.  She had fun opening some of her gifts and it brought her some joy.  She is in the dementia wing and she has been failing.  She doesn't have much memory and it is difficult for the family who loves her so much seeing her go downhill.  I see her almost every day and Bart sees her twice a week when we take her out to dinner, and we have a woman who comes over once a week to be with her or take her out also.  It was great that some of the family came to visit over several weeks during Thanksgiving as that brought happiness into her life.  She is losing interest more and more, I bring over old pictures of the children when they were younger and more recent ones and she never ceases to not become bored with them!!  She just tells me the story over and over again .. like “Oh that is Dad with Chip and Todd fishing at Cape Cod” or the like! 

Bart and I left a week ago Thursday and drove up to Charlotte to do some shopping and to stop at some toy train store stops.. There is an awesome Mall in Charlotte and one of my favorite restaurants.. the Village Tavern that we usually go to while in Winston Salem once a year right around the Thanksgiving holiday when it is all decorated for Christmas, but we tried the one in Charlotte.. it was all decorated for Christmas and so festive!! This restaurant is kind of our pre- Christmas place and it is so much fun, it is like our own little secret romantic place.

The next day we went to Cannon Village/Kannapolis where Bart purchased two pieces of Fontanini for me for Christmas that I am crazy about... one is the Carpenter shop and it reminds me of Jesus being a carpenter and my darling Bart was one too...so it reminds me of my TWO loves!!  Also, he bought me the Jewish wedding Hoopa and the bride and groom.. which reminds me of the bride of Christ and that He is coming for us.. precious ones.. our Bridegroom cometh!!! When he gave it to me he told me he would marry me all over again, what a man. Last year he bought me the tower with the girl holding the lamp and the person on the top of the tower on the lookout (the intercessor!)...  He also bought a woman with grapes which makes me think about Father God being our vinedresser... (In the book "Secrets of the Vine"... in one of the paragraphs it says that when a cluster of grapes falls and would otherwise be discarded, the vinedresser, picks it up, washes it off and then props it up again on the vine so it can flourish.. what a picture of God's love for us in our fallen state!!  I have them up almost the whole year, as I can't seem to part with them after Christmas.. so they have become part of our decor!!!  Bart loves them I think even more than I do!!

We then drove to and then to Burlington, N.C to a great Italian restaurant that my nephew Court, and his wife Stephanie had taken us to a few years ago, and then to Raleigh on Sunday for a toy train show.  Bart’s eyes light up just like a little boy at these shows and he wants to tell me about all that he knows about the trains, where they came from etc.  It is so cute.

After that we drove home,  Sunday night, unpacked, did wash, repacked and were off again the next day.  We stopped off to have Christmas with my Mom before we left and had a fun visit with her and she opened the rest of her gifts from us.  Every moment with her is precious, we do have our times which as she progresses in this dementia gets worse and emotionally I have a very hard time and so does Bart, but I love her more than words can say and she knows that. We then drove to Jacksonville, Florida to visit first Chip and his family, as it was Suzanne's year for her family and they all live in the Jacksonville area.. we stayed overnight in a motel that Chip  arranged for us and they had a room down the hall with the children. we had a great time with them and stayed up late talking until after 2:30 AM!  The next day was Suzanne's birthday.

Then, we drove to Todd's and he and CJ had the best Christmas present I have ever gotten in my life... CJ is pregnant!!!

We are beyond ECSTATIC as you know the chances were only a miracle from God that this would EVER happen and so we are dancing the Hallelujah!!!!   Todd is the son who had cancer and all of you had been praying for...Please pray now for a HEALTHY baby in early August!!!!  We had a great time staying with them and a wonderful celebration dinner at a great Italian restaurant. Todd was in such shock when he heard the news, his knees buckled and he fell on the floor thanking God!!!. We stayed up until after 4 AM talking! What a miracle gift!

Next day we drove to my nephew Tommy and his wife Jackie, went to a great Christmas Eve party with them, they have wonderful friends, and spent Christmas with them.  Christmas day they had a large get together with about 50 people all catered.. we really had a blessed time with them, they are so special to us.

The next day we drove to Port St. Lucie to stay overnight with my sister Gwen and her new husband Bob.  We shared gifts and then went out to dinner.  Bob and Gwen and Bob's Mom had gone over to Bob's family in Naples for Christmas and had a really nice time.

We then drove north to St. Augustine Florida and met Chip, Suzanne and the children and had a ball .. they took us to a great restaurant and I had crab legs.. then to all the shops that night in St Augustine it is a wonderful and fun place to go.. we topped off the evening by going on a train ride all through the city that played Christmas songs.  We bought some really good Italian food back to our motel rooms and had such fun.. had breakfast together and then home ..... what a great Christmas!!

We wanted to take mother out to dinner tonight for an early New Year's, but she was not feeling up to it, so we will try for breakfast or lunch tomorrow and have our New Year's with her and we are planning to stay home tomorrow night or perhaps to a local church service. 

God is SO GOOD... Bart has been as always a darling,  my best friend and so helpful and supportive... As we are now approaching our 29th anniversary the middle of January, I am becoming more and more aware daily of the amazing gift God has given me... my precious husband.  Bart says our marriage was made in heaven and I must agree with him! He grows dearer and dearer to me every day and I am so grateful for him.. I believe this is MY season, it is like I am holding on to each moment and treasuring all that God has given me.   

Dearest friends and family, as this New Year approaches... I pray God's blessings upon you, may you truly experience a New Beginning this coming year .. may it be filled with expectancy and may God's grace be upon you.  

You are loved 

xoxo Donna 

Happy New Year!!

We took mom out to dinner tonight to Hops .. she has such a hard time, Todd had made up a build a bear just for her with a recorder in it and a message from him.. we gave it to her tonight.  after we gave it to her, we called Todd and Todd told her the news about he and CJ having a baby.. she was happy for them, but didn't remember that Todd had had cancer.  She has such minute interest in anything and can't remember people, times, places etc, but she remembers the grandchildren and immediate family members and some of her friends...  not always by name.  she is in her own little world and it makes it hard to deal with for me to accept where she is at. 

She has no interest in her appearance, taking baths, doesn't want to wash or do her hair etc.. and that was so totally unlike her.  She was always so immaculate and caring about her appearance.  She has a hard time eating and so we cut and feed her as she misses her mouth.  We are there to take her out toe eat twice a week which she loves and a women who comes in once a week, but we are going to move that up to twice a week.  She badly needs a haircut, but she keeps refusing to have anything done, even if I go with her.  It is becoming exceedingly more difficult to take her out at all because she is like a rag doll in the wheel chair and it takes all of Bart's strength to lift her in and out of the wheel chair, but she does love getting out and she loves to eat out too, so it is worth it.

However, she loved the bear and kept asking Bart and I to press the button so Todd could sing to her!! she thought he was IN the bear singing!!   That was the most excited we have seen her since the family was here at Thanksgiving.  We did have a good time with her tonight.  She keeps kissing our hands and telling us how much she loves us.. it is precious.. Just wish her quality of life was better.  She knows she is loved, adored and honored that is what is important.  She just adores Bart it amazes me the love they have for one another.  I have been so blessed to have a husband who cares for my mother and puts himself out to the extent he does for her.

Tonight after dinner, we cleaned her room, took down the Christmas tree and her cards and put Todd's bear in the room on her end table and brought over some clothes I had washed for her.   

Last night was New Year's Eve and we mostly stay home, we have had many church services here on New Year’s in years past, and thought of even going to church, but decided we love each others company so much, that we would do our family New Year…I make the traditional things Mom used to make every New Year's Eve... fondue, stuffed mushrooms, clam and onion dip and chips, Mom's shrimp marinara, Swedish meatballs and champagne!  We tried to pick up mom the night before, but they said she had had a bad day and wanted to go to bed early.. and she was not feeling well to take her here for New Year's Eve, so we spoke to her and told her we loved her and she said we needed to come next year and she would have champagne with us!  Bart said to me each year he loves me more and that he has loved our life together!  How can anyone ask for more? 

We got so interested in watching the story of John in the book of Revelation (the Apocalypse) on the Christian television network and then 30 years of music show on ETV and the ball going down that the night flew by.   we decided not to have the champagne until another night when Mom can be with us here as we are concerned she won’t be here with us next year.

Well, have to get up early tomorrow morning.. as I am going in for some blood tests as I am hoping to be part of a group that studies people who have diabetes.  I did so well over the Holidays by God's grace... 

Anyway.. may you all be blessed with the most wonderful New Year.. my girlfriend heard the Lord say  "An open Door in 2004".. may we all walk through the doors God has for us and find that this coming year will bring us closer to Him and His ways.    

xoxo Donna

From Our Heart To Yours ...
Rev's. Bart & Donna Trexler
donnatrec@yahoo.com