Riverbank Ministries

02/21/2026

A Prayer for Joy

Heavenly Father,

Thank You for the gift of true joy — not the fleeting kind that depends on circumstances, but the deep, steady joy that comes from knowing You.

Thank You for the freedom Jesus secured for us through His sacrifice. Thank You for forgiveness given before we even knew to ask. Thank You that Your joy strengthens us when we are weary and steadies us when life feels uncertain.

Lord, anchor my heart in You.

When distractions try to steal my peace, draw me back. When hardship tempts me toward discouragement, remind me that Your joy is my strength. When I forget who I am, whisper again that I am Yours.

Use me as a vessel of Your joy.

Let my laughter reflect Your goodness.
Let my words carry hope.
Let my presence bring light.
Let my life point back to You.

May those who cross my path feel a little lighter, a little more seen, and a little more aware of Your love because of the joy You have placed within me.

In Jesus’ name,
Amen.

02/21/2026

How do you express your joy?

Is it a deep belly laugh?
A quiet smile?
A light in your eyes that tells a story without a single word?

This picture? That’s me — laughing with my sister and feeling pure, unfiltered joy.

But here’s what I know: that kind of joy doesn’t come from circumstances alone. It doesn’t come from everything going right or life being easy. It comes from something far deeper.

True joy comes from God.

It comes from the freedom Jesus gave us through His crucifixion and resurrection. Freedom from shame. Freedom from fear. Freedom from the crushing weight of trying to earn a love that was already given.

Because of Him, we are forgiven.
Because of Him, we are restored.
Because of Him, we are free.

Life still has its “shenanigans.” Hard days still come. Grief still visits. Disappointment still knocks.

But joy — real joy — is not the absence of hardship. It is the presence of Christ in the middle of it.

Scripture reminds us in Nehemiah 8:10:

“Do not grieve, for the joy of the Lord is your strength.”

Not our own joy.
Not manufactured happiness.
Not denial of reality.

The joy of the Lord.

That is what strengthens us when we feel weak. That is what steadies us when emotions rise and fall. That is what carries us when we cannot carry ourselves.

For me, joy is a state of being. It is what I cling to when life is life-ing. It is the quiet confidence that my heart rests in Him and that no circumstance can undo what Christ has already secured.

And this is my prayer:

Lord, use me.

Use my laughter.
Use my gentleness.
Use my leadership.
Use my imperfect humanity.

Let me be a vessel through which Your joy flows into others — not because I am always cheerful, but because I am anchored. Not because I am flawless, but because I am forgiven.

If someone leaves my presence feeling lighter… more hopeful… more seen… then that is His joy working through me.

And that is the kind of joy worth sharing. 💛

02/19/2026

From Advent to Easter: Holding Joy and Sorrow Together

My goodness… I do tend to go stretches without posting here, and for that I apologize.

As we begin 2026, I find myself reflecting on the rhythm of our church calendar. We have just walked through Advent — preparing our hearts and celebrating with great joy the coming of Christ. And now, only weeks later, we find ourselves in Lent, quietly watching and waiting as we move toward the Resurrection.

What a wide range of emotion in just a few short months.
Jubilation gives way to sorrow… which gives way again to jubilation.

But how do we reconcile that?
How do we truly hold both the celebration of His birth and the weight of His sacrifice?

Perhaps reconciliation begins in the quiet awareness of our own hearts.

When we look honestly at ourselves, we know we have fallen short. We know we have sinned. We have spoken when we should have been silent. Stayed silent when we should have spoken. Judged when we should have extended grace. Thought things we should not have thought.

God knows this.
He knows our hearts fully.

And yet — before we even think to ask — He offers forgiveness. He extends grace. Not because we deserve it, but because of the gift Jesus gave to all of us.

It is almost unimaginable.

I have three sons and many children my heart claims as “mine.” I know their goodness. I know their hearts. I know they would lay down their lives for those they love deeply.

But would I?
Would I lay down my life for those I do not know?
Would I willingly bear suffering for the sins of the world?

If I am honest, the answer is no.
And that does not make me less a Christian. It makes me human.

I am a woman who strives to love well. I carry forgiveness in my heart. I try daily to lead with grace, kindness, and joy. But I do not always love as Jesus loved. I do not always choose patience first. I do not always extend mercy before judgment.

And so I continue to grow.

What steadies me is this: I strive each day to be the daughter, mother, sister, friend, and leader God calls me to be — not because I am perfect, but because Christ was willing to lay down His life for me.

God’s grace covered me long before I was ever formed in my mother’s womb. He knew my story. He wrote every chapter, every page, every word. And He already knew my flaws, my missteps, and my shortcomings — yet He chose me anyway.

So as Easter approaches, I will remember.

I will remember His love.
His forgiveness.
His outstretched hand.

When I walk through the Stations of the Cross and feel my heart break once again, I will remember that His suffering was not the end of the story. Love was.

He offered that love freely, without reservation, so that we might live — not only in the promise of the Eternal Kingdom, but here on this earth — in joy, compassion, grace, and forgiveness.

And that is the reconciliation.

Happy Lent. Love to you all.
Lissa

01/26/2025

11/08/2024

Having a positive mindset is more than speaking positive things into your head all the time.

I have at least 34 reasons today is NOT going to be a good day but I'm CHOOSING something different. I will not let my frustration from so many different aspects of life change my mind. I"m reading a book that gave me some insight that it's not enough to speak positively and keep your eye on The Word but we must also actively change our mindset. (Which we knew) but it also gave me a great reminder that the conditions of the mind (where our mindset lives) doesn't just miraculously change when we choose to live a faithful llife. Conditions of the mind are completely different than the decisions we make. They must also be actively pursued. (Take a peek at Romans 12:2 "Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God's will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will")

In this chapter, we were given this reminder that the enemy will always fight harder for the renewal of your mind. He knows when you are able to turn your mind around, (change your mindset) his hold on your is loosened even more and further attempts and keeping you repressed are severely diminished. You must continue fighting, reading and immersing yourself in God's word. Study during the times when you feel that oppression even harder.

You know those time when things are going well? The kids are well, happy, thriving. Your marriage and other relationships are floating along smoothly. You're enjoying success in your business. And one day you wake up and all that is being tested. And sometimes it comes crashing down around you. When things get tough and our emotions aren't so happy, is when the enemy will swoop in and try to change your mind to feel differently about something you felt so good and passionate about just two days ago! He will needle you with it, push you into negative thinking, and the more you negative speak the more your mind will turn away from God and the positive.

Don't let the enemy take a hold of your mind during these times. STUDY. How? By simply opening the Bible and start reading. Ask God to show you words that will help you, strengthen you, speak to your heart and remind you of the words of Jeremiah 29:11, "For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the LORD, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future."

Get into a good Bible Study that will help you turn away from negativity.

Google "Bible lessons 'bible lessons to help me deal with _____' " (Fill in the blank for todays feeling...)

The point is, read the Word. Then sit in that. Ruminate. Let the words ring in your heart and mind. Think about it until you see the good things happening in your mind and then go out into the world with your newly transformed thoughts and mindset and exercise your opportunities to bring those thoughts to reality.

When negative speak comes to your thoughts, immediately work to turn that into something more positive. Actively choose positive words, positive thoughts, positive actions. You will be amazed at where this change of attitude will take you. And remind yourself, no matter the outcome of the situation, you always want to be positive and uplifting. It will do wonders for your relationship with your family, your friends, your co-workers and most importantly with you and God. The more positive you are with others the more you are conditioning your own mind for positivity!

Walk in love...

11/08/2024

Good morning friends! I have to share this with you as I found it to be an especially good analogy of why I go to church, why I feel the need or draw to attend church.

A facebook member by the name of Todd Hanna shared this. Please enjoy:

Why go to Church?

I think this is fantastic, I just love the guy's answer, and the interpretation for the word BIBLE. Enjoy and pass it on .

A Church goer wrote a letter to the editor of a newspaper and complained that it made no sense to go to church every Sunday.
He wrote: "I've gone for 30 years now, and in that time I have heard something like 3,000 sermons, but for the life of me, I can't remember a single one of them. So, I think I'm wasting my time, the preachers and priests are wasting theirs by giving sermons at all".

This started a real controversy in the "Letters to the Editor" column. Much to the delight of the editor, it went on for weeks until someone wrote this clincher:

"I've been married for 30 years now. In that time my wife has cooked some 32,000 meals. But, for the life of me, I cannot recall the entire menu for a single one of those meals.

But I do know this: They all nourished me and gave me the strength I needed to do my work. If my wife had not given me these meals, I would be physically dead today.

Likewise, if I had not gone to church for nourishment, I would be spiritually dead today!"

When you are DOWN to nothing, God is UP to something!
Faith sees the invisible, believes the incredible & receives the impossible!

Thank God for our physical and our spiritual nourishment!
IF YOU CANNOT SEE GOD IN ALL, YOU CANNOT SEE GOD AT ALL!

B I. B L. E. simply means:
Basic
Instructions
Before
Leaving
Earth!

When you are about to forward this to others, the devil will discourage you.

Forward as you see fit to all whom you love.
HALLELUJAH❤️🙏

09/11/2024

Of 9/11 George W Bush said, "“Time is passing. Yet, for the United States of America, there will be no forgetting September the 11th. We will remember every rescuer who died in honor. We will remember every family that lives in grief. We will remember the fire and ash, the last phone calls, the funerals of the children.”

9/11 wasn't about killing white people. It wasn't about killing black people. It wasn't about killing Christians, or Jews, or Muslims. It wasn't about killing men or women. It wasn't about killing heros. It wasn't about killing any particular race, ethnicity, religion, age, s*x or gender.

It was about hate.

We have got to remember that we are ONE race - the HUMAN race. We have got to learn to embrace the good, forgive the transgressions, learn to help encourage and empower PEOPLE not governments, not countries, not religions, not factions, not fanatics, not "only certain groups." It is about empowering, encouraging, uplifting PEOPLE. It is about recognizing the good things each one of us brings to the proverbial table. It is about celebrating differences in a healthy manner. It is about embracing differences with love.

It doesn't mean forgetting - it means forgiving. It's not easy. Letting go is hard and controversial and pollyanna. I know that. But until we learn to treat each other across the world with the same love we share with our loved ones or offer ourselves, with the same grace we offer our loved ones or ourselves, with the same compassion and empathy we offer our loved ones or ourselves, we will continue to perpatuate hate. And that will continue to perpetuate violence in all forms. That will continue to perpetuate division... and all that defeats the purpose of love.

As Christians, we all know the story of creation. God made Adam, then He created Eve from Adam's rib. We are ALL decendants of these two people and ONLY these two people. That makes us ONE FAMILY in His eyes. He created us all in His image and He doesn't make mistakes. Are we different? We have different cultures based on where we live, we may have different skin colors - also as a result of our heritage and lineage. We have different voices, eye colors, hair color all based on the same. We have adapted over time to our physical surroundings. And we can revel in the beauty of such a variety.

But those are external differences.... inside, we all bleed red. Our bodies were all created the same. Which means we all have the same ability to choose. We have the same ability to think, reason, decide and act.

What choices are you making that will affect others around you? Are you making good, sound choices based on the inherent gifts of God? How would you feel if God made decisions about you based on your choices? If you choose to exact evil on someone would you expect God to do that same thing to you? The whole do as i say not as i do rhetoric doesn't work..... It never has.

Deuteronomy 10:17 says, "For the LORD your God is God of gods and Lord of lords, the great God, mighty and awesome, who shows no partiality and accepts no bribes." While the intention of this verse is to explain the incomparable supremacy of God it also points to the fact that ONLY He has supremacy. We are all unequal to Him. Which means we are all the same and of the same favor. This emphasizes God is fair and shows the equity of God's judgment, no matter a person's social status, wealth, or influence. We are all equal...

If you believe in the supremacy of God, of the love of God, then you must do as He would have you do. If you believe in His love, His guidance, His creation, His compassion, His forgiveness, His gifts, then the same is true for you and for all your neighbors. Change MUST begin with you.

We will always remember... with tears and prayers that tomorrow will be different. That we will seize the opportunities in each day to love, to be kind, to be compassionate and to remember to be ONE.
9/11 is a reminder we don't always have tomorrow.

08/11/2024

Hello my friends! It has been a while! I hope life is treating you well.

I have had a couple people in my life whom I love deeply who are facing some mountains and I have been in prayer almost constantly. I thought I would offer some observations about self medicating...

We all seek ways to feel better, even if it's for a minute. For some, we go to Him in prayer. For some of us we vent to someone whom we love who loves us and is safe. For some we drink something, eat something, take something... There are ways that are healthy and ways that are not so healthy... I'd love to address the unhealthy for a minute because it's something that has touched my life in many ways and it nearly always has disastrous results.

Alcohol can and will numb your pain for a minute, but alcohol is a depressant and will also magnify it. And it will make you even more depressed and now not only do you have the same problem you had before but now you're poorer in your pocket because all that money has gone down the gullet. So it has magnified your trouble.

I know what I know. And here is something I know. I know God is working hard and devoting more time to you because I know you're taking your troubles to Him but I also know the enemy wants to grab you while you're drunk becuase his voice is what's louder when you do. The enemy is loving where you're sitting. He's like the pretend best friend who tells you all kinds of beautiful things to your face and seems to be uplifting and encouraging. The minute you have to turn in a different direction they are the first one with a foot out to trip you and laugh out loud because they did something that caused another person pain. And they keep doing it after they love bomb the hell out of you. Love bombing is straight from the enemy. You've probably been love bombed a time or two in your life and don't even realize it. Don't let the enemy love bomb you with alcohol or anything else.

Here is what I do know - for certain.

You are beautiful.
You are capable.
You are intelligent.
You are kind.
You are loving.
You are WORTHY.
You are CHOSEN.
You are a child of the Most High God.
Only God knows the plans He has to prosper you!
Only God can deliver us from the attempts of the enemy to thwart our growth and prosperity.
Only God can love us truly and thoroughly unconditionally because He is not of this world. He has no agenda and loving you and seeing you succeed does not further Him in any way. Your faith does not make Him better, bigger or more powerful to anyone BUT YOU.

But what can it do for you? It can help you move forward! It can help you find a life of love and gratitude. It can help you realize your dreams. It can help you rise above all the bs that is haunting you and bring you the prosperity in life and in business He has designed for you. Jeremiah 29:11 says, "For I know the plans I have for you" declares the Lord, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future" and Philippians 4:13 tells us "I can do all things through him who strengthens me."

Reminding yourself of these things, repeating these verses in your heart and head, can help you grow in His DESIGN for your life and not the diagnoses in your life becuase you are His Design your are not a diagnosis. And that makes you a masterpiece!

Proverbs 19:21 tells us "Many are the plans in the mind of a man, but it is the purpose of the Lord that will stand." While you are medicating you are masking His purpose. You are not silencing the enemy, you are simply covering up the good news that God is with you and ready to take on what ever task is at hand today - for you!

It is no mistake we found each other. I say to you you are truly one of the most loving and amazing people and are stronger than you give yourself credit for. But the one who needs to see and doesn't see that strength is you because you're worn out.

Lean in to Him. Be still and know! Let Him give you peace. It may not look like what you are thinnking it is supposed to look like so open your heart and listen for the new things He may be trying to tell you and what ever you do, when you feel that enemy start to talk too loud, tell him to go yell at someone else cause you're not listening and then stand in grace and faith. Look around you no matter where you are and see all the miracles of His creation. Recognize even the smallest thing for which you can be grateful. It is not the happy who are grateful but the grateful who are happy!

Matthew 5:3-12 is the Beatitudes. If you're unfamiliar, let me help you.

He said:

³ “Blessed are the poor in spirit,
for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
⁴ Blessed are those who mourn,
for they will be comforted.
⁵ Blessed are the meek,
for they will inherit the earth.
⁶ Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness,
for they will be filled.
⁷ Blessed are the merciful,
for they will be shown mercy.
⁸ Blessed are the pure in heart,
for they will see God.
⁹ Blessed are the peacemakers,
for they will be called children of God.
¹⁰ Blessed are those who are persecuted because of righteousness,
for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.”

¹¹ “Blessed are you when people insult you, persecute you and falsely say all kinds of evil against you because of me. 12 Rejoice and be glad, because great is your reward in heaven, for in the same way they persecuted the prophets who were before you.”

ʜᴏʟʏ ʙɪʙʟᴇ - ɴᴇᴡ ɪɴᴛᴇʀɴᴀᴛɪᴏɴᴀʟ ᴠᴇʀsɪᴏɴ

So read over that. Look at you! You are BLESSED! Great is your reward!

So when you are feeling beaten down, lonely, persecuted, exhausted, like you cannot catch a break, Lay it at His feet. AND LEAVE THEM THERE. He's equipped! Far better equipped than you and I. Let Him know you're tired and ask Him for the peace you need angel. He's got you.

I love you. Be blessed

09/03/2023

I know. You're exhausted. You feel like you've been treading water and swimming for what seems like forever. But you know what's happened while you've been swimming?

You're getting stronger and stronger. Where you couldn't make two laps in a pool, now you're swimming across veritable rivers.
You Are AMAZING!

There are two things that come to mind for me here:
Psalm 37:7: Be still before the LORD and wait patiently for him

Romans 8:28: And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose.

Never lose sight of the fact that God is always with you. While you're swimming, while you're struggling, He is working in your favor. Be still and be patient. Love God with all your heart and all your soul and all your might. Keep swimming and keep the faith.

Now, use all the strength and faith you've got and decide. Make a decision about what you can do that will give you Peace, Respite, Growth.

AND DO IT.

Because you've earned it, you're worth it and YOU CAN!

08/26/2023

Celebrate your cracks. You are a unique and beautiful creation.