Yesterday, Today, Forever-

God is working everywhere, We just need to join him there! His love extends to everyone! There is so much to be done. Often where we see a life, Full of darkness, anger, strife, Where we’d stay away in fear, Jesus enters and draws near. As we roll our eyes in scorn, Over one messed up, forlorn, Jesus calls him to repent, For it is to those He’s sent. Where we toss someone away, Won’t give them the time of day, Jesus builds a bridge of love From the Father up above. Jesus lifts a heart that’s weary, Dries the eyes of one who’s teary, Intercedes for all His own, Brings them to the Father’s throne. He wants us to show His Grace Loving all the human race! He wants you to be His Hands, Loving here or distant lands! There is so much to be done, Here and there for everyone. Yes, He’s working everywhere! Thank you that you’ve joined Him here! Karin Ristau Read three years ago as a THANK YOU for our volunteer clergy where I work.

SPRING IS ALMOST HERE! HAVE A LOOK AT THE DEER IN THE  BACK YARD! Showed this picture that I received in an E-mail last year and it made me laugh!! Someone took this photo though and I do wonder where!

Taken 2007 - I think it's time to take another family photo It’s Family Day up here! Thanking God for family who went before to those to whom we will pass the torch! Each person has their unique spot in our hearts and left a unique imprint on our lives. OK, the imprint from one or another may have been painful but God turned it for my good! “The family. We were a strange little band of characters trudging through life sharing diseases and toothpaste, coveting one another's desserts, hiding shampoo, borrowing money, locking each other out of our rooms, inflicting pain and kissing to heal it in the same instant, loving, laughing, defending, and trying to figure out the common thread that bound us all together.” -Erma Bombeck My family of origin – dad and mom are already in the Presence of the Lord! A storehouse of memories growing up with my younger brother and sister, leaving our dear Opa and Oma and many uncles and aunts and cousins in the old country – Germany - to join t...

Thank you Father That you see into the innermost recesses of our hearts and still love us. Why do people fear to be vulnerable with each other? Especially in the Family of God there should be such transparency so that you can instantly use us to minister to each other’s need. We all have needs. We are all flawed. No one has achieved perfection or even a level of maturity that does not struggle with one issue or another. You want us to be a source of encouragement to each other. How can we be that if we will not allow the other one to see our heart? Father help us to deal with each other with gentleness kindness, patience, and understanding which comes from having experienced your help first-hand in our all our own trying circumstances. You are always there for us. Let us be the catalyst through which you affect the needed transformation. Let us hold each others heart with the utmost of care and tender pure love. Let us care more for the others needs than our own....

  I'll be shopping for more than just fish!   Have a great day everyone and enjoy your week-end.   We have Family Day on Monday!   God bless all families!

Painting by Gustav Semler Shepherd of Love! If I could speak in thousand tongues And had the gift of prophecy, If I could move the greatest mount And understood all mystery, But had not love to show the world How meaningless my life would be. If I gave all that I posses And gave my body to be burned; If I had knowledge of all things, All wisdom of this world had learned, But had not love to show my friend, Then I would be an empty shell. Love show it's patient, kind and true. Love is not rude, it does not boast. Love keeps not score, is not puffed up Love always trusts and always hopes. Now there is Faith and Hope and Love, Love is the greatest of all three. Now there is Faith and Hope and Love, Lord let the world see Love in me. Lord let my friends see Christ in me! Karin Ristau  Based on 1. Corinthians 13

Just a photo of what I'm hoping for soon! Up here it will probably be another 4 months, lol! Betsy, over at Joyful Reflections, is asking an interesting question today on her new post - Let's Talk Fridays . Rather than write her such a long comment, I decided to add my thoughts to the conversation on my own post.   One of my favorite life verses is  "Be joyful always; pray continually; give thanks in all circumstances,  for this is GOD'S WILL for you." Seems to me, however, that those who whine, spew negativity and complain a lot are hurting, angry people. Perhaps they have experienced unparalleled trauma, are in chronic pain or have one setback after another. What if those things were happening to me and I became weepy, whiny or always wistful? How would I want to be treated? I’m going to share with you something my son said quite a while back when we were discussing this topic of how to deal with negative folks.   “People who are hurt and depresse...

Our freebie table in the basement lobby! It’s a place where the tenants of our building can place things that they don’t need, that someone else may still enjoy. First come, first gone. I’ve put so much on there already, but the other day I found a beautiful, strong, sturdy box which I’m sure one of my girls will love to have. Isn’t it lovely?  I've seen folks take a grocery cart full of stuff,  put it in their storage unit   and I think in the spring they host a garage sale at their son's place. A favorite chorus: “Freely, freely, you have received.  Freely, freely give.    Go in my Name and because you believe,  others will know that I live.” Oldest granddaughter turning 16! Lots of family fun going for lunch and sharing a big birthday cake in the evening! Way back in the day I thought 50 was young to be a grandmother! Now our 42-year old daughter can’t believe she has a 16 year old already! Oh, the memories that flood when look...

When preparing for a speech, a talk or a sermon, one almost always looks for a striking quote, a meaningful word of wisdom, or an amusing anecdote. When you have a huge collection of such from a literary giant of his age, you have this book – The Quotable Chesterton by Kevin Belmonte. The Wit and Wisdom of G.K. Chesterton is a handy 284 page paper-back resource. “With much of his finest material out of print or hard to find, modern readers have long needed a standard collection of his best thoughts. Kevin Belmonte’s The Quotable Chesterton brings them to you arranged alphabetically by topic, with complete original source documentation.” Thank you Kevin Belmonte!! If this is your first time reading Chesterton, this book may get you started on reading more . Just to pick a few quotes: “I have a simple, melodramatic mind; there is nothing lofty or peace-loving about me; and I thoroughly enjoy seeing people knocked down on the stage. I should have no objection to seeing them knoc...