Greetings Siestas and a hug to each of you! What a joy and honor it is to share here. Outside my dear family, there is no other group that I have enjoyed doing life with as much as with friends from this dear community. My name is Lora Lovin Osburn, and I live in Tennessee. I have been married to my husband Gary for 26 years and we have two lovely daughters. Our oldest, Audra Elizabeth, was married last year, and Victoria, our youngest, is studying pre-law. I enjoy the beauty of GOD’s creation, architecture, art, lamp lights, gardening, earrings, poetry and walking with my family and Lilly Belle (our 12 year old Maltese). Some of my best days are Sundays at my church with my family seated nearby, serving on the prayer team, and worshiping and applying the word with them.
We have had a year full of major life events including our youngest going to college, my invalid father moving in with us, our oldest getting married. There were numerous hospital trips, then selling our home, and moving to a new town. Many times the circumstances within the major events made me think that a hidden camera must be following me around! Life just seemed crazy at times. Though I would not have chosen the events of the last year to be knitted so closely together, I can say that my faith is stronger, my family is closer, my friends are dearer, and my sweet Jesus seems even nearer. The abundance GOD allowed me to experience through this year is why every phrase in this verse just lept off the page and into my heart:
“You crown the year with a bountiful harvest,
even the hard pathways overflow with abundance.” Psalm 65:11 NLT
“You crown the year”
I see GOD giving a crown at the beginning of the year. I cannot imagine any reality TV show that would start the season by announcing the winner or giving the prize at the beginning. Although it would seem to make for a lackluster, anti-climatic season to know in advance who wins; I feel like GOD has done that with us. Why would HE, who holds the highest rank and title, give a reward of victory, before the season begins? Because HE loves us and is for us! This is going to be a glorious year! I believe that every day of the year is encircled with a diadem from HIM.
“With a bountiful harvest”
Growing up working in our family garden, I thought that my dad had planted to feed an army, and not just for our family, because of the abundance; but Dad was able to give generously of the harvest, and I see our heavenly Father doing the same. When I see HIS overflowing cart of good gifts for us, I can’t help but think that this verse applies to us not only as individuals but also to the church. HIS Word also confirms that the harvest is great in the world. In spite of what we are going through ourselves, there is kingdom work to do! Let’s be active in picking up a basket and harvesting the fields where GOD has placed us so that many souls will be added to HIS kingdom. May we witness an outpouring of HIS SPIRIT on all people and may many lives be impacted by and for the Kingdom of GOD.
“Even the hard pathways”
If I had the choice of “two roads diverged”, I would certainly choose the one that resembles a flowery Monet painting, not a hard pathway. Who would choose a hard pathway? But, that aptly describes my last year. The example JESUS gives when faced with difficulty encourages me. JESUS submitted HIS will to GOD at the cross and wore a crown of thorns. GOD did get the glory with JESUS, and I pray HE does from our GOD-ordained steps.
“Overflow with abundance”
When the children were little we’d take walks to the park, and our youngest would stop and pick up rocks along the way. She wasn’t mining gems; but she was finding delight in the daily, ordinary pathway. Sometimes I just want my path to be easy like the walk to the park; but GOD has crowned the year with so much of HIM, so much of HIS glory, that even the hard, the difficult, the part that I think I’d rather not have, overflows with abundance. Even though we may be walking in a busy season, through a complex or challenging situation, or facing intense personal concerns, truth states that hard pathways overflow with abundance. I love that this is present tense! Hallelujah!!! I need that on my pathway today! How amazing is our GOD!!! There is such a sense of celebration here because HE can be seen, felt, experienced, and praised even during difficult days! Glory to HIS Name!
Let us offer thanksgiving, sing, dance and praise:
GOD pours out abundance on our hard pathways!
Believing that many souls will be harvested and saved,
And at the outpouring of GOD’s Spirit, may we be amazed!
I’m living in and looking for HIS overflowing abundance,
So thankful for this year and GOD’s crowning circumference.
Michelle Baylerian, Greenville, WI
When Christ who is your[a] life appears, then you also will appear with him in glory. Col 3:4 ESV
Michelle C., Chesapeake, VA
perseverance, character; and character, hope.
Romans 5:4
Rhonda Jackson of Godfrey, Illinois – For I reckon that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us. – Romans 8:18 – KJV
Kim Joyner; Poplar Bluff, MO. “Do not let kindness and truth leave you; Bind then around your neck, write them on the tablet of your heart.” Proverbs 3:3 (NASB)
Susan L. (central IL) God, if only You would kill the wicked—you bloodthirsty men, stay away from me—who invoke You deceitfully. Your enemies swear by You falsely. (Psalm 139:19-20, HCSB)
Patrice, Midland, TX
Luke 5:12-13 (NIV)
While Jesus was in one of the towns, a man came along who was covered with leprosy. When he saw Jesus, he fell with his face to the ground and begged Him, “Lord, if you are willing, you can make me clean.” Jesus reached out His hand and touched the man. “I am willing,” He said. “Be clean!” And immediately the leprosy left him.
Karen Sanders, Burleson, TX “We know that we are children of God and that the whole world is under the control of the evil one.” 1 John 5:19 (NIV)
Heather Smith
Nashville, TN
“A servant of the Lord must not quarrel but must be kind to everyone, be able to teach, and be patient with difficult people.”
– 2 Timothy 2:24 (NLT)
Candie – Waterloo, Iowa
In all circumstances take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming darts of the evil one. Ephesians 6:16 (ESV)
Judy ~ Simi Valley,CA
Blessed are those who have learned to acclaim you, who walk in the light of your presence, O LORD. Psalm 89:15 NIV
for every house is built by someone
but He who built all things is God
Heb. 3:4 NKJV
Kim, Amherst, Ohio
Matt. 24:42 NIV
Therefore keep watch, because you do not
know on what day your Lord will come.
Kay Martin
Tupelo, MS
“In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was with God in the beginning.”
John 1:1-2 NIV
Jessica, Vicksburg, MS. “Enable your servants to speak your word with great boldness,” Acts 4:29b (NIV).
Catherine Lisle, Albuquerque NM. 1 Corinthians 13:8 “Love never ends. As for prophecies, they will pass away; as for tongues, they will cease; as for” (ESV).
Beth Smyth, Perth, Western Australia
Colossians 3:16 ESV
Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly, teaching and admonishing one another in all wisdom, singing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, with thankfulness in your hearts to God.
Jean
Abilene
Blessed is the one who reads aloud the words of this prophecy, and blessed are those who hear it and take to heart what is written in it, because the time is near.
Revelation 1:3 NIV
Janet, Sylacauga, AL
“I will be with you when you pass through the waters, and when you pass through the rivers, they will not overwhelm you. You will not be scorched when you walk through the fire, and the flame will not burn you.”
â€â€Isaiah‬ â€43:2‬ â€HCSB‬‬
Denise Ciofani, Lexington, NC. “Your attitude should be the same as that of Christ Jesus.” Philippians 2:5 NIV
Deb
Becker, MN
For you did not receive the spirit of slavery to fall back into fear, but you have received the Spirit of adoption as sons, by whom we cry, “Abba! Father!” Romans 8:15 (ESV)
Catherine Lisle I Cor. 13:8 (cont. sorry!) “…knowledge, it will pass away” (ESV).
MarlaMae–Kimmell, IN
Search me, God, and know my heart; test me and know my anxious thoughts. See if there is any offensive way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting ~Psalm 139:23-24 (NIV)
Kathy, Baton Rouge, LA
“We are made right in God’s sight when we trust in Jesus Christ to take away our sins. And we all can be saved in this same way, no matter who we are or what we have done.”
Romans 3:22 NLT
Meredith B
Collierville Tn
Jabez said, ” Oh that you would enlarge my territory and that your hand might be with me, and that you would keep me from harm. And God granted what he asked.”
1 Chronicles 4:10 New Revised Life Application
Rhonda Nelson Grapevine, TX
Therfore, as God’s chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience.
Colossians 3:12 NIV
Tina Crouch
Waxahachie, Trxas
Psalms 37:4 –
Take delight in the Lord, and he will give you the desires of your heart.
Jennifer M, Dayton OH “Now may the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, so that you will abound in hope by the power of the Holy Spirit” Romans 15:13 NASB
Laura Hubbard from Apopka, FL
“He controls the course of world events; he removes kings and sets up other kings. He gives wisdom to the wise and knowledge to the scholars. He reveals deep and mysterious things and knows what lies hidden in darkness, though he is surrounded by light.” â€â€Daniel‬ â€2:21-22‬ â€NLT‬‬
South Portland, Maine
The Spirit you received does not make you slaves, so that you live in fear again; rather, the Spirit you received brought about your adoption to sonship. And by him we cry, “Abba, Father.” Romans‬ â€8‬:â€15‬ (NIV)
College Station, Texas
Isaiah 40:8 (NIV)
The grass withers and the flowers fall, but the word of our God stands forever.
Debbie Fitzpatrick, Bossier City, LA
Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged, for the Lord your God will be with you wherever you go. Joshua 1:9 NIV
Abbey Le Roy, Bluefield, West Virginia. “O Lord, my heart is not lifted up; my eyes are not raised too high; I do not occupy myself with things too great and too marvelous for me. But I have calmed and quieted my soul, like a weaned child with its mother; like a weaned child is my soul within me. O Israel, hope in the Lord from this time forth and forevermore.” Psalm 131:1-3 (ESV)
Buda, TX — Proverbs 24:3 “By wisdom a house is built and through understanding it is established.” (NIV)
La Grande, Oregon
1 Thessalonians 16-18 NKJV
Rejoice always, pray without ceasing, in everything give thanks; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.
Lee Ann Kelley, Fairhope, AL
Therefore, do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own.
Matthew 6?34 NIV
Shelly Wilson, Fort Worth, TX
Psalm‬ â€107:28-29‬ â€(NIV) – Then they cried out to the Lord in their trouble, and he brought them out of their distress. He stilled the storm to a whisper; the waves of the sea were hushed.
Gale
Montgomery TX
Create in me a clean heart, O God; and renew a right spirit within me.
Psalms 51:10 (KJV)
Delores O.
Lake Stevens, WA
Even to your old age and gray hairs I am He, I am He who will sustain you. I have made you and I will carry you; I will sustain you and I will rescue you.
Isaiah 46:4 NIV84
Barbara Smith, San Antonio, TX
Therefore, prepare your minds for action, be self-controlled, set your hope on the grace to be given you when Jesus Christ is revealed. 1 Peter 1:13 (NIV)
Barbara fro WI
18. Were I to count them, they would outnumber the sands;
when I complete them, still you are with me.
(NAB. Psalm139:18)
Bonnie Jackson, Lockport, IL Psalm 37:4-5 “Delight yourself in the Lord, and He will give you the desires of your heart. Commit you way to the Lord; trust in Him, and He will act.” (ESV)
Tina, Columbus Ohio
And so we know and rely on the love God has for us. God is love. Whoever lives in love lives in God, and God in them.
1 John 4:16 NIV
I Cor. 4:20
20 For the kingdom of God does not consist in talk but in power.
I Cor. 4:20 ESV
Emily, Elk Grove, CA
Who satisfies you with good so that your youth is renewed like the eagle’s.
Psalm 103:5 ESV
Dianne, Maineville, Ohio
Ephesianes 6:18 niv
Pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests.With this in mind, be alert and always keep on praying for all the Lord’s people.
elaine – orange county, ca –
For though we live in the world, we do not wage war as the world does.
2 Cor 10:3 (NIV)
Whitney Holder, Wilmington, NC. “If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask of God, who gives to all liberally and without reproach, and it will be given to him.”
â€â€James‬ â€1:5‬ â€NKJV‬‬
Giovana Cavarretta, Boca Raton, FL
“You turned my wailing into dancing; you removed my sackcloth and clothed me with joy,”
â€â€Psalm‬ â€30:11‬ â€NIV‬‬
Kim Safina
Los Osos, CA.
For I consider that our present sufferings cannot even be compared to the coming glory that will be revealed to us.
Romans 8:18 NET
Dearest Lora, 🙂
What a joy to read your precious words.
Sending you blessings during this HARVEST season and looking forward to our next visit.
Kim
Tara, Eustis,
Psalm 25:4
Make your ways known to me Lord teach me your paths
NIV