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.
Kathy Rye, Cedar Park, TX
“Delight yourself also in the Lord, and He shall give you the desires or your heart.”
Psalm 37:4 NKJV
Patience Nason, Citrus Heights, CA
“But the seed in the good ground–these are the ones who, having heard the word with an honest and good heart, hold on to it and by enduring, bear fruit.” Luke 8:15 HCSB
Connie Walker, Houston, TX
Hebrews 11:6 NLT
And it is impossible to please God without faith. Anyone who wants to come to him must believe that God exists and that he rewards those who sincerely seek him.
San Bernardino Ca.
Take delight in the Lord and he will give you your heart’s desires.Psalms 37:4 Nlt.
Hebrews 10:23
(NIV)
Let us hold unswervingly to the hope we profess, for he who promised is faithful.
Ann
Mandeville, la
Vonda Schwarz, Bertrand, NE “The poor man called, and the LORD heard him; He saved him out of all his troubles. The angel of the LORD encamps around those who fear him, and He delivers them.” Psalm 34:6-7 NIV
Vicki C., Lenexa, KS
Colossians 4:5 ESV
Walk in wisdom towards outsiders,
Making the best use of the time.
Marty, Clarksville, TN
“And the peace of God which transcends all understanding will guard your heart and your minds in Christ Jesus”. Philippians 4:7 NIV
Kristy Sanders; Madison, Ms; Psalm 65:11″You crown the year with a bountiful harvest, even the hard pathways overflow with abundance.”
I Peter 2:21, 23 NLT
For God called you to do good, even if it means suffering, just as Christ suffered for you. He is your example, and you must follow in his steps.
He [Christ] did not retaliate when he was insulted, nor threaten revenge when he suffered. He left his case in the hands of God, who always judges fairly.
Sandy from Brookshire, Texas Titus 3:5 “He saved us, not on the basis of deeds which we have done in righteousness, but according to His mercy, by the washing of regeneration and renewing by the Holy Spirit.” NASB
Kim, Euless, Tx
“He lifted me out of the slimy pit, out of the mud and mire; he set my feet on a rock and gave me a firm place to stand.”
â€â€Psalm‬ â€40:2‬ â€NIV‬‬
Paula, Oklahoma City, OK
If you had known in this day the things which make for peace! But now they have been hidden from your eyes. Luke 19:42. NASB
Andy Spray – Centreville, VA
But he brought us out from there to bring us in and give us the land he promised on oath to our ancestors. â€â€Deuteronomy‬ â€6:23‬ â€NIV‬‬
Beth Coker Medford, OR
‘Awake oh north wind, and come, wind of the south; make my garden breathe out fragrance, let its spices be wafted abroad.’ Song of Solomon 4:16a. NASB
Edmond, OK.
Michele S.
Submit to God, resist the devil and He will flee from you. JAmes 4:7 ESV
Jeanine, Augusta, GA
“Listen to my words, Lord, consider my lament. Hear my cry for help, my King and my God, for to you I pray. In the morning, Lord, you hear my voice; in the morning I lay my requests before you and wait expectantly.”
â€â€Psalm‬ â€5:1-3‬ â€NIV‬‬
Michelle Moultrie, Birmingham, AL “Behold my servant, whom I uphold, my chosen, in whom my soul delights…” Isaiah 42:1 (ESV)
Michelle, West Des Moines, IA
Open my eyes to see the wonderful truths in your instructions.
Psalm 119:18 NLT
Stephanie Murphy, College Station, TX
“Put on then, as God’s chosen ones, holy and beloved, compassionate hearts, kindness, humility, meekness, and patience, bearing with one another and, if one has a complaint against another, forgiving each other; as the Lord has forgiven you, so you also must forgive. And above all these put on love, which binds everything together in perfect harmony.” Colossians 3:12-14 ESV
Dana McKinney, Starkville,MS “For his anger is but for a moment and his favor is for a lifetime. Weeping may tarry for the night, but joy comes with the morning.” Psalms 30:5 ESV
Ronda Smith from Marion, IN
And God is able to make all grace abound to you, so that in all things at all times, having all that you need, you will abound in every good work. 2 Cor 9:8
Julie, Gresham, OR
“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)
Tracey Knight ~ Arkadelphia AR
And do this, understanding the present time: The hour has already come for you to wake up from your slumber, because our salvation is nearer now than when we first believed. ~ â€â€Romans‬ â€13:11‬ â€NIV‬‬
Allyson, Wichita Falls
“And the prayer offered in faith will make the sick person well; the Lord will raise him up. If he has sinned, he will be forgiven.”
James 5:16 (NIV)
Linda Lorring, Reno, NV
Paul, Silvanus and Timothy, to the church of the Thessalonians in God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ: Grace to you and peace. We give thanks to God always for all of you, constantly mentioning you in our prayers, remembering before our God and Father your work of faith and labor of love and steadfastness of hope in our Lord Jesus Christ. I Thessalonians 1:1-3 (ESV)
Amy Brown
New Palestine, IN
Then I will ask the Father to send you the Holy Spirit who will help you and always be with you. (â€John‬ â€14‬:â€16‬ CEVUS06)
Benton, AR
“I have told you all this so that you may have peace in ME. Here on earth you will have many trials and sorrows. But take heart, because I have overcome the world.” (â€John‬ â€16‬:â€33‬ NIV)
Deb from Aledo, IL
Blessed is the man that endureth temptation: for when he is tried, he shall receive the crown of life, which the Lord hath promised to them that love him. James 1:12 KJV
Julie/Deer Park, Tx Jeremiah 9:23 NIV Here is what the Lord says:”Let not the wise man boast of his wisdom or the strong men boast of his strength or the rich man boast of his riches,
Shelly Albertville
1 John 1:8-9 NIV
“If we claim to be without sin, we deceive ourselves and the truth is not in us. If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness,”
Beverly Reeder, Columbus,Ms
Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous, Do not be terrified, do not be discouraged, for the Lord your God will be with you wherever you go. Joshua 1:9
Diane Hotchkiss from Cypress, TX
Do not rejoice over me, O my enemy.
Though I fall I will rise;
Though I dwell in darkness, the Lord is a light for me.
Micah 7:8 NASB
Hannah B. Akron, OH
“As a father shows compassion to his children, so the LORD shows compassion to those who fear him.” Psalm 103:13 ESV
Nanette, Saint Cloud, FL
For by one offering He has perfected forever those who are being sanctified.
Hebrews 10:14 NKJV
Angela Wagner, El Paso, Tx (formerly Pittsburgh, Pa)
“For they themselves report concerning us the kind of reception we had among you, and how you turned to God from idols to serve the living and true God, and to wait for his son from heaven, whom he raised from the dead, Jesus who delivers us from the wrath to come. ” 1 Thess 1:9-10, ESV
Susannah Hotchkiss from Cypress, TX
O Lord, you are so good, so ready to forgive, so full of unfailing love for all who ask for your help. Ps. 86:5 NLT
Vanessa from Calgary, Canada
I will say of the Lord, ” He is my refuge and my fortress, my God, in whom I trust” Psalm 91:2
Sunni Sutphin Mt Airy NC
1 Peter 5:7 nasb casting all your anxiety on Him, because He cares for you.
Kim, Laguna Niguel, CA:
For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worth comparing with the glory that is to be revealed to us.
Romans 8:18 ESV
Suzy from Cedar Falls, IA
Jeremiah 29:11 NIV
“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.”
Teri Wymore in Millington, TN
How long, O Lord, will you look on and do nothing?
Rescue me from their fierce attacks. Protect my life from these lions!
PSALM 35:17 NLT
For it is God who works in you both to will and to do for His good pleasure. Phil 2:13 NKJ
And let the peace that comes from Christ rule in your hearts. For as members of one body we are called to live in peace. And always be thankful.
Colossians 3:15
Amy Cobb, Murfreesboro, TN. “I pray that out of his glorious riches he may strengthen you with power through his Spirit in your inner being, so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith. And I pray that you, being rooted and established in love, may have power, together with all the Lord’s holy people, to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ,”
â€â€Ephesians‬ â€3:16-18‬ â€NIV
Allyson, Wichita Falls, TX
“Therefore confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous man is powerful and effective.”
James 5:16 (NIV)
Misty Sanders, North Charleston, SC
“Sing praises to God, sing praises; sing praises to our King, sing praises!”
â€â€Psalms‬ â€47:6‬
â€NLT‬‬
Charlene Morgan–Lincoln City, OR
Do not repay anyone evil for evil. Be careful to do what is right in the eyes of everybody. Romans 12:17 NIV
John 11:6 (NASB)
And without faith it is impossible to please Him, for he who comes to God must believe that he is and that He is a rewarder of those who seek Him.
Sherrie Lynn, Collierville, TN
The Lord is close to the brokenhearted and saves those who are crushed in spirit. (â€Psalm‬ â€34‬:â€18‬ NIV)