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.
Nancy Coffey
Barboursville WV
“Those who know your name trust in you, for you, O Lord, do not abandon those who search for you.”
Psalm 9:10 (NLT)
Abbie, North Platte, NE
1 Peter 5:8 (ESV) Be sober minded; be watchful. Your adversary the devil prowls around like a roaring lion seeking someone to devour.
Britt Felix, Tucson AZ
Romans 12:6-8 NIV
We have different gifts, according to the grace given to each of us. If your gift is prophesying, then prophesy in accordance with your faith; if it is serving, then serve; if it is teaching, then teach; if it is to encourage, then give encouragement; if it is giving, then give generously; if it is to lead, do it diligently; if it is to show mercy, do it cheerfully.
Jill, Clearwater , FL
The tongue also is a fire, a world of evil among the parts of the body. It corrupts the whole person, sets the whole course of his life on fire , and is itself set on fire by hell.
James 3:6
Mandi… Edmond, OK… “that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give to you a spirit of wisdom and of revelation in the knowledge of Him.” Ephesians 1:17 NASB
And every creature which is in heaven and on the earth and under the earth and such as are in the sea, and all that are in them, I heard saying: “Blessing and honor and glory and power
Be to Him who sits on the throne, and to the Lamb, forever and ever!” Revelation 5:13
You crown the year with a bountiful harvest;
even the hard pathways overflow with abundance.
(â€Psalms‬ â€65‬:â€11‬ NLT)
Kathi Griffin from Macon, GA:
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.” The Spirit Himself testifies with our spirit that we are God’s children.
Romans 8:15-16
Kristie Lovely, Van Alstyne, TX
“Bless those who persecute you; bless and do not curse them.” Romans 12:14 ESV
Sharon, McKinney, TX
…give thanks in all circumstances, for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.
I Thes. 5:18 NIV
Sandy Bowers, Bryan, Ohio
“You crown the year with a bountiful harvest,
even the hard pathways overflow with abundance.”
Psalm 65:11 NLT
Jenn Loewen
Salem, OR
Romans 12:2 NIV
Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, faithful in prayer.
Renee Hui, British Columbia, Canada
Psalm 57:1 Have mercy on me, my God, have mercy on me, for in you I take refuge. I will take refuge in the shadow of your wings until the disaster has passed.(NIV)
Vicki, Merriam, KS
Psalm 103:9,10 ESV
He will not always chide,
nor will he keep his anger forever.
He does not deal with us according to our sins,
nor repay us according to our iniquities.
Kaye from Hamburg, AR
The weapons we fight with are not the weapons of the world. On the contrary, they have divine power to demolish strongholds. 2 Corinthians 10:4
Sherree Hunsberger
Lilburn, GA
2 John 3 (NKJV)
“Grace, mercy, and peace will be with you from God the Father and from the Lord Jesus Christ, the Son of the Father, in truth and love.”
Jacquie Engbrecht, Winnipeg, MB, Canada
“Unless the Lord builds the house, those who build it labor in vain. Unless the Lord watches over the city, the watchman stays awake in vain.”
â€â€Psalm‬ â€127:1‬ â€ESV‬‬
Lisa Williams – Houston
“We have this confidence in God: that he hears us whenever we ask for anything according to his will.”
1 John 5:14 (NAB)
Trudy for Baton Rouge, LA
For you , Lord, are kind and ready to forgive,
Abundant in faithful love to all who call on you.
Kari Ellis, Bloomington, MN: “Indeed, we live as human beings, but we do not wage war according to human standards;” 2 Corinthians 10:3 NRSV
Maria Hogan from Tallmadge, Ohio
Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth.
1 Cor. 13:6 (NIV)
Rita Ford, The Woodlands, Texas. “There is a river whose streams make glad the city of God, the holy place where the Most High dwells. Psalm 46:4 NIV
Liz Scherer
Fort Worth, TX
“Rejoice always, pray continually, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.”
â€â€1 Thessalonians‬ â€5:16-18‬ â€NIV‬‬
Leslie Thibodeau
Union, Ky
Matthew 24:13
But he that shall endure to the end, the same will be saved.
(NKJV)
Paula, Houston, Tx
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)
Kathleen Ottawa, ON Canada
“Seek his will in all you do, and he will show which path to take.”
Proverbs 3:6 NLT
Dacia Edmonson – Bullard, Texas
Psalm 19:17 NIV
May the words of my mouth and the mediation of my heart be pleasing in your sight, O Lord, my Rock and my Redeemer.
Donna Lange, Mobile, Alabama,
“Strengthened with all might, according to his glorious power, unto all patience and longsuffering with joyfulness;”
Colossians 1:11 KJV
Nancy A -Versailles, Ky
“He will not always chide nor will he keep his anger forever. He does not deal with us according to our sins, nor repay us according to our iniquities.”
Ps 103:9 NIV
Romans 11:36 for from Him and through Him and to Him are all things. To Him be the glory forever. Amen.
NASV
Carla, San Antonio, TX
Give thanks to the Lord, for He is good. His love is eternal. Psalm 136:1, HCSB
Melody S.
Forest City,IA
Proverbs 27:7 (ESV)
One who is full loathes honey, but to one who is hungry everything bitter is sweet.
Beth Lewis, Story City, Iowa
“For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal but mighty in God for pulling down strongholds,”
2 Corinthians 10:4, NKJ
I John 3:23 – And this is His commandment: that we should believe on the name of His Son Jesus Christ and love one another as He gave us commandment. (NKJ)
Milan, MI
Ephesians 4:32 NKJV
And be kind to one another, tender-hearted, forgiving one another, even as God in Christ forgave you.
Jana Troy, KS Max Lucado Devotional Bible
“The Lord is the Spirit, and where the Spirit of the Lord is,
there is freedom.” 2 Corinthians 3:17
Paula Faulkner from Fort Madison, IA
“See to it that no one misses the Grace of God and that no bitter root grows up to cause trouble and defile many.”
Hebrews 12:15
Pat S., Bertram, TX
Those who know your name trust in you, for you, O Lord, do not abandon those who search for you.”
Psalm 9:10 (NLT)
Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up.
Galatians 6:9
(NIV)
Cindy, San Diego, CA
This is my command – be strong and courageous! Do not be afraid or discouraged. For the Lord your God is with you wherever you go.
Joshua 1:9 NLT
Pam in Texas: “Behold, God is my salvation; I will trust, and will not be afraid; for the Lord God is my strength and my song, and he has become my salvation.” Isaiah 12:2 (ESV)
Pam, Tryon,NC
He must become greater, I must become less. John 3:30
Melody
Myrtle Beach, SC
“Put on the full armor of God, so that you can take your stand against the devil’s schemes.”
Eph 6:11 NIV
Janice Stumpff- Topeka KS
Psalm 65:11 NLT
You crown the year with a bountiful harvest; even the hard pathways overflow with abundance.
Hebrews 10: 35 Therefore do not throw away your confidence, which has a great reward. 36 For you have need of endurance, so that when you have done the will of God you may receive what is promised. ESV
Tammy Cosby / Siloam NC…..Joshua 1:5 No one will be able to stand up against you all the days of your life. As I was with Moses, so I will be with you. I will never leave you nor forsake you. (NIV)
Noreen
Calgary, AB
“Teach us to number our days, that we may gain a heart of wisdom.”
Psalm 90:12 (NIV)
Anita, Miami, FL
The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked; who can know it? Jeremiah 17:9 (NKJV)
“Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you.” I Peter 5:7 NIV
Kelly, Missouri City, TX ” Remember the things I have done in the past. For I alone am God. I am God and there is no one like me. Only I can tell you the future before it even happens. Everything I plan will come to pass, for I do whatever I wish. ”
Isaiah 46:9-10 NLT