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.
Emily Bowden, Augusta, GA
” I remain confident of this: I will see the goodness of The Lord in the land of the living.”
Ps. 27:13 NIV
Wendy Buttrey, Acworth, Ga
In the same way, the Spirit helps us in our weakness. We do not know what we ought to pray for, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us through wordless groans. Romans 8:26 NIV
Linda, Holts Summit, MO
Psalm 34:7 ESV
The angel of the Lord encamps around those who fear him, and delivers them.
Amy Gettysburg, PA
And from Jesus Christ, who is the faithful witness, the firstborn from the dead, and the ruler of the kings of the earth. To him who loves us and has freed us from our sins by his blood. Revelation 1:5 NIV
Alana McCullough, Lorton VA. Show me your ways, O LORD teach me your paths; guide me in your truth and teach me, for you are God my Savior, and my hope is in you all day long. Psalm 25: 4-5, NIV
Mary Beth, St. Louis, MO
“Therefore, we are ambassadors for Christ, God making his appeal through us.”
2 Corinthians 5:20 (ESV)
Rockford,Il 1 Peter 5:10 And the God of all grace, who called you to His eternal glory in Christ, after you have suffered a little while, will Himself restore you and make you strong, firm and steadfast. NIV
Dana
McKinney, TX
Take my yoke. Upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. Matthew 11:29 NIV
Sissy Youngblood, Ruston, Louisiana
The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man avails much. James 5:16 KJV
Chelsea McNary, Lima, Ohio
Joel 2:13b (NLT)
Return to the Lord your God, for he is merciful and compassionate, slow to get angry and filled with unfailing love.
Diane, Longmont, CO
Love must be sincere. Hate what is evil; cling to what is good. Romans 12:9 NIV
Lori, Toledo
Psalm 32:8 “I will instruct you and teach you in the way you should go; I will counsel you and watch over you.” NIV 1984
Lori – Tremont, IL
Lord, I have heard of your fame; I stand in awe of your deeds, Lord. Repeat them in our day, in our time make them known; in wrath remember mercy.
Habakkuk 3:2 (NIV)
Linda, Longview, Tx: It is not fancy hair, gold jewelry, or fine clothes that should make you beautiful. No, your beauty should come from within you—the beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit that will never be destroyed and is very precious to God.
1 Peter 3:3-4 NCV
Kati B. Central Arkansas “God made him who had no sin to be sin for us, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God. 2 Corinthians 5:20
“Rejoice always, pray without ceasing, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.”
â€â€1 Thessalonians‬ â€5:16-18‬ â€ESV‬‬
Allison Ashton, Houston, Texas
Job 38:11-12 King James Version (KJV)
11 And said, Hitherto shalt thou come, but no further: and here shall thy proud waves be stayed?
12 Hast thou commanded the morning since thy days; and caused the dayspring to know his place;
Tammy, Dothan, Al. “Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God.” Phillipians 4:6
Susan Toney
Raymond, MS
For we are God’s handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.
Ephesians 2:10
In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.
John 1:1 ESV
Lisa from Hutchins, TX
Hebrews 12:1 NIV
Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles. And let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us.
Jennifer Tinsley, Indianapolis, IN. “The prayer of a righteous person is powerful and effective.” James 5:16 NIV
Mary Saul
Houston, TX
Psalm 25:18 NIV Look upon my affliction and my distress and take away all my sins.
Robin, Knoxville
He who dwells in the shelter of the Most High
Will abide in the shadow of the Almighty.
I will say to the Lord, my refuge and my fortress,
My God, in whom I trust.
Ps 91:1-2, ESV
Jennifer Kinsler
East TN
“Herein is my Father glorified, that ye bear much fruit; so shall ye be my disciples.”
John 15:8 KJV
Teresa, Orange City Isaiah 35:4
Say to those who have an anxious heart, “Be strong; fear not! Behold your god will come with vengence, with the recompense of God. He will come and save you. (ESV)
Jo Ellen Chance, Shawnee, KS
Jesus answered him, “If anyone loves me, he will keep my word, and my Father will love him, and we will come to him and make our home with him. – John 14:23. ESV
Sylvie Nicol, Abbotsford, British Columbia, Canada ♡
Isaiah 41:10 (NIV)
So do not fear, for I am with you;
do not be dismayed, for I am your God.
I will strengthen you and help you;
I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.
Kathy leesville,la I,therefore,the prisoner of the Lord,beseech you to walk worthy of the calling with which you were called with all lowlands and gentleness,with longsuffering,bearing with one another in love. Ephesians 4:1-2 NKJV
Julie, Port Macquarie, NSW, Australia
In love he predestined us to be adopted as his sons through Jesus Christ, in accordance with his pleasure and will.
Ephesians 1:5 NIV
Ingrid from Omemee, Ontario, Canada
“He put a new song in my mouth, a hymn of praise to our God. Many will see and fear the Lord and put their trust in him.”
â€â€Psalm‬ â€40:3‬ â€NIV‬‬
Kimberly Moore
Austin, Texas
All the forces of darkness cannot stop what God has ordained. Isaiah 14:27
Pam from Lubbock,Texas says
“Devote yourself to prayer being watchful with an attitude of thanksgiving.” Colossians 4:2 NASB
Darcy, Spokane, WA
“For my thoughts are not your thoughts,neither are your ways my ways,” declares the Lord. “As the heavens are higher than the earth,so are my ways higher than your ways
and my thoughts than your thoughts.” Isaiah 55:7-8 (NIV)
Shari Valdez, Long Beach, California
Then He said to the woman, “Your faith has saved you. Go in peace.” Luke 7:50 (NKJV)
Ruthie, San Antonio, Tx ” Commit your way to the LORD; trust in him and he will do this”. Psalm 37:5 (NIV)
Laura from Gilbert AZ
Now faith is confidence in what we hope for and assurance about what we do not seen. Hebrews 11:1. NIV
Duvall, WA
Who among the gods is like you, O Lord? Who is like you – majestic in holiness, awesome in glory, working wonders? Exodus 15:11 NIV
Dena Bibb, Stockton, CA “He gives strength to the weary and increases the power of the weak.”
â€â€Isaiah‬ â€40:29‬ â€NIV‬‬
Kari Turner
Charlottesville, VA
“Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you. Not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your hearts be troubled, neither let them be afraid.”
â€â€John‬ â€14:27‬ â€ESV‬‬
Natalie Cumberland Gap, TN
1 Thessalonians 1:1 KJV
Paul, and Silvanus, and Timothy unto the church of the Thessalonians which is in God the Father and in the Lord Jesus Christ: Grace be unto you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ
Tempe, AZ. Therefore, as God’s chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience. Colossians 3:12. NIV
Lou Ann Smith, McAllen, TX
And those who know your name put their trust in you, for you, O LORD, have not forsaken those who seek you. Psalm 9:10 ESV
Deb Bryan from Topeka, KS. Just started studying “Children of the Day”!
1 Thessalonians 5: 5-8 NIV
You are all children of the light and children of the day. We do not belong to the night or to the darkness. So then, let us not be like others, who are asleep, but let us be awake and sober. For those who sleep, sleep at night, and those who get drunk, get drunk at night. But since we belong to the day, let us be sober, putting on faith and love as a breastplate, and the hope of salvation as a helmet.
Kristen Johnstone
Boulder, CO
The Lord is your keeper;
the Lord is your shade on your right hand.
The sun shall not strike you by day,
nor the moon by night. Psalm 121:5-6 ESV
Marcy in Garland, Texas My verse for these times we are experiencing:
“Finally, brethren and sisters, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honorable, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, if there be any praise, think on these things.” Philippians 4:8
Ellen, Amersfoort, the Netherlands
Wees niet bang, want Ik ben bij je, vrees niet, want Ik ben je God. Ik zal je sterken, Ik zal je helpen, je steunen met mijn onoverwinnelijke rechterhand.
Jesaja 41:10 (NBV)
Jessica from Battle Ground, WA
May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.
Romans 15:13 NIV
Psalm 34:18New American Standard Bible (NASB)
18 The Lord is near to the brokenhearted
And saves those who are [a]crushed in spirit.
Syneva Mullins, Topeka, KS
2 Corinthians 10:3-5 For though we live in the world, we do not wage war as the world does. The weapons we fight with are not the weapons of the world. On the contrary, they have the divine power to demolish strongholds. We demolish arguments and every pretension that sets itself up against the knowledge of God , and we take captive every thought and make it obedient to Christ.