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.
Ephesians 2:10
For we are God’s handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do Good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.
Misty Schoephoerster, Abilene, TX. “Son of man, you dwell in the midst of a rebellious house, who have eyes to see, but see not, who have ears to hear, but hear not, for they are a rebellious house,” Ezek. 12:2 (ESV)
Coshocton,Ohio[NASB]Isaiah 1:18″ Come now ,and let us reason together.” Says the LORD,Though your sins are as scarlet, they will be as white as snow;Though they are red like crimson,they will be like wool.”
Jamie, Crossett, AR
“praying always(kairos) with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit….” Ephesians 6:18NKJV
Sherry from Momence, IL
Then Jesus said, “Did I not tell you that if you believed, you would see the glory of God?” John 11:20.
Kimberly Waller, Moultrie, Ga
“For he chose us in him before the creation of the world to be holy and blameless in his sight.”
Ephesians 1:4
For the message of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God.
1 Corinthians 1:18 (NIV)
Leigh Ann, Atlanta GA
Jackie Brantley
521 Wynfield Cir.
Rockledge, FL 32955
“When I am afraid, I will trust in You.”
Psalms 56:3 HCSB
Jackie Houser, Pikeville, NC: But from everlasting to everlasting the Lord’s love is with those who fear him; and his righteousness with their children’s children–with those who keep his covenant and remember to obey his precepts. Psalm 103:17-18 NIV. I am memorizing Psalm 103. It is sweet!
Give all your worries and cares to God, for he cares about you.
1 Peter 5:7
NLT
Diane Price, Nowata, OK
“Lord my God I called to you for help and you healed me.”
Psalm 30:2 NIV
Beth D, Madison, MS He restores my soul. He guides me in paths of righteousness for his name’s sake. Even though I was through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for you are with me; your rod and your staff, they comfort me. Psalm 23:3-4 NIV84
Sylvie Nicol, Abbotsford, British Columbia, Canada ♥
Ephesians 3:20 (NLT)
Now all glory to God, who is able, through his mighty power at work within us, to accomplish infinitely more than we might ask or think.
Christy McCreight – Wylie Tx – The Lord will fight for you; you need only to be still. Exodus 14:14 NIV
” I believe in the resurrection and the life.He who believes in me will live even though he dies “John11:25NIV
“I consider that our present sufferings are not worth comparing with the glory that will be revealed in us.”
Romans 8: 18
Kirsten Pierce, Boones Mill, VA. Therefore do not worry about tomorrrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own. Matthew 6:34, NIV.
Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. 1Corinthians 13:4 NIV
Julie F.
Ann Arbor, MI
All discipline for the moment seems not to be joyful, but sorrowful; yet to those who have been trained by it, afterwards it yields the peaceful fruit of righteousness.
Hebrews 12:11 (NASB)
Kimber Perrotta
East Hampton, CT
“But I have spared you for a purpose – to show you my power and to spread my fame throughout the earth.” (Exodus 9:16, NLT)
Tasha and Destiny, Centerton AR
Tasha
Isaiah 30:21
Whether you turn to the right or to the left, your ears will hear a voice behind you saying “This is the way, walk in it”.
Destiny
James 4:7
Submit yourselves before God. Resist the devil and he will flee from you.
Wanda Young
Osborn, Missouri
May the LORD show you His favor
and give you His peace.
Numbers 6:26 (NLT)
Sugar Land.
Isaiah 43:18 NIV Forget the former things. Do not dwell on the past.
Stacy B Detroit, MI
Psalm 139:14 (niv)
I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made; your works are wonderful I know that full well
Carol Rice Deer Park, Texas
Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all comprehension, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.
Philippians 4:6-7 (NASB)
Ann Medford, Sunset, TX
“So I say, live by the spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the sinful nature” (Gal. 5:16) NIV.
Linda Gammon, Blue Springs, MO
Colossians 1:11 NKJV
11. Strengthened with all might, according to His glorious power, for all patience and longsuffering with joy;
Commit your way to the Lord; trust in him and he will act.
Psalm 37:5 ESV
Lisa, Port Arthur, soon to be Orange, formerly West Columbia, TX 🙂
“to proclaim Your love in the morning and Your faithfulness at night.” Psalm 92:2 (NIV)
Lisa Atkinson, Chappell Hill TX
“As He counts the stars He calls them by name. ”
Psalm 147:4 (NIV)
Sarah Miller, Melbourne, FL (moved to The Colony, Texas yesterday), “Because your love is better than life, my lips will glorify you.” (Psalm 63:3, NIV).
Pammie, Southern California
“You crown the year with a bountiful harvest,
even the hard pathways overflow with abundance.” Psalm 65:11 NLT
Kathy Emeigh from Bethlehem, PA
“Now, may the God of Peace, Who through the blood of the eternal covenant brought back from the dead our Lord Jesus, that Great Shepherd of the sheep, equip you with everything good for doing His will, and may He work in us what is pleasing to Him, through Jesus Christ, to Whom be glory for ever and ever. Amen.”
Hebrews 13:20-21 NIV
Erin G., Columbus, OH
Give your entire attention to what God is doing right now, and don’t get worked up about what may or may not happen tomorrow. God will help you deal with whatever hard things come up when the time comes.
Matthew 6:34 MSG
1 John 4:4 ERV
My dear children, you belong to God, so you have already defeated these false prophets. That’s because the One who is in you is greater than the one who is in the world.
Angie Hill, Jasper, Alabama
“No eye has seen, no ear has heard, no mind has conceived what God has prepared for those who love Him.” 1 Corinthians 2:9 NIV
““This is what the Lord says, he who made the earth, the Lord who formed it and established it—the Lord is his name: ‘Call to me and I will answer you and tell you great and unsearchable things you do not know.’”
Jeremiah 33:2-3 NIV
http://bible.com/111/jer.33.2-3.niv
Sandee Tseng, Santa Monica CA
“Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation: the old has gone, the new has come!”
– 2 Corinthians 5:17
Jana Stroud, Houston TX
Isaiah 61:7…My people will receive a double portion…and everlasting joy will be theirs. (NIV)
Liz Millinor
St Johns, FL
For you created my inmost being; you knit me together in my mother’s womb. I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made; your works are wonderful, I know that full well. (Psalm 139:13-14 NIV)
Stephanie Jo
Crane Or
Do you not know that you are Gods temple and that Gods Spirit lives in you.
1Corthians 3:16 NIV
John 14:12 (ESV)
“Truly, truly, truly, I Say to you, whoever believes in me will also do the works that I do; and greater works than these will he do, becUse I am going to the Father.”
“Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you reat.” Matthew 11:28 (NIV)
“Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest.” Matthew 11:28
Gigi Parisi
Mullica Hill NJ
I will rejoice in doing them good and will assuredly plant them in this land with all my heart and soul.
Jeremiah 32:41 NIV
Charlotte Heisel, Modesto CA
Psalms 91:11 (NLT)
For he will order his angels
To protect you wherever you go.
Hebrews 12:5-6 NIV – And you have forgotten that word of encouragement that addresses you as sons: “My son, do not make light of the Lord’s discipline, and do not lose heart when he rebukes you, because the Lord disciplines those he loves, and he punishes everyone he accepts as a son”.
God delivers me and exalts me; God is my strong protector and my shelter.
Ps 62:7 (NET Bible)
Nancy Rottschafer, Holland Michigan.
May the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be Pleasing in thy sight O Lord, My Rock and My Salvation.
Psalm 19:14
Connie Walker, Houston, TX
Matthew 28:18 NLT
Jesus came and told his disciples, “I have been given all authority in heaven and on earth.