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.
“I have taken your iniquity away from you, and I will clothe you with pure vestments.””
â€â€Zechariah‬ â€3:4‬ â€ESV‬‬
10So 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.
Is. 41:10
Linda Chuplis- York Haven, PA
Not that I have already obtained all this, or have already
been made perfect, but I press on to take hold of that for which Christ Jesus took hold of me.
Philippians 3:12 NIV
“A final word: Be strong in the LORD and in His mighty power. Put on ALL of God’s armor so that you will be able to stand firm against ALL of the strategies of the devil.”
Ephesians 6:10-11 NLT
Val Parker Dequincy, La “Greater love has no one than this: to lay down one’s life for one’s friends.”
â€â€John‬ â€15:13‬ â€NIV‬‬
Debra from Wayland Iowa
For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, declares the Lord.
For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts.
Isaiah 55:8&9 ESV
Debi Detryer. Emmett MI
1 Thessalonias 5:16-18 NIV
“Be joyful always; pray continually; give thanks in all circumstances, for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.”
Kim
New Port Richey, FL
Psalm 116:2 ESV
“Because He inclined His ear to me, therefore I will call on Him as long as I live.”
Romans 8:15 Niv
For you did not receive a spirit that makes you a slave again to fear, but you received the Spirit of sonship. And by him we cry, “Abba Father.”
Tisha
Pilot Mtn, NC 27041
John 3:30 NIV
“He must become greater; I must become less.”
Manassas, Va
2 Corinthians 5:17
Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creations; the old has gone, the new has come!
Ashley Roth, Peachtree City, Ga.
And let the favor of the Lord our God be upon us; And do confirm for us the work of our hands. Psalm 90:17 (NAS)
Kathie Dini-Alburtis, Pa.-Phil. 1:6 being confident of this, that he who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus. NIV
Be joyful in hope; patient in affliction, faithful in prayer. Romans 12:12
Karen Laughlin, Deweyville, TX
But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness.
(Galatians 5:22, NIV)
Linda/Colorado Springs, CO
Psalm 139:5
You surround me on all sides and hold your protecting hand over me.
What translation is this from please? (Psalm 139:5)
Phillipians 2:3 NLT
Don’t be selfish, don’t try to impress others. Be humble, thinking of others as better than yourselves.
Patricia, Richmond, Texas
But my eyes are toward you O God, my Lord; in you I seek refuge; leave me not defenseless.
Ps.141:8. ESV
Stephanie Hilton, League City, TX
“The wicked flee when no one is pursuing, But the righteous are bold as a lion.”
Proverbs 28:1
NASB
Stacey B., Fayetteville, GA
“Fear not, for I am with you; be not dismayed, for I am your God; I will strengthen you, I will help you, I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.”
– Isaiah 41:10 (ESV)
Terry, John 15:4, KJV
Abide in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, except it abide in the vine; no more can ye, except ye abide in me.
Shelly and Sienna Busby -Colorado Springs, CO Oct 1, 2925.
Do not Sorrow, for The Joy of the Lord is your Strength. Nehemiah 8:10b NKJV
Nicole Eckblad
Auburn, Wa
“Let us not grow weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up.”
Galatians 6:9 NIV
Teresa, Chadron,NE
“This is the confidence we have in approaching God: that if we ask anything according to his will, he hears us. And if we know that he hears us—whatever we ask—we know that we have what we asked of him.”
â€â€1 John‬ â€5:14-15‬ â€NIV‬‬
Ashley, West Monroe, LA. “It is God who arms me with strength and keeps my way secure.”
â€â€Psalm‬ â€18:32‬ â€NIV
Jenny
Covington, KY
“I consider that our present sufferings are not worth comparing with the glory that will be revealed in us. For the creation waits in eager expectation for the children of God to be revealed. For the creation was subjected to frustration, not by its own choice, but by the will of the one who subjected it, in hope”
â€â€Romans‬ â€8:18-20‬
Jennifer T. Fairfax, Va
A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another, even as I have loved you, that you also love one another. By this all men will know that you are My disciples, if you have love for one another. John 15: 34-35 (NASB)
Ingrid from Omemee, Ontario, Canada
“He is the Rock; his deeds are perfect. Everything he does is just and fair. He is a faithful God who does no wrong; how just and upright he is!”
â€â€Deuteronomy‬ â€32:4‬ â€NLT‬‬
Beth -Concord, NC
Perseverance must finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything.
James 1:4 NIV
Houston, TX – How can a person stay pure? By obeying your word. Psalm 119:9 NLT
Micah 7:8 NIV
Do not gloat over me my enemy!
Though I have fallen, I will rise,
Though I sit in darkness, the Lord will be my light.
Marian Garcia. Springfield, MO
Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit, but in humility consider others better than yourselves. Philippians 2:3 NIV
Candis Oswalt South Bend IN so very late with this one
9 I will say unto God my rock, Why hast thou forgotten me? why go I mourning because of the oppression of the enemy?
Psalms 42:8 KJV
Stephanie
Pawleys Island, SC
Teach me to do your will, for you are my God: may your good Spirit lead me on level ground.
Psalm 143:10 (NIV)
Vonda Schwarz, Bertrand, NE “Taste and see that the LORD is good, blessed is the man who takes refuge in Him.” Psalm 34:8 NIV
WAYNE, PA
“I urge you first of all, to pray for all people. Ask God to help them, intercede on their behalf and give thanks for them. Pray this way for kings and all who are in authority so that we can live peaceful and quiet lives marked by godliness and dignity. This is good and pleases God our Savior who wants everyone to be saved and understand the truth. 1 Tim 2:1-4 nlt
Dian Helgerud, Cocoa Beach Florida
Psalms 10:19 nib
Be still and know that I am God: I will be exalted among the nations. I will be exalted in the earth.
Suzanne Kragt
Eden Prairie, MN
Daniel 2:20. NIV
Praise be to the name of God for ever and ever wisdom and power are his.
“I will praise you, Lord, with all my heart.”
â€â€Psalm‬ â€138:1‬ â€
(NOTE: This submission is intended for Oct 1–Verse 19.)
Jessica, Vicksburg, MS, “Rejoice always, pray continually, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.” I Thess. 5:16 (NIV).
Gay Beck, Plain City, OH
Numbers 6:24-26 (NIV)
The LORD bless you and keep you;
the LORD make his face shine upon you and be gracious to you;
the LORD turn his face toward you and give you peace.
Jamie – paramount, Ca
Psalm 62:8
O my people, trust in him at all times. Pour out your heart to him, for God is our refuge.” NLT
Luanne Neely, Marshall, TX (Verse 19):
For our light and momentary troubles are achieving for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all. 2 Corinthians 4:17 NIV
Jennifer, Fort Worth
“For this reason I also suffer these things; nevertheless I am not ashamed for I know whom I have believed and am persuaded that He is able to keep what I have committed to Him until that Day.” 2 Tim. 1:12, NKJV
Carolyn Deevers
Dardenne Prairie, MO
The goal of this command is love, which comes from a pure heart and a good conscience and a sincere faith. I Timothy 1:5 NIV
Sherry Page
Elizabeth, CO
1John 3:1 NIV
How great is the love the Father
has lavished on us, that we should be
called children of God! And that is what
we are!
Mary McKinley Scottsboro, SL
For we do not present our supplications before you because if our righteous deeds, but because of your great co passions. Daniel 9:18 KJV
Teresa Wilson. Starkville, MS
Psalm 91:12
In your hands they shall bear you up lest you dash your foot against a stone.
2 Cor. 3:18 NET Bible
And we all, with unveiled faces reflecting the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from one degree of glory to another, which is from the Lord, who is the Spirit.
Kelly Mabe, Brashear, TX
Psalm 16:6 NKJV
The lines have fallen in pleasant places, indeed I have a beautiful inheritance.