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.
Conyers, GA
Psalms 103:8-9 KJV “The LORD is merciful and gracious, slow to anger, and plenteous in mercy. He will not always chide; neither will He keep His anger forever.
Michele Gibbons,
Waterloo, Ontario, Canada
Blessed is she who has believed that what the Lord has said to her will be accomplished.
Luke 1:45 (Elizabeth filled with the Holy Spirit speaking to Mary, Mother of our Lord Jesus)
NIV
Proverb 3:1nkjv
My son, do not forget my law, But let your heart keep my commands;
Carrie, Liberty, TX
“As water reflects the face, so one’s life reflects the heart.” Proverbs 27:19 (NIV)
Keri Lee Robbins, Las Vegas, NV “9 Blessed are the peacemakers, For they shall be called sons of God. 10 Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness’ sake, For theirs is the kingdom of heaven.” Matthew 5:9-10 NKJV
So also the Lord directed those who proclaim the gospel to get their living from the gospel. I Cor. 9:14 NASB
New Braunfels, TX
Marilyn, Houston , TX ” Wait for the Lord; be strong and let your heart take courage; Wait for the Lord!” Psalm 27:14 ESV
Linda
Montana
Psalms 119:132 NKJV
“Look upon me and be merciful to me, as Your custom is toward those who love Your Name.”
Stand therefore, having fastened on the belt of truth, and having put on the breastplate of righteousness, Ephesians 6:14 ESV
Christiane Salts, Buena Park, California –
13 Who is wise and understanding among you? Let them show it by their good life, by deeds done in the humility that comes from wisdom. 14 But if you harbor bitter envy and selfish ambition in your hearts, do not boast about it or deny the truth. 15 Such “wisdom” does not come down from heaven but is earthly, unspiritual, demonic. 16 For where you have envy and selfish ambition, there you find disorder and every evil practice.
James 3:13-16
Kim, Gaithersburg MD – I just can’t decide, so I’m going to do two verses for #18:
I will be faithful to you and make you mine, and you will finally know me
as the LORD. (â€Hosea‬ â€2:20‬ â€NLT‬)
Gracious words are a honeycomb, sweet to the soul and healing to the bones.
(Proverbs 16:24, NIV)
Karoletha Stone, Longview, Texas
If He did not spare His own Son, but handed Him over on our account, then don’t you think that He will graciously give us all things with Him?
Romans 8:32 The Voice Bible
Abigail Dubbe, Red Lion PA, Romans 8:18 (NIV) ” I consider that our present sufferings are not worth comparing with the glory that will be revealed in us.” (Have the AUDACITY to hold tight with all your might to Romans 8:18, right Siestas?!)
Beth ~ Calgary AB Canada
“For the Lord takes delight in his people; he crowns the humble with victory.”
â€â€Psalm‬ â€149:4‬ â€NIV‬‬
Libby from Eutawville, SC
John 16:33 ESV
I have said these things to you, that in me you may have peace.
In the world you will have tribulation. But take heart; I have overcome the world.
“The name of the Lord is a strong tower; The righteous run to it and are safe.” Proverbs 18:10 (NKJV)
Vicki, from Grapevine, TX
Were I to count them,
they would outnumber the grains of sand—
when I awake, I am still with you.~ Psalm 139:18 NIV
Dawn, Colleyville, TX
Lord, be gracious to us; we long for you. Be our strength every morning. Isaiah 33:2, NIV
Mary Rosevear McNeal
Roswell, Georgia
“Therefore, let us no longer criticize one another. Instead, decide to never put a stumbling block or pitfalls in your brothers way.” Romans 14:13
Danielle from Cedar Park, TX
It is the Lord who goes before you. He will be with you; he will not leave you or forsake you. Do not fear or be dismayed.
Deuteronomy 31:8 (ESV)
Carla, Coweta. “that raised Christ from the dead and seated him in the place of honor at God’s right hand in the heavenly realms.” Ephesians 1:20 NLT
Amy; Milton, WA
“If a man wearing an expensive suit enters your church and a street person wearing rags comes in right after, and you say to the man in the suit; “Sit here sir, it is our best seat in the house,” and either ignore the street person or say; “Better sit here in the back row.” Haven’t you segregated God’s children and proved you are judges that can not be trusted.”
James 2:2-4, MSG
Patty from Redmond, WA
Ephesians 3:17
Then Christ will make his home in your hearts as you trust in Him. Your roots will grow down into God’s love and keep you strong.
Donna from Athens, Georgia:
“But to all who received him, who believed in his name, he gave power to become children of God.”–John 1:12 (RSV-CE)
Kathy Wilson, Chandler, AZ
Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for human masters,
Colossians 3:23
Colossians 3:23 NIV
Kayley Hibbert – Camp Point, IL
And this is my prayer: that your love may abound more and more in knowledge and depth of insight, so that you may be able to discern what is best and may be pure and blameless for the day of Christ, Philippians 1:9-10(NIV)
Jan Horne
Bossier City, LA
Romans 8:29 NIV
Those God foreknew He also predestined to be conformed to the likeness of His Son, that He might be the firstborn among many believers.
Romans 8:29 NIV
Andrea, Pottstown
2 Corinthians 9:6 NASB
Now this I say, he who sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and he who sows bountifully will also reap bountifully.
“Love is patient and kind. Love is not jealous or boastful or proud or rude. It does not demand its own way. It is not irritable, and it keeps no record of being wronged.
1 Corinthians 13:4-5 NLT
Gina Demangos San Diego CA
I am with you, I am your God. I will strengthen you;I will help you;I will uphold you.
Isaiah 41:10 NIV
Nance from Newmarket ON Canada
“Its gates will never be closed at end of day because there is no night there.”
Rev 21: 25 NLT
Joy, Georgetown, TX – “For this reason, make every effort to add to your faith goodness; and to your goodness, knowledge;” 2 Peter 1:5 NIV
Pam of Pickerington, Ohio
“Now faith is confidence in what we hope for and assurance about what we do not see.”
-Hebrews 11:1 (NIV)
Colleen Duebber. Cincinnati, Ohio.
 Praise the Lord. How good it is to sing praises to our God,how pleasant and fitting to praise him.
Psalm 147:1 NIV.
Lisa, Huntsville, AL –
For the eyes of the LORD range throughout the earth to strengthen those whose hearts are fully committed to him. – 2 Chron. 16:9a NIV84
Psalm 27:1 ESV
“The Lord is my Light and my salvation; whom shall I fear? The Lord is the stronghold of my life; of whom shall I be afraid?”
Judy Williams — Round Hill, Virginia
“Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit, but in humility consider others better than yourselves.” Philippians 2:3. NIV
Linda Loven
Peoria, Arizona
“And over all these virtues put on love, which binds them all together in perfect unity.”
Colossians 3:14 NIV
-Third verse in my memorizing Colossians 3:12-17-
Cindy, Lancaster OH
PSALM 119:160 (ESV)
“The sum of Your word is truth, and every one of Your righteous rules endures forever.”
Elizabeth Peck, Oak Ridge, TN: Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path. Ps 119:105 NIV 1984
Vonnie Baker
Marble Hill MO
For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of youreselves: it is the gift of God Ephesians 2:8 KJV
Calida Statham – Byron, GA – For thou shalt worship no other god: for the LORD, whose name is Jealous, is a jealous God: Exodus 34:14, (KJV)
Kathleen Smith, Georgetown TX
James 3:16 NIV
For where you have envy and selfish ambition, there you find disorder and every evil practice.
Sara Martin, Houston, TX: “Be still, and know that I am God; I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth.” Psalm 46:10
WheatRidge,Colorado
Therefore submit to God. Resist the devil and he will flee from.
James 4:7 NIV
I denied myself nothing my eyes desired; I refused my heart no pleasure. My heart took delight in all my work, and this was the reward for my labor. Yet when I surveyed all that my hands had done and what I had toiled to achieve, everything was meaningless, a chasing after the wind, nothing was gained under the sun. Ecclesiastes 2:10-11
Jan In Fulshear
Ps. 86:11 NIV Teach me your ways Lord, that I may rely on your faithfulness, give me an undivided heart that I may fear your name.
Dottie Morrow
Mansfield, TX
“It will be health to your flesh and strength to your bones.” Proverbs 3:8 NKJV
Laura, Minneapolis, MN.
In him we have obtained an inheritance, having been predestined according to the purpose of him who works all things according to the counsel of his will.
(â€â€Ephesians‬ â€1:11‬ â€ESV‬‬)
Lauren Gross, Pineville, LA
When Christ who is our life appears, then you also will appear with Him in glory.
Colossians 3:4 NKJV