Kristi Wilson | Kristi's Morning Devotional

This past month as I have been sharing on Thanksgiving I have found many images of beautiful centerpieces. There are even some sites that list 29 DIY centerpieces or 24 DIY Thanksgiving projects. Got me to thinking – the best centerpieces should probably be labeled GIY.

God I Yield!

We all have those DIY projects but what would be your #1 GIY project? The one thing that you know you should yield or the one thing you know you need help with more than anything else. Maybe you’re afraid to yield control of that area or do you think that God wouldn’t be interested in helping. Oh but He’s certainly interested and more than willing to show you how He would like to craft your life into a beautiful setting.

I am so thankful for the Father’s amazing love. I didn’t do anything to desire it and I can’t do anything to lose it – that’s because it’s unconditional. But I can thank Him daily for His love, His mercy, and His grace! I can allow Him to control the center of my being.

Give thanks to the Lord because he is good.
His faithful love will last forever.
³⁵Say to him,
“Save us, God our Savior.
Bring us back together,
and save us from the other nations.
Then we will give thanks to your holy name
and joyfully praise you.” I Chronicles 16:34-35 ERV

Father God my heart is filled with thanksgiving for your great love and abundant grace. I thank you for friends who are family and family who are friends, they have enriched my life. Thank you for sharing your love with me through their kindnesses and I pray that I have shared your love with them by my love.

Happy Thanksgiving everyone. I pray that God’s grace is the center piece on each table.

I don’t know how many cowboy movies I have viewed in my lifetime but there have been many, some of them I have watched over and over. And in nearly every one, if they refer to a Bible verse they generally use Psalm 23, the Lord is my Shepherd. Time and again the Scripture refers to the Lord as our Shepherd. Jesus even gave example that he was the good shepherd who gives his life for his sheep.

This morning’s verse on giving thanks refers to that relationship as well.

“Then we, your people, will always thank you.
We are like sheep with you as our shepherd,
and all generations will hear us praise you..” Psalm 79:13 CEV

A good shepherd provides food, rest, protection. He is constantly with his sheep and protects them from intruders and cares for them if they do get hurt. Our shepherd does the same – His death provides for our salvation or as one Bible translation calls it – soundness.

Those of you reading this that have a horse background know better than others what it means to be sound. That’s what Jesus has done for us – He has made us sound, whole, strong.

So do what this verse says – show your praise to all generations. Talk of the Lord’s goodness to those of your own generation and to those older and younger. Our younger generations need to know the reality of God’s goodness.

Sing it loud and long today. Let the children know the goodness of the Shepherd.

Author: Kristi Wilson

The Centerpiece of Life

Thankful for Shepherds