Thankful

I'm thankful for my yesterdays
I'm thankful for today
I'm thankful for the moments
That take my breath away

I'm thankful for the little things
That don't seem all that special
I'm thankful that I'm breathing
I'm thankful for every blessing

I'm thankful for the hard things
That life has put me through
For in those times I learned a lot
Like how to depend on You

The times we are the lowest
Are sometimes for our good
For in the times that seem so bad
We learn things that we should

Like there is a God in heaven
And he listens when we pray
And he will give us wisdom
To get through each new day

No matter where you are in life
There's a treasure waiting there
It's found inside a thankful heart
And gift wrapped with a prayer

Della Smith 11/19/10

Here

I knew you before you were born

I’ve never left your side

Even though you didn’t know me

I was always along for the ride

I’m nearer now than before

I’m as close as your heartbeat

I know every thought,

I know every fear

I feel every prayer that you breathe

What concerns you, concerns me

Not a single care is too small

I care about every detail

I care about YOU most of all

I’m not a God who’s far away

I’m not too busy to bother

For you are my child, and I love you

I am pleased to be your Father

Draw near to me, don’t be afraid

I’m waiting for your whisper

Just speak the name of Jesus

And see how quickly I answer

You don’t have to work for my approval

There’s nothing you can do to earn it

Just believe and receive that I love you

And don’t reject me or spurn it

Ask me and you’ll be forgiven

Ask me and you’ll feel my love

Ask and I’ll fill you with my Spirit

And comfort you with peace from above

(c) 2014 Della Smith

Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword?  As it is written, For thy sake we are killed all the day long; we are accounted as sheep for the slaughter. Nay, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him that loved us. For I am persuaded, that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come, Nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.  Romans 8:35-39

Regarding Fathers

If you had a father
You loved with all your heart
The honor will come easy
You got a real good start

But many hearts were broken
By a father here below
Perhaps they were just missing
Perhaps they dealt cruel blows


On Father's day, we think of them
With gratitude or pain
But here we are, because they are
This truth will still remain

 It's right to honor fathers
There's a promise that comes with it
A life that's long and goes well
It's in the sixth commandment

 If it's hard for you to honor
The father you were given
There is healing for your wounded soul
From Father God in heaven

He wants to mend those places
That were marred by earthly flaws
His love for you is greater
Than you ever knew there was


Don't be afraid to trust Him
He's not like earthly men
His love is unconditional
No matter where you've been

If you've been running from Him
Because of pain or loss
Consider running to Him
There's healing at the cross


~Della Smith 6/19/2011

Luke 1:17  And he shall go before him in the spirit and power of Elias, to turn the hearts of the fathers to the children, and the disobedient to the wisdom of the just; to make ready a people prepared for the Lord.

John 14:18  I will not leave you comfortless: I will come to you.

Psalm 27:10  When my father and my mother forsake me, then the LORD will take me up.

Honor Due

Thank you Lord for mothers
In every shape and size
You've made each one beautiful
And special in your eyes

Some of them gave birth
And some of them weren't able
But the real heart of a mother
Is much more than just a label

It's loving, caring, giving
It's sacrifice and tears
It's training, teaching, helping
It's preparing for future years

We've all been touched by mothers
For that's part of God's plan
And no, there are none perfect
For that's the plight of man

But mothers now we honor
For without them we'd not be here
Truly honor is due every day
Not just one day a year

~Della Smith  5/9/10

Honour thy father and thy mother: that thy days may be long upon the land which the LORD thy God giveth thee. Exodus 20:12

Her children arise up, and call her blessed; her husband also, and he praiseth her. Proverbs 31:28

Childless

For all the barren wombs
That never bore a child

For all the ones whose choices
Caused their child to die

For all the ones who gave birth
But gave their child away

For all the grieving mothers
Whose child lays in the grave

The Lord has not forgotten
The pain and grief you bear

The longing for your children
When your children are not there

You are not a second class
Forsaken and alone

He feels the beating of your hurt
He hears your silent moan

There is healing for your soul
Whatever pain you have

If you'll bring it to Jesus
He'll apply his healing salve

~Della Smith 5/9/10

There are three things that are never satisfied, yea, four things say not, It is enough: The grave; and the barren womb; the earth that is not filled with water; and the fire that saith not, It is enough. Proverbs 30:15-16

In Rama was there a voice heard, lamentation, and weeping, and great mourning, Rachel weeping for her children, and would not be comforted, because they are not. Matthew 2:18

Fruit Test

I'm sorry my friend

That you were hurt so

By someone who claims to know God

For the true heart of God

Is loving and kind

And compassionate to the downtrod

There are always deceivers

Not really believers

Who pretend to be someone they're not

These wolves in sheep's clothing

Have always been with us

They don't know the true ways of God

To know the true God

You must seek him

And be willing to open your heart

He doesn't condemn

And He doesn't control

To receive or reject is your part

For love's not true love

If you force it

It's something that happens within

His desire is for you

To come freely

And choose for yourself to know Him

"By their fruits ye shall know them,"

Is what Jesus said

What kind of fruit do you see?

This fruit test will guide you

And help you discern

If you've met a wolf or a sheep

Does the fruit leave a taste

That is bitter?

Does it turn you away from the Lord?

Can you "taste and see

that the Lord is good?"

Do you want to come back for more?

Consider these things

On your journey

And remember this lesson I leave

The true and the false

Are both offered

Which one will you choose to believe?

Della Smith

1/21/2012

Beware of false prophets, which come to you in sheep's clothing, but inwardly they are ravening wolves. Matthew 7:15

Wherefore by their fruits ye shall know them. Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven. Matthew 7:20,21

O taste and see that the Lord is good: blessed is the man that trusteth in him. Psalm 34:8

Brave

Brave one
Strong one
Not so brave
Weak

It's okay to crumble
When you're at My feet

My grace is all sufficient
It's perfect when you're not
It's enough that I work through you
I would rather a cracked pot

For flaws allow My beauty
To shine through broken places
And all along the path you run
You water other racers

I AM with you always
And yes, I know you know
But I wanted to remind you
I AM going where you go

Della Smith 4/16/10

And he said unto me, My grace is sufficient for thee: for my strength is made perfect in weakness. Most gladly therefore will I rather glory in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me. 2 Corinthians 12:9

The Cracked Pot
A water bearer in India had two large pots, each hung on each end of a pole which he carried across his neck.  One of the pots had a crack in it, and while the other pot was perfect and always delivered a full portion of water at the end of the long walk from the stream to the master's house, the cracked pot arrived only half full.  For a full two years this went on daily, with the bearer delivering only one and a half pots full of water in his master's house.  Of course, the perfect pot was proud of its accomplishments.  But the poor cracked pot was ashamed of its own imperfections, and miserable that it was able to accomplish only half of what it had been made to do. After two years of what it perceived to be a bitter failure, it spoke to the water bearer one day by the stream.  "I am ashamed of myself, and I want to apologize to you."  "Why?" asked the bearer.  "What are you ashamed of?"  I have been able, for these past two years, to deliver only half my load because this crack in my side causes water to leak out all the way back to your master's house.  Because of my flaws, you have to do all of this work and you don't get full value for your efforts," the pot said. The water bearer felt sorry for the old cracked pot and in his compassion he said, "As we return to the master's house I want you to notice the beautiful flowers along the path." Indeed, as they went up the hill, the old cracked pot took notice of the sun warming the beautiful wild flowers on the side of the path, and this cheered it some.  But at the end of the trail, it still felt bad because it had leaked out half its load, and so again it apologized to the bearer for its failure. The bearer said to the pot, "Did you notice that there were flowers only on your side of the path but not on the other pot's side?  That's because I have always known about your flaw, and I took advantage of it.  I planted flower seeds on your side of the path, and every day while we walk back from the stream, you've watered them.  For two years I have been able to pick these beautiful flowers to decorate my master's table.  Without you being just the way you are, he would not have this beauty to grace his house." Each of us has our own unique flaws.  We're all cracked pots.  But if we will allow it, the Lord will use our flaws to grace His Father's table.  In God's great economy, nothing goes to waste. So as we seek ways to minister together and as God calls you to the tasks He has appointed for you, don't be afraid of your flaws.  Acknowledge them and allow Him to take advantage of them, and you, too, can be the cause of beauty in His pathway.