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

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.

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.

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

Current Chick Tract

Oh God

Oh God, how many times have you heard this prayer?
Pleading for comfort in the midst of despair

Whenever all traces of hope seem to be gone
Please God, give me the strength to trudge on

Give me some patience from your reserve
And a little wisdom, and maybe some courage

Give me a shoulder to catch my tears
Give me the peace to quell my fears

Sometimes I feel so helpless and small
Like my life doesn't make any difference at all

Please God, whenever I'm feeling this way
Just help me make it through the day

by Della Smith (c) 1976

Need a Friend?

You find yourself feeling empty inside
And you try to cover your pain with your pride
Like the sad clown who paints a smile on his face
And cheers those around him but can never erase
The emptiness that haunts him and taunts him always

You've learned from life that you've got to be tough
You've got to be strong when the going gets rough
You've hardened your heart in self defense
And you're afraid you'll be hurt if you take another chance
But deep inside is a tender child who still longs to dance

You wander through life going nowhere
Sometimes you get weary and just sit and stare
Is there an answer to why you're here?
Are you just meant to suffer and then disappear?
Is there anyone out there who possibly cares?

You've been hurt by so many wrongs
You just can't let go, the pain's been there too long
Disappointment is your closest friend
And loneliness lurks around every bend
If this is life who cares if it ends?

Well, THERE IS someone who cares that you hurt
He knows how it feels to be treated like dirt
He's been put down and hated, criticized and abused
He suffered rejection and betrayal too.

He was stripped of his dignity and stripped of his clothes,
Abandoned by his friends, and seized by his foes,
He's been lonely and weary and hungry and cold,
He never married, he had no one to hold.

"Who in the world would care?" you may say,
Well, his name is Jesus and he's alive today!
He's waiting to hear you call out his name.
He'll fill you with love and heal your shame.

He walked this earth in the body of a man,
So he could really understand
Our hopes, our joys, our fears, our pain,
He felt it all, his loss was our gain.

Call out for grace and mercy too,
And receive the joy that's waiting for you!

Della Smith (c) 2000