Simple Devotions

Sunday, October 27, 2024

These Are the Moments

I remember this day so clearly. My 17-year-old grand daughter was going on a walk with me and a walk it was. She has much more energy and I was getting tired. I didn't care though. It was a precious moment. I was making a memory that meant so much more than my tired joints and muscles. My family means the world to me and I thank God for them every single day.

THESE ARE THE MOMENTS

These are the moments I live for today

Making memories with my family, watching the boys play.

Taking walks with my granddaughter as tired as I may be

These are the moments I remember happily.

Time carries on as we work and live our lives each day.

Being miles away from our loved ones where are hearts long to stay.

But even though these times are few and far between

These are the moments that mean the most to me.

In the hectic rush we live in and the politics we see.

My family still stays in my heart where they will always be.

I will never take for granted the time we spend together

Every conversation, every activity and encounter.

I hold them close to my heart each day that I live and breath.

These moments will be with me into eternity.

These are the moments, the days I treasure most.

My grandsons fishing with Grandpa out on a boat

My granddaughter having coffee, making silly videos imitating me

She may not realize how much I cherish each of these so deeply.

The times we watched Dora and the Mario Brothers movie

To the Legos adventures they describe so eloquently

But God didn't stop there, He gave me a bonus I didn't expect

Two more grand kids that have embraced us since the day we met.

They have made our family complete in ways beyond compare

God has blessed our family and answered our many prayers.

I love these precious children who will never leave my heart.

They indeed in so many ways leave their mark.

The messages they send just letting us know they care

These are the moments I will always treasure.

©️ 2024 Sandra C. Johnson

Hearing God's Voice

Hearing God's Voice

I asked God to show me His will.

And when He did, I just stood still.

I didn't recognize His voice.

My job, my commitments, made my choice.

I came back again to the father on high

Still unable to hear, as time went by.

He spoke again, but I didn't hear.

There was another voice in my ear.

So many times we ask God to speak.

As we with all our heart declare our loyalty.

And when He does we push it aside.

Because we hear with all of the idols inside.

Maybe He wants us to take a step of faith

Our fear steps in and says no way.

Maybe He asks us simply to pray.

We put it off because we are too busy that day.

God doesn't ask us to move mountains.

That's His job we just have to stop doubting.

God doesn't ask us to do what only He can do

But He does ask us to put aside our point of view.

God will move mountains. We can help or get out of the way.

He will speak to us but we need to stop and listen as we pray.

Put aside our ambitions and ideas of His plan Allow Him to move the mountains with His mighty hand.

I asked God to reveal to me His will.

I am learning to listen and just be still.

To recognize my voice and push it aside.

And no longer let God's voice be denied.

This poem was adapted into a song and can be viewed on my YouTube channel here:

My Stand

I have been backed into a corner by my employer to decide to either take a stand for what I believe or given in to it. Their policies that would force me to compromise my faith. I wrote this in response to that.

MY STAND

When did we get to this place?

Where my very faith is a disgrace.

At what point was it decided

That my commitment to God should be derided?

As I sit here today wanting to do the right thing

I want to stand for truth and all that it brings.

But those that I work for tell me I am wrong.

And threaten my posterity if I don't go along.

I am not one to cause trouble or rebel

But I have to stand for truth as well.

So when I'm told to do something that goes against what I believe

At the end of the day I have to follow Jesus Christ and the Bible's Creed.

It doesn't matter if I get fired or convicted in a court of law

I have to follow Jesus Christ and simply say naw.

To not do that would mean to go against what God has told me to do.

And to follow the world instead of that which I know is true.

So go ahead fire me put me in jail take away my rights.

Go ahead throw everything at me and make me stand and fight.

Because at the end of the day that's all I can do.

You see, I know the story's ending and the others sadly have no clue.

I can only do what God has shown me where I stand.

No matter what they do, I know God has a plan.

So I will march on take a stand and never retreat

Until that day when all things are subjected to Him and underneath His feet.

There You Are

THERE YOU ARE

"There you are" is what He will say.

When he finds the lamb that has gone astray.

As we feel the pressure of sadness and pain

Thinking in life we have nothing to gain.

We wander off Into the unknown

Making choices that lead us farther from home.

Be it drugs, gambling or some sexual sin.

Be it robbery and violence done again and again.

When He finally finds us in that dark place

He simply holds us in His warm embrace.

"There you are" are the words we will hear.

As His recognition of us is all too clear.

God the father of all of mankind.

Never gives up or loses sight.

He remembers us as He created us to be

"There you are" are his words to you and to me.

"There you are" he says redeeming each lost soul

As His love begins to heal us and make us whole

His love is like nothing we can understand

Because it comes from heaven and God's loving hand.

You see He is seeking each lost lamb

And will never stop till they are in his hand

And when he finds you, with joyous love and affection

He'll exclaim “There you are” as he enfolds you in His arms of protection.

Has God Indeed Said

Has God Indeed Said

We live a life wanting to succeed

Sure of ourselves and our life’s creed.

But then somewhere along the road we hear.

Has God indeed said….and things become unclear.

It started in a garden at the dawn of time.

A seed of doubt put into her mind.

For us too, it happens in an instant.

Once confident and suddenly resistant.

Has God indeed said….becomes our mantra.

Banging in our head like the sound of an opera.

We stumble, unsure of the right path.

All because we lost the courage we once had.

Those words uttered at the beginning of time.

Have been whispered over and over to all of mankind.

Some have learned to walk away and trust Gods voice.

Others stopped in their tracks and made the wrong choice.

Has God indeed said He loves you and me?

Yes. His son's sacrifice proved it most assuredly.

Whatever your facing in your life today.

God indeed has said He will carry the load with you, just pray.

Has God indeed said that you are amazing and strong.

He has been guiding your actions all along.

God indeed chose us to fulfill His plan.

And God indeed will finish what He started with His own hand.

So next time you question God's plan for your life.

Look to Him, your Savior, the one who will illuminate the light.

Next time you question what God indeed has said.

Look to His word and remember what you have read.

This Generation

This Generation

We are the generation called to stand strong.

We have been God's anointed all along.

We are the generation foretold by prophets of old

It's time to take our stand and let our story be told

Don't fret or worry about what you see.

God is in control of what's coming to be.

We are the generation who will stand tall.

Because Jesus is the head of us all.

We are the generation that will witness the greatness of God.

As the walls of this world's ideology crumbles and falls.

We are that generation, the one people only dreamed to see.

The generation of the coming Kingdom to be

So as I look out at leaders of nations and kingdoms on Earth

And see evil laws enacted and their plans come to birth.

I am at peace, knowing it will all come to naught.

I just pray for these people to return to the one whom they've forgot

As our society calls good evil and evil good

And choose who lives and dies and calls it Planned Parenthood

As they destroy our children convincing them God made a mistake

And they mutilate their bodies, changing their fate

It angers us and makes us want to fight back

We have all had enough and feel it's time to attack

Hold your faith, wait on our Prince of Peace to sound the alarm

This generation will witness God's vengeance and be shielded from harm.

But God's vengeance is not the vengeance of man

All of creation is precious, he holds us all in His hand.

And these too in time, though through fiery judgment, he will restore

This generation will stand in awe at this and so much more.

This generation is going to see a great move of God

In every nation and government and every path that they trod.

Praise to God because we are not in this alone

As we witness His move in the earth unlike anything we have known.

This poem was adapted into a song and can be viewed on my YouTube channel here:

Go Ahead

I wrote this poem after Trump was convicted in New York state.

Go Ahead

Go ahead and do what you must

Convict and persecute President Trump.

Go ahead, accuse us on the right.

Call us names and society's blight.

Sadly when you reject us

You reject the God in whom we trust.

And he has the final say despite your plans.

It is he who reigns not any man.

Go ahead say we don't follow science.

As you freak out about our changing climate.

Did you forget who created the amazing earth

It is Yahweh who brought it all to birth.

You are not fighting Trump.

Nor are you fighting any of us.

You are taking on more than you can chew.

Your a fighting a God who you never knew.

So go ahead, give it everything you have.

We will win in the end, that's a fact.

But not because we are in the right side of history

But because our God is fighting and it is His destiny.

We stand by Him and say amen to His plan.

And for our God we wont fail to take a stand.

So go ahead give it your best shot.

In the end your efforts will come to naught.

And despite your lies you say on TV.

We will pray that one day you will see.

And join with us we herald in God's Kingdom.

That you can be saved through Jesus the Son.

Simple Devotions