Whitewashed Tombs

Whitewashed Tombs

Like whitewashed tombs is the righteousness of man.

Who's morality is based on what the world understands.

Standing on a high horse pointing the finger at those

Who stand for truth and their lies they expose

But like whitewashed tombs they claim to be on a Higher Ground

They claim they are the ones where true morals are found

As we stand up for what we believe

We are labeled as brainwashed and deceived. 

Wake up, they say, get out of the MAGA cult. 

They protest us in meeting places, as if we are without hope. 

And there is no discussion and no debate 

They call us nazis and fascists and spew so much hate. 

Like whitewashed tombs, they hold up their righteous banner. 

Loving immigrants while babies in the womb don't matter

They shame us when we stand up and fight. 

Calling us racists and ignorant rednecks who are not right. 

Like whitewashed tombs, they love to love and if we disagree. 

They look so good in their white apparel while we live in hypocrisy. 

You see Jesus said the same thing about those who countered him.

They are full of everything that is unclean within. 

While they show the world their nice and pretty side. 

Their protests show their true hatred that cannot be denied. 

These people love transexuals but hate us for what we believe

I scratch my head and ask who it is again that is deceived?

At the end of the day, their screaming doesn't matter. 

Because there is one God in Heaven and one day He will gather

His anointed one and they will rule and reign with Him. 

Through God's justice and not that of mere men 

Until that day, as I look out and see the war of words.

I will pray and give to God the frustration of what is heard.

Only God can change man's heart and reconcile us all again.

And purify our hearts and put His love within.

 

© Sandra C. Johnson 2025

How David Coped

 How David Coped

I wonder sometimes how David coped.

Life was not always easy but he still had hope.

He had a son whom he loved with all of his heart. 

But Absalom walked away, leaving him in the dark. 

We read of his cries to God and feel his pain. 

He was a King but at times he felt shame. 

But he always got back up on his feet again. 

David drew strength from His God and not men.

As I suffer sadness from the betrayal of my own. 

I wonder did David felt the heartache of being alone.

Did he ask himself if he failed Absalom in some way?

What went through his mind when he prayed?

We know He leaned on God through every endeavor. 

We read of his unwavering faith that failed him never.

But I often wonder if he felt as I sometimes do. 

Did he choose to walk away too?

Was it for his sanity that he had to choose?

To let go of Absalom and his ungodly views. 

Did he struggle with the guilt of letting him go?

So many things we may never know. 

We read of so many righteous men back then.

That just like us, struggled within. 

Didn't understand why and couldn't see how. 

But continued to follow their God and never doubt. 

I wonder sometimes how David felt inside. 

When he was betrayed and love was denied 

But we need only to read and we can see. 

He drew strength from Almighty God, gaining the victory. 

David, a man after God’s own heart. 

Not perfect, but sought Him from the start. 

He had enemies and people who hated him. 

But He brought it to heaven and didn’t judge or condemn. 

So as we struggle in relationships and worries in life. 

Self condemnation and times we may have compromised. 

May we, like David, get up again. 

And put our faith in God and not mere men. 

© 2025 Sandra C. Johnson 

The Empty Pew

The Empty Pew

I once heard a preacher say he didn’t know what to do. 

As he looked out at the empty pew.

The church was once full of people there. 

But now it had less people who seemed to care. 

He did the usual, and hastened people to come. 

Return to church, worship Jesus the Son 

But his beckoning seemed to fall on deaf ears. 

As the pews became more bare every year. 

Yes, there are empty pews in the church today. 

But have they ever understood what made it that way. 

The milk of the word has turned sour and the food is not so fresh. 

There is no sustenance, no spiritual meat, people need more, not less. 

So they have left their pew to hear from God alone. 

And this is the way many of them have grown. 

So the empty pew gets dusty week after week. 

As the people find other ways to meet their needs. 

Sadly some walk away, and blame God for their thirst. 

They are unfulfilled and put their desires first. 

But for others it’s not due to lack of understanding. 

They just need more than what the church is demanding. 

So every week goes by, and the empty pew is still there 

And the preacher becomes distraught and resorts to prayer. 

But he doesn’t see that God did not ask him to secure 

The illness of sin that only He has the cure.

The empty pew was not meant to be filled by a man, 

But it was to help the preacher understand. 

That church alone is not the key for man’s salvation. 

It is only a stepping stone for God’s creation. 

Every week as he looks out at the empty pew. 

It’s a reminder of what only God can truly do. 

He soon realizes the emptiness is not in the pew. 

It’s in his own heart as he tries to accomplish what only God can do. 

There is an empty pew in the church that needs to be filled. 

Just as there are empty places in our hearts that need to be healed. 

And God alone is the one who will fill both places. 

As we learn to let Him fill all of our empty spaces. 

© 2025 Sandra C. Johnson

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

Just Stop

Just Stop

I've always read the Old Testament and wondered why,

Why the Israelites continued to live a lie.

Just stop! I would think. Don't worship other gods.

It's simple listen to the prophets and not to the mob.

But again and again they would wander back to idolatry.

And God would impose the consequences for their immorality.

As I read I just could not figure out why.

Just stop and follow the lead of your God on high.

But today I look out at our world, it's all the same.

Idolatry is just called by a different name.

People are offended when we call out sin.

It's not the world but the Christians who feel condemned.

Look at the church today we have homosexual pastors preaching.

They changed the word of God and replaced it with man's teaching.

We have people who claim to be Christians supporting abortion's lie.

These are the idols of today and I understand why.

Again I think just stop and listen to what the Bible has to say.

But just like back then, people want to go their own way.

Nothing is new under the sun and it is clear to see.

Today, just like back then, our world is filled with idolatry.

We call it by a different name and use emotions to justify the cause

We say times are different as we break God's sacred laws.

People love who they love and to our heartstrings they pull.

And if you fight for the unborn you are labeled as a fool.

In fact they go further, and it's us they condemn.

We are called hypocrites and self righteous for calling out the sin.

But aren't they doing the same thing when they justify their cause?

Calling evil good and good evil as they cast aside God’s laws?

I don't like to point the finger and judge and far be it from me to say.

But I can't hold back the truth and today's morality is not okay.

As the prophets warned the people thousands of years ago,

So today there are some of us called to do the same and let the world know.

Just stop! That's what I want to say. God knows what is best.

His love is not  based on feelings, it's real love,  nothing less. 

And at the end of the day when we let him lead our life,

We will find fulfillment beyond anything this world will recognize.

So my friends just stop and look the other way.

You don't need to follow the idols of today.

God has a much better plan. Look above and you will see.

Within the pages of his Word holds the key. 

© 2025 Sandra C. Johnson 

My Prayer

My Prayer

We stand and scream in our righteous indignation

At the sin in our land with serious contemplation

We warn those of the judgment yet to come.

Some point fingers almost in glee as to what they have done.

But today is I was looking out at the world around me,

I felt sadness because so many have failed to see.

While some scream about women's rights and their woke ideology

And believe they are the ones that are living righteously.

We scream too and we call names and fight.

Forgetting God’s love, mercy and light. 

It makes me sad because I know Jesus is coming again. 

And many who don't know him will suffer because of their sins. 

We should not be happy or gloat because of their pain.

We should not be pointing fingers and saying you deserve everything.

Because it breaks our Father's heart in Heaven above

When his people live outside of his love.

As I looked out at our world it's clear to see.

People are living their lives ignorant of what is coming to be. 

I myself too, get caught up in my life day to day.

I've heard so many predictions just fade away.

They gathered on mountains waiting for to be raptured to heaven

They have stood on street corners with signs of warning of sin's leaven.

But I do believe that a day is at hand

It will present differently than some understand.

So as I prepare my heart and look out at the world. 

I pray for God to show us mercy before His judgment is unfurled. 

I pray that men's hearts will be turned back to the Savior

And God's Kingdom will be established as we teach His Law to our neighbor. 

That the lion will graze with the lamb

And the truth will be proclaimed throughout the land. 

I pray for God's Kingdom to be established on earth. 

And we will see His new era come to birth.

© Sandra C. Johnson 2025

 

The Life God Called Us To

The Life God Called Us To

We can talk about the God we know.

Or we can live His life and His love show.

We can invite people to a church to hear

A preacher speak of a God who is near.

Or we can simply wear them out.

Talking over and over what God is about.

Anything we do must be done. 

By the motivation of Jesus the Son. 

He knows what each person needs. 

So we can only do as His Spirit leads. 

God is intricately woven into our lives. 

And leads us each day and always abides. 

It may be a simple act of gratitude. 

Or helping lift somebody's mood. 

But preaching at them and calling out sin

Won't win the hearts of many men. 

In an age of such spiritual confusion. 

Only God in His time knows what He's doing. 

He knows the heart of each person we meet. 

And He alone knows their need and what to speak. 

We need not preach a sermon to glorify Him.

Or try to appear Christlike and pretend. 

But resting in Him as He leads you each day. 

He will show you in each moment what you are to say. 

Love your fellowman the way Jesus does. 

Let them see who Jesus is by your undying love. 

And if they reject the message of the cross. 

Love them anyway, considering all things a loss. 

Laying our lives down is not always preaching a sermon. 

It's walking His path and continually learning. 

It's considering others better than you. 

This is the life God called us to. 

© Sandra C. Johnson 2025

God Laughs

 God Laughs

God laughs when we make our plans. 

Unknown to us of where we stand. 

He laughs because He alone knows. 

That it was determined by Him a long time ago.

God laughs when we propose legislation. 

He is the one that oversees all or our deliberations. 

He alone is sovereign over everything we do. 

And He alone is the author of all that is true. 

God laughs when try to tell Him what to do. 

We pray to Him, only to get what we want, according to our view.

And when we encounter roadblocks along the way. 

We didn’t think that it’s because we prayed. 

God laughs but not because He doesn’t love. 

But because He sees all things from above.

He sees the story from beginning to end. 

We see here and now and the rest is very dim. 

In His love for us, He knows we will make a choice. 

That opposes His plan for us, but He lets us have our voice. 

He laughs not to make fun or laugh at our ordeal. 

But because He is patient with us, as we learn His sovereign will.

God laughs at kings and nations who devise their master plan. 

Because He knows that they truly don’t understand. 

That they are not the authors of what happens in the earth. 

He is in control of everything, and has been from the very first. 

So next time you face an obstacle or things don’t go your way. 

Remember it’s not your plan but His that will hold sway. 

Submit to Him and He will bless you abundantly. 

He is simply waiting for you to choose his will  accordingly. 

Yes, God laughs when we think we are in the drivers seat. 

And we figure out in time His sovereignty. 

And soon we stop and pause because we can hear him laugh. 

And we have a conversation about our human gaff. 

© 2025 Sandra C. Johnson