Show Me Your Ways

SHOW ME YOUR WAYS  

Show me Your ways, O God above.  

Reveal to me Your unfailing love.  

Help me to know Your Law deep in my heart—  

To live it out and bring light to the dark.  

Show me Your ways, not the ways of man.  

Empower me to spread it across this land.  

Show me Your ways, so I may become  

A person more like Jesus the Son.  

Christlike, and all You’ve called me to be,  

O Lord, each day help me learn and see.  

Show me Your ways, that I may instill  

Your truth in my children, teaching Your will.  

Why do I ask? So I may know You,  

And lack nothing, as Your Word proves true.  

So I may walk with You, understanding Your ways,  

Living in wisdom through all of my days.  

So I may discern what You would do  

In moments unknown, and speak what is true.  

Not leaning on self, but trusting instead  

That Your ways will guide me where I’m led.  

Show me Your ways each day and night—  

While working, while sleeping—teach me what’s right.  

While driving, while walking throughout the day,  

Help me to hear Your voice and obey.  

Show me Your ways, that I may know You,  

And discern the hearts that are not true.  

Show me Yourself, Lord—Your ways so pure.  

O Father, make them clear and sure.  

And thank You, Lord, for hearing me tonight,  

For loving and guiding me into Your light.  

For showing me thus far, and continuing to lead  

Down paths yet unknown, meeting each need.  

© 1996 Sandra C. Johnson

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

https://youtu.be/q_joKFoiASA?si=F4LY4i5VTtmze2yQ

The Greatest of All Gifts

Today I share something I wrote back in 1991 and 1997. In 1984, I had known a friend who was a Pentecostal. She tried to pray over me to give me the gift of tongues. I became scared and ran away. This was when I was a freshman in college.

I realized soon after that God had a different calling on my life, but in 1997 he made it clear to me what that calling was. The next two poems are about God's love being the greatest of all gifts. 

The Greatest Gift

She spoke in tongues, was filled with the Spirit—so it seemed,  

Leaving me confused beyond what I’d ever dreamed.  

I wondered, Is tongues for me? Could my views be wrong?  

Then deep within, I heard, “My child, be strong.”

“Many come to you with stories of miracles and such,  

And many great things happen to those lives that I touch.  

But you need listen only to Me—  

By heeding My voice, not man’s, will you truly be free."

So I walked away from her one heartfelt night,  

Unsure of my faith, alone in my fright.

But God gave me peace, and so I journeyed on—  

He showed me that I've known Him all along. 

The greatest lesson I could ever learn:  

Is to love others and God's presence yearn.

Still, there was more for me to understand.  

God gave me joy—and pain, both carefully planned.  

Yet always, His presence remained in my life,  

Guiding me through both joy and strife.

God had shown me peace in Him alone.  

No sign was needed; my faith was known.

Time passed, as I knew it would,  

And I walked on in faith, knowing where I stood.  

When someone insisted I must have these gifts,  

I simply smiled because God’s truth gave me a lift.

Yes, I’m still journeying, still walking with God.  

Still learning obedience on this path I trod.  

I’ve never known wonders noble or grand—  

No tongues, no healing by my hand.

Even as I sat with the sick in a hospital bed,  

Healing never came, but the time was spirit-led. 

I knew in my heart, this gift I’d attained  

Was the one most precious, though hard to explain.

It’s not a gift I can show to man—  

It’s etched in love by God’s own hand.  

Though I speak not in tongues or heal,

God's gift of love is the most excellent still.

© 1997 Sandra C. Johnson

1 CORINTHIANS 13

If I profess to have tongues, what does it profit me

Without love, I am a resounding symbol with no melody. 

I can claim to know all knowledge and prophecy; 

And have a faith that can hurl mountains into the sea. 

But without love, it's useless and means nothing in the world. 

I can give endlessly, and into the flames my body can be hurled. 

You see, I can surrender my whole life for man; 

But without love, I gain nothing, no matter how much I understand. 

But what is love? How are we called to live? 

It needs to be our foundation when we serve and give. 

Love is patient, with those who cannot see; 

Trusting God to allow the seeds to grow, planted in humility. 

Love is kind, in kindness to our neighbor; 

We reach out and show them God's loving favor. 

Love does not envy what others seems to do; 

Even though maybe those good things are not in me and you. 

And love does not boast of all we seem to know; 

Nor loudly announce the ways we grow. 

Love is not proud-- too proud to acknowledge sin. 

True love, walks humbly before God and men. 

Love is not rude, nor quick to wound with speech.

It thinks of others, and in love will gently teach. 

Love is not self seeking, chasing it's own cause; 

It puts others first while honoring God's laws. 

Love is not easily offended by another. 

Keeping no record of wrongs, it  forgives a brother. 

Yet if someone is in sin, love must stop and say; 

Your not in the right, your going the wrong way. 

And when they change, oh how love does rejoice; 

In the truth, it has no other choice. 

Love always protects, and it always trusts.

God's love is fair, unconditional and just.

It always hopes, and always perseveres; 

Loving those estranged from us in prayerful tears. 

This perfect love breaks through and conquers all; 

It lifts the weary and never lets them fall. 

This love must be the foundation of our Christian walk; 

And the sweet aroma of the way we talk. 

Still, it won't always sound gentle or nice; 

For true love must sometimes give hard advice. 

Yet it still remains unchanged, if it's the love of Christ. 

Out of love, He died for us, and was sacrificed. 

God's love is never ending, and never fails; 

It's His love that will in all things, prevail.

© 1991 Sandra C. Johnson 

1 Corinthians 13:1-8, 10-13 NASB1995

[1] If I speak with the tongues of men and of angels, but do not have love, I have become a noisy gong or a clanging cymbal. [2] If I have the gift of prophecy, and know all mysteries and all knowledge; and if I have all faith, so as to remove mountains, but do not have love, I am nothing. [3] And if I give all my possessions to feed the poor, and if I surrender my body to be burned, but do not have love, it profits me nothing. [4] Love is patient, love is kind and is not jealous; love does not brag and is not arrogant, [5] does not act unbecomingly; it does not seek its own, is not provoked, does not take into account a wrong suffered, [6] does not rejoice in unrighteousness, but rejoices with the truth; [7] bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things. [8] Love never fails; but if there are gifts of prophecy, they will be done away; if there are tongues, they will cease; if there is knowledge, it will be done away. 

[10] but when the perfect comes, the partial will be done away. [11] When I was a child, I used to speak like a child, think like a child, reason like a child; when I became a man, I did away with childish things. [12] For now we see in a mirror dimly, but then face to face; now I know in part, but then I will know fully just as I also have been fully known. [13] But now faith, hope, love, abide these three; but the greatest of these is love.

We Are Not the Same

 We Are Not the Same

Cities on fire, buildings demolished,  

Crimes unchecked, their acts so polished.  

It all began with George Floyd’s death—  

They made him a hero with every breath.

Church vigils spread across the land,  

Prayers lifted by a humble hand.  

But when Charlie Kirk passed away,  

No riots broke out, no cars ablaze.

We are not the same as those on the other side.  

We’re not consumed by anger, arrogance, or pride.  

We pray for our enemies, walk in humility,  

And honor the fallen without hostility.

We are not the same—we don’t demand  

The right to wreak havoc across the land.  

We don’t mock those who vote another way,  

Or ridicule the faithful when they pray.

The contrast is striking, though years have gone by.  

They claimed we staged an insurrection, a lie.  

But someday, I’m sure the truth will be clear:  

January 6 was not what they feared.

We are not the same—the line has been drawn.  

By their fruits, you’ll know them, from dusk until dawn.  

Jesus said it, and it still rings true:  

One tree bears fruit, the other—few.

We are not the same—we preach Jesus Christ,  

But never by force, nor under cover of night.  

We love through rejection, hold fast to what’s true,  

And follow the call God gives us to do.

You have a choice—two paths to tread:  

One leads to life, the other to dread.  

One is forgiving, full of love and light,  

The other is bitter, cloaked in spite.

As for me, I will follow Jesus the King.  

I will listen to His voice and joyfully sing.  

I won’t let hate rule—I’ll give it to Him,  

For that is His will for all men.

© 2025 Sandra C. Johnson 

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

https://youtu.be/2qS6KGahrF4?si=NMEAH6lYz5bZiT1X

All Lives Matter to God

This has been a very somber and sad week as we mourn the loss of Charlie Kirk. And as I read social media posts criticizing us for not mourning the loss of a Democrat or somebody we don't agree with as much, I stand in shock. This is not a time to judge each other. Some of those posts that were put out there I didn't even know about. I do not think they are less significant.  Charlie Kirk was a well known figure that touched many people. Those who he touched have the right to mourn without feeling judged for it.  So in thinking of that I realized yes those Democrats that got killed matter to God. The unborn that are killed in the womb matter to God. The black person that's murdered matters to God. The white person that was slain in the subway matters to God.  They ALL matter to God.

All Lives Matter to God

When people criticize us for grieving one man,

And show us others slain by a murderer's hand,

Implying we don't care for those who've died–

Oh how wrong they are. We love all lives.

All lives matter to God– not just black or white.

Race, religion– it's all the same in His sight.

In this culture shaped by social media's sway,

It's easy to assume and misjudge what we say.

All lives matter to us who love Jesus Christ.

When one of our own dies, it cuts like a knife.

Losing someone close, tears you up inside.

That's why we grieve for this precious man who died.

It's not that we don't care for others now gone;

We've grieved their absence all along.

But let us weep in peace without accusation–

And use words of comfort not condemnation.

This isn't a time for name calling or taking a side,

But a time to unite and lay down our pride.

Whether you liked this man or disagreed with what he said,

I would hope you wouldn't have ever wished him dead.

He is gone now after fighting a good fight. 

His loss is felt– but not his alone in God's sight.

Every life, every child is precious and dear. 

God cherishes every single life and holds them near. 

So when you post pictures of others who have died,

And question why for them we haven’t cried–

It’s not that we did not care or mourn their fate,

But we did not know them--but still our grief resonates. 

All lives matter– Christian, atheist, Republican, Democrat

Jesus died for each one of them right there where they're at.

And all lives matter to us as we reach the world for Christ.

Praying many will see His love and His light. 

God desires none to perish, none to be lost. 

So we choose to love, no matter the cost. 

We endeavor to reach the world and make our enemies a friend

As God reconciles the entire earth to Him. 

© 2025 Sandra C. Johnson 

I Won’t Apologize

I Won’t Apologize

I won’t apologize for my faith or for saying what I feel.  

I won’t apologize for believing in a God I know is real.  

I won’t apologize for my morals, my values, or where I stand—  

And I won’t apologize for grieving the death of a godly man.

I’m sickened and disgusted by the world I see today:  

The hate, the accusations, the venom they send our way.  

I won’t apologize for standing against corruption and lies.  

I stand firm in my convictions—I’ve learned to spot their disguise.

You’d think they could have paused, just briefly,  

As someone mourned the loss of a father.  

You’d think they’d show compassion  

To a grieving, widowed mother.  

But when we weep, they ask about others who’ve died—  

As if we didn’t care. That’s just another lie.

No apologies—I’m done. If offense is taken, so be it.  

I know my heart. I strive for fairness, and I mean it.  

No one should be assassinated—no matter who they are.  

Democrat or Republican, we’ve let it go too far.

When the children in Texas died, the left rushed to assign blame.  

While parents grieved in silence, drowning in their pain.  

Again came the attacks, the politics, the shame—  

Instead of simply praying for the families by name.

So I look at this world and hear the rhetoric from both sides.  

I throw my hands to heaven—only in God do I confide.  

We’ve failed the test of love, of mercy, and forgiveness.  

This tragedy exposed our hearts—and our divisiveness.

I won’t apologize for being gaslit by the world.  

For questioning my faith as their accusations unfurled.  

For honoring a godly martyr with reverence and grace—  

No, I won’t apologize for giving him his rightful place.

We fail the test of compassion when we pick and choose  

Whom to honor, whom to shame, based on their views.  

But God’s love is unconditional—He died for every man.  

Not based on politics, religion, or where we stand.

So let us never apologize for what we believe.  

Let us treat one another with dignity and reprieve.  

Let us stand firm, even when the world demands we cave—  

For we each have a choice in how our souls behave.

© 2025 Sandra C. Johnson

An Ode to Charlie Kirk

An Ode to Charlie Kirk

He was not a politician, but struck down in his prime,  

A man who sought to shape young hearts and minds.  

Simply because of what this young man believed,  

He was shot down by what another perceived.  

We say our nation’s divided—and sadly, it’s true.  

People hurt others for a different point of view.  

But today as this man of God was shot down. 

There was not a dry eye that could be found. 

“It all has to stop” many out there will say. 

“It's time to legislate and take the guns away.”

The left will accuse the right as they always do. 

Though much of what they claim will not be true.

A man died today because of what he believed

And some will scoff, while others will deeply grieve.

He was a husband, a father, a friend—  

His life had meaning; it should not have met this end.  

He wasn’t a politician, but an activist bold,  

With wisdom beyond years and a heart of gold.  

We may never grasp why his life ceased today,  

But we find comfort knowing with him, God had His way.  

This world is upside down—he tried to make it right,  

Restoring common sense to youth lost in the night.  

And many like him will rise follow in his steps,  

For he left a legacy that few will forget.  

His name was Charlie Kirk. May he never be forgot.  

Today marked infamy—a great man was shot.  

May he rest in peace, and may his family find grace  

To gather the pieces and stand in his place.

© 2025 Sandra C. Johnson

God's Vindication

 God's Vindication

When God says I will vindicate you. 

It doesn't mean vengeance will come true. 

Sometimes vindication means working through pain

And forgiving the others who stay the same. 

Vengeance is mine, says God on high. 

Which means He calls the shots on the how and the why.

You need not know what He is going to do

Just rest and let God vindicate you. 

When God promises vindication. 

It means He will intervene in the situation. 

But just as He works on you he is working on them.

His way will always work out in the end. 

What we forget is that God's vengeance,

Is sprinkled with grace and forgiveness. 

His plan is to restore all men,

And create a new person within. 

So when God says “I'll vindicate,” remember: 

His ways are best, His love the center.

His vindication works both ways. 

And He is worthy of thanks and given all praise. 

© 2025 Sandra C. Johnson

17 Do not repay anyone evil for evil. Be careful to do what is right in the eyes of everyone. 18 If it is possible, as far as it depends on you, live at peace with everyone. 19 Do not take revenge, my dear friends, but leave room for God’s wrath, for it is written: “It is mine to avenge; I will repay,”[d] says the Lord. 20 On the contrary:

“If your enemy is hungry, feed him;

    if he is thirsty, give him something to drink.

In doing this, you will heap burning coals on his head.”[e]

21 Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.

Romans 12:17-21