Take it Up with the Almighty

Throughout the years, I’ve heard the same questions more than once: “Who are you to judge?” or “What makes you the authority?” Usually it comes up when I’m holding to a biblical standard—most recently, my pro‑life stance.

What some see as judgment is simply my attempt to stand on what God has already spoken. There are moments when I wish I could just nod along with the world’s ideology, accept every lifestyle or belief it celebrates, and avoid offending anyone. It would certainly be easier.

But God’s truth has always offended. From the earliest prophets who spoke to Israel, all the way to today, truth has a way of exposing what we’d rather ignore.

The poem below speaks to that tension—standing firm in a world that pushes back. My prayer is that these words encourage you to hold fast to what God has shown you, even when it isn’t popular.

Take it up with the Almighty

If you find yourself offended buy something that I say

Take it up with the Almighty in Heaven on that day. 

If you feel that I may be insensitive or unkind Take your case to heaven to the divine

Far be it for me to pass judgment on my fellow man

Without looking at my own heart and where I stand

I speak only what his word teaches and try to follow

I will not compromise or remain Hollow

But if my words trigger you in a sensitive place

Know that I speak in love, in honor and in grace.

I only say what I have heard from my father on high

And it's his word and Truth on which I rely

So if these words are offensive take it up with him

And I pray He will help you and it's not to condemn 

I only speak his truth and examining my own heart

Which inspires me to tell others and lead them out of the dark

Take it up with the Almighty let him come inside

As with us all  he removes our idols of hate and of pride

He humbles us And leads us in his love and grace

And writes as law within exposing our darkest place

So take it up with the Almighty If you dare

But know His court is just and fair

He will hear you out look at both sides

He sees everything within us that we try to hide

So take it to the Almighty if you're offended today

Please Go to him He will lead you in his way

He will change your life, expose your guilt and shame.

But when you leave his court, you will never be the same

©2026 Sandra C. Johnson

We Are All the Same

 WE ARE ALL THE SAME

No matter who we are or what walk of life we lead

We all still have the same struggles and the same basic needs. 

We all have had hurts and pains that chill us to the bone

We all have the same fears and doubts that all mankind have known.

We sometimes feel we’re the only ones who committed so great a sin

And we’re the only ones with such fear and doubt within.

When every person in the world has fought demons deep inside;

That haunt and torture us, and break down our pride. 

We’re all the same inside, and none of us can make it alone

The rich the poor, the one on the street without a home

The senators and high officials who are on TV each night 

The little girl, who came home crying from a school fight.

We’re all the same, and we all need a Savior to set us free. 

We all need His love, for only in Him, is the key. 

To being freed from our past and to a path this is pure. 

To a life of peace and one this is safe and secure. 

So, when you look at another whose life seems so important then;

And you feel a tad inferior, because your life doesn’t compare to him

Remember he is the same inside, though he covers it well,

Look into his heart for only then can you truly tell. 

He may need your prayers, though, he may never say

Look up to the heavens, and for this man please pray anyway. 

We need to stop passing judgment on someone who has less. 

Those we see as freaks, the beggars and the homeless. 

No matter what we think, only God knows what is truly going on.

So stop and pray for them it just takes a minute before moving on. 

Yes, we are all the same inside, each person on this earth. 

We all needs Jesus’ touch, we all need to put Him first. 

So pray for your fellow man, despite what you may see. 

Jesus alone for all of us is the one who can set us free. 

This is what we are all here for, to touch each other and to give.

Yes, we are truly all the same in this life on earth we live. 

© Copyright 2006 Sandra C. Johnson 

G

A New Dwelling Place

 A New Dwelling Place

God made a new place for His spirit to dwell. 

Not in a manmade temple high on the hill.

But in the heart who believes in His Son who died.

This is the place His Spirit resides. 

We look at churches and temples grand in design. 

And may stand in awe of the beauty that we find

But inside our hearts is where the true splendor lies. 

As He rewrites His truth there and in our lives. 

In streets where we walk and where we find. 

Across the earth throughout all mankind

His spirit moving to touch those that we see. 

Not just in Church are souls set free. 

His spirit is not contained within church  walls. 

Or under the cloak of religion and man's noble cause

But His spirit dwells in the heart of man. 

Not in buildings that fade by human hands. 

And since Jesus walked the earth, He made it clear. 

A new dwelling place is not far but near. 

And while we seek His fulfillment in man made designs. 

God has been building His temple one stone at a time. 

God made a new place for His spirit to dwell. 

Not in a manmade temple high on the hill.

We are all living stones placed where He called us to be.

A new dwelling, a new Temple stands eternally.

©2026 Sandra C. Johnson

The Shelter of the Most High

The Shelter of the Most High

(An adaptation from Psalm 91)

Whoever dwells in the shelter of the Most High 

Will rest in his shadow in whom they rely. 

I will confess the Lord as my fortress and refuge 

Whom I have trusted since my youth. 

Surely He will save you from the Fowler's snare. 

And from the deadly pestilence that you find there. 

He will cover you with his feathers and His wings 

And you will not fear the world or anything. 

His faithfulness will always be evident to see.

Especially in times when terror reigns heavily. 

But no need to fear because of the arrow that flies by day. 

Or the the plagues that may come your way. 

You may witness wars and see thousand fall all around. 

But He will protect you, no harm will ever be found. 

You will observe with your eyes God’s judgments then.

When He visits the sins upon men. 

If you say the Lord is my refuge, and make Him your dwelling. 

No harm or disaster will befall you is what you will be telling.

For His angels will take care of you in all that you do

In this world of danger and violence, they will watch over you. 

You will tread the cobra, the serpent and lion 

Because you love God and made Him the one you rely on. 

Because you acknowledge Him, He will answer your prayer. 

He will deliver and honor you and always be there.

©2025 Sandra C. Johnson

A Tear Falls from Heaven

I wrote this poem after reflecting in what God and His angels must feel.over the chaos in our world today.  I know God is in control.  I also know He loves His creation and must grieve over our actions. 

A Tear Falls from Heaven

A tear falls from heaven when brothers fight

When they insist on holding on to their pride.

A tear falls from heaven when a judge issues a decree 

That is far from just and void of mercy

A tear falls from heaven at every breaking heart. 

Every longing in man's deepest part. 

A tear falls because the view from heaven is clear. 

The world is blind to God whose presence is near. 

A tear falls from heaven as they witness violence and hate

And see man hang on to bitter anger instead of grace. 

A tear falls from heaven over all that they see

So many hearts darkened, that could be set free. 

A tear falls from heaven because God loves His creation. 

Sending His son to give them salvation.

Yes a tear falls from heaven over it all

It has since the day of man's fall. 

God cherishes each soul on earth

Each tear that falls proves our worth. 

Tears fell from heaven when His son died.

And suffered at our hand and was crucified. 

As we fight over so many issues today.

Forgetting He is on control as we demand our way

And tears fell from heaven as we lose sight

Of who God is and we choose to fight. 

A tear falls from heaven but one day there will be

No tears in His Kingdom where captives are set Free

No more fighting no more left or right

As the knowledge of Him is declared in His glorious light. 

©2026 Sandra C. Johnson

The Idols of our Heart

I woke up earlier than usual on this particular Sunday afternoon. I worked nights in 1998 when I originally wrote this. 

On Sundays,  I tried to only sleep for a little while so I could go to bible study and also be able to sleep the next night. Well this particular day, I awoke with the words. "They are passing on the idols." What? God gave me a picture of the churches. All of them, every denomination and every belief system. I always asked myself ever since I was a kid why there were so many churches. My church claimed to have all truth...but God....I remember asking how do I truly know?

Unknown to me at that time was the path the Lord had laid out for me in the years to come. The scripture that comes to mind is found in Ezek. 14:3-5 "Son of man, these men have set up their idols in their hearts, and put before them that which causes them to stumble into iniquity. Should I let Myself be inquired of at all by them? Therefore speak to them, and say to them, Thus says the Lord God: Everyone of the house of Israel who sets up his idols in his heart, and puts before him what causes him to stumble into iniquity, and then comes to the prophet, I the Lord will answer him who comes according to the multitude of his idols, that I may seize the house of Israel by their heart because they are still enstranged from Me by their idols." I remember reading about the idolatry of the house of Israel and Judah both. From the setting up of the golden calf, to the King Jeroboam who it is written over and over again in the Kings how he caused Israel to sin. Throughout the history of this nation, there are numerous accounts of idolatry. When would they learn, I used to think. You'd think they'd figure it out by now. Until I read the above scripture. Praying Lord, please reveal to me the idols of my heart so that I won't fall into sin. Be careful what you ask for.......

Well this has been a real conviction for me for the past few months. As I've heard God say He is going to bring down our idols When we read this scripture in Ezekiel, it brings a scary thought to my mind. Are we passing on the idols of our hearts as we witness,,,are we sharing our church's point of view. or our personal point of view? Not that our point of view is necessarily wrong....but we all are human, and none of us know all truth....are we willing to give our point of view to the Lord and ask Him to cleanse us of those preconceived notions of what we think is right, and hear Him clearly.....It's scary......He will answer us if we pray He answers according to the idols of our hearts. Be it a new car......be it a new church building.....which is it for you all? Are you carrying some idols deep down. We read in Ezekiel 8:8-11 "Then He said to me, "Son of man, dig into the wall"; and when I dug into the wall, there was a door. And He said to me, "Go in and see the wicked abominations which they are doing there. So I went in and saw, and there every sort of creeping thing, abominable beasts and all the idols of the house of Israel portrayed all around on the walls. And there stood before them seventy men of the elders of the house of Israel." Well this whole chapter talks about the idolatry of the house of Israel....It reveals to us the place where the priests stored these items. We have those items too. They are our idols we hide where no one can see. They are our belief system....Whether it be our hurts, unforgivenesses, or simply our point of view. God wants us to have His presence there and take out all those idols in our innermost parts so that we won't hear him according to those things but according to His pure and undefiled word. Something I have to think about on a daily basis....Am I asking out of the idols of my heart, or giving my life in His hands, as he answers my prayers and I hear His voice. May God bless you and lead you richly into your lives this week, and may we all grow in the knowledge and love of the Lord. May we all learn together to trust Him fully and completely in every area of our lives. Below is the poem God put on my heart that Sunday afternoon, when I was awoken.

THE IDOLS OF OUR HEARTS

We come together to worship and pray.

To edify and encourage one another by what we have to say.

We each have our doctrine and our point of view.

Those beliefs that we claim as right and true.

Whether Catholic, Protestant be the name affixed thereon.

We hold tight to our convictions so very long.

When we pray seeking to know all truth.

Do we ask with preconceived notions of our point of view?

OR do we put aside how we think it should be;

And trust God to lead us in His sovereignty.

Do we lay out our OUR agenda for His will?

OR listen as He says "my child simply be still".

Do we let go and trust God to show us the way?

Or ask according to the idols in our hearts as we pray.

When we witness to others of the Kingdom's good news;

Do we pass on the idol called "My point of view."

Or do we give the pure and undefiled WORD.

Trusting God to water and feed them by what they have heard.

Yes, too many times we've passed on our idols we hold tight.

Our traditions passed on to us, that felt so very right.

Wanting to help God in heaven save the world from sin;

Based on the doctrines and traditions of men.

Are you passing on an idol to your fellowman?

Are you sharing your doctrine and what you understand?

OR are you passing on to others the Word of God alone;

Being there to learn with them things that were unknown.

As we seek our father in heaven above;

May we learn in faith what it means to truly love.

May we not be in fear as we hear His voice;

May following Him solely be our only choice.

As He reveals to us the idols of our hearts;

Those preconceived notions in our innermost parts;

And as He in time starts to reveal;

The truth of His Word and His perfect will.

May we hear Him, and obey His Word.

Passing on from the Father what we all have heard.

Yes we come together to worship and pray.

Seeking His Kingdom and His perfect way.

Encouraging each other to hear His voice within;

As we all strive to live a life in oneness with Him.

© Copyright 1998 Sandra C. Johnson

To Preach to the Choir

To Preach to the Choir

God did not call us to preach to the choir. 

He called us to walk through the fire. 

It's there where the lost souls reside. 

The ones in need of His love that has been denied. 

God did not call us just to share with fellow brothers

Who already know Him unlike the others. 

He said the harvest is plentiful look and see. 

And go out and share my love that sets them free.

He called us to be uncomfortable and serve. 

To be Courageous and not lose our nerve. 

To teach the broken and show them 

Who Jesus is and to not pretend. 

He called us to take off our suits and ties. 

And humbly serve looking into their eyes. 

To see others the way He does

And have mercy and exemplify His love.

The church sometimes sits high on the hill

And those inside are safe, warm and filled.

And the world below looks up only to find. 

They don't belong and question why. 

But God did not call us to just fill a pew

Or eat lunch with the chosen few. 

But to follow him Into the streets

To touch the world and show him to all that we meet

No, God did not call us to preach to the choir

But to reach others whose lives are dire

And there are times when we do renew

With others of the same point of View

But step out and let him lead you each day

And listen for him to show you what to say

So those in the valley can come up the hill

And with us, take part in His Holy will

©2026 Sandra C. Johnson