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

I Say Amen

I Say Amen

I've learned to say Amen to God's plan

I've learned to rest in him right where I stand.

I've learned it's not me that creates change

But a sovereign God who rules all things

We're but mere men, trying to navigate

Our way in a world governed by hate.

As we debate politics and philosophy

The world's wisdom is fading and it's ideology

I've learned to Simply rest and say Amen to God

I've learned it's all foolishness in this path that I trod.

Saying amen to his plan in the Earth

And following His lead Putting him first

I've learned to say Amen as I seek his way

As I watch him reign and have his say

I've watched Him sit back as rulers take their place

And have watched him intervene with mercy and with Grace

Sometimes we wonder what's happened in this world

Everything is upside down Moral values have been hurled

But I just stand for my savior and say Amen to his way

As he leads me to where I'm supposed to be each day

Yes I've learned to say Amen to God above

To not go out on my own but rest in his love

And I don't get dismantled over all the evil I see

I just say Amen to my father who shapes every destiny.

©2026 Sandra C. Johnson

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. 

©2025 Sandra C. Johnson

The God That You Know

 The God That You Know

Who is the God that you know? 

Who is it whose works that you show? 

On whom does your faith depend? 

Is it on Yahweh, or on the precepts of men? 

For all gods will soon be put to the test. 

Only Yahweh will stand above the rest.

And if you lean too much on the god that’ untrue;

The foundation will fall, that’s been holding you. 

As earthquakes have come and gone;

It tested the foundations to see if they were strong. 

But a bigger earthquake that will shake all you believe;

Is about to unravel all false gods and deceit. 

Yes, a time is coming my friend;

When all will crumble that is of mere men. 

And the only thing that will be left to stand;

Is God Almighty and what’s in His hand. 

It’s time to put our faith back in Him; 

Yahweh, only is the one in whom we must depend. 

And those who think other sources will lead them though;

Will be disappointed when faced with the truth. 

As Israel crossed the Jordan to find;

A woman who chose their God at the right time. 

She knew what to do, to keep wrath away. 

And gladly did she and her house obey. 

There is much work to do on the other side, 

And it can’t be done with vengeance or pride. 

Only in the name of our father above, 

Administering His justice out of His love. 

Who is the god that you know? 

Is it the one you see at the church where you go? 

Is it the one that your parents taught you of?

Or is the one birthed in your heart from above?

Now is the time to seek Yahweh’s face. 

To come before Him in our sin and disgrace;

To ask Him to reveal to us who He is;

So that we will know Him and learn godliness.

I’m still seeking Him, even today. 

God Almighty to whom I pray. 

Imitations come and whisper to us here;

Trying to cast doubt in the God whom we revere. 

So my friend, who is the God that you know? 

Who is the one that to others you show?

Let’s seek together so in that day when all will be known.

Our works tried in the fire will come out shining as gold. 

©1996 Sandra C. Johnson