How is It?

How is It?

How is it that thunder rolls, and man fears it’s mighty roar? 

Yet, the one that causes that thunder man seems to ignore. 

How is it that hurricanes can make us tremble and run from our homes; 

Yet our fear of the creator is virtually unknown; 

How is it that man can declare there is no God, 

Yet at his works he continually will applaud. 

He has no logical answer for who created this blessing called earth. 

But he stands in awe of the beauty in all of its worth. 

He enacts celebrations, earth day, to preserve what He knows.

But He is unable to see the creator, despite the display that He shows. 

We construct shrines and worship mother earth. 

While denying its creator and His worth. 

How is it that we are blind to God's master plan? 

And cant see a baby in the womb as life not a mistake of man. 

How is it that we glorify sin in all its forms 

And are unable to hear the precious heartbeat of the unborn. 

I have no answers, as I contemplate our current state. 

But I know who my redeemer is and who determines my fate. 

The God of heaven and of earth.

Calls every shot for us each since our day of birth. 

He holds back the thunder and the rain. 

And brings the snow in their time and does not refrain.

He allows man to exercise His freedom to choose what is right. 

Because you see He won't force us to come into the light.

How is it that thunder rolls and we can't see God's hand?

I daresay we do, whether or not we understand.  

And in time, the eyes of all the world will be able to see.

That God is sovereign in the earth and reigns eternally. 

© 2025 Sandra C. Johnson

Faith that Can Move Mountains

Faith That Can Move Mountains

Jesus told us we could move mountains by faith. 

We just have to believe what God's word does say. 

He didn't tell us to believe in what's already here; 

But to believe we have received from HIm without fear. 

But too many times I've felt alone and afraid; 

Too many times I've let fear get in my way. 

So the mountain in my life has remained. 

Sunshine has been hidden by all of the rain. 

Yet God has been waiting for an honest prayer; 

One full of faith and void of despair. 

One that believes and has cast away all doubt. 

One that knows God's promises inside and out. 

And oh the burden is lifted once again.

The simplicity of leaning by faith in Him.

Having faith in Him and trusting His word. 

Letting Him remove the mountain from my life with just one word. 

Yes, I've asked God to come help me today. 

Help me live with a mountain, He's waiting to take away.

Forgetting He's able to cast that mountain into the sea; 

My faith in His word simply holds the key. 

So help me father trust you starting today. 

Renew my faith when I kneel down to pray. 

So that I may be strong in you. 

Knowing in every situation, you'll see me though. 

Jesus told me a mountain was clouding my view; 

From seeing His promises steadfast and true. 

So now I know my God will take the mountain away; 

And lead us more in His will with each passing day. 

©1997 Sandra C. Johnson

Have faith in God,” Jesus answered. “Truly I tell you, if anyone says to this mountain, ‘Go, throw yourself into the sea,’ and does not doubt in their heart but believes that what they say will happen, it will be done for them. Therefore I tell you, whatever you ask for in prayer, believe that you have received it, and it will be yours. 

Mark 11:22-24

God's Mosaic

There are moments when God lets us glimpse the bigger picture—how our individual stories, struggles, and gifts fit into something far greater than we can see. This poem, God’s Mosaic, came from reflecting on that truth: that each of us is a unique piece in His unfolding masterpiece. Though our paths differ, they all lead back to Him, and together we reveal the beauty of His plan. I pray these words encourage you to see your place in God’s mosaic and to trust the work He is doing in and through your life.

God’s Mosaic

God’s mosaic began ages ago,  

When He breathed life into man.  

And through His only Son who died for us,  

A new and holy age began.  

Little by little through the years,  

He has revealed His perfect plan—  

Speaking in different times and ways,  

Still guiding the heart of man.  

Hearing His voice brings understanding,  

A vision that leads us out of the dark.  

To some He gives a picture unique,  

A path designed for each heart.  

At the end of the road our journeys meet,  

As His voice draws our spirits near.  

Our wills and hearts align with His,  

And His truth becomes our song to share.  

We carry His law upon our hearts,  

Testifying freely of His sovereignty.  

We are members of the body of Christ,  

As His unfolding mosaic comes to be.  

Different colors, different stories,  

Different places where we stand—  

Yet we come together at the end of the age,  

Declaring the fullness of God’s plan.  

We each hold gifts that honor His glory,  

Designed with purpose from the start.  

Though we may not always agree,  

We look to the Father who frees every heart.  

His mosaic is a masterpiece—  

A beauty the world has never seen.  

A picture of the body of Christ,  

A gathering of the redeemed.  

From the beginning of time it has unfolded,  

A story of restoration divine—  

God’s mosaic, piece by piece,  

Revealing His love for all mankind.  

© 2024 Sandra C. Johnson

Into the Fire

A reflection on God’s refining love

There are seasons when life feels like jumping from the frying pan into the fire. We pray for God’s deliverance, yet the heat seems to rise instead of fade. But often, that very fire is where God does His deepest work — not to harm us, but to refine us.

From the Frying Pan Into the Fire

From the frying pan into the fire —  

that’s where we go when God tests desire.  

We pray for His deliverance today,  

then wonder why our hearts still ache this way.

It’s because He’s burning off the chaff,  

our worldly nature we still grasp.  

We cling to our own thoughts and plans,  

believing strength is in our hands.

It’s a hard lesson when we ask God to deliver,  

to lift us out of the heat we’re in.  

Yet when we pray, into the fire we go —  

a necessary part of His refining.

From the frying pan into the fire,  

He cleanses us of human desire.  

Though painful as the dross is stripped away,  

the heart is shaped into a child of His grace.

So when you ask God to deliver you today,  

hold tight — He works in His perfect way.  

You may walk through the burning flame,  

but He is with you, giving strength to sustain.

©2025 Sandra C. Johnson

When People Hurt Us

 When People Hurt Us

When people hurt us as they often do

We have a choice of how it affects our life’s view.

We can hold on and dwell on how bad we feel.

Or we can let go as if it’s no big deal.

But with hurt comes our emotional reaction.

To let go, sometimes gives us no satisfaction.

So we hang on either for a time or longer.

Thinking that it will somehow make us stronger.

But it hurts us inside when we fail to let go.

Over time, bitterness is all we can show.

We soon become a victim and like it that way.

Our relationships change with each passing day.

When people treat us unfairly, as they sometimes will.

We have a choice of how to react, despite how we feel.  

We can feel sorry for ourselves, and once again

Live in a dark place, with a bitter end.

But when we choose to let go, and give it Him.

He takes it far away where we won’t find it again.

And He fills us with His love that replaces the pain.

Our God’s healing will never leave us the same.

It’s okay to grieve when your heart is wounded within.

Stay for a time then leave it at His feet once again.

That’s when we grow, that’s when the best is yet to come.

When no burdens are bearing down on us, the past is done.

So when people betray you and the hurt runs so deep.

Go cry out to God, lay it all at His feet.

But then allow Him to carry it all far away.

He wants you to be free to love after today.

©2008 Sandra C. Johnson

The Least of These

 The Least of These

Sometimes it's those little things we do.

To the least of those with a love that's true. 

We take a moment to send a text. 

To someone who was lonely thinking they had nothing left. 

We whisper a prayer for those we see. 

We simply say hello with quiet generosity.

It was said by Jesus when He  walked the earth

“If you did it to the least of these, you understood your worth.”

“You did it to me, your answered your call.”

It wasn't anything grand that made you stand tall. 

But it mattered to the lives that you touched. 

It's the least of these that matter so much. 

To the least of these we open our hearts.

We shine light into the lives that sit in the dark. 

We talked a woman out of a fatal decision. 

On her way to Planned Parenthood on a grim mission. 

To the least of these when we stopped on the road. 

Helping someone with a heavy load.

Not knowing a criminal would drive by later. 

With different intentions changing her fate forever. 

To the least of these- a daughter gone astray

Had her destiny changed by someone who prayed. 

Simply because they passed her that day, 

Her future shifted in a quiet, holy way. 

To the least of these we're given a chance. 

Each way we live, if we'll listen in advance

That's how He moves, How He draws us in. 

To the least of these He changes the hearts of men. 

©2025 Sandra C. Johnson

 “Then the King will say to those on his right, ‘Come, you who are blessed by my Father; take your inheritance, the kingdom prepared for you since the creation of the world.  For I was hungry and you gave me something to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you invited me in,  I needed clothes and you clothed me, I was sick and you looked after me, I was in prison and you came to visit me.’

“Then the righteous will answer him, ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you something to drink? When did we see you a stranger and invite you in, or needing clothes and clothe you? When did we see you sick or in prison and go to visit you?’

“The King will reply, ‘Truly I tell you, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did for me.’

Matthew 25:34-40

The Mustard Seed

He replied, “Because you have so little faith. Truly I tell you, if you have faith as small as a mustard seed, you can say to this mountain, ‘Move from here to there,’ and it will move. Nothing will be impossible for you.”  Matthew 17:20

The Mustard Seed

The mustard seed, the smallest seed of all,  

Yet look at what it does though it seems so small.  

It rises up—growing sturdy and strong,  

Its quiet resilience lasting long.  

We are all mustard seeds waiting to be sprouted,  

As God reminds us our faith need not be doubted.  

And as we trust and rest in Him,  

He does His deepest work within.  

So don’t fret today if you feel small;  

God has a plan as we answer His call.  

In time we’ll grow in ways we never imagined,  

By His strength moving in ways we never fathomed.  

The roots go deep and the branches high,  

Their reach extending through all of our lives.  

So when God calls you and you wonder why,  

And nothing changes as the days go by—  

Wait on Him, for He’s the Master Gardener.  

He tends the soil and is the gracious Pardoner.  

He makes the seed grow—He knew you from the start,  

And He alone writes His law on your heart.  

So fret not; in His time and His way,  

The mustard seed grows with each passing day.  

Place your plans gently into His care,  

Trust His process and continue in prayer.  

He forgives when we wander off on our own,  

Thinking He’s forgotten while we flounder in the unknown.  

Yet still He waters the seed,  

Patiently tending us in our unbelief.  

For the seed was planted long ago—  

God’s work ordained, His promise sure to grow.

©2025 Sandra C. Johnson

He told them another parable: “The Kingdom of Heaven is like a mustard seed, which a man took and planted in his field. Though it is the smallest of all seeds, yet when it grows, it is the largest of garden plants and becomes a tree, so that the birds come and perch in its branches.”

Matthew 13:31-32

Precious is Each Prayer

Precious is Each Prayer

Precious is each prayer that we lift to God on high.  

Though we don’t always know what to say, His Spirit hears our cry.  

So many times I carry feelings deep within my heart,  

And when I’m alone with God, I find them hard to impart.  

But my Father knows my thoughts before the words come out,  

And my whole life—He knows what it’s all about.  

He knows what makes me laugh and what will make me cry;  

He’s ever faithful to the prayers of both you and I.  

So precious is the little girl who prays,  

Asking God to help her know just what to say.  

When we simply try to start a prayer,  

God hears—and He is always there.  

So precious is the prayer of each woman and man  

Who searches for truth, seeking to understand.  

Not sure of it all, but laying it at God’s feet,  

And God gives the answers that they seek.  

Precious is each prayer, no matter how short or long—  

No matter how eloquent your speech, or if you’re weak or strong.  

For our God in heaven hears each and every cry;  

Each prayer is precious, whispered by you and I.  

So as I seek the Lord’s face once again,  

And my words get jumbled by all my thoughts within,  

I’ll remember that God still hears and He is there,  

And I will continue to be faithful in prayer.

©1996 Sandra C. Johnson

God's Unseen Hand

God's Unseen Hand

We can’t see everything God does, for it’s already done.  

These are the trials we were spared—those already won.  

We can’t see the dangers that could have come upon us;  

God’s protecting shield has guarded and covered us.

As we look to God and pray to Him today,  

We see Him working in His perfect way.  

Angels guard us and watch over our path;  

They protect and spare us from all wrath.

In our times of sorrow and pain,  

As we continue to call the Lord’s name,  

Though we cry out over all that we see,  

God still has been protecting you and me.

When Israel cried out in hunger and thirst,  

All they could see was a curse.  

God gave them strength to endure and sustain,  

But they grumbled instead of praising His name.

And as I do the things to help my children here,  

I cringe as they complain and shed many tears—  

Crying because there’s something else I forgot.  

They don’t see what they have, only what they have not.

Not always thankful for being pulled from the street,  

For helping them walk or stand on their feet.  

They want to play—they can’t see the things that I do;  

Toys and fun are all in their view.

God’s done so much in each of our lives;  

The things He doesn’t show us go unrecognized—  

The drunk driver that never crossed our path,  

The gunman in violent anger and wrath,

The sickness that could have stricken us all,  

The airplane crash or the broken automobile,  

Homelessness, no food on the table,  

Being handicapped or physically unable.

I’ll stop there, for I think now we can see  

How our Father protects you and me.  

We are provided for and blessed with health;  

Through Him, we hold such great wealth.

So let’s thank Him for His protection so strong,  

For being faithful when we do things wrong,  

For never leaving us or forsaking us here.  

O God, I praise You—it's You I revere.

©1996 Sandra C. Johnson

Little by Little

 Little by Little

Little by little, God’s work will be done.  

Little by little, we will all overcome.  

God’s timing is perfect in every way —  

It takes time when we walk in His way.

Little by little, another step is taken.  

It may take so long you’ll think you’re mistaken,  

But with God, a thousand years is only a day —  

So press on, my friends, and live solely by faith.

Little by little, the enemies of Israel were overcome.  

God said it would take time before the work was done,  

Lest the beasts of the land grow too many for them 

God’s timing is perfect, protecting all men.

Little by little, in our lives today,  

We draw closer to the Father as we learn to obey.  

At times it seems we’ve gotten nowhere at all,  

But that’s when we’re growing, though sometimes we fall.

God is always there to catch us again,  

Teaching our hearts to lean on Him.  

Overcoming takes patience and time 

But little by little, we find true peace of mind.

Little by little and day by day,  

We become more like Him and learn how to pray.  

One day we will understand why

Until then, we follow our Father on high.

©1996 Sandra C,Johnson

“I will send my terror ahead of you and throw into confusion every nation you encounter. I will make all your enemies turn their backs and run. I will send the hornet ahead of you to drive the Hivites, Canaanites and Hittites out of your way. But I will not drive them out in a single year, because the land would become desolate and the wild animals too numerous for you. Little by little I will drive them out before you, until you have increased enough to take possession of the land.

Exodus 23:27-30