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Tara Johnson

sharing stories through writing, speaking and singing

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Tara Johnson

The Bell Ringer

Posted in: Blog | November 24, 2017

We heard the bell ringing across the parking lot before we saw the red bucket and the Santa-capped volunteer sitting in front of Walmart. My son knows the drill. His chubby fingers lifted towards me. “Money, Momma?” I smiled and sighed inwardly, reaching into my purse to scrape for loose change. I had already given out most of it to other bell ringers throughout the past week. Still, I was proud of my little guy who loved to drop change into the charity collections. Give Read More

Fleas and . . . Thanksgiving?

Posted in: Blog, Walking with God | November 19, 2017

I recently heard this funny little story at an event where I was singing: There was a little old lady who woke up one morning to realize she only had three hairs left on her head. She looked in the mirror, smiled and said, “Lord, I thank you because I can braid my hair today.” So she did. The next day she woke up and only two hairs remained. She looked in the mirror, smiled and said, “Lord, I thank you because today I can Read More

Moving Down Alto Side: The Thankfulness Perspective

Posted in: Uncategorized, Walking with God | November 20, 2016

I stared at the seat I’d occupied in the church choir for nineteen years. End seat, soprano section. No longer. This was the day. I had to do it. It was past time. I swallowed and grabbed my black folder, clutching it to my chest as I marched past the director and plopped next to the empty chair in the alto section. My friends gave me quizzical stares. I smiled weakly. “Looks like I’m an alto now. You’re stuck with me.” I know this sounds Read More

Hanging Out with God: The Football

Posted in: Uncategorized, Walking with God | November 14, 2016

Sometimes I think we humans give ourselves far too much credit. We think the world will collapse without us. We are irreplaceable. The universe begins with our birth and ends with our death. We have a mountain of tasks that depends on our follow through. Our own self-importance is staggering…or it can be, if we actually believe all this to be the truth. I used to think this kind of mentality was only true of the ‘get-it-done’ folks. You know. The annoyingly obnoxious movers and Read More

Sippy Cups: When It Seems God Doesn’t Care

Posted in: Uncategorized, Walking with God | November 7, 2016

Have you ever felt God has forgotten you? Perhaps He showed you something phenomenal He’s about do in and through your life. The arrival of a long awaited child, a gift or talent maybe. Perhaps it was a vocational change or ministry calling of some sort. Perhaps it’s a long-held dream right on the cusp of fruition. God revealed that glimpse to you, confirmed it and reminded you again for good measure. Your excitement mounted and it seemed like a million dreams were about to Read More

What’s Your Passion? Living for the Things That Matter

Posted in: Uncategorized, Walking with God | October 30, 2016

I’m preparing to speak at an upcoming women’s retreat and the theme is “Start a Fire”. No, this isn’t a retreat for closet arsonists. It’s a time designed to get fired up for our Creator. But in preparing for the retreat, I began meditating on the word ‘passion’ and started thinking about what most of us are passionate about.  What gets you excited? Hot under the collar? What makes you shout in excitement? In other words, what’s your passion? For some people it’s their kids Read More

The Window Washer: Fear-Defying Faith

Posted in: Uncategorized, Walking with God | October 23, 2016

The past week was a taste of paradise. I was overjoyed to attend a writers retreat for the authors who are signed with the fabulous agents of Books & Such Literary Agency. Boy, did they spoil us! We met in Monterey, California to enjoy a time of learning, fellowship, planning and fun. My brain is overwhelmed with everything they taught us, the creativity and joy were contagious and the view couldn’t be beat. But best of all were the friendships forged. As you can see, Read More

The One Christian Cliché I’ve Tossed for Good

Posted in: Church Life, Uncategorized, Walking with God | October 9, 2016

Thees and Thous. Hedge of protection. Traveling mercies. Let go and let God. So many odd phrases pepper our western Christian culture. Some are rooted in Bible and some have been twisted over time. Some were never in scripture to begin with. Over the past two years, I’ve meditated continually on 1 John 2:6. “…the one who says he abides in Him [Jesus] ought himself to walk in the same manner as He walked.” Okay. So if I want to be like Christ, I just need to Read More

Disney Theology

Posted in: Uncategorized, Walking with God | October 3, 2016

Walt Disney messed me up, and it appears I’m not the only one. Not long ago I was perusing the books at our local Christian bookstore, and began to notice a troubling theme in many of the nonfiction works. A large number of them boasted subject matter along these lines: “If you can dream it, you can do it.” “If we dream big, God will bless us.” “The way to get started is to quit talking and begin doing.” “God gives you big dreams so Read More

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Latest Blog Posts

A Tale of Three Dogs: What it Means to Walk with God

  • What’s up with the Christian Cliches?
  • Cracked Pots
  • What I Learned in the Darkness
  • Shattering the Fairytale: When Perfect Isn’t Enough

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Reader Reviews:

Laura Frantz

Engraved on the Heart by Tara Johnson

“Johnson weaves a tale of selflessness, and service . . .” Read more “Laura Frantz”

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Sarah Sundin

Engraved on the Heart by Tara Johnson

“Engraved on the Heart brings Savannah, Georgia, during the Civil War to life.” Read more “Sarah Sundin”

Award-winning Author

Jocelyn Green

Engraved on the Heart by Tara Johnson

“Lovers of Civil War fiction will rejoice to add Engraved on the Heart to their collections.” Read more “Jocelyn Green”

Award-winning Author

Robin Lee Hatcher

Engraved on the Heart by Tara Johnson

“Tara Johnson delivers a stirring tale of danger and hope.” Read more “Robin Lee Hatcher”

RITA and Christy Award winner

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Meet Tara

Tara JohnsonTara Johnson is a writer, singer, speaker and passionate lover of stories. Tara uses fiction, nonfiction, song and laughter to share her testimony of how God led her into freedom after spending years living shackled to the expectations of others. She lives in central Arkansas with her husband and children.

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