by Tara Johnson "I'll forgive but I can't forget."  Have you heard this phrase before? Me too. Maybe you've thought it or even spoken it on occasion. It's an understandable sentiment because, let's face it, forgiveness is sometimes extremely difficult. The deeper the hurt, the more grievous the wound, the more jagged the scar, the harder forgiveness becomes. There are three undeniable ways to feel shackled, stuck and unhappy in your walk with God: 1) believe Satan's lies, 2) embrace the very things Jesus died to free you from, and 3) refuse to forgive. Unforgiveness in the Bible carries the…

by Tara Johnson This past week, I finished up a beautiful study on the book of Hosea by Jennifer Rothschild. She challenged her readers to do something I love: to make a to-be list instead of a to-do list. I'm prolific at creating master to-do lists. They give me a sense of control, a sense of accomplishment and keep my cluttered mind from letting crucial jobs slip through the cracks of my faulty memory. (Correction: these things give me illusion of control, accomplishment and clearer brain function.) Despite my love of meddlesome to-do lists, I think they are overrated. Our…

Please welcome back my friend Linda Tracy Miller for the third part of her guest spots on this blog. Her thoughts are always beautiful spun and a refreshing touch of grace for the day.  As long as we are alive, we are never too old to experience growing pains. Life is all about constant adjustments, coping with unexpected situations, gain and loss. Between May of 1999 and October of 2000 I lost my husband, my mother, 2 aunts, 2 cousins, and uncle and a mother-in-law…as well as a number of close friends. Needless to say, God used that time to…

by Tara Johnson "A watched pot never boils."  The old adage has rolled around in my brain for the past few months as I've waited for something to happen...something I know God is leading me to do and I just need the go-ahead from people bigger than myself. The "something" doesn't really matter as far as this blog goes. But that "something" has been tormenting me, calling over and over. Why is waiting so hard?  Each morning during this past month, I've awakened thinking, "Maybe today is the day". But each day is the same. That dream that once seemed…

I've seen the photos and memes of one particular phrase floating around the past several years and I bet you have too. It's this: God gives the hardest battles to his strongest soldiers. Judging by how frequently it's shared, it's a rather popular sentiment.  After all, it sounds good. Perhaps even a trifle comforting. There's nothing we need more in the middle of our personal storms to know that our crisis won't destroy us. That we're strong enough to handle it and emerge victorious. I understand the warm fuzzies that come from this well-intentioned phrase but honestly, I believe the…

When life suddenly changes and nothing seems to make sense, you are suddenly feel you are adrift in a fog shrouded ocean. Many years ago, after the death of my Dad, I read a story by Pearl Buck that made a strong impression on me. My Mom, like I would be later, was widowed in her 50’s. I wish I had been able to share with her some of the similar feelings we must have shared, but that was not to be. I tried at the time (I was only 27) to tell her about the story, but she did…