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Tara Johnson

sharing stories through writing, speaking and singing

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Life from my Kids' Points of View

Wants and Needs: Which One is Netflix?

March 30, 2020 By Tara Johnson Leave a Comment

Country living is the best. Well, it was awesome to me, anyways. For a time in my childhood, my Dad pastored a small church in a tiny Arkansas town, population 630. It wasn’t exactly a metropolis. We had one bank, one gas station, one small grocery store and one restaurant where you could buy anything deep fried. That’s it. Everything else consisted of houses, churches, dirt roads and cows. Lots of cows. Everywhere. Oh, I forgot to mention chicken houses. Growing up in a small, Read More

Filed Under: Family Life, Life from my Kids' Points of View Tagged With: country life, enough, netflix, wants and needs

“But I’m Not a Teacher…”

October 11, 2018 By Tara Johnson 2 Comments

You never know what melodramatic scenarios are being rehearsed in the mind of a five- year-old boy. Some days my son is shooting bad guys with Captain America and smashing enemies with Hulk. Other times he might be jumping through kingdoms with Mario and throwing fireballs at Bowser. As I drove him to school this morning, he stared out the window, watching the cattle pastures and electrical lines blur past. A frown puckered his lips and pinched his brows. “What are you thinking about, buddy?” Read More

Filed Under: Life from my Kids' Points of View, Walking with God Tagged With: all of us are teachers, bad teachers, good teachers, how we treat others, Love like Jesus, teacher, teaching, what i want to be when i grow up

Love and Like: When Agape Love is Hard

April 23, 2018 By Tara Johnson 2 Comments

“Momma, I love you.”  “I love you too, buddy.” “Momma, know what else? I like you.” My sweet boy tells me the same paired sentiments day after day, usually multiple times a day. One day, a friend overheard his loving thoughts. “Why does he say the same thing twice?” I smiled as I ruffled Nate’s dark hair. “He’s not. My little guy is pretty wise. He’s learned there’s a big difference between liking someone and loving them.” It’s true, isn’t it? God told us to Read More

Filed Under: Life from my Kids' Points of View Tagged With: agape love, agape love is hard, God's love, obedience, the difference between love and like, tough stuff

What Exactly is “Perfect Love”?

March 11, 2018 By Tara Johnson 43 Comments

Fear is the one thing every human being on the planet shares. We’ve all felt it. We all know that dark, encroaching panic that claws at our hearts. For years I’ve heard the same pat answer, the same verse over and over until I can quote it verbatim. “There is no fear in love. But perfect love drives out fear, because fear has to do with punishment. The one who fears is not made perfect in love.” 1 John 4:18. Okay, so to get rid Read More

Filed Under: Life from my Kids' Points of View, special needs, Walking with God Tagged With: fear, fear cannot exist with praise, Jesus, perfect love, perfect love casts out fear, praise, praising God, the power of worship

False Evidence Appearing Real: When the Lawnmower Stole My Mother

April 17, 2016 By Tara Johnson Leave a Comment

My super hero son didn’t understand. I climbed on the lawn tractor to chop down the rapidly growing grass surrounding our home. Nate watched. He blinked. Frowned. I thought he didn’t like the noise the large piece of machinery churned up. Oh, but his frown sprouted from so much more. Over the clatter of the tractor, I heard high-pitched squeals of laughter. My two girls were doubled over with giggles. What was so funny? I glanced behind me to see my three year old son Read More

Filed Under: Life from my Kids' Points of View, Uncategorized, Walking with God Tagged With: afraid, dealing with fear, false evidence appearing real, fear, funny kids, God's perspective, jumping to conclusions, kids

Math, Tears and the Whys of Life

January 17, 2016 By Tara Johnson Leave a Comment

And the tears came. Poor daughter of mine. Today’s math work was dividing decimals. Something she’s done a hundred times before. Certainly a task much easier than some of her more recent math assignments—solving long lines of x and y problems, multiplied by square roots and divided by more of the same.  “What’s wrong, sweetie?” “It just doesn’t make sense to me.” Sniffle. “What doesn’t make sense to you? How to move the decimals?” “No.” “Then why doesn’t it make sense?” “It just doesn’t.” As Read More

Filed Under: Family Life, Life from my Kids' Points of View, Walking with God Tagged With: Homeschool, math, Refining fire, suffering, When God seems confusing, why, why am I suffering?

Apple Versus Apples: An Open Letter To Myself

July 27, 2015 By Tara Johnson Leave a Comment

by Tara Johnson Recently, my oldest daughter was waxing poetic about the difference between our wants and needs and she prompted an interesting discussion. Bethany, in all her child-like wisdom said, “Mom, did you know our wants are not our needs?” “Yes, I seem to remember hearing something about that.” I smiled and tugged her blonde hair with affection. “So what does God give us that we really need?” “Jesus, shelter, food, water, clothes and shoes.” My youngest daughter piped in. “And a mailbox.” Turning Read More

Filed Under: Life from my Kids' Points of View Tagged With: idols, netflix, priorities, wants versus needs, what we need

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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”

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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”

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Engraved on the Heart by Tara Johnson

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

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Engraved on the Heart by Tara Johnson

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

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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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