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Tara Johnson

sharing stories through writing, speaking and singing

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people pleasing

The Beauty of Family with Robin Pearson

Posted in: Blog | August 21, 2022

Tara sits down to laugh and chat with her writing friend extraordinaire Robin Pearson! This show is all about family–from homeschooling and watching kids fly away into independence–to walking out faith, especially during the hard times. Robin shares about her transition for ‘doing things for God’ to having a relationship with God, and her earliest influences in Christian fiction (Karen Kingsbury and Francine Rivers), along with her least favorites (We’re looking at you Moby Dick). She tells Tara about her transformation from writing great books Read More

The Power of The Promise with Patsy Hockaday!

Posted in: Blog | January 23, 2022

On today’s show, Tara chats with her buddy, Miss Virginia Senior and Miss Senior America, Patsy Hockaday! Patsy talks about the beauty pageant circuit and the ladies discuss the recent I-95 disaster…as well as a heart-warming story that resulted in the midst of the chaos. Tara knows the secret that turns a good meal into a great meal and the ladies discuss wounds, people pleasing, and alcoholism. Also in this show… Masterpieces, searching for ways to fill the void, and witnessing in bars. Also, catch Read More

When Fear Hides

Posted in: Anxiety, freedom | March 3, 2021

Fear wears many masks. I used to think it was a one-dimensional kind of thing. A nail-biting, knee-knocking kind of reaction to anything that made me nervous or afraid. But fear that doesn’t warn us away from harm is not of God. It’s darkness. A tool of our enemy. And a smart enemy doesn’t announce his attack before he strikes. He sneaks in, making himself look harmless. Attractive…sometimes even like another person altogether. One of my favorite verses is Isaiah 41:10. “Fear not, for I Read More

When We Fall for the Lie “Approval Equals Love”

Posted in: people pleasing | April 30, 2020

I desperately want people to like me. There. I said it. The thought of someone being displeased with me in any way drops a sick feeling in my gut. What’s one way to shake that cold feeling of dread? Work harder. Be more agreeable, more likable. Fit in. Be accepted and never, ever let them see the real you. After all, if they know what you’re really like, the acceptance will disappear. Right? That’s what I told myself, anyways. I’ve battled people pleasing all my Read More

Shattering the Fairytale Part 2: Rewriting the Story

Posted in: perfectionism | January 27, 2020

In part one, I told you all about how those pesky Disney princess messed me up, as well as diving into how perfectly unhappy I became trying to be, well, perfect. Am I the only recovering perfectionist out there? I left you dangling with this question: now that we recognize the problem, and see what causes it, what will we do about it? 1. First of all, remind yourself that God loves you no matter how well, or how poorly, you perform. “In all these Read More

Shattering the Fairytale: When Perfect Isn’t Enough

Posted in: Blog | January 22, 2020

The Disney princesses messed me up. I confess I had quite a fascination with them when I was growing up (after I finished my Princess Leia phase, that is). I was going to be as beautiful as Aurora and I was going to have a grand adventure like Belle. And I was going to be a singer like Ariel. Or at the very least, a marine biologist. But let’s get real for a moment, shall we? There was one big problem with all those Disney Read More

Am I Good Enough?

Posted in: Blog | October 17, 2019

I love everything about the creative process. From spinning a story world into existence, breathing characters to life or muddling through their spiritual and emotional transformations, I find the entire journey exhilarating. I even love the grueling grind of editing. (Most days, at least.) Even with the exhilarating side to creating, writing is a tough gig, especially when you consider you’re putting your deepest thoughts and musings out for everyone to see. It’s an open invitation for anyone to take a peek inside your most Read More

What Am I Really Chasing?

Posted in: Walking with God | August 2, 2018

I have no idea how it started. Little hints of discouragement. The nagging whispers of “Those other authors are better than you. Their books look like they are doing well. Is yours even selling?”  A rough day with the kids and that poisonous hiss tickled my ear. “If you were a better mom, this wouldn’t have happened.”  A long to-do list that is never completed. Phone calls that never stop. Some days, I feel like I’m struggling just to keep my head above water. I Read More

A Word for People Pleasers

Posted in: Blog | October 27, 2017

Patrick Hendry

Sometimes I don’t have much to say. Not enough words to fill up a haiku, much less a blog. Life gets busy, my body runs on fumes and caffeine, kids scream for attention…you know the drill. Yet despite the normal grind of living, the fear never completely goes away. The enemy is always lurking, ever hissing and flinging his accusations, preying upon my darkest secrets and coldest fears. There are some battles that must be fought over and over again. That’s okay. If you’re a Read More

The Thief: The Problem with Comparing

Posted in: Uncategorized, Walking with God | July 16, 2017

Jean size. That dreaded number on the scale. Checking account balances. Facebook friends. Instagram and Twitter followers. Awards and degrees. Points scored by your child at his last game. Job performance evaluations. So many numbers and none of them are good or bad when rattled off in isolation. The only time we have a problem with any of the above is when we are tempted to compare these numbers to the stats of others. Teddy Roosevelt once said, “Comparison is the thief of joy.” So Read More

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Latest Blog Posts

Sarcasm and Story with S.E. Clancy!

  • Food, Creativity, and Lakeside Retreat with Marci Seither
  • The Beauty of Family with Robin Pearson
  • Worthy to be Loved with Jean Shepard
  • Christianity Deconstructed

Click to read more . . .

Reader Reviews:

Laura Frantz

Engraved on the Heart by Tara Johnson

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

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

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

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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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