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Tara Johnson

sharing stories through writing, speaking and singing

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redemption

The Redemption of Kip

August 3, 2020 By Tara Johnson 3 Comments

“Runt.” “He’ll never live.” “He’s so scrawny.” I don’t know what I did wrong. I was born, I guess. While all my brothers and sisters were cute, wriggly little pups, I was the outcast. Never expected to do much. To be much. At the pet store, the chubby, groping fingers of girls and boys would rove over all of our heads, scratching our ears, picking us up and snuggling their cheeks next to ours. Such happy feelings filled me, I couldn’t help but lick their Read More

Filed Under: redemption Tagged With: adoption, dogs, new life, redemption, salvation, second chances

The Mean Stepsister

July 21, 2018 By Tara Johnson 1 Comment

Redemption is a beautiful thing. There is something, dare I say, romantic about someone with power and position plucking a nobody from the crowd and claiming them as their own. Perhaps that’s why I’ve so frequently heard the Gospel compared to a fairy tale story. A king sweeping the lonely girl away to a land where all her dreams come true. Not long ago, I heard someone compare what God has done to the story of Cinderella. I understand the gist of this kind of Read More

Filed Under: Beyond What We Can Imagine Tagged With: broken, chosen, cinderella, Jesus, Love, love transforms, Prince, redeemed, redemption, stepsister, transform, Worth

The Rescue: A True Story

July 6, 2018 By Tara Johnson 6 Comments

The pastor walked back down the dirt trail etched in the side of the Arkansas mountains, his heart heavy. The new visitor at church had begged and pleaded. “Please, sir. Please visit my family. They live up in the mountains just outside of town. I’ve been telling them about Jesus, about how he changed me but I don’t think they’re listening.” The young man’s ears reddened. “My family is a mite…peculiar. Superstitious. They think I’m confused but I believe they might listen to you.” He Read More

Filed Under: Beyond What We Can Imagine Tagged With: God, his life for mine, Jesus, Jesus is, Jesus love, Jesus rescues, ransom, redeemer, redemption, rescue, rescue from death

The Little Girl from the Land of Gray

March 4, 2018 By Tara Johnson 4 Comments

Once upon a time, a sad girl lived in a dark, dreary land. As far as the eye could see, the land was gray. No colorful flowers danced in the breeze. There were no trees or sunshine, just bleak gray clouds and barren fields of dirt. There were many people but no one was happy.  The mean ruler of the Land of Darkness kept all the people chained in irons, wrist to wrist and foot to foot. If anyone tried to escape, they would only Read More

Filed Under: Beyond What We Can Imagine Tagged With: God's daughter, God's princess, kingdom of His Dear Son, kingdom of light, redeemed, redemption, rescued

The Redemption of Kip

January 28, 2018 By Tara Johnson 2 Comments

“Runt.” “He’ll never live.” “He’s so scrawny.” I don’t know what I did wrong. I was born, I guess. While all my brothers and sisters were cute, wriggly little pups, I was the outcast. Never expected to do much. To be much. At the pet store, the chubby, groping fingers of girls and boys would rove over all of our heads, scratching our ears, picking us up and snuggling their cheeks next to ours. Such happy feelings filled me, I couldn’t help but lick their Read More

Filed Under: Beyond What We Can Imagine Tagged With: Adopted, dogs, God, Jesus, love transforms, redeemer, redemption, the unwanted, unconditional love, when love takes you in

The Civil War, Messy People and Jesus: Why I Write

April 17, 2017 By Tara Johnson Leave a Comment

  With my debut book release with Tyndale scheduled for summer of 2018, this week I’ve begun the daunting task of writing another story. It’s set in one of my favorite time periods…the Civil War. This isn’t a new assignment for me. This will actually be the fourth Civil War story I’ve penned, uh, typed, but the research involved is always staggering. Always bloody and gruesome, yet filled with heroism, astounding tales of beauty and forgiveness…even humor. People like 11 year-old Grace Bedell who wrote Read More

Filed Under: Beyond What We Can Imagine, Uncategorized, Writer's Life Tagged With: brokenness, characters, Civil War, cry for significance, God, hope, human condition, Jesus, messy people, redemption, savior, The hole inside, Tyndale fiction, why I write, wound, wounded hearts, Writing, Writing Fiction

The Mean Stepsister

January 23, 2017 By Tara Johnson Leave a Comment

  Redemption is a beautiful thing. There is something so poignant, something almost sweeping and, dare I say, romantic about someone with power and position plucking a nobody from the crowd and claiming them as their own. Perhaps that’s why I’ve so frequently heard the Gospel compared to a fairy tale story. A king sweeping the lonely girl away to a land where all her dreams come true. Not long ago, I heard someone compare what God has done to the story of Cinderella. I Read More

Filed Under: Beyond What We Can Imagine, Uncategorized Tagged With: broken, cinderella, fairy tale, God's love, good news, gospel, Jesus, redemption, saved, stepsister, unlovable

The Redemption of Kip

July 5, 2016 By Tara Johnson Leave a Comment

“Runt.” “He’ll never live.” “He’s so scrawny.” I don’t know what I did wrong. I was born, I guess. While all my brothers and sisters were cute, wriggly little pups, I was the outcast. Never expected to do much. To be much. At the pet store, the chubby, groping fingers of girls and boys would rove over all of our heads, scratching our ears, picking us up and snuggling their cheeks next to ours. Such happy feelings filled me, I couldn’t help but lick their Read More

Filed Under: Beyond What We Can Imagine, Uncategorized Tagged With: broken, compassion, dog, God, hope, Jesus, Love, outcast, redemption, rejection, rescue, salvation, transformed, true love, unwanted

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Latest Blog Posts

What’s up with the Christian Cliches?

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Reader Reviews:

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

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

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

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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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