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Tara Johnson

sharing stories through writing, speaking and singing

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Walking with God

The Bell Ringer

November 24, 2017 By Tara Johnson 4 Comments

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

Filed Under: Blog Tagged With: Bell Ringer, Christmas, Divine Appointments, Living for What Matters, Love like Jesus, Love People, Loving People, priorities, The Need to Do, to do lists, Walking with God

An Open Letter from a Recovering People-Pleaser

March 10, 2017 By Tara Johnson 2 Comments

I’ve had to learn some things the hard way. After years of exhaustion, of disappointment, of hiding behind my masks, of dark depression, I’ve learned that people pleasing may always be a battle for me. A daily battle. It’s a lie that I believed for far too long—mainly, that approval and love are the same thing. However, as God has peeled back layer after layer of my masks and choices, He has helped me understand that approval and love are not the same thing at Read More

Filed Under: Uncategorized Tagged With: acceptance, approval addiction, approval versus love, boundaries, God, Jesus, know my worth, learning to say no, living to please, people pleasing, spiritual abuse, unconditional love, Walking with God

Unquenchable: The 2016 Mount Hermon Christian Writers Conference

April 4, 2016 By Tara Johnson 6 Comments

I don’t know where to begin. For starters, I’ve been to several writers conferences. All of them were inspiring and beneficial. All of them taught me something valuable and allowed me to meet other writers, but Mount Hermon is different. Never have I been at a conference that is so incredibly organized, yet feels so laid back and unscripted. The familial, intimate atmosphere permeated every single workshop, worship service and the times in between. The entire conference was Christ-centered and deeply moving. In short, I Read More

Filed Under: Beyond What We Can Imagine, Uncategorized, Writer's Life Tagged With: Craft of writing, encouragement, Mount Hermon, Mount Hermon Christian Writers Conference, Unquenchable, Walking with God, Writer's Conference, Writing, Writing for God, Writing that changes lives

Embracing Inadequacy: The 300s.

February 15, 2016 By Tara Johnson Leave a Comment

“I can’t do this. I don’t know how.”  “It’s too hard. I’m not any good at this kind of stuff.” “I’m not qualified.” “I’m too old.” “I’m too young.”  “What if I fail?” “People will laugh at me.” “It’s too risky.” “There are people better at this than I am.” Do any of these excuses sound familiar? I confess, several of them, if not all of them, have found their way into my but-I-can’t repertoire at some point. So insecure. So scared. Sometimes, just so Read More

Filed Under: Beyond What We Can Imagine, Uncategorized Tagged With: comfort zones, fear, Following God, God calling, ill-equipped to serve God, inadequate, Insecurity, scared of the unknown, unexpected, Walking with God

Euphoria in a Rice Field…I Think Not

March 25, 2015 By Tara Johnson Leave a Comment

Euphoria in a Rice Field…I Think Not by Tara Johnson I was getting a bit bored, driving through soggy rice fields on my way to a prison in Arkansas, preparing to speak to inmates on a drizzly Sunday morning. Maybe it was the lack of scenery that made me notice it. Maybe it’s because it was the only building around for miles other than a few silos. But when I saw the building perched on the side of the road, I shook my head. There Read More

Filed Under: Blog Tagged With: deceived, satan's lies, Walking with God

Bless Her Heart: Code Words and Torn Labels

February 23, 2015 By Tara Johnson Leave a Comment

Here in the South, we love sweet tea and cornbread, family and friends, pickup trucks and fishing. Walmart cashiers call their customers “Sweetie” and “Honey”. Deer hunting and frog gigging is a thing. Some schools even shut down for the opening day of deer season. Shopping carts are buggies and all sodas are called “Cokes”. Yes, it’s a whole other culture. Where else could you get by with saying, “This is so good, it makes me wanna slap my Momma!”? We have several code words Read More

Filed Under: Blog Tagged With: From God's view, labels, Walking with God

Sour Fruit

February 13, 2015 By Tara Johnson Leave a Comment

Sour Fruit I’ve had a week. I mean, one of those weeks. A hormonal, pre-teen, an almost two year old who made it his mission in life to scream through every square inch of Walmart when he saw the M&Ms, homeschooling frustrations, recuperating from illness, looming deadlines and a string of speaking engagements to prepare for. Worst of all, no chocolate. Yes, this past week I was Allyson from Mom’s Night Out. Despite, having one of those weeks, I was determined to stay close to Read More

Filed Under: Blog Tagged With: At His Feet, Learning to Rest in Jesus, Overwhelmed, Stressed Moms, Walking with God

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Latest Blog Posts

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Reader Reviews:

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

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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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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