• Grace in Daily Life

    For my SINGLE gals! (and others too)

    Almost every time I teach, I have the privilege of sharing fellowship, prayer, and sometimes a few tears with godly, wonderful, loving, beautiful, Spirit-filled, biblical-thinking single women who do not feel a specific calling to singleness, but who are striving to trust in the Lord and rest in His grace whether they are unmarried or married. (I’m picturing three such ladies from my most recent event last weekend in Georgia even as I type this!) If only I had known what I know now! (And if only I could get my act together and put a list of recommended blogs on my blog … it’s on my list of things…

  • Perfectionism & Shame

    Struggling with Guilt???

    Today I received an email from a woman and my silly email is on the fritz! so I can only receive but not respond. Eek! I didn’t want her to think that I didn’t care, however, and so I hope that she won’t mind me posting her note here (with all identifying information removed) and my response. I’ll call her “Janet” — and please, “Janet,” if it bothers you that I posted this, please just email me and I’ll delete this posting immediately. (I can receive email and access the web, but that’s it until Fred returns to our hotel room from his conference this evening.) “Janet” wrote this: Tara,…

  • Relationships & Peacemaking

    Are you a “Reconciling Stalker”??

    Yesterday, I had a challenging, interesting, and fun email exchange with a woman who was trying to reconcile to a good friend. It had been years since they had even spoken with one another and she was feeling convicted about some of the “logs” in her eye and wondering whether she should contact her estranged friend and make an apology. One portion of our email exchange was SUCH a blessing to me that I asked for her permission to share it with you (and she said, “Sure!”) so here it is (edited for confidentiality and clarity): Tara- thanks for writing back- I am very encouraged about things with “Mary”- God…

  • Just for Fun!

    Welcome FamilyLife Listeners!

    Hello to the FamilyLife Listeners who are checking out my blog! (If you missed the broadcasts on peacemaking women, you can listen online at FamilyLife.com.) I hope that you enjoy reading my past writings (you can search by topic or by any key words) and also that you consider adding yourself to my FrapprMap so we can see where you all are! 🙂 My website includes information and forms for my speakingand conciliating services … but if you have any questions or if I can help you in any way, I hope that you will not hesitate to contact me! Fred, Sophia Grace, and I all send you our love…

  • Sin & Repentance

    My snare …

    You know … one of the recurring temptations in my life … one of the snares I struggle with on a daily basis is this: “I deserve this.” I know it sounds so stupid when I say it out loud like this (or write it on a blog!) … but the truth is, when I am tempted to sin and when I give in to temptation, I am telling myself a lie and then I am believing the lie. “I need this.” (When all I need — NEED — is Christ. Of course. But OHHHHHHH — when I’m in the midst of the battle … it’s just so hard to…

  • Grace in Daily Life

    Self-Condemnation = Unbelief

    My friend and I were visiting recently about our mutual struggle with self-condemning thoughts. The next day she wrote me this letter and I thought it might bless you (as it blessed me!). Hope so! — Dear Tara, Thank you for opening your home and your heart to us yet again. I know you were weary, beaten down, and discouraged. Please know that your honest and anguished sharing was actually used mightily in my heart. I have been thinking today about the habit of self condemnation. As you say, it is not “Christianly.” We can look to our past and see many reasons why we may have developed the habit.…

  • Sin & Repentance

    Help for Bitterness?

    Today I posted the very first message to the Peacemaker Ministries “Women” Message Board. (This is a new feature of the Peacemaker Ministries website — thanks to cutie bear webmaster & hubby extraordinaire Fred!) I thought you might also enjoy reading it (plus I’d love your counsel too of course!) … so here it is … — Help for Bitterness? Today I was somberly reflecting on the lives of two women I love dearly. Both have been hurt terribly in their lives — and although I do not presume to know their hearts, it seems that based on their words and actions, they both demonstrate lasting bitterness. (For example, they…