Candid Gal Since March 2025

Meet Joanne

Joanne Thompson is a wife, a mom to three grown sons and two spoiled mini Aussies, and is a retired teacher’s assistant. She has taken the pages of her journal and turned them into devotions. She loves writing honest stories that help women draw near to Jesus. She has written for Her View from Home, The Round Farmhouse Ministries, christiandevotions.us, and the compilation book, El Raah: The God Who Shepherds.

El Raah

When we are lost, afraid, being led astray, or headed in the wrong direction, the Shepherd’s staff is there to course correct, guide us to safety, show us a better way, and bring the lost home. El Raah, the Good Shepherd, cares for His sheep and His sheep know His voice. This collection of stories, poems, devotions, and essays will remind you how loved you are by El Raah.

Fun Facts About Joanne

Personality

Introvert

I’d Rather Be

In the country

Start the Day

Coffee on the front porch

Favorite Scripture

1 Thessalonians 5:16-17

Kids

3 grown sons
2 mini aussies

Favorite Song

The Jesus I Know
by Brennley Brown

Joanne’s Recent Posts

  • Put God First (Because No One Likes to Come in Second)
    Joanne would have been happy to win second place in 5th grade. But as adults, second place doesn’t really feel like a prize… So why do we offer God second place in our lives?
  • Finding Comfort in Jesus When Your Heart Is Broken
    Finding comfort in Jesus works because only the Creator of our hearts can put the pieces back together again. Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of compassion and the God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our troubles, so that we can comfort those in…
  • 3 Ways Christian Introverts Can Love Like Jesus
    Do you ever feel intimidated by the call to love your neighbors? If so, you are definitely not alone. In this post, Joanne shares three ways Christian introverts can love like Jesus. If you love those who love you, what credit is that to you?  Even sinners love those who love them. Luke 6:32 (NIV)…
  • When Our Adult Children No Longer Believe
    The Lord is not slow in keeping his promise, as some understand slowness.  He is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance. 2 Peter 3:9 (NIV) I will share a secret with all of you.  I hide my adult children’s posts on social media.  Sometimes it is easier…
  • Is It Time to Check Your Temperature?
    I know your deeds, that you are neither cold nor hot. I wish you were either one or the other!  So, because you are lukewarm – neither hot nor cold- I am about to spit you out of my mouth. Revelation 3: 15-16 (NIV) It has been said ad nauseam from one well-meaning Christian to…
  • What Do You Do When Disappointments Seem to Outweigh the Blessings?
    Blessings & Disappointments Therefore, we do not lose heart. Though outwardly we are wasting away, yet inwardly we are being renewed day by day. For our light and momentary troubles are achieving for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all.  So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what…