Sunday, August 19, 2012

Save the Date - Girl Talk (fall 2012)


The Power of a Woman's Words
Saturday September 8th from 10:00 a.m.-12:00 noon
Wellness Complex-The Church Health Center (Union Avenue-Downtown)

Where did the old saying “sticks and stones can break my bones, but words will never hurt me” come from?  Wouldn’t it be great if that saying was true?  The REAL TRUTH is . . . words CAN hurt people. What about you?  How are you using one of the most powerful tools you have at your disposal?  Do you encourage, motivate and challenge others, or do you deceive others and tear them down?  How is your self-talk? 

The theme for the fall 2012 edition of Girl Talk is The Power of a Woman’s Words.  Our speaker, Lisa Herman, is a woman with many talents.  She could have chosen any number of paths for herself, including a career in the arts, the pursuit of continued success as a championship swimmer, a career in the medical profession or a career as an executive recruiter, just to name a few.  Instead, Lisa chose to use her talents in the full-time service of God and his people.  She has held various positions through the years including Campus Ministry Leader and Teen Ministry Leader.  She currently serves as the Women’s Ministry Leader at The Memphis Church.  Lisa’s love of words and fascination with the power of language make her a perfect fit for this topic.  She is also a woman who has the gift of using her words to motivate, challenge and inspire.     

Please join us as we explore this life-changing topic.  It will be a great time of fun, fellowship and food for the soul . . . and is absolutely FREE!!  All guests who RSVP (via email: memphischurchgirltalk@gmail.com) by 12 noon on Thursday September 6th will be registered for prizes.

We look forward to seeing you there! 

Wednesday, May 2, 2012

Morsels of Hope for Life's Toughest Challenges

Marilyn Reaves (4th from left) and her daughters.
In the midst of life’s challenges, our minds are full of negative thoughts; our souls cry out for answers; and our hearts overflow with emotion. Life can be so unpredictable. There are many variables we simply cannot control. The spring 2012 edition of Girl Talk was all about dealing with life when things don't go "according to plan."

Our guest speaker, Marilyn Reaves, has dealt with more than her fair share of challenges. She became a widow at an early age and was left to raise five small children on her own. She is also a two-time breast cancer survivor who has endured chemotherapy, radiation therapy, surgical procedures and various other medical challenges.  Marilyn shared a message of truth that was infused with hope and encouragement. 

Girl Talk panelists started the day by sharing their biggest challenges.  Our panelists discussed the ups and downs of living with a chronic illness, enduring  grief & loss, feeling discouraged by career uncertainty, and wrestling with an unfulfilled desire to be married or have children.  

Next, each Girl Talk participant created a sign, which displayed a personal challenge and the emotions associated with that challenge.  As we wore our signs, there was a greater sense of unity, and we realized our challenges can be links that connect us.  
        

Our Challenges Connect Us & Refine Us

Challenging situations can be debilitating.  We are often tempted to isolate ourselves when life dishes out its worst, but isolation can actually amplify our challenges and make us feel worse.

During the Mix & Mingle segment, the clubhouse was abuzz as women made new connections and found strength and comfort in the company of other women who were enduring similar challenges.  Girl Talk participants discovered that openness and vulnerability can be great companions as we journey toward healing. 

But the focus of the day was not on our challenges.  At the end of the Mix & Mingle segment, each participant ripped her "challenging circumstance sign" as a symbolic gesture of the fact that we are not defined by our circumstances.  When asked how it felt to tear their signs apart, many said it was as if a burden had been lifted. 

Participants were also challenged to: (1) identify reasons for gratitude; (2) turn their challenge into an opportunity; and (3) dare to dream again.  Participants walked away with a 30-day challenge meant to help participants adjust their perspective and find a new sense of purpose.   

Morsels of Hope


There is nothing like having a wise and loyal friend to walk by your side during life's most difficult moments.  As we learned at the "Friendship Edition" of Girl Talk, friends can't fix all your problems, but they can make sure you never have to face them alone.  Even still, only God can truly meet our deepest needs and give us the peace we so desperately desire. 

Marilyn closed the day with some refreshing promises from God.  As you read them, allow them to sink into your heart.  Share them with a friend who could use a bit of encouragement

    »        He is your maker, your husband, your redeemer. (Isaiah 54:5)
    »        He wipes your sin away and remembers it no more. (Isaiah 43:25)
    »        He will keep you free from all blame. (I Corinthians 1:8)
    »        He will not give you more than you can handle. (I Corinthians 10:3)
    »        He will enable you to stand firm. (II Corinthians 1:21)
    »        He will keep you strong to the end. (I Corinthians 1:8)
    »        If you stand the test, you will receive a reward. (James 1:12)
    »        You will reap a harvest if you do not give up. (Galatians 6:9)

Monday, March 26, 2012

Save the Date - Girl Talk (spring 2012 edition)

Date/Time: Saturday April 14th from 10:00 a.m. - 12:00 noon
Location: West Rock Condos Clubhouse (Germantown)
Theme: Not Like I Planned - Finding God in Challenging Circumstances

Life can be so unpredictable.  There are many variables we simply cannot control.  The key is persevering during those difficult moments and struggling to find sources of gratitude and joy no matter what the situation.

The next edition of Girl Talk will be about finding God in the midst of challenging circumstances.  Below is a sample of the situations we will discuss at our next event.  You won’t want to miss out if you:

»        are single, but long to be married
»        have an unfulfilled desire to become a parent
»        find yourself in a job that is unfulfilling, despite years of hard work
»        are living with a chronic illness or watching a loved one battle a chronic illness
»        are grieving the loss of a family member or loved one
»        are in any situation that has brought unexpected challenges and/or disappointment
»        are praying for a situation to change, but are not seeing the results you hope for 

Our guest speaker, Marilyn Reaves, has endured many challenges.  She became a widow at an early age and was left to raise five small children on her own.  She is also a two-time breast cancer survivor.  Marilyn is devoted to her faith and helps meet the needs of the women in her church family by serving with her husband, who is an elder in The Greater Nashville Church. 

All guests who RSVP (via email to: memphischurchgirltalk@gmail.com) by 12 noon on Thursday April 12th will be registered for prizes

Please join us and feel free to bring a friend along!

Wednesday, March 7, 2012

Girl Talk Participants Expose the Ugly Truth about Beauty

What is the first thought that comes to mind when you hear the word beauty?  The image of a famous entertainer or super model?  That “perfect” co-worker, soccer mom or friend who always seems to “have it together” and look spectacular?  Why not you?
At the winter 2012 edition of Girl Talk, we explored our thoughts and attitudes about beauty--what our minds tell us, what the media tells us, and the truth. 
As an intro to the day, we identified the beauty scars that have plagued us throughout our lives.  This time of self-reflection allowed us to "get real" and identify our individual beauty myths. 

Beauty Scars - clusters of negative words and/or experiences related to your physical appearance or personal characteristics that: (1) play over and over in your mind; (2) leave a permanent mark in your mind and heart; and (3) influence how you view yourself and how you act from that moment forward.  What are your deepest beauty scars?  How have those scars impacted the way  you see yourself?
The first segment was all about accentuating the positive and being the best we can be.  Instead of focusing on your flaws, why not identify your “personal bests” (i.e., best physical feature, best character trait, and best talent/skill set) and accentuate those things instead?  

Delicia Douglas (hair stylist, make-up artist and self-proclaimed “wanna-be fashionista”), guided participants through a fun-filled segment where each participant identified the perfect haircut for her face shape and learned how to choose “the perfect jean.”  Segment 1 also had a great surprise in store.  Three women went from "drab to fab” by shedding bulky layers of clothing, replacing flip-flops with stylish flats, and adding accessories for a little sizzle. 
Segment 2 was all about re-shaping our concept of beauty and embracing the truth...God's truth.  Our speaker was Rosa Carter, a wife, mother, and women's ministry leader, who could easily pass for 10 years younger than her stated age (44 years-young).  Rosa first shared her struggles with the concept of beauty.  Those struggles ultimately led to her current bare-bones approach to outer beauty, and her ever-growing commitment to enhancing her inner beauty. 

Ever feel overwhelmed trying to live up to society’s standard of the perfect beauty?  Think about this…Jesus was not physically attractive; yet, crowds were drawn to him, and he had an amazing impact on everyone he met. [Isaiah 53:2b - There was nothing beautiful or majestic about his appearance, nothing to attract us to him.]  Pretty amazing, huh?
Here are some of the refreshing truths Rosa shared about beauty.  The challenge for all of us is to embrace them and share them with the women around us.
  • Beauty is being confident in who you are
  • Beauty is living, not just existing; being free & pure
  • You will radiate outer beauty if you treasure inner beauty
  • Beauty is found in every smile and in every laugh
  • Beauty is never settling for less than you are worth

Wednesday, November 9, 2011

Girlfriend-ism: A Life-Enriching Gift from God


Friends can’t fix all your problems, but they can make sure you never have to face them alone.
The fall 2011 edition of Girl Talk Live was all about friendship. Our guest speaker was Margaret Ziegler, a fun-loving, energetic, woman of God who is passionate about spreading the word about girlfriend-ism.

Margaret’s convictions about our need for close girlfriend relationships run deep.  She doesn't just talk the talk; she also walks the walk, and she brought a crew of her girlfriends along to prove it. 

The women on our girlfriend panel (Tobi Hedrick, Elease Jones, Donzella Kay, and Marta Anderton) were from all stages and walks of life. Each one had a unique perspective on relationships and a special nugget of wisdom to share.

Here are a few of the things we learned about girlfriend-ism from Margaret, our girlfriends panelists, and the comments that were shared by Girl Talk participants:

          1.  Open your heart to building new relationships, even if it's
               uncomfortable:

I know, I know…easier said than done. We’ve all been hurt, and we’ve all been disappointed by “so-called friends” who have not met our expectations.

Put all those negative experiences aside for a moment and think about this … wouldn’t it be nice to have a shop-til-you-drop, laugh-til-you-cry, through thick & thin, friend to share life’s joys and struggles with?

I know what you’re thinking … does such a person exist? Well, Proverbs 18:24 says, “there is a friend who sticks closer than a [sister].” Why don’t we concentrate on finding ways to live out this verse on a personal level in the relationships around us, and count on God to do the rest. He will multiply our efforts and send people to refresh our souls at just the right time. [Proverbs 11:25 [she] who refreshes others will [herself] be refreshed.]
2.  Spend time together often:

You don’t have to plan a formal gathering or wait for a special occasion to spend time with your girlfriends. Building close relationships takes time, but bonds can be created/strengthened while engaging in everyday life activities together (like grocery shopping or walking your dogs). Think of all the “not so exciting” tasks you perform on a daily/weekly basis. Spice them up the next time by inviting a friend to join you.
3.  Think outside the box:

Maybe your current circumstances prevent you from seeing your friends face-to-face as often as you’d like. Maybe your friends are miles and miles away; or maybe you are home-bound due to illness; or maybe your life is completely unpredictable due to the recent arrival of a newborn. Life can be tough to “schedule” sometimes. There will be times when, despite our best efforts, we just can’t seem to get out of the house and/or our girlfriends can’t get to us for some reason.

When life throws its curve balls, you’ve got to step out of the way -- and out of the box. Send your friends an email when you’re up and can’t sleep at 4 a.m. Sign up for Skype so you can see and chat with your friends even when they’re far away. Send text messages to let your friends know they are on your mind and in your heart. The possibilities are endless. 

4.  Seize the moment & follow the Spirit’s lead:

Sometimes, you can’t plan things. You’ve got to just go with the flow. If a friend is on your mind all day out of the blue, call her or drop by to see her (if your schedule permits a visit). She’s probably on your mind for a reason, and the sound of your voice or the gift of your presence may be just the thing she needs to make it through the day.
We are so grateful that Margaret, Tobi, Elease, Donzella, and Marta took time out of their busy lives to share their “girlfriend-ism” experiences with us.
What about you?  How would you rate your current relationships? What can you do to make them better?

Tuesday, October 25, 2011

Balance Check (Part I)

Our inaugural edition of Girl Talk Live was all about living a balanced life. Our guest speaker was Sheila Jones, editor of the book Finding Balance from the Inside Out. (Available for Purchase at: http://www.dpibooks.org/)

Sheila shared graciously and openly about the challenge of juggling all our daily responsibilities. She encouraged us to focus on three themes.  Let’s re-visit the first of those themes in an effort to renew our resolve to live more balanced lives. 

Find Your Center of Gravity

Using the analogy of a tight rope walker, Sheila talked about how it’s impossible to stay grounded without relying on something greater than ourselves.

Massages, yoga and “me time” are great, but what happens when the “me time” is over? Those things may bring a momentary sense of peace, but don’t you want something more stable and lasting?


Our relationship with God is our balancing pole.  God’s word keeps us moving forward with focus and direction. (Psalm 119:105 - Your word is a lamp for my feet and a light for my path.) (2 Peter 1:3 - His divine power has given us everything we need for life and godliness through our knowledge of him who called us by his own glory and goodness.

During times of prayer, we can turn our worries and anxieties over to God, and we will in turn experience His peace, which is stable and lasting. (Philippians 4:6-7 - Don't worry about anything; instead, pray about everything. Tell God what you need, and thank him for all he has done. If you do this, you will experience God's peace, which is far more wonderful than the human mind can understand. His peace will guard your hearts and minds as you live in Christ Jesus.
)

Why is spending time with God the first thing we squeeze out of our schedules when things get hectic? I don’t know about you, but it seems that if I really grasped the magnitude of the unshakeable peace that God gives and the value of the sound yet practical advice that comes from God’s word, my daily priorities would be different.

God is so amazingly gracious. It’s not about following rules with Him. He wants to capture our hearts. God doesn’t set any limits on how much time we have to spend reading his word or praying to reap these benefits. In fact, the opposite is true. God promises that if we put forth the effort to draw close to him, he will “match” our efforts. (
James 4:8a - Draw close to God, and God will draw close to you.
)

What about you? How much time do you spend walking the tight rope of life attempting to use your own “inner strength” and “know how” as a substitute for the peace and stability that only a relationship with God can bring?

Why not renew your commitment to rely on God’s strength? How about letting go of all your worries for a change and experiencing the unshakeable peace that only God can provide?

Tuesday, October 11, 2011

Save the Date - Fall 2011 Girl Talk Live

"What Friends Are For...shopping, laughing, sharing, caring"
Saturday, November 5th from 11:00 a.m. - 1:00 p.m.
West Rock Condos Clubhouse - Germantown, TN

 
The fall 2011 edition of Girl Talk Live will be all about friendship.  Our guest speaker, Margaret Ziegler, is a self-proclaimed friendship enthusiast who can throw a grown-folks girls-only party like no other! 

All guests who RSVP by noon on Thursday, November 3rd will be registered for prizes!!  We now have 3 convenient ways to register: 

1.      Email:  memphischurchgirltalk@gmail.com
3.      Girl Talk On-the-Go Blog:  http://girltalkmemphis.blogspot.com/p/event-rsvp.html

Grab a friend and join us!!  We promise it will be time well spent ... and please be sure to sign up to "follow" Girl Talk On-the-Go to receive all the latest information about upcoming events.  You may also post comments about past events and let us know your suggestions for future events. 

Sunday, August 14, 2011

Summer Edition of Girl Talk Live a Success

The summer 2011 edition of Girl Talk Live was all about caring for the body and nourishing the soul. 

Our guest speaker was Christina Charley -- a former college athlete, homeschooling mother of 4 (with a new addition on the way), a certified personal trainer and co-owner of Unique Physique in Nashville, TN.  We are so happy that Christina joined us for the summer edition of Girl Talk Live. Her passion for health/fitness and her zeal and sincerity about her relationship with God were evident and contagious.

Christina provided some great tips for caring for our bodies.

Practical, easy-to-implement techniques included:

* Taking rest breaks during the day
* Stretching during prolonged sitting
* Maintaining better posture

Christina demonstrated a fitness technique called the “T-Tapp Hoe Down.” The T-Tapp System was developed by fitness guru Teresa Tapp. The Hoe Down sequence provides a mind-body workout, which stimulates the left and right hemispheres of the brain while increasing the heart rate and engaging muscles in the lower body, upper body and core.


Participants experienced the effects of the T-Tapp System first-hand while learning a 2-minute T-Tapp sequence....and WOW, what an impact it had on our bodies!! Many vowed to add the T-Tapp Hoe Down to their regular workout routine. Everyone was excited and energized. To learn more about the T-Tapp System, check out Teresa Tapp’s website at: http://t-tapp.com/home/weightloss.html.

Christina also provided some great techniques for nourishing and reviving our souls. 

We began the "soul segment" of the event with a few moments of silence. After clearing our heads of our everyday clutter, we reflected on Bible verses that talk about being still and reviving our souls with God’s word.

Christina higlighted some practical techniques for nourishing our souls including:

* Incorporating moments of silence into our day
* Reading and reflecting on God’s word each day
* Simplifying our lives and the lives of our children
* Learning to say “no” when our plates are full

Here are a few of the verses Christina shared with us at Girl Talk Live. We encourage you to carve out some time to meditate/reflect on them and to allow them to nourish your soul: Psalm 42:1-2; Jeremiah 17:7-8; Matthew 11:28-30; and Jeremiah 29:11-13.

Did you attend the summer edition of Girl Talk Live? We’d love to hear from you!!  Post your comments below.

Friday, August 12, 2011

Girl Talk On-the-Go Goes LIVE!!

Girl Talk On-the-Go is your source for more real talk from real women who are facing real challenges just like you! 

Girl Talk On-the-Go is a forum where women of all ages & backgrounds can:

* Mix, mingle & connect
* Discuss the challenges of everyday life
* Give & receive spiritual encouragement

Subscribers to Girl Talk On-the-Go will receive:

* Updates regarding Girl Talk Live events
* Biblical truths that nourish & refresh the soul


Subscribe or become a follower of Girl Talk On-the-Go today!!