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! 

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)

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!

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