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How well do you know the people who live close to you? How well do you love them? Jesus tells us to love our neighbor as ourselves, but how do we actually do that? Missional neighboring advocate Twyla Franz is on the show today helping us get closer to Jesus and grow deep, missional friendships with our neighbors. You’ll hear us talk about… What missional living is What it means to be visible and interruptible How humility and curiosity can deepen friendships Overcoming the obstacles to missional neighboring Twyla Franz is a big believer in baby steps and ripple-effect living. An Enneagram 9 learning to live open. She loves front-yard conversations with neighbors, chalk-painted furniture, and Yogi’s blueberry tea. As a missional neighboring guide, she helps others get close to Jesus and grow deep, missional friendships with neighbors. Find her words (written and recorded) on twylafranz.com. Other places Twyla writes include (in)courage, Relevant, Her View From Home, and The Grit and Grace Project. She also hosts Begin Within: A Gratitude Series to encourage year-round gratitude (because gratitude, she says, has a ripple effect). GET ALL THE SHOW NOTES   CONNECT WITH TWYLA Instagram | Facebook | Website   CONNECT WITH GIRLS TALKING LIFE Get the GTL Newsletter | Instagram | Facebook   OUR SPONSOR Custom art by Connie Lawson - Weeds Seeds and Beautiful Things       

As you begin to settle into 2024 are you wondering how to make the most of this year? How to make the most of your life? As you look at your goals and intentions for the year are they pointing you toward your purpose or are they all about performance? Shawna Sullivan joins me to chat about how we can view our lives through a new lens, not living for achievements and accolades but taking small, practical steps toward the purposes God has for us. You’ll hear us talk about… Shawna’s story of performance to purpose 5 focus areas to help you live with purpose Pursuing authentic relationships 5 prayers to create space for God to move this year Shawna Sullivan is a mother and home educator to four children. After 13 years, she traded the hustle and bustle of New York City for the suburbs of north Texas. She will never take a backyard, time with family, air conditioning, or her own laundry room for granted. Shawna writes regularly for Family Christian and Christian Parenting online. Her passion for living faithfully, not perfectly, informs her words and ministry.   MENTIONED IN THIS EPISODE A Practical Guide for a Purposeful Life The Bible Recap 5 Prayers to Create Space for God to Move This Year   GET ALL THE SHOW NOTES   CONNECT WITH SHAWNA Instagram | Facebook | Website   CONNECT WITH GIRLS TALKING LIFE Get the GTL Newsletter | Instagram | Facebook

Do you feel prompted to be in God’s word more or in a different way this year? I have two ideas for you. The beginning of the year, for most of us, is a time to reflect on the past year and plan for the year to come. I have several categories I try to take inventory in. Areas like my marriage, parenting, health, friendships, money, and one is always spiritual growth. What am I going to do this year to grow in my relationship with Jesus?  One of my answers to that question is by being in God’s Word. Opening my bible and reading it for myself has greatly deepened my faith. So as you plan for the year ahead, I want to offer two ways for you to open your bible, be in God’s word, and grow in your relationship with Jesus this year.   A Bible Reading Plan A Word of the Year Word Study I've also invited a special guest to join us. My friend Megan Ericson – also a guest on episode 16 - joined me in 2023 and read the bible using this plan. She is here to share her experience. Megan is the CEO of The Yoga Abbey, an online Christian yoga community. She lives in the Columbus, Ohio, area with her husband and three teenage kids.     CONNECT WITH MEGAN Megan on IG | The Yoga Abbey on IG   CONNECT WITH GIRLS TALKING LIFE Get the GTL Newsletter | Instagram | Facebook

Here we are at the beginning of the Advent season. The hustle and bustle of December has started. It’s layered with excitement, anticipation, and stress. Every year I ask myself how can I make sure this Christmas is all about celebrating our Savior. My guest today is going to point us right to Him. Author and Bible teacher, Ocieanna Fleiss, joins me to talk about her Advent devotional, Awaiting the Manger: Whispers of Advent in the Old Testament, and how we can quiet our hearts and focus on Jesus. You’ll hear us talk about… How Jesus was God’s plan before the beginning The OT story of Leah and how it points to Christ Slowing down to celebrate our Savior Ocieanna is the author of Awaiting the Manger: Whispers of Advent in the Old Testament which was released in September from Harvest House publishers. GET ALL THE SHOW NOTES   MORE HOLIDAY INSPIRATION #104 Bring Peace into Your Heart and Home with Victoria Duerstock #76 Why Christmas Matters with Anna Nash #74 A Warm and Welcoming Home for the Holidays with Alieta Casey #52 What Mama Needs at Christmas #29 Reclaiming Home this Christmas with Krista Gilbert

What negative beliefs have you internalized about sex? Do you think of intimacy as a good gift from God? For much of human history, intimacy has been a place of pain and brokenness, an area where we have lacked discipleship. So I would be remiss not to include this topic in our Strengthen Your Marriage series. Francie Winslow is on the show today and she’s letting us in on her healing journey when it comes to sex, marriage, and the mission of God. She invites us to heal, find freedom, and shift our mindsets to more accurately reflect what God intended for us. Francie’s ministry includes sexual discipleship for women. She teaches, not as an expert, but as a Christian woman pursuing healing and wholeness for herself, rooted in Scripture and theology. You’ll hear us talk about… Correcting wrong beliefs about sexuality God’s design for intimacy Vulnerability with your husband Overcoming barriers to intimacy Connecting to your body Francie has a BA in Political Science and a Masters in Evangelism and Leadership from Wheaton College in Wheaton, Il. She lives in Northern Virginia and is crazy about life with her husband and their five kids. Francie currently ministers as a podcast host, mentor, writer and as a speaker for churches and women’s conferences.   GET THE SERIES REFLECTION GUIDE   GET ALL THE SHOW NOTES

Marriages are not perfect. We’re two imperfect people. We’re bound to hurt each other. But we don’t have to respond the way the world tells us to with spite, unforgiveness, or cancelation. We are continuing in our Strengthen Your Marriage series with a conversation on forgiveness and healing. Stephanie Broersma lived a charmed life…until the day she discovered a deleted conversation between her husband and another woman. Stephanie is on the show sharing her story with us today. You’ll hear us talk about… Her husband’s confession of betrayal How she partnered with God to forgive him Their journey toward healing and restoration Rebuilding trust and establishing boundaries Stephanie Broersma is the author of the Reclaimed 30-day Devotional and the founder of Reclaimed Ministries.   GET ALL THE SHOW NOTES   CONNECT WITH STEPHANIE Instagram | Facebook | Website    GTL BIRTHDAY GIVEAWAY Girls Talking Life is turning 5! I’m celebrating by giving YOU the chance to win gifts! I’ve teamed up with some amazing and thoughtful women to bring you this GROW YOUR FAITH bundle. ENTER THE GIVEAWAY!

Next up in our marriage series, we are focusing on communication. How we interact with our husbands will either build our marriages up or tear them down. But honest, humble communication isn’t easy. Today, I’m talking with Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist, Heather Bjur. She helps us understand why we might react the way we do, how humility can change our relationships, how our thoughts shape what we say, and how to begin to become emotionally honest. You’ll hear us talk about… Attachment style How your thoughts affect your communication Creating new neuropathways Becoming emotionally honest When to seek counseling Heather is a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist at Valley Christian Counseling Center in Fargo, North Dakota. She is also a Certified Clinical Trauma Professional who offers EMDR (Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing) and Emotionally Focused Therapy (for couples). Additionally, Heather holds a certificate in Spiritual Direction through the late Dr. Larry Crabb’s New Way Ministries. GET ALL THE SHOW NOTES   CONNECT WITH HEATHER Instagram | Facebook | Website    GTL BIRTHDAY GIVEAWAY Girls Talking Life turns 5 next month! I’ll be celebrating by giving YOU the chance to win gifts! Be sure you are on my mailing list or following me on Instagram so you know how and when to enter!

We are starting a series today that focuses on strengthening our marriages. Where better to start than at the foundation? What we build our lives and our marriages on matters. Alli Patterson, author and pastor, joins me to share her story of building her marriage on things she thought were good only to discover that following the standards of the world is like building your house on the sand. But when her world collapsed, Jesus was there. You’ll hear us talk about… Alli’s marriage story The importance of guarding your heart How Jesus meets you at rock bottom 3 practices to build your life and marriage on Alli is a Teaching Pastor at Crossroads Church in Cincinnati, OH and a graduate of Dallas Theological Seminary. She’s passionate about helping others know Jesus in his Word and discover the strength and power of God’s wisdom for their real lives. GET ALL THE SHOW NOTES   CONNECT WITH ALLI Instagram | Facebook | Website   CONNECT WITH GIRLS TALKING LIFE Get the GTL Newsletter | Instagram | Facebook

How do you lend your voice in constructive ways? How do you disagree without destroying a relationship? Is kindness only a nicety? Just a moral virtue? Ashlee Eiland, author of Human(Kind): How Reclaiming Human Worth and Embracing Radical Kindness will bring us Back Together, joins me for a timely conversation about the power we can access to help heal and reconcile our world. You’ll hear us talk about… Where the Power to be Kind Comes From Speaking in Grace and Truth Elevating a Person’s Worthiness Confronting an Issue Without Being Confrontational to a Person When Helping to Healing Humanity Feels Too Big Ashlee is a leader, pastor, writer and Bible teacher who exists to join God in His redemptive work here on Earth. Her work has one purpose: to help humanity build bridges back to the Truth of who God is and between one another in redemptive, healing relationship. GET ALL THE SHOW NOTES   CONNECT WITH ASHLEE Instagram | Facebook | Website   CONNECT WITH GIRLS TALKING LIFE Get the GTL Newsletter | Instagram | Facebook

Does back-to-school have your head spinning? Do you feel overwhelmed with the demands of parenting in this season? Are you struggling to find time with God? Today I’m talking with my new friend Caris Snider, author of Car Line Mom: 100 Days of Encouragement for the Mama Who Gets Everybody Everywhere. And Caris is doing just that…she’s giving us encouragement in this busy season of back-to-school, fall sports and activities, and the many carlines we are starting to find ourselves waiting in. You’ll hear us talk about… Handling the mental load of motherhood Getting time with God amidst the chaos The importance of community Caris’s back-to-school hacks Caris Snider is a Christian Communicator who shares the hope of God as a speaker, writer, certified life coach, and podcaster on her weekly show, Car Line Conversations. GET ALL THE SHOW NOTES   CONNECT WITH CARIS Instagram | Facebook | Website   LISTEN TO THE SUMMER OF FRIENDSHIP SERIES   CONNECT WITH GIRLS TALKING LIFE Get the GTL Newsletter | Instagram | Facebook

We are wrapping it all up today! This is week ten, the final episode of the Summer of Friendship series and we're talking about three things: creating a new friendship rhythm for a new season, making new friends, and a common friendship struggle. If you haven’t listened to all the episodes in this series or haven’t been as intentional with your friendships as you’d planned, there’s still time! There’s no end date on this, in fact, this is just the beginning!   Mentioned in this Episode Episode #94 Making New Friends Episode #107 with Amberly Neese - Finding Safe Friends Take the Summer Survey Join The Gathering Project

Welcome to week nine of the Summer of Friendship series. Friend, we are almost done!  Today we’re tackling a tough topic, at least for me. We’re chatting about when a friendship ends. Friendships can end for so many different reasons and I can’t even begin to go into all the nuances that you’ve experienced or that could come up, so I’m breaking it into two categories: 1) when things end because something unfavorable happens and 2) when things just end.   Mentioned in this Episode Psalm 55 - The Betrayal of a Friend Episode 44 with Chelsey DeMatteis More of Him Less of Me chelseydematteis.com   Connect with Girls Talking Life Instagram | Facebook | Website