girltalk Blog
2008 at 2:00 pm | by Nicole Whitacre
Filed under
Biblical Womanhood Relationships
There is one more question we must add to our list of fellowship questions, and it is the most important one of all:
How are you preaching the gospel to yourself every day?
Milton Vincent, author of The Gospel Primer makes the case for why the gospel is vital to Christian love and fellowship:
“The greatest gift I can give to my fellow-Christians is
the gospel itself. Indeed, I love my fellow-Christians not simply
because of the gospel, but I love them best when I am loving them with
the gospel! And I do this not merely by speaking gospel words to them,
but also by living before them and generously relating to them in a
gospel manner. Imparting my life to them in this way, I thereby
contribute to their experience of the power, the Spirit, and the full
assurance of the gospel. By preaching the gospel to myself every day, I
mature the bond that unites me with my brothers and sisters for whom
Christ died, and I also keep myself well-versed in the raw materials
with which I may actively love them in Christ.”
Mr. Vincent references 1 Thessalonians 2:18 where Paul tells the church that: “Having
so fond an affection for you, we were well-pleased to impart to you not
only the gospel of God but also our own lives, because you had become
very dear to us.”
We may say that our friends are “very dear
to us;” but if we do not live in the good of the gospel, we stifle the
source and limit the scope of our love for them. May this motivate us
to preach the gospel to ourselves every day—so that we can "actively
love" our friends.
2008 at 4:41 pm | by Nicole Whitacre
Filed under
Biblical Womanhood Relationships
Marsha, a reader and seminary wife, wrote to tell us that she and a friend are going to begin “holding each other accountable to the tough things of the faith.” They are comprising a list of helpful questions and she wanted to know if we had any to add to their collection.
Several years ago, we put together a list of questions to encourage fellowship among women: to provoke one another to pursue Christ-like character and cultivate biblical womanhood.
We hope these questions get you started, Marsha. And for all our readers, we hope they spark many Christ-honoring girl talks!
Describe your current practice of the spiritual disciplines.
What is a passage of Scripture you have been meditating on recently?
What fruit of the Spirit are you cultivating?
What sin are you seeking to weaken?
How can I pray for you?
Here is an evidence of grace that I observe in your life.
How are you seeking to grow in expressing biblical femininity?
2007 at 7:13 pm | by Nicole Whitacre
Filed under
Biblical Womanhood Relationships
Each day, the topics we address on this blog may only apply to a slice of our audience. But when it comes to the topic of conflict, everyone can relate. Whether you’re a teenager with siblings or a parent with teenagers, a boss with employees or an employee with co-workers, a wife or one of the many husbands and fathers who read our blog. Whether you are five or fifty-five, you know all about relational conflict.
But just as we have all experienced conflict, so God’s Word offers hope to all of us in conflict. There is no marital strife, parent-child hostility, or relational discord that is too complicated for God’s wisdom, too persistent for God’s mercy or too difficult for God’s grace.
In an article entitled “Cravings and Conflicts” my dad unpacks the timeless and universal wisdom of James 4 to give us hope for resolving quarrels and fights. Even if you aren’t in a conflict right now, you still need this truth. Because, as Dad observes, there’s most certainly a conflict headed your way soon.
So, if you’re unprepared for the inevitable conflict or hopeless in the midst of conflict, be sure to read this article and receive fresh guidance and hope for resolving conflict.
2006 at 7:55 pm | by Carolyn Mahaney
Filed under
Biblical Womanhood Relationships Motherhood Teenagers
Nicole has an article on Crosswalk.com’s family channel on the subject of mother-daughter conflict. However, mothers and daughters aren’t the only ones who may experience strife in their relationship. We are sinful people living and working and doing church with other sinful people. The reality of conflict is something we are all too familiar with.
Sadly, we are far less familiar with the grace God gives to those who respond to conflict with humility. In his message “Cravings and Conflicts” on which Nicole’s article is based, my husband examines James 4 and God’s truth that transforms our conflicts. The bad news is that conflict is much worse than we think. But the great news is that it is also simpler and easier to resolve conflict than we think, because of Jesus Christ.
So if you are presently experiencing relational discord of any kind, read this article, listen to this message, and find God’s solution to conflict.
2005 at 5:00 pm | by Nicole Whitacre
Filed under
Biblical Womanhood Relationships Homemaking Holidays and Seasons
The autumn season is a great excuse to have a party. Whether married or single, consider a progressive dinner as a unique way to experience the personalized hospitality of friends. Select a limited number of participants, and assign each person a course of an autumn menu (Appetizer, Main, Dessert, etc.). Each host/hostess will be responsible for preparing, decorating, and hosting that portion of the evening’s festivities. Oh, and make sure to map out the shortest route—gas prices being what they are these days!
As a way to encourage laughter and fellowship, have an assigned question for each stop. Here are a few kitchen-tested questions that have received some surprising answers:
Describe your high school experience. Public or private school? Popular or nerd? Embarrassing moments?
Share any “hide under a rock” moments. Family vacation disasters? Bad trip to the hair salon? “Clean up on aisle 3?”
How did you meet your husband? How long was your engagement? Funny or embarrassing courtship tidbits?
Honeymoon details. Where did you go? How long did you stay? Funny moments?
Any parenting adventures? Moments when tempted not to identify yourself as child’s parent? Days when going back to sleep seemed like the best course of action?
2005 at 4:56 pm | by Kristin Chesemore
Filed under
Biblical Womanhood Relationships
This Saturday, I’ve invited Mom to meet with a group of ladies who support their husbands in small-group leadership in our church, and who often lead ladies’ meetings on a consistent basis.
Mom, Nicole, Janelle and I have led various small groups of women through the years. As a result, we are always on the lookout for great questions to promote fellowship. The following are some questions we compiled recently. I’ll be handing these out on Saturday, but we thought that those of you who lead small groups might benefit as well. Hopefully these "starter questions" will serve to promote fellowship among the women that you lead.
- Share your conversion testimony.
- Describe your current practice of the spiritual disciplines.
- What is a passage of Scripture you have been meditating on recently?
- What fruit of the spirit are you cultivating?
- What sin are you seeking to weaken?
- How are you seeking to grow in expressing biblical femininity?
- Here is an evidence of grace that I observe in your life.
Happy fellowshipping!
