Girls Talking Life

Carla Arges is on the show today sharing her story and her encouragement for those living with mental illness. She also explains what it’s like to live with mental illness on a daily basis for those of us who don’t know. Carla has so much insight and wisdom straight from God’s Word on this subject. She clears up misconceptions about mental illness as Christians and gives practical guidance for those wanting to love someone well who is struggling in this way.

Carla tells us that early on she wanted to handle her struggles on her own, but once she became a mother she knew she didn’t want to repeat the cycle of her childhood with her son, which is what led her to seek help. Carla says “making that shift from being a victim of my circumstances to having ownership over my life was a huge turning point.”

Carla shares some low points in her journey and how God showed her that He created her for MORE. He gently walked her through healing and restoration slowly, one area at a time. Carla tells us that while she still struggles with identity, a way she has combated those feelings is by creating affirmations directly from scripture to remind her of the truth of who she is in Christ.

Carla explains what it’s like to live her mental illness and how she has learned to utilize the tools available to her. She says that by controlling the things you can control — like how much sleep you get, the foods you eat and how much you move your body — you can “live a victorious life within your illness.”

Carla is an entrepreneur, author, mom, wife and mental health advocate. She is the founder of Affirming Truths, a platform to help women affirm their identity in Christ. Her mission is to help women gain confidence in who they are so that they can walk more boldly in the purpose God has over their life.

Affirming Truths

Kairos Journal

Who You Say I Am Affirmation Cards

Happy Light

Morning Coffee Made by her Husband

Scopa Italian Card Game

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Did you know that there’s a Girls Talking Life community group on FB? It’s an extension of the podcast where we can connect and continue to grow even when we can’t be with our girlfriends. If you are looking for community, if you want join in the conversation after the show and encourage others as we all grow in our faith, jump in to this group! I’d love to see you there!

Happy new year! Today we are kicking off a brand new series. The heart behind Girls Talking Life is providing girl time when you can’t be with your girlfriends, but ultimately I want to encourage you to be in community with the women in your actual life. Gather, have conversations, create meaningful connections, and listen to each others’ stories. But sometimes that’s easier said than done.

Adult friending is hard and because of last year it’s even harder.

So over the next several episodes, I’m going to bring you incredible guests and also some resources! We’re talking all about cultivating community, creating meaningful connections and building lasting friendships!

Mama Needs Subscription Box – February theme: Mama Needs Friendship – available to order through January 31st and will include Girls Talking Life conversation cards! Use the code PODCAST for free shipping on your first box!

Word of the Year – Word Study

New GTL Community Group

Sermon by Pastor Jeff Bogue – Grace Church

The Ruth Experience – Creative Friendship Goals for the New Year

“Having friends is good! And they are good for you! Therefore, if you are passionate about self-care then you should be making friends and enriching those relationships. Investing in friendships is investing in yourself.” Hanna Gilland – It’s not just you: Making other adult friends is hard

Coffee Maker Auto On

The Bible Recap

Faster Way to Fat Loss with Abby Miller

Madewell Jeans

Geranium Lime Body Oil

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Do you find yourself struggling to see the gifts of the season you’re in? Did you know that the daily practice of gratitude has the power to impact the neurotransmitters in your brain?!?⠀ Have you ever wanted to implement a weekly Sabbath into your family’s rhythm?

Amber Cullum joins me to talk about the daily practice of gratitude and introducing a rhythm of family Sabbath.

Amber is a wife to Sam, mom of 3, and the host of Grace Enough Podcast. A podcast designed to encourage the believer that God can use you to impact His kingdom no matter your story.

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Prep Dish is a healthy subscription based meal plan service developed by chef & dietitian Allison Schaaf. When you sign up, you’ll receive a weekly email that contains your menu for the week, an organized grocery list and easy to follow instructions for prepping your meals ahead of time. After a couple of hours in the kitchen, all of your meals are ready for the entire week. No more answering the question, “What’s for Dinner?!” Meal time stress is replaced with a healthy, whole food meal made by YOU!

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Jenni Lien is the writer and artist behind The Yay Project which seeks to help women celebrate their God-given design by reminding them that ‘You Are You’ (Yay!). Through The Yay Project, she’s had the joy of e-praising God with women from all over the world.

Jenni is a second generation immigrant. She was born in the UK, moved to Canada when she was eight and now lives in Hong Kong. In our conversation Jenni talks about growing up experiencing lots of diversity and how that led her to appreciate how different God has made us. She shares what led her to Hong Kong and describes the culture, the current unrest and her experience with the coronavirus. Jenni talks about not giving into fear, but trying to be a light during fearful times.

Then we dig in to how and why Jenni started The Yay Project. Jenni talks about feeling like her life was going exactly according to God’s plan and how when that plan fell apart, all she had was God’s faithfulness to get her through. She says “through that whole experience, he brought me to a place where I was just so in love with him.” During that time was when he gave her the vision for her project. Jenni talks about carrying a fear of rejection and needing to heal from some old wounds in order to more fully accept her God-given design, and how she wants to encourage other women to do the same.

Jenni is overjoyed to connect with women so deeply through a shared love of God. When not creating for Yay, she works in children’s book publishing and is also a freelance food writer.

The Yay Project

Praying All Day

Yay Sister Series

Whistles Dresses

Oliplex Hair Treatment

I Give You Authority by Charles Kraft

Spotify Top Christian Playlist

iPad and Apple Pencil

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