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Hey Girl, the Podcast, Episode 1 Welcome to the premier episode of Hey Girl, the podcast! I’m Kem with an “E” and I’m so excited to welcome you here. For two years we came to you live on Facebook, at the height of the Covid-19 pandemic. We swapped stories and shared the insights of amazing women just like you. There were so many great conversations! Now, we’re back with more inspiration and information to help you live your best life. At the end of the day, life can be complex and overwhelming, but knowing we’re not alone is what helps us get through. In this premier episode of Hey Girl, the podcast I explain what this show is all about. Girlfriends hold each other up, hold each other accountable, or just hold each other. Our lives require a lot from us and often our only reprieve is when we’re hangin’ with our girls—the ones who call our name without judgment. In this podcast we’ll dig deeper into this question of identity—how we see ourselves and how others see us—but we’ll begin with who we are in relation to God. We’ll make his name for us our starting point. Then we’ll look at how we tackle our day-to-day responsibilities. Do we operate from a position of weakness or strength? Hey Girl, the podcast, is here to help you identify your strengths. This is a journey towards wholeness and fullness with your girlfriends by your side!

The Mount Calvary Women's Ministries Department held a mini-conference on Sunday, March 5, 2023 and their theme was "Thriving and Soaring." In this talk I suggest that the shortcomings keeping us in bondage could be the fuel God uses to empower us and others.

Hey GIrl, the Podcast, Episode 4 I’d like to introduce you to my friend Rachel—a woman who is loving and kind. She exudes a positivity and optimism that is inspiring. But to meet Rachel today, you would never know the amazing experience she lived through. Rachel’s parents were Christians who believed that Jesus’ return was imminent, so they uprooted their family and moved to the remote woods of Tennessee—where there was no electricity, no running water, no people--completely disconnected from civilization! You might think that Rachel’s experience would turn her away from God. After all, who can love a God who looks and sounds like your father—the red-headed tyrant who keeps you confined and bound by guilt and shame? But Rachel says God revealed Himself to her despite the distorted perception of Him that she was shown. Rachel’s story is proof that no matter how harsh, unfair or even extreme your circumstances might be, God is a constant, loving presence who is still in control—even when life seems out of control! He wants you to know that He’s with you, He hears you, He has you and you are His. If you'd like to connect with Rachel and learn more about her book, Born Yesterday,click here: Rachel Williams Smith

Hey Girl, the Podcast, Episode 3 Are you part of the popular crowd or are you a loner? Do you make friends easily or do you have a hard time finding your people? I get it. I’ve spent most of my life not fitting in—or at least I’ve felt like I didn’t. I have often tried to adjust myself to be like others because I equated being different with being wrong or broken in some way. Do you ever feel that way? When I became friends with Tanzy Chandler I was immediately drawn to her calm and quiet demeanor as well as her gentle acceptance of others. But this acceptance that she extends to us, she was not always able to extend to herself. If you meet her today you will see a strong, confident and beautiful woman who has a huge social media presence and a powerful, motivational fitness ministry. But there was a time in Tanzy’s life when none of this was possible. She was a young pastor’s wife and mother trying to be all things to all people, but quickly Tanzy learned that it’s only when we stop trying to be like others—and stop trying to live up to standards set by others-- that we discover who God made us to be and that discovery may free us to be more than we ever imagined! Inserting ourselves into roles that weren’t meant for us is like forcing square pegs into round holes; we may fit, but not without sustaining damage.

Hey Girl, the Podcast Episode 2 Have you ever wondered how God could use someone like you? Have you always been the underdog, the nerd, the last one picked for the team? Or have you just had some serious failures in your life and now you think it will be too hard to recover. If this is you, stay tuned, before you give up, I have someone I want you to meet. “The angel of the Lord appeared to him and said, “Mighty hero, the Lord is with you! …’But Lord,’ Gideon replied, ‘how can I rescue Israel? My clan is the weakest in the whole tribe of Manasseh, and I am the least in my entire family!’” (Judges 6:12,15, NLT). It was a classic God move to choose the least likely candidate among the Israelite tribes to take on the task of saving His people from an army that was like a “swarm of locusts” (Judges 6:5, CEV). But God has the ability to see beyond the present moment and call what will be as though it already is. The trick is to listen for that and act according to His Word and not according to what you see when you look in the mirror. He told Gideon, “Go with the strength you have…I am sending you!” That’s all Gideon needed. He may have been the least likely to do it, but he did it, and so can you. Veronica Cope is a native of Tarboro, a tiny town about 70 miles from Raleigh where she lived with her parents and three siblings. Her family was poor but hardworking and Veronica raised to love God and follow His path for her. Presently, Veronica Cope is an acclaimed lawyer and superior court judge in Gwinnett County Georgia, but this is not where her story began. At an early age, Veronica rebelled against her Christian upbringing and got pregnant. She was just twelve years old! In our interview she describes how she rose from the ashes of poverty and poor decisions to now sit on the bench where justice is served. Like Gideon, you may see yourself as ill-equipped for the work God is calling you to. Like Veronica, you may have made some serious mis-steps which could disqualify you, but as these two stories remind us. God’s plan will succeed with or without us. You can either join Him or stay where you are.

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Hey Girl Hits 100! Two years ago this month the whole world went into lockdown. We were confined to our homes and afraid to go outside the boundaries of our own backyards. The grocery store became a battleground and only the brave were sent to war! In the meantime, we became more brave with our technology. We found connection through our computers, through Zoom, Microsoft Teams and other virtual environments, like Instagram, Facebook and TikTok!

Why Writing Matters It was 3 am but I was wide awake. I don’t know why, but I just couldn't sleep. So I opened my laptap and stumbled upon a digital journal entry from January, 2014:

These are black-owned and/or women-owned businesses that we think are doing good work They made the list because we like their products and we believe in their cause. If you think your black-owned or woman-owned business is worthy of a High Five, send your recommendation to: heygirlfb@gmail.com

After 3 years and hundreds of posts, I’ve decided that it’s time for something new! Although I am still here to encourage you—writers and creatives—to pursue your dreams, I’ll also be doing more! Here’s what you can expect from JustKem.net: HEY GIRL! Come join the conversation on my Facebook Live--“Hey Girl!” where my friends and I chat with various guests about their experiences and expertise on living your best life. Whether you are single or married, work outside or inside the home, HeyGirl! is a safe space for girl talk and sisterly support. NEW BOOK! As a former English professor and, now, director of a university writing center, I’ve spent a lot of time thinking about the value of writing—not grammar—but the writing process which involves our hearts, minds and full attention. You see, the writing process is not only important work for the development of writing, it is also important for the development of writers, meaning people—even those who don’t consider themselves to be “writers.” This is what my book, Trust the Process, is all about, helping you to make writing the center of your daily practice so that you can unlock the secrets to your purpose and God’s plan for your life. Here’s a sample chapter. If you like it, go to the contact tab and send me a message!

Ladies! This Saturday we're talking about our bodies--if you or someone you know is approaching mid-life, you know that hormones are a beast, but Dr. McMillan is here to help us! Join us for real talk this week.

In today's episode the couples talk marriage! Infidelity, intimacy and integrity!