Bits & Pieces
Terica Talbert
Spring Time
HowAreWe Receiving Our Seed
Itisspringtime,andthingsbegan tospringup.Theweatherchanges, thegrassgrows,theflowersbloom, andallthingsstartlookinglikethe newseason,right?Don’tyouthink? ThistakesmetoIsaiah43:19, whenGodsaysheisdoinganew thingNowitshallspringforth; shallyenotknowit?
Wearealwayslookingforthatnew thingbutnevertheinstructions thatwillhelptobringthatnew thingtocomeforth;then,we wonderwhywedon’tseeit.
Everythinghasaprocess;thereare stepsthathavetobetakenalong withworkingwithGod.
Lastyear,itdroppedinmyspiritto startaprayerlineinthemonthof November.AndGodbegantotake usthroughaprocessofchange, implementingnewthingsandold thingsaway.Whenwegottothe monthofFebruary,Iheardthe scriptureLuke6:46Andwhycall yecallme,Lord,Lord,anddonot thethingswhichIsay?Ipauseda momentandsaidOkay,whatdid yousay?Iwentbacktomynotes fromtheprayerlineandstartedto implementtheinstruction.The moreIwentoverthenotes,the moretheLord’swordsunkin.I evengainedmorestrength to moveforwardinthethingsthathe hasgivenme.
Takingamoment,pausing,and returningtohiswordmademe realizeIhadnotreceivedthewordI heard.Istudiedittoteachit,butI didn’treceiveit.IfIamnotreceiving it,thenIcan’tproduceanythingfrom it.Butthemoreinsunkinthemore Hiswordproduced.Ihavestarted becomingmoreofadoerandnotjust aheareroftheword.
Sohowareyoureceivingyourseed, meaningthewordofGod,foryour life?
Matthew13:18-23Messenger Version
Studythisstoryofthefarmer plantingseed.Whenanyonehears newsofthekingdomanddoesn’t takeitin,itjustremainsonthe surface,andsotheEvilOnecomes alongandplucksitrightoutofthat person’sheart.Thisistheseedthe farmerscattersontheroad.20-21 Theseedcastinthegravel-thisis thepersonwhohearsandinstantly respondswithenthusiasm.Butthere isnosoilofcharacter,andsowhen theemotionswearoffandsome difficultyarrives,thereisnothingto showforit.
22Theseedcastintheweedisthe personwhohearsthekingdomnews, butweedsofworryandillusions aboutgettingmoreandwanting everythingunderthesunstrangle whatwasheard,andnothingcomes ofit.23Theseedcastongoodearth isthepersonwhohearsandtakesin theNews,andthenproducesa harvestbeyondhiswildestdreams.
Solet’sbehearersanddoersofthe wordandopentoreceivewhatthe Lordissayingtous.ThatHisword mayfallongoodgroundand penetrateourhearts,producinga harvestbeyondourwildestdreams.
Introducing
Terica Talbert
From Columbus Ohio
MynameisTericaTalbert,andIwas borninColumbus,Ohio.Havinglost mymomtocancerattheageof8,I wantedtobewithmyoldersister, whohadpreviouslyrelocatedto Greenville,SC.MovingtoGreenville gavemeanopportunityto"do somethingdifferent"andactually openedupaworldofexperiences thatIwouldhaveprobablynever dreamedof.
Ienjoybeingoutdoorsandconsider myselfquiteadventurous.MeaningI amnotafraidoftryingnewthings.I enjoywalking,ziplining,horseback riding,reading,shopping,and traveling.
WhenIwasyoung,Iwasinspiredby mymotherandfather,whoeach possessedtheirownindividualareas ofexpertise.Mymomwasa fashionistabutshy.
Shedidnothavetohavedesigner pieces,butshehadanaturally creativeeyeforfashion.Shecould lookatsomething,andinhermind createadifferentlookforherselfand makeithappen.IbelievethatIwas blessedsomewhatwiththetalent thatshepossessed.Ilovefashionand finditeasytoputsomething togetherandidentifywithwhatwill andwhatwillnotworkforme.My momalsopushedmetobemyown thinkerandindividual.
BecauseIwasnotafraidtoshare what'sonmymindandheart,Istood instrengthandcouragetostartmy ownYouTubechannel,Tuesdays withTerica.
Mydad,whopossessedahuge personalitythatallowedhimtowalk throughmanydoorsthathewasnot alwayswelcomein.Hewas somewhatofadreamer.Hehada "JuiceBar"inacoupleofgymsin Ohio,beforeitwaspopular.Healso workedfortherailroadforover30 years,andwhenheretired,hetook thestateexamtobecomeareal estateagentinOhio,workingfor Century21.Hesoldhomesuntilhe was80yearsold.Heshowedand taughtmethingsabouttheReal EstateindustrywaybeforeIever thoughtaboutbecomingaRealtor. OnceIreceivedmySClicense,it affordedusgreatopportunitiesfor conversation.
Goals& Professional Insight
Mygoalformybusinessisto continuetogrowandtobe moreself-supportive,toadd additionalservicesformy realestatebusiness,andto reachthoseinthe communityasawhole.One ofmypersonalgoalsisto developandexpandmy counselingplatformtoreach awideraudience.
Iwouldtellmyyoungerself totrustGodandhis direction
Don'tbeafraidtofall,knowingthattherereallyisaspecialplanforeachofour lives.AlthoughIamgratefulformyjourney,therearesomethingsthatIcould havedonebetter.Notperfect,butit’sbetter.
Iwouldliketoberememberedforsharingthehopeandthelovethatinmy heavenlyFatherwiththosethatImeet.Iwanttoberememberedasreal...My mostsignificantcareerachievementsofarisbeingwhereIam,maintainingfor over23years,andstillenjoyingwhatIdo.
Amajorchallengewashavingtoletgoofarelationshipthatwasnolongergood forme.Iovercamethisbychangingmydirectionandfocusingonthefuturewith thesupportofmyfamilyandclosefriends.
Current Projects
Iamcurrentlyworkingon developingnewmarketingideas formybusiness.Igetexcitedwhen Iimplementjustasmallstepand begintoseegrowthwith consistency.
Iapproachproblem-solvingand decision-makingthroughprayer first.Ihavewisecounseltoconsult with,butultimately,ItrustGodto leadme.Iremindmyselfthat peoplechangeallthetime.Iwork inaservice-relatedbusinesswhere Imustbeflexibleandmakequick decisions.Istandmygroundwhen necessarybutalsohaveanopen mindtothethoughtsandideasof others.EvenwhenIknowthatI'm right!Lol
Future
Ihavehadmanyimportantand influentialmentorsatdifferent seasonsofmylife.Theyhavepoured somuchwisdomandknowledge thatIcan'tbegintoshareitall.Both inbusinessandinlife.Iamgrateful foreachnuggetthathasshapedme intothewomanthatIamandstill evolvinginto.
Foranyneworneweragents,be fearless...Don'tbediscouragedif youaren'tshininglikeanother. FocusonwhoGodhasplacedin yourpathandhelpthatfamilyfor individuals.Yourtimewillcomeif youareconsistentandintegral. Moneydoesn'tmakeyousuccessful; thechildwhoisnowanadultthat callsyoutohelpthemandtheir familymakesyouasuccess.Because theyrememberhowyoumadetheir parentsfeelduringtheirpurchase andthesecretconversationsthat werehadwhenyouweren'tinthe room.That'ssuccess.Seekthatover anydollaramount!
Itishardtosaywhatthefuture holdsfortherealestateindustry. However,ItrustGod.Things consistentlychangeinthe economy,buthomeownershipis oneofthebestdecisionsafamily oranindividualcanmake.It'san investmentthatcanandwillpay off. 1 1
Tips & Advise
Manage work & life the best I can. I choose what's best for me by getting the rest that I need when I need it. I’ll take a trip here and there to balance my focus. I work hard, and then I rest. I work hard, and then I rest. It's necessary. Without my faith and my trust in God, I'd be all over the place. Because I can be whimsical. My faith grounds me and gives me focus for each day. But I am a work in process.
I am grateful for every opportunity that comes my way, and I strive to give the best of myself in all that I do. Life is so short; make each moment count. Strive to do something for someone other than yourself and find something to smile about each day. Why? Tomorrow isn't a guarantee, and we only have today!
● PhotographyBy:ChedrickCohens
● HairBy:LatanyaScott,Esquisite HairSpa
● BrowsByMinnieRobinson; Twelve28Lounge
Women’s History Month
Ann Lowe
ATrailblazingFashionIcon
AnnColeLoweremainsoneofthe mostinfluentialfiguresin Americanfashion,breaking barriersforAfricanAmericansin theindustry.Overherfive-decade career,herextraordinary craftsmanshipdrewanelite clientele,includingJacqueline Kennedy,MarjorieMerriweather Post,andtheRockefellerfamily. Despitefacingsignificant challenges,herresilienceand talentcementedherlegacyasa pioneeringdesigner.
EarlyLifeandPassionfor Dressmaking
Bornin1898inClayton,Alabama, AnnLoweinheritedherlovefor fashionfromhermother,Janine ColeLowe,andhergrandmother, GeorgiaThompkins,bothskilled dressmakers.Shebegansewingat justfiveyearsold,craftingintricate fabricflowersthatlaterbecamea signatureofherdesigns.Whenshe was16,tragedystruck her motherpassedaway,leavingherto takeoverthefamilybusiness.
BuildingaCareerinFashion
Lowefirstgainedrecognitionin Tampa,Florida,designingfor socialitesbeforepursuingformal trainingattheS.T.TaylorSchoolof DesigninNewYorkCityin1917. AstheonlyBlackstudent,shefaced segregationbutexcelled,often surpassingherpeers.Determined andambitious,shecompletedthe programinhalftheusualtime.
Aftergraduation,shereturnedto Tampatogrowherbusiness,but heraspirationsledherbacktoNew Yorkin1928witharemarkable $20,000investment(equivalentto nearly$300,000today).Overthe nexttwodecades,herreputation flourishedasshedesignedforhighprofilestoressuchasHenriBendel, NeimanMarcus,andSaksFifth Avenue.
BreakingBarriersintheFashion Industry
Despitefinancialstruggles, particularlyduringtheGreat Depression,Loweestablished herselfasasought-afterdesigner.
Sheopenedmultipleboutiquesin Manhattan,arareachievementfor aBlackentrepreneurinthe segregatedfashionindustry.In 1965,shemadehistoryby launchingastoreonMadison Avenue,becomingthefirstAfrican AmericantoownabusinessinNew York’sprestigiousfashiondistrict.
TheIconicKennedyWeddingGown
OneofLowe’smostrenowned achievementswasdesigning JacquelineBouvier’sweddinggown forher1953marriagetoJohnF. Kennedy.However,justtendays beforethewedding,afloodruined theoriginaldressandten bridesmaidgowns.Undeterred, Loweandherteamworked tirelesslytorecreatethem, coveringthecostsherselftoensure thegownsweredeliveredontime. Despitethestunningresult,she receivedlittlepubliccreditforher work.
ALastingLegacy
Throughouthercareer,Lowewas oftenunderpaidandoverlooked,as clientstookadvantageofracial barriersthatlimitedrecognition forBlackdesigners.Yet,she remaineddevotedtohercraft, focusingonexcellenceratherthan personalacclaim.
Bythetimesheretiredin1972,her designshadgracedthepagesof VogueandVanityFair,andher workwascherishedbyAmerica’s elite.Today,hercontributions continuetoinspireemerging designers,solidifyingherplacein fashionhistory.
Forthoseinterestedinlearning moreaboutAnnLoweandother pioneeringAfricanAmericansin fashion,theSmithsonianNational MuseumofAfricanAmerican HistoryandCulturehoststhe symposiumFashion,Culture, Futures:AfricanAmerican Ingenuity,Activism,and Storytelling,celebratingtheir enduringinfluence.
Gen7:1 AndtheLORDsaidunto Noah,Comethouandallthy houseintotheark;fortheehave Iseenrighteousbeforemein thisgeneration.
Gen7:2 Ofeverycleanbeast thoushalttaketotheeby sevens,themaleandhisfemale: andofbeaststhatarenotclean bytwo,themaleandhisfemale.
Gen7:3 Offowlsalsooftheair bysevens,themaleandthe female;tokeepseedaliveupon thefaceofalltheearth.
Gen7:4 Foryetsevendays,and Iwillcauseittorainuponthe earthfortydaysandforty nights;andeveryliving substancethatIhavemadewill Idestroyfromoffthefaceofthe earth.
Gen7:5 AndNoahdid accordinguntoallthattheLORD commandedhim.
Gen7:6 AndNoahwassix hundredyearsoldwhenthe floodofwaterswasuponthe earth.
Gen7:7 AndNoahwentin,and hissons,andhiswife,andhis sons'wiveswithhim,intothe ark,becauseofthewatersofthe flood.
Gen7:8 Ofcleanbeasts,andof beaststhatarenotclean,andof fowls,andofeverythingthat creepethupontheearth,
Gen7:9 Therewentintwoand twountoNoahintotheark,the maleandthefemale,asGodhad commandedNoah.
Genesis 7
Gen7:10 Anditcametopass aftersevendays,thatthewaters ofthefloodwereupontheearth.
Gen7:11 Inthesixhundredth yearofNoah'slife,inthesecond month,theseventeenthdayofthe month,thesamedaywereallthe fountainsofthegreatdeep brokenup,andthewindowsof heavenwereopened.
Gen7:12 Andtherainwasupon theearthfortydaysandforty nights.
Gen7:13 Intheselfsameday enteredNoah,andShem,and Ham,andJapheth,thesonsof Noah,andNoah'swife,andthe threewivesofhissonswiththem, intotheark;
Gen7:14 They,andeverybeast afterhiskind,andallthecattle aftertheirkind,andevery creepingthingthatcreepethupon theearthafterhiskind,andevery fowlafterhiskind,everybirdof everysort.
Gen7:15 Andtheywentinunto Noahintotheark,twoandtwoof allflesh,whereinisthebreathof life.
Gen7:16 Andtheythatwentin, wentinmaleandfemaleofall flesh,asGodhadcommanded him:andtheLORDshuthimin.
Gen7:17 Andthefloodwasforty daysupontheearth;andthe watersincreased,andbareupthe ark,anditwasliftupabovethe earth.
Gen7:18 Andthewaters prevailed,andwereincreased greatlyupontheearth;andthe arkwentuponthefaceofthe waters.
Gen7:19 Andthewaters prevailedexceedinglyuponthe earth;andallthehighhills,that wereunderthewholeheaven, werecovered.
Gen7:20 Fifteencubitsupward didthewatersprevail;andthe mountainswerecovered.
Gen7:21 Andallfleshdiedthat movedupontheearth,bothof fowl,andofcattle,andofbeast, andofeverycreepingthingthat creepethupontheearth,and everyman:
Gen7:22 Allinwhosenostrils wasthebreathoflife,ofallthat wasinthedryland,died.
Gen7:23 Andeveryliving substancewasdestroyedwhich wasuponthefaceoftheground, bothman,andcattle,andthe creepingthings,andthefowlof theheaven;andtheywere destroyedfromtheearth:and Noahonlyremainedalive,and theythatwerewithhiminthe ark.
Gen7:24 Andthewaters prevailedupontheearthan hundredandfiftydays.
