Speaking

Based on her book, Untangled… this talk asks the question, “What do you do when the knots of insecurity tangle your sense of value and make you feel worthless?” As women, the I’m-not-good-enough messages can infiltrate every area of life as they become deep parts of our belief system. We’re left with guilt, shame, unforgiveness, and fear… certain we’ll never be able to measure up. And it’s taking us out of the game. This talk will challenge you to:

• See the self-esteem crushing lies you’ve been believing and where they’ve come from
• Replace the pursuit of performance and perfection with your God-given purpose
• Find the confidence to be who God created you to be
• Learn how to manage the tangles when they begin to tighten

Shame is that 5-letter word that can sometimes feel more like a 4-letter word. It’s the feeling that says who we are … isn’t good enough. We feel bad about ourselves, confident we aren’t lovable or valuable. Maybe someone told us that growing up, maybe we’re embarrassed by our messy life, or maybe we feel like failures in life. Regardless, shame is that hidden tangle that keeps us from knowing our immeasurable worth to God and others. This talk will challenge you to:

• Learn the difference between shame and guilt
• Identify the shame-messages that are stealing your joy and confidence
• Invite God into your tangles so you can find lasting freedom
• Understand you were Divinely created on purpose for purpose, and the Creator delights in you!

Seriously. Who WANTS to forgive someone’s whose hurt them? So often, it’s a too-tall order. We want to hold on to the offense because we think it’s a way to punish the offender. We feel like letting it go means we think they’re blameless. But God knows that until we forgive, we’ll stay knotted up inside. It will keep us chained to the person and the pain. This talk will make the case for forgiveness, and will encourage you to:

• Discover where you are holding onto offense
• Uncover the lies that are keeping you from releasing the hurt and pain
• See the reasons God commands us to forgive and understand the blessings that come from it
• Learn practical ways to walk it out in relationships and circumstances

Fear is a big deal. Truth be told, we all struggle with it. We’re afraid to let others down. We fear rejection or abandonment in relationships. We worry we’re not the right kind of mom or wife… friend or daughter. We’re afraid our best isn’t good enough. But God is clear in his Word that fear is not from Him. So what do we do? This talk will help you:

• Explore the fears breaking your spirit and weakening your spine
• Understand what the Bible says about this topic
• Learn the difference between good fear and fear that tangles your self-worth
• Discover practical steps to keep fear from ruling in your life

‘Tis the season for family, fun, food, friends… and so often frustration! We have hope for Norman Rockwell moments, but find ourselves struggling to manage all this time of year brings with it. How can we keep our sanity in check so we can be present for get-togethers and celebrations? How can we stay focused on Jesus rather than get wrapped up in the wrong things? This talk will help you:

• Identify those people and situations that are potentially tangling
• Learn practical strategies to help navigate difficulties
• Find ways to have sweet moments with Jesus
• Be a blessing to those around you
• Enjoy the holiday rather than dread them

This retreat series will help women discover their immeasurable value and reclaim their sense of value. It addresses the struggles of fear, shame, worthlessness and unforgiveness that keep us feeling worthless. Based on her new book titled Untangled, this retreat topic will help women open their eyes to what is tangling them up in insecurity and point them to the only One who can loosen the knots that are choking their self-worth. You will be challenged to:

• Identify those factors that keep you trapped in the prison of perfectionism
• Understand the problem with measuring your worth by the world’s standards
• Learn about the tangles of fear, shame, worthlessness and unforgiveness
• Believe you are who God says you are
• See the importance of anchoring your identity in Jesus alone
• Give yourself love and grace
• Embrace the freedom that comes from replacing the “you’re not good enough” messages with God’s truth.

(I will provide attendee notes for each session and post-session group discussion questions upon request.)

As women, we struggle to feel like we’re good enough because we’re constantly told we don’t measure up. We live in a world that says we have to look a certain way, live a certain lifestyle, have husbands who fit a certain mold, have children that excel in every area of their lives, and more. The result of striving to be something we’re not is deep discontentment and a joyless existence. But what does God say about how we should live our lives? Using an acrostic for the word AUTHENTIC, this retreat will unpack 9 ways we can live the authentic life. You will be encouraged to:

• Accept that God loves you for who you are and where you are in your journey
• Embrace realistic expectations for yourself and others
• Know there is goodness in you because God created you on purpose and for a purpose
• Reject the idea that you have to live fake, plastic lives to be loved and accepted
• Create communities that thrive
• Dump the lies that keeping you trapped in feelings of worthlessness
• Live authentic, real and honest lives with yourself, others and God

(I will provide attendee notes for each session and post-session group discussion questions upon request.)

With the ever-increasing pace of life in our society, finding time for personal restoration can seem impossible. The treadmill of life speeds up, and we run faster just to keep up.  In the process, we sometimes move farther and farther away from whom God designed us to be.  We feel tired, burned-out, and overwhelmed.  How can restoration happen when we’re so busy and preoccupied?  The truth is that restoration is exactly what we need.  The world tells us there are plenty of ways to repair, revamp, and remodel our lives. It says… It’s all about you… Do what you need to do to be happy… Change your surroundings… Change your appearance… Do more… Be more… Buy more.  These diversions may bring temporary pleasure, but they don’t get to the root of the problem, and all too quickly we find ourselves right back where we were; discouraged, hopeless, and exhausted. The God of Creation is calling us back to Him. Only our Heavenly Father can restore us, renew us, and revive us.

In this retreat, Carey will share the similarities between the restoration we so desperately need and the restoration of the exiled Israelites to their homeland of Jerusalem as decreed by King Cyrus. Under the leadership of Zerubbabel, Ezra and Nehemiah, the commission for restoration was under way. These three men led the Israelites back to (1) rebuild the temple and altar for worship, (2) restore the community and (3) rebuild the wall and gates of Jerusalem, respectively. You will be challenged to follow their example by:

• Restoring your relationship with God
• Creating peace and safety in the communities you live and function in
• Understanding the importance of rebuilding your identity in Jesus Christ

(I provide the following: attendee notes for each session, post-session discussion questions, and post-retreat reflection questions.)