We are not victims of our past, whether we chose it or not. Our Lord has plans for us. Our part is to get on track with him and get going in his direction.

Brenda Garrison, taken from Princess Unaware

Speaking

I Love You No Matter What: When Our Kids Make Decisions We Don’t Agree With

Our kids are sure to make decisions we don’t agree with. While many are preference issues, some are moral issues, and a few may be legal issues. In light of Josh McDowell’s estimate that at least sixty percent of today’s churched kids will leave the church once they graduate high school, we must be ready to answer the question, “How will I respond when my child makes a choice I don’t agree with?

Brenda was forced to answer this question within a few seconds when her oldest daughter abruptly decided to move out at age of eighteen with no means to support herself. That was not the end of Katie’s decisions that Brenda and her husband, Gene, didn’t agree with. But Brenda’s split-second decision to stay in relationship with Katie continues to guide her as she nurtures her relationship with her daughter who consistently makes choices she doesn’t agree with.

Brenda will help parents respond to their child’s decisions as the heavenly Father responds to us. She will help parents build a bond with their children that lasts a lifetime by developing and nurturing a parent-child relationship that is open, honest, and loving. Without relationship, parents have nothing—no influence, no say, no opportunity to help. This includes giving and living out an accurate representation of God to their kids. They might not be in church (as statics represent) and they have probably tuned out all talk about God, but they are always learning about God through their parents—their responses, words, actions, how they do life when no one is looking. Parents become the only Word of God their kids read.

Reset: Purpose, Direction, and Encouragement for Your Next Chapter of Life

For women in their forties and beyond, what once filled their lives with meaning, purpose, and passion—first years of marriage, building careers, raising kids, exciting ministry opportunities—are dwindling and changing. They suddenly find themselves wondering how to continue to pursue those passions and discover what’s next in their lives. It's time for these women to reset and redefine themselves for a healthy and fulfilling future. Brenda helps women understand who they have become, where God is taking them, and how they can live an amazing life for the rest of their lives.

Chose What is Better

“I’m too busy. I’m so busy. When I’m not so busy. . .” These excuses flow out of our mouths without a thought. However, the Bible does not record even one instance where Jesus mentioned being too busy. If we profess to be Christ’s followers why are our lives so much different than His? Jesus accomplished the work God gave Him to do (John 17:4) and as a result His life had more impact than anyone in history.  How did He live differently and what are we missing?    

In this session Brenda will help you:

  • Be free from the craziness of life
  • Be free from the expectations of others
  • Live the life God planned for you
  • Enjoy the life God planned for you

Choosing What is Better

Often the hardest part of being a follower of Christ is knowing how to apply Christ’s teaching in our own lives. When Jesus told Martha that Mary "has chosen what is better" He wasn't condemning Martha's service but challenging her to see what He truly called her to. In this session you will learn how to apply Jesus’ words “chose what is better” to your unique life. By doing this you will be ready to accomplish the work God planned for you to do (John 17:4, Ephesians 2:10). Only then will you live the fulfilling, rich life Christ intended for you. This will be a real “workshop” so bring your day planner and we will provide paper to work it out. At the conclusion of this session you will have:

  • Determined your priorities.
  • A schedule for yourself and (if you have kids at home) your kids that reflects these priorities.
  • The skills and power to say no.
  • Peace of mind and joy.

Three Keys to Healthy, Drama-Free Relationships

Women are hardwired for relationship. But many times instead of blessing us, our relationships drive us crazy! The problem is we have not been doing relationships like Jesus did. Brenda will discuss how to use love and humility as we handle the three keys to healthy, drama-free relationships.

He’s the Big, Hairy Man!

“You’re the man, Gene (Dad). You’re the big, hairy man!” You’ll hear this often at Brenda’s house. It’s what she and her daughters say when Gene, her husband, exemplifies true manliness—when he does the gutsy thing or the hard thing no one else will, when he stands up for truth, or when he fixes something or tries to fix something. It’s just their way of showing him respect and affirmation in fulfilling his role as provider, protector, and defender.

Unfortunately many men are not being praised and respected in their marriages today—no matter the generation. Women of all ages treat their men like little boys, incompetents, or girlfriends. They are missing God’s plan for wives to respect their husbands (Ephesians 5:33), and the blessings and benefits that come with that.

In this session Brenda will help wives learn how to treat their men with that measure of respect. Thereby, creating an atmosphere where their men can thrive and become worthy of the motto, “You’re the big, hairy man!”  

Respect is Not an Option

Lack of respect from kids is rampant in our society. You can see it not only in a sassy tone or slammed door, but also in lying and sneaky behavior. However, respect is not an option in raising our children. It’s the foundation of parenting and the key to healthy relationships with our kids. Brenda’s message offers both encouraging and practical ways to help you:

  • Regain peace and order in your home.
  • Raise kids who are respectful, responsible, and thoughtful of others.
  • Enhance the influence you have in your child’s life.
  • Build a bond with your child that lasts long after they leave home.

Mommy Peer Pressure

Have you seen her? Worse yet, have you been engaged in hand-to-hand combat with her? She is the “other mommy”—the mommy who pressures you to parent and do life her way. The peer pressure comes not only from other moms, but from family members, teachers, the media, and even the local church. In this message, Brenda helps moms define priorities for raising a family and gives the confidence to defend them. Learn how to:

  • Minimize distractions and interruptions in your family’s life.
  • Prevent outside opinions from pressuring your parental convictions.
  • Determine non-negotiable and negotiable issues for your family.
  • Develop a clearer understanding of God’s intentions for each of your children.

A Queen Mom Doesn’t Rule with an Iron Fist

Mommy anger—it’s the secret shame and guilt most moms carry. No one wants to admit it, but losing our tempers with our kids is a common. We hate it. We desperately love our kids, but there are times when we let our anger rule. Join Brenda as she shares a new way to help mothers overcome these emotions and discover how to:

  • Identify and defuse anger triggers.
  • Let God heal the shame of mommy anger.
  • Place realistic expectations on yourself and your children.
  • Refresh spiritually, physically, and emotionally to be the mom you want to be.

Princess Unaware

Many women meander through life with little direction, unaware that they are chosen by God for an incredible purpose. But, there’s no reason to wallow in discouragement, or succumb to self-told lies? Princess Unaware will help you enjoy the rich, satisfying life God has planned for you. Brenda Garrison enables women to see the princess that God made you to be. Discover new ways to:

  • Experience peace and security by knowing you have God’s undivided attention.
  • Break the urge to constantly please others.
  • Be victorious when tempted during times of loneliness and despair.
  • Live each day with confidence and purpose.

4th Quarter Mom

The 4th quarter of our child's years at home, their teen years, can be the most discouraging because our teens give the impression they don't need us or want us in their lives. However, staying active and involved in the 4th quarter is crucial for the success of all we have poured into our child. Brenda will teach you how to:

  • Identify and cripple the tactics of the opponent.
  • Get back in your teen's life.
  • Build a relationship to last a lifetime.
  • Confidently release your teen to live the life God planned for him.

Fun and Smart Marriage Conference

Marriages in any stage take work. Often newlyweds don’t have strong role models or the tools to grow healthy marriages. Even couples married for years can easily fall for the temptation to let the marriage go, often living separate lives in the same house.
In this half-day to full-day conference Jess MacCallum and Brenda will encourage and challenge couples to deal honestly and effectively with the issues that most often cause frustration and struggles.

Jess will help the guys:

  • Listen and communicate with their wives so they feel heard and affirmed, but the guys don’t feel like the new girlfriend.
  • Be the lover their wives look forward to getting into bed with.
  • Be the confident leader of the family that helps his strong woman be all God intended her to be.

Brenda will help the girls:

  • Create an atmosphere in their marriages where their men can thrive and become worthy of Brenda’s motto, “You’re the big, hairy man!”
  • Stay the smart, savvy, sexy woman he married even into the 40’s, 50’s and beyond.
  • Be his wife, not his mom. Rely on her man, not her dad.

Jess MacCallum is a business owner, writer and the often-challenged husband of a Proverbs 31 type woman. Shortly after marrying her he realized he was in for the adventure of his life. Jess and Anne have been married for over 22 years and have three children– 19, 17 and 13 years old. Jess has a BA in art (magna cum laude) from the University of South Carolina, where he spent 4 years training with the Navigators ministry and is currently part of their partner ministry, Leader Development Network. He has been involved in a variety of ministries for over 30 years. (www.jessmaccallum.com)