Marybeth Whalen

Marybeth Whalen is the wife of Curt and mother of six children. The Whalen family homeschools in the Charlotte, North Carolina area. The family is active in their church, the homeschool community, and their local community theater. Marybeth has been involved in Community Bible Study for the last five years. She received her degree in writing and editing from NC State University and has devoted her life to her family, writing, and women's ministry since then.

Marybeth enjoys leading women's retreats, speaking to women's groups, and helping both homeschool moms and other writers to pursue their calling. She writes the "Graceful Gourmet" column and other features for P31 Woman magazine and is a regular contributor for the Hearts at Home Devotional and TEACH Magazine . Other writing credits include: The Charlotte Observer, The Quiet Hour Devotional, The Greenhouse Report, Money Matters Newsletter, and Homeschooling Today. Marybeth's new book, For The Write Reason: 31 Writers, Agents, and Editors Share Their Experiences With Christian Publishing, will be released this July in cooperation with Proverbs 31 Ministries and its annual She Speaks Conference.

Marybeth speaks with honesty and passion, encouraging women to draw closer to God and never let go of His hand. (Psalm 37:23-24, NASB) As a wife, mother, and daughter of the King, she shares from her own life experiences through laughter and tears. Through her speaking, Marybeth encourages women to be real with one another, to chase after their dreams, to dig into the Word, and to listen for God's voice in all that they do.

General Women's Interests:

If I Could Just Lose Ten Pounds, Then I’d Be Happy: Most women find themselves saying “if only” at some point in their lives. This workshop looks at the “if only’s” of life and helps women focus on what true contentment really is—no matter what the scales say!

Rest, Peace And Other Elusive Things: Using Psalm 107 as a framework, this session helps women recognize how God brings peace, rest and hope through the seasons and stages of life we all face.

Retail Therapy: This session takes an activity many women enjoy and uses different phrases associated with shopping to illustrate God’s love and compassion for us all. Let God provide the ultimate retail therapy for you!

Balancing Acts: A look at the secret to balance for every woman’s life. Do you find yourself walking that delicate tightrope between too much/too little? Too many demands, not enough time for God. Too many commitments, not enough time for family. Using the BALANCE formula, women are able to focus on what balance by God’s design really looks like, and how they can achieve it personally, spiritually, and emotionally.

Retreats:

Dressed To Impress: This retreat deals with a woman’s spiritual wardrobe. How does God want us to dress from the inside out? What does He desire for our character, our attitude and our heart? Through three sessions, we learn how to be pleasing in the Father’s sight—not because He requires us to, but because we are passionate about honoring Him. The sessions in this retreat are: Dressed To Impress, Our Most Comfy Clothes, and Accessorize Your Life. (Note: a fourth session on Sunday morning is available and would be a short wrap up, followed by testimonies and sharing from participants)

A Weekend At The Spaaah: In this retreat, women are invited to find renewal and refreshment through a relationship with God. Using examples of popular spa treatments, Marybeth helps guide women to a peace only available through God Himself.

• Ideally, this session or retreat involves actual hands-on treatments for participants to enjoy!
• Also Available as "A Day at the Spaah!” a one-time session

This I Know: Knowing And Trusting God’s Love: You've sung the song "Jesus loves me, this I know" all your life, but do you really know God's love? This session helps women dig deeper into God's love for us and our love for Him in return. Women will learn to trust and believe in God's love for them in a new and powerful way.

The Minivan Mom Makeover (With Shari Braendel of Proverbs 31): Many moms feel like they spend so much time in a minivan they don’t ever have time to spend on themselves! This retreat is designed for moms who want to get away from it all and learn how to look and feel better through a weekend of time with God and girlfriends. Shari Braendel covers fashion and makeover tips while Marybeth covers being made over on the inside through a look at your heart, your character and your attitude. This is a fun weekend!

Christmas:

This Christmas, Focus On Joy: This session allows women to take the focus off their to-do lists and gain the proper perspective for the season by putting their priorities in the right order. By doing this, women will find true Christmas JOY by God's design

Motherhood:

I'd Be A Great Mom (If It Weren't For These Kids) This session deals with being the mom you long to be, no matter what life throws at you. Moms learn to shift their perspective towards eternity. No matter where you are in your motherhood journey, you can still be a great mom and honor God in all you do!

Drawing Closer To God In The Midst Of Motherhood: This session deals with the unique aspects of growing closer to God in spite of the time and personal limitations that motherhood puts on you. Marybeth invites moms to see that they not only can draw closer to God, but they need to draw closer to God while they are raising their children.

Are You There God? It's Me Mommy: This session helps moms come face to face with what they desire for their motherhood experience, and how to become the kind of mom they long to be. By describing the traits of an intentional mom, participants are encouraged to take practical steps towards purposeful mothering.

Parenting:

Reality Discipline: What is reality discipline and how will it work for my children? This workshop helps moms to take back the control by requiring their children to live with the logical consequences of their actions and wrong decisions. Through real-life examples, humorous stories and heartfelt encouragement, Marybeth empowers moms to discipline with grace, love and a whole lot of reality.

Living Your Legacy: When we think of the word legacy, we think of what will be said of us after we are gone. And yet, why should we wait until we aren't around to start living out the legacy God has for our families? This workshop helps parents to focus on what a legacy looks like, how to start living it out with our kids, and how God will use your legacy to impact the lives of others.

Big Picture Parenting: Parenting isn't about the here and now, it is about looking beyond that to what the future holds for our kids. Learning how to direct your kids towards the future God has for them can be one of life's biggest challenges. This workshop helps parents navigate their family towards that big picture instead of merely surviving day to day.

Marriage:

A Marriage Built On Hope (Even When Things Look Hopeless): Using the testimony of their marriage, Marybeth and her husband Curt share how to build a marriage that perseveres in the face of many difficulties. So many people quit without ever allowing the God of Hope to transform their marriage. This workshop offers participants a glimpse of that hope and a foundation to build on, no matter how hopeless their marriage may seem.

Homeschool Topics:

An EKG of Your Homeschool Heart: Do you have a heart for homeschooling? Maybe you did at one time but you are battling burnout and wondering if you have what it takes. Maybe you are considering homeschooling but feel inadequate for this calling. Let the Master Physician give your heart an EKG as you allow Him to determine your heart's condition.

I'd Be A Great Homeschooler (If It Weren't For These Kids): This session deals with being the homeschool mom you long to be, no matter what life throws at you. Moms learn to shift their perspective towards eternity. No matter where you are in your homeschool journey, you can still be a great mom and honor God in all you do!

Cultivating Creativity: We are created in the image of the Creator. Which means, the desire to create is hardwired into us. How can parents foster creativity in their children and create an atmosphere that promotes creativity within their home? Using research on brain development and personal examples, Marybeth helps parents cultivate their child's creativity so they can become whatever the Creator designed them to be.

Writing/Speaking Topics:

How To Be A Mom And A Writer Too: Do you long to be a writer, yet struggle with how to make it fit into your family life? This workshop helps moms find space in their life to write, while keeping family first. Using practical tips and personal experience, Marybeth helps moms see that writing and motherhood can work together.

But I'm A Writer, Not A Speaker: Many writers would be content to write in anonymity for the rest of their lives and never speak in front of a crowd. And yet, publishing and marketing demands are increasingly requiring writers to make the jump to speaking. This workshop offers a realistic view of how to make peace with speaking publicly, even when you don't consider yourself a speaker.

Being An Intentional Speaker: To be a good speaker is to take every moment captive. Every life experience, every verse, every thought becomes a possible point or illustration. How can a speaker use every opportunity to communicate more effectively and bring about transformation in the lives of those they encounter? This workshop deals with all of these points, and more.

The Benefits of Blogging: Blogging is a revolution that is sweeping the internet. Have you gotten on board? Do you want to? How can you use your blog to improve your writing, to increase your visibility and to connect with others? This workshop teaches, the basics of blogging, the impact you can have through a blog, and the personal benefits you will experience as well through this unique form of ministry.


Financial Topics:

Money And Your Heart: Money isn't just about dollars and cents. It is about a heart attitude you have probably been carrying around for a long time. Join Marybeth in examining what your heart attitude is about money, and how you can make sure your heart lines up with God's heart where finances are concerned.

What Money Is/What Money Isn't: This workshop takes participants through a look at what money is—and what it is not. Marybeth shares her testimony as to where she once was in her view of money and what God has shown her as she has learned and grown. This workshop will challenge your views on what the culture has to say about money, and what God wants you to see.

Being Martha Steward: Being frugal doesn't mean you can't have the "good things" in life. This workshop shows women how to have beauty around them without breaking the budget.

Endorsements:

I always look forward to hearing MaryBeth speak because I know I can count on several things. She will be real and transparent by sharing stories from her own life as a wife, mother, friend and child of God. She'll help me to laugh at my own weaknesses while encouraging me to turn to God. And she'll touch my heart with God's tender love. MaryBeth is a woman who speaks out of an authentic day-by-day, moment-by-moment relationship with Jesus Christ. She encourages other women to pursue the only goal worth living for, knowing God and bringing Him glory.

Melanie Chitwood, Christian speaker and author of What a Husband Needs from His Wife

"When you invite Marybeth to speak to your group, you invite, fun, wisdom, and wonderful spiritual insights. Not only is she an amazing communicator but she is one of my dearest friends. She has inspired me in so many ways. I would not be the woman I am today without her influence in my life. I give Marybeth my highest recommendation."

~ Lysa TerKeurst

Thanks, Sarah Woolridge, Lovington, IL

Thanks again for spending time with us at our ladies day. I personally was convicted by the examples you gave of listening to the spirit's prompting. I am guilty time and again of hesitating or not acting at all when I am prompted and am convicted of it. The times when I do step out in boldness and be obedient to his calling, I have always been blessed. I know this in my head but yet…. Anyway I just wanted to let you know that I personally received a strong word from you and know that God used this opportunity to speak to me in a real way.

Thank you, Juliette Kessler

Travels from:
North Carolina