• Beauty Inside Out (seeker friendly)
• Becoming a Woman of Confidence (with additional seeker-friendly questions)
• Becoming a Woman of God: Pain & Disappointment
• Becoming a Woman of Integrity (seeker friendly)
• Becoming a Woman of Purpose (seeker friendly)
• Becoming a Woman of Value (with optional seeker friendly discussion guide)
• Discovering Who We are and Liking It (seeker friendly)
• Inner Revitalization (seeker friendly)
• Living With Significance (seeker friendly)
• Maximizing Your Potential with Healthy Self Esteem
• What’s in Your Bag?

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Beauty Inside Out (seeker friendly)

Related Article: It’s Ok to Be Different - Different Is Still Beautiful http://www.womentodaymagazine.com/fashion/laurahudson.html

In a fast-paced fashion and glamour industry, most of us tend to feel amazingly ordinary. The story of Cinderella often hovers in the back of our memories as we wonder when the magic will touch us. It takes great effort to communicate to our hearts that beauty begins on the inside.

• What makes a beautiful woman?
• Tell us about someone you know who is beautiful on the inside.
• How can we make ourselves more beautiful on the inside? (Or, how does one develop inner beauty?)
• Does beauty on the outside relate to beauty on the inside?

Optional questions:

• What does the Bible say about beauty?
• How does inner beauty develop a healthy self esteem?

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Becoming A Woman of Confidence

Related Article: You Can Be More Confident http://www.christianwomentoday.com/growth/confidence.html

Tall and upright, she walked with confidence and everyone noticed this woman. Have you ever seen someone like that and longed for that kind of confidence? It is possible .. Please join us as we discuss tools on how you too can be a woman of confidence.

• Describe a confident woman.
• As a woman where does our confidence come from?
• What do we do if we are lacking confidence?
• How does overconfidence get us into trouble?
• How do help those around us in building confidence?

Optional Seeker-Friendly Discussion Guide:

• What intrigues you about a confident woman?
• In your opinion what things build confidence?
• What is the difference between confidence and pride?
• What things tear away confidence?
• Where can one find a true sense of well being and acceptance?
• How can we help to build confidence in those we love?

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Becoming a Woman of God: Pain and Disappointment

Related Article: Love in all the Wrong Places
http://www.christianwomentoday.com/closet/leannecaruk.html

There are wounds in life that cut so deeply that they seem to leave irreparable damage. In an ironic way, we know that if these wounds are not dealt with they will continue a lifetime of destruction within us. It is a very difficult thing to get a handle on these terrible pains and to allow healing to begin to take place. This is difficult but possible if we focus on the power and strength that is available to us. Please join us as we walk through some of this process together.

• What does the Bible say to us when our dreams seem ruined beyond hope?
• How do we not abandon God when times get tough?
• How do we communicate with God when we can’t express our hurts?
• How can we break the cycle of negative thinking?
• What are practical ways we can deal with the pain?
• Where does forgiveness fit in all of this?
• How does God’s grace fit into the picture?
• How can we escape depression when we have been hurt?

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Becoming a Woman of Integrity (seeker friendly)

Related Article: Weed it and Reap
http://www.christianwomentoday.com/growth/weed.html

Integrity - you either have it … or you don’t. It is not something you can have only a little of, but it is something everyone can attain. It is an honest value that is highly respected in all, but how does one truly become a woman of integrity in a culture where dishonesty is so prevalent? Please join us for a stimulating discussion.

• What does a woman of integrity look like?
• What risks are involved in living uprightly in today’s society?
• Describe someone who has inspired you with his or her integrity.
• What are the hindrances to living with integrity? What are the risks?
• What are the actions or attitudes that are associated with living with integrity?
• From where does one develop a value system in today’s world?

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Becoming a Woman of Purpose (seeker friendly)

Tall and upright, she walked with purpose and confidence, everyone noticed this woman. Have you ever seen someone like that and longed for that kind of purpose in your life? It is possible…Please join us as we talk with author Idelette McVicker and discuss tools on you too can become a woman of significance living with purpose.

• What does a woman of purpose look like?
• What attracts us to women who live with purpose?
• What types of things help to build significance in a woman’s life?
• How can a sense of purpose be destroyed in a woman’s life? How do we overcome these barriers?
• In terms of influencing others, how can we build significance and purpose into the lives of those we love?

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Becoming a Woman of Value

Related Article: You Can be More Confident http://www.christianwomentoday.com/growth/confidence.html

A Woman of God has self-esteem. The first ingredient to good self-esteem is knowing "I am valuable". The woman of God knows she is valuable and has worth because Jesus Christ is in her life. She has committed her life to living in His presence.

• What are some areas in your life that make you believe you are valuable?
• What are some things you wish would happen in your life to make you more valuable?
• According to Matthew 10:29-31, what does Jesus say about His love for you?

Optional Seeker-Friendly Discussion Guide:

The first ingredient to good self-esteem is knowing "I am valuable". In today’s society of comparison, and feelings of inadequacy, how does one develop a sense of feeling worthy and valuable? Join us today as we discuss what helps us to build confidence and value in our lives.

• What builds value or significance into a life?
• What does a woman of value look like to you?
• What is the difference between success and significance?
• How can one build a firm foundation of value and significance in life?
• What things are so important to you that you are willing to die for it?
• Where does one find the strength to live such a consistant life of value?

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Discovering Who We are and Liking It (seeker friendly)

Related Article: Women’s Body Image
http://www.womentodaymagazine.com/beauty/womensbody.html

An unexpected compliment can leave you scrambling for excuses and then leaves you wondering why you cannot receive compliments. Why is it that we are uncomfortable with who we are and forever struggling in this area? The focus of this session is to help you become comfortable with who you are: please join us.

• What is self-esteem?
• Describe a woman with healthy self-esteem.
• How do we rid ourselves of the " I can’t’s "?
• What is the foundation that a good self-image is built upon?
• What are some ways we can build high self esteem into others? Into our kids?

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Inner Revitalization (seeker-friendly)

Without leaving home, is it possible to find inner revitalization? Beauty products may promise an appearance of renewed youth. Various foods or supplements promise new energy. Vacations on a sunny, sandy beach, or an exclusive spa package may bring you short spurts of refreshment, but life can offer more than that. Join us as we chat about revitalizing and refreshing our lives.

• What is your source of energy in life? Your source of relaxation in life?
• Why is the faucet of refreshment just a trickle so often in our lives? Share some things that sap you of energy and vitality.
• How do you find inner revitalization in life?
• ‘Life only flows when you love big.’ Discuss this thought.
• How does a healthy image of oneself help us to feel revitalized?
• Share any insights on how you view yourself.
• How can we most accurately gain a healthy self image?
• How does a healthy refreshed soul affect our vitality in life? How can we best take care of our souls?

Optional Questions: Moderator or hostess: Feel free to use these to clarify concepts or to go deeper on a key point, depending on the flow of conversation in the chat.

• Sometimes an older neighborhood undergoes a project for "revitalization." What might this include? What is the goal? Some of these projects are quite successful; others seem almost like a waste of time and resources. What makes the difference?
• One dictionary defines "revitalize" as "to impart new life or vigor to." Synonyms listed include: revival, renewal, rejuvenation, regeneration, quickening or awakening. How might this understanding affect your answer to the question: "How do you find inner revitalization in life?"
• Discuss the difference between the two words "revival" and "regeneration" as it relates to this topic.

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Living With Significance (seeker friendly)

Related Article: Being an Esther
http://christianwomentoday.com/growth/esther.html

Many of us are passionately engaged on the road towards success, but if we were to be questioned as to whether or not we are living a life of significance, we may not have an immediate answer to that question. Living with significance takes much planning and purpose. We need to clearly understand our values and goals. This is something that can become lost in day-to-day living. However, it is not something that is unattainable.

• On what things do many women base their significance on?
• What does a woman of significance look like to you?
• What are the benefits to living a life of significance?
• What builds significance in one’s life?
• How does one overcome the obstacles on the road to living with significance?
• What are some of the barriers that hinder our influence?
• How does one overcome them?
• When your life is over, what things do you want to be remembered for?

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Maximizing Your Potential with Healthy Self-Esteem

Related Topic: Women & Self Esteem
http://www.christianwomentoday.com/growth/selfesteem.html

A woman of God has self -esteem. The first ingredient to good self -esteem is knowing "I am valuable." The woman of God knows that she is created perfect in Christ Jesus; she knows that she is valuable and has worth because Jesus Christ is in her life. She has committed her life to living in His presence. So if this if true, why do so many women struggle with a sound self esteem? Join us tonight as we discover how we can all develop a healthy view of ourselves.

• Psychologists tell us that self esteem is made up of two components: security (being loved and accepted) and significance (having meaning or purpose). What are your thoughts on this?
• Do you know women who struggle in the area of low self esteem? How do you rate your own self esteem?
• Why do you think Christian women are not experiencing this?
• What is it going to take to accept that we bring pleasure to God by just being who we are and not by what or how much we do?
• How does the Holy Spirit help us in "right" thinking?
• How will a Biblical understanding of self esteem help us to share our faith with others?

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What’s in Your Bag?

A few years ago each member of a ladies group was handed a brown paper lunch bag. We were each asked to bring it back the next week with items inside to help us get to know one another. The challenge was that we were not to refer to the roles we have. We were to fill it with things that with things that represented us as individuals. What fun the next week as women shared! Some were very creative, decorating the outside of the bag as well as filling it with fun show-and-tell items. As women, we often find our identity tied up in our relationships or roles. "Hi, I’m Tommy’s mom. I’m Jonathan’s wife." "I’m the teacher for the 4th and 5th grade boys. I’m a cashier at the store on the corner." These roles and relationships are important, but is there more? How would you fill your bag, if you were to introduce yourself to a new friend in this way? Come join our chat room as we explore the topic "What’s in Your Bag?"

• Other than your name, how do you usually introduce yourself to others? What is important for them to know about you?
• Are there positives about being defined by our roles? If so, please name one.
• What are the drawbacks to being defined by our roles or relationships?
• Times of major transition often reveal how we see ourselves. What kinds of transitions have challenged you or changed you in terms of identity? (Hostess note: Consider how marriage, divorce, the birth or death of a family member, a new job, a major illness or an empty nest can challenge us as women.)
• What would you share from your bag, to represent who you are? (Be creative.)
• You are a one-of-a-kind creation of God, and have been uniquely gifted. God loves you deeply. How might these truths impact your life?
• How do we learn who we are? Are some sources of information more reliable than others? (If some sources are unreliable, how do we begin to silence those false messages?)
• Are there practical ways to celebrate our uniqueness and true identity in God? How might we celebrate the uniqueness of those we love (family and friends)?

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