Live It Articles December 2002

Christmas, my very favorite time of the year! I love buying gifts; I love receiving gifts, and I love giving gifts! Yes, I just love gifts! It is truly a gift for me just to walk into any store during this season and see the beauty of holiday decorations and hear the holiday music. It seems like the hearts of all around me are just a little sweeter.

I was reading the evaluations from FOCUS Week and one really caught my attention. The participant said, "It has been a gift!" This person went on to say, "The Lord spoke to me throughout the time here, and the Lord has told me to share some of the truths when opportunity arises; to honor Him by being a hearer AND a doer of the Word!"

One other evaluation stated, "My health evaluation was a wake-up call—it proved that I MUST get daily exercise, cut out sugar and late night eating, and get to my goal weight ASAP. I'm high-risk in body fat, triglycerides, and almost as bad in cholesterol, BMI and overall body composition. I'm flirting with shortening my life span, heart attack, stroke, blood clots, diabetes and arthritis! AND I thought I was just overweight! It was worth the money to come just for that information alone! This has been the most wonderful week I ever remember spending and wild horses couldn't keep me away from returning next year! I LOST four pounds and GAINED FREEDOM!" You know, that is a gift that each one of us who attended FOCUS Week received. One week of being faithful to all the commitments, spending quality time with God daily, and the fellowship of First Place members, and I have been renewed!

I am not trying to do a sales pitch, but I was so blessed that I wanted to write this information while it was still fresh on my mind. For some, being able to attend FOCUS Week next October might require starting to plan for it now. I want to share with you how some of our participants have managed the finances! Two ladies attended because they saved a certain amount for an entire year. If you were to start this week, you would need to save $13 per week to have the registration fee. Another great idea is to ask family members to consider giving you money toward this week as a "gift" for Christmas or as a birthday gift. We have some churches that finance this trip for their leaders, so you might check with a staff person. One of the ladies who did save her money for a couple of the FOCUS Weeks is now sent by her church, because they recognize the benefit of the First Place ministry in the life of their church.

I know how difficult it often is to spend money on yourself, but I can promise you the entire family will benefit. The blessings you receive from this week will definitely filter down and be a gift to your First Place class and your family. A really special gift is when a couple is able to spend this week together.

May God bless each of you this Christmas holiday!

Kay Smith
First Place Associate Director


Kay is the associate national director of First Place and has been on the First Place staff since 1987.

Kay is a popular speaker at retreats, seminars, Conferences, FOCUS Weeks and Workshops across the country. Kay is the First Place food exchange expert and writes a monthly article in the First Place E-Newsletter on nutrition. She also was a contributing writer to the Today Is the First Day devotional book. Her delightful personality and love for people endears her to everyone she meets, and they quickly become her new best friend.

Kay and her husband, Joe, live in Roscoe, TX. They have two children and five grandchildren. Two of the young grandchildren are making a name for themselves on the golf circuit. Two of the young grandchildren are making a name for themselves on the golf circuit, and the three oldest grandsons are all involved in numerous sporting events, which Kay and Joe attend as often as possible.