Live It Articles Stepping Out

Matthew 14:28   "Lord, if it is you," Peter replied,   "tell me to come to you on the water."

When I was in the sixth grade at Highland school, the Principal announced that we were having a school talent show. I wanted to be in the show so badly, but I had no talent. I had not taken piano lessons or dancing lessons like the other children, because my family could not afford them. I really wanted to be in that talent show, so I went over to my great-grandmother's house, where I knew that on a shelf was a real harmonica. She told me I could borrow it, and for hours I blew on that harmonica. Finally, I came up with something that sounded enough like a song, so I could enter the talent show. I put on the talent show sign-up card, "Beverly Henson will play a song on the harmonica that she wrote titled Falling Leaves ."

The day of the show all the girls who took dancing were dressed in tutus; all the boys and girls who took piano lessons had their sheet music, and I had my great grandmother's harmonica. Long story short, I won the school talent show! That afternoon kids were stopping at my mother's car saying, "We didn't know Beverly could play the harmonica." My mother said that she didn't know I could play it either.

My point in telling you this story is that the very first place you gear up for a task is in your heart. If you have a heart to do something, it doesn't matter if you have taken lessons, or have the skill, step out and say, "Hey, I want to do that." I have told God so many times, "God, whatever it takes, I want to do that."

In the area of fitness I hear so many of you say, "I have never been very athletic; I can't do the fitness thing." On the flip side of that comment, I hear "out of shape" athletes say, "I used to be good at it, but I am not any more." If you have the heart to walk, run, skate, or ride a bike, tell God, "Hey, I want to do that," then let Him work with you toward doing it.

Jesus is calling His people to step out of the boat. Some of you folks would love to be up moving and having some fun. If you have a heart for a task, step out and Jesus will teach you how He wants it done. You can never tell, He may need you to step out of the "box" so you can help someone else climb out of the boat to get to Jesus.

If you have the heart to do something, God will gear you up for the rest of the task. Don't worry if you don't have the skills or experience, just be willing to step out of the boat. There are many of God's people sitting idle with big "want to's" in their hearts. Get it in gear. Get moving. Get fit for Jesus. Tell Him, Lord, help me to be fit to fight the fat!"    Now! Get ready, get set, and step out of the boat!

God bless and keep you!

Beverly Henson
Certified Personal Trainer


Beverly Henson is a conference and rally speaker for the First Place ministry. She is also a Bible teacher and certified personal trainer. Beverly joined First Place in July 1997 and has lost 160 pounds. First Place has given Beverly a powerful testimony. She is the First Place Director and the Director of Wellness Ministries at Northcrest Baptist Church in Meridian, MS.. She is also an area Networking Leader for First Place in Mississippi. Beverly has a genuine love of proclaiming the word of God to His people.