Live It Articles Discovering Personal Celebrations

In the beginning days of doing the First Place Program correctly, I realized that not only was my life out of order, but my thinking had become stale. I had nothing to look forward to except my next meal. Once I began walking around in my "Promised Land," it was evident that my stale mind was being renewed. Even though I was still about 275 pounds, once I began a consistent walking program, I began to think differently. I began to feel fit and see myself in a different light. The odd thing was that I began to look forward to walking each day, even though it hurt.

The Father revealed to me that food and meal time was all that I had been looking forward to for many years. He showed me the importance of placing other things ahead of food to look forward to in my life. It is very important that we have enjoyable moments down our path to work toward, to give us hope, and to occupy a space in our thoughts for comfort. Give yourself something other than food to look forward to each day, each week, and months down the road.

The first thing I put before food in my life came early in March 1998. I was doing First Place and walking regularly for exactly one month. I had lost 18 pounds and was beginning to feel fit. I decided that I was going to begin doing activities I had only dreamed of while I was overweight and sedentary. I always wanted to Roller Blade or Inline Skate. I purchased my first Inline Skates, brought them home and put them on my feet, only to discover that my legs were still so large I could not fasten the straps.

Rather than be disappointed, I decided to turn the disappointment into a moment of opportunity, and a celebration to look forward to down the road. Each Monday I would put my skates on to see if the straps would fasten. My personal celebration came a few months later on a Monday in May when the straps fastened on my skates. What a feeling of accomplishment! At that moment, my mind started searching for my next personal celebration. My next moment to look forward to was a bicycle....then a kayak....then running, and so on.

Jesus said in John 10:10, I am come that you might have life and that you might have it more abundantly. Don't let that abundant life Jesus came to give you become stale. Give yourself events or things to look forward to accomplishing. Do you remember as a child how much you looked forward to your birthday or Christmas? Do you remember how excited you were when the day finally arrived? It was truly a celebration.

May I tell you that you don't have to wait until you are thin to celebrate? Place things ahead in your life. Work toward them and look forward to the coming celebration. In our society celebrations are commonly built around food. Build your celebration around a fun physical activity. Tell yourself, "From this day forward, I am renewing my stale mind; no more stale thoughts, only thoughts of things to look forward to, working toward personal celebrations."

Give yourself a present! Give yourself hope! As you give yourself something to look forward to, it will be a personal celebration.

Acts 17:28 "In Him we live and move and have our being."

God bless and keep you!

Beverly Henson
Certified Personal Trainer
Bevh1952@bellsouth.net

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.