Live It Articles An Invitation

I would like to take this opportunity to extend an invitation to you to attend First Place F.O.C.U.S. Week 2005. I have been home for three days now, and I am still reeling from the great time I had at F.O.C.U.S. Week 2004.My thoughts are turned toward a second helping next year. How great it would be if you could come to Round Top, TX, and enjoy the Week with us next year, and if all those who came this year could come back for a second helping.   Let me reflect and share my memories of last week, from a fitness point of view, while it is still fresh on my mind and heart. 

No matter what your fitness level or your preference in exercise, we had it all at F.O.C.U.S Week. Vicki Heath and the Body and Soul fitness instructors taught aerobics, strength training, and Pilates. I taught a "jump start" exercise class for those in a fitness rut, or those wanting to get started.

Each day began with aerobics classes in the barn. In the afternoons, we found ourselves on the front lawn throwing a medicine ball to each other, learning new ab exercises, Pilates and strength training, plus learning how to walk/jog a mile really well.

Our motto from the Lord for the week was, "I deserve to be here." Sometimes, we feel that because we are large and out of shape, we don't deserve to be working out until we get smaller and in shape. NOT! The Lord told us all last week to proclaim, "I deserve to be here."

We learned to visualize a huge rubber eraser inside of our trunk. If you want to erase something from paper and you don't move the eraser back and forth, the mistake will not go away. We visualized the eraser in our trunk moving back and forth as we moved, erasing the fat.

We gave the Lord a "clap offering" while we walked. Two of our ladies, Marilyn and Stephanie, walked their very first mile at F.O.C.U.S. Week. Teresa Mackey came in crying after running the first mile in her life. Teresa made it through another obstacle at F.O.C.U.S. Week; it was her first week without cigarettes. Laughing and tears of joy were prevalent throughout the week as lives were changed.

It was like spending a week at a Christian fitness spa. We all felt like royalty; massages, manicures, pedicures, and an image and color consultant were available. There was also a wide variety of entertainment at our talent show, including our Houston staff's dancing talents, performing the Stomp. The food was totally awesome. We were served family style and actually did become like one big happy family.

I do hope you will consider coming to F.O.C.U.S. Week next year. Those of us who attended this year will never be the same. God truly blessed us indeed.

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. November 2005