Leadership Tips & Training Success: It's all about God!

First Place began over 20 years ago here at Houston's First Baptist Church and is still a thriving ministry that continues to help hundreds of people develop successful lifestyles that honor Christ. God has honored and prospered this ministry for His glory. Max Lucado's book, It Is Not about Me, explores how our success is not about our abilities, but about using what God gave us to bring attention and honor to His name, not ours! First Place is not successful so that Carole Lewis will be honored or that First Baptist Church will become famous, but so that God's name and power will be made known. 

When God is trying to get my attention, He often brings a thought or truth to my mind over and over again through different sources. For example, on Wednesday when I was reading and studying my Bible, I came across the verse, "For nothing will be impossible with God." Luke 1:37 I had read that verse before and heard it quoted many times, but for some reason that morning it really pierced my heart. Later that day, I received an email newsletter with the feature article entitled, "Conquer Impossibility Syndrome" with Luke 1:37 as the reference verse. If this wasn't enough to get my attention, the Lord had more to say! At lunch I received a gift and it was a bookmarker with Matthew 19:26 engraved on it , "With man this is impossible, but with God all things are possible."

I had to announce to God in an audible voice, "Okay, I get it! You are the God of the impossible!" It is God who does the impossible in the lives of our First Place members. It has nothing to do with their strength, or the leader's skills, but everything to do with His power and His name. 

As I look over the spreadsheet that contains all the statistics of weight loss and attendance of our First Place classes this past session, I am amazed at God's power! Our classes lost a total of 536 pounds over the past 13 weeks, with an average weekly attendance of 83. Those numbers represent lives that have been influenced by God's Word and God's servants. Numbers are not too exciting, but when you begin to explore the lives behind the numbers, you can't help but give praise and glory to God.  With God all things are possible!

As I sat at our First Place registration desk the first day of class, I was reminded once again that God does the impossible. Doug stepped up to the desk and wanted to make certain that he was signed up for the next session; as he talked to me, my mind flashbacked to our first encounter. It was orientation and Doug came in quietly, head lowered with no sign of excitement and my heart immediately went out to him. Today, he seemed so different, so full of hope and life! He was determined to stay in First Place because of the success he had experienced last session. He went on to share with me that he had lost 58 pounds and was ready to press on to his goal, especially since his parents would be visiting him in a month. They had not seen him since he began losing weight.     I spoke with his leader and she told me that Doug thrived on the encouragement and support of the group and was an inspiration to them all.   With God all things are possible!

Yesterday, I received an email from one of our First Place leaders that she had sent to her class. It was such a testimony of God's power that I must share an excerpt with you.

    Over the past few weeks, the Lord has revealed to me that my house is in need of some serious cleaning - spiritual cleaning. There have been things that came into my house with one of my children that should not be here. My husband and I committed to cleaning the house this week. We removed the items we knew about. Then we read scripture in each room and prayed that anything in that room that should be removed would be revealed to us. Keep in mind that we thought that the problem lay solely with one of our children. It turned out that my husband threw out some CD's. And guess what turned up in the kitchen? The love of my rebellious heart, my Dr. Pepper. Even before my husband finished reading the scripture, I carried the case out to the car for my husband to take away.

    God showed me my rebellious heart and Ladies, it was not pretty. But He also showed me how free I could be if I would trust in Him. Since I took the Dr. Pepper out of my house, I've been free to follow all of the commitments, to enjoy pure water, fruits, vegetables and the good things God provides me.  I've kept more commitments in the past two days than I've kept in months - and really with no more effort. Praise God! My heart rejoices to be free of its rebellion.

    Lea

With God all things are possible!

Do you find yourself in an impossible situation? Do you feel you cannot lead because you cannot seem to lose the weight you have gained? Are there members in your class who are without hope and find themselves in hopeless situations? Guess what? "What is impossible with men is possible with God." Luke 18:27 Success is a God thing! Success is all about God, not about you or your member. He is the God of the impossible. Keep seeking Christ first and lead others to do the same and you will be leading them to success!

Lead on!

Nancy Taylor
Leadership Training Director



Nancy Taylor is the First Place Leadership Training Director and joined the First Place staff in 1997. Nancy teaches leadership principles to First Place Leaders throughout the country and at Houston's First Baptist Church where she coordinates all the First Place groups. Nancy also speaks at First Place workshops, rallies, retreats, and conferences, where she delights her audiences with humor and encourages them with boldness. She writes a monthly article, which includes helpful tips for leaders, for the First Place E-newsletter, and was a contributing writer to the Today is the First Day devotional book. Nancy is the resident First Place Bible Concordance because of her love for Scripture memory.