During my career for almost 15 years, a very good friend of mine and business partner, Lynda, and I hosted a 3-day ladies health and fitness camp called The F.E.M. Camp (Fun Educational Motivational). We traveled all over the USA, Canada, Australia and even Iceland bringing our beloved camp to women everywhere.
The following gallery of photos were from our very first event in sunny Marina del Rey, CA where I lived the first 10 years of my career in the industry. Was a perfect location for the campers to ‘vacation’ to.
We loved the opportunity to interact with the fans of the fitness and bodybuilding world and share information everyone was hungry to learn. During the event there were 3 detailed workouts at select gyms in each location, tips on form and function, nutrition and eating habits, business strategies for the industry, how to get noticed by the magazines, stage presentation and poise for competition, makeup lessons from professional MUA, photoshoot tips and poses, and we hosted a real mini photoshoot for each camper on the last day with top physique photographers along with hair stylists/makeup artists prior to the shoots. Everyone felt like royalty!
Above 2 pics are from one of the shoots at camp- Lynda and I would do a mini shoot the evening prior to the shoot on Sunday for all the campers, so they could see how it runs as most had never been in front of a camera. Lynda and I enjoyed clowning around some too!
Upon completion of the event, we personally handed everyone a certificate of completion that carried CEUs for personal trainers to benefit from and they walked away with a CD of their personal photos from the actual shoot where yours truly coached them to pose both in face and body during their individual shoots.
Many left the event in tears of joy and satisfaction; most had never been in front of a camera and had no idea they could look so poised in their photos not to forget the first 2 days that were full of great experiences!
Lest we forget that they also left with brand new friends, new skill sets, motivation for their goals, many memories and a great percentage moved on hold a successful career in the industry as well as on the stage.
Lynda and I knew that these women had so much to gain attending the camps and we loved seeing the outcomes after.
We would spend the last night at a quiet dinner discussing each day in detail and how we were personally affected by the wonderful people we shared the experience with. Many became friends that we still spend time with today.
However, we also came across many ladies who would explain that they did not feel ‘ready’ to attend our event. That they needed to ‘get in better shape’ and prepare for our event before they could join us. Over the years we spent hours encouraging these types of women to ensure them they did NOT need to do anything special prior to attending, that they just needed to SHOW UP and that they are perfect just as they are to join the fun.
I am sure you can imagine; it was a struggle to get this type of person to attend and we would be saddened to know they would not join because of unbelief. Sadly, this person never feels ‘ready’ and ends up missing out on opportunities that would bless them more than they would ever know.
You see, Lynda and I created this event for the beginner to advanced... Whosoever attended an event could & would grow and leave with lifetime benefits. We did our best to market that all were welcomed… no matter size, shape, fitness level or age (our youngest attendee at 18 came with her mom and oldest was 76!).
We had an open door for all to come and have Fun, be Educated and leave with Motivation for their personal goals. It pained us so much when we would hear from ladies that just would not allow themselves to attend because they were not ‘ready’…
I can only imagine this is a very slight understanding of how God must feel when one of His children does not feel ‘ready’ to accept His loving gift of Jesus.
That they feel they must DO something to change or shape up or themselves or behavior(s) prior to accepting His perfect gift.
Scripture tells us many times that all we need is BELIEF, but not just belief in God because, hey, our adversary the Devil (or Dragon as he is called in the Bible) believes in God.. but we must believe that God so loved us, the world (even as dirty as the world has become), the people no matter how we look… how many ‘bad’ things we have done, how much we have messed up, how ‘dirty’ we are on the inside, the list goes on and on.
He just says believe in my Son and Accept Him and there will be a FREE gift that comes with belief (which is salvation and so many other freedoms for our spirit).
He knows what is at the end of this event we call ‘LIFE’... He knows how many benefits He has to give us on the other side of life as we know it… and He does not want us to miss out on those for eternity.
Did you know that God offers all (whosoever) a way to be in His presence after our life experience here on Earth? You may have heard that our soul lives eternally… our body and spirit can both be alive and dead.
As always, it is important to take thoughts to God’s Word and let it speak for Itself. As we do this, I ask that you look for any details that claim you must ‘DO’ something to clean yourself up first before believing God’s Word...
Spoiler alert!! You will not find any duties you must do 1st- not with the new covenant and gift of Jesus!
It is all done IN your heart, it is a decision to come as you are.. and allow God’s most amazing free gift of Jesus, His Son and His sacrifice, to clean you from the inside out, creating in you a new heart!
May I suggest reading the following verses out loud... allow your whole being to hear the truth through The Word and see if you are not one of the ‘Whosoever’ mentioned.
16 “For God so loved the world, [i] that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life.
17 For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but in order that the world might be saved through him.
18 Whoever believes in him is not condemned, but whoever does not believe is condemned already, because he has not believed in the name of the only Son of God.
If you are one of the 'Whosoevers' mentioned and have not accepted God’s free gift let’s do it now!!!!
Remember, God created YOU and knows your every thought and heart desires from this moment forward but also since before you were born. He is with you now and is READY for YOU... just as you are…. do not wait another moment to accept, believe and receive the blessings of having Jesus in your heart!
The following is a simple prayer of acceptance of this perfect gift, because of your belief- your confession is important.
Prayer of Salvation —it’s between you and God but do not keep it a secret, be sure to share with someone that loves you and maybe needs this too!
Dear God,
I admit that I am a sinner. I have done many things that don’t please you. I have lived my life for myself only. I am sorry, and I repent. I ask you to forgive me.
I believe that you died on the cross for me, to save me. You did what I could not do for myself. I come to you now and ask you to take control of my life; I give it to you. From this day forward, help me to live every day for you and in a way that pleases you.
I love you, Lord, and I thank you that I will spend all eternity with you.
Amen.
If you made this confession and want to share with me, feel free to email me and share the GREAT NEWS!! HALLELUAH!
Live Radiantly Today!
Monica
22 “Turn to me and be saved,
all the ends of the earth!
For I am God, and there is no other.
23 By myself I have sworn;
from my mouth has gone out in righteousness
a word that shall not return:
‘To me every knee shall bow,
every tongue shall swear allegiance.’[d]
Best one yet! Absolutely beautiful.