Greetings, I miss posting here....My husband and I have been doing a lot of traveling for the Gospels sake, but I want to try to keep this blog going....so I thought I could post something I shared on Facebook that may be an encouragement:
Before I share it here is a thought to go with it;
As God has created the flowers, various shapes, colors, and sizes, each one has its unique beauty; so has He created humankind...we must not lament dear ladies when we as the flowers of the grass begin to fade...the beauty of this life is temporal and if we esteem the things of the spirit above the things of the flesh (and walk in the spirit of Christ) we will be made anew in heaven a glorious eternal being God will make of us, that far outweighs any beauty we cold posses here.
Proverbs 31:30
Favour is deceitful, and beauty is vain: but a woman that feareth the LORD, she shall be praised.
Recently had a woman ask me if wearing make-up is a sin. Thought to share my response that edification may be had....", I am glad you are sincerely seeking to know God's mind in this matter & that you want to do what pleases Him. In light of God's purpose for us in this life and the wickedness of our times....I see wearing makeup as pure vanity (unprofitable) and a waste of precious time & resources as I recently mentioned in someone's post...$1 goes a long way in countries where people have no choice but to live off very little food & drink disease-infested water. Starvation & the water crisis are solvable issues that this selfish generation fails to solve due to a multitude of personal daily choices made...people using their time & resources for unnecessary & thus unprofitable things. Having said this I do not want to promote a careful & troubled spirit about every dollar we spend but rather an honest self-examination, prayer consideration of how to profit God's kingdom with what He has given us.
Society creates false fears & anxieties & unnecessary concerns for how people appear. A godless society puts false burdens especially on the heart of women to have a specific chest size, waist measurement, bottom shape, long thick dark eyelashes, big juicy lips....the list goes on & when we look in the mirror & do not see ourself lining up we may feel of less value, etc. The images of "ideal" women & men are ingrained in our minds and affect our thinking....as you say, as if it is not good or a problem that you have "blonde/almost clear eyelashes, fair skin..." God has created an array of colors, shapes & sizes we need not despise or feel insecure or ashamed for what He has given to us. Beauty is in the eye of the beholder.
Our focus in this life should not be our looks. When we are busy in the Lord's business we have less time & desire to even give place to those kinds of thoughts. The snare of living in a land where there is fulness of bread & too many mirrors...we think too much about minor physical details of our appearance..... I found this link to an article that may also interest you."
So, this was her glorious response, Halleluyah!
"Thank you for responding! The precious Lord Jesus revealed Himself to me this morning through scripture. Isaiah 53:2 "He (Jesus) hath No form or comeliness; "
comeliness - the quality of being GOOD LOOKING, ATTRACTIVE.
"And when we shall see Him (Jesus), there is NO beauty that we should desire Him".
I learned that Jesus Himself did not draw attention to His flesh. He was not sensual. He did not appeal to the world, or fashion Himself in any way to be desired physically. Though He is God, He denied Himself in every way and chose to have a physical appearance that is NOT desirable through the world's eyes. He as God could have chosen ANY form of flesh that He wanted and He chose to have a humble, simple appearance. This really opened my eyes. This convicted me of all the times I have sought to be "above" my Master, and all the times I have been lifted up in pride over admiring my own appearance, while Christ chose to forsake His! I want to be like Christ. I want to look like Him, talk like Him, and when others see me I want them to see Christ and know that I belong to Him. I should NOT find the WORLD "attractive"; likewise, the world should not find me attractive. We should have nothing in common. I will continue looking to Yeshua (Jesus) to guide me in these areas. I am thankful for the change of heart He has given me already. I agree with you, for me personally I have spent way too much time, and money investing in things that are vain and superficial. I want to please the Lord, I want to invest in His Kingdom and do His work, His will, and not mine. I choose to die; Die to self. Thanks for taking the time to respond to me. Lord Bless you."
God is good & to those that seek Him in sincerity & truth grace & knowledge will be added unto them. To them that glory, let them glory in Him alone & not in appearance, strength or riches. Jeremiah 9:23 "Thus saith the LORD, Let not the wise man glory in his wisdom, neither let the mighty man glory in his might, let not the rich man glory in his riches: 24But let him that glorieth glory in this, that he understandeth and knoweth me, that I am the LORD which exercise lovingkindness, judgment, and righteousness, in the earth: for in these things I delight, saith the LORD."
Before I share it here is a thought to go with it;
As God has created the flowers, various shapes, colors, and sizes, each one has its unique beauty; so has He created humankind...we must not lament dear ladies when we as the flowers of the grass begin to fade...the beauty of this life is temporal and if we esteem the things of the spirit above the things of the flesh (and walk in the spirit of Christ) we will be made anew in heaven a glorious eternal being God will make of us, that far outweighs any beauty we cold posses here.
Favour is deceitful, and beauty is vain: but a woman that feareth the LORD, she shall be praised.
Recently had a woman ask me if wearing make-up is a sin. Thought to share my response that edification may be had....", I am glad you are sincerely seeking to know God's mind in this matter & that you want to do what pleases Him. In light of God's purpose for us in this life and the wickedness of our times....I see wearing makeup as pure vanity (unprofitable) and a waste of precious time & resources as I recently mentioned in someone's post...$1 goes a long way in countries where people have no choice but to live off very little food & drink disease-infested water. Starvation & the water crisis are solvable issues that this selfish generation fails to solve due to a multitude of personal daily choices made...people using their time & resources for unnecessary & thus unprofitable things. Having said this I do not want to promote a careful & troubled spirit about every dollar we spend but rather an honest self-examination, prayer consideration of how to profit God's kingdom with what He has given us.
Society creates false fears & anxieties & unnecessary concerns for how people appear. A godless society puts false burdens especially on the heart of women to have a specific chest size, waist measurement, bottom shape, long thick dark eyelashes, big juicy lips....the list goes on & when we look in the mirror & do not see ourself lining up we may feel of less value, etc. The images of "ideal" women & men are ingrained in our minds and affect our thinking....as you say, as if it is not good or a problem that you have "blonde/almost clear eyelashes, fair skin..." God has created an array of colors, shapes & sizes we need not despise or feel insecure or ashamed for what He has given to us. Beauty is in the eye of the beholder.
Our focus in this life should not be our looks. When we are busy in the Lord's business we have less time & desire to even give place to those kinds of thoughts. The snare of living in a land where there is fulness of bread & too many mirrors...we think too much about minor physical details of our appearance..... I found this link to an article that may also interest you."
So, this was her glorious response, Halleluyah!
"Thank you for responding! The precious Lord Jesus revealed Himself to me this morning through scripture. Isaiah 53:2 "He (Jesus) hath No form or comeliness; "
comeliness - the quality of being GOOD LOOKING, ATTRACTIVE.
"And when we shall see Him (Jesus), there is NO beauty that we should desire Him".
I learned that Jesus Himself did not draw attention to His flesh. He was not sensual. He did not appeal to the world, or fashion Himself in any way to be desired physically. Though He is God, He denied Himself in every way and chose to have a physical appearance that is NOT desirable through the world's eyes. He as God could have chosen ANY form of flesh that He wanted and He chose to have a humble, simple appearance. This really opened my eyes. This convicted me of all the times I have sought to be "above" my Master, and all the times I have been lifted up in pride over admiring my own appearance, while Christ chose to forsake His! I want to be like Christ. I want to look like Him, talk like Him, and when others see me I want them to see Christ and know that I belong to Him. I should NOT find the WORLD "attractive"; likewise, the world should not find me attractive. We should have nothing in common. I will continue looking to Yeshua (Jesus) to guide me in these areas. I am thankful for the change of heart He has given me already. I agree with you, for me personally I have spent way too much time, and money investing in things that are vain and superficial. I want to please the Lord, I want to invest in His Kingdom and do His work, His will, and not mine. I choose to die; Die to self. Thanks for taking the time to respond to me. Lord Bless you."
God is good & to those that seek Him in sincerity & truth grace & knowledge will be added unto them. To them that glory, let them glory in Him alone & not in appearance, strength or riches. Jeremiah 9:23 "Thus saith the LORD, Let not the wise man glory in his wisdom, neither let the mighty man glory in his might, let not the rich man glory in his riches: 24But let him that glorieth glory in this, that he understandeth and knoweth me, that I am the LORD which exercise lovingkindness, judgment, and righteousness, in the earth: for in these things I delight, saith the LORD."
Here is an article I found of interest about how wearing make-up can make other women jealous:
https://theconversation.com/how-makeup-makes-other-women-jealous-60744
