Personal Vanity

[Wayne Taylor]

I picked up my first pair of glasses some 32 years ago. Despite picking out many different styles over the years, I would only wear them inside the house. My wife did'nt even know I wore them for some 18 months.

However, four days ago prior to joing All About God, I have had a different outlook on life, especiallymy vanity and I have advised my work colleagues that tomoorow, I will be stepping out wearing my multi focus lenses at the World Outreach Christian Centre in Port Moresby, Papua New Guinea.

I owe this to Lord Jesus, through faith I suppose that he has given me the confidence and strength to overcome my fear, something I will be internally grateful forever.

Why do we fear vanity when our life (my vision) is clearer by accepting something so common as wearing glasses.

If we we all thruthful to oneself, and Lord Jesus, the world will be a happier place.

[Mary Munsey]

Welcome Wayne to All About God. I thought this was great insight and it will help others. Perfect love cast out fear, May you enjoy everyday with the love of Jesus

[Carla]

God cares about our hearts...our Eternity...I relate to what you are saying though...I recently went thru a 'Vanity' test.

I have recently (11 days ago) undergone an open heart surgery.. I had a bicuspal heart valve which I was born with (I didn't know until about 1 month ago)...it was detected by a heart murmer which I only found out I have two months ago. I went in for surgery last Thursday..end of October.

I was feeling sad and sorry for myself when I found out I would need this surgery , and dealing with the scar which would be there my whole life (I'm only 40). I spoke to my husband about this.. He finds the scar beautiful because he sees it as 'life-saving'. When I first saw it I broke into tears ....now I am thankful to be alive...we also have two small children. The scar is healing beautifully, and will be hardly noticeable...even if it is. that's okay!

Vanity is destructive and harmful. I am pleased and thankful to God that you have now come to terms with your need to wear glasses.

God loves me...by His Grace I am still here to sing His Praises. Jesus is using this circumstance in my life, and I am sure He will use yours as well.

What does my heart look like now?...it looks much more compassionate and merciful than it ever has before.
I belong to Him. I believe that the LORD is guiding me to a place of volunteer work in a hospital or seniors home....I 'm praying about it...but it seems pretty clear to me now. I have a beautiful testimony of God's goodness and faithfulness...Romans 8:28.

For Him, Carla

[Charles Burwell]

dear Wayne

A good testimony about a subject that is rarely covered.

Vanity can also strike us in our spiritual walk. I am specifically referring to worrying about what someone would think of us if we obeyed what God was leading us to do, even when it made no sense to the natural mind. I've tried to explain somethings God laid on my heart that fits what I'm talking about. Each time I just got the rolled-eye routine or outright rebuke. It made me really gun shy about obeying God if I couldn't always give a 'reasonable ' explanation for why I was doing it. Especailly when it involved people you care about that just don't understand.

I've hesitated many times to do something God wanted me to do because I feared that it just wouldn't make sense to people or it would cause relationship problems. I had to learn the hard way (as always) that when God leads me to do something (and I'm sure it is God) I have to just do it and let Him deal with the consequences. It is sometimes very hard but God will reward faithfulness.
To this day I still don't know why He had me do some of the things He did. Maybe sometimes He want us to do things just to see if we would do them simply because 'He said to'.

I know that's getting a little of the subject you were talking about but your testimony reminded me of the things I refered to.

Anyhow, God bless you my brother