Vanity, not so elusive.

 ......V A N I T Y

Inspiration. 

What kind of inspiration do you think your are, obsessing over certain muscle groups in your body as a whole? Slaving... away at a gym to perfect a certain part of your body, to feel self-satisfied, and please a judge, for a prize that has no worth in the true life, the life lived for Christ.  

The erosion of relationships with friends & family because they "don't understand" the importance of your "contest" diet, your consumption of vanity, so to speak. 

Your "pre-contest" behavior, grouchyness, attitude. 

Trying to mask your behavior and blaming it on your "diet" is sad.  Do you realize how that sounds? "sorry for snapping at you honey, its just this diet I'm on for my contest; this diet to deprive my body of water & get more lean; so my muscles show better so I can get a color sprayed on me that will expose my muscles even better under a bright light so a bunch of judges can judge my body, hair, and walk while wearing a tiny piece of cloth over the smallest amount of skin covering my private parts, so I can win a crown and title for having a amazing body that I obsessed over for the last few months. Thank you for understanding!"  

....How un-inspiring it must be to the girl that struggles with her weight; who would love to just go down a few sizes, to see girls that are near-perfect in so many peoples eyes, obsessing over some part of their body that they need to "improve" on in order to place higher at their next "competition".   

The displaying of your body in ways that cause men to be tempted.  Regardless if your butt-crack or nipples are covered, you are nearly naked and still causing temptation and practicing lack of self-respect & lack of morals. 

The true Beauty of a Woman. 

As a woman, we naturally carry less testosterone. 

We are supposed to have more "fat" in our chest, our hips... our body. A necessary fat to be able to provide a living environment for another life in our own bodies. 

Christ is in us, and takes care of us.  We cannot sustain this Body of Christ without proper nourishment and care. Prayer. Following him, not just knowing what his word is.  The same goes for our body providing a wonderful environment for a new life. We as women are not meant to be so lean, it is not a healthy environment for a devloping baby.

It is not attractive and is a distorted image you become a prisoner of. It is a temptation that breeds another tempation. A sin that produces another sin, and another.  Before you know it, you're on a stage in barely any clothing being judge on your way to "please" the crowd, "pose" and show your body, your "tan" and your "walk".

Gluttony.  It isn't just over-consumption of food.  How pathetic it is to focus so much on eating x number of meals a day containing x and x and x. I wonder how many kids are in poverty-stricken countries, wondering if they may receive a small scrap of food in the next 24 hrs. Not 2 or 3. I am not judging, but will say, just because you believe in God and know his word, doesn't mean you are FOLLOWING it. I have been down this path, and do not regret it.  I learned a lot about myself, what is truely important to me, what happiness REALLY is, and most importantly, GOD. I thank him for still shining his light for me to see my way back as I traveled father down this path of deception.

I recently was browsing one a profile on facebook of a woman that I was very inspired by.  Though orginally sparked by her modeling/fitness career, I grew to be way more inspired by her love of life, family, and God. 

She recently posted a picture of what she looks like now, which is much softer and more feminine than her competing figure.  In a short summery, she wrote about why she decided to not compete anymore, or live that lifestyle- how she would rather have the body she has now, and the lifestyle, than her past.  I was so touched, as I had been blessed with recently seeing this light as well. Though I don't personally know her, I sent her a message about how amazing it was to see that, and hear that. Her response was so motivating and positive.  Her passion for the love of children was wonderful. It was amazing getting to talk to her!

This girl is a true woman of Christ, and a true inspiration to other women. Her is her latest blog post on it all:

Amanda Carrier's latest blog

Do I still workout? Yes. How often? once or twice a week, and I walk everywhere as often as I can. Do I still eat healthy? yes, its my choice to. I feel better when I eat whole rich foods, not processed, refined, additive fill foods. Who doesn't?  My body has naturally taken up a softer look, thank goodness! It is a hard process, allowing this improperly identified fat back in my life. But my clothes fit just as good, and my relationships with friends, family, TIME here on earth and GOD have flourished.  

My amazing parents and me; my crown worthless in the life lived for Christ. The real treasures by my side.

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 James 1:12-15

Blessed is the man who remains steadfast under trial, for when he has stood the test he will receive the crown of life, which God has promised to those who love him. Let no one say when he is tempted, “I am being tempted by God,” for God cannot be tempted with evil, and he himself tempts no one. But each person is tempted when he is lured and enticed by his own desire. Then desire when it has conceived gives birth to sin, and sin when it is fully grown brings forth death.

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 1 John 2:16

For all that is in the world—the desires of the flesh and the desires of the eyes and pride in possessions—is not from the Father but is from the world.

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