Mirror Mirror

Mirror Mirror Mirror! Mirror! On the wall, who is the fairest of them all? At the unexpected reply “Snow white”, bitterness and battering of the queen became Snow white’s destiny. But that was a fairy tale with an eventual happy ending for her. But what about real people like us? What does the mirror say when we look into it? Mirrors never lie, be it fairy tale or reality. It reflects exactly the way you stand before it. The mirror is our first encounter to self image. When our eyes enjoy the image they see in the mirror, it sends a signal to the brain which then releases chemicals that lighten our mood and boost confidence.

The Social Issues Research Center (Mirror, mirror) Motives: why we look in the mirror not to mention severe anxiety and depression We are all more obsessed with our appearance than we like to admit. But this is not an indication of 'vanity'. Vanity means conceit, excessive pride in one's appearance. Concern about appearance is quite normal and understandable. Attractive people have distinct advantages in our society. Studies show: •

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Attractive children are more popular, both with classmates and teachers. Teachers give higher evaluations to the work of attractive children and have higher expectations of them (which has been shown to improve performance). Attractive applicants have a better chance of getting jobs, and of receiving higher salaries. (One US study found that taller men earned around $600 per inch more than shorter executives.) In court, attractive people are found guilty less often. When found guilty, they receive less severe sentences. The 'bias for beauty' operates in almost all social situations - all experiments show we react more favorably to physically attractive people. We also believe in the 'what is beautiful is good' stereotype - an irrational but deep-seated belief that physically attractive people possess other desirable characteristics such as intelligence, competence, social skills, and confidence even moral virtue. (The good fairy/princess is always beautiful; the wicked stepmother is always ugly)

Matthew 4:1 Then was Jesus led up of the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted of the devil. 2 And when he had fasted forty days and forty nights, he was afterward an hungred. 3 And when the tempter came to him, he said, If thou be the Son of God, command that these stones be made bread. 4 But he answered and said, It is written, Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of God.

5 Then the devil taketh him up into the holy city, and setteth him on a pinnacle of the temple, 6 And saith unto him, If thou be the Son of God, cast thyself down: for it is written, He shall give his angels charge concerning thee: and in their hands they shall bear thee up, lest at any time thou dash thy foot against a stone. 7 Jesus said unto him, It is written again, Thou shalt not tempt the Lord thy God. 8 Again, the devil taketh him up into an exceeding high mountain, and sheweth him all the kingdoms of the world, and the glory of them; 9 And saith unto him, All these things will I give thee, if thou wilt fall down and worship me. 10 Then saith Jesus unto him, Get thee hence, Satan: for it is written, Thou shalt worship the Lord thy God, and him only shalt thou serve. 11 Then the devil leaveth him, and, behold, angels came and ministered unto him. 2 Corinthians 13:5 Examine yourselves, whether ye be in the faith; prove your own selves. Know ye not your own selves, how that Jesus Christ is in you, except ye be reprobates? 1 Corinthians 11:28 But let a man examine himself, and so let him eat of that bread, and drink of that cup. Mirror – reflect, examine, judge, determine, seek

Self-Control Another characteristic which should be prevalent in the believer’s life is that of selfcontrol. This means that the believer is to be temperate in all situations. It covers areas such as: anger, lust, eating and drinking, or any area which could severely affect our testimony and/or lifestyle if allowed to continue unabated.

Your gentleness should be evident (Phil 4:5 KJV) Let your moderation be known unto all men. The Lord is at hand. The word “moderation” in this verse carries with it the meaning of gentleness. Some have tried to horribly misuse this verse to try and prove their “everything in moderation” theory, especially when they want to have a beer or partake in some other worldly activity. Self-Control is one of the ingredients for kindness (2 Pet 1:6 KJV) And to knowledge temperance; and to temperance patience; and to patience godliness; Self-Control is a requirement for Church leadership (1 Tim 3:3 KJV) Not given to wine, no striker, not greedy of filthy lucre; but patient, not a brawler, not covetous;

(Titus 1:7 KJV) For a bishop must be blameless, as the steward of God; not selfwilled, not soon angry, not given to wine, no striker, not given to filthy lucre; Our tongue must be controlled (James 1:26 KJV) If any man among you seem to be religious, and bridleth not his tongue, but deceiveth his own heart, this man's religion is vain. Self-Indulgence must be controlled (Eccl 6:7 KJV) All the labour of man is for his mouth, and yet the appetite is not filled. Worldly pleasures must be controlled (Luke 8:14 KJV) And that which fell among thorns are they, which, when they have heard, go forth, and are choked with cares and riches and pleasures of this life, and bring no fruit to perfection. Envy must be controlled (Psa 37:1 KJV) Fret not thyself because of evildoers, neither be thou envious against the workers of iniquity. Selfishness must be controlled (1 John 3:17 KJV) But whoso hath this world's good, and seeth his brother have need, and shutteth up his bowels of compassion from him, how dwelleth the love of God in him? Self-Will must be controlled (2 Pet 2:10 KJV) But chiefly them that walk after the flesh in the lust of uncleanness, and despise government. Presumptuous are they, selfwilled, they are not afraid to speak evil of dignities. Stubbornness must be controlled (Zec 7:11 KJV) But they refused to hearken, and pulled away the shoulder, and stopped their ears, that they should not hear. Anger must be controlled (Prov 15:18 KJV) A wrathful man stirreth up strife: but he that is slow to anger appeaseth strife. (Prov 16:32 KJV) He that is slow to anger is better than the mighty; and he that ruleth his spirit than he that taketh a city. Grudges must be controlled (Mat 5:23-24 KJV) Therefore if thou bring thy gift to the altar, and there rememberest that thy brother hath ought against thee; {24} Leave there thy gift

before the altar, and go thy way; first be reconciled to thy brother, and then come and offer thy gift. Our attitudes must be controlled (Rom 12:3 KJV) For I say, through the grace given unto me, to every man that is among you, not to think of himself more highly than he ought to think; but to think soberly, according as God hath dealt to every man the measure of faith. (Phil 2:4 KJV) Look not every man on his own things, but every man also on the things of others.