Continuing yet again with, Our eternal link to GOD in Christ exposed by Him.

 We have been on this since March 20th as the inspirations keeps pilling up. While thinking about this I was watching Mike Huckabee's program when he had a magician who revealed the number one problem these days as 'listening.' Seems that many jump ahead of what is being said to form their own conclusion. Will that could be what this small passage is saying to us. This passage began at verse 12 of chapter 3 of 2Cor. and was carried forward through chapter 4 verse 6. This whole process actually started with 1Peter 1 and grew on from there to this post, again using the KJV translation before zeroing in on my subject matter in verse 2 of chapter 4 of 2Corinthinas, using the Mirror assisted Study Bible.

2Co 3:12-4:6 (KJV) "Seeing then that we have such hope, we use great plainness of speech: And not as Moses, which put a vail over his face, that the children of Israel could not stedfastly look to the end of that which is abolished: For their minds were (are) blinded: for until this day remaineth the same vail untaken away in the reading of the old testament; which vail is done away in Christ. But (For) even unto this day, when Moses is read, the vail is upon their heart. Nevertheless when it shall turn to the Lord, the vail shall be taken away. Now the Lord is that Spirit: and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is liberty. For we all, with open face beholding as in a glass the glory of the Lord, are changed into the same image from glory to glory, even as by the Spirit of the Lord. Therefore seeing we have this ministry, as we have received mercy, we faint not; But have renounced the hidden things of dishonesty, not walking in craftiness, nor handling the word of God deceitfully; But by manifestation of the truth commending ourselves to every man's conscience in the sight of God. But if our gospel be hid, it is hid to them that are lost: In whom the god of this world hath blinded the minds of them which believe not, lest the light of the glorious gospel of Christ, who is the image of God, should shine unto them. For we preach not ourselves, but Christ Jesus the LORD; and ourselves your servants for Jesus' sake. For GOD (Elohim of Genesis 1:1), who commanded the light to shine out of darkness, hath shined in our hearts, to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ."

Now in an effort to keep this short and to the point I shall take the Mirror Study Bible study of this passage beginning at verse 2 through 6. 

 2Corinthians 2:2-6 We have renounced hidden agendas (employing a little bit of the law in an attempt to "balance" out grace); We have distanced ourselves from any obscure [1]craftiness to manipulate GOD'S word to make it mean what it does not say! With truth on open display in us, we highly recommend our lives to everyone's [2]conscience! Truth finds its most authentic and articulate expression in human life. This beats any doctrine debate! (It is our passion for all to see what is so completely obvious in the mirror of our redeemed likeness and innocence! The word translated craftiness, is the word [1, G3834 from G3835 panourgos, from G3956 and G2041] panourgia and it is from (G3956) pas and (G2041) ergon, all manner of wearisome labor! [2]Conscience in Latin means to posite together; In the Greek, [2, G4893, suneidēsis, translated as conscience, from a prolonged form of G4894 from G4862 sun and G1492 eido] suneido, translated as joint seeing, which is the opposite of  (G86 which comes from G1 A or a and G1492 eido, meaning) Hades, not to see. [Mat. 11:23]) If our message seems vague to anyone, it is not because we are withholding something from certain people! It is just because some are so stubborn in their efforts to uphold an outdated system that they don't see it! They are all equally found in Christ but they prefer to remain lost in the cul-de-sac language of the Mosaic Law (this law only offers condemnation for all that adhere to it.)! The survival and self-improvement programs of the [1]religious systems of this world veil the minds of the unbelievers; Exploiting their ignorance about their true origin and their redeemed innocence (all the while claiming to be Christ-ones, ie...'Christians'). The veil of unbelief obstructs and obstructs a person's view and keeps them from seeing what the light of the true gospel so clearly reveals: the [2]glory of GOD is the image and likeness of our Maker redeemed in human form; This is what the gospel of Christ is all about. (The god of this [1, G165 aion, is from the same as G104 aei, regular] age refers to the religious systems and governing structures of this world's order. The unbelief that neutralizes Israel in the wilderness was the lie that they believe about themselves to this very day; "We are grasshoppers, and the 'enemy' is a giant beyond any proportion!" [Num. 13:33, Josh. 2:11, Heb. 4:6] "They failed to possess the promise due to their unbelief." The blueprint [2, G1391 from the base of G1380 dokeo, a prolonged form of a primary verb δόκω dokō] doxa, glory of GOD, is what Adam lost on humanity's behalf. [Look at Eph. 4:18]) Even though we recommended ourselves with great confidence, it is not with arrogance; We do not preach ourselves! We preach Christ Jesus the LORD; We are addicted to this gospel; Employed by Jesus for your benefit. The light source is founded in the same GOD Who said, "Light, Be!" (Gen. 1:1) And light shone out of darkness! He lit the lamp in our understanding so that we may clearly recognize the features of His likeness in the face of Jesus Christ reflected within us all! (The same Elohim (GOD, 'Father, Son and Spirit') Who bade light shine out of darkness has kindled a light in our hearts, whose shinning is to make known His glory as He reveals it in the features of Jesus Christ, the same Christ that is within us all!)

Now this may seem to some to be a repeat and so it is as we have all heard but have we really listened?

Continuing with, Our eternal link to GOD in Christ exposed by Him.

This morning in the wee hours of, the LORD spoke again of our liberty in Him and what it means for all of Humanity. The overall observation is from Galatians 4:21-5:1 as it reflects back to that of our last post from 2Corinthians 3:17. When we understand that the systems of religion and government were not of a spiritual nature but the desire of man as is religion (fiat) as expressed by Israel then we can begin to see what is a foot today in the exposing the corruption of both as one unit of mans design not GOD'S. For He told them this day choose you Me (Joshua 24;15) or a king and they chose the king system, over the spiritual, the kingdom of GOD within. It is the spiritual that was Jesus' assignment to bring it about and into play this He did by way of death of the flesh, that is to say man's rule by way of fiat politics and fiat religious orders of division in delusional mindsets. For by His so doing He brought into effect the 'liberty' that is so miss understood as shared with the earlier post. For this study I will again use the KJV drawn from Paul's writings and quote of Isaiah 54:3 in verse 27 and the Mirror Study Bible, as the LORD leads. We are currently witnessing this in real life in real time today as this time plays out before our eyes, in the operation of the global cabal rule over the liberal, left, the Fed. and Democratic party and indeed the world's systems, while the LORD Household retains its own.

Example of Hagar and Sarah

Gal 4:21-5:1 (KJV) "Tell me, ye that desire to be under the law, do ye not hear the law? For it is written, that Abraham had two sons, the one by a bondmaid, the other by a freewoman. But he who was of the bondwoman was born after the flesh; but he of the freewoman was by promise. Which things are an allegory: for these are the two covenants; the one from the mount Sinai, which gendereth to bondage, which is Agar. For this Agar is mount Sinai in Arabia, and answereth to Jerusalem which now is, and is in bondage with her children. But Jerusalem which is above is free, which is the mother of us all. For it is written, Rejoice, thou barren that bearest not; break forth and cry, thou that travailest not: for the desolate hath many more children than she which hath an husband. (Married to the Mosaic Law, Isaiah 54:1) Now we, brethren, as Isaac was, are the children of promise. But as then he that was born after the flesh persecuted him that was born after the Spirit, even so it is now. Nevertheless what saith the scripture? Cast out the bondwoman and her son: for the son of the bondwoman shall not be heir with the son of the freewoman. So then, brethren, we are not children of the bondwoman, but of the free. 

Christ Has Set Us Free

Stand fast therefore in the liberty wherewith Christ hath made us free, and be not entangled again with the yoke of bondage." 

The Mirror Study Bible's rendition of the same:

Gal. 4:21-5:1 Since you are so intrigued by the Law, please understand its prophetic message: The Law records the fact that Abraham had two sons: one by a slave girl (under the curse), the other by a free (in Christ) woman. The one is produced by the flesh (the DIY-tree of unbelief and heavy works of self efforts, politics and religion), the other by faith (the promise....ie, Christ) There is a parallel meaning in the story of the two sons: they represent two systems, works and grace. Sinai is an Arabian rocky mountain named after Hagar, (Outside the land of promise). Its associated with the Law of Moses and mirrors Jerusalem as the capital of Jewish legalism and religion. Hagar is the mother of the law of works (ie..condemnation). For the mother from above, the true mother of humanity is grace, the free Jerusalem; She is the mother of the promise (ie...Christ within us of Gen. 1:26-27, Hosea 6:2) For it is written, "Rejoice oh childless one! Erupt in jubilee! For though you have never known travail before, your children will greatly outnumber her who was married!" (Married to the Mosaic Law of Isaiah 54:1) We resemble Isaac we are begotten of faith, the promise is our parent. Just as when the flesh child persecuted the faith child, so now these Jerusalem Jews in their Christian disguise seek to harass you; How ever, Scripture is clear: "Expel the slave mother and her son (those of darkness such as those of the global cabal); The slave son cannot inherit with the (Household of Christ) free son." (In exactly the same way, rid your minds radically from the slave mother and child of that mentality. Light dispels darkness effortlessly.) Realize whose children we are my Brothers and Sisters: we are not children of the slave-mother, the Law, but children of the free mother; We are begotten of grace! Christ defines your faith; He is our freedom from anything from which the Law could never free you! Find your firm footing in this freedom. Do not let religion (or its fiat brother politics) trip you up again and harness you to a system of rules and obligations (of a fiat political system of Socialism, as a fiat copy of the heavenly realm)! (In this parallel, Christ represents Sarah, the faith-mother who birthed you in the resurrection. From the rock-hewn tomb representing Sarah's dead womb [1Pet. 1:3])

Continuing with, Our eternal link to GOD in Christ exposed by Him.

Just when one thinks that he is through with everything to LORD shows him something else about Himself that is inspirational and for all to know and come to an  understanding of. First let me say that I am not a scholar of letters or degrees of literature by no means. Heck I just made through high school by the skin of my teeth with a very low ranking among my peers of the day. I said that for this past week we have had two real scholars graduate from their respective schools, the first is our youngest grandson Cayed he got honors from the eight grade, then second is our granddaughter Emmaly she received honors with a degree in Bachelor of Science with a major in Exercise Science, with a certified trainer rating. Now before I get started let me warn you that this could be quite lengthy as it may take me sometime to share from the Scriptures what is in my heart today. And how it was acquired: To start with I turned to my carry around KJV Bible and looked again at John 3 and the LORD'S discourse with Nicodemus as witnessed to by John in chapter 3:5-21, which we shared earlier in this blog. Then I turned to E-sword's thought for the today from 2Cor. 3:17, and read it on my cellphone. And while on my cell I looked at Facebook and saw a post on Congress woman Omar which the LORD had to me say this; She reflects the deep corruption of mindset by way of false teachings of an unregenerated soul. What the religious world calls lost, when in all reality all that Adam lost was the glory that surrounded him and the woman that GOD made from him. As she lost the glory first which Adam knew, as he saw it disappear. He then had a choice to flow suit or keep the glory, the rest is history, there for our learning and understanding. Which clearly this child's history lacks. As she reflects the perversion of mindset so clearly. Just as Jesus explained to the priest Nicodemus, just as John recorded in chapter 3 of his accurate first hand account having been witness of the event. This brought about this post. First a repeat of John 3 and then the comment of E-swords daily scripture post of 2Corinthians 3:17 and what I saw at that point. And as is my usual practice I shall draw from the full thought of Scriptures to do this so please bear with me.

John 3:3, 4-8, 9-15, 16-21 (KJV; most of this discourse is in Red as it is Jesus speaking) "Jesus answered and said unto him, 'Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born again (Gen. 3:15), he cannot see the kingdom of God (Gen. 2).' 

Nicodemus saith unto him, "How can a man be born when he is old? Can he enter the second time into his mother's womb, and be born?" Jesus answered, 'Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born of water and of the Spirit (the death of Jesus is where humanity's life force of water and blood were spilled by the piercing of His side, just as when woman was formed from Adams side in Gen. 2), he cannot enter into the kingdom of God. That which is born of the flesh is flesh; and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit. Marvel not that I said unto thee, Ye must be born again. The wind bloweth where it listeth, and thou hearest the sound thereof, but canst not tell whence it cometh, and whither it goeth: so is every one that is born of the Spirit.' Nicodemus answered and said unto him, "How can these things be?" Jesus answered and said unto him, 'Art thou a master of Israel, and knowest not these things? Verily, verily, I say unto thee, We speak that we do know, and testify that we have seen; and ye receive not our witness. If I have told you earthly things, and ye believe not, how shall ye believe, if I tell you of heavenly things? And no man hath ascended up to heaven, but he that came down from heaven, even the Son of man which is in heaven. And as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, even so must the Son of man be lifted up: That whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have eternal life.
 

For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life. For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved. He that believeth on him is not condemned: but he that believeth not is condemned already, because he hath not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God. And this is the condemnation, that light is come into the world, and men loved darkness rather than light, because their deeds were evil (the lost glory of Adam's doings of Gen. 3). For every one that doeth evil hateth the light, neither cometh to the light, lest his deeds should be reproved. But he that doeth truth cometh to the light, that his deeds may be made manifest, that they are wrought in God.'

Then 2Corinthians 3:17 goes from the full thought of verses 12-17 which reads as flows:

2Co 3:12-18 (KJV) "Seeing then that we have such hope, we use great plainness of speech: And not as Moses, which put a vail over his face, that the children of Israel could not stedfastly look to the end of that which is abolished: For their minds were blinded: for until this day remaineth the same vail untaken away in the reading of the old testament; which vail is done away in Christ. But even unto this day, when Moses is read, the vail is upon their heart. Nevertheless when it shall turn to the Lord, the vail shall be taken away. Now the Lord is that Spirit: and where the Spirit of the LORD is, there is liberty [1, G1657 eleutheria, freedom, from G1658 eleutheros, unrestrained (to go at pleasure), that is, (as a citizen) not a slave (whether freeborn or manumitted), from the alternate of G2064; erchomai, from the middle voice of a primary verb (used only in the present and imperfect tenses, the others being supplied by a kindred [middle voice] word, ἐλεύθομαι eleuthomai or ἔλθω elthō; which do not otherwise occur); to come or go (in a great variety of applications, literally and figuratively) to reset ]. But [For] we all, with open face beholding as in a glass the glory of the Lord, are changed into the same image (Gen. 1:26-27, the reset of libery) from glory to glory, even as by the Spirit of the LORD." 

Wow this did not take as long as I had first thought it to.

Our eternal link to GOD in Christ exposed by Him.

A friend shared this on Facebook and it just fits me to a tee so I am sharing it, with some editing on my part for me:

Everything danged for me when I realized that I was One with the true Source of Light & Life this morning that He told me we are One, then I saw where this was true from the very moment of birth forward. This changed everything even more when I saw that just as I was One with GOD no longer under the misconception of being separated- so also was I One with those around me and they one with me. The structural idea of man I once lived that kept me hoop-jumping and busy, but never took me or anyone else where we wanted to be, new. I won't apologize for enjoying the ripple effects as man made paradigms and projected distortions of an angry wrath-full deity tumble to piles of rubble as others walk away from religious captivity through His efforts in me and then through me herein.

I sure don't see myself as smarter or more 'woke' than other in any way. If anything, I see all my brothers and sisters on the same journey, but may for the moment be at varying points along the same way. What may work for and satisfy one, may not be what works for or satisfy another- and there's no judgment in that...like the book by John Bunyan, Pilgrims Progress reveals, at least not from my end. I simply share what works for me. It's not meant to offend anyone at all, but to possibly encourage others who might find this blog or have questions, and are now seeing glimpses of new things which may at times seem better than what they've known.

Like Paul, Peter, John and a host of others, I'm willing and able to learn from anyone along this amazing journey we call life, as are most of the people who interact frequently with me on my Facebook page or in messenger....but none of us will ever consider going backwards to places we willingly left behind to joyfully walk this path with the LORD. If you see things here that offend your views, it's not intentional nor my desire. My posts have always been 'public' and I fully understand if you undo me, unfriend, or block me so you won't have to see them. If you choose to stay, and I do truly hope you do, just know you might get a little 'rubble dust' on you from me from time to time- not just from me, but many around the world experiencing the beautiful mystical things now, as well as things waiting ahead that weren't visible from back there. May Love and childlike awe lead us on our journey, and may we never lose the wonder of it all.

Continuing with the continuing of Removing the Veil of religious Distortions and Disceptions:

This morning while I was reading the study outline for today's lesson, on my E-sword account, I discovered something of an inspiration and it is for this reason that I am sharing this with you. This comes from Paul's letter to the Corinthians in the second letter chapter 3 and for this study I will pull from verses 4 through 11 though the subject targeted matter is in verses 7 through 11 and pull also from verse 18 as well. I shall again copy and paste from the KJV and American Standard Bibles as the introduction to the Mirror Study Bible's out line, as coming from a renewed mindset as spoken of in Romans 12:1-3 written by Paul's hand.

2Co 3:4-6, 7-11, 18 (KJV) "And such trust have we through Christ to God-ward: Not that we are sufficient of ourselves to think any thing as of ourselves; but our sufficiency is of God; Who also hath made us able ministers of the new testament; not of the letter, but of the spirit: for the letter killeth, but the spirit giveth life. 

But if the ministration of death, written and engraven in stones, was glorious, so that the children of Israel could not stedfastly behold the face of Moses for the glory of his countenance; which glory was to be done away: How shall not the ministration of the spirit be rather glorious? For if the ministration of condemnation be glory, much more doth the ministration of righteousness exceed in glory. For even that which was made glorious had no glory in this respect, by reason of the glory that excelleth. For if that which is done away was glorious, much more that which remaineth is glorious. 

But we all, with open face beholding as in a glass the glory of the Lord, are changed into the same image from glory to glory, even as by the Spirit of the Lord."

2Co 3:4-6, 7-11, 18 (ASV) "And such confidence have we through Christ to God-ward: Not that we are sufficient of ourselves, to account anything as from ourselves; but our sufficiency is from God; Who also made us sufficient as ministers of a new covenant; not of the letter, but of the spirit: for the letter killeth, but the spirit giveth life. 

For if the ministration of death, written, and engraven on stones, came with glory, so that the children of Israel could not look stedfastly upon the face of Moses for the glory of his face; which glory was passing away:  How shall not rather the ministration of the spirit be with glory? For if the ministration of condemnation hath glory, much rather doth the ministration of righteousness exceed in glory. For verily that which hath been made glorious hath not been made glorious in this respect, by reason of the glory that surpasseth. For if that which passeth away was with glory, much more that which remaineth is in glory. 

But we all, with unveiled face beholding as in a mirror the glory of the Lord, are transformed into the same image from glory to glory, even as from the Lord the Spirit." 

Okay, now for the Mirror Study Bible's rendering of this area:

2Cor. 3:4-6, 7-11, 18 Christ is our proof of our persuasion about you (manly) [1]before GOD. (The Greek preposition [1, G4314 translated to] pros, means towards; ie..face to face. see also 2Cor. 1:18, 19, and 20.) We have not [1]reached this conclusion by any merit of our own! Of GOD'S doing are we made competent! (The word, [1, G3049, Middle voice from G3056 logos, reason] logitsomai, means to reckon, making a calculation to which there can only be one logical conclusion.) It is GOD'S signature in our spirit that authorizes and authenticates us as New Testament ministers. We are not qualified by a legal document endorsed by a fellow human. The letter (of the Mosaic Law) is the administration of death (ignorance and spiritual bondage); It is the Spirit (of grace) that quickens life.

Because of its prophetic purpose even the old administration of death, carved in stone evidenced a glimpse of glory; For a brief moment the face of Moses shone with such brilliance that the people of Israel could not (more like, would not) even look at his face. The fact that this glory reflected in Moses was for a brief and fading confirmation of the ministry of the letter had a "sell by" date and that it was destined [1]to be brought to naught. (It served merely to emphasize the failure of the flesh to access the glory that Adam had lost (to sin, it became sin) on humanity's behalf. The word, [1, G2673, From G2596, down ward, and G691, to be idle, From G692] katarego, is derived from (G2596) kata, meaning intensity, and (G692) argos , meaning labor, denotes that the law of self works would be rendered entirely useless; Thus, the new arrangement would free humanity from all self effort to attempt to improve what GOD had already perfected (Gen. 2) in Christ. Consider the contrast of verse 18; From a mere glimpse of a veiled and fading glory to unveiling gazing into the face of glory as in a mirror and a transformed life radiating the same glory of Genesis 2, renewed or restored by mindset, ones perspective of thought.) How much more radiant would the ministry of the Spirit be? If the ministry of condemnation had a glimpse of glory, the glory that the ministry if righteousness now communicates far beyond any comparison! (There are two administrations: the one confirms humanity's guilt because of Adam; The other confirms humanity's innocence because of Christ! The one was upheld by the Mosaic Law; The other is sustained by the resurrected life of the Spirit. Humanity's standing before GOD is restored to that of it's origin, in Genesis 2; Where righteousness first reigned and then came in by merit of the cross, righteousness which far outweighs any attempt or dependency on the flesh to compete! Nothing that anyone can do can improve their standing before GOD!) What seemed glorious and important at the time has been reduced to total obscurity and irrelevance. The fragile and fading glory of the flesh is dwarfed into insignificance by the unfading glory of the resurrection life of the Spirit! (It being the original design as first seen in Genesis 2. The ministry of the New Testament reveals humanity's oneness and permanence. In Christ the idea of distance and delay is cancelled, whereas in religion any religion it remains a distant future some day or time kind of thing. Now verse 18)

For we all, with new understanding, see ourselves in Him as in a mirror. The days of window-shopping are over! In Him every face is [1]unveiled. In [2]gazing with wonder at the [5] blueprint of GOD'S display in humanity's form (His eternal image, ie..Gen. 1:26-27), we suddenly realize that we are looking into a mirror, where every feature of His [3]Image articulated in Christ is [2]reflected within us! The Spirit of the LORD engineers this radical [4]transformation; We are led [6]from an inferior [5]mind-set to the revealed [5]endorsement of our authentic identity. ( The word, [1, G343, from G303 (in the sense of reversal) and G2572] anakalupto, is from (G303) ana, a preposition denoting upward, to return again, and (G2572) kalupto, to uncover, unveil. The word, [2, G2734, middle voice from a compound of G2596 and a derivative of G3700 (compare G2072)] katoptrizomai, means to gaze into a reflection, to mirror oneself. Paul used [4, G] metamorphumetha as a present Passive indicative form (G3339 from G3326 and G3445 )metamorphoo, (G3326) meta, together with, and (G3445 morphoo) (G3444) morphe, form. [The word commonly translated sin, [1, G266 From G264, from G1 (as a negative particle) and the base of G3313] hamartia , is from (G1) ha , a negative or without and (G3313) meros, allotted portion of form; Thus, a distorted form, which is the opposite of metamorphe; with form. The word meros is the sum of morphe.] Now, with unveiled faces we are gazing at the glory of the LORD as in a mirror and metaporhe happens - image and likeness awakens within us!

The word, [3, G1504] eikon, translated as exact resemblance, image and likeness; eikon always assumes a prototype, a weak copy, that which it not merely resembles, but from that which it is drawn from; [5, G1391 from the base of G1380] doxa, glory, translates as mind-set, or opinion, from (G1380) dokeo, authentic, blueprint-thought. Changes 'from glory to glory,' apo doxes eis doxan; (G1519 translated, to) eis, is a point reached in conclusion; [6, G575 translated as from and by] apo, away from, meaning away from the glory of our original design that now defines us.Two glories are mentioned in this chapter; The glory of the flesh, which was veiled, because of it's fading kind of response represented by Moses and the unfading, unveiled glory of GOD'S I mage and likeness, now mirrored in the face of Christ redeemed in us,,,ie. humanity. Look at chapter 4:4-7 shared elsewhere in this blog.

[ Note, the Greek word translated "from" in this verse is not the same as the word translated "from" in Romans 1:17, where Paul says the unveiling of GOD'S righteousness is from faith to faith. Here he does not use the word apo, away from, but the preposition, ek, which always denotes source or origin.]

Some translations of this scripture read, "we are being changed from glory to glory." This would suggest that change is gradual and will more than likely take a lifetime, which was the typical thinking that trapped Israel for forty years in the wilderness of unbelief! It is reflected in all religious forms and systems still to this very day. We cannot become more than what we already are in Christ as the anointed ones. We do not grow more complete; We simply grow in knowledge and awareness of our completeness! [look at Colossians 3:10] How long does it take the beautiful swan to awaken to the truth of its design? The ugly duckling was an illustration of an illusion! Whatever it was that endorsed the 'ugly duckling' mindset, co-died together within Christ! In the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ, GOD did not redeem a compromised replica of you; He rescued the original, blueprint you, created in His radiance of a mirrored likeness! Any other 'self' you're trying to find or esteem will disappoint! Look to Romans 6:11, Reckon your 'DIY-law of works-self' dead, and your redeemed self co-raised and co-seated together within Christ! This is freedom indeed! Galatians 2:19-20; 20, So here I am dead and alive at the same time! I'm dead to the old me I saw trying to be and alive to the real me which is Christ in me! Co-crucified, now co-alive! What a glorious entanglement! I was in Him in His flesh death; Now He is in me in my life! For the first time I'm free to be me in my skin, immersed in His faith in our joint-sonship, bone of His bone and flesh of His flesh (of Genesis 2:23)! He loves me and believes in me! He is GOD'S gift to me! ( The verb sustauroo, is in the Perfect tense, indicating that not only was I crucified with Christ in the past, but I am existing now in that present condition. How can any human effort improve on that?! Look again at Hosea 6:2 and Ephesians 2:5 also Romans 7:6. For now we are fully released from any further association with a life directed by the rule of the Mosaic Law, we are dead to that which once held humanity captive, free to be slaves to the newness of spirit-spontaneity rather than age old religious rituals, imitating the mere face value of the written code. The moment one exchanges spontaneity with rules, the edge of romance is compromised!)

Now you all know what I saw in that study....