Who is Jesus?

• He is the only way to God the Father. John 14:6 says, “Jesus said to him, I am the Way and the Truth and the Life; no one comes to the Father except by (through) Me.” (Amplified)
• He is the vine and we are the branches. We receive life through Him. We can do nothing apart from Him. John 15:5 says, “I am the Vine; you are the branches. Whoever lives in Me and I in him bears much (abundant) fruit. However, apart from Me [cut off from vital union with Me] you can do nothing.” (Amplified)
• He is our advocate with the Father. 1 John 2:1 says, “My little children, I write you these things so that you may not violate God’s law and sin. But if anyone should sin, we have an Advocate (One Who will intercede for us) with the Father—[it is] Jesus Christ [the all] righteous [upright, just, Who conforms to the Father’s will in every purpose, thought, and action].” (Amplified)
• He is the Shepherd and Bishop of our souls. 1 Peter 2:25 says, “For you were going astray like [so many] sheep, but now you have come back to the Shepherd and Guardian (the Bishop) of your souls.” (Amplified)
• He is the only door through which we must enter for salvation. John 10:9 says, “I am the Door; anyone who enters in through Me will be saved (will live). He will come in and he will go out [freely], and will find pasture.” (Amplified)
• He is a Mediator for us with the Father. 1 Timothy 2:5-6 says, “For there [is only] one God, and [only] one Mediator between God and men, the Man Christ Jesus, Who gave Himself as a ransom for all [people, a fact that was] attested to at the right and proper time.” (Amplified)
• He is the light of the world. When we follow Him and Him only we will not walk in darkness. John 8:12 says, “Once more Jesus addressed the crowd. He said, I am the Light of the world. He who follows Me will not be walking in the dark, but will have the Light which is Life. (Amplified)
• He is the Judge of all, living and dead. Acts 10:42 says, “And He charged us to preach to the people and to bear solemn testimony that He is the God-appointed and God-ordained Judge of the living and the dead.” (Amplified)
• He is Immanuel (God with us). Isaiah 7:14 says, “Therefore the Lord Himself shall give you a sign: Behold, the young woman who is unmarried and a virgin shall conceive and bear a son, and shall call his name Immanuel [God with us].” (Amplified)

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Reasons to Rejoice

There are many reasons to rejoice. The list is extensive,  but I have chosen just a few reasons that I hope will resonate with you if you have a personal relationship with Jesus Christ.

• Salvation through Christ – I have the Father, The Son, and the Holy Spirit – Ephesians 2:8-9 (Amplified) – “For it is by free grace (God’s unmerited favor) that you are saved (delivered from judgment and made partakers of Christ’s salvation) through [your] faith. And this [salvation] is not of yourselves [of your own doing, it came not through your own striving], but it is the gift of God; Not because of works [not the fulfillment of the Law’s demands], lest any man should boast. [It is not the result of what anyone can possibly do, so no one can pride himself in it or take glory to himself.]”

• Sins are forgiven – Psalm 103:12 (Amplified) “As far as the east is from the west, so far has He removed our transgressions from us.”

• Justified through Jesus – Romans 5:1 (Amplified) “Therefore, since we are justified (acquitted, declared righteous, and given a right standing with God) through faith, let us [grasp the fact that we] have [the peace of reconciliation to hold and to enjoy] peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ (the Messiah, the Anointed One).”

• Access through Jesus – Romans 5:2 (Amplified) “Through Him also we have [our] access (entrance, introduction) by faith into this grace (state of God’s favor) in which we [firmly and safely] stand. And let us rejoice and exult in our hope of experiencing and enjoying the glory of God.”

• There is security in Jesus – John 10:27-29 (Amplified) – “The sheep that are My own hear and are listening to My voice; and I know them, and they follow Me. And I give them eternal life, and they shall never lose it or perish throughout the ages. [To all eternity they shall never by any means be destroyed.] And no one is able to snatch them out of My hand. My Father, Who has given them to Me, is greater and mightier than all [else]; and no one is able to snatch [them] out of the Father’s hand.”

• The Lord Forgives – Psalm 130:1-4 (Amplified) “Out of the depths have I cried to You, O Lord. Lord, hear my voice; let Your ears be attentive to the voice of my supplications. If You, Lord, should keep account of and treat [us according to our] sins, O Lord, who could stand? But there is forgiveness with You [just what man needs], that You may be reverently feared and worshiped.”

• The Lord is my Shepherd – Psalm 23:1 (Amplified) “The Lord is my Shepherd [to feed, guide, and shield me], I shall not lack.

Rejoice in the Lord always [delight, gladden yourselves in Him]; again I say, Rejoice! Philippians 4:4 (Amplified)

“Smile God Loves You”

I am constantly overwhelmed by the love that God has for me. There is no one in this world that can love me the way God does. His love is un-conditional, His love is giving, His love is merciful, and His love is gracious. God’s love for me is so strong that He gave His only Son, Jesus Christ. For God so loved the world that He gave; He gave the greatest gift. Because He loves us so much we should have a smile on face and a smile in our hearts.

Romans 5:8 (Amplified) – But God shows and clearly proves His [own] love for us by the fact that while we were still sinners, Christ (the Messiah, the Anointed One) died for us.

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REMEMBER GOD LOVES YOU, SO KEEP SMILING, KEEP GIVING, KEEP LOVING, KEEP HELPING, KEEP CARING, AND KEEP DOING!