Gateways to Joy

Today is Friday!  That means two things over here: 1.  Reflection.  For those of you participating in the 1 John Bible study , it means reflecting and catching up. Today we will look at some of my favorite videos.  One of the videos will be from Angela who is another one of the Good Morning Girls leaders. 2.  For the rest of you who visit the site it means I'm back to my Favorite Blog, Friday! The other video is from one of my favorite all time Christian writer's and speakers Lysa Terkurst. I am mainly sharing Lysa with you all so that those of you unfamiliar with her and her resources will no longer be in the dark!  Her resources and ministry, I think, should be apart of every Christian woman's library.  She challenges me in the best way.  I adore her and thank God for her ministry.   One more thing, I like that she looks good and stylish.  She shows us that we can be spiritual, modest and look great! Don't forget to go ov...

Loving others, an old and new testament commandment. It just dawned on me, "Loving other's is a commandment." Don't get me wrong.  I know we are "told" to love, and I know we,Christians, must love— but until today I never thought about it as being something we are commanded to do. Does that make sense? John says, "Behold, I am not writing a new commandment to you, but an old commandment which you have had from the beginning ..." What love is and is not has been a topic on my mind for a few weeks. I'd like to share with you some of  my thoughts as it pertains to my reading 1 John 2: 7-8. When I think about love I look at it through the lenses of self-sacrifice and servant hood.   I know that God loved us because while we were yet sinners He gave His only Son. God's love for us prompted Him to action.  An action that was in our favor.  An action that was "good" for us.  God's action also prompted His sacrifice. ...

Hi ladies! This is what Angela has posted on the Good Morning Girls blog for this weeks reading: For those of you who are just now joining us, you can download the  Free e-study guide here  and either print it or use it as a guide as you write in your own journal. This week we will be reading verses 2:1-11 in the book of 1 John. If you would like to further study the verses we will be reading each day, here are 3 on-line commentaries that go along with this week’s reading. 1.  John MacArthur a.  1 John 2:1- Our Divine Defense Attorney b.  1 John 2:2- The Sacrifice that Satisfied c.  1 John 2:3- Certainty of Christian Assurance, Pt 1 d.  1 John 2:4-6- Certainty of Christian Assurance, Pt 2 e.  1 John 2:7-11- Live by a New Love 2.  John Piper a.  1 John 2:1-2- Jesus Christ Is an Advocate for Sinners b.  1 John 2:3-6- Obedience Confirms Our Standing in God 3.  Charles Spurgeon a. 1 John 2:1  The Sinner’s Advocate b. 1...