Tabla de contenidos para May 2023 en JOY! Magazine

“I consider that our present sufferings are not worth comparing with the glory that will be revealed in us.”– Romans 8:18 Here at JOY! Magazine, we certainly exercise our faith daily – we are permanently hoping for something. I am so grateful for God’s Word. You just need to visit my office to find all the faith scriptures printed on my wall. I look at them every single day. They have been such an encouragement to me over the years. We all need a “wall” so that we can be constantly reminded of God’s promises. There is no reason to become despondent and to give up when things don’t go the way we want. Our footsteps have been ordered by the Lord. He never leaves nor forsakes us. He goes…

Burnt offerings “Burnt offerings” are mentioned numerous times in the Bible. The Hebrew word for “burnt” is “owlah” and the Greek word is “holokautoma”. It is from these words that we have the term “holocaust”. Moses The name “Moses” means “drawn out”. Pharaoh’s daughter named him that because she “drew him out of the water” (Ex 2:10). Wine When Jesus turned water into wine during the wedding at Cana, He created around 450-850 litres of wine. Tradition says James was called “Old Camel Knees” because he spent so much time on his knees in prayer. Sarah Sarah laughed when the pre-incarnate Jesus said she would have a baby in her old age en - . he later gave birth to Isaac whose name means laughter . Phylacteries When Jesus condemned…

“Now when He had spoken these things, while they watched, He was taken up, and a cloud received Him out of their sight. And while they looked steadfastly towards heaven as He went up, behold, two men stood by them in white apparel, who also said, ‘Men of Galilee, why do you stand gazing up into heaven? This same Jesus, who was taken up from you into heaven, will so come in like manner as you saw Him go into heaven.’” – Acts 1:9-11 The focus of this portion of scripture, Acts 1:9-11, is the experience of Jesus being “caught up” in the cloud. “A cloud received Him” mentions only one single cloud. When Jesus returns, however, the description of the clouds is in plural form. 1 Thessalonians 4:17 says,…

My name is ario and I am a passionate industrial and organisational psychologist. During a recent visit to the o ces of JO aga ine I spent some time loo ing at the vision and value statements on the wall in reception. Of the ten values posted there the rst one immediately stood out for me ‘To strive for excellence and integrity in all things.’ I started contemplating the meaning of the word ‘excellence’ • What is the essence of this character uality• What is it clearly not• What are the best practices and critical steps to ensure that this uality is lived out• What could be the dangers of slipping up in this regard• ow can the individual the department and the organisation as a whole bene t from…

JOY! is not a political publication, and we generally try to avoid sharing about politicians as our readers share many differing views. In this interview, however, we speak to leader, businessman, and ActionSA president Herman Mashaba – getting to know the person behind the politician. Herman’s testimony is powerful and inspirational – and it is clear to see how God has used him, and continues to use him, as he stands up for truth and righteousness in South Africa. “My grandfather was my role model, inspiring me to stand for human rights.“ Q You had a challenging childhood, growing up during apartheid. Your roots are humble, and yet you have grown to achieve much success in business and leadership. Can you share a little about your upbringing? I was born…

Scan this QR code on your smartphone to sign up to our newsletters www.joynews.co.za Thousands of lives changed at Jeffreys Bay Mighty Men Conference Thousands of people gave their hearts to the Lord or recommitted themselves to Him at the Mighty Men Conference Jeffreys Bay over the weekend of March 17-19. Eugene Genis, a guest speaker at the event and one of the organisers, comments: “It lifted our spiritual emotions as we saw the impartation of God touching the lives of the men. I am in awe of all the miracles, signs and wonders that took place and thankful for every new person whose name is now written in the Book of Life.” A number of people who God touched at the event sent the organisers testimonies of their experience…

For many decades, Christians around the world have believed the lie that Europe is not ripe for the Gospel, and yet we know from John 4:35 that the fields of Europe are white for harvest, the same as anywhere else. With simple faith in this reality, on February 25 2022, the day after the war began in the Ukraine, Christ for all Nations (CfaN) sent out a team to the Polish-Ukraine border to begin humanitarian efforts, and to scout out the possibility of leading many to Christ. This team was headed up by Matthew McCluskey, the director of European Outreach. Upon landing in Poland, their objective was simple: to find the places where refugees were gathering, to give aid, and to preach the Gospel with boldness and love. We asked…

Quick Facts How many years have you and JP been married? We got married on August 18, 2018 Where do you live? Pretoria What is your favourite food? It is between Italian and Mexican food Julanie J may only be 25, but she has already made her mark in the South African music world. The talented English and Afrikaans singer and songwriter’s debut album, Spirit Breakout, reached the iTunes Top-30 chart within 24 hours in 2015 (when she was 17) and she was nominated for the Mzanzi Christian Music Awards in 2016. For her, 2019 was indeed a good one, because she landed a contract with Warner Music South Africa as a 21-year-old! Julanie, the Lord miraculously spared your life as a toddler. What happened? When I was two years…

Send your letters to editor@joymag.co.za Dear readers, we love to hear your thoughts on the stories that we publish, what is going on around the world, and what the Lord has placed on your heart! Email your letter through to editor@joymag.co.za for a chance to be featured – please try to keep letters to 150 words as we have limited space. An ugly cover image! I am so disappointed with the picture of Jesus on the cover of your April issue of JOY! Magazine. It gives me the creeps because my Lord never looked like that – all yellow and ugly! To make up for it, would you please print the painting of Jesus called “The Prince of Peace” done by Akiane Kramarik on the cover of another issue of…

Arno van Niekerk is fighting for a righteous government What is a righteous government? A government that has utmost respect for Almighty God and follows His Word as its compass. A government whose laws, policies, and strategies are fully aligned with biblical values. It brings strong law and order. A government consisting of servant leaders with integrity who put the people’s interest above their own (Prov 29:2). Do you want to see a righteous, God-fearing government in office by the latest in 2024? If so, email YES to Time2RiseSA@gmail.com DANIEL DU TOIT "We have an upcoming Jesus Crusade in Mthatha, followed by our largest campaign we have ever done in Mityana, East Africa! There's only one name in heaven by which you can be saved and it's Jesus Christ. Now…

Gratitude is a powerful biblical practice that has the potential to transform our lives, yet many of us struggle with it. When we are intentionally thankful, we cultivate a positive mindset and develop a greater appreciation for the people and things around us, opening our eyes to the multitude of blessings in our lives. What exactly is gratitude? Gratitude is an attitude of appreciation and a recognition of the things that we often take for granted. When we practise gratitude, we shift our focus from what we lack to what we have, and we develop a greater sense of contentment and satisfaction. Practising gratitude can have a transformative effect in our spiritual walk. Looking to the Bible Gratitude is a theme that is woven throughout the Bible. From the psalms…

Your single greatest asset, according to Rick Warren, is not your net worth or your network—it’s your mind. Warren has written about the battle for your mind, and it has stuck with me. He talks about an invisible war that’s always taking place when you’re trying to learn how to control your mind. This battle never stops and is always intense. But if you don’t learn how to control your mind, you won’t have much control of anything. Do you seek approval from others? Do you deal with fear, shame, and guilt? Consider what you worry about Are you constantly seeking approval from others? Do you deal with fear, shame, and guilt? At some point or another, many of us fight these things. I don’t know about you, but my…

WORD SEARCH ISAIAH 3:1-15 ARTISANBEHOLDCAPTAINCLOTHINGCOUNSELORCOUNTENANCECUREDECLARE DIVINERENCHANTERFALLENHONOURABLEHOUSESINSOLENTJUDGENEIGHBOR OPPRESSEDPLEADPLUNDERPOORPROPHETPROVOKEREWARDRIGHTEOUS SKILLFULSTOCKSTUMBLEDSUPPLYTONGUEVINEYARDWICKEDWITNESSES This word search was crafted by Theresa Jones, a Cape Town-based author. Theresa has recently brought out her own fun book of Biblical word searches and multiple choice questions. If you would like to order a copy for only R90, email holyspiritinspirations@gmail.com Test your BIBLE KNOWLEDGE See how many of these you can fill in before checking the answers on page 55. After you test yourself, try reading the questions aloud to a friend or family member and see how they do! 1 Finish this Proverb: “Labour not to be...” ____________ 2 After Peter escaped from prison, Herod ordered the jailkeepers to: ____________ 3 How many of the ten healed lepers returned to thank Jesus? ____________ 4…

Do you count your blessings, or think that your blessings don’t count? To lose, you don’t have to have anything stolen from you; all you have to do is take everything you have for granted. Today, replace regret with gratitude. Be grateful for what you have, not sorry for what you don’t have. If you can’t be thankful for what you have, then be thankful for what you have escaped. Joel Budd said: “I feel like I’m the one who wrote ‘Amazing Grace’.” My two favourite words to God in prayer are, “Help!” and “Thanks!” Capture what George Hubert said, “Thou, O Lord, hast given so much to me, give me one more thing – a grateful heart.” It’s a sure sign of mediocrity to be moderate with our thanks.…

Jesus, I believe that You died on the Cross for me. There You were wounded for my transgressions, You were bruised for my iniquities; and the punishment for my peace was upon You. I have been like a lost sheep, I have turned to my own way, but I believe that God laid my iniquity upon You. You died for me. Then You rose from the dead, You ascended into Heaven, and are now seated on Your throne as Lord of all. Jesus, forgive me. I now turn away from my sin and put my trust in You. Fill me with Your Spirit, cleanse me, and take me as Your own. Amen Xhosa Yesu, ndiyakholwa ukuba wandifela emnqamlezweni. Apho walinyazwa ngenxa yeziphoso zam, Walinyazwa ngenxa yobubi bam, ubetho loxolelo lwam…

John Fortune was raised by his God-fearing grandmother, who endured the challenges of being married to an alcoholic husband. On the day of his parents’ wedding, John’s dad never arrived – instead, he got married to another woman on the same day. John’s mom never overcame this disappointment and sadly found her solace in alcohol. John was left with an absent father and an alcoholic mother. His granny took him in. Speaking about his gran, John recalled her Godly lifestyle. The power of a praying grandmother Uncompromisingly, granny would pray for half an hour every morning and evening and would make John and his little brother kneel by her side. She would make them memorise and quote scriptures. They could overcome anything because of Christ, and although their mother and…

What is the true meaning of happiness? Happiness is an emotional state characterised by feelings of joy, satisfaction, contentment, and fulfilment. When I look at the world and some people around me, I do not see this depiction of the definition, rather many “unhappy” people full of regret, discontent, and unfulfilment. I contemplated this and realised that if we want to experience true happiness, we will have to go back to the Word of God and its definition of happiness. Have you ever considered the biblical definition? Happiness involves finding joy, peace, and fulfilment in a relationship with God. Biblical definition of happiness The Bible offers several definitions of happiness, which is more often described as a state of well-being and contentment that comes from knowing and walking with God.…

It is extraordinary to witness, in real time, the destruction of the right to religious freedom in so-called “Western” nations that once championed it. This is a global trend and the shift is pervasive. Often, it is empowered and accelerated by government agencies and legislation. Although these initiatives come with the apparently noble intention of preventing hate speech, keeping public order, promoting equality, and preventing unfair discrimination – they are often used to minimise, marginalise, shut down, and even criminalise people who stand up for and express their sincerely held convictions. Difficult legal battles Private individuals and organisations who are caught in the crossfire can find themselves facing lengthy and ruinously expensive legal battles. A Colorado baker who refused to create a wedding cake for a same-sex couple was sued…

FEATURE We are currently living in one of the greatest seasons of apostasy. Men and women of God have been and continue to fall away from the faith in large numbers. Apostasy is not new. Departing from the faith is nothing new. It happens today just as it did in the Old Testament. In the New Testament we find even more mention of those who would depart from the faith in the end times. What does the Bible say? The book of Jude focuses a lot on the issue of apostasy. There are many New Testament scriptures that deal with this issue: Matthew 24:5 “The Lord said, ‘Many shall come in my name, saying, I am Christ; and shall deceive many.’” • • • Mark 13:22 “In the same context…

Every Bible book teaches about the Lord Jesus Christ, but the “I am” statements are among the most direct. Jesus often said “I am”, using the emphatic “I” to reveal something about Himself. This saying, which in Greek is the words egō eimi, can be translated as “I Myself am” or “it is I Myself”. The gospel of John There are twelve such statements in the gospel of John (excluding the duplicates). Most of these statements reveal Jesus as both the life-giver and God Himself. The first significant statement is “I am the bread of life” (John 6:35). It reveals Him to be the life-giver in that He is the bread which came from heaven to give life to all who believe in Him. It also reveals Him to be…

Mental health struggles, while they are difficult, are not pointless. The Bible clearly shows how God can and does use them for His glory. Struggling with your mental health doesn’t show that you’re weak. It’s just that you need help. After I had my second child, I plunged into postnatal depression. Thankfully, I told myself then: When I need help, I need help. I have to admit it, talk to someone who I can trust, and believe that God is going to use the person to talk to me. I need help. It’s not wrong to seek treatment or help For some things like hormonal imbalances, you need medication. Some emotional states can also be helped through counselling, even though they are medically certified as hormonal. If there are people…

Many people have asked me for tips on how to respond to mean comments. Here are some that I find helpful. These are just a few tips that have been helping me a lot lately to not take things so personally, and to let go of other people’s opinions: 1. “I want to make sure I am not making assumptions about what you said. Can you clarify?” 2. “That felt hurtful. What did you actually mean by that comment?” 3. “That sounded loaded and like there is something deeper beneath that comment. Do you want to talk about it?” 4. “Do not make comments like that or speak to me that way.” 5. “That comment was unkind. I’m going to walk away and give us both time to cool off…

Violence against Christians in sub-Saharan Africa (SSA) is at an all-time high. This escalation in violence has been triggered by the presence and activity of jihadist groups in an increasing number of African countries. The general impact of the violence against the persecuted Church has been devastating. By the end of 2021, a staggering 15,5 million people had been displaced, making it increasingly difficult for people to make a living. Christians are the preferred target of these jihadist groups. “Even if we are persecuted, our tears of suffering will be wiped away.” A new challenge One of the Christians who has firsthand experience of this situation is Pastor Jean* (33) from the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC). He was full of hope in 2019 when he was transferred to…

The 1966 Hollywood movie The Bible portrays Noah’s account in great detail. Noah is commanded to build an ark the size of several rugby fields, in a place with no waterway. Unsurprisingly, various people come to mock Noah and his grand undertaking. “What is more stupid than this, a man building a ship on dry land?” The mocking must have continued over the course of many years. That is, until the first drops of rain fell from the heavens. In the movie, Noah is commanded to shut the ark’s door and to not open it again no matter what. As the flood waters begin to rise, the people run to the ark and scream to be let in. They bang on the door, but Noah won’t open it. As the…

God designed our bodies with self-detoxing systems that utilise five methods of cleansing every day. However, modern man is overexposed to harmful toxins and pollutants that can seriously “injure” your body and make you sick. I speak from experience. A personal testimony By God’s grace, I recovered from advanced multiple sclerosis (MS) after the medical system wrote me off and declared me clinically unfit for work at age 34. I give God all the glory for a second chance. I ended up with the toxicologist, Dr Hal Huggins, who was instrumental in saving my life. He told me, “Johan, you did not get sick, you were made sick.” After the “root cause” was removed (root canal-treated teeth) and my body cleansed from mercury and other harmful toxins, I recovered and…