Tabla de contenidos para August 2023 en JOY! Magazine

Vision JOY! Magazine seeks to glorify God by educating and informing Christians of a biblical worldview and applying the Lordship of Jesus Christ to all areas of life. Values Strive for excellence and integrity in all things • Provide interesting, accurate, and honest reporting at all times • Respect all Christian denominations • Encourage reader participation • Take personal responsibility • Always seek to unite the Body of Christ • Evaluate everything in the light of the Bible • Provoke readers to fulfil the biblical mandate to be salt and light in society • Motivate readers to action • Be solution-focused I often have concerns and requests that I bring before the Lord in prayer. Recently, one of my mentors – a pastor – pointed out that I should always…

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…

Scan this QR code on your smartphone to sign up to our newsletters www.joynews.co.za Two million people march for Jesus in Brazil The 31st edition of the March for Jesus, an event organised by a range of evangelical churches and denominations in Brazil, once again gathered a huge crowd in São Paulo on 8 June. The event was born in 1987 in London (UK) and has been held in São Paulo since 1993. On this occasion, organisers said it was attended by nearly two million people, making it the largest evangelical gathering in the world. The number of evangelicals in Brazil has experienced large growth. The last official census in Brazil (2010) already counted over 41 million of them (compared to 123 million Catholics). Other estimates speak of nearly 50…

In this month’s Characters of the Bible article, we’ll take a different approach in our series and handle two completely unrelated women who, despite being separated by centuries, nevertheless teach us a similar lesson. A supporting role While Genesis 12 begins the narrative arc of the patriarch Abraham, from the beginning his nephew Lot plays an important role in the story. He accompanies his uncle to the promised land; we could say that he casts his lot (pun intended!) with Abraham. Later, Lot parts from Abraham for the green pastures near Sodom, then finds himself living in that wicked city soon thereafter. It takes two angels sent by God to rip Lot out of his comfortable life in Sodom, along with his wife who was famously turned into a pillar…

COUNSELLING Sharon* thought that she was dying. Although she was a young, happily married mother and part-time journalist, she was experiencing involuntary, intense fear. Her heart was racing, she was gasping for breath, and she feared that her life was slipping away. When the emergency medical team stabilised her and completed their diagnosis, Sharon was told that her physical health was fine, but she had suffered a panic attack... In our biblical counselling ministry, we have heard this account, and similar ones, from men and women who have come for help. Hopefully, you have not had a panic attack, but we can all relate to being vulnerable to anxiety and fears. Fear is not always bad Although we usually think of fear as detrimental, it has an important role as…

Sorrow and fear were the fuel that drove Merry (26), a young Syrian woman and civil engineer graduate from Aleppo, to be a light in the darkness and an extension of God’s loving hands after the devastating earthquake that hit Syria in February. Despite worrying about her family’s safety and fearing for her life, Merry applied what she had learnt at Open Doors’ sports training to serve other people affected by the earthquake. Sports ministry for young people Merry, who works for several non-governmental organisations and has always had a heart for helping people, has participated in the Open Doors sports ministry training since 2019. Last October, she attended a course called “Ready, Set, Go Plus”, which helps youth servants attract children and teenagers to the church through sports activities.…

Does it ever feel like a free moment is a failure because we’ve come to believe every second of every day needs to be structured and filled? Just because you have free moments in your day or on your calendar does not mean that you have to fill them up, that you are not “productive” enough, or that you are doing something wrong. Cherish those moments for yourself. Don’t feel guilty! If you feel guilty for having some open space in your schedule, it’s normal and more common than you think. But I’m here to reassure you and remind you that these moments are beautiful, and you deserve them. Free, unstructured time is so essential for brain growth and cell renewal. Enjoy doing nothing, daydreaming, napping, whatever you want! …

D ear 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. Stand strong I recently read the JOY! Magazine and I was very impressed. It is sad that we have access to so many Christian platforms and their content, yet we have drifted so far away from God. We care too much about social media. Continue to preach a message of hope to the world – big ups to you! Nthabiseng Ntsoane “Thank you so much for my latest issue of JOY! Magazine, which…

All the world’s a stage, and all the men and women are merely players. They have their exits and their entrances, and one man in his time plays many parts. Shakespeare It is eye-opening to analyse Shakespeare’s lines through the lens of God’s Word. When stripped from poetry and approached from the perspective of a reborn child of God, these lines can present the truth of the Creator and be magnified by “all the world”. Poetic presentation Shakespeare’s craftsmanship is known globally. The stages of life, as depicted in “As You Like It”, are recognised through his famous phrase: “All the world’s a stage.” He describes life as a temporary platform where actors enter, perform roles through different phases, and eventually depart. Until today, this metaphor honours his artistry and…

In our ‘Parables of Jesus’ article last month, we noted that in one chapter Matthew gathers together seven parables of Jesus about the Kingdom of heaven. Matthew 13 is a “parable instruction manual” as it contains the two parables that Jesus also provides explanations for. This month we consider one of them – the wheat and the tares. Separation is coming The first thing to recognise is that this parable, like the others in this chapter, is about the “kingdom of heaven”. Whereas other parables speak about the Kingdom’s size and influence, this parable has to do with the Kingdom’s earthly composition before the final judgement occurs. The wheat and weeds is a classic parable of separation. While some parables concentrate on how followers of Jesus – citizens of the…

Meet Bonolo, a remarkable 14-year-old girl from the townships of South Africa who is defying the odds and changing lives in her community. From facing bullying at a young age, Bonolo found her voice and used it to inspire others through powerful videos. Her journey expanded to the world of radio, where she fearlessly tackled pressing youth issues. Not stopping there, Bonolo opened Bonolo’s Soup Kitchen during the COVID-19 pandemic to provide for less privileged children. Her unwavering faith, determination, and empathy have made her a beacon of hope and inspiration, as she continues to make a profound impact on the lives of others. My name is Bonolo and I am 14 years old. I am the youngest daughter of Teboho Moahludi, and I have two sisters, Matumelo and Palesa.…

INTERVIEW When most people hear the words “essential oils” they think of oils that simply smell nice – but there is so much more to these oils. Very few people realise the exceptional medicinal value of this gift God has given us. I spoke to Talita Flinspach, the founder and co-owner of Aviva, about the wonders of these ancient oils. Q. What is the secret of essential oils? The secret lies in the fact that essential oils are natural but have a pharmaceutical quality that can have a powerful healing effect on your body and even your state of mind. The Father created plants with wonderful healing properties to support your body. Some of these properties may be anti-inflammatory, antibacterial, antifungal or antiseptic in nature. Even animals know this and…

Lately, a few of my friends have come under attack and scrutiny for standing up for what they believe in. These friends stood up for moral values yet were belittled and harassed – not just by the world, but by fellow “believers” too. A warped view Travelling to Turkey with JOY! Travel and having the privilege to preach at the church sites from Revelation has made me aware that Christianity in the Western world has become very cushioned and protected. These brothers in faith were boiled, stoned, fed to lions, and hunted for their beliefs. Our idea of persecution is when the aircon in church is too cold, the music is too loud, or someone is sitting in your chair. We have become very tolerant of worldviews and people who…

WORD SEARCH ACTS 2: 1-12 ACCORDADJOININGARABSASIACAPPADOCIACONFUSEDCRETANSCYRENE DWELLINGEGYPTELAMITESFIREGALILEANSJEWSJUDEALANGUAGE LIBYAMARVELEDMEDESMESOPOTAMIAOCCURREDPAMPHYLIAPARTHIANSPENTECOST PERPLEXEDPHRYGIAPONTUSPROSELYTESROMERUSHINGTONGUESUTTERANCE This word search was crafted by Theresa Denson 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 65. After you test yourself, try reading the questions aloud to a friend or family member and see how they do! 1 What was the first town where Jesus began His ministry and was rejected? 2 Who cut off the ear of the high priest? 3 What miracle did Jesus perform on the Sabbath? 4…

BOOK EXTRACT One of the things God dislikes and treats as an abomination is dishonest scales. That means extortion, perversion of justice through bribes, and preying on the vulnerable through corruption are an affront to humanity. We all want to rise in life, to make profit, and to be respected and esteemed – these are legitimate desires. The question therefore is: At what cost? Wealth accumulated at the expense of the poor, gullible, and vulnerable may taste sweet for a season, but one day it will leave a bitter taste in the mouth of the consumer or the seller. Good institutions are not only driven by profit, but also by upholding business ethics and acting with integrity. Doing good is good for business.– Richard Branson Profits, ethics, integrity Justice is…

Neville Ontong hails from Kimberley – the Diamond City – in the Northern Cape. He grew up in a Christian home with his sister, Natasha, and twin brothers, Noel and Nathan. His parents, aunty Margie and uncle Thys, were humble people and loved God. Family life was everything to them. Young and directionless After Neville matriculated, he had no idea what he wanted to study, let alone what he wanted to do. His mom had a profound influence on his life. For some reason, known to her, she decided that he should become a teacher. She was clear about this call. In total rebellion against his mom’s choice, Neville totally disagreed with her. One day, she asked a local pastor if Neville could accompany the leaders on a church conference,…

If a test, administered during the first trimester of pregnancy, reveals that an unborn baby has Down syndrome (or any other birth defect or disability), there are essentially two responses that the parent(s) will be confronted with. The first is to view the baby as intrinsically valuable and an individual to be cherished, nurtured, and protected. The second is to do something of a “cost-benefit analysis” to determine if the “quality of life” that the child can reasonably be expected to enjoy will outweigh the hardships that the child and the parents will face. If the perceived hardships outweigh the benefits, the parent(s) sometimes make the decision to end the pregnancy through abortion. The first approach is endorsed by scripture, because every unborn child (as well as every person regardless…

ADVICE Do you ever feel like life is just one endless to-do list? You wake up, rush through your morning routine, head off to work, and then spend the rest of your day running from one task to the next. By the time you finally collapse into bed at night, you’re exhausted and drained. Life is busy! It’s easy to feel like this is just the way life has to be. I constantly find myself looking back and wondering whether I have truly cherished moments that seem to have slipped by so fast. I try to intentionally be present and live in the moment, but it’s much easier said than done. If you’re anything like me, your days are planned with lists to tick off and errands to complete. And…