JOY Magazine

1 min read

See how many of these you can fill in before checking the answers on page 63. After you test yourself, try reading the questions aloud to a friend or family member and see how they do! 1. Name the angel who informed Zechariah and Elizabeth that th

Mornings with Jesus

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AS I READ THE FIRST chapter of John today, I was challenged by Jesus’s words to the disciples who approached Him. I spend a lot of time asking Jesus to come into my life, my day, my activities. I tell Him about my goals and ask Him to bless them. In

JOY Magazine

3 min read

God is always in control.We experienced this again recently in a country where the Gospel is not welcomed by the government. Strict new laws have sought to control the official Church and ban unregistered churches. Christians are being severely perse

Mornings with Jesus

1 min read

HAVING CHILDREN IS A BLESSING. There is also no greater responsibility, but there’s no greater joy. Although my two sons are grown men in their thirties, I still worry if they’re eating properly, if they put their seat belts on, and if the women they

JOY Magazine

2 min read

Jesus did not say that people would know that we are His disciples by how much we own, nor by how rich or powerful we are, but by the way we love one another (John 13:35)! This was the new commandment that Jesus left His disciples, and is addressed t

Mornings with Jesus

1 min read

MY FRIEND RECENTLY SUFFERED A serious rejection. My heart broke for her. It was unfair, uncalled for, and put her in a difficult position for her near-future plans. To increase the distress, she’d worked hard the past several years to heal from words

Mornings with Jesus

1 min read

THE FAITH COMMUNITY IN WHICH I grew up focused on following religious rules. Card games were banned, as were movies and dancing. I was pulled from gym class when the teacher introduced square dancing. After high school graduation, I attended a Bible

JOY Magazine

5 min read

If you’ve been following the news lately, you will have noticed a significant wave of celebrities who are turning to Christ. In what is referred to as a massive spiritual movement, the sinful city of Hollywood is turning more and more stars away from

JOY Magazine

2 min read

In a world plagued with fear, drought, pestilence, wars, and rumours of war, there can be no doubt that we are living in the End Times. Of course, the Disciples themselves thought the same, and this motivated them to spread the Good News of Jesus wit

Mornings with Jesus

1 min read

RECENTLY I HEARD A PASTOR on TV say that when you say yes to Jesus, you must say no to other things. That notion of sacrifice has been a part of my testimony. When I first became a Christian, I traded happy hours for evening church service. I traded

JOY Magazine

3 min read

Guatemala, a Central American country south of Mexico, is home to over 17 million people – it is surrounded by volcanoes, rainforests, and other ancient sites. 59,3% of the population lives below the poverty line, and 23% of the nation lives in extre

Mornings with Jesus

1 min read

RECENTLY, I REPOSTED A BLOG on Facebook that I had written a few years earlier called, “If Only We Had Known.” It’s a poem that reflects the familiar what-if exercise we writers often use to give wings to our thoughts. I read that poem again as other

Mornings with Jesus

1 min read

BELIEVERS REGARD THIS SCENE AS one of the most beautiful examples of servant-leadership in the Bible. The Son of God got on His hands and knees to wash the dirty, smelly feet of His disciples. He’s giving them His theology in a nutshell. The Son of M

JOY Magazine

1 min read

See how many of these you can fill in before checking the answers on page 81. After you test yourself, try reading the questions aloud to a friend or family member and see how they do! 1. How many times did Jesus ask Peter whether he loved Him? 2

JOY Magazine

3 min read

You and I know that Jesus’ death and resurrection are the central events in what God has done for us in Jesus, but I invite you to explore the following missing understandings: You may be one of many Christians who understand Jesus’ death and resurre

JOY Magazine

3 min read

If given two hours to do something “Christian,” would you prefer to spend that time in prayer or in some physical activity like serving in the church? In our character profile this month, we take a look at Luke’s brief account (Luke 10:38-42) about t

60 Days of Prayer

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“Commit to the Lord whatever you do, and he will establish your plans.” PROVERBS 16:3 (NIV) SOMETIMES OUR DREAMS are a long time coming. Perhaps there are things on your bucket list that seem completely out of reach. Don’t give up. One of the greate

JOY Magazine

5 min read

Mary Magdalene is an intriguing biblical character. In fact, she is named more times in the Gospels than most of Jesus’ disciples. This prominence has created a fascination with Mary through the centuries. As we consider Mary’s encounters with Jesus,

Mornings with Jesus

1 min read

SUNRISE AT THE BEACH IS my favorite place to worship and fully experience Jesus; I’m overwhelmed by His presence there. His majesty is displayed in the splendor of the sunrise as the rays paint the sky with beautiful shades of color. The roar of the

The Journal of the Texas Trophy Hunters

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Mama, Pat and I sat on the curb in front of Checker Front Feed Store, located on South Congress in Austin, Texas. Looking down across the Colorado Bridge, the state Capitol building was majestic. We sat there sharing a Popsicle with my brother Pat. T

JOY Magazine

2 min read

Church leader, Nadhir*, is a 28-year-old former rapper from North Africa. Before he met Jesus, he led a self-indulgent lifestyle of drugs, drinking, and clubbing. Nadhir would still visit his local mosque in North Africa while indulging in these acti

Mornings with Jesus

1 min read

IT’S EASY TO GO TO work or shop or do other activities and never let anyone know you are a Christian. Usually, folks will think you’re a nice person or a good employee, and you can just peacefully coexist through life that way. But that is not what J

JOY Magazine

3 min read

Pope Francis has certainly said a lot of controversial things over the years, but what he recently told a group of Christian high school students is the most controversial of all. I know that may be hard to believe, because some of the statements tha

Mornings with Jesus

1 min read

JUST AFTER JESUS’S TRIUMPH OVER death, Cleopas and another disciple traveled the road to Emmaus, discussing our Lord and His empty tomb. As they walked, Christ joined them, but they didn’t recognize Him. After reaching town, they invited Him to join

True Love

3 min read

The Israelites had waited long for a king – a future agent of God who would save them. Every king of Israel and Judah was known as the “anointed one”, which in Hebrew is “Messiah”. The “Messiah” was the expected king and deliverer of the Jews. There

JOY Magazine

2 min read

In 2016 a church in an agricultural area got in touch with Egide Bandyatuyaga, TWR’s ministry director for East Africa, requesting help in reaching out to the large Nubian community living there. Egide knew just the tool to use to connect with this u

JOY Magazine

3 min read

What you’re about to read is a very brief overview of how and where Manna began, where we are right now, and where we’re headed in the future. My personal new life began in 1977. I was in my bedroom one day when I knelt down and invited Jesus Christ

Mornings with Jesus

1 min read

THE STORY OF JESUS ASKING Peter to feed His sheep makes me think. I understand this disciple’s trials and the failures that darken his testimony. Despite my usual boldness, there have been times I’ve also denied my faith. And the shame hurts. As an i

60 Days of Prayer

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When Jesus saw his mother there, and the disciple whom he loved standing nearby, he said to her, “Woman, here is your son,” and to the disciple, “Here is your mother.” From that time on, this disciple took her into his home. JOHN 19:26–27 (NIV) JOHN

Mornings with Jesus

1 min read

WEDNESDAY OF HOLY WEEK IS less detailed in the Gospels than some of the other days, but what we are privy to is a powerful scene that becomes a metaphor for what will happen on the cross—a terrible and beautiful thing. We are told that Jesus spent ti