JOY! Magazine April 2016

This book is about the spirit of sisterhood; about the value we have as women. The Biblical significance of the number 20 can denote a complete or perfect waiting period - and if we look at the journey that visionary Bobbie Houston has walked with her ‘Sisterhood’ movement, this is a fitting description. Starting as a small gathering of women from the local Hillsong church that she and her husband, Brian, pastor in Australia, the COLOUR Women’s Conferences grew very quickly to become an impactful global movement of sisters - women with stories to share, and talents to offer the world. This year Bobbie celebrates 20 years of COLOUR, fittingly with her latest book that chronicles the lifespan of the ‘Sisterhood.’ We chatted with her to find out more... Hillsong…

Father God, we pray in Jesus’ Name, Thank You that in John it is written:“In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.” We cannot separate Jesus’ teaching from His Person - Jesus is the Word! “And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us...” This Easter we pray for the following content: • The Empty Tomb Praise God! Jesus is Risen from the dead. Death could not hold Him! Jesus is Alive! Hallelujah! Thank You that Jesus came to reveal the Father, that He defeated the devil, and that He came to seek and save the lost. Thank You Holy Spirit for fetching Jesus out of the grave. Thank You that the Resurrection proclaims Jesus’ Mission was accomplished. Now all who…

When I look across much of the Body of Christ today, it is clear to me that in so many ways we have successfully removed the Cross and its effectiveness from our Churches. We want to hear words that make us feel good and tickle our ears, rather than words that crucify our flesh and our lustful desires. Back in the day of Jeremiah the prophet, God rebuked His prophets and teachers, because the word that they brought to His people strengthened the arm of the flesh rather than bringing them to repentance. Look what the Lord had to say to His people through the prophet Jeremiah: “Thus says the LORD of Hosts: “Do not listen to the words of the prophets who prophesy to you. They make you worthless;…

I was seriously considering ending it all. I thought you’d be better off without me. Michael Josephson tells how the students at Sandy’s high school were badly shaken by the news that a classmate had just committed suicide. He left a note saying, “It’s hard to live when nobody cares if you die.” Realising this was both a traumatic event that needed to be confronted, and a teachable moment, a teacher talked to the students about how important it is that people feel valued. He told them to imagine that they were about to die. Then he gave an assignment: “Write a note to tell someone how important he or she is to you.” Make amends Sandy, who had a rocky relationship with her mother, was especially moved by the…

Great cover story Tamryn Klintworth – what an inspiration. I looked at her pretty face on the cover and then read her article with glee. It’s so wonderful to know that ladies like her exist and are doing such an amazing job of leading the lost to Christ. Well done Tamryn, you certainly do have a ‘Spirit of Fire’. Jason Foggerty Authority over disease Please keep Dr Michelle Strydom’s articles coming. They are brilliant and so informative. I know she visits the country from time to time as I attended one of her conferences. Best thing I ever did! I took leave to attend as I was struggling with my health for years; her revelation of the causes of disease was brilliant. I now have my condition under control. God…

“The soldiers broke the legs of the thieves that were crucified, but when they came to JESUS they saw that He was already dead and instead took a spear and pierced His side. At once, blood and water came flowing from Jesus’ side. This was to fulfil the Scripture that says ‘not one of His bones was broken’. After Jesus was taken down from the Cross, a man named Joseph of Arimathea asked Pilate for Jesus’ body. Nicodemus went with Joseph and took spices to prepare the body for burial. Jesus’body was anointed and wrapped in linen and placed in a new tomb. A huge stone was rolled at the entrance to keep anyone from entering. The soldiers asked Pilate whether they could guard the tomb, just in case the…