Over the last two years, stress levels in South Africa have risen by a whopping 56%. This is attributed to the pandemic – which affected our lifestyle, and especially our mental health. Stress, if unaddressed, ultimately affects our physical health, and it can lead to severe diseases such as heart complications and high blood pressure. Thus, the need to find ways to slow down and relieve tension cannot be understated.

One way to do so is to immerse yourself in nature and commune with God, thus allowing yourself to retain your sense of wonder and care for His creation. You don’t have to go far to do this, too; if you have a garden or a patio, you can make a space that is perfect for meditation and communing with God. Here are some steps that you can take to create a peaceful and relaxing garden…

…for the full article, pick up a copy of the latest issue of JOY, which is now on sale nationwide in all leading supermarkets!

Negative peer pressure on your children will be a huge challenge for you. Author Quentin Crisp said, “The young always have the same problem – how to rebel and conform at the same time. They have now solved this by defying their parents and copying one another.” How true.

As a parent, your biggest enemy by far is negative peer pressure. Notice the word “negative.” There is such a thing as positive peer pressure – when good friends talk your child out of doing something stupid. But, negative peer pressure can destroy everything you’ve worked so hard for…

…for the full article, pick up a copy of the latest issue of JOY, which is now on sale nationwide in all leading supermarkets!

In Matthew 7:13-14, Jesus said, “Enter through the narrow gate. For wide is the gate and broad is the road that leads to destruction, and many enter through it. But small is the gate and narrow the road that leads to life, and only a few find it.” This passage causes some to question the goodness of God. After all, if He really wants to save everyone, why didn’t He make it easier to be saved? Why doesn’t He simply let everyone into Heaven?

…for the full article, pick up a copy of the latest issue of JOY, which is now on sale nationwide in all leading supermarkets!

As Christians, we have the most precious heritage that comes with our faith in Jesus. What strikes me, however, is how ignorant many Christians are of how deep and wide this heritage is, especially concerning the birth of Jesus Christ.

Jesus was born into a peasant family; in a stable to a simple and humble carpenter, living in an obscure village called Nazareth, amidst a despised people called the Jews. Despite these humble beginnings, the Church of the Lord Jesus has changed the world for good – more than any other movement in human history…

…for the full article, pick up a copy of the latest issue of JOY, which is now on sale nationwide in all leading supermarkets!