Enlightenment
We share big and small enlightenments we have in our daily lives, walking with God.
God Leads Me
“The lyrics of the New Songs touch my heart and make me cry.” “I can truly feel the sacrifice and love of Heavenly Father and Mother in my heart.” “Now I understand why we are encouraged to say ‘Amen’ out loud.” “Until now, I had only known Christ Ahnsahnghong intellectually, but now I have real conviction.” “While working on my assignments, I ended up earnestly studying for the truth presentations.” These are realizations and the fragrance of Zion that came from the mouths of the students whom I had once regarded as still young and immature. During the school break, through active participation in various events like the student camp, the New Song Festival, and the Bible Preaching Contest, their…
Gwon Mi-suk From Seoul, Korea
Broken Car
Pett paf pett paf pett paf . . . With a clamorous rumble, the yellow check engine light came on when I was about to enter the highway, passing the toll gate. ‘Why today?’ It was the last day of the holiday season and there were no garages open on Sunday afternoon. I didn’t know what to do. My car didn’t become odd when I entered the highway. The check engine light had come on and off repeatedly all the day, but the engine started and I could drive with no problem, so I drove here and there to do some work. I didn’t think anything serious would happen. Late in the evening, I started out to go back home.…
Baek Hyeon-mi from Iksan, Korea
Joy of Harvesting Fruits
When I was young, my playground was all the fields and paddies in my countryside village. Helping my parents was one of the most fun plays. In the busy farming season, I ran around the fields with a hoe or a pickax in my hand, or followed my parents as they sprayed pesticides. When the harvest season came, I helped them harvest the crops that they took good care of for a year by picking beans and red peppers, or digging up sweet potatoes. Rather than feeling tired, I was just happy to be able to stay with my mom. Whenever they left for work, I always followed them. The time I spent with my parents in the fields and…
Park Jeong-ah from Gimcheon, Korea
Sorry for Leaving You in Pain
I went to my daughter Seo-hee’s kindergarten to pick her up. When her teacher brought her out, she said to me with an anxious look. “Seo-hee blinked her eyes all day. It’s not her first time. I’m worried about her.” “Ah, she has sensitive eyes, so she does that when she feels sleepy or reads a lot. I’ll put her to bed earlier, and then she’ll be alright.” I said as if it was not a big problem, and I came back home. However, probably because of what her teacher said, it seemed like she was blinking her eyes more often than before. When she was reading a book or eating or talking, she wouldn’t stop blinking her eyes. Finally,…
Jeong Eun-jeong from Seoul, Korea
I Eagerly Desired
Two years ago, I went to the hospital because my ankle was hurting. The doctor told me that my joint was worn out severely, and so I scheduled a surgery. I wanted to be quickly in full recovery through the surgery, but as the surgery day was approaching, I felt scared. I kept imagining the surgery scene, and even thought about canceling it. On the day of surgery, I headed to the operating room, lying on the bed as if I was waiting for death. Probably because I was so scared, the operating room looked cold and even the doctors’ white gowns seemed cold. I prayed eagerly. As soon as they gave me anesthesia, I fell into a deep sleep.…
Kim Jong-su from Seongnam, Korea
Escaping from the Maze
One day, our Zion’s young adult members went to Busan Citizens’ Park together. The eco-friendly park with various themes had a lot of attractions. While taking a walk to the park, we spotted a fun place. It was a hedge maze. It had complicated routes in various directions with camellia trees standing as walls. There was no way that we, the young adult members full of curiosity, would miss the chance of trying it. We immediately went inside the hedge maze. We decided that whoever came out of the maze first would be the winner. After carefully looking at the map of the hedge maze, we started our race. At first, I followed the route without any hesitation, remembering the…
Ryu Mi-gyeong from Busan, Korea
I Thought It Would Be Okay
One day, I found a bottle of drinking yogurt in the refrigerator. I had bought a pack of yogurt while ago and thought I had finished the whole pack, but one was left hidden deep in the refrigerator. It had already expired, but I didn’t feel like throwing it away and wasting it. Yogurt is a fermented food anyway. So, I thought it would be okay. When I was about to drink it, my daughter walked into the kitchen. “Mom, we have yogurt? Can I have some, please?” “No. It’s already expired. You’re going to have a stomachache.” “Then why do you still have it? Throw it away.” “I . . . I was going to.” “Mom, don’t drink it.…
Jo Eun-jin from Changwon, Korea
Things I compelled to do
“For when I preach the gospel, I cannot boast, since I am compelled to preach. Woe to me if I do not preach the gospel! If I preach voluntarily, I have a reward; if not voluntarily, I am simply discharging the trust committed to me.” 1 Co 9:16–17 Since my childhood, I attended Zion with my parents. As I entered middle school, I began to study the Bible seriously. The words of the Bible, such as the parable of the fig tree and the prophecies of Daniel and Revelation, were amazing and fascinating. I shared what I learned with my friends. One by one, the number of fruits increased. Zion members said to me, “Brother, you have a good faith.”…
Lee Jae-wook from Sacheon, Korea
Confidence
Recently, I had an interesting experience. It was about a dress sold in a foreign country. What was amazing is that people had different opinions about the color of the dress. There was an online debate on whether the stripes of the dress were white and gold or blue and black. When I looked at the dress on the screen, I wondered why there was even a debate about that, because the dress looked white and gold to me right away. I showed it to my husband. I had no doubt that he would see it as white and gold as I did, but his answer was different. “It’s blue and black.” I couldn’t believe my ears. I double-checked it,…
Shin Mi-ae from Seoul, Korea
Walking Together
Whenever I encounter an issue that is too difficult to solve alone on my journey of faith, there is a verse that I always keep in mind. “Also, if two lie down together, they will keep warm. But how can one keep warm alone? Though one may be overpowered, two can defend themselves. A cord of three strands is not quickly broken.” Ecc 4:11–12 As the Bible says, “One may be overpowered, two can defend themselves.” When I look around, I can see helpful brothers and sisters whom I am grateful for. They are precious companions whom God granted me to keep my faith without getting weary, and they are like Mother’s hand who lifts me up when I am…
Baek Seung-hye from Yongin, Korea
We Are the Happy Ones
The more I read this verse, the happier I become. “Blessed are you, O Israel! Who is like you, a people saved by the LORD? He is your shield and helper and your glorious sword. Your enemies will cower before you, and you will trample down their high places.” Dt 33:29 I am very happy that God saved me and is my shield to help me. There may be times when I am tired and exhausted while living the life of faith, but I should strengthen myself, thinking of Heavenly Father and Mother who are always on my side to help me. Since I was called to be the happiest person in the world, I will boldly preach the gospel…
Kim Hye-in from Puebla, Mexico
Work Done by God’s Power
Recently, I was worried about participating in the short-term mission to Congo. It’s because I never used French spoken by the Congolese people. Even though I am not fluent in the language, God gave me courage and strength. “So he said to me, ‘This is the word of the LORD to Zerubbabel: ‘Not by might nor by power, but by my Spirit,’ says the LORD Almighty.” Zec 4:6 Thanks to these words that I engraved on my mind throughout the mission, I was able to bear good fruit. Truly, a man’s ability does not matter as long as everything is done by the Holy Spirit of God. I no longer depend on my weak abilities. I only pray earnestly for…
Tapiwa Toruvanda from Harare, Zimbabwe
Serving With the Strength God Provides
“If anyone speaks, he should do it as one speaking the very words of God. If anyone serves, he should do it with the strength God provides, so that in all things God may be praised through Jesus Christ. To him be the glory and the power for ever and ever. Amen.” 1 Pe 4:11 Thanks to God’s grace, I’ve received much blessing by serving in Zion. However, I sometimes felt a little burdened with the duties. One day, I asked myself a question after reading this verse. ‘Did I serve in Zion with the strength God provides?’ If I did with the strength God provides, I would not feel tired but rather be joyful. How much more thanks I…
Kang Seon-yeong from Jinju, Korea
Revering God the Mother
Since receiving the truth, I have often seen and heard Heavenly Mother through church meetings. I always took this blessing for granted. However, a sermon I heard at the worship service gave me a sudden realization about what a great blessing it was. “I saw the Holy City, the new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride beautifully dressed for her husband.” Rev 21:2 The New Jerusalem, who came down from heaven, is Heavenly Mother. God the Mother, who is almighty, has come down to this earth to be with Her children. Hearing Heavenly Mother’s voice directly and seeing Her, our holy Mother, with our own eyes! How can this be regarded as a small…
Mi-ju Seo from Incheon, Korea
Father’s Hometown
“When we get a chance, I want to go visit my hometown with you all.” My father used to say this all the time. Whenever he said that, my sister and I would always answer indifferently, “Okay. Let’s go some day.” It took a long time for “that some day” to come. After getting married, I visited my father regularly, but I couldn’t afford to take him to his hometown. My father’s physical disability also played a part. As each year went by, he missed his hometown more and more. “I need to go there before I die. I miss my sister . . .” My father’s sad eyes seemed to be telling me that I shouldn’t delay any longer.…
Seo Jin-hee from Busan, Korea
God Is Patient With Us, Wanting Everyone to Be Saved
The Lord is not slow in keeping his promise, as some understand slowness. He is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance. 2 Pe 3:9 This is a scripture that made me cry during the second study after receiving the truth. The sister who was teaching me the Bible thought I was crying because I got scared of disasters, and she tried to comfort me, but that’s not why I was crying. Tears welled up in my eyes, because I felt so thankful to realize that God had been patiently waiting for me in order to save me. God’s patient love, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance! I,…
Kim Ok-gyeong from Uijeongbu, Korea
Whether They Listen or Fail to Listen
I flew to Europe to fulfill God’s word to preach the gospel to the whole world. Whenever I ask people here, “Have you heard of God the Mother?” many of them walk away, waving their hands as if they don’t care. I sometimes feel discouraged, but I have a source of energy that wells up. “Go now to your countrymen in exile and speak to them. Say to them, ‘This is what the Sovereign LORD says,’ whether they listen or fail to listen.” Eze 3:11 Every single word in the Bible is fulfilled without fail. It is the same with preaching the news of salvation to all the peoples of the world. That’s why I boldly preach Heavenly Mother today,…
Jeong Hye-in from Guri, Korea
Demonstration of God’s Love
“But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.” Ro 5:8 No one would dare to die for someone else. It’s even harder to give up one’s life for a sinner. However, there is One who demonstrated His sure love for us by being crucified in our stead while we were still unforgivable sinners. He is our Heavenly Father. Is there a greater demonstration of love than this? Now, we want to demonstrate our sure love to our Heavenly Father who loved us even to the point of death, by completely changing under His grace.
Lee Eun-suk from Saket, New Delhi, DL, India
The Angelic World, Overflowing With Delight Day After Day
“Then I was the craftsman at his side. I was filled with delight day after day, rejoicing always in his presence.” Pr 8:30 Proverbs 8 shows us that Solomon existed in the angelic world even before God created the heavens and the earth and everything in them in the beginning. We can also learn that it is a place full of delight and joy day after day. No matter how much delight and joy we experience on this earth, it fades quickly, often followed by hardships and sorrows. Perhaps the reason the heavenly world is eternally delightful is because new joys are continuously created. Similarly, our ability to rejoice always may stem from the constant creation of new joy. While…
Lee Sun-ju from Gwangju, Korea
Father’s Shoes
It was when I visited my parents for my mother’s birthday after a long time. On the way to the market to buy my mother a birthday gift, I met my father who was returning home. Then I noticed his shoes were worn-out tennis shoes, tied so tightly that no air could go through. “Father! Why do you wear tennis shoes on this hot day? Don’t you have sandals?” He just smiled and entered the house without saying anything. I bought a pair of shoes for my mother in the market. However, on the way out of the store, my father’s worn-out shoes came across my mind. I went inside the store again and picked a pair of sandals for…
Jeon Eun-ok from Seongnam, Korea