Faith & Life

Prime the Pump of Happiness!

When using a hand pump, a small amount of water is first poured in to help draw up a much larger flow. This small amount of water can be used as a metaphor for a small action that produces a much greater effect. Happiness in the home also needs something to get it flowing, because it does not simply happen on its own. A small act of thoughtfulness toward a family member, a helping hand offered first, or a single warm word can be like the water used to prime a pump, causing happiness to spring forth. This month, try priming the pump of happiness. And do not forget to keep pumping so that the happiness never stops flowing! How…

A Mother’s Longing

One day, my mother sent me a photo on my phone. It was of a letter I had written when I was seven. She said she had come across it while sorting through some belongings. Dear Mom, Hi Mom! It’s me. I’m sorry for giving you so much trouble. Mom, if you need me to do something, just tell me. I’ll take care of everything for you. Stay healthy, Mom. I love you! You’re the best! Bye! My mother said she cried as she read the poorly spelled, rambling letter. She deeply missed the little boy for whom his mother had once meant everything. Does she feel that her son has drifted away from her embrace? From now on, I…

Shin Yu-dong from Darkhan, Mongolia

Comfort in a Few Words

All the Korean members who had been serving on a mission with me in Russia returned to Korea. After clearing out the home we had shared and completing the move, many thoughts crossed my mind. I suddenly felt alone and began to wonder, “Will I be able to do well on my own?” On the day the Korean member I had been living with left Russia, a local member contacted me and asked if she could come over that evening. We had dinner together and talked for hours, losing track of time. She had made a special effort to visit because she was worried that I might feel lonely. Through her unexpected thoughtfulness, I felt Mother’s love. It was as…

Bae Tae-joo from Moscow, Russia

For a Flower to Bloom

“If a flower does not bloom, you fix the environment in which it grows, not the flower.” I thought deeply about what these words meant. If a plant seems to be growing well but does not bloom, we should not assume that the problem lies with the plant itself. Instead, we should look at whether it has the right environment. Is it getting enough sunlight? Is the soil in good condition? Is it receiving too much or too little water? Is it getting enough nutrients? Only by considering all these factors and creating the best possible conditions can we help it bloom. I realized that faith grows in much the same way. Have I studied God’s word often? Have I…

Yolna Louis from Tampa, FL, U.S.

Why We Say “I Love You”

While I was preparing for class, a child came up to me and asked, “Teacher, do you know why we say, ‘I love you’?” “Well, let me see . . .” As I was thinking about how to answer, the child replied, “Because we love them.” The moment I heard those words, I realized that this was the simplest and surest answer of all. We do not need a grand reason to say, “I love you.” I should tell my family, both physical and spiritual, that I love them—because I do.

Shim Hyun-ji from Guri, Korea

Overflowing With Thankfulness

“So then, just as you received Christ Jesus as Lord, continue to live your lives in him, rooted and built up in him, strengthened in the faith as you were taught, and overflowing with thankfulness.” Col 2:6–7 As I listened to a sermon, the words “overflowing with thankfulness” touched my heart in a special way that day. I looked back on myself and wondered whether I, who had often caused God concern because of my weak faith, had ever offered Him enough thanks to fill my heart to overflowing. As I continued to reflect, tears of gratitude began to flow. God is worthy of receiving eternal thanks and praise from all the heavenly beings and countless angels. Yet, to save…

Kim Yu-ri from Uiwang, Korea

Finding the Combination

I bought a new lock for my bike. While I was trying to set the combination, the dials were stiff and would not turn easily. I applied a little more force, and suddenly, the lock clicked shut. It was now locked with a combination I did not know. I had only two choices: cut the lock off or try every possible combination from 0001 to 9999. Not wanting to spend money on another lock, I decided to endure the long process of trying each combination one by one. 0001, 0002, 0003 . . . By the time I reached 0080, I began to have second thoughts. “Am I foolishly wasting my time? Should I just give up and buy a…

Kwon Min-seong from Cheonan, Korea

Preparing Myself

The first time someone called me “mister,” it felt a little strange. Until then, people had only ever called out, “Young man!” or “Excuse me!” And now, suddenly, I was “mister.” As I grew older and began visiting the hospital for various health issues, I found myself thinking, “I really am getting old.” Then one day, a nurse addressed me as “Father”—a respectful Korean form of address for an older man. Being called that for the first time felt strange. I had clearly grown older, so why was it so difficult for me to accept being addressed that way? People around me have begun suggesting that I dye my hair. As I write this, I am wearing reading glasses for…

Oh Dae-yeop from Seoul, Korea

Hoping for What Is Unseen

Throughout my walk of faith, there have been times when I have forgotten God’s love and felt weary or discouraged. To an imperfect sinner like me, God gave a verse from the Bible that brought me strength. “For in this hope we were saved. But hope that is seen is no hope at all. Who hopes for what they already have? But if we hope for what we do not yet have, we wait for it patiently.” Ro 8:24–25 Although I received salvation through the hope God gave me, I sometimes became so focused on the visible world rather than the unseen kingdom of heaven that I forgot God’s love. I give thanks to God, who has guided me with…

Yoo Jeong-su from Las Piñas, Philippines

I Saw Myself in Those Roots

I set out to pull the weeds that had grown thick in the parking lot at Zion. It was my first time, so I was not very skilled, but I worked hard digging them up with a hand hoe. About 30 minutes after I started, I began to wonder if I really needed a tool to pull weeds. No sooner had the thought crossed my mind than I put down the hand hoe and began pulling the weeds by hand. The person next to me told me that I should not simply pull the weeds by hand. I needed to dig into the soil with the hand hoe and pull them out by the roots. Otherwise, the weeds would grow…

Ahn Ji-yeong from Gwangju, Korea

In Zion, Filled With Joy and Gladness

I spoke with a member who devotes herself to the gospel while working. She said that although work can be tiring, Fridays fill her with energy and excitement as she thinks, “I wish tomorrow would come soon.” But during the Sabbath evening worship, she feels a sense of sadness as the day draws to a close, thinking, “I wish this happiness could continue.” She said that on the Sabbath, her heart, weary from life in the world, finds comfort in God’s love, and she spends joyful and happy hours with the members in Zion. Hearing her heartfelt wish that such a happy Sabbath could last forever brought a verse from the Bible to mind. “The LORD will surely comfort Zion…

Lee Chae-suk from Gwangju, Korea

Everything in My Life

Not long ago, a coworker’s mother passed away. Just three days later, I heard that my coworker’s maternal grandmother had also passed away. Perhaps the grief of losing her daughter had been too much for her to bear. As I thought about how deeply she must have grieved, Heavenly Mother came to mind. She said, “You are My only concern and everything in My life.” Heavenly Mother came to this earth because Her children, who are everything in Her life, are here. Until now, I have thought only of myself and cared only about my own life. Only now do I realize that Heavenly Mother is everything in my life. What could I do without God’s love? What could I…

Maxwell Stephan Rothstein from Philadelphia, PA, U.S.

Finding the Lost Heavenly Children

One day, while I was on my way to work just as usual, a man came to me and handed me a piece of paper. It was a flyer for finding his daughter, who was thirty nine then. The flyer had her picture when she was eleven, along with the description of how she looked and what she was wearing. The father, who had been looking for his lost daughter for about 30 years, was handing out the flyers to passersby, with his back bent and his hands wrinkled. Suddenly, a verse crossed my mind. “For the Son of Man came to seek and to save what was lost.” Lk 19:10 Heavenly Father, too, could not take care of Himself…

Kim Min-seong from Suwon, Korea

Happy Workplace

One of my acquaintances helped me search for a job. I liked my new job because I already knew someone there and colleagues seemed nice. Since I was there to work, I thought I might as well do my best, and paid attention to even the things I didn’t have to. But strangely enough, I felt happier than tired though the work was not easy. While working until late at night, my eyes hurt and I felt tired, but I was excited while cleaning and was just happy even when someone said something not so pleasant to hear. Soon after, one of our Zion members started working here as well, and the atmosphere of my workplace became much brighter. I…

Baek Seon-mi from Jeonju, Korea

The Opportunity to Restore Love

“Is God coming down?” When I was a child, I mumbled to myself, looking at the sunlight emerge from the gray clouds and shine straight down on the ground. Though nobody taught me, I was convinced that God exists for sure. So I went to a Protestant church since I was in elementary school. After becoming a university student, I was eager in my religious life; I even played the guitar on the street to preach. However, as time passed by, the sermons which were like cloud drifts in the air didn’t touch my heart at all. Whenever I did something for the church, I felt empty in the end. When I saw the secular life of the church members…

Shin Se-hee from Seoul, Korea

Patience Is Bitter, but Its Fruit Is Sweet

Bread fermented over a long period develops a richer flavor and is easier to digest. The same is true of foods like kimchi, soybean paste, and cheese. When the right environment is created and enough time is allowed for fermentation, the original ingredients deepen in flavor and become rich in nutrients beneficial to the body. The most essential ingredient in fermentation is patience. Without waiting, we can never expect the deep, savory flavor of soybean paste or the rich, complex flavor of cheese. This principle applies far beyond fermentation. Any process that leads to growth and maturity requires endurance and patience. Most things of true value are gained in this way. The same holds true within the family, where the…

Those Who Absolutely Obey God’s Word

I often thought, ‘Ah! This is what I should do,’ or, ‘I should get rid of my sinful nature,’ after listening to a sermon or watching an educational video. Within a few days, however, I would soon find myself leading the same lifestyle as before and feel a great deal of shame. Yet I would justify my action, thinking that I was at least keeping worship services. But I came back to my senses when I read this verse: “Everyone who sins breaks the law; in fact, sin is lawlessness.” 1 Jn 3:4 I thought that lawlessness referred only to disobeying God’s commands such as the Passover or the Sabbath day. Since I kept God’s commands, I thought I was…

Jo Gyeong-jun from Yangsan, Korea

Mom Never Yields with the Power of Love for Her Children

My phone rang while I was washing dishes. It was Mom. I could guess why she was calling me. Mom must have called me to give me some side dishes. At the thought, ‘I should’ve called her first,’ I was sorry to her. I have four older sisters and one younger brother. Although I’m over forty, in the eyes of Mom I’m still a little girl who causes anxiety to her. The youngest child is my brother, but maybe because he’s a reliable son, Mom treats me like the youngest one. I answered the phone like a kid, “Mommy.” I guessed right. Mom asked me to come and take some fruit and meat because she had too many things left…

Lee Su-ja from Gumi, Korea

With Beautiful Hearts Together

Members from the Cape Town Church and the Bellville Church gathered together for a blood drive. Through previous meetings, we made a thorough preparation for pickets, refreshments, and recreation for the blood donors who would be waiting for their turns. When the event day came, we got even busier getting ready to welcome people. At 3 p.m., the blood drive started with the words of appreciation given by the officials of the blood bank. Thanks to the Zion members and the invited guests, the waiting room was crowded without an empty seat. The process of checking the health status of each person before the blood donation took longer than expected, but no one complained, because we took care of even…

Churches in Cape Town and Bellville, Rep. of South Africa

Give a Glass of Water with Love

Water has a great influence on health that people even say, “If you drink water properly, you can have good health and longevity.” Water releases toxins out of the body, helps blood circulation, and promotes metabolism. In addition, it plays a variety of roles, such as increasing the level of immunity and improving the skin condition. The American Institute for Cancer Research reported that people who drink more than four glasses of water a day have a fifty percent or less chance of developing colorectal cancer and cystitis than those who drink less than two glasses of water a day. If you do not drink enough water, waste accumulates in your cells and you easily get tired. This month, give…