Faith & Life

How to Overcome a Tsunami

When a tsunami is generated, where should a ship escape to if it is already out in the sea? People generally think the ship should quickly go toward land where there is a port, but it is safer to go out into the open sea as far as possible from land. That’s because the closer it is to land, the shallower the water gets that the waves become dramatically high. But in the offing, the waves do not rise high. In fact, when a tsunami hit Fukushima in Japan in March, 2011, the ships that fled to the port were swept away, broken and sunk by the waves, but the ships that went far to the offing were able to…

When Do You Give Up?

Someone asked a famous salesman, “Does someone like you get rejected by a customer, too?” “Certainly! I haven’t had a day of rejection since I started work.” “Then how many times do you get rejected before you give up?” The salesman replied, “I don’t give up before the other gives up.”

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, South Korea

Match of Faith

In most sporting events, it is difficult to predict victory or defeat until the final whistle blows. A team outscores the other in the beginning, but it might be defeated with lack of persistence. On the contrary, a team seems likely to lose, but it comes from behind with a dogged fighting spirit and concentration. The touching scenes remembered by sports fans are usually displayed at the last moment of the match. It is not different in the match of faith that is played right before the completion of the Bible’s prophecies. Although you’ve done well so far, the victory might slip from your grasp when you relax your attention. On the contrary, you can get an amazing result by…

A Fruit Taught Me Patience

I went out to preach the gospel at Osasco Center and met a lady near the subway station. She lived in Itapevi, about an hour and a half away by car from Osasco. She had visited many churches, but she had not attended any of them because no one taught her the Bible correctly. When she heard the truth about God the Mother, she was very interested and said, “It is testified in the Bible so clearly, but how come no one taught me this until now?” She wanted to know more about the Bible and to meet again on Sunday. A few days later, I headed for Itapevi to meet her as we had agreed. I took the train…

Jeon Myeong-hui from Sao Paulo, Brazil

Give a Cheerful High Five!

High five is an action to celebrate victory or to express happiness in which two people raise one arm each and hit their open hands together. Sports players often do high fives to improve teamwork during games. A study says that the teams with good results often had a light physical touch like high fives, handshakes, and hugs among the players. Another study says that the students whose teachers patted them on the back or arm to encourage them participated in class activities nearly twice more than other students. Just as you clap your hands unawares when you’re excited, clapping makes you feel positive, refreshed, pleasant, and even confident. Clapping hands is good for health, too! Tip Do high fives…

If You Desire Eagerly . . .

“. . . If you want to do something, desire it eagerly.” I had spent a long time as a fruitless branch although I had always fed on the nourishing sap from God who is the vine. I wanted to deliver God’s words to my family and friends, but I had no courage to preach to them and I just thought that they might not be God’s children. When I saw other brothers and sisters receiving the blessing of bearing fruit abundantly, I deliberately tried to look away from myself who was lacking in boldness and prayer as well, and I used to comfort myself with the belief that I would be blessed with fruit someday because I kept God’s…

Ji-ye Lee from Daegu, South Korea

Fast Alone? Together Though Taking Time

There is a sister whose faith grew so much around the time of the Passover. She participated in preaching with great joy that members around her were energized. One day, I preached the Passover to a passerby with the sister. We met her again at another time. She came to Zion, studied the truth of the Bible more, and finally received the blessing of a new life. She filled herself with the word of God and overcame the tests she faced right after beginning her life of faith. The sister and I saw the new sister growing in faith under God’s grace, and we spent much time taking care of and praying for the new sister. While doing so, I…

Incheon, Korea

Find a Family Resemblance

When you look in the mirror, do you think you look like your parents? Have you been surprised to see your child talking or acting like yourself? When you went out with your brother or sister, did people recognize you as a family? Do people say that you look like your spouse? Family members resemble each other in appearance, habit, taste, palate, voice, and emotional expression. Of course, the genes play their roles, but people also get affected by the surrounding environment. So it’s natural that the family members in the same environment resemble each other. Above all, when you love someone, you want to follow whatever he or she does, and while following the person, you become alike. This…

Nicole Weber from Parsippany, NJ, U.S.

One sister performed pansori, a Korean genre of musical storytelling, and sang an English New Song in the form of pansori at Carnegie Hall. It’s completely different from American music, especially for those who have never appreciated folk music or theatre arts. Many brothers and sisters attended the event. As the pansori chronicle continued, the show’s host informed us that a typical pansori performance takes eight hours but we would experience several parts that give a better understanding of Mother’s love. The sister eagerly wanted to not only preserve Korean culture but wanted brothers and sisters in the U.S. to realize and appreciate Heavenly Mother’s love. Thanks to her sincere efforts, those who had never flown to Korea could learn…

Nyanong Koung from Lincoln, NE, U.S.

Since I began my journey of faith, I’ve sought for wisdom from the words of God, and I’ve studied the Bible to know God whenever I had time. But sometimes there were some parts that didn’t make sense to me. Then I just kept praying to God to help me understand the Bible, believing the words, “Call to me and I will answer you and tell you great and unsearchable things you do not know” (Jeremiah 33:3). I truly believe that Jesus is God who came in the flesh, and I was baptized at a church. But they didn’t study the Bible thorougly. They didn’t go beyond speaking about love and being a good person. I wanted to realize more…

Normisha Boyd from Salem, OR, U.S.

Over a month ago, a little girl kept on following us while we were preaching. When we delivered the word of God to others, she listened closely. I thought, ‘Why is she following us?’ Moments later, we approached the apartment complex where she lived. She then ran ahead of us, yelling, “Mom, mom!” Again I thought, ‘Is she trying to hinder us?’ Then her mom came towards the door as if she was expecting us. We shared with her that Heavenly Mother came to the earth to give us salvation, and she invited us into her home to my amazement. Though we had little time, we shared with her about the Second Coming Christ and Heavenly Jerusalem Mother. Like this,…

There Is No Appropriate Age for Receiving Salvation

In my young adulthood when I could do anything, I was called to the overseas mission under the special grace of God. As I’d always dreamed of it even though I had a job, God let my dream come true. I was determined to repay God by bearing fruits. However, things went different from what I had thought; there was no fruit for a long time, so I was torn by anxiety. Meanwhile, I went on a short-term mission trip to Huai Khwang in Bangkok. I had been there a few times before. Many foreigners live in the district with a high standard of living. But almost no one listened to the words of God. ‘Who will listen to us…

Bangkok, Thailand

Michael Potter from Hayward, CA, U.S.

In the U.S., it is reported that seven people die every day in house fires, with fire departments around the country responding to a new fire every 24 seconds. Especially here in California, fires have become a bigger and bigger problem in recent years as the climate continues to become warmer and more arid. In the midst of this danger, fire alarms are an important device to keep a household safe. They are especially important if a fire starts while everyone in the house is sleeping. Unfortunately, the kinds of fire alarms which are present in most houses are not very good at waking up young children. According to a paper published recently in the Journal of Pediatrics, only 53%…

Happy home Worship Service

Guidelines on HAPPY HOME Worship Service “Happy Home Worship” is kept by family members to prepare for the Sabbath every Friday. We talk about what happened for the week with each other and build up family love by giving thanks to God and praying for the family unity and peace. “Keep my Sabbaths holy, that they may be a sign between us. Then you will know that I am the LORD your God” Ezekiel 20:20 Time Have the service on Friday evening, the preparation day for the Sabbath, but you can adjust the timing according to your family’s circumstances. Order 1. Praise Preparing for the home worship, we give praise to God by singing New Songs. (You may omit this…

Make a Heart-Shaped Gesture

You smile when you’re happy, give thanks when you are thankful, and apologize when you feel sorry. Emotions in your heart are passed on to the other person when you express them. Family love is the same. Sometimes, however, you may think they know how you feel even though you don’t express it. Or you may express even positive feelings like love with negative expressions. Family members love one another naturally, but wouldn’t it become more meaningful when it’s shown directly? Please express your love by making a heart shape with your hands to your family this month. You might feel a little shy but when you express your love, you will become happy and gain new strength! Tip 1.…

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…

The Flowery Path in Cambodia

During the vacation, I went to Cambodia as a member of ASEZ the World Mission Society Church of God University Student Volunteer Group. The volunteer service that my team was supposed to do was painting murals. At first, we were somewhat confused because we had expected to give practical help such as donating school supplies to local students and cleaning up the streets. But making the living environment beautiful was as important as picking up trash on the streets because it was to clean the hearts of citizens, the owners of the street. One problem was that none of us had painted murals before; we didn’t know what to do. Then some members who were good at painting made a…

Seongnam, South Korea, Park Yeon-wu