Faith & Life

When to Stop Criticism

Psychotherapist Alice Miller once said that you can tell whether it is appropriate to criticize someone by paying attention to how you feel when you do it. “If, when criticizing a friend or someone around you, you feel a sense of pain, then it’s okay to proceed. But if you feel even the slightest pleasure, that’s when you should hold your tongue.” Feeling pleasure while criticizing is not true criticism—it is condemnation. Such an attitude often stems from pride, from viewing yourself as superior to the other person. If you do not stop at that very moment, it will not be the other person’s faults that are exposed, but your own character that ends up being criticized.

A Photo With Dad

When I heard about a contest for photos taken with your dad, I felt excited and decided to join. Our house is filled with pictures—one wall is practically a photo gallery—so I thought it would be easy to find a picture of me with my dad. I went home, heart fluttering, and began searching through drawers and flipping through all our photo albums. But to my surprise, no matter how many pictures I looked at, I couldn’t find a single photo of just the two of us. “Where are all the pictures of me and Dad? There are so many photos, but none with Dad in them!” I exclaimed. That’s when my dad quietly said, “I’m not in the pictures…

Park Yoon-jeong from Seongnam, Korea

The Secret Behind the Stickers

One day, I noticed some stickers on my desk. They featured a cute bunny character—exactly my style. Assuming my mom or younger brother had left them there, I peeled one off and stuck it on my phone. But even after that, more stickers kept appearing on my desk. Curious, I asked my mom, “Mom, are you the one leaving those stickers for me?” Before she could answer, my dad—quietly watching TV—spoke up instead. “That was me. I eat bread as a snack at work, and those stickers come inside the packaging. They looked like something you’d like, so I asked the other employees not to throw them away and give them to me instead. There are other designs too, but…

Lee Su-bin from Gangneung, Korea

Tiny Celebrations for Everyday Joys

“Congratulations” is a word we use to share in someone’s joy and good fortune. We hear it often on special occasions—birthdays, weddings, promotions, school admissions, and graduations. But if we take a closer look at our everyday lives, we’ll notice countless small moments that are worth celebrating too. Like getting a great deal on something you needed. Or reaching the crosswalk just in time for the light to turn green. Bringing an umbrella on the exact day it rains. Finishing an entire book. Finding your favorite dish served at lunch. Finally recovering from a cold . . . Wouldn’t it be lovely to exchange a small congrats for these tiny wins too? This month, try sharing these tiny celebrations with…

Cheering on Our Family!

Life is a lot like a marathon. Just as a runner keeps moving toward the finish line without stopping, we too live each day continuously, carried forward by the flow of time. And for marathon runners, nothing is more empowering than the cheers of the crowd. Even when they are breathless or feel as though their legs might give out, applause and words of encouragement give them strength they didn’t know they had. In the same way, each member of your family is running their own race—working hard to complete the course set before them. So cheer them on with all your heart. Wish them happiness, support their dreams, and encourage them in both their daily efforts and long-term goals.…

Believing in the Words: “It’ll Happen When You Do It”

Just a few days before the “Our Mother” Writing & Photo Exhibition opened in Pyeongtaek, I made a phone call to my brother-in-law. “Hey, what are you doing on Sunday?” “It’s my day off. Why?” “Would you be able to spare some time? There’s an exhibition at the Church of God in Pyeongtaek, and I’d love for you to come with me.” “Sure, why not.” Honestly, I was surprised by his cheerful response. A few years ago, I had shared the truth of the Passover with him and introduced our church, but he had reacted quite negatively. Since then, it hadn’t been easy to bring up church matters again. But when I heard that the “Our Mother” Exhibition would be…

Lee Yeong-ju from Osan, Korea

Immunity in Life

Children tend to fall ill more often than adults. This is because adults have stronger immune systems—having already fought and overcome many illnesses on their way to maturity. The same principle applies to life itself. Some people collapse helplessly when faced with trials, while others remain unshaken no matter what hardships come their way. Those who have never faced difficulties, or who repeatedly give up when they do, often have weak “life immunity” and struggle more easily. In contrast, those who have endured many hardships—or who keep striving to overcome them—develop a stronger resilience, enabling them to withstand even greater challenges. In the end, trials are not obstacles to avoid, but essential experiences that strengthen the immunity of our lives.

If You Truly Have the Heart

In my group of Zion, most members are seniors over sixty years old. Though their bodies are advanced in age, their faith is as fresh and strong as that of the young dew of dawn. I would like to share the fragrance of Zion from one 86-year-old member who bore a beautiful fruit during the Pentecost Holy Spirit Preaching Festival. For many years, she had been devoted to Buddhist prayer. When her health declined and she could no longer visit the temple, she had a dream in which her late husband appeared and told her to go to church. A few days later, she met our church members, listened to the word of God, realized the value of salvation, and…

Choi Jeong-ae from Jeonju, Korea

A Mother’s Legacy

“My son! This Bible is what I received from my own parents. I’ve read it many times, so it is now worn and old—but it is the greatest treasure in our family. I believe it is far better to give you this one book than to leave you a hundred acres of land. If you read this book and live by God’s word written in it, I would be happier than if you became the owner of a million acres.” These were the words spoken by the mother of Abraham Lincoln, the 16th president of the United States, as she lay dying of illness when Lincoln was only thirteen years old. Her final words took deep root in young Lincoln’s…

After Six Years of Waiting

This year, I finally began my activities in the young adult group. Ever since I moved up to the student group, there had been a friend I always hoped to lead to God. She faithfully attended church events and closely listened my truth presentation. To me, she already felt like one of our heavenly family. But the circumstances around us were never easy. Due to opposition from her parents, six long years passed by. Many times during that not-so-short period, the thought of giving up crossed my mind. But every time, I held onto God’s promise that “when the time comes, He will give,” and I never stopped praying for my friend. Just before her final year of high school,…

Kim Gah-eul from Geoje, Korea

A Surprise Visit From My Son

When he was little, my son was full of affection and always clung to me. But once he entered adolescence, he began to drift away, choosing time with his friends over time with his mom. And now that he’s an adult living on his own, I hardly get to see him at all. I know it’s natural for grown children to leave the nest and become independent, but I couldn’t help feeling a bit empty. Even when he stopped by the house, it was usually just for a quick errand before rushing off again. I’d tell myself, “It’s just because he’s busy,” but deep down, I felt a small sting of loneliness—probably because I simply missed him and wanted more…

Seong Deok from Pyeongtaek, Korea

Blessings Revealed When We Broaden Our View

There’s a saying: “A frog in a well cannot imagine the ocean.” That used to describe me. Although the Bible calls young adult who willingly dedicate themselves to God “the dew of the dawn,” I thought my best effort was simply attending worship services and gatherings diligently. One day, I was shown the vision of completing the gospel mission around the world. That changed my perspective. When I looked beyond my narrow view, I realized there was so much more I wanted to do—and could do. Among those things, I felt a strong desire to plant the flag of the gospel in places where the truth hadn’t yet reached. I immediately acted on that desire. I went to a city…

Kim Jeong-hwa from Seoul, Korea

Dad’s Way of Loving

My dad often went on overseas business trips—so often, in fact, that he spent more than half the year in foreign countries. My sister and I, born just a year apart, were raised entirely by our mom. We spent so much time apart from Dad that I once even forgot what he looked like. One day, Mom stepped out to the market and left me home with Dad. But because I didn’t recognize him, I burst into tears and tried to run outside. I later learned that the incident had been a heartbreaking shock for him. When I was twelve, our whole family moved to Vietnam to live together. But even then, Dad was always busy. He was quiet, reserved,…

Kim Yae-eun from Seongnam, Korea

True Wealth

A man once visited the home of a poor friend. The old house was drafty, and even the gentle spring breeze made the inside feel cold. In the small refrigerator, there was only a little milk. Wanting to serve his guest, the poor friend warmed the milk and offered it to him. Just then, someone knocked on the door. “I’m so hungry. Could you spare me something to eat?” Without even opening the door, the man shouted, “What could you possibly get from this house? Don’t ever come to my friend’s home again!” But the host quickly stood up, opened the door, and handed the beggar the very milk he had been about to drink himself. The beggar gratefully drank…

With a Heart of Earnestness Like Mother’s

They say, “Fall seven times, rise eight,” but after stumbling only twice, I lost the courage to try again. In truth, I had not really stumbled. Though the two overseas short-term missions I joined bore no visible fruit, I gained priceless realizations and moving experiences. Even though communication was difficult, everyone rejoiced in one another’s joys as if they were their own, and comforted those who were struggling. Through that, I felt what true brotherly love is. Serving in a foreign land not only broadened my perspective, but also gave me the overwhelming joy of knowing that we had revealed God’s glory. Looking back, there was so much to be thankful for. Yet one thought kept circling in my heart:…

Eom No-eul from Seongnam, Korea

This Is ( ).

This makes your heart flutter. This makes you ready to do anything for it. This allows you to be free from complaints. To achieve this, you have to give up something else. This shouldn’t just remain in your hearts. This cannot be obtained if you do your best only within your boundaries. You can get it if you break the boundary. People without this are the most pitiful in the world. Anybody can have this, but unfortunately, more people die without making it theirs. If you don’t do anything about it, it stays the same, but once you put it into action, it becomes reality. What hinders this is not the environment or hardships, but “settling for the present.” What…

Until I Came to Understand True Love

After the rush of the week, the Sabbath arrives like a breath of peace. In Zion, where we sing praises and study the words of God together, my weary heart finds rest and comfort. Before worship, the temple fills with laughter as we clean and prepare meals side by side. Our neighbors, seeing us so cheerful, often wonder how we can be so full of joy—and indeed, we are. The happiness and blessings I now cherish were things I had never known before coming to the truth. I first came to know the Church of God through my younger brother. Having attended a Protestant church for more than ten years, I was not particularly interested in the truths of the…

Benilde Ubisse / Maputo, Mozambique

The Shepherd & the Sheep

Many of us, Mongolians, engage in stock-farming. In a vast meadow, we raise five kinds of livestock together—cows, horses, sheep, goats, and camels. Among them, we raise sheep the most. One family keeps approximately more than a thousand sheep. Every sheep has different colors—white, black, brown, dappled, and so on. I was born a son of a shepherd. I spent my childhood in Bayanmonkh-som (district), Khentii-aimag (province) until I came to Ulaanbaatar City to enter university. Usually I lived separately from my parents to go to school; during the summer vacation, I came back home in the countryside and tended the sheep in pasture, following my parents who are shepherds. Through such lifestyle and experience, I came to realize the…

B. Jargalsaikhan from Erdenet, Mongolia

Until a Precious Bowl Is Made

I watched a TV show about how a master craftsman, who is designated as intangible cultural asset, makes Bangjja, Korean type of hand-forged glossy brassware with yellowish color. Bangjja of such high quality were used for the king’s table. Bangjja made with traditional techniques has good durability, so it preserves its shape for a long time, doesn’t get discolored easily, and it gets the glossier as you use it more. Recently, it has been attracting more people’s attention because it’s proven that Bangjja neutralizes heavy metal toxicity and eliminate food toxicity and food poisoning bacteria. To make brassware with such outstanding effects, not only highly sophisticated skills but also a fairly complex process is demanded. The first step is melting…

Jo Mun-gyeong from Daejeon, Korea

My Mom Reborn as the Youth like the Dew of the Dawn

Mom hated me to go to church. When I visited her and tried to preach the truth to her even a little, she quickly pushed me to go home. When I preached to her over the phone, she hung up on me. When I took courage to invite her to church, she vent her anger on me, saying, “Why waste time and energy?” I burst into tears. Regardless of the religion, I tried to do my best as her child, but her heart remained hard. It was when my mother-in-law stayed at my place because she fell. Both my mom and mother-in-law were suffering from illnesses and accidents in their old age. Seeing them, I was eager to preach the…

Yim Su-jeong from Gwangju, South Korea