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The Know-how of Blessings
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April 15, 2007 |
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 ~ Deaconess Sun-sook Choe (Courteous Service Instructor at We Can! Consulting Service Research Institute, Inc.)
After first taking bold steps in 1996 as a courteous service instructor educating etiquette to employees at many different and sometimes large firms, I had been undergoing difficult times that stemmed from my superior's jealousy as well as my own guilty conscience.
I was constantly snubbed in front of my coworkers when I presented my proposals to my superiors, who would often tell me, "Do it again." Compared to other instructors with their master's and doctorate degrees, my credentials looked embarrassingly dismal and I kept losing the will to work.
I was to lead and instruct large crowds of people with confidence but, like a robot, I was absorbed only in presenting the prepared materials.
In desperate search of true happiness
My life was miserable and I was in constant and desperate search of "true happiness." For three months I sought out a congregation that could transform me by the Word but I could not find such a church or meet with God.
Then in June 1998, I was introduced by one of my friends at work to the messages of Senior Pastor Rev. Dr. Jaerock Lee and the works of God's power taking place at Manmin Joong-ang Church. The moment I entered the Main Sanctuary, the burning sensation from the cross hanging above the altar captured me and my heart began to tremble. When I sat down, tears that began streaming down my cheeks lasted through my first service at Manmin.
I was engulfed in indescribable warmth and felt as though I was in the arms of the Lord who was telling me, "I have been waiting for you."
'This is the place!' I told myself. I was certain God had led me to this church.
Understanding "Message of the Cross," experiencing the work of God's power
Faith was not a vague or abstract concept. The Senior Pastor's series "The Message of the Cross" became a turning point in my life. When I heard him explain answers to "Why is Jesus Our only Savior?" and "Why did He wear the crown of thorns?" I could only nod in agreement.
At "The Two-week special Revival Meeting with Rev. Dr. Jaerock Lee" the following May, I saw Deacon Yoon-sup Kim, who had been tormented by first-degree disability, throwing away his crutches and beginning to walk after receiving the Senior Pastor's prayer. This and the spectacles of so many others testifying to their own healing was a spiritual shock to me. Miracles of Biblical proportions were taking place right before my eyes!
I soon became even more grateful as I saw Senior Pastor Rev. Dr. Jaerock Lee not merely preaching God's Word but living by it. Taking after him, I strove to live by the truth and a life filled with bliss began to unfold.
 "The instructor really looks happy."
As I began to believe that God was actively involved with every affair of my life, my attitude towards work and other people changed. When preparing for lectures, I began to think of and putting greater emphasis on how to bring out happiness to others instead of simply struggling to offer them a means to success. As I sought wisdom from God in prayer, He would remind me of appropriate anecdotes or verses from the Bible.
As if God were preventing the audience from seeing my weaknesses and shortcomings, my lectures soon became popular and critically acclaimed.
I began to hear comments like, "The instructor indeed looks sincere" or "She really looks happy!" frequently. Some people said they would like to follow Jesus Christ the way I did. Others even shed tears, with their hearts evidently touched, during my lectures.
As the contents of my lectures were closely related to His Word in the Bible and as I lectured with a heart to pursue goodness in all things and kept molding my heart to love and serve others, God poured love upon me.
In gratitude of God's grace, I have been serving as emcee of a variety of Global Christian Network (GCN) programs and "Manmin Magazine" and as mission leader for the last two years.
I couldn't be happier as my spirit prospers
As I remained faithful with an unchanging heart and prayed my way out of problems during "The Daniel Prayer Meeting" every evening, God did His part in leading me to receive blessings through the Senior Pastor's prayer.
Once I was troubled in the heart because I had not a single lecture scheduled for the following month. I received the Senior Pastor's prayer and the very next day, I was booked to lecture every day for the same following month. At another time, I was offered more than $15,000 to lecture. As I did my best in preparing and presenting my lectures and was deemed "passionate and thus trustworthy," different firms have called on me to lecture their employees multiple times.
Until 3, 4 years ago, I could only give God tithes of about $200 a month but He has multiplied it by more than fourfold.
Yet, financial blessings are only a small portion of all the grace God has given me. The reason why I can confess with confidence, "I am happy!" is not because of financial blessings but because of the peace and the hope I have in heaven for which I will not exchange with anything in this world.
I hope to bring the true happiness of life to many people. I give all thanks and glory to God who is alive and always at work in my life.
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