Trust in the Lord our God and live in His Righteousness

Psalm 73
V.1 is the theme for this Psalm. "Surely God is good to Israel, to those who are pure in heart."

I. The World really confuses us (vv.2-15)
- The wicked prospers and the righteous suffers.

II. The Truth Reveals (vv.16-19)
- The answer is found in the house of the Lord (v.17)
- How the wicked will end up (vv.17-19)
III. How the righteous will end up (vv.23-28)
- He holds our right hand (v.23).
- He guides us (v.24).
- He receives us in His glory (v.24b).
- He is our refuge and help (vv.25-26).

Application: Trust in the Lord, our God, and live in His righteousness.

Continue to Live in Christ

Colossians 2:6-7 says, "So then, just as you received Christ Jesus as Lord, continue to live in him, rooted and built up in him, stregnthened in the faith as you were taught, and overflowing with thankfulness." NIV

Paul knew that the Colossians had received Christ Jesus. He mentioned that they received Christ Jesus as Lord; not any lord, but the Lord of lords. The Lord Jesus Christ that the Colossians received is the Lord of the universe that Paul described in Ch.1. He is the One who hold All things. He is also the One that we received. There is an assurance to our faith knowing that we have made the right decision to believe in Him.

Paul did not stop here. He continued to encourage the Colossians to CONTINUE to Live in Him. Many people are good in starting, but not good in ending. Whatever we have started, must continue. The Colossians had started their faith in Christ Jesus, therefore, they must continue to live and to persevere in Him. Likewise, we the believers must continue to live in Him.

How do we continue living in Him? Well, Paul clearly said here, "rooted and built up in him, strengthened in the faith...and overflowing with thankfulness." There are three basic principles here that we can continue to live in Christ:
i). to be rooted in Him
ii). to be built up in Him
iii). to be strengthened in our faith
As the result, we will be overflowing with thankfulness.

Being a Christian for quite some years, you may feel have been lost the excitement following Christ and the things we normally do for Him is getting lesser and lesser. Bible reading becomes very boring to you. Praying becomes lesser and shorter. Witnessing Christ becomes falling apart from your way. What is your struggle to hinder you from continuing to live in Christ?

Whatever reason it is, I urgly encourage you to persevere in our faith. Continue to live in Christ; to be rooted and built up in Him and be strengthened in your faith. When you do these, your life will be overflowing with thankfulness. Only a mature Christians can be overflowing with thanksgiving. Therefore, let us continue to live in Christ.

Why the people of God have no cause for fear or confusion.

Isaiah 41:10 says, "So do not fear, for I am with you; do not dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you; I will uphold you with my righteous right hand." NIV

The first word is "So". We therefore realize that the verse is a consequence of the teaching contained in previous verses. By examining verses 8 and 9, we see that their theme is that God has chosen and called his people Israel from the ends of the earth. How do these verses link with the passage in verse 10? The Word 'so' such a link word.

Turning back to verse 10, we can identify a negative command, "do not fear", followed by a reason which is also a promise, "for I am with you." Next we have a second negative command, "do not be dismayed", followed by a reason which is also a promise, "for I am your God." Then we have three reasons and promises why Israel should not fear: "I will stregnthen you"; "I will help you" and "I will uphold you with my righteous right hand." Thus in the midst of Israel's fears that her disobedience guarantees abandonement by God, the Lord steps in and promises active intervention to help exiled Israel, the right hand being symbolic of God's saving power.

Drawing together our two negative commands, each followed by a reason, and the whole followed by three further promises, we can now suggest the following breakdown of content:

Main Theme: Why the people of God have no cause for fear or confusion.
Sub-themes:
i). God is present - he will not desert/leave us.
ii). God is personal - he owns his people.
iii). God is powerful - he will strengthen, help and uphold us.

(Dr. Derek Newton: And the Word Became...a Sermon. pp.79-80)

Overwhilming with works and no time to pray!

This few months things were overloaded one after another. I felt very exhausted and tired. Why would I feel this way? I realized I was not good for time management. But more than this, it was because I did not put things in a right place. The first and most priority for me, I believe it is for all, too, is to pray. One the other hand, the works need to be done on time as well. When I was too busy and no time to pray, was ended up exhausting and tiring. By doing this, I'm killing myself. I have to time to feed my spiritual food, which is to pray and to read the bible. Now I repant.

I believe somehow many of you have faced this kind of situation. If so, let us go back to the starting point which is to spend time with Jesus. When we spend time with Him, He will enable us to cope with our busy schedules. Let us wait none. Do it now.

Lay Leader Training Centre was born

One thing I want to praise God for is our Lay Leader Training Centre was born on March 22, 2010. As we started this night class program, there were 8 students came for the very first cours; the Life of Christ. It was a very good report from this program. We believe there are more to come for this program.

On April 26, we will offer the second course; Church and Its Mission. Through this course, we expect the students will be inspired to be serious with what God intends for the church and its mission. They may be passionate to do mission. Most of all, they will consider themselves to live as the church that God has called to be.

I invite you to be part of this program by praying for us, attending and using and supporting our program. Let us preach the Word! We are committed to prepare lives for the ministries. Come and join us in spreading the Kingdom of God here in Cambodia.

Ready To Serve

As I journey in the year 2010 there are lots of things need to achieve. I praise God for new things in our church. We are launching to have night class training program for lay leaders. We will start it by March 22 onward. Our heart is to train more lay leaders in the market place. We constantly pray for this program to be benefitial first to Lighthouse Christian Assembly and lastly to many churches in Cambodia.

We are still looking forward for God's grace to impress the hearts of people to come for this training. Still we are lack of teachers who could commit themselves to help up. Nonetheless, it is a self-support school. In the very first step of doing this, we only expect to just have 15-20 people who come for this program. We also expect to see a good report about it. Through God's favor we would be able to train and equip His men and women in the field. May the Lord of the Harvest send more workers in the field.

Big Cloud on Valentine's Day

This is the first year we celebrated the valentine special. But so sad to let you know that my wife and I came to the very herrible time in our relationship. It was a big cloud in home. I just don't want to write in detial. But paise God! On that Sunday night it was the wing of the Lord that blew this cloud out of home. We were able to settle down the conflict and loved one another even more. I made a commitment to her that from that day onward I will not make her cry for any reason. I will love and care about her more. So, it is a lesson for us on the valentine's day. One lession I have learned on this valentine's day is "Patience". Love is patient. Love always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres.

On February 15, I wrote a loving letter to my wife. I poured out what inside my heart to her; how much I love her. At the same time she responded me positively. It is what I mostly want to hear. Poor thing I was not able to buy her any thing because no money! It is embarras. Nonetheless, she could just happy with what I gave her; a simple love letter writing on her notebook.

If you are ever have someone you really love, please keep the flame of love burning in your relation. You will not understand what love is, unless and until you begin to love someone. One person you can love always and find no disappointment in loving Him. That is Jesus. You can love Him because He first loves you. He loves us with no expecting to get the return. He loves us since we were sinners by dying on the cross to pay for our penalty. Remember, Jesus loves you more than what we can think of. We love you all, too.

Who can I really show love to on the Valentine's Day?

One this Valentine's Day, I specially dedicate this article to my beloved wife whom I love the most of my life. Rattana is the special God-given-gift to me as a helper and a companion. From my bottom heart I thank God for her love to me. Although, we were facing lots of problems and misunderstandings, still we can come to this point to thank God for. Through tears and joy we offer all to Him, for He can use both good and evil by turning them to good for those who love Him. Valentine is about loving the one whom God had given us.

Never forget to thank God for my beautiful daughter, Kaka. She is another gift for us. She is our joy and hope as we live on this earth. She is our precious diamond. On February 14, 2010 is her complete four months. Day after day, she is smarter and smarter. She is learning how to praise God with her voice. Whenever we sing praise unto Him, she begins to raise her voice up scriming along with. What a wonderful moment that we have as family. Valentine is about enjoying with the ones whom God had given us.

Surprisingly, this Valentine's Day is also the day we celebrate Chinese New Year. We will have meal fellowships with our family members and relatives. We will take that initaitive to share Christ's love to one another. As tradition, we will give the red pockets to our relatives contextualizing with the Good News of God's love through the blood shed of the Lord Jesus to pay for our sins. Valentine is about sharing the love of God to our family members.

This would be a better oppotunity for the church to conduct the holy communion on this Sunday as the assembly. By doing this we are remembering the love of Christ offered for us on the cross of Calvary. Valentine is about remembering the love of Chirst for the church.

អត្ថន័យបុណ្យនៃសេចក្តីស្រឡាញ់

ថ្ងៃទី ១៤ កុម្ភៈ ប្រជាជនជាច្រើននៅលើសកលលោកអបអរសាទរបុណ្យនៃសេចក្តីស្រឡាញ់ ។ ពិធីនេះ ប្រារព្វឡើងធាតុពិតគឺសំដៅសំរាប់តែអ្នកដែលជាគូស្វាមីភរិយា ឬ ជាគូកំណាន់តែប៉ុណ្ណោះ ។ ខ្ញុំសូមបង្ហាញជូននូវឯកសារមួយដែលស្តែងអំពីប្រភពនៃ ទិវារបុណ្យនៃសេចក្តីស្រឡាញ់ ។

មានបូជាចារ្យមួយរួបឈ្មោះ វ៉ាលេនថាញ (Valentine) លោកបានរស់នៅក្នុងប្រទេសរ៉ូម អំឡុងឆ្នាំ ២៥០គ.ស ។ នាសម័យកាលនោះ ព្រះចៅអធិរាជក្លូដៀស គ្រប់គ្រងលើ ចក្រភពរ៉ូម ។ ព្រះចៅអធិរាជ រូបនេះចង់បានកងទ័ពច្រើនសំរាប់ផ្ទាល់ខ្លួន ។ បូជាចារ្យវ៉ាលេនថាញ រួមទាំងបណ្តាជនជាច្រើននាក់ ទៀតមិនចូលចិត្តទង្វើរបស់ ព្រះចៅអធិរាជប៉ុន្មានទេ ។ ដោយព្រោះថា ព្រះចៅអធិរាជគិតថា បុរសគ្រប់ វ័យទាំងអស់ គួរតែស្ម័គ្រចិត្តចូលបំរើកងទ័ព ។ មានបុរសជាច្រើនមិនចូលចិត្តធ្វើសឹកសង្គ្រាមទេ ។ ពួកគេមិនចង់ឃ្លាតចាកឆ្ងាយពីប្រពន្ធ និងសង្សាររបស់ខ្លួនឡើយ ។ ការនេះបណ្តាល អោយបុរសជា ច្រើនមិនចុះឈ្មោះជាកងទ័ព ។ ទង្វើនេះ ធ្វើអោយព្រះចៅអធិរាជមាន ប្រតិកម្មជាខ្លាំង ។ ទ្រង់មានផ្នត់ គំនិតថា ប្រសិនបើបុរសដែលមានគ្រួសារហើយ ទើបអាច ចូលបំរើកងទ័ពបាន ។ បន្ទាប់មក ព្រះចៅ អធិរាជបានចេញបញ្ជាបញ្ឈប់មិនអោយមាន អាពាហ៍ពិពាហ៍កើតឡើងតទៅទៀត ។ យុវវ័យជាច្រើន គិតថា ច្បាប់ថ្មីនេះពិតជាឃោរ ឃៅណាស់ ។ បូជាចារ្យវ៉ាលេនថាញ គិតថា គួរអោយអស់សំណើច ណាស់ ។ មួយវិញទៀត កិច្ចការដ៏ពេញនិយមរបស់បូជាចារ្យគឺរៀបចំអាពាហ៍ពិពាហ៍អោយប្រជាជន ។

ដោយបូជាចារ្យវ៉ាលេនថាញបដិសេធមិនធ្វើតាមបទបញ្ជា ក៏ត្រូវគេចាប់យកទៅឃុំក្នុងព័ន្ធនាគារ រង់ចាំការប្រហារជីវិត ។ ឃើញដូច្នោះ មនុស្សម្នាជាច្រើនបានមកសួរសុខទុក្ខលោក នៅក្នុងព័ន្ធនាគារ ព្រមទាំងបាចផ្កាចូលតាមមាត់បង្អួចអោយលោកថែមទៀតផង ។ ពួកគេចង់បង្ហាញថា ពួកគេក៏ជឿលើ សេចក្តីស្រឡាញ់ផងដែរ ។

មានយុវតីម្នាក់ជាកូនឆ្មាំគុកបានចូលមកជួបលោកបូជាចារ្យនៅក្នុងគុកមុនពេលដែល លោកត្រូវគេចាប់ យកទៅប្រហារជីវិត ។ នាងយល់ឃើញថា អ្វីដែលបូជាចារ្យវ៉ាលេនថាញ ធ្វើល្មើសនឹងបញ្ជាព្រះចៅ អធិរាជ ក្នុងការរៀបចំមង្គលការអោយប្រជាជន ថាជាកិច្ចការត្រឹមត្រូវ ។ នៅថ្ងៃចុងក្រោយនៃជីវិតរបស់ បូជាចារ្យវ៉ាលេនថាញ លោកបានបន្សល់លិខិត អរគុណចំពោះនាង ចំពោះមិត្តភាព និងភក្តីភាពរបស់ នាង ។ លោកបានសរសេរថា "សេចក្តីស្រឡាញ់ពីវ៉ាលេនថាញ" ។ ថ្ងៃដែលលោកបូជាចារ្យ វ៉ាលេនថាញទទួលមរណភាព គឺត្រូវនឹងថ្ងៃទី១៤ ខែកុម្ភៈ ឆ្នាំ២៦៩ គ.ស ។ ចាប់តាំងពីពេលនោះមក មនុស្សម្នាបានរំលឹក ពីថ្ងៃនេះតគ្នារៀងមក ។ ក៏ប៉ុន្តែ កិច្ចការដែលសំខាន់បំផុតគឺ គេគិតអំពីសេចក្តី ស្រឡាញ់ និង មិត្តភាព ។

កិច្ចការនេះ ក៏បានឆ្លុះបញ្ចាំងអំពីសេចក្តីស្រឡាញ់ដ៏ធំមហិមា និង ឥតលក្ខខណ្ឌរបស់ ព្រះជាម្ចាស់ ចំពោះមនុស្សលោក ដែលបានប្រទានព្រះបុត្រា[ព្រះយេស៊ូ] តែមួយរបស់ ទ្រង់មក ដើម្បីអោយអស់អ្នក ដែលបានទទួលជឿទ្រង់មានជីវិតអស់កល្បជានិច្ច គឺមិនអោយគេវិនាសឡើយ (យ៉ូហាន ៣.១៦) ។

ទិវារនៃសេចក្តីស្រឡាញ់ គឺជាឱកាសដែលយើងរំលឹក និង​ទទួលសេចក្តីស្រឡាញ់ពី ព្រះជាម្ចាស់ ។ សូមយើងអធិស្ឋាន ។ សូមអរគុណព្រះជាម្ចាស់ដែលបានអោយខ្ញុំជាម្ចាស់ ស្នេហ៍របស់ព្រះអង្គ ។ អាមែន

មិនជាអ្វី បើទោះលោកអ្នកមានអារម្មណ៍បែបណា

ជីវិតគឺជាដំណើរកាលនៃការរៀន ។ ពេលខ្លះ យើងមានអារម្មណ៍ថា ជីវិតមិនស្មើភាព មិនសក្តិសម ច្របូកច្របល់ និង គួរអោយធុញទ្រាន់ណាស់ ។ ក៏ប៉ុន្តែ យើងអាចរកឃើញអត្ថន័យនៃជីវិតបានដរាបណា យើងដឹងថា យើងរស់នៅសំរាប់អ្វី យើងចង់ក្លាយទៅជាអ្វី និង អ្វីដែលយើងចង់សំរេច ។ ដើម្បីឆ្លើយទៅនឹង សំណួរទាំងអស់ខាងលើនេះ ដំបូងយើងត្រូវមានទំនាក់ទំនងល្អជាមួយបុគ្គលម្នាក់ដែលបានបង្កើតយើង និង ស្រឡាញ់យើងជារៀងរហូត មិនថាជាយ៉ាងណា ។ បុគ្គលម្នាក់នោះគឺជាព្រះជាម្ចាស់ ដែលបានបង្កើត ផ្ទៃមេឃ និង ផែនដី ។ ទ្រង់គឺជាម្នាក់ដែលបានបង្កើតលោកអ្នក ហើយនិង ខ្ញុំ ។ លើសពីនេះទៅទៀត ទ្រង់ យកព្រះទ័យទុកដាក់ចំពោះយើង ក្នុងគ្រប់កិច្ចការទាំងប៉ុន្មានដែលយើងធ្វើ ។ ទ្រង់ទតរំពៃមើលយើង គ្រប់រដូវកាល ។ យើងប្រាកដច្បាស់ស្គាល់ និង បានឮអំពីទ្រង់ គឺជាព្រះយេស៊ូ អ្នកដែលប្រទានជីវិត ។ លុះត្រាតែ និង ដរាបណាលោកអ្នកស្គាល់ថាទ្រង់ជានរណាសំរាប់លោកអ្នក ទើបលោកអ្នកនឹងដឹងថា យើងគួររស់សំរាប់អ្វី និង អ្វីដែលយើងត្រូវសំរេច ។ ប្រសិនបើលោកអ្នកមានចំ ណាប់អារម្មណ៍ចង់ដឹងច្បាស់បន្ថែមទៀត អំពីព្រះយេស៊ូ សូមបើកអារម្មណ៍ទូលាយ សរសេរមកកាន់ខ្ញុំ ហើយខ្ញុំនឹងព្យាយាមអោយអស់ពីលទ្ធភាពរបស់ខ្ញុំក្នុងការឆ្លើយតបមកលោកអ្នកវិញ តាមដែលអាចធ្វើ ទៅបាន ។ ខ្ញុំបានប្តេជ្ញាចិត្ត ស្មោះត្រង់ចំពោះការត្រាស់ហៅរបស់ទ្រង់ ។

គ្រប់យ៉ាងសំរាប់លោកអ្នក!

It doesn't matter how you feel

Life is a learning process. We sometimes feel that life is unfair, unworthy, confusing, and bored. But we can alone find the meaning of life is when we know what we are living for, who we want to be, and what we need to achieve. In order to answer to these questions, we need to first have the right relationship with the One who created us and loves us everlasting. That is the God who made heaven and earth. He is the one who made you and I. Nonetheless, He cares for us everyday in all we do. He watches over us in all seasons. We surely know and heard about Him is Jesus, the giver of life. Unless adn until you know who He is for you, than you will know what we should live for, and things we need to achieve. If you want to know more about Jesus, do feel free by writing to me and I will try my best to answer to you as much as I could. I committed to be faithful to His call.

All for you!