May 2023 – The Creels' Catch

The Holy Spirit Imparts Compassion

Then Peter said, “Silver or gold I do not have, but what I do have I give you. In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, walk.”
Acts 3:6 (NKJV)

Reading: Acts 3: 1-10

On the day of Pentecost (Jewish Festival of Harvest), the power of the Holy Spirit came upon the disciples of the Lord Jesus Christ (Acts 2). They received new tongues or the ability to speak in different languages. They received power, courage, and strength to preach the Word of God. And many believed in the Word of God as they proclaimed the death and resurrection of the Lord Jesus. About 3,000 new Believers were added to the group, many of them were Jews who were visiting from other nations. Peter became the leader of the disciples when he received power from the Holy Spirit.

One day, Peter and John were walking up to the temple and saw a lame man begging at the gate of the temple. (Acts 3:1-2). The mercy and compassion of the Lord Jesus came upon Peter to help the man. Peter knew that giving the man food or money would not really help the man in the long run. Even if he gave the lame man a large amount of money, the man would still be lame. Peter remembered that Jesus healed many who were sick when He was with them. With the power of the Holy Spirit, Peter declared healing to the lame man.

Then Peter said, “Silver or gold I do not have, but what I do have I give you. In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, walk.” ⁷Taking him by the right hand, he helped him up, and instantly the man’s feet and ankles became strong. ⁸He jumped to his feet and began to walk. (Acts 3:6-8).

Thus, through His disciples, Jesus was able to continue His ministry of declaring the Word of God. The disciples also demonstrated the love and compassion of God through acts of kindness, miracles, and healings. This was a direct result also of being filled with the power of the Holy Spirit as Jesus promised them (See Acts 1:8).

The compassionate heart of God is to heal the sick, help the poor and make known His love and power. Jesus during His life and time on the earth, did the work of His Father, the Lord God. Jesus healed the sick, fed the poor and declared the Word of God to the people of Israel. In the same way, and through the power of the Holy Spirit, the followers of the Lord Jesus Christ can receive the compassion of God to heal and help others. For 2,000 years, the followers of the Lord Jesus are still continuing His work of proclaiming the Kingdom of God through the power of the Holy Spirit.

Thoughts and Reflection:

Peter shared with the lame man the most precious thing he had – the faith and love of the Lord Jesus and His compassion to heal. The same power and spirit of compassion that Jesus had is also available to us, His followers, to heal the sick, to help others, and to proclaim the kingdom of God. As Peter said, “Repent and be baptized, every one of you, in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins. And you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. ³⁹The promise is for you and your children and for all who are far off—for all whom the Lord our God will call.” Acts 2:38-39

Prayer:

Dear Lord Jesus, thank You for Your compassion and mercy to heal the sick. Thank you, Holy Spirit for empowering those who follow Jesus to preach the Gospel and heal the sick.

Help me Lord Jesus and Holy Spirit fill me with your compassion to share the love of God with others.

Your Thoughts:

Your Prayer:

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The Power of the Holy Spirit to Change Lives

“Then Peter said to them, Repent, and let every one of you be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins; and you shall receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.” Acts 2:38 (NKJV)

Reading: Acts 2:1-47

It was the day of Pentecost (Festival of Harvest) in Israel. The disciples of the Lord Jesus were gathered in Jerusalem since He had instructed them to wait there (Acts 1:4-8). About 120 of the followers of the Lord Jesus and eyewitnesses of His resurrection gathered in the Upper Room. As they prayed and worshipped, the power of the Holy Spirit came upon them. Each of them received the gift of speaking in tongues (Acts 2:3-4).

The Holy Spirit’s touch and power came to the disciples of the Lord Jesus on the day of Pentecost. They spoke a new language or spoke in tongues and gave witness to Jesus’s power and resurrection. The disciples obeyed the instruction of the Lord Jesus to wait in Jerusalem for the coming of the Holy Spirit.

About 53 days prior to this event, the disciples were all bereaved and bewildered with the death of their Lord Jesus on the cross. They were frightened for their lives and were in hiding (John 20:19). Then when they saw Jesus was alive and had risen from the dead, they rejoiced! However, after Jesus went back to heaven, they were not sure what to do. They went back to fishing (John 21). Even when Jesus commanded them to go and make disciples, they were still uncertain. But when they waited for the promise of the Lord Jesus, they all received the touch and the power of the Holy Spirit (Acts 2:1-4). Almost instantly they received power – new courage, strength, and boldness. Peter also received wisdom and knowledge in the Scriptures. The Holy Spirit gave Peter strength and boldness. Before the day of Pentecost, the zealousness and boldness of Peter were from his natural abilities and was limited. When Jesus was arrested and was on trial, Peter even denied Jesus. But when the power of the Holy Spirit came upon Peter, he became a changed man. First Jesus restored Peter and their relationship (John 21). Then through the power of the Holy Spirit, Peter became bold, courageous, and full of wisdom. He was able to stand up and witness for Jesus in front of many people. He became anointed and a powerful preacher for Jesus. On that day 3000 souls were added to the disciples!

Thoughts and Reflection:

Jesus changed Peter as well as the other disciples through the power of the Holy Spirit. As a follower of Jesus, the Holy Spirit can change me, too. Through the power of the Holy Spirit, the followers of Jesus can be empowered to be strong and courageous witnesses for Him so that others can know Him, too.

Prayer:

Dear Jesus, I praise You for sending Your Holy Spirit. Holy Spirit, please fill me like Peter with your spirit of wisdom, courage, and strength to be a witness for Jesus and to share your Word with others.

Your Thoughts:

Your Prayer:

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Sharing some First Experiences

“The Lord will give strength to His people;
The Lord will bless His people with peace.” Psalm 29:11

For our first 2 months in southeast Asia, we have some first experiences such as traditional wedding, visiting a family who delivered a healthy baby girl, funeral visitation,
(mentioned in a previous blog). David also got his first haircut and dental work. I also got my first dental cleaning done a few weeks ago. These may seem trivial for many, but for us, it takes some courage and faith to do these things as we are still learning the language and navigating the city. We thank the Lord for His peace and for blessing us with local people who have good English. In addition, we are also taking our first language learning together on weekends. Last but not the least, on April 27^th, we celebrated our 9^th year wedding anniversary by joining our radio station staff visiting listeners in some villages in another provinces. Again, our first time to visit our radio listeners. It was a joy to meet them in person who faithfully listen to our radio program. Here are some photos to share:

Our friend Vanna, his wife and 2nd baby girl

Khmer Wedding

Visiting a family who listens to our Family FM programs.

A group of Family FM listeners in a village

Celebrating our 9 years of the Lord’s faithfulness.

We praise and thank the Lord for His grace to serve Him with faithful and diligent workers of FEBC Cambodia. We also thank Him for our faithful ministry partners.

The Promise of Power!

The coming of the Holy Spirit is a promise of Jesus to His followers.

On May 28, 2023, Christians will be celebrating the Day of Pentecost. Pentecost traditionally is 50-days after Easter Sunday (April 9, 2023). In the following days, we will be sharing devotions from the Book of Acts in the Bible.

But you shall receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you shall be witnesses to Me in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth.”
Acts 1:8 (NKJV)

Reading: Acts 1

Jesus rose from the grave! He was alive and even ate with His disciples (John 21). Jesus was seen by His followers, His own family, and other people in Israel after He rose from the dead. (See I Corinthians 15:5-6). Then Jesus had to return to His heavenly home with His Father. Jesus promised His disciples before His crucifixion the gift of the Holy Spirit (John 16:7-9). Then after His resurrection, Jesus told His disciples to gather and wait in Jerusalem (Acts 1:4-5). He told them why and the purpose of the coming of the Holy Spirit. The disciples thought Jesus was empowering them for a political uprising, to revolt against Roman rule (v.6). But Jesus had a different plan for them. He wanted His disciples to receive power from the Holy Spirit to have boldness, courage, wisdom, faithfulness, joy, and peace so they could be effective witnesses for Him. Jesus wanted them to continue preaching the Gospel the same way He did when He was conducting His ministry with them during His earthly life. After Jesus was arrested and suffered death on the cross, His disciples were all afraid and went into hiding. Jesus knew how they felt and knew all their fears. So, Jesus knew they need the power of the Holy Spirit – to have courage and boldness to follow His commandments.

Jesus told His disciples, “Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations…” (Matthew 28:19 NKJV). He gave them this commandment, and He also equipped and empowered them to do what He told them to do. “But you shall receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you…” (Acts 1:8 NKJV)

Thought for the Day:

The words and promises of Jesus to His disciples are still true for all His followers today. Jesus wants us, His followers, to be filled with the power of the Holy Spirit so we can be witnesses for Him to our families, our neighbors, our friends, those in other places, and to people of other countries and ethnicities.

Prayer:

Dear Lord Jesus, I thank You for sending Your Holy Spirit to us Your followers. Holy Spirit please fill us, your followers, with your power and your spirit of might, wisdom, courage, and boldness to be witnesses for You wherever You send us. Amen.

Your Thoughts:

Your Prayer:

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Holidays & Traditions – A blessing of new beginnings.

Then God said, “Let there be lights in the firmament of the heavens to divide the day from the night; and let them be for signs and seasons, and for days and years. ”
Genesis 1:14 (NKJV)

During the month of April, people in different parts of the world celebrated some important holidays and traditions such as Jewish Passover, Christians’ Easter, Islam’s Ramadan, and Cambodia’s New Year. Let’s take a closer look at some of these holiday festivals.

Another New Year Holiday

During our 6^th week living here in Cambodia, we experienced a major holiday, the Khmer or Cambodian New Year. People in the western world celebrate the new year on December 31^st to January 1^st, but in some other countries and cultures the new year holiday is celebrated in different months according to the lunar calendar. For example, Chinese New Year was observed this year on January 22^nd.

Backdrop used for the New Year celebration of FEBCambodia in a live program on social media.

This year, Cambodia celebrated the traditional new year during the week of April 10-16. During this week, many people traveled to their hometowns for family reunions. Students in all schools had vacation, and most people had a few days off from work. Some of our expat friends traveled as well for sightseeing, while David and I enjoyed the quiet city with no traffic. While many people took days off from work, some of our radio station workers continued to have live programs on FM radio and social media to encourage the listeners. For me the new year is a time to have a new beginning. Isn’t it a blessing that God gives opportunities for a new beginning in different cultures and places?

“The Lord is good to all,
And His tender mercies are over all His works.” Psalm 145:9 (NKJV)

Passover Festival

Every year for almost 4000 years, Jewish people in different parts of the world celebrate the Passover. Passover, or Pesach, is the time when Jewish people remember the time when the Lord God delivered them from slavery in Egypt. This year, Passover was celebrated during the week of April 5-13. In the modern Jewish calendar, the Passover Festival (Pesach) is celebrated on the 14^thday in the month of Nissan which is about March or April in the Gregorian calendar. Traditionally, the celebration starts with a Seder meal on the first and/or second night by eating matzah (unleavened bread), bitter herbs, lamb meat, etc. The origin of this special holiday is found in the book of Exodus in the Bible.

“On the tenth of this month every man shall take for himself a lamb, according to the house of his father, a lamb for a household…So this day shall be to you a memorial; and you shall keep it as a feast to the Lord throughout your generations. You shall keep it as a feast by an everlasting ordinance…” Exodus 12:1-28 (NKJV)

Ramadan

Another important festival observed by many Muslims in different parts of the world is called Ramadan. This year, the festival began on March 22, and the final day was celebrated on April 20^th. It is usually observed during the ninth month in their calendar and is a period of prayer and fasting.

The Holy Week & Easter for Christians

Celebrating Resurrection of our Lord Jesus in the city during Easter Sunday.

For Christians, Holy Week and Christmas are the most important holidays. This year, Holy Week was celebrated during the week of April 3-9. Good Friday was on April 7^th, and Easter or Resurrection Day was celebrated on April 9^th. The origin of this holy festival is also found in the Bible.

Good Friday is the day when we remember how Jesus sacrificed His life on the cross for the forgiveness of our sins.

“For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life.” John 3:16 (NKJV)

The significance of the death and resurrection of our Lord Jesus Christ is not just remembering events that happened 2000 years ago; this is hope for the future.

The resurrection of our Lord Jesus was not just a powerful experience for Himself, it is also for all His followers. As the Apostles Paul and John wrote in the Bible:

“I have hope in God, which they themselves also accept, that there will be a resurrection of the dead, both of the just and the unjust.” Acts 24:15 (NKJV)

“And they lived and reigned with Christ for a thousand years. But the rest of the dead did not live again until the thousand years were finished. This is the first resurrection.” Revelation 20:5 (NKJV)

^“And I saw the dead, small and great, standing before God, and books were opened. And another book was opened, which is the Book of Life. And the dead were judged according to their works, by the things which were written in the books.” Revelation 20: 12 (NKJV)

The story of the death and resurrection of our Lord Jesus Christ is found in the Gospels of Matthew (Chapters 26-28), Mark (Chapters 15-16), Luke (Chapters 23-24), and John (Chapters 19-20).

“He is not here but is risen!” Luke 24:6 (NKJV)

In January 2020, the Lord blessed David and me with a trip to the Holy Land. One of the holiest Biblical sites we visited was the Garden Tomb. Here is an excerpt from a blog post that I wrote about this trip:

“Now in the place where He was crucified there was a garden, and in the garden a new tomb in which no one had yet been laid.” John 19:38-42 (NKJV)

“As I entered the empty tomb, it was an awesome experience seeing and touching with my bare hands the rough and cold stone where my Lord Jesus was laid some two thousand years ago. I’m at a loss for words; it was truly an indescribable experience. It was a surreal moment to be right there at the spot where Christ arose from the dead – a foundation of my faith, the Christian faith, the empty tomb… Christ is risen, and Christ will come again! Thus, with these words, amidst the crazy things going on in the world, we followers of our Lord Jesus Christ have all the reasons to have hope and to rejoice!”

To read the blog post, please see this link:

https://thecreels.org/2022/04/18/the-empty-and-resurrection-power/