The Hourngs in Cambodia!

We spent some solitude time today.  David and I made some activities for children's Sunday school for tomorrow's Easter service. This year we decided to paint eggs and made some bookmarks and cards.  Dad came and asked: Dad: Why eggs? what's the significance for the Resurrection Day? David: I painted this egg in black because it represents sins, this red is Jesus' blood because He died for us, our sins have washed away so we could go to heaven - the golden egg! Jesus is alive 👍👌☝👊💓 Mom: well, David says it all - we are ready to share tomorrow 😃💓  Video call with lola Tessie mom's craft  

Solitude Saturday 😅💕👍 Spent on readings, reviewing, gardening, baking and resting.  Dad’s on a mission trip 🥰🙏 #InternationalChildrenDay  Psalm 46:10   "Be still, and know that I am God. I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth!" David counted his coin collections                               Oat peanut butter cookies with red velvet chocolate hearts                                 Final Exam Reviewing "Strategic Management"

Last night during dinner, David began sharing stories from his day at school. These moments around the table are some of my favorites simple, ordinary, yet full of hidden lessons that often reflect deeper truths about life and faith. He told us that after P.E. class, he was the only one among his 7th-grade classmates who took a shower. The rest of them were, in his words, “too lazy to do it.” He laughed as he told us how quiet the shower room was without anyone teasing or bickering. I smiled and thought to myself how refreshing it is to see him growing into a young man who values cleanliness and enjoys the small moments of solitude. Then, with a change in tone, he shared something that caught my heart. “One of my friends from another class shaved his head today,” he said softly. “He looked really sad, so I sat beside him on the bench.” I asked what happened, and David told us that his friend’s father had just passed away. His friend had shaved his head as part of their Buddhist funera...

I have a husband that loves me enough to correct my mistakes and help me fill in my shortcomings. Unfortunately, sometimes I don't appreciate it. I forgot and ceased that he is my accountability partner. I failed to recognize it a few days ago. I let my pride and went over on taking my rights. I became so critical on my husband's shortcomings as well. I was so foolish and acted silent treatment and disrespect action toward Vandy 😓😌 Kiss and make up! Reconciled 💞😅👫 You know daily encounter with God does really help in times like this. My unpleasant character would resurface and would come and go at times. And it will really be impossible not to experience God's "heart surgery" on me. Yep, that loving correction started over my solitude with God. I will never be able to refuse His gentle reminder that my selfish action toward my husband wasn't honoring. It gets into my heart that I felt uncomfortable not dealing with it. My pride managed to creep again.  Bu...

My takeaway from my husband's preaching yesterday. He would normally share his sermon gist to us the night before, so we would be able to cover him in our family praying time. A life of worship honors God. Worship is the appropriate reaction to God's nature and future plans. If we do not know God, how can we worship him?  We worship God even with our failures not only when we are in victory. Both our best and worst should be offered to God. Let us love God even when we fail. Like the life of David in 1 Chronicles 21, God used his life to show us that He could turn our mistakes into blessing for God is merciful.  A powerful God will influence our worship. As we worship God collectively when we come together, we should also worship God in our personal solitude as part of our relationship with God.  

The university I am teaching is actually located in the middle town (Phnom Penh commercial district). We are not exclusively renting the whole building. Most of the tenants are banks, cafes, logistics and others. Since our institution occupies 5 floors (1,6,7,8,9 floors), we get much of the access on the five elevators. There was a scary incident in one of the elevators that led six people (including 3 lecturers) got trapped. It was terrible that they were stuck there for 30 minutes without any signals!! we just knew they were gone missing pretty long. Thank goodness the building operations were able to restore power and located them. It was traumatizing for them (one lecturer is even on a wheelchair!).  Have you ever been trapped? I could just imagine how dreadful it is.    where the lecturers and student got stuck for 30 minutes! 😨😲 Psalm 31 is a heartfelt prayer of king David, a man who experienced numerous trials and challenges throughout his life. It's powerful rem...

Quiet time is an important discipline at home. I know it's challenging sometimes with a growing and active boy like David. But we need to show him how we do it and be consistent with it. It's good that he would copy us most of the time.  Even before Vandy and I met each other, having an alone time with God has always been our habit. God has proven much of his answers through our solitude with Him. This discipline has kept us stronger when we come together (in our marriage and raising our son). We have a lot to surrender to God. I love how God would give clarity when we reflect on His word as He leads us to a deeper understanding even to those hard to comprehend situations - He would give us peace! even on his nebulizer, David is still committed to spend time with God 💪👍 God's word is alive and active! It's essential for our growth and development without God's word we won't be able to live (to be righteous and holy for God) Quiet time: Reading the scripture to...

I know that life can get busy and overwhelming at times. As a pastor’s wife here in Cambodia, between ministry, family, and personal responsibilities, it can be easy to overlook the small, daily habits that build a healthy spiritual and physical life. However, it’s often the little things we do every day that lead to lasting transformation. By God’s grace, I’m continuing to commit myself to growth. Yes it’s challenging and overwhelming, but I realized the more things get busier having a routine is helpful to set priorities and get things done – not my way but God’s. Early on in my walk with God, I have committed myself to creating goals to practice spiritual discipline. My life is not mine, it’s not my own to live. I need to know my Savior. It’s always a daily surrender to Him. I am not trying to be perfect because nobody is. What I am trying to share is I can’t depend on myself, since I am always bound to fail. These specific and simple daily goals are helping me to grow spiritually...

David is so hands on preparing for Sunday school - he's the one who arrange the chairs and tables and lay down the crafts. Sunday School prep: As you know over the weekend, David and I did some crafts to prepare for the Easter so kids could do something at church. Our David was so excited and really has planned to share about God. 👉 Saturday Solitude The next day Easter, however , there were not any kids joined the church and it made super David upset and cried. I saw how he struggled dealing with it. His repetitive words and tears kept on "I am sad and upset why didn't they come today?" Our comforting words didn't matter anything 😌😓 I thought he would do some meltdown during the worship singing. But thank God, he just stood there with us (and of course with pouting lips and continuous tears flowing). Normally, if our words would not matter to him, we would reprimand/ bring him to go somewhere else first to process that feeling and will have a good talking abou...

Have you been following what is happening in the Gulf countries lately? Many civilians have been stranded at the airport in Dubai . Several countries in the Middle East have been intercepting attacks from Iran. The tension connected to Israel and the United States has caused fear and confusion. News updates keep coming. The world feels restless again. As a family, we have been praying. There are moments when I read the headlines and quietly whisper, Lord, not again. It seems the world does not rest from war. One conflict ends and another begins. Nations rage. Leaders respond. Civilians suffer. Families wait in airports. Mothers hold their children not knowing what tomorrow looks like. But praise God. He is our peace despite the unrest. In times like this, I am reminded why spiritual discipline is not optional for us as believers. It is not something we do only when life is calm. It is what keeps us steady when life is not. Our anchor verse has been Psalm 143 verse 8. “Let me hear of y...