Expressing Gratitude

Encouraging Words with Pastor Bruce & Suzi Elman

What motivates us to express gratitude to ABBA THE FATHER? We often  remember to thank Him when something positive happens in our life, but our verse of the day tells us to give thanks in all things, which would include difficult times as well as happier circumstances. That may seem illogical to some of us, but it is not!                                           

Even though life may be difficult, our hope and joy remain because we serve the eternal omniscient, omnipotent GOD of love! We need to remember that our gratitude magnifies the LORD.   He is pleased when we obediently thank Him, even in very difficult times, such as what we have to endure now in this upside down world. 

Our thankfulness also reinforces our faith! Recalling His faithfulness in the past equips us to face our future!

1 Thessalonians 5:18
In everything give thanks for this is the will of God in MESSIAH YESHUA for you.

It’s easy to be grateful when we receive something we have desired for a long time. But, GOD wants us to express thanksgiving in everything! Meditate on His goodness, love and care, faithfulness, sovereignty and pure promises, always offering Him thanks in all! 

Yes! “PTL!” 

In Yeshua’s Name. Amen. 

With lots of prayers, love & hugs,

Shalom! 

Pastor Bruce & Suzi

L’Chaim Messianic Congregation

The Lord Supplies

Encouraging Words with Pastor Bruce & Suzi Elman

But my God shall supply all your needs according to His riches in glory by Messiah Yeshua!
Philippians 4:19

We have God, as our Father, who is able to provide for us with ease. This is why we do not panic when troubling situations come. Think of all the troubling situations that have come your way these past 6-7 months with this Covid-19 pandemic scourge on the earth. This is all in the past now. This shows you that God will always settle your situations, no matter what. Your only focus should be trusting in God. Nothing else.

Prayer:

Dear God, I thank You that I can move in this life freely knowing that all I need has been met. I do not count any troubling situations as life-defining because you will always get me through them.

Thank you, Lord. 

In Yeshua’s name, I pray. Amen.

Love & Blessings,

Bruce and Suzi Elman

L’Chaim Messianic Congregation

Be Forgiving

Encouraging Words with Pastor Bruce & Suzi Elman

 I am sure you are familiar with the parable of the unjust servant.  The servant in this story owes the king a lot of money, but when he begs the king for mercy and promises to pay it all back if he will just give him a little more time, the king forgives the debt.  

Then the servant sees another servant who owes him a little bit of money (nowhere near the amount he owed the king!), and he demands that the servant pay him back immediately. When the servant begs for more time, he refuses and has him put into prison until he can pay back the full amount.  

The other servants are horrified at his behavior and tell the king what has happened.  The king calls in the servant and has him turned over to the “tormentors” until he can pay back the full amount.  

Any offense against God is a major offense, and yet God has forgiven us, and forgives us over and over again.  We pray the model Prayer asking God to forgive us AS we forgive others.  I’m not sure we mean it.  

Is there someone we still can’t forgive?  I’m not saying anything about forgetting.  Have we asked God to help us forgive?  The problem here is that a lack of forgiveness does nothing for the person not forgiven, but it can keep us from moving on in life spiritually healthy.  In our families, it can keep brothers and sisters or  parents and children apart, causing problems for generations.  Let us be more like the King and less like the unworthy servant. 

 

PRAYER:

Loving and forgiving God, sometimes there are people in our lives who have hurt us deeply and whom we find it hard to forgive.  Please help us to forgive so that we may have peace in our hearts.  In Yeshua’s Name. Amen. 

With lots of prayers & love,

Pastor Bruce and Suzi Elman

L’Chaim Messianic Congregation

Finishing with Joy

Encouraging Words with Pastor Bruce & Suzi Elman

Beginning something is easy, but finishing takes courage. In the early stages of something new, we get all excited about it, so we have a lot of emotions to support us. But when the emotions wear off and all that’s left is a lot of hard work and the need for patience, that’s when we find out who really has what it takes to reach a goal and truly succeed.

In GOD’s eyes we aren’t successful if we abandon what He’s called us to do. He wants us to finish and do it with joy! If you have been tempted to give up—don’t!

If you don’t finish the thing you are currently involved in, you will face the same challenges with your next endeavor.

GOD doesn’t promise that finishing everything we start will be easy.   Don’t quit! Rely on GOD’S grace and keep moving toward the finish line until you cross it in victory!

Hebrews 6:11-12
“And we desire that every one of you do shew the same diligence to the full assurance of hope unto the end:

“That ye be not slothful, but followers of them who through faith and patience inherit the promises.”                

Is there any unfinished business in your life? Let’s encourage ourselves to set goals for finishing and be diligent to reach them! 

Yes! In Yeshua’s Name. Amen. 

Yom Tov –

Let’s begin this upcoming new year with these precious jewels!

 

Love & Blessings,

Bruce and Suzi Elman

L’Chaim Messianic Congregation

Spiritual Journey

Encouraging Words with Pastor Bruce & Suzi Elman

 

The life of a FOLLOWER of MESSIAH is a journey; it has stages of growth we need to reach on the way to spiritual maturity.

First: Salvation—we all begin our journey in the same place, spiritually dead and uninterested in what matters to GOD (Ephesians 2:1-2). Only through salvation (accepting YESHUA as your Savior and Lord of your life), can we receive the Holy Spirit, who creates in us a desire to know GOD and His Son! 

As we learn more about our triune GOD, our faith deepens and our hearts will swell with thanksgiving!!!!

That leads to the next step of our journey—serving Him! Our hearts will desire to give back to GOD in appreciation for His grace and mercy toward us!  But then we must focus on GOD’S plan for our life and not our plans. 

We’re to listen attentively to the voice of the Holy Spirit as He brings forth fruit in us (Galatians 5:22-23) to draw us into unity of service with fellow believers. Ephesians 4:15 … but, speaking the truth in love, may grow up in all things unto Him who is the head of His body, the BODY OF BELIEVERS.

Growth is a key principle in a believer’s life. Spiritual maturity begins with salvation and follows with a lifetime commitment to be a servant for GOD. 

Are you dedicated to serving Him? It’s such a great, amazing blessing to know and serve Him! Wow!

 

With lots of prayers, love & shalom,

 

Pastor Bruce and Suzi Elman

L’Chaim Messianic Congregation

Lake Worth, Fl

Battling Faith

Encouraging Words with Pastor Bruce & Suzi Elman

Sometimes we may feel like our  life swings back and forth like a pendulum between faith and doubt! This is a common problem when trying situations come our way. Even though we know what GOD’s Word says, our feelings (the flesh) often tell us something totally different!

The question is not if we will experience this but rather how long we will remain on one side or the other. Three factors determine whether we lean toward faith or doubt: 

(1) Strength of our faith at the time of our trial. 

(2) Our knowledge and understanding of GOD and His Word.

(3) Our experience with failure or success in past trials! 

To grow in faith, it’s really necessary to change not only our focus but also our thinking and listening practices. 

We need to set our mind on GOD’s promises, not our feelings! 

Listen to the voice of the Holy Spirit—not Satan’s lies.

And remember GOD’s past faithfulness in trials!

James 1:6
“But let him ask in faith, with no doubting, for he who doubts is like a wave of the sea driven and tossed by the wind.”

By choosing to walk by faith, it will be possible to bring feelings of doubt, anxiety, fear and anger into true full submission to what we know is true—GOD’s faithfulness will see us through! 

Yes! “PTL!” 

With lots of prayers, love and blessings,

Pastor Bruce and Suzi Elman

L’Chaim Messianic Congregation