Approval of Others

Encouraging Words with Pastor Bruce & Suzi Elman

In YESHUA’s day, many leaders who were believers in YESHUA would not confess their faith to others. They were hindered from a relationship with YESHUA because they cared too much about other people’s approval.

In our verse today we see Joshua was bold about his belief in FATHER GOD! Whether other people agreed or not; serving and following GOD is the only way to live a fulfilling and victorious MESSIANIC JEWISH life.

We need to realize that not everyone is going to like us and if we live our lives worrying about what other people think, we will never take risks and stretch our faith into new realms, beyond our highest prayers, desires, thoughts, hopes and dreams!

Joshua 24:15A Choose for yourself this day whom you will serve, but as for me and my house, we will serve the Lord. 

Don’t let anyone steal from you what YESHUA died to give you—the freedom to follow the leading of the Holy Spirit for you as an individual! As you follow the RUACH HAKODESH leading, I guarantee that He will lead you into a rewarding life!

 

Love & Blessings,

Bruce and Suzi Elman

L’Chaim Messianic Congregation

Living in the Power of Praise

Encouraging Words with Pastor Bruce & Suzi Elman

As we move into a life of praise, we soon discover that praise builds on itself! The more we praise GOD, the more desire we have to praise Him even more.

With praise,  we develop a growing awareness of GOD’S nature, power & majesty! When we intentionally let praise come from our lips, we cannot help but become awestruck by GOD’S sovereignty, holiness and power. The more we praise Him, the greater our desire becomes. As we praise Him, we encounter His providence, grace, glory and want to continue.

Praising GOD:

  • changes our lives.
  • increases our faith.
  • opens our eyes to His awesome nature and work upon this earth.
  • supplies power to resist the attacks of our enemy.
  • changes adverse circumstances.    

Psalm 150:6 Let everything that breathes sing praises to the Lord. Praise the Lord!

As we draw to the end of our time of embarking on the power of praise, let me encourage you to let praise become part of who you are—you’ll never be the same again and you’ll never want to stop!

 

Love & Blessings,

Bruce and Suzi Elman

L’Chaim Messianic Congregation

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Hope of Glory

Encouraging Words with Pastor Bruce & Suzi Elman

As we go through difficult times—like a ship in a storm—we need help to remain steady, just as our scripture for today that says “…the anchor of our soul is hope…”

Hebrews 6:19 “This hope we have as an anchor of the soul, both sure and steadfast, and which enters the Presence behind the veil…”

When we base our hope firmly on GOD and His Word, we may feel the wind and waves, but in the end we will not be moved. During the storms of life, hope gives us the ability to look at things as they are and still be confident that something better is coming! That makes hope a very powerful and important quality for you and me to have—especially in times of troubles!

May hope, the foundation that our faith is built upon, be your anchor today through MESSIAH YESHUA, who is our “Hope of Glory.”

Colossians 1:27 “To them God willed to make known what are the riches of the glory of this mystery among the Gentiles: which is Messiah in you, the hope of glory.”

 

Love & Blessings,

Bruce and Suzi Elman

L’Chaim Messianic Congregation

God’s Appointment Time

Encouraging Words with Pastor Bruce & Suzi Elman

Our mind plans based on what we know and think, but GOD often leads us in an entirely different direction. We only know a little and we base our plans on what we know, but GOD knows everything; He is sovereign, all powerful and all knowing. He knows the end from the beginning; He is the Alpha and the Omega! He will always direct our steps in what will ultimately work out for our best if we will cooperate with Him, walking in trust!

GOD’s ways may not always be quick or according to our desires, but He does have an appointed time and it will always be the right time (Proverbs 16:25).

In other words, GOD has an appointment with your circumstances, with your breakthrough and your answers  to your prayers!

Proverbs 16:9 A man’s mind plans his way, but the Lord directs his steps and makes them sure.

Only GOD knows the opportune time for everything and if we truly believe He loves us then why can’t we trust Him with His timing? Let’s appreciate our lives and wait peacefully on the LORD!

 

Love & Blessings,

Bruce and Suzi Elman

L’Chaim Messianic Congregation

Attitude of Greatness          

Encouraging Words with Pastor Bruce & Suzi Elman

 I believe there are three keys that contribute to the making of great men and women: humility, obedience and integrity.

Developing an attitude of humility is the foundation for greatness! Even YESHUA, who was the Son of GOD, walked in humility, being equal with GOD, He became a servant (Philippians 2:6-7). Then YESHUA walked in obedience by doing whatever ABBA told Him, no matter the cost (even to the point of death on Calvary’s hill. Philippians 2:8)!

Now, integrity is vital if we are going to be a servant GOD can trust. So, if we humble ourselves before GOD, develop a habit of obedience and choose to walk in integrity in every area of life, we will be on our way to showing the world around us what really makes a great man or woman.

Matthew 20:26 Yet it shall not be so among you; but whoever desires to become great among you let him be your servant.

The world’s way of measuring greatest is how many people serve you, but GOD measures greatness by how many people you serve!

Love & Blessings,

Bruce and Suzi Elman

L’Chaim Messianic Congregation

What are you Seeking?

Encouraging Words with Pastor Bruce & Suzi Elman

If you could ask for only one thing, what would it be? Maybe a new car or a brand new house, or perhaps a new relationship, etc.?

Yet, the very one thing that we all really need is to seek and find YESHUA and to really get to know our almighty GOD!

Each one of us has a God-shaped hole on the inside and nothing can fill it except GOD Himself! No matter what else we try to fill it with, we will remain empty and frustrated. King David (a man after God’s own heart) tells us that more than anything else he wanted to know GOD and to seek Him and dwell in His presence! Let’s read together what King David said.

Psalm 27:4 “One thing I have desired of the Lord, that will I seek; that I may dwell in the house of the Lord all the days of my life, to behold the beauty of the Lord and to inquire in His temple…”

Investing our life in GOD is the very best thing we could ever do! Ask yourself this question today: “Do you really know your heavenly FATHER or just know of Him?

Love & Blessings,

Bruce and Suzi Elman

L’Chaim Messianic Congregation