Being Still

Encouraging Words with Pastor Bruce & Suzi Elman

Temptation, trials and suffering – we’ve all experienced them! Even as Messianic believers (sometimes, specifically because we are believers), we must endure pain, whether through loss, bankruptcy, unemployment or broken relationships!

While no one is immune to hard times, believers are empowered through the Holy Spirit to endure them. Our verse today tells us to “be still” and know who GOD is! This indicates that our best response to disappointment is to trust in the LORD! When troubles come (and they will come), it’s real easy to get caught up in our emotions, but we need to be wise in the Word of GOD and learn to be still and wait on the One who can work it all out for our good (Rom. 8:28), check it out.

{Psalm 46:10 Be still and know that I am God and I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth… }

While on this earth, troubles won’t ever vanish (John 16:33). But, when storms are brewing on the horizon, buckle up and trust GOD to guide you through!

Love & Blessings,

Bruce & Suzi Elman

L’Chaim Messianic Congregation

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Life’s Pauses

Encouraging Words with Pastor Bruce & Suzi Elman

In this hurry-up world, no one likes waiting for anything (green lights, long lines, even our microwaves)! We want what we want and we want it instantly! Yet, Scripture insists that we learn some of the most important lessons during “life’s pauses!”

Long lines and waiting rooms can be hard to endure, but GOD promises to use the delays in life for our blessings if we let Him. The rewards for waiting patiently on the LORD to move in our circumstances are great!

As our scripture today tells us, those who wait on the LORD will gain new strength. So while our impatience drains us, actively waiting on GOD is energizing!

{Is. 40:31…But those who wait on the Lord shall renew their strength, they shall mount up with wings like eagles, they shall run and not be weary, they shall walk and not faint}…                                  

Let’s keep in mind GOD uses delays to sift our motives and strengthen our faith. When we choose to wait, He rewards us with blessings both large and unexpected!

Love & Blessings,

Bruce & Suzi Elman

L’Chaim Messianic Congregation

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It’s a Matter of Trust

Encouraging Words with Pastor Bruce & Suzi Elman

Do you find yourself asking GOD what He is doing in your life and in your walk with Him, not understanding? Well, if we always understood, we would have no need for trust!

You may find yourself asking questions like, “What does my future hold or will I ever see my breakthrough?”

We have to learn to trust our heavenly FATHER, especially when we don’t understand His ways or what might be happening in our lives! We need to become comfortable with the unanswered questions. We need to relax and get comfortable trusting and believing GOD (the One who does know).

Make it a habit of trusting! Even if you can see one step ahead of you; take that step with the guide of the Holy Spirit and then trust ABBA to show you the next one.  

{Isaiah 55:8-9… For My thoughts are not your thoughts, nor are your ways My ways, says the Lord. For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are My ways higher than your ways and My thoughts than your thoughts… }           

If your answer is delayed, trust and know His timing is perfect. GOD’S thoughts and ways are not ours and His are higher and wiser, even when you don’t understand.

Love & Blessings,

Bruce & Suzi Elman

L’Chaim Messianic Congregation

Click here to read more blogs from Pastor Bruce & Suzi

Lighting Our Path

Encouraging Words with Pastor Bruce & Suzi Elman

We are to trust the Bible’s accuracy! It is meant to have a positive influence on our conversation, conduct, and character.

When on the earth, Yeshua, the son of GOD, affirmed the validity of the Old Testament by using it! After His resurrection, He explained what Moses and the prophets said about Him (Luke 24:27). Then He promised the disciples that the Ruach Hakodesh would enlighten their minds and jog their memories (John 14:26). This ensured the New Testament’s accuracy!

Like a well that never runs dry, the Bible offers a fresh taste of living water each time we open it. We could only skim its surface even by reading it in one’s lifetime! Over time, various leaders have tried in vain to destroy it or restrict access to it!   

(Psalm 119:105…Your Word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path… )

The Scriptures are the LORD’S way of revealing Himself to humanity. Even though throughout history, there have been many that tried to destroy its meaning, it is still the most loved book in the world and keeps winning hearts to MESSIAH YESHUA! Is it lighting your path today?

Love & Blessings,

Bruce & Suzi Elman

L’Chaim Messianic Congregation

Click here to read more blogs from Pastor Bruce & Suzi

Pressing Forward

Encouraging Words with Pastor Bruce & Suzi Elman

We have an enemy, his name is Satan and he hates us because we are GOD’S children, created in GOD’S image and we have fellowship with Him!

Satan wants us to always be looking at how far we have fallen; rather than how far we have come in our walk with Yeshua!

Remember, Satan is a liar and there is no truth in him (John 8:44). He is the father of lies! He always wants our focus to be on our past instead of our future and how far we still have to go; rather than how far we have come!
He wants our mind filled with how many times we failed instead of how many times we have succeeded!

But, our heavenly FATHER wants us to focus on our strengths, not our weaknesses, our victories, not our failures and not our problems, but our blessing.

Philippians 3:13-14 “Brethren, I do not count myself to have apprehended, but one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind and reaching forward to those things which are ahead, I press toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Messiah Yeshua… “

Let’s keep our eyes focused on Yeshua and don’t ever believe the lies of Satan!

Love & Blessings,

Bruce & Suzi Elman

L’Chaim Messianic Congregation

Click here to read more blogs from Pastor Bruce & Suzi