Enjoying Life

Encouraging Words with Pastor Bruce & Suzi Elman

The good things in life are not the result of material possessions or position held. They are based on one thing—a personal relationship with the Savior of the world, MESSIAH YESHUA!

When our hearts are set on fulfilling our desires rather than His, we experience trouble, heartaches and frustration! Many may say, “I just want to enjoy life, can I do this and also give my life to Yeshua MESSIAH?” Absolutely! In fact, the only way to experience lasting joy and contentment is through an intimate relationship with YESHUA!

Apart from Him there is only emptiness of soul and spirit!

Matthew 6:19-20
“Do not lay up for yourself treasures on earth where moth and rust destroy and where thieves break in and steal; but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys and where thieves do not break in and steal.” (NKJV)

While the world rushes after material gain and social position, the Word instructs us (believers) to seek first the Kingdom of GOD and His righteousness and these things shall be added to you (Matthew 6:33). 

Let’s not risk the greatest opportunity we could ever be given—a personal loving relationship with the GOD of this universe! Wow! Yes! “PTL!”

With lots of prayers🙏🙏, love ❤️ & hugs, 

Shalom!

Pastor Bruce & Suzi

L’Chaim Messianic Congregation

It’s All About Attitude

Encouraging Words with Pastor Bruce & Suzi Elman

In this life, your attitude makes all the difference. It can be your best friend or your worst enemy! Everyday we have trials and tests we all go through, but how we go through these trials and tests has a lot to do with their outcome! 

Keep in mind we have a very real enemy, “satan”, who roams around like a roaring lion seeking whom he may devour (1 Peter 5:8). But he can never defeat a person who has an abiding faith in Messiah Yeshua, which certainly ought to produce a good attitude! An attitude of gratitude!  

As Messianic believers, we should always show others a good attitude; because if we claim to be believers in Messiah Yeshua,  you better believe people are watching us! Just because of that, our attitude is very important! 

Our attitude will either draw people to us or push people away from us! GOD’S Word tells us we are to be the light in a dark world ( and there is much darkness today), so let your light so shine to lead others to MESSIAH!                                    

Philippians 2:5
Let this same attitude and purpose and mind be in you which was in MESSIAH YESHUA.

Next time a situation arrives in your life, take the time to STOP 🛑 & THINK: “What would  YESHUA’S attitude be?” 

Why? Because the world around you is watching to see how a believer in Yeshua would handle that!!

 

Love & Blessings,

Bruce and Suzi Elman

L’Chaim Messianic Congregation

Dangerous Idols

Encouraging Words with Pastor Bruce & Suzi Elman

Jealousy is typically a negative emotion. Our verse today says our GOD is a jealous GOD! This describes GOD’S vigilance in guarding our love for Him. Since we were created to love the LORD and be loved by Him, anything that competes for our devotion simply does not fit our life’s purpose.       

The most important mission of life is to love GOD with all our heart, soul, strength and mind (Luke 10:27). Without complete devotion to Him, we would pursue our own interests and neglect godly principles and goals. 

No idol whether it is a person, dream or an item is worthy of worship! But a holy and just GOD—whose love for mankind moved Him to send YESHUA, His Son, to die in our place—deserves our total loyalty and surrender.               

Deuteronomy 5:9A
You must not bow down to them or worship them, for I, the Lord your God, am a jealous God who will not tolerate your affection for any other gods.                              

GOD hates idols because He knows they are dangerous for us. They are a sure way of causing us to stumble and become ensnared in sin and forfeit our blessings! For our protection and His glory, let’s be true to our surrender and loyalty to our GOD!

Love & Blessings,

Bruce and Suzi Elman

L’Chaim Messianic Congregation

Uplifting Love

Encouraging Words with Pastor Bruce & Suzi Elman

True love is more than a feeling! Whether or not thinking about someone causes a warm sensation inside us is immaterial! Feelings are fickle—they can easily change when the other person does something unpleasant to hurt us!

Unconditional love, on the other hand, is a decision, and GOD has chosen to love us for who we are right now, without expecting anything in return. There are no strings attached and no fine print. 

Our ABBA FATHER wants us to show others the same accepting and uplifting love that He has for us! 

Actually, as we see in today’s verse, it’s a commandment given to us by YESHUA.

John 13:34
A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another; as I have loved you, that you also love one another.

GOD commands us to love Him and one another. Righteous behavior, including acts of service, encouraging words and prayer should come forth from our commitment to obey our almighty GOD! This will please Him, and at the same time, we will be sharing with others His precious love!

 

Love & Blessings,

Bruce and Suzi Elman

L’Chaim Messianic Congregation

Read more blogs from Pastor Bruse and Suzi HERE!

Act of Love

Encouraging Words with Pastor Bruce & Suzi Elman

We are in a war and the Bible teaches us that the weapons of our warfare are not carnal (natural) but are mighty through GOD for pulling down of strongholds: our Scripture today…

2 Corinthians 10:4

“For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal but mighty in God for pulling down strongholds…”

We need to get rid of wrong thinking: selfish, self-centered thinking! We need to forget about ourselves, our problems and start doing for others, even while we are going through our own trials! This is how we overcome evil! YESHUA, being our example, while on the cross in intense suffering took time to comfort the thief hanging beside Him (Luke 23:42-43). When Paul and Silas were in prison after GOD sent the earthquake to break their chains and open the prison doors, they remained to minister to their captors. They could have thought of themselves and run, but because of this act of love toward their fellowman (the captor and his family), all were born again, becoming believers in MESSIAH YESHUA! 

What battles in your life today need to be fought with an act of love?

 

Love & Blessings,

Pastor Bruce and Suzi Elman

L’Chaim Messianic Congregation