Putting on Love

Encouraging Words with Pastor Bruce & Suzi Elman

What does love look like? For this, we have to look at ABBA THE FATHER!   

1 John 4:8 says GOD is love. He knows nothing else! We see throughout Scripture the love YESHUA had for all people and how He handled Himself when they came up against Him and how He behaved during trials. Love puts up with anything and never gives up.

Love is not a feeling; it’s a decision we make. It’s seen when we treat people the way GOD instructs us to treat others! And it doesn’t matter how we feel!

Colossians 3:14
Above all, clothe yourself with love, which binds us all together in perfect harmony.             

When we choose to love, even the unlovable, we are honoring and glorifying GOD! Let the Holy Spirit lead you; ask Him to put someone on your heart today that needs to feel loved. It will return back to you many times over!

Love & Blessings,

Pastor Bruce and Suzi Elman

L’Chaim Messianic Congregation

Adjusting

Encouraging Words with Pastor Bruce & Suzi Elman

Our Abba FATHER desires to be involved in every aspect of our life. He gives clear direction in His Word so that we can understand what His will is for every circumstance we encounter! By walking in the center of GOD’S will, we accomplish that which we were created to do. Inevitably, we also experience life at it’s best!                                     

As imperfect humans, we will not automatically be in GOD’S will, and so we must make an effort to seek His way and live according to Biblical precepts. 

GOD is immutable! He is not going to change to suit us. That means we must make whatever adjustments are necessary in order to be obedient to His Word.

Colossians 3:1-2
Since you have been raised to new life with MESSIAH, set your sights on the realities of Heaven, where MESSISH sits in the place of honor at God’s right hand. Think about the things of Heaven, not the things of earth.                    

GOD directs all believers in the way we are to go because He is perfect in all wisdom and knowledge and always knows what is best for us at all times. Only obedient living makes it possible to attain genuine fulfillment!

Love & Blessings,

Pastor Bruce and Suzi Elman

L’Chaim Messianic Congregation

Hear My Voice (A Devotional)

Encouraging Words with Pastor Bruce & Suzi Elman

STOP WORRYING LONG ENOUGH to hear My voice. I speak softly to you, in the depths of your being. Your mind shuttles back and forth, hither and yon, weaving webs of anxious confusion. As My thoughts rise up within you, they become entangled in those sticky webs of worry. Thus, My voice is muffled, and you hear only white noise.

Ask My Spirit to quiet your mind so that you can think My thoughts. This ability is an awesome benefit of being My child, patterned after My own image. Do not be deafened by the noise of the world or that of your own thinking. Instead, be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Sit quietly in My Presence, letting My thoughts reprogram your thinking.

And that you may love the Lord your God, listen to his voice, and hold fast to him. For the Lord is your life, and he will give you many years in the land he swore to give to your fathers, Abraham, Isaac and Jacob.

—Deuteronomy 30:20

 

So God created man in his own image, in the image of God he created him; male and female he created them.

—Genesis 1:27

 

Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will.

—Romans 12:2

 

Love & Blessings,

Pastor Bruce and Suzi Elman

L’Chaim Messianic Congregation

What About Me?

Encouraging Words with Pastor Bruce & Suzi Elman

A Most Blessed day to you from Pastor Bruce & Suzi!     

In our Scripture today, Apostle Paul is telling us how to avoid strife through the spirit of humility by regarding others as better than ourselves. We should always be on the lookout for the interests and welfare of others more than our own and do nothing from conceit or empty arrogance.

We are to imitate our Savior, YESHUA, having the same humble mind that He displayed!

This can be a difficult challenge because our flesh wants to shout: “But what about me?!?” 

But, if we resist our flesh and are obedient to these instructions, by humbling ourselves, being willing to put the needs of others before ours, we will then live in harmony, and therefore, be pleasing unto the LORD!

Philippians 2:3-4
Let nothing be done through selfish ambition or conceit, but in lowliness of mind let each esteem others better than himself. Let each of you look out not only for his own interests but also for the interests of others.

When we put the needs of others before our own, we are pleasing our ABBA FATHER and at the same time honoring His Word! 

Pleasing GOD always brings with it great joy and peace! Yes! 

In Yeshua’s Name. Amen.  

With lots of prayers, love & hugs, Shalom! 

Pastor Bruce & Suzi Elman

L’Chaim Messianic Congregation

Rock-Solid Self-Image

Encouraging Words with Pastor Bruce & Suzi Elman

Emotional needs can be every bit as acute as bodily needs! The desire for love, acceptance and a sense of safety were instilled in us by the LORD. These necessities are what cause us to seek out friendships, marriages, and ultimately, a relationship with our heavenly FATHER. 

And at the root of all our heart needs is the longing to feel valued!

Without a solid sense of self-worth, we can’t fully receive love and acceptance. We can’t feel safe or at rest. We turn to loved ones and friends for the proving of our value through verbal assurance or displays of loyalty. But this doesn’t work! Why? Other people’s judgements and acts of love make for a yo-yo-like self-image; it will be up and then down. 

But, on the cross, YESHUA gave us the only accurate assurance of our significance in this world.                                      

Romans 5:8
But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were still sinners, MESSIAH died for us.

A rock-solid self image is rooted in the recognition of who we are in MESSIAH ! We are His beloved and redeemed children of the Most High GOD!

 

Love & Blessings,

Pastor Bruce and Suzi Elman

L’Chaim Messianic Congregation