Abba Hears Our Cries

Encouraging Words with Pastor Bruce & Suzi Elman

Discouragement can cloud our thinking and give us a divided mind (some of the external causes). Today, let’s look at some spiritual causes which can take us by surprise!

Satan, being the primary instigator wants us to lose heart, think poorly of ourselves and focus only on the negative!

Then next is unanswered prayers; when a prayer is answered “no or not yet”, we can begin to lose hope!

Some get so disappointed they give up praying altogether; while failing to understand GOD’S sovereignty and that His timing is not always our timing! Cutting off communication with the LORD is a sure way into even deeper discouragement!

Psalm 40:1-2
I waited patiently for the Lord; and He inclined to me and heard my cry. He also brought me up out of the horrible pit, out of miry clay and set my feet upon a rock and established my steps.

Let’s not be taken by surprise by our enemy and lose heart! Never let Satan get a stronghold on us; knowing ABBA hears our cries and His love for us is based on His own grace, not our deeds!

Love & Blessings,

Pastor Bruce & Suzi Elman

L’Chaim Messianic Congregation

Count It All Joy

Encouraging Words with Pastor Bruce & Suzi Elman

Discouragement is one of Satan’s most effective weapons; he knows that if he can destroy our courage, we’ll be ineffective in accomplishing anything for MESSIAH!!

A divided mind will always be the result of discouragement, affecting every area of our lives and the decisions we make! No matter what we’re doing, it feels as if a dark cloud covers our entire thought life. Discouragement also leads to the “blame game,” where we feel a deep need to point a finger at someone else.

You may even want to blame GOD because He’s allowing these painful circumstances! Blame is always an empty activity; no healing ever came from blaming anyone else for your hardship!

James 1:2-3 My brethren, count it all joy when you fall into various trials, knowing that the testing of your faith produces patience…

Blame and resentment will act like a cancer that will slowly spread and destroy your life! Let’s short circuit the work of Satan and pray to ABBA to cleanse our hearts!

Love & Blessings,

Bruce & Suzi Elman

L’Chaim Messianic Congregation

Priorities

Encouraging Words with Pastor Bruce & Suzi Elman

The Old Covenant tells us idolatry is a serious issue, but in our modern world, not many give that much thought!

The worship of idols may seem ancient, but the truth is, all of us will struggle with this heart issue!

Modern idols can come in many different forms, such as a relationship, position or title, possessions, etc! When we depend on or give priority to anything besides the LORD, it becomes our God!

Does something in your life have a higher value than the LORD?

One accurate measure of priorities is the use of our time.

Do you reserve a part of each day for time spent with GOD? On what or whom do you depend; do you rely on GOD for strength & provision or on yourself or others?

Matt. 6:24 No one can serve two masters; for either he will hate the one & love the other, or else he will be loyal to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve God & mammon.

We must make up our minds (double-mindedness never works)! If we believe our GOD is the one true GOD, then give Him your whole life, be faithful & serve Him and only Him!

Love & Blessings,

Pastor Bruce & Suzi Elman

L’Chaim Messianic Congregation

God’s Way Is the Best Way

Encouraging Words with Pastor Bruce & Suzi Elman

Decisions—they are constantly before us! You probably have decisions presently on your plate – some may be minor & some major! Regardless of size, they will impact your life and also the lives of others.

When it comes to choices, we need to pray and ask GOD what He has to say about it. GOD clearly says in His Word (Psalm 25) that He desires to lead our life and always wants to help us make the best choices!

One thing you can be sure of, GOD will never direct you to make a choice that is contrary to His Word. The Bible is the ultimate “road atlas” ever printed! The choice He wants for you is one that will lead to life and will have His fingerprints of peace all over it!

Psalm 25:4-5 “Show me Your ways, O Lord; teach me Your paths. Lead me in Your truth & teach me, for You are the God of my salvation; on You I wait all the day.”

Abba leads us gently; He never pushes or pressures us to do anything. His yoke is easy; His burden is light (Matt. 11:30).

Blessings,

In Yeshua’s wonderful matchless name,

Pastor Bruce  & Suzi Elman
L’Chaim Messianic Congregation
Lake Worth FL

Fret Not—God IS in Control

Encouraging Words with Pastor Bruce & Suzi Elman

Ever wonder if God is really in control or if life “just happens?”

I assure you, even in the midst of what seems to be swirling chaos, everything IS in “God’s providential control.” He knows every hair on your head!

And, He knows us better than we know ourselves.  Charles Spurgeon calls Gen. 37-50 a “chain of circumstances” that HAD to HAPPEN to Joseph in a specific way and timing for God’s plan to unfold exactly as He planned. Spurgeon offers us these questions:

  • Why did Jacob want to send Joseph?
  • Why were Joseph’s brothers on this particular day in a different location?
  • Why did the Ishmaelites come along at that moment?
  • Why were they in the mood to purchase a slave?
  • Why were they going to Egypt and not some other destination?
  • Why did Potiphar purchase Joseph?
  • Why did his wife have designs on Joseph?
  • Why were the baker and the cupbearer in the prison when Joseph was there?
  • Why couldn’t Pharoah understand his dream?
  • Why did the cupbearer first forget Joseph and later remember him?

Spurgeon points out that every one of these events HAD to happen in the exact way at the exact time they occurred for Joseph to be where he had to be, when he had to be, which resulted in his family going to Egypt to be preserved during the famine in Canaan.  Spurgeon goes on to say, “God is to be seen in little things”, and he says all the foregoing seemingly random details are, “minutiae of Providence.”

God cares about you more than He does about sparrows! God cares about every tiny detail of your life, He made, knows and loves every subatomic particle of you, and He shed His sin-free blood to ransom you! Oh, yes! “PTL!”

Love & Blessings,

Pastor Bruce & Suzi Elman

L’Chaim Messianic Congregation