Valleys and Mountaintops

Encouraging Words with Pastor Bruce & Suzi Elman

GOD allowed the Israelites to wander in the wilderness so long to teach them that man does not live by bread alone (worldly things) but by His promises!

See, GOD met their basic needs (manna), but they were a long way from having their desires fulfilled!

GOD wants to teach us like the Israelites that our true life is in Him and not in worldly things. 

He allows us to go through trials so we can learn that doing things His way is the best way! 

If we do not serve and worship Him in hard times (valleys), we won’t in good times (mountaintops)! 

He wants to bless us with our desires, but He demands first place in our lives at all times!

Deut. 8:3

So He humbled you, allowed you to hunger and fed you with manna, which you did not know nor did your fathers know, that He might make you know that man shall not live by bread alone, but man lives by every word that proceeds from the mouth of the Lord.

Whether you are in a valley or on a mountaintop, in want or all your needs are met, worship the Lord! 

Keep GOD first in your life, and you will be amazed at what He will do for you.

Love & Blessings,

Bruce and Suzi Elman

L’Chaim Messianic Congregation

I’m a Citizen of Heaven!

Encouraging Words with Pastor Bruce & Suzi Elman

Earth isn’t our everlasting home. Our citizenship is in heaven. Together we eagerly wait for YESHUA to come and take us to live with Him forever. In the meantime, we have direct access to God through the Holy SPIRIT. When days are long and nights are painful, we can remember where our real home is. This life of ups and downs are only temporary. In the loving arms of YESHUA, we can find grace and mercy in time of need.

We are united with our Savior. I am one in spirit with Him, and so are you! YESHUA doesn’t call us His servants; as a matter of fact, he calls us His friends. He tells us that servants do not know what the Master’s business is. “I have called you friend, for everything that I learned from my Father, I have made known to you” (John 15:15).

YESHUA is with us while we wait for His return. It’s important that we spend time in His Word and learn who He says we are. We are His children, and for God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in HIM shall not perish but have eternal life (John 3:16).

This world is not our home and for many MESSIANIC JEWISH BELIEVERS, we feel like we don’t belong. The hard truth is that we don’t belong here. We belong with MESSIAH in the heavenly places. The good news is that we can have heavenly moments with MESSIAH now! It’s in these times we find His strength to help us carry on.

Inspired by author—Lisa Brown

 

Love & Blessings,

Bruce and Suzi Elman

L’Chaim Messianic Congregation

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

Click here to read more blogs from Pastor Bruce & Suzi

Stay Calm

Encouraging Words with Pastor Bruce & Suzi Elman

When trouble times come your way, do you stay calm? Our carnal tendencies are to fear, worry and try to do something ourselves to fix the situation! We need to learn to control our emotions so we can act wisely and pray about it in faith!

As in our scripture today we see Moses had to help the Israelites calm down! As they were being chased by Pharaoh’s army straight into the Red Sea, death seemed certain; they wished they had stayed in Egypt as slaves. Moses, reassuring them not to be afraid, told them to watch what GOD was going to do for them. And we know the ending; GOD parted the Red Sea and they escaped what they thought was a sure death!

Well, the same miracle working GOD is on your side today and He still fights for His people.

Exodus 14:13A-14 Moses said to the people, Do not be afraid. Stand still and see the salvation of the Lord, which He will accomplish for you today. The Lord will fight for you and you shall hold your peace…

If you are a believer in Messiah Yeshua, then in times of troubles your only job is to simply hold your peace, stay calm and GOD will do the rest!

Love & Blessings,

Bruce & Suzi Elman

L’Chaim Messianic Congregation

Click here to read more blogs from Pastor Bruce & Suzi

BLAME GAME

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