A Special Purpose

Encouraging Words with Pastor Bruce & Suzi Elman

Do you know how valuable you are in GOD’S eyes? 

He has made us a special people so that we may fulfill a special purpose. 

GOD created us to praise Him! He wants us to proclaim His greatness! This is an integral part of worshipping the LORD. 

When we worship and praise our FATHER GOD we are applauding Him for who He is and what He has done. When we are praising the LORD, it releases our emotions, which frees us to express unrestrained adoration of the LORD. 

Praising GOD is always good for us. Praise lifts our eyes to the MESSIAH and fills our hearts with the contentment that eludes us when we focus exclusively on our own needs and problems.

Isaiah 43:21
This people I formed for Myself; they shall declare My praise.                  

If your praise lacks vitality, ask the LORD to show you how to extol Him with your whole heart! Look everyday for evidence of how much GOD cares for you, and then tell Him how great He is! 

Praise and honor Him just for who He is: the Creator and Sustainer of the universe!

 

Love & Blessings,

Pastor Bruce and Suzi Elman

L’Chaim Messianic Congregation

God’s Viewpoint

Encouraging Words with Pastor Bruce & Suzi Elman

Our culture is not one that teaches patience! Just watch the frustration of drivers behind a car that doesn’t start moving the instant the traffic light turns green. Because of a two-second delay tempers flare and horns honk! 

Have you ever gotten frustrated with the LORD when He hadn’t answered a prayer according to your time table? 

Have you ever tried to manipulate a situation and present GOD with the solution and then ask for His blessings? 

GOD’S delayed timing from our perspective is perfect timing from His viewpoint! Our omniscient GOD who is the Creator and Ruler of time can never be late! 

Waiting on the LORD will require faith!

Psalm 33:20
Our soul waits for the Lord, He is our help and our shield.

The solution to whatever problem you are facing is in GOD’S hands. By steadfastly clinging to the truth of His love for you, His knowledge of all things and His power over every obstacle, you can put your trust in Him, walking by faith and not by sight. 

When the timing is right, you will see proof of His faithfulness!

 

Love & Blessings,

Pastor Bruce and Suzi Elman

L’Chaim Messianic Congregation

Encourage Yourself

Encouraging Words with Pastor Bruce & Suzi Elman

Do you ever encourage yourself in the LORD? Sometimes, if we don’t encourage ourselves, we don’t receive any encouragement at all. And we all need to be encouraged! We need to be our own encourager through MESSIAH YESHUA.

In our Scripture today, David and his men found themselves in seemingly hopeless circumstances. But David didn’t wait for a pat on the back; he encouraged and strengthened himself in the LORD. 

The key to being able to encourage yourself in the LORD is having confidence in His love, His ways and His Word—you can decide to believe it or not! 

If you do believe, you will have the confidence in GOD, and you can then begin to encourage yourself in and through MESSIAH YESHUA!     

1 Sam. 30:6
Now David was greatly distressed for the people spoke of stoning him, because the souls for all the people were grieved, every man for his sons and daughters. But David strengthened himself in the Lord his GOD.                     

 In what specific ways can you encourage yourself in the LORD today?

 

Love & Blessings,

Pastor Bruce and Suzi Elman

L’Chaim Messianic Congregation

Choose to Forgive

Encouraging Words with Pastor Bruce & Suzi Elman

Did you know there are hindrances to answered prayer? But I truly believe that the number one hindrance is “unforgiveness.”

The Bible contains many Scriptures on the importance of forgiveness. We are to forgive as GOD in MESSIAH forgave us.

Ephesians 4:32
“And be ye kind one to another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God for Christ’s sake hath forgiven you.” 

We live in a fallen world full of imperfect people, and we can’t avoid getting hurt or offended! We will always have a reason to be angry, but unresolved anger will turn to bitterness and unforgiveness, which will hinder our prayers. 

If we want GOD to answer our prayers, let’s go to Him with a pure heart, empty of any anger, resentment or unforgiveness! 

YESHUA made it very clear in our Scripture today; let’s read!

Mark 11:25
And whenever you stand praying, if you have anything against anyone, forgive him, that your Father in Heaven may also forgive you your trespasses.

PLEASE try not to wait till you feel like forgiving; make it an intentional choice to forgive. And remember, forgiveness will set a prisoner free, and that prisoner is you!

 

Love & Blessings,

Pastor Bruce and Suzi Elman

L’Chaim Messianic Congregation

Give Thanks

Encouraging Words with Pastor Bruce & Suzi Elman

Thanksgiving is a great time to express gratitude toward our heavenly FATHER, but it shouldn’t be the only time of the year we do so!   If we’re honest about it, most of us will discover that our prayers are often more self-centered than we’d like to admit!

It’s easy to take for granted and even forget the many blessings GOD has given us and instead focus on the things we want from Him.  

But giving real thanks to our LORD is one of the most important priorities in the believer’s life.  Giving thanks to our heavenly FATHER honors Him, focuses our attention on Him instead of the world’s demands and refreshes our relationship with Him while rejuvenating our spirits!

Psalm 92:1-2
It is good to give thanks to the Lord and sing praises to your name , O Most High; to declare your loving kindness in the morning and your faithfulness every night.

Giving thanks is something we can do any time and any place! 

Why not take a few moments right now to reflect on the greatness of GOD and the gifts He has given us. Let’s begin every day with a song of praise with gratitude in our hearts.

We pray for abundant blessing to be upon you and your loved ones this Thanksgiving celebration! Yes! “PTL!”

 In Yeshua’s Name. Amen.

 

Love & Blessings,

Pastor Bruce and Suzi Elman

L’Chaim Messianic Congregation