Never Alone

L'Chaim Messianic Congregation, Lake Worth Florida, Palm Beaches

Psalm 23:1-4

The LORD is my shepherd, I shall not be in want. He makes me lie down in green pastures, he leads me beside quiet waters, he restores my soul. He guides me in paths of righteousness for his name’s sake. Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for You are with me” (Psalm 23:1-4).

Why the change from “he” to “you”? Because even though the Lord is with us every day, we don’t always feel His presence right beside us. But in the moment of death, we are not left alone. The Lord YESHUA comes for us and walks with us across the Great Divide.

Thank God, I do not have to walk through the valley of the shadow of death alone. For He comes, He enters the room, He stands by the bedside, He reaches down and takes my trembling hand, and He walks with me from this life into life eternal.

The Best Part of the 23rd Psalm

The best two words in Psalm 23 are two little words in verse 4: “You are with me.” The SHEPHERD is no longer up ahead leading the flock. The valley is too dark for that. Now He is walking with us, step by step, walking side by side reassuring His sheep by His calm presence.

If God is with us, we have nothing to fear.

Death casts a frightening shadow over all of life. Visit any hospital or nursing home and you will see the fear on the faces of the patients. Go to a funeral and watch the faces of the mourners. One reason we hate funerals is because we don’t want to face the truth of our own mortality.

We can struggle with many other enemies but we can’t struggle with death. The grim reaper wins every time.

We’ll all eventually go through the valley of the shadow of death. We need a guide to help us find our way through that land of darkness to the light on the other side. Where will we find a guide who can take us through that valley? We’ve got to find someone who’s been there before, who’s gone through Himself, who can take us by the hand and lead us where He’s already been.

The Guide We Need

Who can we get? Where can we find a guide like that? His name is YESHUA! He’s been there before. He knows the way through. He’s been to the light on the other side and He’ll come for us.

But thank God, we don’t walk through that valley alone. YESHUA will walk with us. He’ll lead us through to the other side.

Deep in my soul, I believe that the saints of God have nothing to fear in the moment of death. Though it may not be pleasant or painless, though it comes after long suffering or in a fiery crash, the moment itself will be filled with joy as the Lord himself escorts God’s children through the darkest valley of all. 

At that moment, all other guides must turn back. Only YESHUA Messiah can help us through. And HE does!

From “Keep Believing Ministries”

Blessings,

Pastor Bruce and Suzi Elman

L’Chaim Messianic Congregation meets at:
OASIS CHURCH
16401 SOUTHERN BLVD
WELLINGTON FL 33470

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Healing the Hurts of the Past

L'Chaim Messianic Congregation, Lake Worth Florida, Palm Beaches

Healing the Hurts of the Past

PLEASE READ Genesis Chapters 32 & 33

  1. Sometimes it is more difficult to be forgiven than it is to forgive.
  2. Accepting forgiveness requires deep humility and enormous courage.
  3. As long as we live in fear, we can neither forgive nor be forgiven.
  4. Healing begins when we confess our sins and accept God’s forgiveness.

Is healing possible? Yes.

Is it difficult? Yes.

Will it change the past? No.

What will forgiveness do? It sets us free from the past so we can move into the future.

What’s the hardest part about being forgiven? Believing that forgiveness is possible.

Too many people are chained to the past, and the jailer’s name is Fear. 

Good news! YESHUA has the key that opens the door to freedom. If you are willing to be forgiven, YESHUA can set you free.

Question: Are you willing to be forgiven? Until the answer is yes, you will stay chained to the past. But when you are willing both to forgive and to be forgiven, the healing can begin.

PRAYER:

AVINI MALCHEINU, we desperately need the ministry of your Holy Spirit right now. Some of us are literally scared to death of forgiveness—too scared to forgive, too guilty to be forgiven. We would rather stay as we are than risk being rejected one more time. We’d rather be guilty than be forgiven. God forgive us for choosing to live chained to the past. Grant courage and deep humility both to forgive and to be forgiven. May the walls that separate us come tumbling down by the power of YESHUA’S love. Amen.

Blessings,

Pastor Bruce and Suzi Elman

L’Chaim Messianic Congregation meets at:
OASIS CHURCH
16401 SOUTHERN BLVD
WELLINGTON FL 33470

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Generosity

L'Chaim Messianic Congregation, Lake Worth Florida, Palm Beaches

Generosity

A young boy went to the store with his mother. The shop owner, a kindly man, passed him a large jar of suckers and invited him to help himself to a handful. Uncharacteristically, the boy held back. So the shop owner pulled out a handful for him.

When outside, the boy’s mother asked why he had suddenly been so shy and wouldn’t take a handful of suckers when offered.

The boy replied, “Because his hand is much bigger than mine!”

God’s hand is bigger. His shovel is bigger. His wallet is bigger. His generosity is bigger. His love is bigger. Make a game of it. See if you can out-give God. That is the one game you hope you lose, and, in time, you will realize that you will always lose.

In the end, when we rob from God we are actually robbing from ourselves. We are robbing ourselves of spiritual blessings, of God’s provisions, of a Congregation that can meet the needs of others.

We are left with a choice: How will we treat God? Will we rob God by not giving our tithes, or will be faithful in giving to God what is His?

Blessings,

Pastor Bruce and Suzi Elman

L’Chaim Messianic Congregation meets at:
OASIS CHURCH
16401 SOUTHERN BLVD
WELLINGTON FL 33470

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Healing the Sick

L'Chaim Messianic Congregation, Lake Worth Florida, Palm Beaches

HEALING THE SICK

As we have studied James, Chapter 5, my overriding sense is that praying for the sick should be the normal work of the congregation. This is a noble ministry that should be recovered in our day. Perhaps believers in the USA and worldwide would see God’s power in a greater way if we dared to believe and obey his Word—literally!

Here are seven conclusions that summarize my current understanding of how James 5:13-16 should be applied in the local congregation and in our lives!

  1. Since God is sovereign, we cannot know in advance what the outcome of our prayers will be. Therefore, we should pray with humility, not making promises we can’t keep. At the end of the day, God is God and we are not. We must keep this perspective before us while we pray for the sick.
  2. Since God is omnipotent, we should expect that God will move from heaven in answer to our prayers, often in ways we cannot humanly explain.
  3. Since everything God creates is good, we should view both prayer and medicine as gifts to help us when we are sick.
  4. Since God knows what is best, we must believe that when healing does not come, it is for our good and His glory.
  5. Since faith is a gift from God, we understand that God will give the faith to believe when He wants to move in unusual power.
  6. Since sin may block God’s healing power, we are fully justified to inquire as to a person’s spiritual state before we pray for them.
  7. Since God’s Word is true, we glorify Him when we obey His Word, regardless of the outcome.

Blessings,

Pastor Bruce and Suzi Elman

L’Chaim Messianic Congregation meets at:
OASIS CHURCH
16401 SOUTHERN BLVD
WELLINGTON FL 33470

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One of the Hardest Truths

L'Chaim Messianic Congregation, Lake Worth Florida, Palm Beaches

Why Does God Allow Trials and Hard Seasons?

One of the hardest truths for many believers to grasp is that following the Messiah does not shield us from pain, loss, or difficulty. Becoming a disciple doesn’t exempt us from a broken world. We still face the heartbreak of losing a loved one, sickness in our bodies, financial strain, anxiety, fear, and the unexpected storms of life. If God truly loves us, why wouldn’t He remove every burden and make the path smooth? Wouldn’t a loving Father want us comfortable?

Surprisingly, Scripture tells us the opposite. God does love His children deeply, yet He still allows challenges because He is weaving all things—even the painful ones—into something good for those who belong to Him (Romans 8:28). If that’s true, then every trial has a divine purpose behind it.

Growing Into the Image of Yeshua

God’s highest goal for us is not comfort but Christlikeness. Romans 8:29 explains that we are being shaped into the image of His Son, Yeshua. Everything we walk through—even the parts we wish we could avoid—is part of this shaping process. This is the work of sanctification: being set apart for God, being refined so we can live for His glory.

Peter describes this refining work vividly: “for a little while… you have been grieved by various trials so that the genuineness of your faith… may be found to result in praise and glory” (1 Peter 1:6–7). Just as gold is purified by fire, our faith is strengthened and proven genuine through hardship. Trials help us know that our faith is real and rooted deeply enough to endure forever.

What Trials Produce in Us

Scripture doesn’t just say trials have purpose—it shows what they build in us. Romans 5:3–5 teaches that suffering develops perseverance, which produces character, and character grows into a hope that will never shame or disappoint us. That hope is anchored in God’s love, poured into our hearts through the Holy Spirit.

Yeshua Himself demonstrated this pattern of faithful endurance. “While we were still sinners, Messiah died for us” (Romans 5:8). His perseverance shows us how to walk through ours. As Paul reminds us, “I can do all things through Messiah who strengthens me” (Philippians 4:13).

When Hardship Is Our Own Doing

Scripture also warns us not to label the consequences of our own poor choices as “God’s trials.” Peter cautions believers not to suffer because of sinful behavior or harmful meddling (1 Peter 4:15). Even though God forgives sin and Messiah has paid the eternal penalty, the earthly consequences still unfold. Yet even those consequences can become tools God uses to form us and redirect us toward His purposes.

The Promise and Reward in Our Trials

James tells us to “consider it pure joy” when we face trials because these tests mature us, develop endurance, and shape us into believers who lack nothing (James 1:2–4). Those who remain steadfast will ultimately receive “the crown of life,” a reward promised to all who love the Lord.

Victory Through Every Battle

Even though trials come, believers are never defeated. “Thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Yeshua Messiah.” We are in a spiritual battle, but the enemy has no authority over those who belong to Messiah.

God hasn’t left us helpless—He’s given us:

• His Word to guide us
• His Spirit to empower us
• Prayer to approach Him anytime and anywhere
• His promise that no test will overwhelm us beyond what we can endure

And when the weight feels too heavy, He promises to provide “a way out” so we can stand firm (1 Corinthians 10:13).

Blessings,

Pastor Bruce and Suzi Elman

L’Chaim Messianic Congregation meets at:
OASIS CHURCH
16401 SOUTHERN BLVD
WELLINGTON FL 33470

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