Thursday Psalms: No Shame!

In our current Adult Class here at Pilgrim, we are studying the faith of martyrs and how they witness to us in proclaiming the faith God has given us.  It is a fascinating class; if you'd like to watch video recordings or participate in-person or online, please connect with me.  One goal of religious persecution is the public shaming of Christians, and the fear which the persecutors intend to create in others.  By the grace and will of God, these martyrs were not ashamed of the faith God gave to them, even in the moment of death.  

This is David's prayer in the first three verses of today's Psalm, and this should be your prayer also.

PSALM 25:1-10

¹ To you, O Lord, I lift up my soul.

² O my God, in You I trust; let me not be put to shame;

      let not my enemies exult over me.

³ Indeed, none who wait for You shall be put to shame;

      they shall be ashamed who are wantonly treacherous.

⁴ Make me to know Your ways, O Lord;

      teach me Your paths.

⁵ Lead me in Your truth and teach me, for You are the God of my salvation;

      for You I wait all the day long.

⁶ Remember Your mercy, O Lord, and Your steadfast love,

      for they have been from of old.

⁷ Remember not the sins of my youth or my transgressions;

      according to Your steadfast love remember me, 

           for the sake of Your goodness, O Lord! 

David had a choice, and we have the same.  He could turn his eyes, heart and mind toward his treacherous and sinful enemies, who seek only to put him to shame for his faith in God.  But David makes a different choice.  In verses four and five David turns to God, asking that God teach & lead him on God's ways and paths.  And yes, this often includes waiting on the Lord.  But we don't wait in shame.  We wait for the Lord with bold confidence, because God is good, and He remembers us in His steadfast love, which has been with us from of old!

Have NO SHAME, because the Lord, remembers you, loves you and forgives your sins!  

Peace in Christ,

Pastor Mark

Pilgrim Lutheran Church, LCMS    Burton, Michigan

office:  810.744.1188     mobile:  248.881.7627

We are Pilgrims with a Purpose:  

     Sharing God’s Love & Mercy with Each Other & the World.

Pilgrim Website

Pilgrim Facebook page

Soli Deo Gloria

“You are my hiding place and my shield; I hope in Your Word." Psalm 119:114    

  

Pilgrim Worship Sunday September 24, 2023

“Labourers in the Vineyard"  Eugène Burnand   1850-1921  

  Pilgrim Lutheran Church

The Seventeenth Sunday after Pentecost

September 24, 2023

We're thankful you've come here to watch our service and to worship the one true God!

This was another exciting Sunday at Pilgrim Lutheran Church!  Once again, we had lots of great activities going on, starting with our 9:30 am Worship Service.  Afterward, we gathered for food, conversations, and Adult Bible study, while the children enjoyed Sunday School.  These classes are full of activities and teaching, so the children learn how much God loves them!

If you live in the Burton area, please consider joining us on Sunday mornings!  Anyone can watch our services live on Facebook or later on Pilgrim's website.

Here is information about today's worship service:

BIBLE READINGS FOR SUNDAY

   Old Testament:  Isaiah 55:6–9

                Psalm:  Psalm 27:1–9
               Epistle:  Philippians 1:12–14, 19–30
               Gospel:  Matthew 20:1–16

OUR THEME FOR WORSHIP
“That’s not fair!”  “I deserve more than she does!”  Words like these are more common to us than we’d like to admit in Christian company.  You don’t have to teach humans to notice when things seem unfair.  In today’s Gospel text, Jesus teaches us what the kingdom of God is like, but with our minds set on the things of man, this parable is confusing & even frustrating.  By setting our minds on the things of God, what will we understand about God’s fairness and generosity?

To watch the video of today's service, please click HERE.

Peace in Christ, your Savior,

Pastor Mark

Pilgrim Lutheran Church, LCMS    Burton, Michigan

office:  810.744.1188     mobile:  248.881.7627

We are Pilgrims with a Purpose:  

       Sharing God’s Love & Mercy with Each Other & the World.

Pilgrim Website

Pilgrim Facebook page

Soli Deo Gloria

“The LORD your God is in your midst, a mighty one who will save"  Zephaniah 3:17       

Thursday Psalms: Whom Shall I Fear?

Of what or whom are you afraid?  Perhaps nothing frightens you now, but certainly you have been fearful and will be again.  In this portion of Psalm 27, David gives a great example of what we should do when facing troubles, attacks or enemies of any kind.  In the first six verses we hear David's confidence in the Lord, to whom David then prays for help, forgiveness and guidance.

PSALM 27:1-9

¹ The Lord is my light and my salvation;

      whom shall I fear?

  The Lord is the stronghold of my life;

      of whom shall I be afraid?

² When evildoers assail me to eat up my flesh,

      my adversaries and foes, it is they who stumble and fall.

³ Though an army encamp against me, my heart shall not fear;

      though war arise against me, yet I will be confident.

⁴ One thing have I asked of the Lord, that will I seek after:

      that I may dwell in the house of the Lord all the days of my life,

            to gaze upon the beauty of the Lord and to inquire in His temple.

⁵ For He will hide me in His shelter in the day of trouble;

      He will conceal me under the cover of His tent;

            He will lift me high upon a rock.

⁶ And now my head shall be lifted up above my enemies all around me,

      and I will offer in His tent sacrifices with shouts of joy;

            I will sing and make melody to the Lord.

⁷ Hear, O Lord, when I cry aloud;

      be gracious to me and answer me!

⁸ You have said, “Seek my face.”

      My heart says to You, “Your face, Lord, do I seek.”

⁹ Hide not Your face from me.

      Turn not Your servant away in anger, O You who have been my help.

  Cast me not off; forsake me not,

      O God of my salvation! 

Notice in verse 2-3, David's response matters not whether he is attacked by one person, an army of enemies or if a war breaks out!  God is with you, in all situations!  Great lesson for you and me!

You and I fall under attack by many foes; people, sickness, worry, guilt, and so forth.  God's people are very blessed; God invites us to boldly take our needs and requests to Him.  This is not some mystical formula which automatically makes things all better.  No, God is no vending machine.  But God tells us in Psalm 46:1 that He is our refuge and strength, our very real & present help in times of trouble.  

Are we both afraid and unafraid at the same time?  Yes.  Are we both worried & confident?  Yes, for sure.  Do we hope and feel desperate?  Absolutely.  This is the tension of our daily lives, lived in faith while under attack.  Thanks be to God, He loves us so much that He has saved us and He will never forsake us!

Peace in Christ,

Pastor Mark

Pilgrim Lutheran Church, LCMS    Burton, Michigan

office:  810.744.1188     mobile:  248.881.7627

We are Pilgrims with a Purpose:  

     Sharing God’s Love & Mercy with Each Other & the World.

Pilgrim Website

Pilgrim Facebook page

Soli Deo Gloria

“You are my hiding place and my shield; I hope in Your Word." Psalm 119:114    

 

Pilgrim Worship Sunday September 17, 2023

“The Unmerciful Servant”  Eugène Burnand   1850-1921  

  Pilgrim Lutheran Church

The Sixteenth Sunday after Pentecost

September 17, 2023

We're thankful you've come here to watch our service and to worship the one true God!

This was another exciting Sunday at Pilgrim Lutheran Church!  Once again, we had lots of great activities going on, starting with our 9:30 am Worship Service.  Afterward, we gathered for food, conversations, and Adult Bible study, while the children enjoyed Sunday School.  These classes are full of activities and teaching, so the children learn how much God loves them!

If you live in the Burton area, please consider joining us on Sunday mornings!  Anyone can watch our services live on Facebook or later on Pilgrim's website.

Here is information about today's worship service:

BIBLE READINGS FOR SUNDAY

   Old Testament:  Genesis 50:15–21
                 Psalm:  Psalm 103:1–12
                Epistle:  Romans 14:1–12
               Gospel:  Matthew 18:21–35

OUR THEME FOR WORSHIP TODAY
“For you are not setting your mind on the things of God, but on the things of man.”  These words of our Lord from Matthew 16:23 challenge us again this week, as today’s Gospel text invites us to focus on forgiveness.  How often are you and I quick to seek forgiveness, but slow to share it?  

To watch the video of today's service, please click HERE.

Peace in Christ, your Savior,

Pastor Mark

Pilgrim Lutheran Church, LCMS    Burton, Michigan

office:  810.744.1188     mobile:  248.881.7627

We are Pilgrims with a Purpose:  

       Sharing God’s Love & Mercy with Each Other & the World.

Pilgrim Website

Pilgrim Facebook page

Soli Deo Gloria

“The LORD your God is in your midst, a mighty one who will save"  Zephaniah 3:17      

Thursday Psalms: High & Far!

Bless the Lord, O my soul!    So David begins today's Psalm, not because the Lord has blessed him with health, wealth and significance.  No, it's because the Lord forgives, heals, and redeems David, and us.  The Lord crowns us with His steadfast love and mercy!

PSALM 103:1-12

¹ Bless the Lord, O my soul,

      and all that is within me, bless His holy name!

² Bless the Lord, O my soul,

      and forget not all His benefits,

³ who forgives all your iniquity,

      who heals all your diseases,

⁴ who redeems your life from the pit,

      who crowns you with steadfast love and mercy,

⁵ who satisfies you with good

      so that your youth is renewed like the eagle’s.

⁶ The Lord works righteousness

      and justice for all who are oppressed.

⁷ He made known His ways to Moses,

      His acts to the people of Israel.

⁸ The Lord is merciful and gracious,

      slow to anger and abounding in steadfast love.

⁹ He will not always chide,

      nor will He keep His anger forever.

¹⁰ He does not deal with us according to our sins,

      nor repay us according to our iniquities.

¹¹ For as high as the heavens are above the earth,

      so great is His steadfast love toward those who fear him;

¹² as far as the east is from the west,

      so far does He remove our transgressions from us. 

Notice how personal David makes God's promises in verse 8-10.  Read these words & phrases slowly, pausing and praying over each one.  The Lord is merciful and gracious, slow to anger and abounding in steadfast love. 

This is your life as a beloved child of God!  The Lord will not always chide [scold or rebuke], nor will He keep His anger forever.  God took out His anger for your sins on Jesus, punishing Jesus in your place!  And, thank God, that He does not deal with us like we deserve!

If you're like me, you hold onto things, often foolishly.  A walk through my garage or basement would prove this.  Unfortunately, we often hold onto our sins and the guilt they produce.  Who could love me, if they really knew my sins?  Verses 11 & 12 proclaim really good news to you and me!  God's love for you is so great and steadfast, it is FAR greater than ANY of your sins or failures!   Remember Romans 5:8?  "...but God shows His love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us."  When Jesus died on Calvary's cross, He took your punishment and removed your sins from you, as far as the east is from the west!  That is the BEST NEWS you will ever hear!

Don't hold onto your sins; God certainly does not!!!

Peace in Christ,

Pastor Mark

Pilgrim Lutheran Church, LCMS    Burton, Michigan

office:  810.744.1188

mobile:  248.881.7627

     We are Pilgrims with a Purpose:  

        Sharing God’s Love & Mercy with Each Other & the World.

Pilgrim Website

Pilgrim Facebook page

Soli Deo Gloria

“You are my hiding place and my shield; I hope in Your Word." Psalm 119:114    

Pilgrim Worship Sunday September 10, 2023

  Pilgrim Lutheran Church

The Fifteenth Sunday after Pentecost

September 10, 2023

We're thankful you've come here to watch our service and to worship the one true God!

This was another exciting Sunday at Pilgrim Lutheran Church!  Once again, we had lots of great activities going on, starting with our 9:30 am Worship Service.  Afterward, we gathered for food, conversations, and Adult Bible study, while the children enjoyed Sunday School.  These classes are full of activities and teaching, so the children learn how much God loves them!

If you live in the Burton area, please consider joining us on Sunday mornings!  Anyone can watch our services live on Facebook or later on Pilgrim's website.

Here is information about today's worship service:

BIBLE READINGS FOR THIS SERVICE

   Old Testament:   Ezekiel 33:7–9

                Psalm:   Psalm 32:1–7
                Epistle:   Romans 13:1–10
               Gospel:   Matthew 18:1–20

OUR THEME FOR WORSHIP
Almost every one of us would like to be known as “the greatest” at something.  In February 1964, a brash young boxer named Cassius Clay [later, Mohammed Ali] famously proclaimed “I am the greatest!”.  Ali was an exceptional boxer; many would say he deserved his self-proclaimed title.  In today’s Gospel text, Jesus’ disciples asked Him a related question: “Who is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven?”.  Doubtless, each wanted to be so known.  Today we’ll consider greatness, the second of four ways in which we’re tempted to keep our minds set on the things of man rather than the things of God.

To watch the video of today's service, please click HERE.

Peace in Christ, your Savior,

Pastor Mark

Pilgrim Lutheran Church, LCMS    Burton, Michigan

office:  810.744.1188     mobile:  248.881.7627

We are Pilgrims with a Purpose:  

       Sharing God’s Love & Mercy with Each Other & the World.

Pilgrim Website

Pilgrim Facebook page

Soli Deo Gloria

“The LORD your God is in your midst, a mighty one who will save"  Zephaniah 3:17     

Thursday Psalms: Forgiven & Blessed!

Today's psalm is one of six penitential psalms, which speak very directly about our confession of our sins and the forgiveness which God gives to us.  David speaks of this daily rhythm in our lives:  sinning, confessing, and being forgiven. 

PSALM 32:1:7  

¹ Blessed is the one whose transgression is forgiven,

      whose sin is covered.

² Blessed is the man against whom the Lord counts no iniquity,

      and in whose spirit there is no deceit.

³ For when I kept silent, my bones wasted away

      through my groaning all day long.

⁴ For day and night Your hand was heavy upon me;

      my strength was dried up as by the heat of summer.

⁵ I acknowledged my sin to You, and I did not cover my iniquity;

      I said, “I will confess my transgressions to the Lord,”

           and You forgave the iniquity of my sin.

⁶ Therefore let everyone who is godly offer prayer to You at a time when You may be found;

      surely in the rush of great waters, they shall not reach Him.

⁷ You are a hiding place for me;

      You preserve me from trouble;

     You surround me with shouts of deliverance.

Each one of us knows the guilt & shame from our sins, which build and burn within us.  For as long as we keep silent, we groan and feel the convicting hand of God resting upon us.  Eventually we come to our senses and exclaim with David:  “I will confess my transgressions to the Lord”.  Then, like a fever which finally breaks, we feel the cooling rush of God's forgiveness, and once again we know how blessed we are.

Give thanks to God that He has given you faith to trust in Him, and the blessed forgiveness of your sins when you confess them.

Peace in Christ,

Pastor Mark

Pilgrim Lutheran Church, LCMS    Burton, Michigan

office:  810.744.1188

mobile:  248.881.7627

     We are Pilgrims with a Purpose:  

        Sharing God’s Love & Mercy with Each Other & the World.

Pilgrim Website

Pilgrim Facebook page

Soli Deo Gloria

“You are my hiding place and my shield; I hope in Your Word." Psalm 119:114