Thursday Psalms: Your Forgiving God

In worship this coming Sunday we will celebrate the Transfiguration of Our Lord, and much of our focus is on God's glory, especially Jesus, the Son of God.  The psalm assigned for Sunday is Psalm 99 which exalts the Lord, and echoes this theme of glory.  When you read this psalm and reflect on the Lord's glory, how do you respond?

   Psalm 99

¹ The Lord reigns; let the peoples tremble!

      He sits enthroned upon the cherubim;

            let the earth quake!

² The Lord is great in Zion;

      He is exalted over all the peoples.

³ Let them praise your great and awesome name!

      Holy is He!

⁴ The King in His might loves justice.

      You have established equity;

      You have executed justice

            and righteousness in Jacob.

⁵ Exalt the Lord our God;

      worship at His footstool!  Holy is He!

⁶ Moses and Aaron were among His priests,

   Samuel also was among those who called upon His name.

      They called to the Lord, and He answered them.

⁷ In the pillar of the cloud He spoke to them;

      they kept His testimonies

            and the statute that He gave them.

⁸ O Lord our God, You answered them;

      You were a forgiving God to them,

            but an avenger of their wrongdoings.

⁹ Exalt the Lord our God,

      and worship at His holy mountain;

            for the Lord our God is holy! 

Do you "tremble" and "quake"?  We should in many ways.  God is Creator, all-powerful, all-knowing, in control and "reigning" over all things.  He is enthroned and great and awesome and holy...and we are merely lowly created beings.  Even if you've experienced great fear and trembling while in the presence of really important people, this barely compares to how we would tremble in the presence of God.  And the other reason for our trembling?  We are totally sinful and sin constantly; our sins separate us from God.  We have no standing, no right to be in His presence based on ourselves.

But our entire response to God, our entire life pivots on verse 8.  The Lord our God, who owes us nothing but His wrath and punishment, answers us, and is FORGIVING to us!  Without God's love and FORGIVENESS, we are nothing, deserve nothing and we receive nothing.  But because of God's love and FORGIVENESS, His mercy which is new every morning, God claims us as His own children, and we receive His love and blessings, here and in eternal life.

So because of Jesus and the salvation He has given to us, what is our response?  Now we can join with the psalmist and offer thankfulness, exaltation, praise, worship, and obedience to Lord our God!  

Your servant in Christ,

Pastor Mark

Pilgrim Lutheran Church, LCMS    Burton, Michigan

office:  810.744.1188 

We are Pilgrims with a Purpose:  

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

Pilgrim Website       Pilgrim Facebook page

Soli Deo Gloria

"Restore us, O God, let Your face shine, that we may be saved!"  Psalm 80:3 

Pilgrim Worship Sunday February 23, 2025

 

Joseph Recognized by his Brothers  Peter von Cornelius  1816 - 1817

Pilgrim Lutheran Church

The Seventh Sunday after the Epiphany

February 23, 2025

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 Adult Bible study at 9:15 am, then our 10:30 am Worship service.  Afterward, we gathered for food and conversations, 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 this worship service:

SCRIPTURE READINGS

          Old Testament:   Genesis 45:3–15

                       Psalm:   Psalm 103:1–13

                      Epistle:   1 Corinthians 15:21–26, 30–42

                      Gospel:   Luke 6:27–38

THEME FOR WORSHIP

Today’s reading from Genesis details the climax of Joseph’s life, one of obedience, patience and trust in God’s will.  A dead son is found alive, and everything changes for his brothers.  Through forgiveness and mercy, a family is reconciled, and their lives are saved.  Even more, the trajectory of the entire world changes; God preserves a remnant of His people, from which His Son Jesus would be born.  A few decades later, this dead Son is found alive, changing everything and reconciling all people through God the Father’s forgiveness and mercy.  What a blessed Epiphany for you and me!

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

Peace in Christ,

Pastor Mark

Pilgrim Lutheran Church, LCMS    Burton, Michigan

office:  810.744.1188   

We are Pilgrims with a Purpose:  
       Sharing God’s Love & Mercy with Each Other & the World.

Pilgrim Website           Pilgrim Facebook page

Soli Deo Gloria

"Restore us, O God, let Your face shine, that we may be saved!"  Psalm 80:3   

Pilgrim Worship Sunday February 16, 2025

 

Pilgrim Lutheran Church

The Sixth Sunday after the Epiphany

February 16, 2025

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 Adult Bible study at 9:15 am, then our 10:30 am Worship service.  Afterward, we gathered for food and conversations, 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 this worship service:

BIBLE READINGS

  Old Testament: Jeremiah 17:5–8

               Psalm:  Psalm 1
              Epistle:  1 Corinthians 15:12–20
              Gospel:  Luke 6:17–26

OUR THEME FOR WORSHIP

Today’s Gospel text is not an easy one for us to like.  Our human natures like “the good life”, full of good things and it seems like Jesus is calling “woe” on them.  We live in an American culture which excessively values consumption and gathering possessions.  But wait, aren’t all these good things blessings from God?  Yes, but then what is Jesus warning us about?  For every blessing Jesus speaks, there is a “woe” He is compelled to share.  What is Jesus teaching you & to me with these blessings and woes? 

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

Peace in Christ,

Pastor Mark

Pilgrim Lutheran Church, LCMS    Burton, Michigan

office:  810.744.1188   

We are Pilgrims with a Purpose:  
       Sharing God’s Love & Mercy with Each Other & the World.

Pilgrim Website           Pilgrim Facebook page

Soli Deo Gloria

"Restore us, O God, let Your face shine, that we may be saved!"  Psalm 80:3  

Pilgrim Worship Sunday February 9, 2025

Pilgrim Lutheran Church

The Fifth Sunday after the Epiphany

February 9, 2025

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 Adult Bible study at 9:15 am, then our 10:30 am Worship service.  Afterward, we gathered for food and conversations, 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 this worship service:

BIBLE READINGS

  Old Testament:  Isaiah 6:1–8

               Psalm:  Psalm 138
              Epistle:  1 Corinthians 14:12b–20
              Gospel:  Luke 5:1–11

OUR THEME FOR WORSHIP
In the first chapters of Luke, God has revealed many different attributes of Jesus.  He is a Ruler, Lord of hosts, the promised Messiah, the baptized Son of the Father, etc.…  Today we see that Jesus is God of surprises.  Peter, after hearing Jesus preach and seeing His great miracle of fish, asks Jesus to please go away.  
But Jesus surprises; He comes closer to Peter and asks them to come closer to [follow] Him.  Surprising Jesus calls and gathers sinners into His kingdom; Jesus is your surprising Savior.  Even though He sees our sins, He forgives & gathers us to Himself.

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

Peace in Christ,

Pastor Mark

Pilgrim Lutheran Church, LCMS    Burton, Michigan

office:  810.744.1188   

We are Pilgrims with a Purpose:  
       Sharing God’s Love & Mercy with Each Other & the World.

Pilgrim Website           Pilgrim Facebook page

Soli Deo Gloria

"Restore us, O God, let Your face shine, that we may be saved!"  Psalm 80:3  

Thursday Psalms: God's Purpose for You

   

David sets the tone for  Psalm 138 in the first three lines.  David announces his attitude toward the  Lord :  David gives thanks, sings praise and bows down.  The rest of the psalm explains why David is so thankful.  But first, when and why do you give thanks to God?

We generally give thanks to God when God gives good things to us.  When I get what I want, it's easy to be thankful, to sing and to give God at least passing credit.  We make it all about us.  But read carefully WHY David is thankful and full of praise for the Lord.

Psalm 138

¹ I give You thanks, O Lord, with my whole heart;

     before the gods I sing Your praise;

² I bow down toward Your holy temple and give thanks to Your name,

     for Your steadfast love and Your faithfulness, 

        for You have exalted above all things Your name and Your word.

³ On the day I called, You answered me;

     my strength of soul You increased.

⁴ All the kings of the earth shall give You thanks, O Lord,

     for they have heard the words of Your mouth,

⁵ and they shall sing of the ways of the Lord,

     for great is the glory of the Lord.

⁶ For though the Lord is high, He regards the lowly,

     but the haughty He knows from afar.

⁷ Though I walk in the midst of trouble, You preserve my life;

     You stretch out Your hand against the wrath of my enemies,

        and Your right hand delivers me.

⁸ The Lord will fulfill His purpose for me;

     Your steadfast love, O Lord, endures forever.

        Do not forsake the work of Your hands. 

David points out it is all about the Lord and His actions.  God exalted His name & word.  God answered David's prayers.  God increased David's faith (the strength of his soul, I love that phrase!).  But the really important challenge for us we find in the last verse.  David praises the Lord who will "fulfill His purpose" .  What a faith-filled statement!

I'd like to challenge you to pray this simple prayer each day for the next week, and see how God might reply and lead you.

"O Lord, fulfill Your purpose for me."

Peace in Christ,

Pastor Mark

Pilgrim Lutheran Church, LCMS    Burton, Michigan

office:  810.744.1188 

We are Pilgrims with a Purpose:  

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

Pilgrim Website       Pilgrim Facebook page

Soli Deo Gloria

"Restore us, O God, let Your face shine, that we may be saved!"  Psalm 80:3

Pilgrim Worship Sunday February 2, 2025

Pilgrim Lutheran Church

The Fourth Sunday after the Epiphany

February 2, 2025

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 Adult Bible study at 9:15 am, then our 10:30 am Worship service.  Afterward, we gathered for food and conversations, 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 this worship service:

BIBLE READINGS

  Old Testament: Jeremiah 1:4-10

               Psalm: Psalm 71:1-6
              Epistle: 1 Corinthians 12:31b – 13:13
              Gospel: Luke 4:31-44

OUR THEME FOR WORSHIP
Jesus’ hearers in the Capernaum synagogue said in amazement to each other: “What is this word?”.  The word of Jesus was spoken to them with authority.  The word of Jesus rebuked and drove out Satanic demons.  Jeremiah reveals to us that “…the word of the LORD…” came to him and changed the entire trajectory and purpose of his life.  Pause and think about your life; how is the Word of God speaking to you?  How do Jesus’ words change your life?

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

Peace in Christ,

Pastor Mark

Pilgrim Lutheran Church, LCMS    Burton, Michigan

office:  810.744.1188   

We are Pilgrims with a Purpose:  
       Sharing God’s Love & Mercy with Each Other & the World.

Pilgrim Website           Pilgrim Facebook page

Soli Deo Gloria

"Restore us, O God, let Your face shine, that we may be saved!"  Psalm 80:3