Thursday Psalms: The Lord Is Good!

 

You might be thinking the psalmist who wrote Psalm 100 was just having a really good day, or perhaps just ignoring the world around him.  At first glance, you might say "He doesn't live in my world!"  

Psalm 100     A Psalm for giving thanks.

¹ Make a joyful noise to the Lord, all the earth!

² Serve the Lord with gladness!

   Come into His presence with singing!

³ Know that the Lord, He is God!

   It is He who made us, and we are His;

      we are His people, and the sheep of His pasture.

⁴ Enter His gates with thanksgiving, and His courts with praise!

   Give thanks to Him; bless His name!

⁵ For the Lord is good;

   His steadfast love endures forever, and His faithfulness to all generations. 

From where does all this happiness come?  Look at verse three, which simply and clearly points us to the Lord.   This verse contains the foundation of the faith the Lord has given to you or wants to give to you.  He is God!  The Lord, is not a god, not one of many gods, but the Lord is God, the only one, true God.   It is He who made us, along with all things in this world and in the entire universe and any other possible universes around us!  He is Creator of all things; by definition and by His creation, we are His.  We are His people, and the sheep of His pasture.  God named you and claimed you in your baptism, where He gave you faith to believe in Jesus, your Savior.  And as God's created & claimed people, God provides for us all that we need to support our bodies and lives.  

Of course, Satan the great deceiver and destroyer works quite successfully to take away our joyful gladness, singing, thanksgiving, praising and blessing.  He and his minions in the culture around us scream loudly lies like these:  

     God is no god, He is a made-up character.  

     God did not create us; our complex bodies and the world around us just evolved.

     You are your own person, and nobody else can claim you or tell you who you are.

     God neither provides for us nor shepherds us; we should look to ourselves, 

        the government or whoever we choose to give us what we want.

These lies only produce corruption and death, trying to separate us from the one true God.  They deny what the Lord God does, that He loves you, He has saved you from Satan and all your sins, and He has prepared a mansion for you in heaven where you will stay with Him forever.  

So today and each day of the coming week, I commend you to sing/pray/meditate on Psalm 100, and give thanks to God, always remembering:

   Know that the Lord, He is God! 

   It is He who made us, and we are His; 

      we are His people, and the sheep of His pasture.

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

"The LORD is a stronghold for the oppressed, 

   a stronghold in times of trouble."  Psalm 9:9

Pilgrim Worship Sunday July 27, 2025

 

Abraham and the Three Angels   Bartolomé Esteban Murillo   1670-1674

Pilgrim Lutheran Church

The Seventh Sunday after Pentecost

July 27, 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!  We're now in our Summer Schedule starting with our 9:30 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 on Pilgrim's website.

Here is information about this worship service:

SCRIPTURE READINGS

   Old Testament:  Genesis 18:17-33

                Psalm:   Psalm 138

               Epistle:   Colossians 2:6-15

               Gospel:   Luke 11:1-13

THEME FOR WORSHIP

God’s wonderful gift of calling to Him in prayer is the focus of our worship today.  You’ll see this in today’s Gospel, Psalm, Introit and Collect prayer.  Today’s Old Testament is a continuation from last week when God visited Abraham and left his family with the promise of a son.  The conversation Abraham had with the angels now turns into a discussion with God about prayer.  

What first appears to be Abraham haggling with God is actually the act of praying.  It is a strange text to say the least.

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

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

"The LORD is a stronghold for the oppressed, 

    a stronghold in times of trouble."  Psalm 9:9

Thursday Psalms: Gods Purpose for You

  

This week's Psalm is a delightful song of thankfulness and praise for all things the Lord gives to you & me!

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.

Notice the final three verses, which really summarize the loving relationship God gives to you and to me.  David observes what is undeniably true:  the Lord, the Creator of all things, the One who is "higher" above and over all things, "regards the lowly".  That's you and me!  The God of the universe loves you, and cares for you, and provides all things for you!  How awesome is that?

Today, I'd like to focus on the last verse, especially the first clause:  The Lord will fulfill His purpose for me.  What a trusting statement!  As you wander about your life, crashing & bumping into troubles and crises and things we can't explain, this promise keeps you focused on God.  In all things, God leads you according to His purpose, which matters here and eternally.  Why?  Because God's love for you is steadfast, unchanging, constant and yes, it endures forever!

Thank You, O Lord for this psalm, and for how You wonderfully regard us, in Your love and mercy!  Teach me to trust in You to fulfill Your purpose for me."  AMEN

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

"The LORD is a stronghold for the oppressed, 

   a stronghold in times of trouble."  Psalm 9:9

Pilgrim Worship Sunday July 20, 2025

 

Christ in the House of Martha and Mary    Johannes Vermeer 1655

Pilgrim Lutheran Church

The Sixth Sunday after Pentecost

July 20, 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!  We're now in our Summer Schedule starting with our 9:30 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 on Pilgrim's website.

Here is information about this worship service:

SCRIPTURE READINGS

   Old Testament:  Genesis 18:1–14

        Psalm:  Psalm 27

       Epistle:   Colossians 1:21–29

      Gospel:   Luke 10:38–42

THEME FOR WORSHIP

The gospel text for today describes Jesus’ visit to the home of Martha & Mary, who react to Jesus’ presence in two very different ways.  These two sisters are familiar even to the anti-Christian culture around us.  

There are many popular misconceptions of this text, including the people and their actions.  Rather than compare and evaluate the two sisters, we’ll focus on Jesus and His loving, grace-filled encouragement to receive His gifts; “the one thing necessary”, “the good portion”.

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

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

"The LORD is a stronghold for the oppressed, 

    a stronghold in times of trouble."  Psalm 9:9

Thursday Psalms: Afraid of Nothing!

Psalm 27 is a dear favorite of mine, as it also is for many people.  The overall tone & message is one of great confidence in the care & love of the Lord all the days or your life.  Here is the first verse; I commend you to memorize so the Holy Spirit can bring it to your mind in times of fear or trouble.

Psalm 27:1, 9, 14

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? 

There are many verses and sections of this psalm worthy of your study, but today let's focus on verse nine, which really gets to the heart of your issue with God.

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! 

You & I are sinners, through and through.  We DAILY sin against God in our thoughts, our words and our actions.  We were all born sinful, and can do nothing to change our sinful condition.  We fully deserve to be angrily cast off and forsaken by God.  Why wouldn't God turn His face away from us?  The answer is so simple, it is literally hard to believe.  

Because God loves you more than you can ever imagine, He promises NEVER to leave you, forsake you or cast you off!  Throughout His Word [the Bible], God makes this promise for all people of all time and all places.  Perhaps the most well-known example is found in John 3:16  “For God so loved the world, that He gave His only Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have eternal life."

Psalm 27 closes with the following verse, which is a good closing for this devotion.  

¹⁴ Wait for the Lord; be strong, and let your heart take courage; wait for the Lord! 

Because God loves you incredibly, and forgives your sins continually, you can be afraid of nothing, and be strong in the Lord!

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

"The LORD is a stronghold for the oppressed, a stronghold in times of trouble."  Psalm 9:9

Pilgrim Worship Sunday July 13, 2025

 

The Good Samaritan   David Teniers the Younger 1610–1690

Pilgrim Lutheran Church

The Fifth Sunday after Pentecost

July 13, 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!  We're now in our Summer Schedule starting with our 9:30 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 on Pilgrim's website.

Here is information about this worship service:

SCRIPTURE READINGS

 Old Testament:   Leviticus 18:1–5; 19:9–18

              Psalm:   Psalm 41

             Epistle:   Colossians 1:1–14

             Gospel:   Luke 10:25–37

THEME FOR WORSHIP

In the gospel reading for today Jesus tells the story of the Good Samaritan, an account well-known and admired by Christians and non-believers alike. 

Jesus uses this story to point out the misunderstandings of a Jewish lawyer, which you and I also share at times.  We’ll explore several “traps” into which we can stumble if we don’t consider this text properly.  The full and proper understanding can be summarized by this statement:  Because Jesus saves us from sin and death, we live to show love and mercy to our neighbors.

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

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

"The LORD is a stronghold for the oppressed, 

    a stronghold in times of trouble."  Psalm 9:9

Thursday Psalms: O Lord, Be Gracious!

 

Considering Sunday's Gospel includes Jesus' Parable of the Good Samaritan, it is easy to see why Psalm 41 is included in the readings for Sunday.  David compares those who care for the poor, sick and needy [vv 1-4] to his enemies who do the opposite to David when he needs help [vv5-9].  The first section is the basis for David's plea that the Lord save him, and it also condemns David's enemies who have not cared for him as the Lord requires.     

Psalm 41    To the choirmaster.  A Psalm of David.

¹ Blessed is the one who considers the poor!

        In the day of trouble the Lord delivers him;

² the Lord protects him and keeps him alive;

        he is called blessed in the land;

                You do not give him up to the will of his enemies.

³ The Lord sustains him on his sickbed;

        in his illness You restore him to full health.

⁴ As for me, I said, “O Lord, be gracious to me;

        heal me, for I have sinned against You!”

⁵ My enemies say of me in malice,

        “When will he die, and his name perish?”

⁶ And when one comes to see me, he utters empty words,

        while his heart gathers iniquity;

                when he goes out, he tells it abroad.

⁷ All who hate me whisper together about me;

        they imagine the worst for me.

⁸ They say, “A deadly thing is poured out on him;

        he will not rise again from where he lies.”

⁹ Even my close friend in whom I trusted,

        who ate my bread, has lifted his heel against me.

¹⁰ But you, O Lord, be gracious to me,

        and raise me up, that I may repay them!

¹¹ By this I know that You delight in me:

        my enemy will not shout in triumph over me.

¹² But You have upheld me because of my integrity,

        and set me in Your presence forever.

¹³ Blessed be the Lord, the God of Israel,

        from everlasting to everlasting!             

             Amen and Amen.

In the final movement of this psalm [vv10-13], we hear that David is certain that the Lord is on his side and not his enemies'.  David challenges the Lord to give him the promised salvation.  David acknowledges his "integrity" [v12a], that he does care for the poor and thus he brings the Lord's salvation to them.  Those who care for the poor are agents through whom the Lord brings deliverance and salvation.  As psalm 41 makes clear, salvation in all its forms ultimately comes from the Lord alone.

Though he is a sinner, David lives as one who trusts in the Lord  and desires to do His will.  In spite of David's present circumstances (sick, needy, under attack), he is certain of where he stands with the Lord.  Pray the Holy Spirit gives you this confidence and trust in God's promises, found throughout God's Word and purchased for us in the blood of Jesus Christ!

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

"The LORD is a stronghold for the oppressed, a stronghold in times of trouble."  Psalm 9:9