Thursday Psalms: Give Thanks to the LORD!

Blessed Thursday to each of you, in the name of Jesus Christ, your Savior!

The psalmist has written 26 verses in Psalm 136, each ending responding to who God is and what God has done for us.  Knowing every word of Scripture is God-given, here we have God Himself reminding us that His steadfast love endures forever.  Since I haven't included all verses, you may want to open your Bible and read through all of them.  While the repetition may feel tedious, it's a great reminder of God's never-ending love and forgiveness for YOU.  God is always faithful in His mercy, and gives it to YOU over-and-over-and-over!

Psalm 136:1–3, 23–26

¹ Give thanks to the Lord, for He is good,

     for His steadfast love endures forever.

² Give thanks to the God of gods,

     for His steadfast love endures forever.

³ Give thanks to the Lord of lords,

     for His steadfast love endures forever;

²³ It is He who remembered us in our low estate,

     for His steadfast love endures forever;

²⁴ and rescued us from our foes,

     for His steadfast love endures forever;

²⁵ He who gives food to all flesh,

     For His steadfast love endures forever.

²⁶ Give thanks to the God of heaven,

     for His steadfast love endures forever. 

In the first three verses God calls us to be thankful, not only that the Lord is good, but also that He is God and Lord over all nations, kings, and all people.  In verses 4-9 we are reminded that God shows His steadfast love by the great wonders in His created natural world.  In verses 10-22 the psalmist reminds us of God's steadfast love and faithfulness shown as God rescued His children from slavery in Egypt and established them in the land He promised to give them.  

In the final section of this psalm [verses 23-26 above], the focus becomes more personal.  The one true God, who created and is Lord over all things, remembers YOU!  You're not just one of billions of people currently breathing air on this earth; YOU are a loved and remembered child of God, whose steadfast love for YOU endures forever!  Give thanks to the Lord, who rescues YOU from many earthly disasters, struggles and foes.  And even better, God ALWAYS rescues you from the evil foe, the devil and all the sins he tempts you to commit.  Give thanks to the Lord, who gives to YOU food and all other needs and comforts of your life!

Let's all pause many times today to commit the first verse of this psalm to memory.., and actually do what it says!

Giving thanks to the Lord for His steadfast love,

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 in times of trouble."  Psalm 9:9

Pilgrim Worship Sunday July 26, 2026

 

 Pilgrim Lutheran Church

The Ninth Sunday after Pentecost

July 26, 2026

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!  Our Summer Sunday schedule has started with our Worship service beginning at 9:30 am.  Afterwards, around 10:30 or so, please join us and enjoy food and conversations together.

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:  Deuteronomy 7:6-9

               Psalm:  Psalm 125

              Epistle:  Romans 8:28-39

              Gospel:  Matthew 13:44-52

THEME FOR WORSHIP

Ever have those moments when you wonder what God sees in you?  What does He think of me?  Today’s Old Testament reading gives us God’s answer in very clear terms and even tells you why God feels the way He does about you.  Here’s one thing God says:  He has chosen you to be His treasured possession!  

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 in times of trouble."  Psalm 9:9

Thursday Psalms: Peace Be Upon You!

Blessed Thursday to each of you, in the name of Jesus Christ, your Savior!

This psalm has a very national tone, possibly written shortly after the Israelite nation returned to Jerusalem from exile in Babylon.  They largely trusted in God to keep His promise of restoration, and the Lord rescued them.  Their restoration & return to Jerusalem was just one of many times when the Lord acted mightily on behalf of His people.  Israel was the nation of God's chosen people.  God set them apart, protected and preserved them throughout history, because they were & are His.

Psalm 125

¹ Those who trust in the Lord are like Mount Zion,

     which cannot be moved, but abides forever.

² As the mountains surround Jerusalem,

     so the Lord surrounds His people, from this time forth and forevermore.

³ For the scepter of wickedness shall not rest on the land allotted to the righteous,

     lest the righteous stretch out their hands to do wrong.

⁴ Do good, O Lord, to those who are good,

     and to those who are upright in their hearts!

⁵ But those who turn aside to their crooked ways

     the Lord will lead away with evildoers!

         Peace be upon Israel! 

You and I, along with all Christ-believers remain His.  Verse two reminds us how the Lord surrounds us, making us His people.  In Deuteronomy 7:6 the Lord tells us:  The Lord your God has chosen you to be...His chosen possession, out of all the peoples who are on the face of the earth.   WOW!  This is the best possible news!  ...and why would God choose you & me?  ...it is because the Lord loves you... [v 8a].  God has chosen you to be His treasured possession, simply because He loves you, and promises to ALWAYS love you!

What does this mean to your daily life as a Christ-believer?  Like Mount Zion and the mountains surrounding Jerusalem, we are held fast by the Lord.  We trust in the Lord and our faith cannot be moved.  God does good to us, by keeping His good promises made to us.  Many promises are made & kept, like Jesus' death & resurrection to save you and me from sin and death.  Many promises are actively being kept, such as the fact that God will never leave us or forsake us.  Many promises are made and are going to be kept, like our place in heaven and our bodily resurrection on the Last Day.

All of these blessings give us peace and comfort:  the faith God gives us, the trust in His promises, and the forgiveness of our sins.  We're forgiven and restored as God's loved child, every single time we confess our sins to Him.  Above all, God's forgiveness restores us to being at peace with Him.

Peace be upon Israel, the Lord's people, which includes YOU!

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 in times of trouble."  Psalm 9:9

Pilgrim Worship Sunday July 19, 2026

 

 Pilgrim Lutheran Church

The Eighth Sunday after Pentecost

July 19, 2026

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!  Our Summer Sunday schedule has started with our Worship service beginning at 9:30 am.  Afterwards, around 10:30 or so, please join us and enjoy food and conversations together.

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:  Isaiah 44:6–8

               Psalm:  Psalm 119:57–64

              Epistle:  Romans 8:18–27

              Gospel:  Matthew 13:24–30, 36–43

THEME FOR WORSHIP

Today’s Gospel reading is Jesus’ Parable of the Weeds or Tares.  The parable itself is pretty straightforward, and Jesus gives the specific explanation a few verses later.  This is the first of several parables where Jesus teaches what …the kingdom of heaven is like….   

This parable teaches us that the Son of Man, Jesus, is at work now, even if we don’t see or understand it.  The Son will complete His work at the end of time.  In between, we’re called to trust Him and wait in faith for Him to take care of the weeds.

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 in times of trouble."  Psalm 9:9

Pilgrim Worship Sunday July 12, 2026

 

The Sower    Eugène Burnand  1850-1921

 Pilgrim Lutheran Church

The Seventh Sunday after Pentecost

July 12, 2026

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!  Our Summer Sunday schedule has started with our Worship service beginning at 9:30 am.  Afterwards, around 10:30 or so, please join us and enjoy food and conversations together.

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:  Isaiah 55:10-13

               Psalm:  Psalm 65

              Epistle:  Romans 8:12-17

             Gospel:  Matthew 13:1-9, 18-23

THEME FOR WORSHIP 

Words, words, words.  Throughout history, the constant prattle of human words keeps growing; today’s technology only amplifies the noise.  Even our most thoughtful words are limited in their effectiveness and power.  But God’s Word is completely different.  

God’s Word is more powerful than armies, treaties, nuclear weapons, spy balloons or any other human thing.  God’s Word comes down from heaven and goes forth into the world, to accomplish His gracious purposes.  

Sadly, we were not able to record a video of today's service.

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 in times of trouble."  Psalm 9:9

Thursday Psalms: God Draws You Near!

Blessed Thursday to each of you, in the name of Jesus Christ, your Savior!

King David may have written this psalm as a song of praise for a festival or as part of a worship liturgy.  I commend the entire psalm to your reading; it contains witness after witness to God's loving gifting and blessing for HIs creation.  All things and for all things, praise is due to You, O God, in Zion!  Today I'd like you to focus on these first few verses, as they highlight the blessed actions God has taken on your behalf.

Psalm 65:1-5

¹ Praise is due to You, O God, in Zion,

        and to You shall vows be performed.

² O You who hear prayer,

        to You shall all flesh come.

³ When iniquities prevail against me,

        You atone for our transgressions.

⁴ Blessed is the one You choose and bring near, to dwell in Your courts!

        We shall be satisfied with the goodness of Your house, the holiness of Your temple!

⁵ By awesome deeds You answer us with righteousness,

   O God of our salvation, the hope of all the ends of the earth 

         and of the farthest seas;

Of course, our response to all God's blessings come from our thankfulness and our desire to be like Jesus in all we do.  We perform vows, we care for others, we love our neighbor as ourselves, etc....  The greatest and most blessed gift we see in verse three.  Our sins prevail against us, they win the battle in our hearts [nota bene:  Romans 7:19] and we give into temptations.  The penalty for your sins is death [Romans 6:32], but God atones for your sins, Jesus paid for your sins when He died on Calvary's cross!  You, I and all who confess their sins to God are truly forgiven and blessed!

Which brings us to the great encouragement for today, seen in verses four and five.  Your faith is a gift from God Himself, not a choice you make or any kind of thing you do.  If you believe in Jesus Christ, God has drawn you to Himself by grace, see Ephesians 2:8-9.  Nothing can separate you from God and the faith He has given you, even though the devil is constantly trying!  God has chosen YOU and has brought you near to Himself!  God has made YOU holy and has given to YOU His own righteousness!  

For His grace, mercy and forgiveness, give thanks to the God of our salvation, the hope of all the ends of the earth and of the farthest seas!

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 in times of trouble."  Psalm 9:9

Pilgrim Worship Sunday July 5, 2026

Come To Me   J. Kirk Richards  2021

 

Pilgrim Lutheran Church

The Sixth Sunday after Pentecost

July 5, 2026

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!  Our Summer Sunday schedule has started with our Worship service beginning at 9:30 am.  Afterwards, around 10:30 or so, please join us and enjoy food and conversations together.

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:  Zechariah 9:9-12

Psalm:  Psalm 145:1-14

Epistle:  Romans 7:14-25a

Gospel:  Matthew 11:25-30

THEME FOR WORSHIP

Today’s Old Testament reading proclaims God’s joyful encouragement to those in bondage, specifically to God’s people having just returned from Babylon to Jerusalem.  We hear Advent and Palm Sunday echoes in this text, since it is ultimately a prophesy about Jesus, the long-promised Savior.  Zechariah has the privilege to announce a compassionate and powerful King will deliver to us hope, peace, freedom and joy.  

In today’s Gospel, Jesus fulfills Zechariah’s prophesy with the gracious invitation “Come to Me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.”

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 in times of trouble."  Psalm 9:9

Thursday Psalms: God Is Good to You!

Blessed Thursday to each of you, in the name of Jesus Christ, your Savior!

How would you respond if I asked you "Is God good to you?"  

If you're like me, on some days we may say, "Well, not always."  Or you might say "Not today, really."  When our prayers seem to be unanswered, when our bodies remain unhealed, when our hearts remain anxious and worried, we often ask "If God is so good, where is He now, when I need Him?"  Yet, in verse nine of today's Psalm, God tells us He is good to all that He has made.  Does this include you?

Psalm  145:1-14

¹ I will extol You, my God and King,

        and bless Your name forever and ever.

² Every day I will bless You

        and praise Your name forever and ever.

³ Great is the Lord, and greatly to be praised,

        and His greatness is unsearchable.

⁴ One generation shall commend Your works to another,

        and shall declare Your mighty acts.

⁵ On the glorious splendor of Your majesty,

        and on Your wondrous works, I will meditate.

⁶ They shall speak of the might of Your awesome deeds,

        and I will declare Your greatness.

⁷ They shall pour forth the fame of Your abundant goodness

        and shall sing aloud of Your righteousness.

⁸ The Lord is gracious and merciful,

        slow to anger and abounding in steadfast love.

⁹ The Lord is good to all,

        and His mercy is over all that He has made.

¹⁰ All Your works shall give thanks to You, O Lord,

        and all Your saints shall bless You!

¹¹ They shall speak of the glory of Your kingdom

        and tell of Your power,

¹² to make known to the children of man Your mighty deeds,

        and the glorious splendor of Your kingdom.

¹³ Your kingdom is an everlasting kingdom,

        and Your dominion endures throughout all generations.

        [The Lord is faithful in all His words and kind in all His works.]

¹⁴ The Lord upholds all who are falling

        and raises up all who are bowed down. 

How is God good to you, even on your worst days?  Check out verse eight which contains the best possible news for sinners like you and me!  The Lord is gracious and merciful, slow to anger and abounding in steadfast love.  In His love, we find the greatest and most awesome of the Lord's goodness.  Your heavenly Father sent His only Son to be a willing sacrifice, taking all your punishment for all your sins upon Himself!  Jesus Christ did this good thing for YOU, because He is gracious and merciful and abounding in love for you!

Check out the promise God makes to you in verse 14:  The Lord upholds all [YOU] who are falling, and raises up all [YOU] who are bowed down.  Many times every day you & I fall down in our sins and failures.  Every day suffering, hardship, pain and so many other burdens bow us down.  You just can't carry it all by yourself.  But we live constantly in God's goodness, His good grace, mercy and steadfast love!  And verse nine assures us that God shows mercy to all that He has made, to all people, and most certainly to you!

Today, praise the Lord who is good to you, every day, including today!

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 in times of trouble."  Psalm 9:9