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