Thursday Psalms: God's Hand Leads You!

Today's Psalm reading included the first 10 verses of Psalm 139.  

PSALM 139:1-10

¹ O Lord, You have searched me and known me!

² You know when I sit down and when I rise up;

      You discern my thoughts from afar.

³ You search out my path and my lying down

      and are acquainted with all my ways.

⁴ Even before a word is on my tongue,

      behold, O Lord, You know it altogether.

⁵ You hem me in, behind and before,

      and lay Your hand upon me.

⁶ Such knowledge is too wonderful for me;

      it is high; I cannot attain it.

⁷ Where shall I go from Your Spirit?

      Or where shall I flee from Your presence?

⁸ If I ascend to heaven, You are there!

      If I make my bed in Sheol, You are there!

⁹ If I take the wings of the morning

      and dwell in the uttermost parts of the sea,

¹⁰ even there Your hand shall lead me,

      and Your right hand shall hold me. 

How do you read these verses?  You may conclude:  "I can't run and hide from God!  He is everywhere and He is after me!  I am doomed!"  This reading is certainly true; God is everywhere, God knows everything and we most certainly can't hide from Him.  Also, left to our own devices and "goodness", we are doomed.  There is no way we can earn our salvation; the price of our sinfulness is death.  If we're judged only on our own merits, we would be separated from God in this life and we'd spend eternity in hell. These thoughts can be terrifying to us, and all who are sinners.  

But is this really what God is telling us in these verses?  While all the things mentioned above are true, God is giving us better news. The fact that God is all-knowing & present everywhere gives us great hope and comfort!  Above all else, this psalm proclaims God's love, which He expresses in His personal care and involvement in all of His creation.  Because Jesus died on the cross to take our sin punishment, and He rose from the dead on Easter morning, we know God is not chasing us everywhere to punish us!  There is no need trying to run and hide; confess your sins and they will be forgiven!  

These verses remind us that God loves us and His protecting, forgiving and loving presence is with us anywhere we go!  He "hems us in" with protection, and His hand "leads" us and "holds" us.  

Thanks be to God, for His great love for 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

“Be to me a rock of refuge, to which I may continually come..."  Psalm 71:3a  

Pilgrim Worship Sunday January 7, 2024

The Baptism of Christ   Guido Reni  (1575–1642)

  Pilgrim Lutheran Church

The Baptism of Our Lord

January 7, 2024

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 today's worship service:

BIBLE READINGS FOR SUNDAY

   Old Testament:  Genesis 1:1–5

                Psalm:  Psalm 29
                Epistle:  Romans 6:1-11
               Gospel:  Mark 1:4–11

OUR THEME FOR WORSHIP

“In the beginning, God created the heavens and the earth.” [Genesis 1:1].  By the breath of His Word, from the chaos of the deep waters God created all things.  On the first day God created light; on the following days God created the earth, the seas and all living things, ending with Adam & Eve.  God continues to create new life today, and even more importantly, in baptism God continues to create & give the newness of life to you & me every day.  

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     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

“Be to me a rock of refuge, to which I may continually come..."  Psalm 71:3a  

 

Thursday Psalms: Washed & Saved!

This Psalm certainly speaks of the Lord, the God of glory.  We join David, proclaiming the Lord is glorious, strong & powerful.  He is full of splendor & majesty.  He sits enthroned over all things, King eternal over all He has created.  Verse three reminds us of Genesis 1:1-3, where we see the Lord is over the waters and we hear the voice of the Lord creating all things.

PSALM 29    A Psalm of David.

¹ Ascribe to the Lord, O heavenly beings,

      ascribe to the Lord glory and strength.

² Ascribe to the Lord the glory due His name;

      worship the Lord in the splendor of holiness.

³ The voice of the Lord is over the waters;

      the God of glory thunders, the Lord, over many waters.

⁴ The voice of the Lord is powerful;

      the voice of the Lord is full of majesty.

⁵ The voice of the Lord breaks the cedars;

      the Lord breaks the cedars of Lebanon.

⁶ He makes Lebanon to skip like a calf,

      and Sirion like a young wild ox.

⁷ The voice of the Lord flashes forth flames of fire.

⁸ The voice of the Lord shakes the wilderness;

      the Lord shakes the wilderness of Kadesh.

⁹ The voice of the Lord makes the deer give birth and strips the forests bare,

      and in His temple all cry, “Glory!”

¹⁰ The Lord sits enthroned over the flood;

      the Lord sits enthroned as King forever.

¹¹ May the Lord give strength to His people!

      May the Lord bless His people with peace! 

David opens this psalm, calling us to ascribe to the Lord the glory due His name and he ends this psalm praying God comes to His people and saves them.  

How does God save you?  Just as God sent the flood to wash & cleanse the sinful world, God has given us the holy Sacrament of Baptism to wash & cleanse us.  When Jesus was baptized (Mark 1, Matthew 3, Luke 3), the water of the Jordan river was combined with the voice of God the Father who said:  "This is My beloved Son..."   In our baptism, the Word of God is also combined with simple water to recreate us as forgiven & holy children of God.

So today, give thanks for the voice of the Lord, which both powerfully destroys sin and tenderly makes you His beloved child!

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

“Be to me a rock of refuge, to which I may continually come..."  Psalm 71:3a