Thursday Psalms: Sleep Well!

If you're like me, you sometimes have a hard time falling asleep.  Often our minds are still churning on the problems of the day, of the week, of our lives.  Sometimes worry keeps us awake, other nights it's our guilt.  David gives us some really good sleep-aid advice in Psalm 4, which opens with a verse of prayer and closes with three prayer verses.

PSALM 4
¹ Answer me when I call, O God of my righteousness!
     You have given me relief when I was in distress.
        Be gracious to me and hear my prayer!
² O men, how long shall my honor be turned into shame?
     How long will you love vain words and seek after lies? 
³ But know that the Lord has set apart the godly for Himself;
     the Lord hears when I call to Him.
⁴ Be angry, and do not sin;
     ponder in your own hearts on your beds, and be silent.
⁵ Offer right sacrifices, and put your trust in the Lord.
⁶ There are many who say, “Who will show us some good?
     Lift up the light of your face upon us, O Lord!”
⁷ You have put more joy in my heart 
     than they have when their grain and wine abound.
⁸ In peace I will both lie down and sleep;

     for you alone, O Lord, make me dwell in safety. 

FIRST, notice how David prays in the first verse.  He is bold and honest about his questions and concerns, remembering and reminding that God has heard and answered him before.  David advises us by example:  don't hesitate to pray boldly, honestly and emotionally to God your heavenly Father!  If you're in a melancholy or sad place, PRAY IT to God.  If your situation is frantic and fearful, PRAY IT to God.  If you're confused and angry, PRAY IT to God.  Sins to confess... PRAY THEM to God.  You get the picture.  

God desires all your prayers, and has given His baptized children the Holy Spirit to be our Helper.  If your heart is sinful and wrong in your motives, the Spirit will direct your thoughts, convict you of your sin, and give you comfort.  Both the Holy Spirit [Romans 8:26] and Jesus Himself [Romans 8:34] have promised to intercede for our prayers with God the Father.

SECOND, David gives you and me advice about getting a good night's sleep.  Take the advice in verse four seriously; Jesus modelled this for us as He drove the dishonest and disrespectful businessmen out of the Temple [Matthew 21:12].  Every night before sleeping, confess all your anger and other sins to God, so you can fall asleep in the comfort of His forgiveness [verse 8].  It is only the Lord's forgiveness which allows you to "dwell in safety" from the devil and sleep "in peace" by His great mercy.

Nightly honest & serious prayer, along with heartfelt confession of our sins; these are the BEST sleep aids EVER!

Peace in God alone,

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 fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom..."  Psalm 111:10a 

Pilgrim Worship Sunday April 7, 2024

  Pilgrim Lutheran Church

The Second Sunday of Easter

April 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 this worship service:

BIBLE READINGS FOR THIS SERVICE

  First Reading:   Acts 4:32–35
             Psalm:   Psalm 148
            Epistle:   1 John 1:1–2:2
            Gospel:   John 20:19–31

OUR THEME FOR WORSHIP
In our Scripture readings God gives us so many spiritual gifts!  In the Epistle reading, St. John reminds us how God faithfully forgives our confessed sins.  We’ll speak these same words today, as we prepare to confess our sins together.  Jesus gives His peace to His disciples on the first Easter evening, and again to Thomas a week later.  Jesus also gives His disciples God the Holy Spirit, who enables them to live in the peace He gives.  Jesus gives His Church the responsibility for forgiving or withholding sins.  Be prepared to be gifted by God!

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

“The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom..."  Psalm 111:10a  

Thursday Psalms: God Raises Up!

As we read this psalm, we quickly become overwhelmed by the Lord's vast creation, completely praise-worthy and all HIs creation praises Him, even the waters, mountains & creeping things!

PSALM 148

¹ Praise the Lord!

        Praise the Lord from the heavens;

                praise Him in the heights!

² Praise Him, all His angels;

        praise Him, all His hosts!

³ Praise Him, sun and moon,

        praise Him, all you shining stars!

⁴ Praise Him, you highest heavens,

        and you waters above the heavens!

⁵ Let them praise the name of the Lord!

        For He commanded and they were created.

⁶ And He established them forever and ever;

        He gave a decree, and it shall not pass away.

⁷ Praise the Lord from the earth,

        you great sea creatures and all deeps,

⁸ fire and hail, snow and mist,

        stormy wind fulfilling His word!

⁹ Mountains and all hills,

        fruit trees and all cedars!

¹⁰ Beasts and all livestock,

        creeping things and flying birds!

¹¹ Kings of the earth and all peoples,

        princes and all rulers of the earth!

¹² Young men and maidens together,

        old men and children!

¹³ Let them praise the name of the Lord,

        for His name alone is exalted;

        His majesty is above earth and heaven.

¹⁴ He has raised up a horn for His people,

        praise for all His saints,

        for the people of Israel who are near to Him.

        Praise the Lord! 

But in the final verse we find the greatest reason for our praise, and the Easter connection to this Sunday's readings.  "He [the Lord ] has raised up a horn for His people..."  In God's word, horns are emblems of power, dominion, glory, and fierceness, witnessed by the animals who use them as their chief means of attack and defense.  "Horn" is used as a metaphor for strength in Deuteronomy 33:17 and for honor in Job 16:15 & Lamentations 2:3, and are also symbols of royal dignity and power (Jeremiah 48:25 ; Zechariah 1:18 ; Daniel 8:24 ).  The expression "horn of salvation," applied to Christ, means a salvation of strength, or a strong Savior (Luke 1:69). 

So this week just after our glorious Easter celebration, join me in thanking & praising God, that He has "raised up" Jesus from death, to be our horn of  salvation!  Jesus gives to you His resurrection, so you and I will be raised up too!  God raises you up in the middle of troubles in this life, and God will raise you up after death to live forever with Him in heaven!

Live today in the joy of being Raised Up!

Peace in God alone,

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 fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom..."  Psalm 111:10a