Micah Schmidt
@gospelhoard.bsky.social
Lutheran pastor in Kentucky. CTX and CSL grad. Leaning into the best of LCMS heritage: strong commitment to sound doctrine, deep appreciation for the liturgy, and genuine concern for social and political issues concerning the poor and oppressed.
8 I will not grieve at things distressing,
Thou in Thy hands hast graven me
For my salvation and my blessing.
Therefore my hope looks but to Thee,
And knows in faith, as well it should,
That God remembers me for good.
Erdmann Neumeister
tr. © 2026 Matthew Carver
sung to "If Thou but Trust in God"
Thou in Thy hands hast graven me
For my salvation and my blessing.
Therefore my hope looks but to Thee,
And knows in faith, as well it should,
That God remembers me for good.
Erdmann Neumeister
tr. © 2026 Matthew Carver
sung to "If Thou but Trust in God"
October 8, 2026 at 2:48 PM
8 I will not grieve at things distressing,
Thou in Thy hands hast graven me
For my salvation and my blessing.
Therefore my hope looks but to Thee,
And knows in faith, as well it should,
That God remembers me for good.
Erdmann Neumeister
tr. © 2026 Matthew Carver
sung to "If Thou but Trust in God"
Thou in Thy hands hast graven me
For my salvation and my blessing.
Therefore my hope looks but to Thee,
And knows in faith, as well it should,
That God remembers me for good.
Erdmann Neumeister
tr. © 2026 Matthew Carver
sung to "If Thou but Trust in God"
2 When human answers fail me
And all their help proves naught,
God's providence avails me
And in his love I'm caught.
He helps me in my need,
Delivers me from evil,
From sin and death and devil:
He is my Friend indeed.
adapted from the ELHB's alteration of Winkworth's translation, stanza 2
On Christ I am relying
E'en in the greatest stress.
He's daily verifying
The many promises
He in his Word has made;
My life and soul I render
To God, my strong defender,
Whose love can never fade.
adapted from J.C. Jacobi's "translation" of Ludwig Helmbold
compare with LSB 713, st. 3
E'en in the greatest stress.
He's daily verifying
The many promises
He in his Word has made;
My life and soul I render
To God, my strong defender,
Whose love can never fade.
adapted from J.C. Jacobi's "translation" of Ludwig Helmbold
compare with LSB 713, st. 3
October 7, 2026 at 7:04 PM
2 When human answers fail me
And all their help proves naught,
God's providence avails me
And in his love I'm caught.
He helps me in my need,
Delivers me from evil,
From sin and death and devil:
He is my Friend indeed.
adapted from the ELHB's alteration of Winkworth's translation, stanza 2
It's better to be swimming than dead.
My 6-year-old
My 6-year-old
September 29, 2026 at 12:00 AM
It's better to be swimming than dead.
My 6-year-old
My 6-year-old
On Christ I am relying
E'en in the greatest stress.
He's daily verifying
The many promises
He in his Word has made;
My life and soul I render
To God, my strong defender,
Whose love can never fade.
adapted from J.C. Jacobi's "translation" of Ludwig Helmbold
compare with LSB 713, st. 3
E'en in the greatest stress.
He's daily verifying
The many promises
He in his Word has made;
My life and soul I render
To God, my strong defender,
Whose love can never fade.
adapted from J.C. Jacobi's "translation" of Ludwig Helmbold
compare with LSB 713, st. 3
September 24, 2026 at 5:55 PM
On Christ I am relying
E'en in the greatest stress.
He's daily verifying
The many promises
He in his Word has made;
My life and soul I render
To God, my strong defender,
Whose love can never fade.
adapted from J.C. Jacobi's "translation" of Ludwig Helmbold
compare with LSB 713, st. 3
E'en in the greatest stress.
He's daily verifying
The many promises
He in his Word has made;
My life and soul I render
To God, my strong defender,
Whose love can never fade.
adapted from J.C. Jacobi's "translation" of Ludwig Helmbold
compare with LSB 713, st. 3
[Luther] teaches and shows that mental illness is not a failure of faith in Christ, but part of God's mysterious forming of Christ in them, even a mark of growth toward being conformed to his likeness.
September 22, 2026 at 5:38 PM
[Luther] teaches and shows that mental illness is not a failure of faith in Christ, but part of God's mysterious forming of Christ in them, even a mark of growth toward being conformed to his likeness.
Reposted by Micah Schmidt
The Lord has put away all your sins
September 2, 2026 at 9:50 AM
The Lord has put away all your sins
Every time I mistype neighbor as neighbro, I feel a little younger
August 19, 2026 at 3:19 PM
Every time I mistype neighbor as neighbro, I feel a little younger
It is a mistake to despise the body.
There is much about the body in its present state that is not lovely.
Yet the Spirit will raise up this vile body to glory (Romans 8:11).
It too is God's creation, although now sadly infected by sin.
There is much about the body in its present state that is not lovely.
Yet the Spirit will raise up this vile body to glory (Romans 8:11).
It too is God's creation, although now sadly infected by sin.
July 16, 2026 at 1:08 PM
It is a mistake to despise the body.
There is much about the body in its present state that is not lovely.
Yet the Spirit will raise up this vile body to glory (Romans 8:11).
It too is God's creation, although now sadly infected by sin.
There is much about the body in its present state that is not lovely.
Yet the Spirit will raise up this vile body to glory (Romans 8:11).
It too is God's creation, although now sadly infected by sin.
Our quest is not as we propose,
but shall be as our Lord dispose.
but shall be as our Lord dispose.
And though red roses blossomed bright
in secret gardens on the height,
for many lady and her night
the morning came too soon.
-Malcolm Guite's Galahad and the Grail can be quite relatable
#poetry
in secret gardens on the height,
for many lady and her night
the morning came too soon.
-Malcolm Guite's Galahad and the Grail can be quite relatable
#poetry
July 5, 2026 at 5:46 PM
Our quest is not as we propose,
but shall be as our Lord dispose.
but shall be as our Lord dispose.
It's been fun watching videos of soccer fans from all over the world enjoying the different regions of the US. Scots drinking Boston dry, Bosnians surprised to find fans in St. Louis, Japanese enjoying bbq in TX.
While much has been made about how the US has the stadiums already for such an event,
While much has been made about how the US has the stadiums already for such an event,
June 19, 2026 at 12:36 PM
It's been fun watching videos of soccer fans from all over the world enjoying the different regions of the US. Scots drinking Boston dry, Bosnians surprised to find fans in St. Louis, Japanese enjoying bbq in TX.
While much has been made about how the US has the stadiums already for such an event,
While much has been made about how the US has the stadiums already for such an event,
No wickedness or oppression, however securely enthroned and however long its triumphant course, can elude his retributive reach.
-Walter A. Maier on Nahum 1:2
-Walter A. Maier on Nahum 1:2
June 16, 2026 at 11:33 AM
No wickedness or oppression, however securely enthroned and however long its triumphant course, can elude his retributive reach.
-Walter A. Maier on Nahum 1:2
-Walter A. Maier on Nahum 1:2
Did something a little different this year for the First Sunday after Trinity: middlethingsblog.wordpress.com/2026/06/09/j...
June 9, 2026 at 4:21 PM
Did something a little different this year for the First Sunday after Trinity: middlethingsblog.wordpress.com/2026/06/09/j...
And here's his followup, even more excellent:
June 4, 2026 at 12:50 PM
And here's his followup, even more excellent:
Reposted by Micah Schmidt
Jacobs in 1897: his Lutheran church should serve needy immigrants and people scarcely recovered from slavery—thirty years after abolition. Modern conservatism dates that conversation’s expiry to 1865. He also wanted churches built for immigrants. Priorities have shifted.
#lutheran #lcms
#lutheran #lcms
May 31, 2026 at 9:45 AM
An excellent post by Concordia University (LCMS) ethics professor, Scott Stiegemeyer
What I Wish the Church Knew About My Depression - Flesh and Blood Bioethics
A Christian, family man, and brain-owner speaks plainly. Let me be clear about who is writing this. I am not a physician or a therapist.…
fleshandbloodbioethics.com
May 23, 2026 at 11:39 PM
An excellent post by Concordia University (LCMS) ethics professor, Scott Stiegemeyer
Reposted by Micah Schmidt
What Christians believe about Christ is found in the Scriptures and summed up in the creeds.
May 23, 2026 at 9:00 AM
What Christians believe about Christ is found in the Scriptures and summed up in the creeds.
Here's a prayer for Pentecost, perfect for children. From the Evangelical Lutheran Hymn-Book, the first English hymnal of the LCMS, 1912.
1 O Holy Ghost, eternal God,
Best Comfort for life's rugged road,
From deep within my heart I plea;
In mercy do not turn from me.
1 O Holy Ghost, eternal God,
Best Comfort for life's rugged road,
From deep within my heart I plea;
In mercy do not turn from me.
May 22, 2026 at 6:53 PM
Here's a prayer for Pentecost, perfect for children. From the Evangelical Lutheran Hymn-Book, the first English hymnal of the LCMS, 1912.
1 O Holy Ghost, eternal God,
Best Comfort for life's rugged road,
From deep within my heart I plea;
In mercy do not turn from me.
1 O Holy Ghost, eternal God,
Best Comfort for life's rugged road,
From deep within my heart I plea;
In mercy do not turn from me.
niche LCMS pastor observation:
despite not being in the "suggested hymns" for weddings, Stephen Starke's "We Praise You and Acknowledge You" is the #1 requested hymn for weddings, and it's not even close
a testament to a sublime paraphrase of the Te Deum wedded perfectly to Holst's Jupiter theme
despite not being in the "suggested hymns" for weddings, Stephen Starke's "We Praise You and Acknowledge You" is the #1 requested hymn for weddings, and it's not even close
a testament to a sublime paraphrase of the Te Deum wedded perfectly to Holst's Jupiter theme
May 19, 2026 at 5:54 PM
niche LCMS pastor observation:
despite not being in the "suggested hymns" for weddings, Stephen Starke's "We Praise You and Acknowledge You" is the #1 requested hymn for weddings, and it's not even close
a testament to a sublime paraphrase of the Te Deum wedded perfectly to Holst's Jupiter theme
despite not being in the "suggested hymns" for weddings, Stephen Starke's "We Praise You and Acknowledge You" is the #1 requested hymn for weddings, and it's not even close
a testament to a sublime paraphrase of the Te Deum wedded perfectly to Holst's Jupiter theme
Had a lot of fun at the Ascension (Eve) meal and Divine Service last night, complete with bubbles and ice cream floats. Children were invited to wear prince/princess outfits a la Revelation 5. All in all, a good festival.
Here's my sermon
Here's my sermon
Characterized by the People He Spent Time With
Christ ascended not to leave us, but to be even more present through his Spirit; and by his Spirit, we too are now even more present with those he puts in our lives.
middlethingsblog.wordpress.com
May 14, 2026 at 8:42 PM
Had a lot of fun at the Ascension (Eve) meal and Divine Service last night, complete with bubbles and ice cream floats. Children were invited to wear prince/princess outfits a la Revelation 5. All in all, a good festival.
Here's my sermon
Here's my sermon
And though red roses blossomed bright
in secret gardens on the height,
for many lady and her night
the morning came too soon.
-Malcolm Guite's Galahad and the Grail can be quite relatable
#poetry
in secret gardens on the height,
for many lady and her night
the morning came too soon.
-Malcolm Guite's Galahad and the Grail can be quite relatable
#poetry
May 10, 2026 at 7:46 PM
And though red roses blossomed bright
in secret gardens on the height,
for many lady and her night
the morning came too soon.
-Malcolm Guite's Galahad and the Grail can be quite relatable
#poetry
in secret gardens on the height,
for many lady and her night
the morning came too soon.
-Malcolm Guite's Galahad and the Grail can be quite relatable
#poetry
4 years at a Christian university
4 years at seminary
12 years as a pastor
...
I still have to sing the song to find the book of the bible I'm looking for.
4 years at seminary
12 years as a pastor
...
I still have to sing the song to find the book of the bible I'm looking for.
April 28, 2026 at 1:05 PM
4 years at a Christian university
4 years at seminary
12 years as a pastor
...
I still have to sing the song to find the book of the bible I'm looking for.
4 years at seminary
12 years as a pastor
...
I still have to sing the song to find the book of the bible I'm looking for.
Christian humility calls us to be humbly honest about what we do not know and boldly confident about what/whom we do know.
We don't know the future, but we do know Christ.
This is from Lesslie Newbigin's John Commentary. #sermonprep #funeral #death
We don't know the future, but we do know Christ.
This is from Lesslie Newbigin's John Commentary. #sermonprep #funeral #death
April 14, 2026 at 3:35 PM
Christian humility calls us to be humbly honest about what we do not know and boldly confident about what/whom we do know.
We don't know the future, but we do know Christ.
This is from Lesslie Newbigin's John Commentary. #sermonprep #funeral #death
We don't know the future, but we do know Christ.
This is from Lesslie Newbigin's John Commentary. #sermonprep #funeral #death
Reposted by Micah Schmidt
Gerberding: society breeds the sins it then imprisons, obligating compassion rather than indifference. Too often, affirming the gravity of crime becomes cover for increasing prisoner suffering. “There but for the grace of God go I” is not a sentiment. It is an instruction.
#lcms
#lcms
March 26, 2026 at 9:58 AM
Gerberding: society breeds the sins it then imprisons, obligating compassion rather than indifference. Too often, affirming the gravity of crime becomes cover for increasing prisoner suffering. “There but for the grace of God go I” is not a sentiment. It is an instruction.
#lcms
#lcms
Me: 🎶 There was an old lady who swallowed a horse. She's dead of course.
5yo: She's dead?
Me: I mean, it's just a song.
Wife: And no one swallow a horse. It's impossible.
5yo: Except Jesus, right?
5yo: She's dead?
Me: I mean, it's just a song.
Wife: And no one swallow a horse. It's impossible.
5yo: Except Jesus, right?
March 12, 2026 at 12:17 PM
Me: 🎶 There was an old lady who swallowed a horse. She's dead of course.
5yo: She's dead?
Me: I mean, it's just a song.
Wife: And no one swallow a horse. It's impossible.
5yo: Except Jesus, right?
5yo: She's dead?
Me: I mean, it's just a song.
Wife: And no one swallow a horse. It's impossible.
5yo: Except Jesus, right?
Not me spending five minutes pondering all that this strange theological word, 'hypo-thesis,' might mean.
Anyway, this book on how the Early Church felt about there being 4+ gospel accounts looks super interesting
Anyway, this book on how the Early Church felt about there being 4+ gospel accounts looks super interesting
How did early readers think about the relationship between the gospels?
Repost to enter a drawing to win a free book.
Repost to enter a drawing to win a free book.
January 27, 2026 at 4:05 PM
Not me spending five minutes pondering all that this strange theological word, 'hypo-thesis,' might mean.
Anyway, this book on how the Early Church felt about there being 4+ gospel accounts looks super interesting
Anyway, this book on how the Early Church felt about there being 4+ gospel accounts looks super interesting