Greenpastures313’s Weblog

David should have been at war, as wrong as that sounds, Had he been about his kingly business, he would not have spied that woman from his rooftop, he wouldn’t have been tempted, he would not have allowed the temptation to escalate into lust. He would not have taken another man’s wife into his bed.. It was in the spring of the year, the time when kings go forth to battle, and David was at home. (2 Samuel 11.1). He lost a battle with sin which he could have won had he been where he was supposed to be, on the battlefield. 

We can’t say that Bathsheba was entirely innocent, no, but the bulk of responsibility rests squarely on the king’s shoulders. He was the king and she a subject of the kingdom. When called, dare she risk the king’s anger with refusal? Perhaps she should have resisted, but how intimidating it must have been for her. It takes two to tango, but one with absolute authority, such as King David enjoyed, must conduct himself wisely among his citizens, lest they feel coerced.If only David had been where the text indicates he should have been, the entire matter might have been avoided. How often that same “if” applies to your life and mine. If only I had done this or that. If only I had spent more time with my children. If only I had spent more time with God. If only I had preayed more and worred less. If only I had been more attentive to my spouse. If only I had been where I was supposed to be instead of where I was.

David sinned against the Lord, but he repented, and some time later, the same Bathsheba bore him a son and they named him Solomon, the wisest of the wise. Don’t lose heart over the “if onlys” in your past. God can turn that to good as well.

Spring is springing and the grass is growing. This time of year reminds us of God’s power to make all things new. Nature is reborn and so are you when you turn to Christ. He was raised from death, and he conquered it forever. The Bible teaches us that we, as believers, are raised with him to newness of life. (Romans 6.4). We “put off the old man and put on the new.”

Why then does the newness wear off? Why can’t we keep that new feeling alive in the heart, the way we felt the day we gave ourselves to the Lord, the day we repented and trusted his grace, the day our sins were washed away by the blood of the Lamb? “Behold, I make all things new” the Lord says, but I don’t feel new. The world and its cares can rob our newness if we let it.The Devil plants doubt and fear in the mind. He undermines your faith with sayings like, “Nothing’s changed and nothing’s going to change. You can’t change. You’re just like everyone else. Give up.” Listen to that rhetoric for a while and you find yourself believing it.

But remember that spring is springing and things do start over. You can start over too. Be renewed in the power of Christ, in the power of his Word, in the power of his worship. Praise, pray, worship, study, believe the Bible. All things are new.

It’s a beautiful saturday in March in south Georgia. We actually had snow flurries last Sunday, but today is warm and breezy. The windows are up in the house and the fresh air smells like home.  I cut a little grass today, plowed in the garden, rode horseback, helped Vickey get ready to host a baby shower at our house, finished my sermon for tomorrow and it’s only 6:00 pm.  I’m grateful for this day. Emma has done well babysitting the little ones who came with their moms to the shower, and Zack is still in ATL with DECA group at state competition. He will be home tonight and I pray safely home. He and two others competed in a marketing project in which they help launch a new business in Cordele called Papa’s Southern Meats and Eats. The grand opening was last week and it seems to be doing well. The boys designed the name, the logo, targeted the clientel and basicallyhelped the owner define the marketing strategy for the business. If they place in the top four, they compete in Califonia at the national level.

Winterfest was great this year. Our young people and adults learned much about loving God and loving others. Everyone worked and played well together. Taylor Mason is the funniest ventriloquist I’ve ever seen and Ok Christian University’s drama team was very good. Decemberadio played a good concert, but so far none has surpassed the Newsboys of winterfest 05.

Here’s a few pics of our kids from first street and our trip to Winterfest 09. Have a great weekend and see you soon. Thanks for reading.

Kaylee, Emma, Nikki, Shona, and Jack at the butt cooking.

We came, we saw, we cooked their butts.

On top of ole smokey

Zack (Mr Wrestler III) Jarrett and Shona (Sara Palin) Warren at Winterfest 09

One of our youth ministers