Greetings!

I'm a pastor and have been serving Jesus "In The Way" since 1984 when I became a Christian just after entering the United States Marine Corps. USMC boot camp is enough to make any sane person cry out to God Almighty. OOHRAH!

Any way I'm glad I learned how to fight & endure in the Corps because to walk In The Way is to be in a very good fight every day.

One area of weakness for me has been to really be consistent in my journaling what God is doing and saying to me along my journey down The Way. I thought I'd try blogging it and see what God does.

This morning I read in 1 Samuel 26-28 about David's patience in waiting on God to deal with Saul, his enemy, rather than take matters into his own hands. On more than one occasion he could have easily killed Saul and I think it could be argued that he would not have been wrong in doing so. But Samuel had anointed Saul to be King of Israel. David was determined to let God be the One who would execute judgement on Saul. David knew that "'Vengeance is mine,' says the LORD." David chose to trust God rather than deal with the problem himself.

LORD Jesus, help me to trust in You the way David did. Help me to never take matters into my own hands. LORD I pray you would fill me with Your Holy Spirit to enable me to respond as David did. Help me to trust in You in any and every situation.

And LORD what a tragedy to see Saul, who had so much potential for doing so much good for you and Your kingdom, turn away from You LORD. He turned away from You to hunting down David to murder him and even consulting a spiritist - pure paganism.

LORD help me finish well. Help me get home before dark.

I borrow the word of that prayer from Robertson McQuilkin, President Emeritus of Columbia Int'l University

It’s sundown, Lord.

The shadows of my life stretch back

into the dimness of the years long spent.

I fear not death, for that grim foe betrays himself at last,

thrusting me forever into life:

Life with you, unsoiled and free.

But I do fear.

I fear the Dark Spectre may come too soon—

or do I mean, too late?

That I should end before I finish or

finish, but not well.

That I should stain your honor, shame your name,

grieve your loving heart.

Few, they tell me, finish well…

Lord, let me get home before dark.

The darkness of a spirit

grown mean and small, fruit shriveled on the vine,

bitter to the taste of my companions,

burden to be borne by those brave few who love me still.

No, Lord. Let the fruit grow lush and sweet,

a joy to all who taste;

Spirit - sign of God at work,

stronger, fuller, brighter at the end.

Lord, let me get home before dark.

The darkness of tattered gifts,

rust-locked, half-spent or ill-spent,

A life that once was used of God

now set aside.

Grief for glories gone or

Fretting for a task God never gave.

Mourning in the hollow chambers of memory,

Gazing on the faded banners of victories long gone.

Cannot I run well unto the end?

Lord, let me get home before dark.

The outer me decays —

I do not fret or ask reprieve.

The ebbing strength but weans me from mother earth

and grows me up for heaven.

I do not cling to shadows cast by immortality.

I do not patch the scaffold lent to build the real, eternal me.

I do not clutch about me my cocoon,

vainly struggling to hold hostage

a free spirit pressing to be born.

But will I reach the gate

in lingering pain, body distorted, grotesque?

Or will it be a mind

wandering un-tethered among light

fantasies or grim terrors?

Of your grace, Father, I humbly ask…

Let me get home before dark.