Matthew TwoSix:ThreeNine

Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights, who does not change like shifting shadows.- James 1:17 NIV John Maxwell said, "Change is inevitable, growth is optional." I think most of us resist change because it is uncomfortable. It pushes us to do things differently or shift our way of doing things. It may change our way of thinking about the things we face. There is peace and safety with our normal routines and way of doing/thinking of things. When those things change it can feel like our world turns into chaos and we don’t have control. We experience vulnerability.  My family and I experienced significant change this last year as I stepped into vocational ministry. The change was both uncomfortable and exciting. There has been this wonderful peace surrounding the change. I believe, with my whole heart, it is because my employer changed, who I work for (God) stayed the same.  As James reminds us our Heavenly Fathe

I'm going to guess that each of us have a Sunday routine. You probably have a church service you prefer to attend. You may go out to brunch after service. Or maybe it is your cheat day and you allow yourself to indulge with the donuts at church. You probably have a preference as to where you sit in church. It may be the exact same location each week. Possibly, you are a little more general in your planning. Just like school, some of us are back sitters and others prefer the front of the class. I am sure there are some who would like to be in the middle of things, too.   My point is we like to be comfortable. We have certain preferences and when those preferences are met, we enjoy comfort. Comfort provides us with calm and peace. Being comfortable feels good.  Jesus knew that comfort could be the enemy of growth. When the apostles got too comfortable, Jesus shook things up. He took them out on a boat. Many of His disciples were fishermen. A boat was a place they had b

“You are the light of the world. A town built on a hill cannot be hidden. Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a bowl. Instead they put it on its stand, and it gives light to everyone in the house. In the same way, let your light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven.” - Matthew 5:14-16 The people who work at SeaPort Manatee are some of the most dedicated and hard-working people I have had the privilege to know. They work tirelessly to load and unload ships, keep the port safe, load and unload trucks, and the many other activities that make this place go. Three hundred sixty-five days days a year this SeaPort is alive because of the men and women who work here.  As the days drag on and the hours worked add up, fatigue sets in. Fatigue is the playground of the enemy. He strikes with doubt, impure thoughts, distractions, and any device he can employ to take our eyes off of God. The enemy jumps on us when we are i

Jesus is “ ‘the stone you builders rejected, which has become the cornerstone.’ Salvation is found in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given to mankind by which we must be saved.” - Acts 4:11-12     Lately, I have found myself spending a lot of time in the Book of Acts. I’ve been enamored by the early church and its actions. These people actually knew Jesus or knew people who knew Jesus. They saw the miracles. They heard the parables. They saw the reactions of those threatened by Jesus' very existence. They were hunted, thrown in prison, and killed because they followed Jesus.    The selection above comes after Peter and John were abducted by the temple guard. The Bible says, “they seized Peter and John” (Acts 4:3). I can say I’ve never been seized. It is a concept I can only understand because I have seized things, but never people. My kids come home with Halloween candy and I seize my favorite candies. I have seized many an opportunity, but never

One of things I get to do in my role with Anchor House is visit churches and invite them into partnership with the mission. What we need most is people willing to donate their time and serve alongside us at SeaPort Manatee. We are seeking followers of Jesus who want to consistently serve in a ministry with a local and global impact. We are inviting people who are motivated by love and want to love others. Many times when I approach a church they are expecting a financial “ask”. While we are an independent 501c3 mission and rely on the generosity of others to exist, money is not our primary “ask”. I can imagine churches frequently get approached by missions and ministries hoping for funding. I believe as missionaries and leaders of ministries, our responsibility is to share with God’s people what He is doing through us. Once we do that I think we need to allow the Holy Spirit to work.  The Holy Spirit will guide them as to how or if a church or person should engage with the

Blank page.  When I opened this document, I was given a completely blank page.  No words. No symbols. Just blank.  Anything that would go on this page would be the result of my typing. I have the chance to write anything I want. I have the chance to tell any story that my heart desires. It can be a story of tragedy or one of victory. It could be words describing a defeat or perseverance. It could be a story focused on what I was able to do or what God was able to do.  I get to choose.  When we give our lives to Jesus. We get this blank page laid out in front of us. 2 Corinthians 5:17 tells us, "Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, the new creation has come: The old has gone, the new is here!" A new blank sheet of paper is right in front of us. It is more than a new chapter. It is a new book and it has a co-author. His name is Jesus.   The question is, what are you writing on your blank page? Whose story are you telling? Be blessed and be a blessing, Matt

A few weeks ago, we celebrated Day of the Seafarer with a week of activities.  One of the places we invited churches and families to come alongside us was by baking treats for the seafarers and port community. Throughout the week we were blessed with an incredible amount of cookies, brownies, and other delectable treats.  Some of which were put out at Anchor House for all who visited the center to enjoy.  Others were packaged up and brought to ships for the seafarers to enjoy. Many were accompanied by a note or card of encouragement and prayer.  I hope the seafarers enjoyed the baked goods they received. Being on a ship for 4-10 months at a time, I would miss the treat of homemade cakes, cookies, and other yummy treats. I am sure some of the cooks on the ships make treats for the crew.  And I am confident they are very skilled in their culinary skills. However, I think there is nothing quite like a homemade cookie.  I’m not sure, but I think the secret ingredient may just b