Skip to main content

Anchor House Week 27 - Light of the World

“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 in a place of fatigue like a barnyard cat pounces a field mouse. 

Anchor House and those who serve through Anchor House have the privilege of being a beacon of light for the SeaPort community. As the days drag on and the enemy makes his attacks, Anchor House stands as the light in the darkness. Something as simple as sitting down, eating your lunch, and jumping on WiFi to watch your favorite show can be the difference between a successful attack and a defeated attack.  

As those that serve at Anchor House embrace the light our Father has granted them, it shines for others to enjoy. A smile when buying a few Gatorades or discussion about faith or a simple “It’s nice to see you” or “We’ve missed seeing you” can be all that is needed to refuel to take on the rest of the shift. It can be all that is needed to glorify our Father in heaven and love his children. 

Be blessed and be a blessing,
Matt
Labels:

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Anchor House: Week 6 Buried Treasure

When I started at Anchor House I committed to write at least one blog per week. Writing is something I enjoy and a way I get to interact with God. I can recall wanting to write about Anchor House in the days before I started, but my knowledge was limited..  To be honest I felt like I knew three things before I joined Anchor House. First,  Anchor House was a mission at Port Manatee (the Seaport, not the jail) Second, I knew it was a mission that my church, Westside Christian Church, supported with our Show Love funds.  Third, I knew God was calling me to serve Him there. However, what happened at Anchor House day to day was something of a mystery to me.   After being here for a few weeks I have learned quite a bit. I know where to look to find out when ships are coming in or departing.  I have learned that I am just tall enough to hit my head where most seafarers don’t. I have learned that flexibility is the key to serving at a seaport. One of th...
Post a Comment
Read more

Bold Like Stephen

I've always admired people who aren't afraid to be bold in their convictions.  It is the kind of boldness that allows them to stand out in the crowd. There is just something different about how these people view and engage the world around them.  The movie “Hacksaw Ridge” portrays a man that exemplifies what I mean by bold.  He was drafted to serve in World War II but refused to bear arms because of religious reasons. Yet, he still managed to receive the Congressional Medal of honor. Without a weapon in his hand, he saved 75 men in the Battle of Okinawa. Despite his objection to violence, he still served his country. Despite his objection to war he found a way to love his neighbor. He was bold.  When I think of bold in the Bible, I think of Stephen. Acts 6:8 says, "Now Stephen, a man full of God’s grace and power, performed great wonders and signs among the people." Stephen faced opposition to his teachings. Those that opposed his teachings couldn't ...
Post a Comment
Read more

Anchor House Week 13- Job

Trish and I have had this wonderful discussion about the fact that we don't have jobs. I've had jobs before. When you are first starting in a new job it is exciting and you work passionately. Many times there is a shift that occurs. From the get to attitude to the have to attitude, "I have to go to work today." Jobs have the ability to consume our lives because we have our compass pointed in the wrong direction. When we chase a promotion and a paycheck it leads us down an empty path. They may consume us, but they are just a job.  Trish and I agree, serving God and his people at Anchor House is better described as a calling. We get the chance to live as missionaries right here in our own town. God invites us to serve Him and His people in this very special way. We get to show His love and share the Good News with a local, regional, and global impact. Jobs can be replaced when the person chooses. You simply decide you want to do something else, quit your jo...
Post a Comment
Read more