Matthew TwoSix:ThreeNine

Wait for the Lord; be strong and take heart and wait for the Lord. Psalms 27:14 NIV Waiting is hard. When you are waiting to take part in an activity you enjoy or are waiting to hear very important news or are waiting for something to arrive, each minute you wait can feel like eternity. In this instant access age, I think it's even harder. We want it now and if we can't get it now we want updates.   If you've ever ordered from Amazon, you know they are experts in this. They send notifications to update you as to where your package is on the delivery route. Once your package arrives, they take a picture and send it to you. That way no matter where you are you get to enjoy knowing your waiting is nearly over.  To me there is no agony like the pain of waiting for a pizza delivery. You're hungry and looking forward to delicious pizza. Time seems to slow. Seconds tick away like minutes and minutes like hours. Many of the pizza chains have added their own update...

This past week it became clear to me that one of the unspoken core values of Anchor House is family. Last Monday was President's Day in the United States. That meant no school for the kids.  Anchor House was filled with grandkids and kids who chose to serve on their day off of school.  There was cooking, baking, ship visiting, envelope stuffing and sealing, kitchen work, and cash registering (not sure that's a word) all being done by kids with servants' hearts. On Presidents day, Anchor House looked a bit different than most other days.  Later in the week I had the chance to see old pictures of the Anchor House.  It was in the early days when a trailer was used and the current space was being built out. As I looked at the photos, I couldn't help but notice the kids. Some were posing for a photo and others were caught in action as they were playing foosball with seafarers.  Nonetheless, their presence indicates something special about Anchor House....

The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full. - John 10:10 NIV This week I had the chance to share a short devotional in our Anchor House staff meeting. It was about this word "thrive" that God has put on my heart for this year and in this new chapter.  The word "thrive" can be defined as "to grow or develop well, to prosper, to flourish."  When I think about thriving in God's kingdom, John 10:10 comes to mind.  But I must admit that I have struggled with what it says.  It says "life to the full" and I want it to say "life to the fullest". Isn't that what the world tells us to do? Live life to the fullest?  We are supposed to be the strongest, the richest, the smartest, prettiest, or any other "est". I want to compete. I want to live life to the fullest. That's not the way God's kingdom works.  It's not a competition. Jesus died...

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...

In you, Lord, I have taken refuge; let me never be put to shame. In your righteousness, rescue me and deliver me; turn your ear to me and save me. Be my rock of refuge, to which I can always go; give the command to save me, for you are my rock and my fortress. Deliver me, my God, from the hand of the wicked, from the grasp of those who are evil and cruel. Psalms 71:1‭-‬4 NIV Do you remember playing tag?  Much of my childhood I grew up on a culdesac.  There were plenty of neighborhood kids in the "circle", as we called it. Most evenings it was filled with kids playing together until moms and dads called us home.  Summers were the best.  It stayed light longer and often we were able to stay out and play after it was dark.  We played all kinds of games and rode bikes, big wheels, and any other creation we could get our hands on.  One of my favorite games we played was good old tag. Of course, in the game someone is "it".  The object of the gam...