I APPLAUD GOD FOR CREATING MATT SHIVELY!

I APPLAUD GOD FOR CREATING MATT SHIVELY!

     
     Some of you with stone faces, tight lips, exacting hearts and rigid beliefs may think it wrong to praise or honor a living person. Muttering, "You're just using flattery because you're seeking something in return." However, it is God's will that honor, respect and appreciation is shown by each of us.

"Pay everyone whatever he ought to have: pay your taxes and import duties gladly, obey those over you, and give honor and respect to all those to whom it is due." (Romans 13:7, TLB)

     The Scripture is full of people who were honored for their service to the Lord of Lords. The Apostle Paul praised so many different people that large Christian books have been written about them. Epaphroditus was such a person. Paul sent him to the church at Philippi with this statement:

"So then, welcome him in the Lord with great joy, and honor people like him," (Philippians 2:29, NIV)

"You need to be aware of what others are doing, applaud their efforts, acknowledge their successes, and encourage them in their pursuits. When we all help one another, everybody wins." (Jim Stovall)

"No person was ever honored for what he received. Honor has been the reward for what he gave." (Calvin Coolidge)

Why Does Matt Shively Deserve Honor and Respect?

     Though totally blind and nearly deaf, Matt Shively is the most refreshing, dynamic and enthusiastic man I’ve ever known. He can not be stopped from accomplishing anything he puts his awesome will to do.

     Nothing is more enjoyable than spending time with this Christian giant. His innate curiosity, detailed Bible studies and spontaneous questions tax anybody's ability to converse with him. His humor is a joy.

     I’ve said many times that he has more insight and vision than any sighted person. For more than 36 years I’ve watched Matt march to His Master’s leading. Though totally blind and nearly deaf he directs and acts in drama, builds craftsmanship quality bookcase-head boards, a storage shed, playhouse and much more. Guess who cuts the pieces, sands them finer than a baby’s skin and climbs ladders to roof the patio?

     He has no equal as a public speaker with wit, humor and unbelievable antics. I’ve watched him mesmerize scores of grade-schoolers, teens and adults. Everyone benefits when he shares.

     Toastmasters has awarded him so many times he needs to build a huge display room.

     Matt’s greatest innate characteristic, more than all of the above combined, is gratitude. Any one who helps him in anything, tiny or huge will be given an artistic gift from this former View Master
/ Disney Master Graphic Artist.

     In Matt's case so much more needs to be said.

     He was born with a genetic disease that causes creeping blindness culminating in not being able to see light from dark. Totally blind by about age 40.

     Sadly Matt was nearly unable to see his beloved daughter at her birth, though he did cut the umbilical cord. She was six when his eyesight was totally gone. 

     The disease also eats away hearing at about the same rate. Today Matt has just about 12% hearing remaining and wears a powerful hearing aid to hear anything.

     Consider Matt:

     1. Blind Matt is an awesome soul winner. Whether on a bus, at school, at a party or wherever others are gathered he testifies about God's greatness and challenges them to believe in the Creator. In Jesus' day a man born blind became the first soul-winner ~ John 9:1-12.

     2. Matt refuses to be called handicapped. He says, "I am handy-capable!" And he is.

     He gives all the credit to the Lord just as the Apostle Paul (who wrote half of the New Testament) did when his eyesight failed him. ~ (Gal. 4:15, 2 Cor. 12:8-10).

     Samson, despite being blinded, destroyed an idolatrous temple. The Bible is full of people who, in spite of varied disabilities, were used by the Lord in remarkable ways.

     Quadriplegic Joni Eareckson Tada perceived

"Our Saviour chose to flash His credentials as Messiah through ministry to disabled people.… A disability magnifies God's grace.... We in our wheelchairs get to prove how great and how trustworthy God is."

     3. Matt's Artistic Gifts Are Unrivaled. For many years, as his eyesight was fading, Matt continued to work as a Walt Disney Graphic Artist ~ painting View-Master slides. But he saved his best for the last. He said, "The last thing I want to paint is my Lord Jesus on the Cross." It is a spine-chillingly descriptive, masterpiece. Copies of it are everywhere.

     4. Matt is a phenomenal orator. Matt's failing hearing left him with a speech impediment.

     But he tackled it with zest transforming himself into a trophy winner at International Toast Masters. His preaching today is a treat. He has a rousing, baritone voice even in huge auditoriums. His comic humor is memorable. I've witnessed public grade school children mesmerized by his charisma.

     5. Matt is a powerful preacher with unmatched creativity. He excelled in Bible College grasping every opportunity to preach, study or testify. Today he challenges all audiences and is fearless in denouncing sin. He has earned accolades both for his stirring sermons and his unparalleled humor. He is popular as a guest speaker at retreats, seminars, reunions, and churches across America. No matter what if Matt agrees to speak he'll show up well or sick.

     6. Matt has a powerful memory. Matt often quotes lengthy passages of Scripture and remembers not only his own script in drama but many of the other actors as well.

     7. Matt is both a virtuoso actor and director of live drama. Directing and acting in live drama his memory is so keen it seems he is reading his script on a teleprompter. Sadly Matt's hearing is now so poor he can no longer hear the other actors say their lines. But anyone who ever had a part in his dramas always received a hand-drawn Thank You Appreciation note.

     8. Blind Matt is a craftsman carpenter. Though totally sightless Matt built a huge deck with a covered roof. He has built headboards, wishing wells, storage shed, playhouse and more. Watching him cut lumber on a table saw and sanding projects as smooth as a baby bottom leaves anyone amazed.

     Matt's story becomes a moving example of the kingdom of God, where able and disabled people sit together as equals both in the church and in eternity at the marriage feast of the Lamb.

      So then who are we really praising?

     All of the above is due to the very nature of God. He receives honor when He utilizes unsophisticated people to achieve greatness.

"We now have this light shining in our hearts, but we ourselves are like fragile clay jars containing this great treasure. This makes it clear that our great power is from God, not from ourselves." (2 Cor. 4:7, NLT)

     C.S. Lewis expressed it in this way:

"God whispers to us in our pleasures, speaks in our conscience, but shouts in our pain: it is his megaphone to rouse a deaf world."

     To inquire about having Matt speak to your church, school or other group please email: BlindManMatt@gmail.com.

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