What Happens When You Find It

Have you ever misplaced or lost something?  Have you ever had that "oh no" feeling? Have you ever had to stop thinking about your next step and try to remember your last steps?  The keys, credit card, wallet, or these days more important than those might be our smart phones.

Psalms 112 is a song of 10 verses with no author mentioned or even context given for the inspiration to this psalm.  However it calls out in its first verse itself a statement that might make us scratch our heads.  (Read Psalms 112)  If you fear someone, you are blessed?  If you are delightfully obedient to someone's commands, you are blessed?  That is what verse one reminds us.  The "someone" is not just a random "someone", but the Lord God Himself.

Verses 2-9 list all the miraculous and gracious things God is ready, willing, and able to do for you and I if we find delight in His commands and fear Him out of reverence and honor.

• Your generations will be blessed! That means your kids and grandkids. 
• Your integrity and character will endure. Wealth and riches (not just financially) are in your home.  
• Your life will be lit up by His presence, love, and power.  Even when in the dark days of life and darkness has hit all around you, He will shine a light on your life and bless you. 
• Your generosity and consistency will be reciprocated by God.  God wants to reciprocate on your generosity.  He's looking to bless you even more if you are willing to be generous with what He has blessed you.  Worship Him in your giving to the house of God, to those less fortunate, find a missionary to support, bless someone randomly in your daily life. 
• Your trust in the Lord must be unshakable. Bad news will find you, but that will not shake you because you trust in the Lord. 
• Your heart will not be troubled because the God of Angel Armies is on your side.  Your enemies will look to see your demise, but you always stand tall with God on your side. 
• You will be a conduit of blessings. Find a way to give yourself away to others with the physical and spiritual gifts God has invested in your life.  For that you will be honored by God and maybe He could do it in front of man. 

I believe the author of this Psalm is anonymous because this is my song and your song.  I believe there is no context given to this Psalm because its for this moment of your life and my life right now.  That joy or even relief when we find that item we misplaced or thought we lost is probably indescribable.  There's a freedom in a resolution to that unanswered dilemma of "where could it be? or what if someone found it and didn't tell me?"

If God is capable, desiring, and excited to do all this and more for you, what keeps us from simply delighting in His Word and living to honor Him in all the ways of our life.  You are blessed if you fear God.  You are blessed if you delight in His commands.

Enjoy The Ride,

Pastor Cee

Bent But Not Broken

I had to post this devotional written by my beautiful, smart, wise, and powerful wife! I'm so blessed, honored, and proud to have her in my life! Be blessed!

Based on Psalms 34

Written by Sherin Mathew for This Is My Song devotional series:

My life testimony is not a victory story about how I am spared from troubles and tragedy but how my Father carries my family and I through the midst of our darkest nights. I look back and wonder how I make it through each season. I realize it is when I get up each day, I CHOOSE to praise Him and trust that He’s got my life in control, no matter the circumstance, be it sickness, death, uncertainties of life or even lighter hardships such as difficult day at work or the everyday busyness, it is then that I am filled with immense strength, faith and boldness to face the day and push through. As I keep my focus on Him every moment and not be distracted by the discouragements life throws my way, I can trust in His promise that He will always keep my face radiant with His glory.

During seasons of drought, it is harder, almost impossible to keep our chin up, shoulders back and face each day. But verse 5 reminds us that as long as our eyes are fixed into His, we should have no reason to doubt His promise that He will make ALL things, the victories and the wish-it-never-happened seasons work together for our good. Our faces will automatically emit the radiance of ‘the peace that passes all understanding’ and we can rest assured that the hardships of this life are never meant to put us to shame.

We cannot truly say we know what something tastes or feels like unless we have actually experienced it. Just as important as it is to cling onto His life giving promises, it is equally enriching and empowering for us to remember the miraculous ways He led us to our mountain tops and sustained us in the miry clay seasons.

So when we feel discouraged, despair sets in and when life seems unfair, before feelings of anger, shame and bitterness takes root in our hearts and minds, let us make every effort to choose to remember that our Lord is close to the broken hearted and will save those crushed in spirit (vs 18). Although He does not guarantee us a trouble free life, He does promise to walk by our side and will not allow one of our bones to be broken (vs 20).

Which takes me to 2 Corinthians 4:8 we are hard pressed on every side, but not crushed; perplexed, but not in despair. Our hardships are not meant to destroy us, but to build us up from the inside out. He may allow us to be bent, but will not let us reach the point of breaking.

May the name of Jesus always be our song we sing in the night.

Amen and God bless!

Do You See That?

Has anyone told you to look at something off in the distance?  They are pointing in that direction and describing it with their words.  You try to find it based on their guidance. However you can't see what they see.  Maybe at some point, they will give more obvious reference points like see that building, or that sign, or that light, etc.  Those are not the intended targets but they are just guideposts to get you to your final destination.  You find those guideposts, then your friend give another step towards that "thing" you both are trying to see at the same time.  Slowly you are working your way toward that "thing" via many buildings, moving objects, "guideposts"! Finally, your eyes get to the final destination and are now able to see with others the same thing.

Psalms 123 is the final destination.  Starting with Psalms 120, the first guidepost, the next few Psalms guide us towards Psalms 123.  The writer tell us to first CALL on the name of the Lord in our distress.  Then their eyes are lifted to the HILLS for help assuming He resides on Mt. Zion.  Then their eyes went with them to the HOUSE of the Lord.  Then finally in Psalm 123 the writer's eyes look to the LORD GOD Himself.  Not the mountains or the house of God, but to God Himself.

How many times have we looked to people, brothers and sisters in Christ, our pastors, our small group leaders, our ministry leaders, our spouses or children for help?  How many times have we gotten so desperate we decide to drop in at the church down the block one Sunday?  How many time have we turned to things that could host God or have a connection to God as a last resort?

Today, in the middle of your last resort, I encourage you to turn and fix your eyes on Jesus.  Look to Him alone.  People and things will fail or may last for a season, but Jesus never fails and His love and mercy is everlasting.  In Hebrews chapter 12, it reminds us to throw off every care, weight, sin, burden that holds us back.  It challenges us to run your race with perseverance.

If you have still not set your eyes on the "final destination" that people or God has been trying to get you to see, today make a dedicated decision to fix your eyes on Jesus Himself.  All that you are going through have been "guideposts" to get to you to see Jesus.  He is the author and perfecter of your faith.  When you finally see HIM, what a joy, love, peace, and hope you experience!

Enjoy The Ride,

Pastor Cee

In Your Loneliest Hour

Psalms 22 is a song that is a cry from a heart of anguish, despair, loneliness, and pain. However, it is littered with declarations of God's promise and power to deliver and strengthen those who believe, follow, and fear Him.

There have been moments in my life where the silence was deafening, the malaise was debilitating, the proverbial fog in my mind was so thick, the questions were countless, the doubts were running rampant, the confusion was chaotic, and I didn't know what to say, think, or do next.

I can say I'm not the one that tends to be a loner in life. Whether with family, friends, new church folks, ministers, or haters in disguise, I'm surrounded by people most of the time. However, being surrounded by people and things to do does not mean you can't be lonely. Have you every felt like you are part of a crowd but still as alone as can be? Have you ever felt like you are surrounded by such busy times and action but still not sure why or what you are doing?

When we got news during Sherin's pregnancy with Kayla that the baby might have some health concerns during pregnancy and possibly after birth, I felt like where did God go? Our family and friends were happy and rejoicing with us for the fact of expecting another child. The conversations, plans, and joy of that experience were all happening with great people in our lives. But when we got this news, it seemed like even if we were surrounded by a great support system, we were alone. More than people abandoning us in this moment, my question was "my God, my God, why have you forsaken us?" The only thing I didn't realize at that moment was that He didn't abandon us. He was with us and the baby in the womb. We had to trust in God and ask for His delivering hand to be revealed in this situation. The Holy Spirit reminded us of whose report will we believe, and we prayerfully and with faith responded, "we will believe the report of the Lord!"

In your times of anguish, cry out to God and trust Him. During the rest of the pregnancy, birth, and even until this moment, we can thankfully declare that Kayla is a strong, healthy, adventurous child growing in all ways. God is great! He didn't leave us, He just wanted to know if we trusted in Him.
There will be times in your life that people will not be there for you in your life and will watch from near and far and see what you are going through. They might not say it TO YOU - but I promise you some of your haters are going to think like the onlookers at the cross where Jesus hung and say like in verse 8 of Psalms 22, "He trusts in the LORD; let the LORD rescue him. Let him deliver him, since he delights in him." My question to all of us is this, will people around us know that we TRUST IN THE LORD for them to make that kind of statement? Will they know that our heavenly Father delights in us for them to say or think that?

Jesus felt the loneliest hanging on that cross about to die not because of his physical predicament. He did so because at that point when all of our sins, shame, guilt, sickness, and pain was draped all over Him, His heavenly Father couldn't stand to look at His Son any longer and had to turn His face away from Jesus. Jesus experienced that loneliness so that we would never have to. He died so He can have a relationship with us. He did it so He can abide in us and we can abide in Him.

In your darkest and loneliest hours, trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding. Stare down that crazy predicament you are facing and declare life, victory, freedom, healing, power, and peace over it. In verse 25, the scripture encourages us a couple of things: from God comes the reason for our praise AND our purpose in life is not yet complete. We have a destiny to fulfill for His Kingdom purpose. You are not alone for He is with you even until the end of the age was the promise Jesus left for all of His disciples - in the Bible and today!

Enjoy The Ride,

Pastor Cee

We Could Use Your Help

I pray that this finds you and your family well. God has been working in my life, our family, and ministry powerfully and faithfully. We have our struggles but we know God is great and trust Him to do what is best. Leading a family, home, and church is not easy but its a true joy and privilege to have such great responsibilities. The church is growing in many ways. New people are coming every week and slowly but surely people are committing to a life following Jesus. We are blazing trails and entering into new frontiers this year.

I want to share with you a challenging ministry opportunity that God has presented to me. The Lord has put it on our hearts as a church to Storm This City. That is our missions and outreach ministry focus. Whether it be in our backyard of Elmont, or a city in the USA, or a country in Central America, we want to Storm This City with love, compassion, and truth. As part of that initiative, from August 2nd – August 9th I will be going to Guatemala with a team from my church, FCOG Community Worship Service (CWS). This 1 week mission trip we will be reaching out and spreading the gospel to the people of Guatemala while also learning more about their culture.

While God has opened up a door for me to develop a greater heart of compassion for His people around the world, the exciting part is that you will be able to share in this compassion in several ways. First, you can help pray for me and my team. We will need prayers that God will prepare our team for our visit and bless our efforts as we minister to the people of Guatemala. We will be ministering to children, adults, women who are working in the red light district, and other things. We are going to need a lot of prayer. So the most important way you can partner with me, is through prayer.

I will also need prayers that our financial needs will be met. Another way you can be involved is to help provide that financial support. At this time we need to raise $1,000 each to attend this trip, and that is quite a challenge!

I am excited about the opportunity to serve and to minister, and I ask you to join me in ministry. I am seeking your support and prayers for this mission trip. If you are able to assist with this trip, a quick and easy way to help support would be by clicking this link: Donate Here

As you go through the Paypal process and you click "Review Donation and Continue" the next page will give you an option to "ADD MEMO FOR DONATION" Please add following line: "Storm This City" to make sure that the money goes for me and this missions trip

I look forward to participating in this Kingdom work in Guatemala and I can’t wait to share with you how God used us when I return. God bless you!

Enjoy The Ride,

Cecil
www.l2lifelead.blogspot.com
Twitter: @Cecil_Mathew
Instagram: @cecil_mathew

Never Once

I knew God had a purpose for me.  I heard the call from God in 2005.  I dedicated my life into His hands not knowing the "when, how, or where”, but the "who, what and why” was crystal clear. 

Who? It was for me.

What? Dedicate your life for full-time ministry.

Why? God said, “I need someone to go and tell them about Jesus.”

I said, "Here I Am!"

Since then, God has been teaching, showing, answering, leading, and growing me to learn the “hows” and “wheres”.  

The when was 1 year ago TODAY! One year ago today marked a new chapter in my life and in our family’s life.  Leaving the known to go into the unknown has been a journey for sure.

As David declared, we also experienced the same; "Oh, taste and see that the Lord is good;

Blessed is the man who trusts in Him!”

Definitely it has been a roller coaster ride the past year and through it all God has been faithful.  The words to the song, Never Once is our testimony for the past year:

Standing on this mountaintop

Looking just how far we’ve come

Knowing that for every step

You were with us

Kneeling on this battle ground

Seeing just how much You’ve done

Knowing every victory

Was Your power in us

Scars and struggles on the way

But with joy our hearts can say

Yes, our hearts can say

Never once did we ever walk alone

Never once did You leave us on our own

You are faithful, God, You are faithful

Our desire is for others to encounter the love of the heavenly Father, grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, and power of the Holy Spirit.  Our prayer is that each person lives out his or her calling for His glory and Kingdom purpose. Along that ride, our call is to be part of His plan to pastor His church and help prepare it to be a beautiful bride for His return. 

We need and ask for your continued prayers, encouragement, and support to do His will, His way! We are not perfect, still growing, learning, and striving to please Him.  Thanks to everyone for blessing us in many ways over the past year!  We thank God for you and pray He continues to bless you!

Enjoying This Ride, 

Pastor Cee, Sherin, Abigail, & Kayla

Isaiah 55:8-9

5 LESSONS LEARNED IN 2013

Living and serving Him to build up His church is so worth it! I am living the dream everyday!  Whenever someone asks me hows life and ministry, my standard response to them this past year has been, "It's scary, exciting, and fun all at the same time." These are a few lessons I lived and learned with family, ministry, and leadership.  Just jotted them down to hopefully be an encouragement to you. 


1. WENT ALL IN


- God talks through even your children.  Ask me about it!


- Took a step of faith individually and as a family into full-time ministry.  


- It was time and the step out and the step in was official on May 1st.


- Obvious fears were focused on the practicalities of raising a family on Long Island.


- Sang, preached, read, and heard about "Jehovah Jireh".  This year we saw Jehovah Jireh.

"O taste and see that the LORD is good: blessed is the man who trusts in him." - Psalms 34:8


2. LOVE LANGUAGES


- Realized that I can't love everyone the same way.  Tough love doesn't always work. Tender loving care doesn't always work either.  Balance it out.


- Realized that everyone will not love me the same way.  


- Realized that people will not love you or even like you.  The haters will always be there.  Some were expected and some were surprising.  If anyone says it doesn't take a toll on them, they are lying.  I definitely experienced some hurt and deep wounds this past year.  God is transforming those wounds into scars.  Wounds will always hurt but scars are just reminders.  


- Realized Jesus loves me, this I know, for the Bible tells me so ... =) about to start singing ...


3. LET'S GO


- I'm a big picture person who still tries to keep a handle on the details at times.  I'm already thinking about 2015 and beyond...just saying! 


- Everyone doesn't move at your pace or even at God's pace for their lives.


- While I've learned to slow down at times thanks to a great family and ministry team, they've learned to speed up.  (Don't know if they would thank anyone for that.)


- Learning that some are born leaders while others are developed leaders.  Born or made, all need to be learning and growing servant-leaders.


- Learned that all may not be ready for the call on their life or for the vision and mission of the church.


- Leads to the next lesson learned...


4. THREE WORDS


- My prayers to God in relation to family, leadership, and pastoral ministry from the beginning of the year were centered around these 3 words: patience, wisdom, and discernment. 


- Lord give me the patience to see growth and lives change in a moment and through a process.


- Lord give me the heavenly wisdom to handle every situation and challenge with grace and humility.

- Lord give me the discernment to see what you see. 


- That prayer has not changed just because its a new year.  Need more of all as expectations, demands, vision, and hopes grow.  


5. BE AN ORIGINAL


- At times, I got caught red-handed playing the comparison game as a pastor, leader, and church. 


- I'm not made to be someone else.  I'm not created by Him to be a carbon copy. I am created by Jesus to be His child and His servant. 


- I'm not a puppet for man to speak through but an instrument and tool in God's hands to use and speak through.


- He constantly reminded me to take on His identity.  As I did, He led me into greater levels of revelation in Him and His Word.  Putting on Christ is the best decision made.  


- I was surprised a few times by what He was doing in and through me.  Almost was afraid of what was happening and had to trust Him in the moment.  


- I know I am here, I am a sinner, I am forgiven, and I am called.  I am a husband, father, son, brother, friend, pastor, servant-leader. 


- God take me, use me, and send me for your purpose and glory!


I'm thankful for what God has done and is doing.  I'm not looking to be successful but just be faithful with God has given to me.  I look forward to what lies ahead.  I press on because Jesus is calling.  



I don’t mean to say that I have already achieved these things or that I have already reached perfection. But I press on to possess that perfection for which Christ Jesus first possessed me. No, dear brothers and sisters, I have not achieved it, but I focus on this one thing: Forgetting the past and looking forward to what lies ahead, I press on to reach the end of the race and receive the heavenly prize for which God, through Christ Jesus, is calling us. (Philippians 3:12-14 NLT)


Enjoyed The Ride,

Pastor Cee

THE STORM WATCH IS ON

God has placed us in Elmont.  We are here to serve and love like Jesus did.  Come visit and get plugged into life at CWS as soon as you can.  The storm watch is on.

Enjoy The Ride,

Pastor Cee