I just love this picture. I was checking in on our friends at KBM which hosts people to do short term missions in Jamaica. They had some pictures up from when our team was there last June and I was scrolling through them and smiling - then I came to this picture. I stared at it for a good 5 minutes as I got lost in the emotions of this day. It was such a powerful day praising and hearing Gods word that Sunday. See this was our last full day being in Jamaica after a week. A week on the mission field would usually look tough, tired, worn out and ready for home but there is nothing but smiles. Look at Morgans face, look at Kaylay and Trace and Cami - nothing but smiles. Even the Jamaica gals are smiling. Hot, dirt floor, windows open with an occasional breeze passing through - no stage lights, no hot guitar or video screens - just open hearted worship and teaching Gods word.

It is a highlight for me thinking back to this day because I was teaching that day. What an honor it was. I was speaking from the america show- Extreme home make over. This time it was KBM style and sharing with everyeone how KBM through Jim and Penie come in and make dreams happen for families while sharing God love and grace in such a powerful way that for many - its life changing. There were many times during the week where emotions would be just too much. I recall many times just having to step back and get a grip on myself because the moment was too powerful, to incredible, to moving - at times all I could do was weep because the emotions were coming over the top. I think about how those things have impacted me even today. These are things that drive my faith even further and deeper. Morgan giving a cup of water to a little girl who just wanted to be held. Carol playing with a child who has nothing to play with except a rock or a stick. Kyle sitting and talking with a 12 year old boy after we just delivered water to his home for his family. Taylor holding a little girl in her arms as she clings and prays to never let her go. Donna working on a house swinging a hammer and driving in nails to make a home for a family with 5 kids in a 12 by 12 shed. Emilee who spoke with a woman in a nursing home holding her hand who had not had a visitor in months. Kate with the biggest smile I have ever seen having a waiting line of children just waiting to be held. Zach standing that Sunday morning and running to the back of the church to get his bible and speak from the book of John and preach Gods word to a church family who just lost their dad and he spoke to them about miracles. Kayla who sang so amazing that morning that lifted everyones heart to another level in preperation to Gods word.

As I think about these things today and get excited about next June where we get to go back - God was so alive this week. It was so awesome because He showed up everywhere, in everything and was constantly on our hearts and minds. Everything we did that week was wrapped in the arms of Jesus. He was in our words, He was in our actions, He was in the sweat that poured out of us, He was in our throughts and in our hearts and ON OUR FACES.

For many of the Jamaica families the joy on their faces was simply mind bongeling to us because for many of us, we have never faced the things that they face each and every day. Joyful hearts in a nursing home with flies on their faces, everything they own sitting on the bed next to them and without a family visit in years. To them, God was all they had. They lived that and for that they understood that God is all that they will ever need. Its such a beautiful thing knowing that God is all you ever need.... with nothing or with everything.

For them, God was real. He is in their tears and in their hurts. He is in their struggles and in their pain. He is in their loss and in their gain. He is in their dreams just as much as He is in our dreams. There is no question of WHY ME? -

In John 11 - Jesus hears news that Lazarus died. Lets read the story here

John 11:14- Then Jesus became explicit: "Lazarus died. And I am glad for your sakes that I wasn't there. You're about to be given new grounds for believing. Now lets go to him." That when Thomas, the one called the Twin, said to his companions, come along. We might as well die with him. When Jesus finally got there, he founds Lazarus already 4 days dead. Bethany was near Jerusalem, only a couple miles away, and many of the Jews were visiting Martha and Mary, sympathizing with them over their brother. Martha head Jesus was coming and went out to meet him. Mary remained in the house. Marthat said, Master if you'd been here, my brother wouldnt have died. Even now, I know that whatever you ask God he will give you. Jesus said, Your brother will be raised up. Martha replied, I know that he will be raised up in the resurrection at the end of time. You dont have to wait for the end. I am, right now, resurrection and life. The one who believes in me, even though he or she dies, will live. And everyone who lives believing in me does not ultimately die at all. Do you believe this? Yes master. All along I have believed that you are the Messiah, the son of the God who comes into the world. After saying this, she went to her sister Mary and whispered in her ear, The Teacher is here and is asking for you. The moment she heard that, she jumped up and ran out to him. Jesus had not yet entered the town but was still at the place where Martha had met him. WHen her sumpathizing Jewish friends saw Mary run off, they followed her, thinking she was on her way to the tomb to weep there. Mary came to where Jesus was waiting and fell at his feet saying, Master, if only you had been here, my brother would not have died.

When Jesus saw her sobbing and the Jews with her sobbing, a deep anger welled up within him. He said, where did you put him?

Master, come and see, they said. Now Jesus wept.

The Jews said, Look how deeply he loved him. Others among them said, Well, id he loved him so much, why didnt he do something to keep him from dying? After all, he opened the eyes of the blind man. Then Jesus, the anger again welling up within him, arrived at the tomb. It wass a simple cave in the hillside with a slab of stone laid against it. Jesu said, remove the stone. The sister of the dead man, Martha, said, Master, by this time theres a stench. He's bene dead 4 days!

Jesus looked her in the eye. Didnt I tell you that if you believed, you would see the glory of God?

Then, to the others, Go ahead and take away the stone. They removed the stone. Jesus raised his eyes to heaven and prayed, "Father, I'm grateful that you have listened to me. I know you always do listen, but on account of this crowd standing here I've spoken so that they might believe that you sent me. Then he shouted, Lazarus, come out! And he came out, a cadaver, wrapped from head to toe, and with a kerchief over his face. Jesus told them, Unwrap him and let him loose.

I love that story!! I know it was a lot to read but its even more to type but my heart is overflowing here. I have tears on my face thinking about how much Jesus not only loves Lazarus but also me and you. I think the 2 most powerful words in all of the Bible to me is the fact that the Bible recorded Jesus - Weeping. Jesus wept. I am in such "AWE" that Jesus can relate to us in such a powerful image as Jesus shows us that he is with us, he feels our pain, he understands our grief and he is real. We all need a God with a face at times in our lives.

When life is hurting the most the last thing we need is someone telling us "Told ya so" or some church snob pointing fingers at us. By Jesus weeping for his friend it shows that he understands and our hurts are his hurts. The fancy church people stood and watched and pointed fingers as this was taking place. Verse 37 shares with us - Well, if he loved him somuch, why didnt he do something to keep him from dying?

Anytime you are doing something amazing in your faith walk for God there are those who point fingers. They try and knock you down, they talk behind your back - they team together as if its some kind of movie being played out in hollywood. For some, we have been on that end of the finger pointing as we watch the church fancy people knock us down and push us out of the way.

Anytime you are doing something amazing in your walk and God has you on fire for something He has placed in your heart to do - you will have trouble, there will be opposition, there will be those who will part sides. Lies, rumors, attacks - they will come. Just a fact of life....

Jesus then prayed to his Father after first being grateful! I love that - Grateful BEFORE He asked and even before he received. What a great example to share with us how we should be more grateful in life. Our friends in Jamaica were so full of joy and gratefulness it was just amazing. With nothing material in life but yet possesing so much.

The last thing I want to share about this amazing story is that the people Jesus is with here - he never directly asked them if they believe, because he already knew their faith. He already knew they fully believed he was who he said he was. In his hometown, Jesus could barely cure the common cold because the people there only saw him as a carpenter, Mary's son and nothing more. Here, they came running to him. Martha said directly to Jesus, If only you were here my brother would not have died. They were in, they knew without a doubt who they were talking to. They saw the tears on his face, the fact they he related to them because of his weeping. Jesus had the power of his people to raise the dead and lifting his eyes to heaven, prayed and then displayed the glory of God.

Life change. This picture today has surfaced many great memories of Jamaica, the hearts that were touched there, the friends that were made, the experience of true worship and sharing time that we had each night together under the stars. It was the perfect small group.

Im so thankful to be where I am today in my walk and where God has me. I am learning so much through Elevation Church and Pastor Steven and Pastor Larry and all those who are serving with such joy, such passion, such big smiles and huge hearts.

Child like faith is all we need - not perfect faith. We are all going to have times where our faith wavers and our feeling take over in any given moment. Thats okay .... our lives are not defined by our lowest moments but our high calling. Its Jesus in us, in me, in you - that how you define your life.

Faith is to believe what we do not see and the reward of this faith is to see what we believe. God to see a lot in that amazing week and in these last few weeks ... this picture is a reminder of that - it shows on their faces. Can you see it? I do.....

Lonnie~