The Camping Trip

The Transfiguration

“After six days Jesus took with him Peter, James, and John the brother of James, and led them up a high mountain by themselves. There he was transfigured before them. His face shone like the sun, and his clothes became white as the light. Just then there appeared before them Moses and Elijah, talking with Jesus.
Peter said to Jesus, ‘Lord, it is good for us to be here. If you wish, I will put up three shelters – one for you, one for Moses, and one for Elijah.’
While he was still speaking, a bright cloud enveloped them, and a voice from the cloud said, ‘This is my Son, whom I love; with Him I am well pleased. Listen to Him!’
When the disciples heard this, they fell face-down to the ground, terrified. But Jesus came and touched them. ‘Get up,’ he said. ‘Don’t be afraid.’ When they looked up, they saw no one except Jesus.”
-Matthew 17:1-8 (NIV)

So, Jesus took three of his disciples on a camping trip…but, it was definitely a trip that they would remember for a life time! Sometimes, it isn’t about “doing”!!! The disciples tried to make this experience last…they wanted to put up the tents. They didn’t realize that the experience would be gone in an instant and that they would have to go back to living their everyday life! They took some time out of their life to re-focus and see who Jesus was. We too have to take time out of our life to re-focus and enjoy the time we have with Jesus. (Because in a 24-hour day, we may only get 5 minutes to relax and listen to Jesus.)

Jesus had shown them His “real” self! When has Jesus been real to you? What do you remember about that experience? Do you give Jesus time everyday to change you into the person He wants you to be? If not, do you want to change?

Originally written on Sunday, March 28, 2010.

The Four Friends Challenge

The Mission is simple:
“Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.” (Matthew 28:19-20 NIV)

At the beginning of the semester, I was challenged to bring four friends and get them connected to the Green Room Ministry on Missouri State's campus. Last night’s worship completed the challenge. I have connected four people to the ministry...but what I've gotten from the experience and what they have received has been so much more than a number, or a completion of a goal!

I brought them one by one. They were never random strangers. They were people I go to class with, or friends from down the hall! I learned who they are, and what they love, and what they care about the most...and somehow God moved in me to invite them to get involved in Green Room. Three are in Life Groups, one in a Bible study; one is even in the band! I feel like all have found a place where they can make friends with others, as well as with God! It's something that each can look forward to in the week...with friends to have fun with in-between! Friendships have been made, and forever will be! Long talks on Facebook, and over pizza, have led me to believe, that this has never been about me. It's all for Him. God alone is moving in these people's lives! There were others who were asked, but these four were the ones who came!

This Easter season has brought a reminder of God's love for me and the fire it sets within my soul. I want to bring each and every person I know to know this great, incomprehensible love! It's a love that no one can ever understand, but it's available to every person. I don't know about you, but I've only had one person ever die for me and all my screw ups!!! (PS…His name is Jesus Christ!!!) I am not the perfect person, and I don't know everything, but what I know can change the world one person at a time - starting with me. God loves me...this I know...but I know something else too! God loves each and every person on this earth! He created everyone! :-) As Shelby put it: “We are awesome…but everyone else is awesome too!”

It's remarkable to think that Jesus had three close friends…but I have four because I took a challenge, let God work through me, and help me realize, that while I am awesome, so are these four people! :D

I don’t plan on stopping here…because everyone on this campus (and in this world) needs to feel the love of God. So, take the challenge and connect four people to a ministry that you love…and be amazed at what God can do! But…don’t stop at four! Keep going! Because the whole world needs to know…

Originally written on Monday, March 29, 2010. 12:01am.

Only as Much as a Mustard Seed

“When they came to the crowd, a man approached Jesus and knelt before him. ‘Lord, have mercy on my son,’ he said. ‘He has seizures and is suffering greatly. He often falls into the fire or into the water. I brought him to your disciples, but they could not heal him.’

‘O unbelieving and perverse generation,’ Jesus replied, ‘how long shall I stay with you? How long shall I put up with you? Bring the boy here to me.’ Jesus rebuked the demon, and it came out of the boy, and he was healed from that moment.

Then the disciples came to Jesus in private and asked, ‘Why couldn’t we drive it out?’

He replied, ‘Because you have so little faith. I tell you the truth, if you have faith as small as a mustard seed, you can say to this mountain, ‘Move from here to there’ and it will move. Nothing will be impossible for you.’

When they came together in Galilee, he said to them, ‘The Son of Man is going to be betrayed into the hands of men. They will kill him, and on the third day he will be raised to life.’ And the disciples were filled with grief.”

-Matthew 17:14-23 (NIV)

I love Jesus’ reply when the disciples come to him asking why they couldn’t heal the boy…“Because you have so little faith…” Have you ever prayed…asking God for things that you think you may need or want, and after waiting for a few minutes, take care of them yourself!? Did you think that God wasn’t going to do anything about it?!

Sometimes, we as humans doubt in what God can do or what He will do. And sometimes, we even underestimate His power. Remember that He was the one who rose from the dead and triumphed over every evil! Remember that He saved every person on this earth from death by making a way to God for us! Remember what it felt like to know that you were forgiven. To know that you were healed. Remember what it feels like to have Him working in your life to make you the best person that you can be.

It doesn’t take much faith to believe in what God will do…only about as much as a mustard seed...

How much faith do you have???

Originally written on Friday, April 9, 2010

Dusting the Grass

Ecclesiastes 1:2-3 (NIV)
“‘Meaningless! Meaningless!’ says the Teacher. ‘Utterly meaningless! Everything is meaningless!’ What does a man gain from all his labor at which he toils under the sun?”

As I was driving home with my sister more than a week ago, she tells this story: “So my grandma calls, and she says, “Hi! Can you come dust?” So, I say “NO!” An hour or two passes and my grandma calls again and she says “Can you come dust?” Again, I say “no.” One last time my grandma calls and says, “Can you come dust?” and I say ‘Fine.” So I go over there and I see her dusting. But she isn’t dusting the furniture, she is dusting the grass. I yell, “Grandma, what are you doing?” Grandma replies, “Company’s coming and this place is sooo dirty! Just thought I’d spruce up a bit.” I exclaim, “By dusting the grass?!” (As told by Morgan Fomera)

How often do we get caught up in the meaningless details of life, rather than looking at the big picture?! I know I’m guilty of it! Now, some things are necessary to carrying out the day’s work…but do you get caught up in the business of the work and forget that it’s all about relationships with others? Do you get so caught up in “doing” that you forget that it is an actual relationship with God that your Spirit longs for? You can figure out what this eleven yr-old’s story means for you, but remember: it’s the relationships in your life that count…definitely not the status of the grass – whether it be dusty, or just long!

Originally written on Tuesday, May 25, 2010

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© Copyright 2010, Samantha Fomera

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Articles may not be printed in any “for profit” publication without further permission by the author. Articles may be freely distributed via e-mail, reprinted in church bulletins or in other non-profit publications without further permission. Please keep this copyright and Web Site information intact with copied articles.

Caught In the Vine???

Today’s Reading: John 15: 1, 5 (NIV)
“I [Jesus] am the true vine, and my Father is the gardener…I am the vine; you are the branches. If a man remains in me and I in him, he will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing.”

On Monday, I was in New Orleans for a mission trip (hurricane reconstruction) with Green Room Campus Ministries. Monday was our first work day. My group was assigned to do some “general cleaning” in the backyard of a house. When we arrived on-site, I was stunned! The yard was a MESS!!! There were broken pots and piles of dog poop everywhere; vines hanging every which way. Dead tall grass, weeds, and trash covered the yard! I was not sure if it was truly going to be a one-day job!

I had a rake in my hands for nearly the entire day. As we headed into the afternoon, I began raking the second half of the yard – which was FAR WORSE than the first half! About two minutes into the process, I was already breaking a sweat. The LAYERS of weeds and dead vines were hard to get through. At one point in time, I actually got caught in the “rakeage,” and I nearly fell over! :-)

As I worked to get my feet untangled from the mess, I could not help but think about how God, in the above Scripture, says that He is the Gardener. I began to wonder if, sometimes, we may need to be caught in His love to grasp how our own spiritual yards call for attention! Spend a little time with the Gardener today. Let the Gardener show you where your life needs to be cleaned and pruned so that you may have a beautiful life that reflects the caring touch of God! God loves you and He cares about your wellbeing…and while He accepts you wherever you are and wherever you have been, He doesn’t want you to stay that way! He wants to change you. He wants to trim you to be the best person (branch) you can be…and you cannot do that alone!

Once we realize that we need to be cleaned, we may be stunned, just as I was looking at that yard in N.O. The cleaning process may take some time – a yard well kept wouldn’t have taken the whole “Clubs and Spades Group” an entire day to rake and clean! BUT…through patience and trust in the Gardener, any yard can be made beautiful!

Give the Gardener a chance to catch you in His love and help you realize that we are all broken people living in a broken world…but there is hope that, with time, we can ALL be good-lookin’ yards!

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© Copyright 2010, Samantha Fomera

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Articles may not be printed in any “for profit” publication without further permission by the author. Articles may be freely distributed via e-mail, reprinted in church bulletins or in other non-profit publications without further permission. Please keep this copyright and Web Site information intact with copied articles.

Sounds Crazy, Right?!?!

Today’s Reading: Psalm 149:3-4a (NIV)
“Let them praise his name with dancing and make music to him with tambourine and harp. For the Lord takes delight in his people…”

Last night, a dear friend told me to turn down the lights, put on a song that I can slow dance to, with no words, and to dance with God. Sounds crazy, right? So, how is one supposed to dance with God? Some people do not even know how to dance! Others may wonder how it’s all supposed to work without having a tangible object in their arms. (Why do you think so many people used to imagine a lover instead of the mop they were holding!?) PLUS…what if one’s roommate walked into the room, in this middle of you randomly dancing with some invisible person?!?! I am almost sure that you have concluded that my friend is crazy! Or maybe you are still curious…

This Psalm, quoted above, tells us to praise God with dancing! Whenever I hear the word “dance,” I think back to my high school dances that I went to…Christmas dance, prom, etc. I always hated the slow songs, because at that point in time, I would head for the nearest wall and watch all the high school sweethearts move out onto the floor to embrace each other and dance. I remember in middle school, the couples would definitely keep the twelve inches between them, but by high school, there was no such thing as distance between couples. Haha. As the song went on, some couples would rest their head on each other’s shoulders, or perhaps give them a kiss. At some dances, I wondered if they were ever going to get to the Electric Slide! (which has always been a personal favorite!)

So, if you are curious whether I actually put on a song, and slow danced with God…All I’m going to say, is sometimes, you have to be crazy and take delight in God. Dancing with God was a little awkward at first (as if we were in middle school), but as the song of life went on, it got better and more relaxed. Sure, there are times, when I prefer doing the Electric Slide with God. BUT, the intimacy God is willing to share with each one of us is better than any prom!

God is waiting for you out on the dance floor. Sure, it may seem a little crazy, but that longing you have inside for an intimate relationship with your Creator is satisfied once you step out onto that dance floor. Allowing Him to guide each step, breaking the 12-inch rule, and resting your head on His shoulder…May you take delight in God with every song…

“And it’s crazy when love gets a hold of you…you really don’t know love at all until it’s makin’ you do, something crazy!” -Steven Curtis Chapman, song: Something Crazy

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© Copyright 2010, Samantha Fomera

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Articles may not be printed in any “for profit” publication without further permission by the author. Articles may be freely distributed via e-mail, reprinted in church bulletins or in other non-profit publications without further permission. Please keep this copyright and Web Site information intact with copied articles.

Come Chat

Today’s Reading: Luke 6:17-19 (NIV, emphasis mine)
“He [Jesus] went down with them and stood on a level place. A large crowd of his disciples was there and a great number of people from all over Judea, from Jerusalem, and from the coast of Tyre and Sidon, who had come to hear him and to be healed of their diseases. Those troubled by evil spirits were cured, and the people all tried to touch him, because power was coming from him and healing them all.”

On Tuesdays and Thursdays, I usually hang out at the PSU (the student union on MSU’s campus). Often, I’ll stop in and annoy my campus pastor, who makes his home in the PSU on those days. Today, I decided that I would not be annoying, so I stayed away the best I could. I pulled out my journal and I wrote. After a while, a random thought/concern crossed my mind, so I sent my pastor a text. Instead of texting back a normal response, like “ok” or “:-)” he replied with, “Come chat.”

Now, I am certainly not saying that my campus pastor is Jesus. BUT…he did remind me of what Jesus does each and every moment. Jesus says, “Here I am. Come chat. Come spend time with Me. Come be healed.” We need to chat with Him. We too need to be healed. Healed of the hatred we store in our hearts. To be healed of the pain we have when we try to live without a relationship with Him. By having this relationship with Him, we are changed. We begin to be able to see the good in this world, in the midst of the pain.

I could have stayed right where I was. I could have ignored my pastor’s text and never talked about my concern. I could have stayed at my own table, in my own little world, and never received the advice that I got from the conversation. I was presented with a choice. We all are presented with a choice. We can choose to answer God’s call to “Come chat” with Him. All we have to do is walk across the room, dust off our Bibles, spend a bit of time with God, and let Him take our breath away with His words.

What are you going to choose now that you have the message, “Come chat”???

________________________________

© Copyright 2010, Samantha Fomera

All rights reserved

Articles may not be printed in any “for profit” publication without further permission by the author. Articles may be freely distributed via e-mail, reprinted in church bulletins or in other non-profit publications without further permission. Please keep this copyright and Web Site information intact with copied articles.