YGS 20181212

This will be the last Glowsticks Newsletter for 2018. The end of the year is often a time when people look back and reflect on what has happened over the last 12 months, but they won’t stay there reflecting; they will also look ahead, hoping for a better year to come. A fresh start, just like the beginning of the new school year, new and clean blank pages. The desire to make a better self, try new things, have a different attitude toward things and, yes, make New Year Resolutions. The end/beginning of the year is a great time to reflect and look forward because it’s a changing of time. I know it’s not always easy, but what if we took a few minutes a day, as we settle into bed at night, to reflect on the day and look ahead to what we know we’ll have to achieve the next day? It is common for us to see a version of the picture of a child kneeling beside their bed in prayer, sometimes the Bible is on the bed or nightstand, sometimes they’re with a brother or sister, or with mom or dad. I wonder how many of us pray before going to bed? I wonder how many of us get on our knees to pray before going to bed? I confess, I often spend time saying a quick little prayer before grabbing my phone to play a game or have one last email check before I fall asleep. I don’t know the last time I got on my knees to pray and thank God for the day that I have had, reflecting on His goodness, His grace, His love, and His protection. And in the same prayer, asking Him for a better day when the sun rises, for His continuous blessings to be poured out on my life and the ones I hold dear to me. I wonder, what if we did get on our knees more – a stance of humility before God – to dwell in His presence and be filled by Him? Perhaps we can take the time to reflect and seek a better tomorrow more often than just at the end of the year. Peter Hunt

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YGS 20181205

There are always so many things happening this time of the year, with end of semester projects, Christmas parties, and even the occasional birthday party. There is always something crazy going on. Work, for many gets busier because people want to get caught up before taking time off around the Christmas season and not want to get behind in the new year. I think about how busy Bethlehem was with people travelling from all over when Joseph and Mary travelled there for the census, it was so busy there were no rooms available in the inns. It was so bad, that a kind inn keeper offered all he had, space in the dirty stable, which turned out to be the place of the Awaited One’s birth place. It isn’t right for the King of kings, the Lord of lords, the joint Creator of all that has been and ever will be to be born in such filthy conditions, but it almost seems right that He is born around His creation, the animals and people He made to live on the planet formed by His hands. We often get so used to the busyness of life and the noises made by everything that we forget to stop and take a break, time to breathe, time for silence. The well know hymn states, “Silent night, Holy night, all is calm, all is bright…” Perhaps in the fields where the shepherds lay in the dark grass looking up to the stars and talking about their day and perhaps family things among each other, all was quiet, calm, and peaceful – unlike the city of David. As we approach the Christmas break, some will be travelling, others will have family come to town, some will have extra special things going on, but I want to encourage you to stop, take a break from all that is going on, make time for a moment of silence, regather your thoughts and relax. Have a time of silence and holiness. Remove the distractions of people and even your phone. “Be STILL and know that I AM God.” Peter Hunt

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YGS 20181128

I was listening to the radio in the car and there was a commercial for some skin place that started by saying, “It’s the small things in life that make a big difference.” It’s true how some small things make a difference; ask anyone who has ever had a kidney stone or a hangnail or a trapped nerve, these are so small, yet cause great pain. This got me thinking about how Jesus, as small as an individual is in the grand scheme of things, He made such a big difference in both the times leading up to His life and even more ever since, by the lives He touched. The smallest of deeds can often go amiss, but they can also mean the world to others. It doesn’t take much to hold a door open for someone approaching it, it doesn’t cost anything to smile at a person you walk past, you won’t lose anything for giving a hug to someone feeling down. None of these deeds take much, but they can mean so much to those receiving them. I remember growing up in the church, there were some of the older members of the church that if they saw us in the mall or grocery store with my mum or someone, they would give me a pound coin, (the equivalent of a dollar,) it wasn’t much, couldn’t buy much (back then you could get 100 penny sweets – which was a lot) but as little as a dollar is to many of us, to a child, a dollar is the best thing ever. It is something they can use to get something for themselves, it wasn’t junk – it was valuable. There may be days when you feel like you’re not worth a lot, you’re a waste of time, space, breath – you may feel like a failure. Jesus knows your true value. Are not five sparrows sold for two pennies? Yet not one of them is forgotten by God. Indeed, the very hairs of your head are all numbered. Don’t be afraid; you are worth more than many sparrows. Luke 12:6-7 You might feel like a sparrow, but even in God’s eyes, you are worth so much more than anything else. You might feel small at times, but you do make the difference in the lives around you. For that, we praise the Lord. I thank you all for being a part of my life. Peter Hunt

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YGS 20181107

If you have gone to any stores since Halloween, I’m sure you’ve noticed that Christmas season is upon us! Lisa and I were walking through the mall the other day and the stores were already playing Christmas music and had their Christmas displays up! We began discussing our holiday plans and all that goes along with that! Last year we were so busy preparing for the arrival of Zoey so it was mostly a blur! This year we want it to be special for Zoey – not that she’ll remember it, but we want to start traditions that she’ll always remember we have done as long as she can remember. The holiday season is fun, but to many, it brings added stresses. End of semester exams, family, budgeting for gifts, cooking fancy dinners, parties, and more! No matter what stress or anxiety you may face this holiday season, God knows what you are dealing with and if we ask him he will give us the peace described in Philippians 4:6-7: 6 Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. 7 And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. A massage, a vacation, or any form of break may be peaceful but God’s peace is like no earthly peace, but a peace only God can give that transcends all understanding. Cast your anxiety on God and ask for peace this year, and he will bless you in ways you can’t even imagine. Look to God in the times of stress and frustration, open your heart and mind to letting God in and move you closer to Him so that you may feel His unique and supernatural peace. Peter Hunt
 

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YGS 20181024

Early voting began yesterday, and it’s emphasized every year how important it is to vote and let your voice be heard. I do believe voting is a privilege that should be exercised. So often I think people who grow up in countries like the USA and UK take voting for granted because it’s what we’ve always known; there are many countries where the idea of safely voting and letting your voice be heard by the government is nothing but a dream. I also understand that for many in the youth group reading this are not of voting age, but don’t switch off, this thought is still something you can take with you. Voting isn’t the only thing where we can let our voices be heard. Many schools and work places have a body for complaints or suggestions – a student body or internal affairs, etc. Social Media gives a platform for thoughts and ideas to be shared. It allows you to tell the world what is happening in your life, what you’ve been doing and what you’re looking forward to. It’s a place to tell the world what you think about things and for people to agree or disagree. We like to be heard. Some like to be heard more than others, but even the quietest of us like to know our thoughts, concerns, joys, and ideas have a place in the world. Being heard is important to us all. It doesn’t matter how old you may be or how young. Even Zoey will scream for attention if we’re not feeding her quickly enough. God has given us a place to be heard. If we sit for a while, I believe we might even hear a small voice back. We’re blessed to be given the opportunity to talk to God through prayer and meditation. Prayer is something I think, we do often out of habit at meals, when we’re a little too stressed, or when we’re “at church.” Prayer is so much more than that though. I emphasize over and over that God desires a relationship with His people. It is for this reason He walked with Adam and Eve in the garden, it’s why He met Moses on Mount Sinai to give the commandments, it’s why He sent His Son, Jesus, to live and dwell among us creating a way for all mankind to have a relationship with Him instead of just the select nation. Through prayer, we can give our requests, our venting, our joys, and our thanksgiving. God desires for us to talk to Him about anything and everything. God wants you to know that you can talk to Him, and despite being able to hear everyone’s prayers, He will listen and you can be certain that your voice is being heard by the most powerful being ever to exist. We don’t have to go to anyone on Earth, just directly to God through Jesus. This week I encourage you to let your voice be heard by God. Peter Hunt

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YGS 20181017

Paul writes in many of his letters, to both churches as a whole and to individuals, a section often (added in by men much later) called “Thanksgiving and prayer”. Philemon 4-7 is just one of these examples. I always thank my God as I remember you in my prayers, because I hear about your love for all his holy people and your faith in the Lord Jesus. I pray that your partnership with us in the faith may be effective in deepening your understanding of every good thing we share for the sake of Christ. Your love has given me great joy and encouragement, because you, brother, have refreshed the hearts of the Lord’s people. So often I read these sections of scripture and I wonder what it would have been like to be spoken so highly of by someone the church all around the world now holds to the highest (under Jesus) respect. I wonder what it was like to minister alongside Paul and to hear his lessons etc. Of course, I think about this with Jesus and His apostles too. It appears, even when Paul is going to rebuke the church for losing their way, he tries to encourage, uplift, and be thankful for the people receiving his letter. I know November is the month people like to do the 30-day Thankfulness Challenge, but I think we can be thankful year-round. I think we can be thankful for even the smallest of things. I was reminded today, even when we hurt, we can be thankful to God that we have a body to hurt and to feel emotions. God is doing great things in our lives even when we can’t always see it. There are times when I can get down because I don’t feel like things are happening the way I think they should be. The truth is, I get to thank God for working in His timing. I get to be blessed by knowing He sees the bigger picture. God is working. All the time. What might be a quiet time for you, may be a time of preparation for a time just around the corner. This week, I want to challenge you to tell someone, a different person each day, how you are thankful for them being in your life. Tell, text, call, DM – however you want to say it, SAY IT! Paul was certain to tell the readers how much he appreciated their love for Jesus and all that they do for the Kingdom of God. I challenge you to thank someone for what they do and what they mean to you. I will start by thanking you for taking the time to read this and follow up on this challenge. Peter Hunt

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