“What no eye has seen, what no ear has heard, and what no human mind has conceived” the things God has prepared for those who love him. I Corinthians 2:9 This verse has really spoken to me lately because I believe I often forget that God is calling me to more than an occupation, a responsibility or even a ministry. Yes all of these that I have just mentioned are a part of what I do daily for and through Jesus, God & the Holy Spirit but they wouldn’t even exist if I did not have a relationship with Jesus Christ as my Lord and Savior. I was reminded recently after reading Experiencing God as a staff assignment, that without my love relationship with the Lord I am going to have a hard time experiencing any great revelation, leading of the Spirit or hearing from God.
I will admit I am not always certain that I know God’s total direction or where His Spirit is leading me sometimes even through part of my day. However it doesn’t make me upset at God in fact it draws me closer to Him and makes me aware of my sin or lack of loving Him for who He is, what He’s done and all that He desires to do in my life. I believe that God is just waiting to pour out more of His Spirit in all of our lives but the truth is unless we’ve been obedient to confess our sins, repent and receive Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior it’s impossible to live by the Spirit of God. The only way to sense more of God’s Spirit in our lives is to be willing to be 100% obedient to His will and listen carefully to what He’s calling us to do. May we all hear God’s calling today and may we also be willing to obey His commands.
I wanted to report briefly on Erie’s X-treme Escape in January. There were about 140 students and adult volunteers in attendance and God’s Spirit move all throughout the weekend. I can’t stress enough how important the power of prayer is for any of these youth events. As the weekend unfolded our staff shared the gospel message of forgiveness, forgiving yourself, forgiving others and living a life by the Spirit. Each evening & morning planted a seed of faith in the students in hope that they would receive Jesus Christ as not only friend but their Lord and personal Savior. I share the urgency of Christ’s salvation and the message of His love because too many times we have a brush with God cry and walk away even believing we’ve been saved from our own sin. Please understand that I’m not judging the heart of anyone by saying this but only holding to God’s infallible word in 1 John 1:9 “If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness”. If these students are willing to desire a personal relationship with Jesus Christ they need the foundation of their relationship to be the truth.
I think of God’s greatness and how ever day He continues to bless our family richly. I think of you my faithful supporters who have been here in the Lord’s ministry nearly 10 years through the thick and thin. This world has and will continue to see some hard times ahead but be encouraged because the battle is the Lord’s and He is faithful to provide us with everything that we need. You’ve been faithful not only in financial needs but also to the urgent call of prayer and intersession. Thank you again for all of your support it is great serving with you and together may we advance the Lord’s kingdom! The last news that I’d like to share is a praise to Jesus Christ for His great work! The West End Youth Center has opened it’s doors this past Monday to 7 youth from various areas. The evening went well as we played football (2 hand touch) and ended with a message on the mouth and taming the tongue. I was amazed at how honest and open the youth were as they shared their stories and struggles with sin. Let’s keep praying for salvation. We're meeting each Monday evening from 5-7pm after school. I am very excited to see what God’s doing in our community and He deserves all of the glory! Thanks again.
In His Hands ,
Shawn A. Hoffmaster
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