Do you remember what God has done for you? 07/02/14

Christian, do you remember what God has done for you?

I have been crucified with Christ and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me. The life I now live

in the body, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me.  Galatians 2:20

We are human.  We are flawed.  We are not trustworthy.  We are weak...sinful...dysfunctional. We are human.  We ALL, each and every one, still have our flesh and sinful nature.  Fact.

BUT, do you remember what God has done for you?  Can you imagine, child of God, where you would be or IF you would be without His intervention in your life?

We can't count on each other...not really.  I can't really count on you and you can't count on me. We're human.

But, do you remember what God has done for you?  Where and who would you be without Him?

Oh hallelujah!  We serve a living God who is absolutely NOT flawed!  We serve a God who IS trustworthy, who is NOT weak and is NOT sinful!  

Oh hallelujah!  We serve a living God who loves us!  Hey, He loves us in spite of ourselves!  We serve a God who knows who we really are but who sees us perfected in Jesus name... washed white as snow!  He is God and He knows we are not perfect and doesn't care.

Oh hallelujah!  We serve a living God who has promised to meet all our needs and who keeps His promises!  He is God and He is the same yesterday, today, and forever!

Praise God in heaven!  We serve a living God who came looking for us because He created us for Himself and His purposes.

And can I just ask you question?  Did you know that Jesus Christ is NOT going to get back up on that cross and die again?  Jesus said, from that very cross, "It is finished!".  He was thinking of you then.  In fact, child of God, He was thinking of you and me when He created the world!

Oh hallelujah!  We serve a living God who knew us before we were us.  He knows our thoughts, dreams, and weaknesses and has even numbered the hairs on our head!  Ladies, He knows your real hair color!  AND, we can trust Him with our secrets because He already knows them!

AND oh hallelujah!  Our Creator has plans for us.  He  has a BIG OLE PLAN and we are all part of it!

Do you remember when God whispered in your ear, 

"I love you... I cherish you"

"I know what you’ve done and it doesn't scare me away.  Nothing can snatch you away from me!"

"I died for you.  I have plans for you."
"Let me cleanse you and wash your shame away.  Let me heal you."

Christian, do you remember what God has done for you?

A Lesson in Bending from Llamas & Jonah 06/30/14

1 Then the word of the Lord came to Jonah a second time: 2  “Go to the great city of Nineveh and proclaim to it the message I give you.”  3 Jonah obeyed the word of the Lord and went to Nineveh.  ~ Jonah 3:1-3

Llamas & Jonah
According to the Google machine, humble is described as:  having or showing a modest or low estimate of one's own importance.  Pride is defined as:  a feeling of deep pleasure or satisfaction derived from one's own achievements or from qualities or possessions which are widely admired.  Opposites.

In Africa, llamas are used as a symbol of pride.  It is said Llamas can be kept in a pen using a single rope for a fence. This is because Llamas are unwilling to bend their stiff necks in order to get under the rope.  They could but they won't.  Audrey Assad described Jesus, in the first line of her song, "Humble" like this:  Humble and human, willing to bend you are.

Sometimes an experience or circumstance will lead us to a point of being "willing to bend" in humility where previously we were not because of pride.  In Jonah 3, we see the word of the Lord coming to Jonah for a second time with the same request.  Jonah had a new found humility, based on his experience, which allowed him to bend.  Jonah obeyed the word of the Lord and went to Nineveh.

In his humility, Jonah obeyed the word of the Lord, where he was previously unwilling to lay down his own pride and his own idea of a better plan for Nineveh.  And what was the result? The entire city of Nineveh repented and turned from their wicked ways!  We might call it the Jonah Principal.  It was Jonah's realization of his own weakness and inability to rescue himself which ultimately lead to a very fruitful evangelism ministry.

What can we learn from llamas and Jonah?  We learn that an experience of humility can lead to a letting go of pride.  As we experience weakness and are brought low, Christ's power will be more evident in us.  As we face difficulties in our lives and share with those around us how Christ helps us face those difficulties, God's Spirit will work in and through us to accomplish His will in His timing.  And finally, if we're of the prideful mind set that our own evangelism efforts are pretty amazing without giving full credit to God's power within us, we shouldn't be expecting fruit from our effort.

A Life Worthy of the Calling 06/27/14

4 "As a prisoner for the Lord, then, I urge you to live a life worthy of the calling you have received. 2 Be completely humble and gentle; be patient, bearing with one another in love. 3 Make every effort to keep the unity of the Spirit through the bond of peace.4 There is one body and one Spirit, just as you were called to one hope when you were called; 5 one Lord, one faith, one baptism; 6 one God and Father of all, who is over all and through all and in all."  Ephesians 4:1-6

Paul could have gotten hung up on the third word: PRISONER, a circumstance. We could do the same.  Or we could accept Paul's challenge to live a life worthy of the calling we have received.  We can get wrapped up in our own physical heritage or we can purpose in our hearts, utilizing the power of God's Holy Spirit within us, to create a new legacy based on our SPIRITUAL heritage. 

We can CHOOSE to live INTENTIONALLY.  We can choose to intentionally seek

out those who are struggling and hurting, suffocating in crisis, or who are simply lost and need Jesus... a life worthy of the calling.

What story are you telling?  Is it the story of your physical heritage..your circumstances in life?  Or is it the story of your spiritual heritage?

#Missions #Evident #TellingTHEStory

Just Imagine... 06/26/14

Just imagine....
What if your short-term cross-cultural ministry was simply an extension of your local ministry.For example, if there is a large population of Hispanics in your surrounding area, (that is most likely the case in nearly every area of the United States), when considering sending a short-term ministry team to Mexico, you might also consider how to serve and reach the neighbors God has brought to you. Missions can happen down the street or across the globe. One should not be in competition with the other. God has a big ole plan to bless the nations. Just imagine if His big plan was the central theme and focus of the vision of your church. The church doesn't need a "missions department". Missions IS the church. #Missions #Evident #TellingTheStory

Canote E-Notes 06/20/14

GREETINGS FROM CASA CANOTE!

We love to share how God is working in and through us in ministry.  And we ARE quickly rolling up on another week in Mexico hosting teams and #TellingTHEStory.  Jesus is the story!

Here's what others have had to say after a week of Team Ministry in Mexico:

From the ministry teams:
"It gave me pure joy to see OUR youth share God's message of love and hope to the Mexican children and youth.  While our youth had very little experience sharing their testimonies and teaching Bible lessons, God used them to impact Mexican lives...for eternity!" 
~ Darrell K.

"It was incredible to see how invested our youth had become in the lives of the Mexican children they had ministered to for only 1 week!  There is no question that lives were changed on both ends this week!" 
~ Rob R.

"We had outstanding engagement with the Mexican women in our Women's Ministry.  I absolutely did not want to leave!" 
~ Karen W.

"A personal highlight for me was singing Holy, Holy, Holy with the Acuña ladies from our Women's Ministry.  We sang in English.  They sang in Spanish.  So beautiful!" 
~ Helga R.


Mexican Pastor
"Big blessing...GREAT BLESSINGS WHEN THIS MINISTRY IN OUR CITY SHARING THE LOVE OF GOD TO CHILDREN, WOMEN AND FAMILY ... GOD BLESS!" 
~ Pastor David Huerta, Acuña, Mexico




ETERNAL INVESTMENT OPPORTUNITY
Jesus said, "Go".  It's the first 2 letters of our Creator's name. :)

Here are 3 ways you can "Go":

1. We need and rely on your prayers. Thank you from the bottom of our hearts and PLEASE keep it up!  
2. We need monthly financial supporters.  God is calling us to step out on faith and trust in His Providence.  He has gifted others with the resources to be that Providence.  You can donate directly from our ministry website:  http://www.evidentministries.org/donate  If you prefer, there is an option to set up automatic monthly payments.  A suggested monthly amount is $30.  God may lead you to do more.  Any amount will be used to further God's Kingdom.
3. One-time gifts are certainly appreciated.  God will accomplish His will however He sees fit.  He may lead you to bless this ministry in that way.

We're taking the Good News of Jesus and the HOPE which is in Him to a lost world which needs it more than ever!  We're using cross-cultural short-term missions opportunities with 

Team Ministry, music, and preaching to do that.

We cannot launch this new ministry alone.  We need a ministry support team to hold the rope 
and to come along side us through prayer AND financial support.

Please ask God if He would have you take advantage of this eternal investment opportunity.

Canote E-Notes 06/05/14

Greetings!
We're praying this update finds you trusting in Jesus and getting your socks blessed off in the process!

www.evidentministries.org

Ministry Launch
We continue to move forward and all is coming together in God's best timing with our new ministry launch:  Evident Ministries, Inc.  We have had a few recent opportunities and more on the calendar to speak and minister where we were able to share how God is working in this new project.  Our new board of directors is helping us develop a strategy for building and growing a significant Kingdom-Building ministry with maximum potential for longevity and lasting impact.  

Please let us know if your church, Sunday School class, or group would allow us to have a few minutes to speak about Evident Ministries.

Mexico Ministry

We have no plans for any major changes to the ministry we helped launch in Acuña, Mexico in 2005.  We are now conducting the Team Ministry model there twice per year.  There continues to be a great need for ministry in the city of Acuña.

There are two key elements at the heart of our ministry in Acuña.  One is the obvious eternal
impact made on the Mexican people who come to know Jesus and the seeds planted for a future harvest.  Secondly, is the opportunity for people of all ages to be trained to share the Gospel, to put their faith into action in a real-life application, and to actually lead people to Christ.  The focus and design is that this life-changing experience would also lead to an impact made on family, friends, and church once the ministry team returns home.

Domestic Expansion
The eternal harvest and long-term impact of the Acuña project is inspiration for bringing this Team Ministry model to the U.S.  We are very excited to be preparing now to host teams in the

summer of 2015 here in the mid-West supporting the local church and using the same basic Team Ministry approach.

Social Media
Don't forget to look for us on: Twitter,  Instagram,  Pinterest,  Facebook,  Tumblr,  LinkedIn. and even YouTube.   By FOLLOWING, FRIENDING, LIKING and SHARING our social media posts, you help spread the word about the work God is doing in and through Evident Ministries.  #Missions #Evident #TellingTHEStory

Thank You
And huge shout out and THANK YOU for holding the rope for us!  Family and friends, encouragement and the sacrifice of prayer IS our support network and IS absolutely significant to this Kingdom building ministry.  We thank God daily for you and the rest of our support team.  We can't do this without you!

If you are an existing financial partner, know that you are an enormous blessing!  God is using you.  Another way you can help is by telling others about us and letting them know how they can be a part of this ministry.

Canote E-Notes 04/10/14

New Ministry Launch!

We're launching a new ministry:

Evident Ministries, Inc.  

We will continue the work God has given us in Acuña, Mexico using the same ministry model we have used for years.  This move will also allow us to take some exciting new steps to duplicate this same mobile Team Ministry approach at home in mid-Missouri working with small rural churches in the coming months.

We have been honored and blessed to work with and to be raised up in the mission world by our friends and family at YUGO Ministries over the last 10 years.  With the blessing of YUGO's leadership, we have been given our wings to fly.

Step #1.  Acknowledge the lead of God's Spirit down a new path.  Check.

Step #2.  In faith, take measures to "get out of the boat!"  Check.

Step #3.  Assemble a crack team of seasoned ministry leaders to help.  Check.

We are now a registered non-profit with the office of the Missouri Secretary of State.  We are also in the application stage for our 501c3 tax exemption status with the IRS.  

www.evidentministries.org

The new website is up but still very much under construction.  Feel free to take a look around but remember to REFRESH your screen each time as updates are happening every day.

We Need Your Help!

God has used so many like you over the years to encourage us and to keep us going.  We can't do this all on our own.  The sacrifice of time, friendship, support, prayers, and finances are what allows us take the message of HOPE to a world which needs it.  

If you currently have committed to support us financially, thank you, Thank You and THANK YOU!  You may feel free to contact YUGO to stop any automatic payments.  You can go to the DONATE section of the new website to set-up to continue your cherished monthly support.

www.evidentministries.org/donate

It's going to take a lot more help in order to successfully 

launch AND maintain 

this exciting new ministry of TELLING THE STORY.

This is an opportunity for an eternal investment into the lives of so many who will come to a saving knowledge of Jesus and HOPE which is in Him as a result of this ministry.  In addition, those who join us for these short-term mobile Team Ministry projects both in Mexico and Missouri are assured a life-changing cross-cultural experience which is certain to also have great impact the on lives of those around them once they return home.

www.evidentministries.org/donate

Please prayerfully consider how God might use YOU 

to further support this ministry.