February 2010 Abide Gathering

Bev and Brian Weisblat are the best. They have opened their home for Abide gatherings for the last 5 years. Bev creates an environment that is so welcoming that our abide prayer partners and supporters just cannot resist her invitation to come for an evening.

This particular abide gathering was special in so many ways. The interest in abiding in Jesus moment by moment is growing as the American economic crisis goes on and on. There is a clear openness to seeing the Christian life as 100% Jesus in us.

These are exciting times for all of the Abide International community. Enjoy!

Surrendered Life-A Connection

"God orchestrates our circumstances to educate our faith" Oswald Chambers.
This has been my experience as a follower of Christ and as one who is learning to abide in Christ.
Every detail God orchestrates in my life leads to a deepening of my awareness of how generous God is to those who seek Him.
God orchestrated a new friendship for me in 2009. God introduced Pam and me to Dale and Tori Shows from Memphis, Tennessee.
God used a friend named to Jimmy Ervin to give Dale a message--"You need to talk to Bud McCord about the Surrendered Life."
Dale listened. Dale flew to Brazil and spent a week with us. Our hearts connected in Jesus and we are now enjoying the oneness that comes from surrendering to and abiding in Jesus.
In January of 2010 Dale officially launched his new ministry called Surrendered Life Ministries located in Memphis. He invited me to teach the Satisfying Life seminar as the new ministry's opening event. It was wonderful
Learning to see every detail as my faith education has been helping to see God in every detail.
God is purifying my heart. "Blessed are the pure in heart for they shall see God."

Martinsville, Virginia-The Table

Over the past 4 years we have prayed that the Abide Message would take root in the lives of young leaders in the USA and around the world. Our prayers are being answered.
Mike and Katie Waddell returned to Martinsville, Virginia a little over a year ago. Pam and I visited them in January of 2009 just after they were getting settled in from spending nearly three years with Ken and Kellie McCord in San Francisco. Mike's vision was to initiate an abide dialog among the 516 churches that already exist in the Martinsville area.
Mike was born and raised in Martinsville and he has a deep passion for his generation and their connection to Jesus and to the needs of Martinsville.
In one short year Mike and Katie have seen the dialog about Christ in us be embraced by more than a dozen churches through the new ministry call The Table, Inc.
On Tuesday January 19th God allowed Pam and me to be the guests at the bi-weekly meeting of The Table. It was literally an opportunity to see the Abide Message taking root in Martinsville and in the younger generation.
Martinsville has suffered a nearly total economic meltdown but it is wonderful soil for delivering God's love.
Pray for Mike and Katie.