“…Shine like the stars in the universe as you hold out the word of life—in order that I may boast on the day of Christ that I did not run or labor for nothing.” —Philippians 2:15-16
One of God’s richest blessings in my life has been that of a godly heritage. How I praise Him for parents who read, studied, loved, and lived by His Word, and taught me by their example to do the same.
When I was a girl growing up, Mother led us in family devotions every day. She read the Bible, prayed and that was that. When Daddy was home he led in family devotions. But when he read the Bible he would stop and make a comment, ask a question and lead us in discussion. So, my mother taught me by her example to love reading my Bible every day, and my daddy taught me by his example to think about what I was reading. A little over 10 years ago when my mother went to heaven, my daddy started asking me to read him the Bible. At first it was very intimidating. And then it became such a joy. Because he was hard of hearing, there were times I would sit in front of Daddy knee to knee, and he would ask me to give him a full 60-minute message. He never took his eyes off my face. Once in a while he would interrupt me, ask a question or we would discuss what I was saying. But he loved to hear God’s Word.
Two weeks to the day before Daddy moved to Heaven it was my privilege to be a keynote speaker at Moody Founder’s Week in Chicago, IL. With the exception of the reserved first row, Torrey Grey Auditorium was packed. Facing significant changes at the Institute, the audience listened with rapt attention as I challenged them to pray as Daniel did.
As he got weaker we went from 60 minutes to five or ten minutes. But the pattern was always the same—whoever was in the house was called to gather around him whether he was at the kitchen table, or sitting in his study chair, or more recently when he was in his bedroom. But before I read a passage of Scripture, I would explain why I had chosen it. Then I would read the passage to him. I would always end by telling Daddy I loved him.
My efforts to get the National Day of Prayer into our nation’s Capitol Rotunda last year fell one vote short. As I listened to the incredible speeches given by POTUS, Sen. Mitch McConnell, and Rep. Paul Ryan glorifying God, exalting Jesus and presenting the Gospel as my father lay in honor in the same place I had been denied, I couldn’t help but wonder if I had simply been one year too early. Praying 2 Chronicles 7:14.
At Daddy’s funeral service, with twenty-five hundred people in front of me, and millions more watching the live broadcasts, for the last time I led in “family devotions.” The passage of Scripture that I chose was 1 Thessalonians 4:13-18. The reason is this: I believe from Heaven’s perspective that my father’s death was as significant as his life. I know that February 21, 2018 was the date God had preordained to take my father home. Why? What was significant about that day? When I did a web search, I discovered that February 21, 2018 was the day when the Scripture reading for Jews focused on the death of Moses. Moses was the great liberator. He brought millions of people out of bondage to slavery, got them to the edge of the Promised Land, then God took him to Heaven. At that point God brought Joshua to lead them into the Promised Land—to take them home.
The day following our motorcade that escorted Daddy from the mountains to Charlotte, I requested an interview with WRAL-TV, our local NBC affiliate. My purpose was to use the news broadcast to thank as many people in North Carolina as I could for their outpouring of love and condolences. Their tears, signs, and words comforted us all. Click here to watch this interview.
Like Moses, my father also was a great liberator. He brought millions of people out of bondage to sin, and he has gotten us to the edge of the Promised Land—Heaven. Then God called him Home. Could it be that God is now going to bring Joshua to lead us into the Promised Land? To lead us to Heaven? To take us Home? And do you know what the New Testament name is for Joshua? It’s Jesus!
I believe my father’s death may be a shot across the bow from Heaven. Is God saying wake up church? Wake up world? Wake up Anne? Jesus is coming! Jesus said in Matthew 24:14 when the gospel is preached to the whole world—as it was during my father’s funeral service, as it is through churches, missionaries, ministries—then the end will come.
The morning after Daddy was interred, my brother Franklin sent me this picture of Mother’s tombstone alongside Daddy’s. Hers is inscribed with the old Chinese character for “righteousness” which is the picture of a lamb over me. Daddy’s stone is inscribed with a cross. Together they present the Gospel because the Lamb over me on the Cross makes me right with God.
First Thessalonians, Chapter 4 beginning with verse 13 says this: I will write it out for you the way my mother taught me by putting my name in, to make it personal. Then I’ll write it out the way my daddy taught me, with a few comments. I do not want you to be ignorant, Anne, concerning those who have fallen asleep. “Fallen asleep” is just the biblical term for when God’s children die. It’s when you close your eyes to this life, and you open them to the face of Jesus. It’s when your faith becomes sight. So… I don’t want you to be ignorant, Anne, concerning those who have fallen asleep, lest you sorrow as others who have no hope. For if you believe that Jesus died and rose again, and I do! I believe Jesus has risen from the dead! He’s alive! If you believe, even so God will bring with Him those who sleep in Jesus. For this we say to you by the Word of the Lord. This is God’s Word. It’s not fantasy. It’s not a wish. It’s not a hope-so. This we say to you by the Word of the Lord, that we who are alive and remain until the coming of the Lord, will by no means precede those who are asleep. For the Lord Himself—Joshua, Yeshua, Jesus—will descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of an archangel and with the trumpet of God. And the dead in Christ will rise first. That’s my daddy. That’s my mother. That’s my husband. Then you and I who are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And thus we shall always be with the Lord. Therefore comfort one another with these words.
And this is the comfort. There is hope for tomorrow. This life is not all there is. The best is yet to come. So on the day of my father’s funeral service, I chose to make a pledge that in view of the soon appearing of our Lord Jesus Christ, and in front of all those watching and listening, I will preach the Word. I will do the work of an evangelist—I will share the Gospel. I will run my race and live my life, so that five minutes before I see Jesus I have no regrets—I will live my life to exalt and glorify the name of the Lord Jesus Christ. I challenge you to make the same choice until the whole world hears and Jesus returns!*
For His glory,
*Adapted from the message Anne gave at her father’s funeral service — March 2, 2018
Bible Study: Choose to Be Ready
I. FOCUSED ON THE FUTURE
- Describe the event Paul is referring to in 1 Thessalonians 4:13-18.
- What additional information about this future event to you learn from 1 Corinthians 15:51-57? Matthew 24:36-42? Matthew 25:1-13?
Click here for the Bible Study especially developed for this newsletter.
THE DANIEL KEY
ANNE’S NEWEST RESOURCE
What are the secrets to a life of impact? Daniel achieved greatness in the eyes of his contemporaries, in the eyes of history, and most importantly, in the eyes of God. His faith did not waver as he faced his critics, as he served new kings in power, or even as he confronted hungry lions. How can we achieve that kind of faith today? Twenty intentional, key choices made all the difference. Daniel’s choices can be ours, such as
• The choice to listen
• The choice to forgive
• The choice to pray
Cultivate a strong, vibrant faith when you learn to implement The Daniel Key into your everyday life.
HEAVEN: My Father’s House
Newly Revised Edition
With a foreword written by my father, this revised edition of Heaven: My Father’s House, has reflections from his charming mountain home in Western North Carolina. Join me as I take us through the apostle John’s thrilling glimpse of our Heavenly Home, as he recorded it in Revelation 21. The truth in this book has helped take away the sting of death, the fear of the grave, and has filled me with hope for the future. I pray it will do the same for you.
LEARN TO LOVE READING YOUR BIBLE
Because You Get Something from It
We are excited to offer a multitude of free Bible studies that can be used for either individual or group study.
- 3–Question Bible Studies: Multi-week studies in a single book of the Bible organized in a five-day-per-week format
- Devotional Bible Studies: Topical studies designed to apply God’s Word to your everyday lives
- How To Read the Bible: Anne’s Journey to Jesus video Workshop designed to teach you how to listen to God’s voice for yourself in the pages of Scripture
Click here to learn more.
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