Have you ever specifically prayed for something, only to have the situation get worse? Have you prayed for your health to improve, only to have your condition weaken, then deteriorate further when you have a negative reaction to the medicine you were given? Have you prayed for your job to be more productive, only to lose out on a promotion, then be asked to resign? Have you prayed for your child’s well-being, only to have him drop out of school, then learn that he is involved in drugs?
Things got worse for Mary and Martha when they sent word to Jesus in John 11:3, Lord, the one you love is sick. Implied in the message was an urgent request on behalf of their brother Lazarus: “Please come. Do something. Help him. Make our brother well.” If they could have heard Jesus’ response at the moment He heard their request, they might have been initially encouraged, because when He heard this, Jesus said, “This sickness will not end in death. No, it is for God’s glory so that God’s Son may be glorified through it.”(11:4) The logical assumption would have been that He was promising Lazarus’ illness would not become worse…that Lazarus would not die…that God would heal him. Yet not only did Lazarus not get better, things got worse. He did die.
When have you prayed and received initial encouragement through a promise from God? Has that promise led to confusion when it not only seems to be unfulfilled, but things get worse?
On August 17, I was diagnosed with breast cancer. Almost immediately, God seemed to give me a promise from James 5:17, Pray for one another that you may be healed. I believed God was promising to heal me in answer to your prayers, even though I didn’t know if it would be before surgery, through surgery, using chemotherapy and/or radiation. So my journey of faith began, undergirded by the prayers of many people.
Rather than be healed before the surgery, I went through surgery. Rather than the cancer being contained, it was found in a lymph node. Rather than experiencing minimum side-effects to chemotherapy, I experienced a severe side effect to my second treatment. Rather than stay on schedule, my treatment was delayed for a week, and another chemotherapy infusion added.
So…when things get worse, how should you and I respond? With complaints? Self-pity? Fear? Doubt? Or trust…
…that God has a greater purpose than our immediate comfort.
…that getting what we want, when we want it, is not always for our good or His glory.
…that our faith is of more value than our physical health.
…that His strength will be sufficient for each moment of each day.
…that His blessings will outweigh any trial.
In this New Year—when things get worse—let’s choose to lay our expectations down and trust God alone. Period.
For the glory of His Name…
I. He Helps
* Which verses in Psalm 63 imply that the Psalmist was experiencing trouble?
* What phrase refers to the Psalmist’s sleepless nights? Why do you think he couldn’t sleep?
* What keeps you up at night?
Why? Trusting God When You Don’t UnderstandIn this volume, Anne shares her heart and God’s teachings on the universal problem of suffering, using the familiar story of Lazarus. This small book presents a simple, powerful message that is sure to bring comfort and new meaning to all who are suffering themselves or know others who need a special touch from God. It will help you understand and deal with suffering by leading you to the One Who knows your needs, shares your grief, sheds your tears and promises glory to come! Based on John 11. Foreword by Joni Eareckson Tada.
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Getting up early in the morning to fix my eyes on Jesus through prayer and reading His Word is like setting my spiritual compass. Because no matter what faces me during the day, or how “lost” and confused I can become, or how many decisions and choices I’m confronted with, my heart and my thoughts always turn toward Him. And He invariably leads me on the right path.
My prayer is that the devotions in this small volume will help you fix your eyes on Jesus every day, so that you, too, can set your spiritual compass.
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For more detailed information regarding our Fall Newsletter, please visit the links below (links listed in order they appear in newsletter):
Just Give Me Jesus hardback book
A Wake-Up Call for God’s People
When Daddy moved to Heaven, I publicly vowed to preach God’s Word, to share the Gospel, and to live my life in such a way that five minutes before I see Jesus, I would have no regrets (2 Timothy 4:6-8). As I reflect on the doors God has opened for me in the last several months, my heart is filled with gratitude for the opportunities I’ve been given to keep my vow. Enjoy the following pictorial reflection and join me in praising God for the privilege of going to the ends of the earth to help people turn to the Lord.…
Daddy’s funeral was live-streamed, then rebroadcast multiple times worldwide. I took the opportunity to announce the fulfillment of Matthew 24:14 indicating Jesus is coming, then publicly made the vow I stated above.
It was officially estimated that 500,000 people gathered on the parade grounds in Hyderabad, India, for the 2nd Annual National Day of Prayer. With my interpreter John Sinai echoing the message at my side, I challenged those in front of me to pray as Daniel did. I was able to share the Gospel in this Hindu dominated nation by emphasizing the need for a covenant relationship with God in order to be guaranteed answers to prayer.
Although I no longer chair the National Day of Prayer, I participated in a panel discussion at the dinner which was held the night before this year’s annual observance in D.C. In one of my answers, I misspoke and Greg Laurie called me out. It was a moment of hilarious levity. But then all became serious as we prayed for God to hear us, forgive us, and heal us as a nation.
Bible Translation: I had the opportunity to encourage those attending the Seed Company’s forWORD Retreat to support the worldwide translation and distribution of God’s Word, while encouraging them to read it for themselves. Friends and Neighbors: Nearly 400 people came to UNC Lady Tarheels Hall of Fame Basketball Coach Sylvia Hatchell’s annual spring picnic. Sylvia uses her platform to host a weekly Bible study on campus taught by my daughter, Rachel-Ruth. Those gathered on her front lawn attend her Bible study, and also the one begun by my husband for men in Chapel Hill. After a great barbeque supper, Rachel-Ruth and I answered questions, followed by challenging those gathered to examine the choices they are making, then choose to stay in the Word over the summer months.
The highest levels of leadership in America acknowledged the power of the simple Gospel when Daddy was laid in honor at the center of our Nation’s Capital in Washington, DC. That evening, President and Mrs. Trump graciously invited my siblings and myself to dinner at the White House. Sitting next to the President as we prayed for God’s blessing was an unforgettable moment for me.
It was a unique experience to speak in the venue of the Museum of the Bible to the Evangelical Christian Publishers Association on the evening of their annual book awards banquet…and to encourage them not only to publish God’s Word, but to read and apply it to their own lives. Pictured on the left is my new publishing team from Waterbrook Multnomah, which includes my daughter, Rachel-Ruth Wright, who will co-author a book with me in the future.
Jerusalem: What a thrill…and awesome responsibility…to be invited to speak at the 2nd annual Jerusalem Prayer Breakfast. Over 650 delegates from 70 nations gathered to pray for the peace of Jerusalem. I was given three opportunities to speak: at the Israeli Knesset (Parliament), at a concert, and at the Prayer Breakfast itself. On each occasion I shared what I believe: that Jesus of Nazareth is the Messiah, that He died as God’s Lamb sacrificed for our sin, that He rose from the dead to open Heaven for us, and that He is soon to return. (Pictured is an open-air interview I gave to Chris Mitchell of CBN that was aired on Jerusalem Dateline while I was in Jerusalem.) The Church: Highland Park Presbyterian Church in Dallas, TX, was pastored for years by my uncle, Clayton Bell. My cousin, Janie Bell, now helps lead the women’s ministry, which sponsored a Legacy of Truth evening. The stately cathedral-style sanctuary was packed with standing room only as I used the apostle John’s vision to describe Heaven, then explained the Way to get there. Multiple people raised their hands to claim Heaven as their home by placing their faith in Jesus.
In this six-session video Bible study, Anne looks at the life of Daniel and unpacks the prayer he prayed in Daniel 9. Unlike the everyday now-I-lay-me-down-to-sleep kind of prayer, this is a prayer birthed under pressure. A prayer that changes hearts and nations—even in our world today. A prayer that works. Learn how to pray as Daniel did.
• Session 1: Bible Study Workshop • Session 4: Pleading in Prayer
• Session 2: Preparing for Prayer • Session 5: Prevailing in Prayer
• Session 3: Prompting in Prayer • Session 6: Battling in Prayer
THE DANIEL KEYEvery day we make multiple choices. Bad choices can be destructive, but the repetition of right choices builds our character and strengthens our faith. Regardless of whether you have made good choices or bad ones, right ones or wrong ones, this book will challenge you from this day forward to choose to follow Daniel’s example…choice after choice after choice…until others see Jesus in you!
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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
I. FOCUSED ON THE FUTURE
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.
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.
We are excited to offer a multitude of free Bible studies that can be used for either individual or group study.
Click here to learn more.
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I. FOCUSED ON THE FUTURE
II. FAITHFUL IN THE PRESENT
If you are living in such a way that you will have no regrets when Jesus comes, what can you do to help someone else be ready? Do it. Now.
This Bible study was prepared especially for the Spring 2018 Newsletter.
