What do you know about the One whom Jesus promised He would ask the Father to give us, in His absence? How much do you know about the Holy Spirit? Growing up, I can never remember being taught about the Holy Spirit. I knew His name because the pastor of the little mountain church I belonged to always ended the Sunday morning service with a benediction in the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit. He was also mentioned at weddings when the bride and groom were pronounced joined together in the same three names, or when someone was baptized. But it wasn’t until I began studying the Bible in order to teach it that I increasingly got to know this One we refer to as the third person of the Trinity. I discovered He is not spooky, He is not an “add-on” or an optional extra in the Christian life. He is a divine necessity. Yet one misconception of who He is lingered in my thoughts.
When I received Jesus as my Savior, my assumption had been that the Holy Spirit was “assigned” to me. I thought He had come into my life because He had no option. I was now His “job”—His responsibility. My view of Him was that He was strictly professional, a perfectionistic stickler for details and Someone who would keep me in line until one day He would present me to the Father and say something like “Here she is. I’ve done My best to work with what I had.” This harmful misconception could have led me to living a lie, as I would have tried hard to impress Him. I could have burned myself out trying hard to earn His love.
Then one day, while reading my Bible, I was gripped by the following: “Do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, with whom you were sealed for the day of redemption.”1 While I understand that Scripture is warning us not to intentionally, willfully sin, the word grieve caught and held my attention. I reflected on grief in my own life and knew I had experienced that emotion only when I deeply cared about someone or something. I grieved when my mother went to Heaven. I grieved when my husband followed her there about eight years later. I grieved when my father joined them both. And I realized that grief is a love word. I grieve because I love my mother and my husband and my father.
This realization turned the light on in my thinking as I realized that if I can grieve the Holy Spirit, it’s because He loves me. The Holy Spirit loves me! That was a profound, revolutionary thought. He’s not just a professional partner. He’s not just assigned to me. He doesn’t live within me because He has to—He lives within me because He wants to live within me. He deeply cares about what I do and who I become. When I do the right thing, He rejoices. When I do the wrong thing, He grieves. Not only is He spiritually and practically involved in my life, He is also emotionally caught up in who I am and who I am to become. What a difference that simple truth has made in my perspective. I can be myself with the Holy Spirit. I don’t have to be “on.” I can relax and be transparent with Him. I can trust Him completely because He truly loves me!
And the Holy Spirit loves you too! He cares deeply about what you care about because He cares about you.2 It doesn’t matter how small or how large your concern is. He cares. He understands. He wants what’s best for you. He desires for you to fulfill your God-given potential. He wants to ease your burden, solve your problem, comfort your broken heart, bind up your wounds, bring you through the valley of the shadow, shower you with blessing upon blessing. And yes, He wants to make you holy—because He loves you! He will work all things—all things—for your good.3 So relax. Stop trying to impress Him. Stop working so hard to earn His love. Be open and honest and transparent. Live with the confidence that you are deeply, unconditionally, permanently loved by Him.
I cannot begin to express in words what He has meant to me during this past year. I have experienced His constant companionship. There is absolutely no doubt in my mind that He has carried me through not just somehow, but triumphantly. So if you, too, are faced with a deadly disease…divorce…death…disaster, open your heart and life to the One who is Jesus in you.
For His Glory,
1 Ephesians 4:30
2 1 Peter 5:7
3 Romans 8:28
As the launch of Anne’s new book, Jesus in Me, approaches, the AGL Team invites you to saturate this new ministry assignment in prayer. We will keep you updated with specific requests so that we can pray together for the Holy Spirit Himself to guide our efforts, breathe His life into our promotion, and prepare readers for the launch in October. Click here to join.
In what surely was a demonstration of the power of the Holy Spirit, Anne was able to complete the three-day audio book recording of Jesus in Me in two days.
Christophe Zimmerlin flew from Europe to interview Anne for France 2 Public television. Their conversation was warm, energetic, and Christ-glorifying.
Anne’s longtime friend, Hall of Fame basketball coach Sylvia Hatchell, had just been forced to resign from the University of North Carolina after 33 years for the ludicrous charge of racism. Yet she hosted with courageous grace her annual picnic for friends, neighbors, Rachel-Ruth’s Bible study, and the men’s study that Danny established in Chapel Hill. Approximately 300 gathered on Sylvia’s front lawn to hear a testimony from former UNC All- American, WBA star, Sylvia’s assistant, and now head women’s basketball coach at Elon University, Charlotte Smith, who has been mentored by Sylvia. It was also Anne’s privilege to challenge everyone from John 11 to trust God when we don’t understand why. (Pictured left to right: Rachel-Ruth, Sylvia, Anne & Morrow; inset photo: Charlotte Smith)
Have you ever felt lonely—even in a crowd? Without companionship? Especially when facing a death, or disease, or divorce, or some disaster? In the past three years, I have become a widow…and an orphan…while at the same time facing some of my life’s greatest challenges. Yet I have experienced the companionship of the Holy Spirit in a deep, vibrant relationship that has been a constant source of joy, peace, and comfort. It’s worth getting to know the One who is Jesus in me…and in you.
I. HIS COMPANIONSHIP BRINGS COMFORT
Read John 16:5-16
*From John 16:5-7, why did the disciples need comfort? Put their feelings into your own words.
A. COMFORT OF HIS PERSON
Get into His Word using one of Anne’s classic Bible Studies. Each study has a DVD and Leader Guide. Participant guides may be purchased separately. We are offering each video study at a discounted price of $20 from August 1 – November 1, 2019.
In Jesus in Me, Anne draws on her rich biblical knowledge as well as her personal story—including her recent cancer journey—to help us understand that the Holy Spirit is not a magic genie, a flame of fire, or a vague feeling. He is a Person who prays for us, guides us in our relationships and decisions, comforts us in pain, and stays by our side at all times. In this simple, yet profound teaching, she explores seven key aspects of the Holy Spirit that will revolutionize how you understand and relate to this vital third Person in the Trinity.
Discover how to better love and rely on the Person of the Holy Spirit–and embrace how much He loves you.
Pre-order your copy today through any online retailer and receive exclusive bonus gifts from Anne.
If you would like to receive AnGeL Ministries’ full newsletter by email or postal 
delivery, click here to sign up for our free resources!
Have you ever felt lonely—even in a crowd? Without companionship? Especially when facing a death, or disease, or divorce, or some disaster? In the past three years, I have become a widow…and an orphan…while at the same time facing some of my life’s greatest challenges. Yet I have experienced the companionship of the Holy Spirit in a deep, vibrant relationship that has been a constant source of joy, peace, and comfort. It’s worth getting to know the One who is Jesus in me…and in you.
I. HIS COMPANIONSHIP BRINGS COMFORT
A. COMFORT OF HIS PERSON
B. COMFORT OF HIS PRESENCE
II. HIS COMPANIONSHIP BRINGS CHANGE
A. HE CHANGES ME
B. HE CHANGES OTHERS
Ask the Father now to give you a fresh experience of the Holy Spirit as your life’s companion.
This Bible study was prepared especially for the Summer 2019 Newsletter.
I. BE CONVINCED OF THE MESSAGE 2:8-9
II. BE COMMITTED TO THE MISSION 2:10
If all Christians were like you, would Paul have said the Word was bound? If you are convinced of the message and committed to the mission, what will you do to turn the Word loose?
This Bible study was prepared especially for the Spring 2019 Newsletter.
While I’ve been sidelined from my speaking schedule and have been homebound for months due to chemo treatments and radiation, praise God — His Word is unbound! One of my prayers has been that the ministry to which God has called me would continue uninterrupted through every means possible except my travel and personal appearances.
God’s answer to my prayer has come through letters, emails, and social media emphasizing that even though I am bound, God’s Word is not! Below are some testimonies we have received that underscore further answers to this prayer. To God be the glory!
What a blessing your book, Just Give Me Jesus, has been as a resource in my teaching of the book of John. I see that you wrote it back in the year 2000 but its insightfulness and impact in my life are felt today in the year 2019. (Janis, Just Give Me Jesus)
My beloved mother passed away four months ago… and I continue to miss her so very much. When reading chapter 8 in The Magnificent Obsession, Mourning Everything Hopefully, what you felt when your dear mother died, touched my heart. It has helped bring some solace to me, reassuring me that our Lord promised eternal life; we will see our loved ones again. And I must ask myself, “Do I believe?” And the answer is, “Yes!”…(Kathy, The Magnificent Obsession)
I just listened to one of Anne’s messages from January 20, her weekly radio broadcast. I KNOW God used you to speak to me because I heard you give the same message — ‘Are you losing your first love?’ It was so powerful! What a great teacher of God’s Word you are. And now today, 10 years later, I listened to this program, and it is the same message! Isn’t that just like God? To keep pursuing us, using people, places, and things to draw us to Himself. What are the chances I would open this app today and listen to THIS message, and it’s the same one that had profoundly affected me so many years ago? I know God is speaking to me. (Amy, Living in the Light radio program)
I am a missionary in Guatemala. . .God’s world is so big, yet He provides small connections in the most special ways! Today when I received this special ‘invitation’ devotion, I knew it was especially for me to use tomorrow at our Christmas luncheon with our artisans! I have been praying about what specifically to share with them, but knew that one part is a question I will ask them as we reflect on the greatest gift we have received, Jesus. I plan to ask them what they will give Him this Christmas and into 2019. This invitation seems the perfect leading into our discussion about His birthday celebration, and the gift we can give Him because of His great gift, salvation & relationship. Thank you for challenging me and so many others in our daily walk with Christ! (Tina, Blog, You Are Invited!)
Over the years, my mom has enjoyed the ministry of Anne Graham Lotz. Mom was diagnosed with Alzheimer’s in September, 2013. During the past five years Anne’s ministry of books and the CD, My Jesus is…Everything, continues in our family’s life. As Mom’s disease slowly robs her personality and memories, she continues to have her faith in Jesus. She carries around the book by the same title and lights up when the CD is played. At times, she sings along with her hands lifted in worship. Life’s concerns can be overwhelming but with our eyes focused on JESUS he can give us strength to face caring for a family member with Alzheimer’s. (Joy, My Jesus is Everything)
Join with me in continued prayer for God to breathe His life into all of our audios, videos, books, Bible studies, and radio broadcasts so that in these last moments of the last days, He will use us to draw people into His Word that they might know Him better.
A quotation, attributed to Charles Spurgeon, expressed it this way: “The Word of God is like a lion – you don’t have to defend it. All you have to do is let it loose, and the lion will defend itself”! And I pray our ministry will continue to let God’s Word loose…unbound!
For His glory,
While waiting for an appointment, I went into the UNC Hospital gift shop. What a delight to find Fixing My Eyes on Jesus in the book carousel, made available to sick and suffering patients as well as to those who love them. To continue following my journey click here.
Forty years ago my husband began a Bible Study for men. Under Bo Batchelder’s leadership it has continued to thrive and grow. Even though I was bound by chemo at the time, it was my privilege to join them by skype video for a Q & A.
Pictured above is Patt Williams delivering Bibles to the Bethany Children’s Home in West Bengal, India. For all of the overseas Bible distribution, Feed the Hunger purchased Bibles locally seeking guidance from local partners as to the most age-appropriate Bible that would serve their ministry purposes.
A generous donor of AnGeL Ministries specifically allocated funds for Bibles to be given out. AnGeL Ministries used these funds to share 26,000 Bibles with various ministries earlier this year. AnGeL Ministries donated New Believer Bibles:
• 1,300 to Real Life Church (Rev. Reggie Stutzman) in the Bronx, NY for distribution at Thanksgiving
• 1,300 to Christian Library International for distribution in prisons
We also donated previously these designated Bible Funds:
• To Far Reaching Ministries for digital Bibles in Central Africa
• To the Good News Center ministry for distribution of Bibles in India
• To Uncharted Ministries for digital Bibles for Middle East / Central Europe
• To Feed the Hunger ministry for Bibles for children in foreign countries
• To Elohim Ministry for digital Bibles for international students
Read 2 Timothy 2:8-10
I. BE CONVINCED OF THE MESSAGE 2 Timothy 2:8-9
In this abridgment of her bestselling book, The Daniel Prayer, Anne unlocks a powerful pattern of prayer for claiming the promises of God.
What is the secret to praying prayers that really “work”? In Storming the Gates of Heaven, a plan for praying effective prayers that God answers is presented through unpacking the ancient prayer of the prophet Daniel, a prayer that moved heaven and changed a nation and one that even today can deliver on God ‘s promises. It’s a prayer birthed under pressure. Heartache. Grief. Desperation. Or a sudden revelation of hope. A promise freshly received. A miracle that lies just over the horizon. Here is the secret to answered prayer!
We are delighted to offer free resources on our website page that complement this book. Please click here to download your choice of lock screens for your phone and a designed PDF download – PRAYER FOR THE BATTLE.
In Jesus in Me, Anne draws on her rich biblical knowledge as well as her personal story—including her recent cancer journey—to help us understand that the Holy Spirit is not a magic genie, a flame of fire, or a vague feeling. He is a Person who prays for us, guides us in our relationships and decisions, comforts us in pain, and stays by our side at all times. In this simple, yet profound teaching, she explores seven key aspects of the Holy Spirit that will revolutionize how you understand and relate to this vital third Person in the Trinity.
Discover how to better love and rely on the Person of the Holy Spirit–and embrace how much He loves you.
If you would like to receive AnGeL Ministries’ full newsletter by email or postal 
delivery, click here to sign up for our free resources!
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?
* When sleepless, what did the Psalmist do? What do you do?
* What encouragement do you receive from the following verses? Psalm 10:14; 18:35; 28:7; 30:2; 46:1, 5; 94:7; 118:13
* If you need God’s help, what do you need to do? Matthew 8:5; 15:25; Luke 4:38; John 15:7
II. He Hides
* Where did the Psalmist say God hid him?
* How is this same thought expressed in Ruth 2:12; Psalm 17:8; 36:7; 61:4; 91:4? Give phrases.
* What does this thought mean to you? Psalm 25:1; 32:10; 56:3; 62:8
III. He Holds
* How was the Psalmist held?
* What is the significance of the right hand? Exodus 15:6, 12; Psalm 16:11; 17:7; 18:35; Isaiah 62:8
* In light of the significance of God’s right hand, write out Isaiah 41:10 in your own words.
* Is there any danger that God’s grip will loosen, or that He will let go of you? John 10:29
* When things get worse, what encouragement do you receive from Isaiah 41:13? 46:4? Deuteronomy 1:31?
When things get worse, place your faith in the God who is there to help, hide, and hold you.
This Bible study was prepared especially for the Winter 2019 Newsletter.
