2000 & 2009 by Anne Graham Lotz
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Unless otherwise noted, Scripture quotations are from the HOLY BIBLE: NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION. 1973, 1978,1984 by International Bible Society. Used by permission of Zondervan Publishing House. All rights reserved.
Other Scripture references are from the following sources:
THE AMPLIFIED BIBLE: OLD TESTAMENT ( AMP ). 1962, 1964 by Zondervan (used by permission); and from THE AMPLIFIED BIBLE: NEW TESTAMENT. 1958 by the Lockman Foundation (used by permission).
NEW AMERICAN STANDARD BIBLE ( NASB ). The Lockman Foundation 1960, 1962, 1963, 1968, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1975, 1977. Used by permission.
The Message by Eugene H. Peterson. 1993, 1994, 1995, 1996, 2000. Used by permission of NavPress Publishing Group. All rights reserved.
The King James Version of the Bible ( KJV ).
THE NEW KING JAMES VERSION ( NKJV ). 1982 by Thomas Nelson, Inc. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
ISBN : 978-0-8499-2093-6
Library of Congress has catalogued the earlier edition as follows:
Lotz, Anne Graham, 1948
Just give me Jesus / by Anne Graham Lotz.
p. cm.
ISBN 978-0-8499-1646-5 (hardcover)
1. Jesus ChristPerson and offices. 2. Bible. N. T. JohnCriticism, interpretation, etc. I. Title.
BS2615.2 .L68 2000
232dc21
00-024773
09 10 11 12 RRD 6 5 4 3 2 1
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To those who need
a fresh touch from God
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CONTENTS
M y life in 1999 and 2000 was pressure packed and trouble filled. My husbands dental office, where he had practiced for thirty years, burned to the ground. All three of my children got married within eight months of each other. My son was diagnosed with cancer and went through successful surgery and follow-up radiation. I published two books, Gods Story and Daily Light, as well as TheDaily Light Journal: Morning Readings. I produced a seven-volume video series with workbooks and study guides for The Vision of His Glory. I kept up an intense speaking schedule that included international travel, fulfilled ministry obligations, and gave physical care to my parents, including going through my mothers five emergency hospitalizations within a span of ten months. My ministry, AnGeL Ministries, was going through a transition that increased our yearly budget sixfold so that in the year 2000 we could offer arena events for the purpose of revivalat no charge.
Even now, my duties and responsibilities at times seem overwhelming, and my schedule is overfilled. But I dont want a vacation, I dont want to quit, I dont want sympathy, I dont want money, I dont want recognition, I dont want to escape, I dont even want a miracle!
This book is the cry of my heartjust give me Jesus. Please!
AND THANK YOU
T o those who have helped and encouraged me as this book took shape and was completedthank you!
... To dearest Danny, for reflecting Jesus through your unconditional love, gentle strength, and steadfast endurance as you put up with my race to meet yet another manuscript deadline.
... Jonathan and Alicia, Morrow and Traynor, Rachel-Ruth and Steven, for reflecting Jesus through your patient understanding of my distractedness from the family in order to complete this manuscript on timeand for giving me so much joy!
... Marjorie Green, Doris Weathers, Dody Ragsdale, Jean Clark, Bonnie Moore, Debby Morris, Sherry Burrows, and Pam Wilson for reflecting Jesus through your intercession on my behalf as you clothed every stroke of my pen (or tap on my computer) with prayer.
... Helen George for reflecting Jesus through your servants spirit and faithful assistance in supporting me in ministry, regardless of where or what it has been.
... Brenda Bateman, Ginger Kirby, Carol Cooper, Rachel-Ruth Wright, Ann Whitehurst, Carolyn Holding, Kathie Waldrop, Dana Dixon, Linda Horton, and Pam Catlin for reflecting Jesus through your commitment to do the Fathers work, not just talk about it.
... Leigh ODell for reflecting Jesus through the gift of yourself to AnGeL Ministries.
... Lee Gessner, Joey Paul, Debbie Wickwire, Laura Kendall, and my Thomas Nelson family for reflecting Jesus through your constant encouragement and consistent excellence.
... Dr. Lewis Drummond for reflecting Jesus through your availability to help me communicate the truth on the written page.
... Sue Ann Jones and Janet Reed for reflecting Jesus through your ability to change an editing plan B to a plan Aon short notice.
S everal years ago, Andrew Morton wrote a biography of Diana, Princess of Wales. In his publicity tour for the book, he said his information was based on conversations he had had with some of her closest friends. His book sold thousands of copies.
After Lady Dianas tragic death in a car accident in Paris, Andrew Mortons book was re-released. This time he revealed that the source of his information had not been intimate friends of Dianas, but Diana herself. He then produced hours of taped conversation with the princess as proof. And his book sold hundreds of thousands of copies. It made an enormous difference to the reading public to discover the book was not hearsay but what Diana had said about herself.
In the last several years, the market has been flooded with books about Jesus.
His likeness has been on the cover of every major secular newsmagazine. He has been:
romanticized,
sentimentalized,
fictionalized,
criticized,
idolized,
modernized,
popularized,
trivialized,
visualized,
and scrutinized!
JUST GIVE ME JESUS
So why do we need one more book about Jesus? Because I believe there is a very important and often vast difference between what people say about Him, and what He says about Himself.
Inspired by the same Spirit that lived within Jesus, the apostle John wrote an eyewitness account of His life that is, in effect, what Jesus says about Himself. And this book is my attempt to draw you into His biography, which is also uniquely His autobiography.
Because Johns gospel is so rich and space here is limited, I have been unable to include every passage. I selected the passages I did because these were the ones God seemed to lay on my heartfor myself. I have felt desperate for personal revival in my life, and that need has drawn me back to Jesusto Jesus alone.