The Grands Letter

Dear Grands,

John 16:21-24, “Whenever a woman is in labor she has pain, because her hour has come; but when she gives birth to the child, she no longer remembers the anguish because of the joy that a child has been born into the world.

22 “Therefore, you too have grief now; but I will see you again, and your heart will rejoice, and no one will take your joy away from you.

23 “In that day you will not question Me about anything. Truly, truly, I say to you, if you ask the Father for anything in My name, He will give it to you.

24 “Until now you have asked for nothing in My name; ask and you will receive, so that your joy may be made full.”

When was the last time you asked the LORD for something? Don’t give me that! It was today, wasn’t it? We are always in need of something; and for the Christian, asking his heavenly Father is his first line of defense.

Strange as it may seem, human fathers are often eager to hear their children ask for things. “Why, I didn’t know you even liked fishing!” a father jokes, as he basks in the boy’s joy over his new fishing rod. Dads know how it goes.

Just imagine how delighted the LORD is to hear us ask of Him those intangible things that only He can provide. Faith is but one intangible. It is trust in the LORD. “Without faith it is impossible to please Him,” the Scriptures say (Heb. 11:6). Have you never had your dad hint at providing something you had desperately wanted? Just knowing he could produce it was sufficient for him.

The LORD is like that. There is so much He can provide – and He wants to provide it! He just wants us to ask. “If you ask the Father for anything in My name,” Jesus says, “He will give it to you.” What do you desperately need – not just want—need?

If the fellowship with Christ Jesus is what it ought to be, and if it accrues to your spiritual benefit, and that of others, He will provide it. You only need to ask. Did He not say, “…whatever you ask in prayer, believing, you will receive it all”? (Matt. 21:22). I’m trying to be patient. What about you?

Heartily in Christ,

Gene L. Jeffries, Th.D.

United States of America

“We will never know that Christ is all we need, until He becomes all that we have.” –Corrie ten Boom

Dear Grands,

1 Chronicles 27:25-31, “Now Azmaveth the son of Adiel had charge of the king’s storehouses. And Jonathan the son of Uzziah had charge of the storehouses in the country, in the cities, in the villages, and in the towers.

26 Ezri the son of Chelub had charge of the agricultural workers who tilled the soil.

27 Shimei the Ramathite had charge of the vineyards; and Zabdi the Shiphmite had charge of the produce of the vineyards stored in the wine cellars.

28 Baal-hanan the Gederite had charge of the olive and sycamore trees in the Shephelah; and Joash had charge of the stores of oil.

29 Shitrai the Sharonite had charge of the cattle which were grazing in Sharon; and Shaphat the son of Adlai had charge of the cattle in the valleys.

30 Obil the Ishmaelite had charge of the camels; and Jehdeiah the Meronothite had charge of the donkeys.

31 Jaziz the Hagrite had charge of the flocks. All these were overseers of the property which belonged to King David.”

I am aware that this is not the easiest reading; however, I have emboldened certain words to emphasize the areas of responsibility men had in the care of things belonging to the king. Have you taken inventory lately of the areas of responsibility assigned to you by the LORD?

We expect our pastors and staff to attend to their spiritual responsibilities. We have spiritual responsibilities, too. Prayer is always our first and foremost responsibility.

When difficulties harass our lives and families, we call on our pastors and the staff to pray for us. How often do we pray for them? We live among neighbors and friends. Are we praying for them? Government employees are working for us. Are we praying for them? Scores of military personnel are engaged in fighting for us. Are we praying for them?

I am speaking to myself as I am writing to you. I, too, am guilty of prayerful neglect toward my responsibilities. We are living in desperate times – times that are moving us rapidly toward the end of life as we know it. That being true, our responsibilities are all the greater. Let’s be alert! Let’s be prayerful! The LORD is in His Heaven. He longs to hear and answer our prayers.

Heartily in Christ,

Gene L. Jeffries, Th.D.

United States of America

“We will never know that Christ is all we need, until He becomes all that we have.” –Corrie ten Boom

Dear Grands,

Psalm 92:1-5, “A Psalm, a Song for the Sabbath day. It is good to give thanks to the LORD and to sing praises to Your name, O Most High;

2 To declare Your lovingkindness in the morning and Your faithfulness by night,

3 With the ten-stringed lute and with the harp, with resounding music upon the lyre.

4 For You, O LORD, have made me glad by what You have done; I will sing for joy at the works of Your hands.

5 How great are Your works, O LORD! Your thoughts are very deep.”

The Jewish nation was a nation of music! If you read the Scriptures carefully, you will soon discover that whether or not you are reading in the Psalms, you are reading of music! Read this psalmist carefully. He is first giving thanks to the LORD for all of His good works. It is of vital importance that we recognize that the LORD is the Author of all good music. He is indeed to be praised!

I recall those momentous days in church when we sang and sang to the glory of the LORD! Christmas radio always featured Handel’s Messiah, and I can remember lying in bed and listening via radio! Television, too, featured Christ-honoring music throughout the Christmas season. It is said that the King of England, at the commencement of the singing of the Hallelujah Chorus, physically arose from his seat and stood in honor of Jesus Christ!

We would all do well to take inventory of the blessings the LORD has bestowed upon us, and we should honor Him in the music of our lives by being faithful to His cause. Whether we sing or play musical instruments is not the measure we should seek. Our stand for Him in every situation and in the presence of others is the signal tribute!

There’s an old chorus we used to sing: “Let Others See Jesus in You.” Take inventory of your life. Make certain that Jesus is foremost in everything! In that way, we declare our love and devotion to the King of Kings! It will be worth it all when we see Jesus!

Heartily in Christ,

Gene L. Jeffries, Th.D.

United States of America

“We will never know that Christ is all we need, until He becomes all that we have.” –Corrie ten Boom

Dear Grands,

Matthew 24:3-14, “As He was sitting on the Mount of Olives, the disciples came to Him privately, saying, “Tell us, when will these things happen, and what will be the sign of Your coming, and of the end of the age?”

4 And Jesus answered and said to them, “See to it that no one misleads you.

5 “For many will come in My name, saying, ‘I am the Christ,’ and will mislead many.

6 “You will be hearing of wars and rumors of wars. See that you are not frightened, for those things must take place, but that is not yet the end.

7 “For nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom, and in various places there will be famines and earthquakes.

8 “But all these things are merely the beginning of birth pangs.

9 “Then they will deliver you to tribulation, and will kill you, and you will be hated by all nations because of My name.

10 “At that time many will fall away and will betray one another and hate one another.

11 “Many false prophets will arise and will mislead many.

12 “Because lawlessness is increased, most people’s love will grow cold.

13 “But the one who endures to the end, he will be saved.

14 “This gospel of the kingdom shall be preached in the whole world as a testimony to all the nations, and then the end will come.”

Have you ever wondered if you would be alive on Earth when Jesus comes again? Without question, it will be an excitingly eventful time! The turmoil that rages throughout our world today will then be unleashed in full fury—nation against nation, fighting to the death amongst themselves – and for what? They will have missed the most ecstatic experience the world has ever known! For all truly born-again believers, resident throughout the world, will be uplifted into the glorious realm of Eternal Heaven to live forever with the LORD Jesus Christ and with the millions of believers who trusted Him to the end.

Today, turmoil is raging throughout the globe, while covens of believers are secretly huddled in worship of the LORD Jesus Christ. There are hundreds of true believers in Iran, worshipping beyond the eyes of a godless regime. They need and deserve our prayers for their safety. May their earnest trust in Christ Jesus be the incentive that draws others to faith in Him, too! Prayer is vital to the reaching of thousands of lost souls, who are the concern of multiple missionaries throughout the world. Both the lost and the saved need our prayers. “The harvest is plentiful, but the laborers are few…” (Luke 10:2).

Heartily in Christ,

Gene L. Jeffries, Th.D.

United States of America

“We will never know that Christ is all we need, until He becomes all that we have.” –Corrie ten Boom

Dear Grands,

John 14:27, “Peace I leave with you; My peace I give to you; not as the world gives do I give to you. Do not let your heart be troubled, nor let it be fearful.”

We live in a troubled world, surrounded by frightening situations. Turbulence is on every side. We scream for help, yet it does not come. We seek to hide, but there is no cover. What are we to do?

Then, softly there comes a voice saying, “Peace, My peace I give to you.” And the soft strength of that voice smothers the fear like a blanket covering threatening flames. His peace has become my peace. I am no longer afraid.

Something like this was the experience of an American pilot whose airplane was shot from the sky by enemy forces. One moment he was in control; then, hit and ejected from his plane, he was grounded, hurt, in the dark, and all alone. Yet, in that darkness, wounded and hurting, he was mysteriously led to safety and ultimately rescued.

His experience was unique – yet have we not all experienced something similar? Have we not encountered obstacles that hindered our progression? Have we not experienced leadership that was not of our own making?

Remember Jacob. Tired and worn out from travel, he spent the night with his head on a stone and dreamed of a ladder that reached into Heaven. Yet, upon awakening, he said, “Surely the LORD is in this place, and I did not know it” (Genesis 28:16).

More often than not, the LORD is near us. Our weariness merely overshadows His presence. We think we are alone. Yet, He is always near. As the song goes, “Standing somewhere in the shadows, we’ll find Jesus.” The wise counsel is: “Trust in the LORD with all your heart and do not lean on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge Him, and He will make your paths straight” (Proverbs 3:5-6).

Heartily in Christ,

Gene L. Jeffries, Th.D.

United States of America

“We will never know that Christ is all we need, until He becomes all that we have.” –Corrie ten Boom