The Grands Letter

Dear Grands,

Romans 8:28-32, “And we know that God causes all things to work together for good to those who love God, to those who are called according to His purpose.

29 For those whom He foreknew, He also predestined to become conformed to the image of His Son, so that He would be the firstborn among many brethren;

30 and these whom He predestined, He also called; and these whom He called, He also justified; and these whom He justified, He also glorified.

31 aWhat then shall we say to these things? If God is for us, who is against us?

32 He who did not spare His own Son, but delivered Him over for us all, how will He not also with Him freely give us all things?”

In all of the travelling I have done, I can honestly say that I have truly only been fearful three notable times. One of those times was when I offloaded in Bombay (today’s Mumbai) and encountered such an horrendous crowd of people milling about in the reception area. My fear was not of the people per se, but that the person designated to meet me might not be able to find me in that massive crowd. And I had not an idea for whom I should be looking! Maybe you’ve been in a similar situation. It simply becomes a matter of trust –trusting in God!

When we know that our lives are in His Hands, and that He knows how He intends to use us, we can confidently rest in Him. “He will bring it to pass.” What I experienced that day in India, is of no comparison to what others face in the corridors of life. Illness, loss of employment loss of occupation, loss of loved ones—and the list goes on and on. Yet, in every single instance, the LORD will not have lost sight of His own or their needs. “If God is for us, who is against us?” He even allowed His own Son to suffer and die on the Cross, giving His blood for the remission of our sins. “…how will He not also with Him freely give us all things?”

Tennyson said, “Ours is not to reason why; our’s is but to do or die.” I would rephrase it to read: “Our’s is not to reason why; just to trust Him, lest we die!” We are never alone when Christ walks beside us!

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 Boo

Dear Grands,

Job 11:12-20, “An idiot will become intelligent when the foal of a wild donkey is born a man.

13 If you would direct your heart right and spread out your hand to Him,

14 If iniquity is in your hand, put it far away, and do not let wickedness dwell in your tents;

15 “Then, indeed, you could lift up your face without moral defect, and you would be steadfast and not fear.

16 “For you would forget your trouble, as waters that have passed by, you would remember it.

17 “Your life would be brighter than noonday; darkness would be like the morning.

18 “Then you would trust, because there is hope; and you would look around and rest securely.

19 “You would lie down and none would disturb you, And many would entreat your favor.

20 “But the eyes of the wicked will fail, and there will be no escape for them; and their hope is to breathe their last.”

It’s nothing short of amazing how the Scriptures capture just where we are! This passage ought to be read at least once a week, if not more often! “An idiot will become intelligent when—“? When he directs his heart correctly and spreads out his hand to the LORD! Hope comes from trust, and security arrives the instant we put that trust in Him!

How often we simply ruminate upon the problems we face. Oh, me; oh, my! When that occurs, we can be sure we’re landlocked in trouble. How did I get into this? What will I do now? The answer is simple –so simple, indeed, that we often stumble into forgetfulness. It’s all clearly stated in verse 13: “If you would direct your heart right, –spread out your hand to Him!” He is the answer to everything! Fear brings trouble, and trouble brings fear. It’s a whirlwind of difficulties, satisfied only when we allow the LORD to be in constant control!

Remember that old song:

Forget your troubles, come on get happy;

We’re gonna chase all your cares away;

Shout “Hallelujah,” come on get happy;

We’re headin’ for the Judgment Day!

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 40:1-8, “I waited patiently for the LORD; and He inclined to me and heard my cry.

2 He brought me up out of the pit of destruction, out of the miry clay, and He set my feet upon a rock making my footsteps firm.

3 He put a new song in my mouth, a song of praise to our God; many will see and fear and will trust in the LORD.

4 How blessed is the man who has made the LORD his trust, and has not turned to the proud, nor to those who lapse into falsehood.

5 Many, O LORD my God, are the wonders which You have done, and Your thoughts toward us; There is none to compare with You. If I would declare and speak of them, they would be too numerous to count.

6 Sacrifice and meal offering You have not desired; my ears You have opened; burnt offering and sin offering You have not required.

7 Then I said, “Behold, I come; in the scroll of the book it is written of me.

8 I delight to do Your will, O my God; Your Law is within my heart.”

Don’t you just love David’s sweet spirit in this Psalm! Patience is indeed a virtue – something that is missing in many of us (this writer included). Yet, even when it seems that time is passing at a snail’s pace, we know that He has heard our prayers and will answer in the appropriate time.

In the meantime, however, we have a song to sing – a joyous song, one that He has provided for sheer pleasure while we wait. On the human level, songs don’t always appease us. We want what we want and we want it now! Still, waiting promotes trust in the LORD who provides. I can recall my grandmother making a pie. Yum, they were good! I could hardly wait! Yet, as I took my first bite, I forgot how long I had waited. It was now timeless, and worth it all. Those were the days!

It’s the same in the spiritual realm. What He has prepared for us is more than worth the wait. Our humanness too often overtakes our spiritual sensitivity. What we want and need seem never to come. Yet, they do! And with their coming is the delight we never ever imagined!

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,

2 Corinthians 4:6-11, “For God, who said, ‘Light shall shine out of darkness,’ is the One who has shone in our hearts to give the Light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Christ.

7 But we have this treasure in earthen vessels, so that the surpassing greatness of the power will be of God and not from ourselves;

8 we are afflicted in every way, but not crushed; perplexed, but not despairing;

9 persecuted, but not forsaken; struck down, but not destroyed;

10 always carrying about in the body the dying of Jesus, so that the life of Jesus also may be manifested in our body.

11 For we who live are constantly being delivered over to death for Jesus’ sake, so that the life of Jesus also may be manifested in our mortal flesh.”

There are not many things we can seriously count on in the day in which we currently live. “Rights” have been turned into “wrongs”; and concepts that were once clear and indisputable, are now so scrambled that even those who once stood for them in principle are threatening absence as “push comes to shove.”

Still, what we have, we have securely! Jesus Christ is our stability in all things pure. Thus, if those things we once held sacred, seem to be slipping away, we may be certain that Christ is the sure foundation! We believed upon Him once, and once is sufficient for eternal stability! At the same time, He is forever “our strength and stay, a very present help in time of trouble.”

My recent readings have been in the Old Testament; however, we ought to study well the life of the Apostle Paul in the New Testament. It was he who was soundly converted on that Damascus Road, only to find himself in the venomous ways of intolerant hate, all due to his unflinching fellowship with the LORD Jesus Christ and continuous application of Scripture to those who needed Christ as Savior and Lord.

The clouds that currently darken over us suggest that we might be experiencing the same enemy, who was known to Paul. Yet, the Life of our Blessed LORD lives within us, keeping us separated from all attacks that Satan throws at us daily. Praise be to the LORD!

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 84:5-12, “How blessed is the man whose strength is in You, in whose heart are the highways to Zion!

6 Passing through the valley of Baca they make it a spring; the early rain also covers it with blessings.

7 They go from strength to strength, every one of them appears before God in Zion.

8 O LORD God of hosts, hear my prayer; give ear, O God of Jacob! Selah.

9 Behold our shield, O God, and look upon the face of Your anointed.

10 For a day in Your courts is better than a thousand outside. I would rather stand at the threshold of the house of my God than dwell in the tents of wickedness.

11 For the LORD God is a sun and shield; the LORD gives grace and glory; no good thing does He withhold from those who walk uprightly.

12 O LORD of hosts, how blessed is the man who trusts in You!“

Have you ever felt that you were running out of strength? Well, I sure have! Yet, in those times, I have turned to the LORD, and He has renewed my strength. In all honesty, my reception of added strength at all times has been due to His graciousness. No doubt, multiple times He has given me that “added strength,” even when what prompted the need was not directly related to His work. Strength by any measure and for any needed occasion must always be found in the LORD.

I must confess that on numerous occasions, when I was unjustly accused of things related to my ministry, in haste I responded all-too rapidly and often without waiting for the Holly Spirit’s permission or arrangement of my comments. The LORD knew my heart, and I felt no reprehension from Him for my activities. At the same time, it is easy to justify self-defense, when it is, more often than not, better to “let sleeping dogs lie.”

What confidence we should have when we hear the Word say, “Behold our shield, O God, and look upon the face of You anointed” (vs. 9). His defense of His people is always available and far greater than any defense His people could muster for themselves. Be done with such foolishness! “The LORD is (our) sun and shield…” How blessed is the one who trusts in Him alone!

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