The Grands Letter

Dear Grands,

2 Corinthians 1:3-7, “Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies and God of all comfort,

4 who comforts us in all our affliction so that we will be able to comfort those who are in any affliction with the comfort with which we ourselves are comforted by God.

5 For just as the sufferings of Christ are ours in abundance, so also our comfort is abundant through Christ.

6 But if we are afflicted, it is for your comfort and salvation; or if we are comforted, it is for your comfort, which is effective in the patient enduring of the same sufferings which we also suffer;

7 and our hope for you is firmly grounded, knowing that as you are sharers of our sufferings, so also you are sharers of our comfort.”

Sometimes we face burdens we simply cannot bear. Often they are not burdens caused by our sin or waywardness; sometimes they are burdens the LORD allows to bring out the strength He has placed within us – strength that when conquered will accrue to our benefit.

I learned this principle as a small boy. Some things I wanted to do, my mother disallowed. I didn’t understand; actually, I didn’t want to understand; I just wanted my way! What I ultimately learned, as I grew older, was that my mother had my best interest at heart and what she had disallowed ultimately proved to be to my benefit. Why didn’t I see that?

Even as adults, we Christians encounter situations we don’t completely understand. We seek answers—even comfort, yet often without success. “Why is this happening?” we ask. Perhaps the LORD is utilizing these “road bumps” to draw us closer to Him. It is simply not possible for us to foresee the future! Curves in the road hinder our seeing what lies beyond. Yet, we declare to others that He is more than competent to deal with their problems. Now He wants us to know He can deal competently with ours! We simply must keep the faith! Nothing is impossible with God!

“By and by when the morning comes;

All the saints of God are gathered Home;

We will tell the story how we’ve overcome;

We will understand it better by and by.”

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 31:11-19, “Because of all my adversaries, I have become a reproach, especially to my neighbors, and an object of dread to my acquaintances; those who see me in the street flee from me.

12 I am forgotten as a dead man, out of mind; I am like a broken vessel.

13 For I have heard the slander of many, terror is on every side; while they took counsel together against me, they schemed to take away my life.

14 But as for me, I trust in You, O LORD, I say, ‘You are my God.’

15 My times are in Your hand; deliver me from the hand of my enemies and from those who persecute me.

16 Make Your face to shine upon Your servant; save me in Your lovingkindness.

17 Let me not be put to shame, O LORD, for I call upon You; Let the wicked be put to shame, let them be silent in Sheol.

18 Let the lying lips be mute, which speak arrogantly against the righteous with pride and contempt.

19 How great is Your goodness, which You have stored up for those who fear You, which You have wrought for those who take refuge in You, before the sons of men!”

There is ultimately no joy in becoming a “reproach” to neighbors, or to have people cross the street to avoid having to speak to you. Has that ever been your experience? Maybe someone has blatantly lied about your having done something you didn’t do. Maybe someone has lied about your having said something you didn’t say. Your reputation has been discredited beyond your own imagination. People turn away from you when you speak. They turn their backs to you when you come in contact with them. What can you do?

There is but one thing you can do: put your faith and trust in the LORD. “…I trust in You, O LORD…You are my God.” It’s not altogether what people think. What is most important is what the LORD thinks. He is well aware that you are being wrongfully charged. Moreover, He is aware of the evil in the hearts of your adversaries. Your release from these unjust experiences comes first from the LORD. It is His responsibility to deal with those who oppose and speak evil of you. And in the end, you will proclaim what the Word states: “How great is Your goodness…for those who take refuge in You…” Give the LORD an opportunity to right the wrongs that others have against you. You will find Him your Greatest Friend and Ally ever!

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 6:5-8, “When you pray, you are not to be like the hypocrites; for they love to stand and pray in the synagogues and on the street corners so that they may be seen by men. Truly I say to you, they have their reward in full.

6 “But you, when you pray, go into your inner room, close your door and pray to your Father who is in secret, and your Father who sees what is done in secret will reward you.

7 “And when you are praying, do not use meaningless repetition as the Gentiles do, for they suppose that they will be heard for their many words.

8 “So do not be like them; for your Father knows what you need before you ask Him.”

It’s only a guess on my part, but I often wonder whether we truly pray as much as we talk about praying. Maybe I’m telling on myself – I hope not! I do sincerely believe in prayer. Sometimes the answers are not at forthcoming as I would like; however, the LORD hears and knows how to time His replies. Perhaps He’s wanting me to comply with directions He’s already given. We need to examine ourselves carefully.

The Scripture tells us to avoid using “meaningless repetition,” as others do. We just need to get down to “brass tacks,” (as my mother used to say) and say what we truly mean. Of course, the LORD knows what we’re going to say before we say it. That’s to be expected; thus, all the more we need to be specific in our requests. What’s more, we need to believe He will respond to us!

Prayer, however, ought not only to be reserved for “needs” in our lives. We ought to praise the LORD for His marvelous gift of salvation and the blessings that accrue from living our lives according to His directions. By the way, the passage quoted above mentions “as the Gentiles do.” Most, if not all, recipients of this Grands Letter, are Gentiles; still, if you are Jewish, I’m confident He intended that qualification to apply to you, too. I pray for Israel, too, as Biblical History reveals Israel will ultimately overcome her adversaries. Oh, what a day to live and experience the glories the LORD has for 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 Boom

Dear Grands,

Psalm 31:11-19, “Because of all my adversaries, I have become a reproach, especially to my neighbors, and an object of dread to my acquaintances; those who see me in the street flee from me.

12 I am forgotten as a dead man, out of mind; I am like a broken vessel.

13 For I have heard the slander of many, terror is on every side; while they took counsel together against me, they schemed to take away my life.

14 But as for me, I trust in You, O LORD, I say, ‘You are my God.’

15 My times are in Your hand; deliver me from the hand of my enemies and from those who persecute me.

16 Make Your face to shine upon Your servant; save me in Your lovingkindness.

17 Let me not be put to shame, O LORD, for I call upon You; Let the wicked be put to shame, let them be silent in Sheol.

18 Let the lying lips be mute, which speak arrogantly against the righteous with pride and contempt.

19 How great is Your goodness, which You have stored up for those who fear You, which You have wrought for those who take refuge in You, before the sons of men!”

There is ultimately no joy in becoming a “reproach” to neighbors, or to have people cross the street to avoid having to speak to you. Has that ever been your experience? Maybe someone has blatantly lied about your having done something you didn’t do. You seek to assure them that what they have heard or think within themselves, they are wrong! So certain are they that their view of you is correct, they not only have turned against you, they have sought to influence others against you, as well.

The psalmist turned to the LORD and said, “Make Your face to shine upon Your servant,” deliver me out of this unwholesome dilemma! “My times are in Your hand…” Are not these relinquish-ments similar to when we say to our doctor: “Whatever you want me to take or do or cease from doing, I’m willing. I just need to get well!”

Sometimes the doctor’s prescription is distasteful. We reach for those meds with a feeling of dread! Still, we know it’s the meds or the difficulty we seeking to eliminate. And so it is with our pride. Hopefully, we turn our lives completely to the LORD. He alone is the remedy to our dilemma!

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 32:1-7, “How blessed is he whose transgression is forgiven, whose sin is covered!

2 How blessed is the man to whom the LORD does not impute iniquity, and in whose spirit there is no deceit!

3 When I kept silent about my sin, my body wasted away through my groaning all day long.

4 For day and night Your hand was heavy upon me; my vitality was drained away as with the fever heat of summer. Selah.

5 I acknowledged my sin to You, and my iniquity I did not hide; I said, ‘I will confess my transgressions to the LORD’; and You forgave the guilt of my sin. Selah.

6 Therefore, let everyone who is godly pray to You in a time when You may be found; surely in a flood of great waters they will not reach him.

7 You are my hiding place; You preserve me from trouble; You surround me with songs of deliverance. Selah.”

Remember when you had done wrong and were discovered? Worry set in and you were frozen in fear that what you had done would be discovered. Day after day you lived in fear that what you had done would be discovered. You were bothered within for fear what you had done would be discovered – yet, you were simultaneously afraid it would not! Oh, what frustration!

Then someone in a group where you were suggested that he himself had experienced something quite similar to what you were then hiding. What he described was precisely what you were experiencing! Then one day he just gave up and confessed it all to the LORD. What happened then was amazing! So amazing that you determined then and there to do what the other person had done: he confessed his sin to the LORD and was instantly set free from the emotional turmoil he had experienced!

Please re-read those seven verses above and determine to relinquish that secret that has so troubled you! Not only will the LORD “preserve (you) from touble,” He will surround you with His “songs of deliverance!” Praise the LORD for His unspeakable gifts!

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