The Grands Letter

Dear Grands,

Psalm 46:10, “Be still, and know that I am God.”

Did you ever get into such a hurry that everything you intended to do just turned sideways? I’m sure you have. I know I have! We live in a topsy-turvy world!

Has it ever seemed to you that “people,” that is, other people, were the cause of our troubles? Well, we all face days that feel like a “scramble.” We race from one thing to the next, trying to hold everything together; doing our best to accomplish something worthwhile.

Yet, even in the rush, the LORD never loses sight of us. His peace isn’t fragile, and His presence isn’t hurried. When we quiet our hearts and lift our eyes and hearts to Him, the “scramble” miraculously turns into “surrender!” At that juncture, what once seemed chaotically out of control begins to take shape under His calm, yet firm direction.

You know what we need to do? We need to be still and remember that the LORD is in control. Why, He’s Master of Everything! Yes, we learned that in Sunday School when we were just kids. We didn’t know all that was wrapped up in “stillness” back then, did we? Maybe it’s time we learned!

“That all sounds good,” you say; “but how will we know whether it works for us?”

Most things work if we just try them. If something’s worth doing, it’s surely worth a try. Maybe if we were just “still” for a time, the LORD would make Himself known to us. If we’re even still a bit longer, He might just solve one or more of those troublesome problems we have. For my part, I think it’s worth examination. After all, He is God. And we’ve always been taught that He can do anything – provided, of course, that it’s timely and commensurate with His will and character.

Remember the challenge of Jehoshaphat: “Listen to me, Judah and inhabitants of Jerusalem: Put your trust in the LORD your God and you will endure. Put your trust in His prophets and succeed” (v. 21). The LORD is no less capable today than then. It looks like a decision for our trust.

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,

Job 1:1-5, “There was a man in the land of Uz whose name was Job; and that man was blameless, upright, fearing God and turning away from evil. 2 Seven sons and three daughters were born to him. 3 His possessions also were 7,000 sheep, 3,000 camels, 500 yoke of oxen, 500 female donkeys, and very many servants; and that man was the greatest of all the men of the east. 4 His sons used to go and hold a feast in the house of each one on his day, and they would send and invite their three sisters to eat and drink with them. 5 When the days of feasting had completed their cycle, Job would send and consecrate them, rising up early in the morning and offering burnt offerings according to the number of them all; for Job said, “Perhaps my sons have sinned and cursed God in their hearts.” Thus, Job did continually.”

“Two things may be regarded as quite settled about the book of Job. Its scene and actors are laid in patriarchal times, and outside the family or immediate ancestry of Abraham. It is a story of Gentile life in the time of the earliest patriarchs. And yet anything more noble, grand, devout, or spiritual than what the book of Job contains is not found, “no, not in Israel.”

“This is not the place to give either the history of Job, or to point out the depth of thought, the vividness of imagery, and the beauty or the grandeur of language with which it is written. It must suffice to take the most rapid survey of the religious and social life which it sets before us. Without here referring to the sayings of Elihu, Job had evidently perfect knowledge of the true God; and he was a humble, earnest worshipper of Jehovah. Without any acquaintance with “Moses and the prophets,” he knew that of which Moses and the prophets spoke. Reverent, believing acknowledgment of God, submission, and spiritual repentance formed part of his experience, which had the approval of God Himself. Then Job offered sacrifices; he speaks about the great tempter; he looks for the resurrection of the body; and he expects the coming of the Messiah” (Excerpted from Edersheim, Bible History of the Old Testament).

Job expected the coming of the Messiah in his day. Yet, we, who live centuries down the line from Job, are ever subject to distractions that turn our thoughts away from that gloriously coming day to the mundane occurrences of our own time. May the LORD help us to reclaim those things we have forgotten!

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,

Ecclesiastes 8:5-8, “He who keeps a royal command experiences no trouble, for a wise heart knows the proper time and procedure. 6 For there is a proper time and procedure for every delight, though a man’s trouble is heavy upon him. 7 If no one knows what will happen, who can tell him when it will happen? 8 No man has authority to restrain the wind with the wind, or authority over the day of death; and there is no discharge in the time of war, and evil will not deliver those who practice it.”

The key word in the passage above is “happen.” It’s “key” because it possesses so many meanings. Happen is a derivative of “hap,” which means “an occurrence,” a “happening,” or an “accident.”

Now, think about that. All of this is written in order to jog your thinking related to what you (and I) say in general conversation. Speech often gets us into trouble. Have you ever been misunderstood? Of course! So have I. I’ve been quoted as saying things that I never said or even thought—all because someone heard someone else say that I had said them. Has that ever happened to you?

What are we to do? Tracing down wrongs is a delicate undertaking. Sometimes it’s better, as the saying goes, to “let sleeping dogs lie.” Eventually, and hopefully, everything will be forgotten, and it will then be “no worse for the wear.”

In the meantime, great care should be given to what and to whom we speak. Some people truly don’t hear well. Others have “selective” hearing. It is of no value to believe what you say will never be misinterpreted. Believe me, it will!

The clear and unmistakable solution is given to us in the words of an old hymn, “Take it to the LORD and leave it there!” He is our Redeemer! Yes, He redeems us from sin; yet, He also redeems us from the unwarranted sins that others have mistakenly assigned to us. Increase your prayer life! Think Upwardly! Trust the LORD! He NEVER FAILS!

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 29:11-14, “Yours, O LORD, is the greatness and the power and the glory and the victory and the majesty; indeed, everything that is in the heavens and the earth; Yours is the dominion, O LORD, and You exalt Yourself as head over all.

12 “Both riches and honor come from You, and You rule over all, and in Your hand is power and might; and it lies in Your hand to make great and to strengthen everyone.

13 “Now therefore, our God, we thank You and praise Your glorious name.

14 “But who am I, and who are my people that we should be able to offer as generously as this? For all things come from You, and from Your hand we have given You.”

When was the last time you said “Thank you” to someone? They’ve done something nice. They’ve rushed to help! “Watch out for that,” they said. They brightened your day. And you said, “Thank you.” Remember?

Or maybe it was just a simple wave of the hand, a smile, a nod of the head, or the wink of an eye – some small, positive gesture. Yet, it was a sincere and generous acknowledgment of appreciation for what they had done.

It didn’t take long. It cost nothing. Still, it possessed immeasurable value — more than could be calculated monetarily. It said that you noticed. It said that you cared. What’s more, it was a measure of genuine friendship.

The life of Jesus Christ embodied such things. He “…called for the little ones, saying ‘Allow the children to come to Me, and do not forbid them, for the kingdom of God belongs to such as these.’”

If One so busy, so encumbered with cares of inestimable importance, could find time for small children; surely, we can say “Thank you” to those who have shown loving concern for us. “Thank you” are two small words that carry immense love and value.

Start today! Notice the “little things” others do for you. Assess their true value, and say “Thank you.” You will both be better for it. Now, let me say “Thank you” for reading this letter.

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 Kings 8:15-18, “Blessed be the LORD, the God of Israel, who spoke with His mouth to my father David and has fulfilled it with His hand, saying,

16 ‘Since the day that I brought My people Israel from Egypt, I did not choose a city out of all the tribes of Israel in which to build a house that My name might be there, but I chose David to be over My people Israel.’

17 “Now it was in the heart of my father David to build a house for the name of the LORD, the God of Israel.

18 “But the LORD said to my father David, ‘Because it was in your heart to build a house for My name, you did well that it was in your heart.”

It’s always exciting to see someone willing to invest time and effort in the life of another. As a young lad, I can recall numerous people who were willing to invest in me. I was a member of a hiking club led by an adult man. Every Saturday we convened at his house, and he led us all on a long hike, noting along the way various things of interest that we would otherwise have missed completely! We stopped at lunchtime, built a fire, and cooked our noonday lunch. It was an interesting venture, something we anticipated each and every week.

Looking back, I’ve wondered what possessed a man who had worked all week to leave his family and take a group of young people on such ventures. Whatever one might think, that man was investing in lives!

His investment has led me to seek an investment in your life through these daily Grands Letters! Such investments, quite honestly, have a residual effect, for investors never lose! You can only lose by not investing!

Jesus’ death on the cross was an intentional investment in your life. He paid the price required for your eternal salvation. No one else could have. Perhaps your investment in the life of someone else will have some memorable consequences.

“Only one life; it will soon be past;

Only what’s done for Christ will last.”

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