The Grands Letter

Dear (yawn) Grands,

Psalm 57:8-9, “Awake, my glory! Awake, harp and lyre! I will awaken the dawn.

I will give thanks to You, O LORD, among the peoples; I will sing praise to You

among the nations.”

I awoke this morning thinking of the word Awake. Have you ever noticed

how easy it is to awaken when we are anticipating something exciting? or

how difficult it is to awaken when something depressing awaits us?

Well, the Psalmist was excited about what he anticipated. He was eager

to grasp his musical instruments and start playing before the light of day!

And what was his anticipation? Something new? Hardly. He was eager to

pray with thanksgiving to the LORD! Further, he wanted others to hear him.

Multiple opportunities to share the glories of the LORD awaited him.

What a different world we would have were we to awaken with the Psalmist’s

excitement. The excitement over things will quickly fade away; but our

excitement over the LORD will last forever! What excites you today?

We are genuinely excited over you,

Nana & Dado III

Gene L. Jeffries, Th.D.

Springdale, Arkansas

Dear Grands,

Ecclesiastes 10:20, “Furthermore, in your bedchamber do not curse a king,

and in your sleeping rooms do not curse a rich man, for a bird of the heavens

will carry the sound and the winged creature will make the matter known.”

“How did you know?” I can remember saying to my mother. Honestly, she

knew everything –everything I tried hard to keep a secret. Her answer?

“A little bird told me.” I never understood how a bird to tell anybody anything.

Then, one day I found this verse in the Bible. I don’t think Solomon meant a

literal bird; I believe he just meant that “secrets” just have a way of getting out!

Try as you will, there are things that you never intend others to know that they

end up knowing. So, if it is really a secret, don’t trust anyone but the LORD.

Our Love for you is no secret,

Nana & Dado III

Gene L. Jeffries, Th.D.

Springdale, Arkansas

Dear Grands,

Psalm 143:10, “Teach me to do Your will, For You are my God;

Let Your good Spirit lead me on level ground.”

This short verse caught my attention this morning. “Teach” can

mean “train” because it often takes time for us to learn His ways.

Why would we seek to learn from anyone other than from God?

The word “good” also means “pleasant” and “agreeable.” The

Holy Spirit is God, just as the Father and the Son. They always

agree, and the Spirit is “pleasant” in His manner of teaching us.

“Level” can mean “uprightness”; and it appears to me that “level”

can also be viewed as “without ups and downs” that are strenuous

and confusing. In summary, we are always in school –His school.

The Holy Spirit is our Teacher. He is nice and always right in what

He says and where He leads. Let’s stay in school and mind the

Teacher!

Love and prayers always,

Nana & Dado III

Gene L. Jeffries, Th.D.

Springdale, Arkansas

Dear Grands,

Psalm 139:1-6. “O LORD, You have searched me and known me.

2 You know when I sit down and when I rise up; You understand my thought from afar.

3 You scrutinize my path and my lying down, And are intimately acquainted with all my ways.

4 Even before there is a word on my tongue, Behold, O LORD, You know it all.

5 You have enclosed me behind and before, And laid Your hand upon me.

6 Such knowledge is too wonderful for me; It is too high, I cannot attain to it.”

Did you ever say something and immediately think: “Why did I say that?”

Caught off-guard, we often say things we wish we hadn’t said. Sometimes,

we can’t figure out why on Earth we said it! David says that the LORD knows

everything you’re going to say long before you say it (vv. 2, 4). Verse 5 tells

us that we are protected with absolute security! And when we ponder these

six verses, we understand what the Psalmist means in verse 6: How the

LORD knows and accomplishes everything is simply beyond us –but He does!!!

We have a wonderful, powerful, loving Savior and LORD! There is no greater

comfort for our souls.

Have a great day thinking about how secure you are in Him,

Nana & Dado III

Gene L. Jeffries, Th.D.

Springdale, Arkansas

Dear Sleepy Grands,

Psalm 138:8, “The LORD will accomplish what concerns me;

Thy lovingkindness, O LORD, is everlasting; Do not forsake the

works of Thy hands.”

Do you ever have concerns? You know, things that worry you?

Well, cheer up! We all do. Some things that concern us have

a great impact upon our mind, keeping us awake thinking about

them. Others are minor things, and we almost have trouble

remembering them. In either situation, we have no need to

worry because, “The LORD will accomplish what concerns (us)”;

and He will do it in His own time and in His own way. That does

not mean that we should not prepare as best we can; it simply

means that we should not worry. The LORD loves us and nothing

can impede His love. It is everlasting!! One more thing: the word

Thy is capitalized in the text, making it mean the LORD’s Hands.

But the Hebrews had no capital letters, so it may mean our hands.

It just could mean, Trust the LORD, but do your preparation!

We love you big bunches,

Nana & Dado III

Gene L. Jeffries, Th.D.

Springdale, Arkansas