The Grands Letter

Dear Grands,

1 Thessalonians 2:13, “…we… constantly thank God that when

you received the word of God which you heard from us, you accepted

it not as the word of men, but for what it really is, the word of God,

which also performs its work in you who believe.”

We all know the hurt when someone says something unkind to us.

We also know the joy when someone says something nice about us.

But, have we noticed that the Word of God performs a work in us, too?

The word perform (??????? energeo) means “to be at work,” “to

accomplish.” You can see the word energy in “energeo” can’t you?

Look, I take 10 pills every morning before I have my coffee. Nana takes

more than that throughout the day. They were prescribed by our

doctor for our benefit. Failure to take them could mean some serious

breakdowns in our health. Would you believe that it is the same with

the Word of God? It’s true! I had some pretty rough times when I was

in the pastorate. I learned quickly to lean on the Word of God. His Word

soothed the anxieties and hurt –something no “pill” could do. I didn’t

know it then, but the Word was energizing me for the “battles” I had to

fight. With “people-battles” largely behind me now, I look for wisdom

to share with students, who face battles in their lives. There is NO

SUBSTITUTE for the Word of God!! That’s why you need to read it

carefully every day. Just rushing through it won’t do. You have to “savor”

it, like you would a sweet, juicy piece of steak. And, unlike the “pill,”

you have to believe everything it says, whether you can “see” its truths

or not. Oh, what a performance it is to a hurting life!

We love and pray for each of you every day,

Nana & Dado III

Gene L. Jeffries, Th.D.

Springdale, Arkansas

Dear Grands,

Colossians 3:23-25, “Whatever you do, do your work heartily,

as for the Lord rather than for men, 24knowing that from the Lord

you will receive the reward of the inheritance. It is the Lord Christ

whom you serve. 25For he who does wrong will receive the

consequences of the wrong which he has done, and that without

partiality.”

There’s an old saying that goes, “If it’s worth doing, it’s worth

doing well.” Paul goes a bit further with his admonition. He says,

“Whatever you do, do your work heartily, as for the LORD…”

It’s not always easy to do some things breathlessly (???? psuche).

Yet, those things given us to do, and the strength with which to do

them, come from the LORD. In the end –whether we see the end

or not—we will be rewarded for how we undertake the tasks He

gives us. Of course, we have the option of disobeying the LORD;

but disobedience carries heavy consequences. The LORD does

not play favorites. So, those tasks that lay before us are not only

worth doing, our LORD is worth their doing; so do them with all

your heart!

May the LORD bless each of you in doing today’s tasks,

Nana & Dado III

Gene L. Jeffries, Th.D.

Springdale, Arkansas

Dear Grands,

Colossians 2:8, “See to it that no one takes you captive through philosophy

and empty deception, according to the tradition of men, according to the

elementary principles of the world, rather than according to Christ.”

We Christians can never be too careful. The world’s philosophy is like a

noose that amusingly waits our hanging. Paul warns us not to be taken

captive. Think clearly: now that we have been saved, no idea or person

can take our salvation away. Once saved, always saved! But, the world’s

ideas can creep into our thinking and lead us astray, making us slaves to

its thinking. ~ Christianity is not a philosophy that searches for higher truth;

it is not human speculation that replaces honest investigation of the facts,

like “global warming” or “climate change.” Christianity is Truth!

The “traditions of men” are ideas that have taken hold of the speculations

which only the “intellectuals” can understand. The “rudiments of the world” are

the simple things that elementary children embrace on their way to the “higher”

things of the “intellectuals.” You can mark it all “R” for Rubbish!

Some of this human nonsense of which Paul speaks can be seen in the political

arena today, too. Just don’t believe everything you hear about anything,

unless it comes from or agrees with the Bible! Jesus is the Truth (John 14:6;

17:17).

We pray for you to be strong in the LORD,

Nana & Dado III

Gene L. Jeffries, Th.D.

Springdale, Arkansas

Dear Grands,

Colossians 1:15-16, “He is the image of the invisible God,

the firstborn of all creation. 16 For by Him all things were created,

both in the heavens and on earth, visible and invisible, whether

thrones or dominions or rulers or authorities– all things have been

created through Him and for Him.”

Someone recently sent me the most gorgeous underwater video

of some of God’s strange and glorious creations. You can see it

here: https://www.google.com/search?q=Dakuwaqa%27s+Garden&ie=utf-8&oe=utf-8.

Strange creatures of the deep they are. And for what purpose did

He create them? Some day we will know. What we know now is

simply that the LORD Jesus Christ created them for Himself. Is that

not what the verses say? “…all things have been created through

Him and for Him.” So it is with you and me. We were created by

Him and for Him –not for ourselves, not even basically for others,

just for Him. That being so, the question comes: Are we living for

Him? Is He uppermost in our thoughts, our plans? Why were those

strange creatures of the deep created? Why were we? The only

explanation we have for why we are here is contained in His Book.

One day, Jesus is coming back; and we will be called to account

for our lives. Pray to know your place in God’s creation. Live

according to His directions in His Word. Share Him with others!

Be prepared for His Coming! Tomorrow is what we make it today!

We love you and pray for your daily,

Nana & Dado III

Gene L. Jeffries, Th.D.

Springdale, Arkansas

Dear Grands,

Philippians 4:19-20, “And my God will supply all your needs

according to His riches in glory in Christ Jesus.

20 Now to our God and Father be the glory forever and ever. Amen.”

How strange it is, when you think of it, that our minds cannot

see into the future, but can often remember the past. Mrs. Kane

was my Sunday School teacher when I was about age 13. I never

knew her Christian name; we all just called her “Sugar Kane.” She

was a sweet and kind lady –a former schoolteacher. Occasionally,

our pastor would forget a verse of Scripture in the midst of his

sermon, and Sugar Kane, sitting near the front, would speak up

and quote it for him. It was Sugar Kane who first taught me verse

19 above. “And my God will supply (make full, complete) all (every)

need (necessity) according to His riches (abundant wealth) in (through)

Christ Jesus.” Note well that the verse says “need,” not want. Oh,

there are a host of things we might want, but do we really need them?

What’s more, the things the LORD gives to us for our needs are

given that He might be glorified (vs. 20). Were I to give you

something that you truly needed, you would be benefited; but I

would be glorified in that I could give it. Thus, it is with Christ.

Examine your needs. Trust the LORD to provide them. Then,

praise Him for having provided them.

Practice these things this week! God bless you all!

Nana & Dado III

Gene L. Jeffries, Th.D.

Springdale, Arkansas