The Grands Letter

Dear Grands,

2 Corinthians 4:17-18, “For momentary, light affliction is producing for us

an eternal weight of glory far beyond all comparison, 18 while we look not

at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen; for the

things which are seen are temporal, but the things which are not seen are

eternal.”

In 1957, Billy Graham launched his first New York City crusade. But,

“tragedy” struck when the crusade director was taken ill. This was more

than a “momentary, light affliction.” Prayerfully, Billy chose Charlie Riggs

to fill the position. He said, “I don’t know if Charlie can do it; but I know

Charlie knows the LORD, and I know the LORD can do it.” Indeed He did!

The meeting lasted for 16 weeks (My longest was four.), and multiple

numbers of people came to faith in Jesus Christ! The Graham Team moved

on to San Francisco, Sacramento, Fresno, Santa Barbara, and Los Angeles,

but the “things which (were) not seen” in New York were marked for eternity.

I spoke to multiple school children in Australia. On one occasion, I asked the

school principle how much time I was allotted. He replied, “I know the

importance of what you are doing here today. You take all the time you need;

I will adjust the day’s schedule accordingly. That principle had come to

faith in Christ through a Graham Crusade in Sydney–something, I’m sure Billy

himself never knew.

All of this is to say, Don’t despair when things seem to go wrong. The LORD

has an ultimate purpose that we may never know this side of Heaven. Just

know and trust that that purpose exists. Be faithful in all things. “It will be

worth it all when we see Jesus.”

We love you, and you are always in our prayers,

Nana & Dado III

Gene L. Jeffries, Th.D.

Springdale, Arkansas

“We never know that God is all we need

until He becomes all that we have.”

Dear Grands,

2 Corinthians 4:1-4, “Therefore, since we have this ministry, as we received mercy,

we do not lose heart, 2 but we have renounced the things hidden because of shame,

not walking in craftiness or adulterating the word of God, but by the manifestation of

truth commending ourselves to every man’s conscience in the sight of God.

3 And even if our gospel is veiled, it is veiled to those who are perishing,

4 in whose case the god of this world has blinded the minds of the unbelieving, that

they might not see the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God.”

The word ministry may also be translated service. Not every believer is called to

preach the Gospel, as we generally think of preaching; every believer, however, is

called to live the Gospel! Living the Gospel requires renunciation of sinful things

because involvement in sin clouds the spiritual radiance of Christ in us. Our service

is to share Christ with others. Sometimes we have opportunity to talk to others about

Him; but even when that opportunity is not present, we are to so live out the Gospel

that the lost can “see” Christ in us. That’s what Paul means when he says “by the

manifestation of truth commending ourselves to every man’s conscience…” God

sees what we are and what we do. It’s also true that even seeing Christ in us, some

will not believe. Satan is powerful and blindfolds people to keep them from seeing

and believing in Christ. Yet, when we live out the Gospel, they are forced to see

the difference in our lives, even if they will not accept Him as their LORD. We are

not to be indifferent and not care whether they come to Him, being satisfied only

with “living out” the Gospel; but we must be realistic in knowing that not everyone

will be saved. We “sow” the Gospel through living and sharing it; others come

along and support what we’ve done by living it in their lives. The ultimate salvation

comes only from Christ Himself. The pressure of “success” is off of us, as we rest

everything with Him.

May the LORD bless and encourage all of us, is our prayer,

Nana & Dado III

Gene L. Jeffries, Th.D.

Springdale, Arkansas

“We never know that God is all we need

until He becomes all that we have.”

Dear Grands,

2 Corinthians 2:15-16, “For we are a fragrance of Christ to God among

those who are being saved and among those who are perishing; 16 to the

one an aroma from death to death, to the other an aroma from life to life.”

Did you ever think of yourself as perfume? (To the fellows, cologne)

Paul did. He said that appear to others as a sweet smelling perfume,

whether they are saved or lost. ~ When I was in my teenage years, I

worked for an undertaker. I have seen and smelled death. In one

unforgettable experience, I was “allowed” to drive the ambulance

containing the corpse because of the smell. All windows open. Did

not help much. Yuk! ~ Paul says that we appear as we ought to

everyone, when we live daily in Christ Jesus. Ellicott says, “Conversion

is a daily, hourly thing. It is the ‘continuous revelation of sin met by the

continuous revelation of Christ.’ Is not this the deep pathos of life, that

within each of us is going on direst contest between the sin-principle

and the Christ-principle? Thus, it is that Christ for us is ‘life unto life.’

The more life, the more it creates. The more of Christ, the more of life;

the more of life, the more of love.” May it ever be so with each of us!

Please pray for Heather and Erin this week. Heather is going to camp

and Erin has a big test for college.

We love you all and pray for you every day,

Nana & Dado III

Gene L. Jeffries, Th.D.

Springdale, Arkansas

“We never know that God is all we need

until He becomes all that we have.”

Dear Grands,

1 Corinthians 15:58, “Therefore, my beloved brethren, be steadfast,

immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that

your toil is not in vain in the Lord.”

The Supreme Court this week handed down some very important

decisions. Conservatives, by definition, adhere closely –even

strictly!—to the Constitution. Liberals view it as a “progressive

document” that changes with the culture of the times. Deviations

from the original intention, however, are quite dangerous. The same

is true of deviations from Scriptural truths. That is why Paul ended

this chapter with a strong and solemn warning. The words “be steadfast”

(??????? ???????) are imperative! We have no option to shift with the

times. Stand solidly with the Truth is what this means! Don’t move an

inch –not even a millimeter!! But abound (?????????????) in the work

of the LORD. Make no mistake about it, the LORD’s work is work!

Witnessing to unknown people is risky; what’s more it is tiresome!

But it’s not empty (??? ???? ?????) or fruitless or futile.

We were hungry and needed some food. Where should we go?

You’ll not be surprised that we ended up at Chic-fil-a! But, it was

more than just chance; it was of the LORD. The man in the next

booth wore a cap that identified him as Seal Team One! “Are you

a seal?” I asked him. “Twenty-nine years,” he replied. I identified

myself as the chaplain with the Civil Air Patrol. He has cancer;

but he knows the LORD. We talked and became friends. It might

have been “easier” to have never noticed his cap; but our further

communication by text demonstrated that our time and effort

were not in vain. Dare to step out and share your faith! I often

start with humor. Whatever works! Just stand tall and strong!

You don’t have to know everything. You know HIM; and He

knows everything.

We love and pray for you always,

Nana & Dado III

Gene L. Jeffries, Th.D.

Springdale, Arkansas

“We never know that God is all we need

until He becomes all that we have.”

Dear Grands,

1 Corinthians 13:1-2, “If I speak with the tongues of men and of angels,

but do not have love, I have become a noisy gong or a clanging cymbal.

2 And if I have the gift of prophecy, and know all mysteries and all knowledge;

and if I have all faith, so as to remove mountains, but do not have love, I am nothing.”

First Corinthians 13 is commonly called “the love chapter” of the Bible. Although the

apostle speaks of spiritual gifts, his emphasis throughout the chapter is love. Prophecy

basically means preaching; mysteries are truths that the LORD reveals through His

Word; and knowledge is insight and understanding of things beyond the ordinary. But

all of this is meaningless unless we have a heart and attitude of love. A preacher,

for example, may give astounding truths the congregation has never known, but if he

does it harshly and arrogantly without love, the LORD counts is as worthless. Love

(????? agape) is nowhere found in heathen literature. It is distinctly Christian!

Dr. G. Campbell Morgan cites love as the essential attribute underlying each of the

other gifts. Joy is identified as “the consciousness of love”; peace, as “the

confidence of love”; longsuffering, as “the habit of love”; gentleness, as “the activity

of love”; goodness as “the quality of love”; faith as “the quantity of love”; meekness as

“the tone of love”; and self-control as “the victory of love.”[1] What a life to know and live!

And all of this is His gift to us, if we yield daily to the Holy Spirit’s control!

We agape each and every one of you,

Nana & Dado III

Gene L. Jeffries, Th.D.

Springdale, Arkansas

“We never know that God is all we need

until He becomes all that we have.”

________________________________

[1]G. Campbell Morgan, The Westminister Pulpit (London: Pickering and Inglis, Ltd., n.d.), pp. 171-179.