The Grands Letter

Dear Grands,

Acts 27:33-36, “And until the day was about to dawn, Paul was encouraging them all to take some food, saying, ‘Today is the fourteenth day that you have been constantly watching and going without eating, having taken nothing. 34 ‘Therefore I encourage you to take some food, for this is for your preservation; for not a hair from the head of any of you shall perish.’ 35 And having said this, he took bread and gave thanks to God in the presence of all; and he broke it and began to eat. 36 And all of them were encouraged, and they themselves also took food.”

There can be no doubt that Paul was an encourager. Throughout this seafaring disaster,

he continuously said, “Be of good courage.” For 14 days, the 276 persons on board had

eaten nothing (v. 37). (I’m hungry as I write this!) Now, Paul instructs them to eat! Our

eating habits today are often not the best, and what we eat is not always the best. Much

of our “fast” food lacks the nutrition our bodies need. The LORD put food on Earth for our

preservation; yet, often, we eat to our bodies’ devastation!

Having instructed everyone to eat, Paul himself began to eat –but only after He publicly

thanked the LORD for His provision. Yes, wherever we are, we should pray and thank the

LORD before we eat the food set before us. (If I were to tell you missionary stories of native foods and manners of eating, you would better understand why we pray first!) We often

instruct others how to behave, and we should; but we ourselves need to behave according

to the same instruction. We must be what we tell others to be. When we are, we give

credence to what we have said; and herein is the LORD glorified!

We pray for you as you instruct others and for behavior that gives them light,

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,

Acts 27:22-25, “’…I urge you to keep up your courage, for there shall be no loss of life among you, but only of the ship. 23 For this very night an angel of the God to whom I belong and whom I serve stood before me, 24 saying, “Do not be afraid, Paul; you must stand before Caesar; and behold, God has granted you all those who are sailing with you.” 25 ‘Therefore, keep up your courage, men, for I believe God, that it will turn out exactly as I have been told.’”

There is nothing more frightening than being in a life-threatening situation you cannot control.

A few verses earlier tells us that the situation had concerned them “for many days.” No one

had eaten anything; they were terrified at the thought of drowning in the cold, dark waters.

Then the very one the centurion had not trusted—Paul– urged them not to give up! He had warned them previously not to set sail. Now, he encourages them with an experience he had

with an angel of God –the God to whom Paul belonged and the God whom he served. The

angel said, “Do not be afraid.” That’s a tough order considering the situation they were in.

How could Paul not be afraid? He could focus on His Deliverer instead of the storm. The angel

also said, “…you must stand before Caesar.” If this were to be God’s will, how could anything

keep it from happening? That leads me to wonder if the storm they were encountering was

not satanically empowered to keep Paul from getting to Rome? That’s all-the-more reason to

be courageous and trusting in the LORD.

The difficulties we encounter should always be evaluated as coming from our enemy, the devil. We ought never to lose courage, knowing that the LORD is our SUPREME Leader! Remember the

song:

Trust and obey, for there’s no other way

To be happy in Jesus, but to trust and obey.

We pray daily for your deliverance from the storms you face,

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,

Acts 27:10-11, “…’Men, I perceive that the voyage will certainly be attended with damage and great loss, not only of the cargo and the ship, but also of our lives.’ 11 But the centurion was more persuaded by the pilot and the captain of the ship, than by what was being said by Paul.”

I was talking with a former military pilot yesterday at church. “Do you miss flying?” I asked.

“No,” he said, “only when I hear a plane flying overhead.” We both laughed. Then I asked

him if he would feel competent to fly with a younger, experienced pilot. He thought so, if

the pilot would simply allow him to “get the feel” of an airplane again. My question to you

is: Who would you trust –an out-of-date military pilot, or a younger, competent pilot, who

is flying regularly?

The centurion was a soldier, but he knew nothing about piloting or commanding a ship.

Paul was a preacher, an evangelist. What could he possibly know about piloting a ship?

Funny, when Jonah was onboard a ship, running from God, the sailors ultimately looked

to Jonah and his God for guidance. But they tried other things first. Have you not noticed

that when real tragedy strikes, people cry out to God? Why, then, would they not listen

to what God’s representatives have to share from Him? People are a strange lot. The

centurion was strange, too. But, at the end of this storm, they were all listening to Paul.

Why didn’t they listen to him before the storm? Let all of that resonate with your life.

Love and prayers 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,

Acts 26:26-29, “’King Agrippa, do you believe the Prophets? I know that you do.’

28 And Agrippa replied to Paul, ‘In a short time you will persuade me to become

a Christian.’ 29 And Paul said, “’I would to God, that whether in a short or long

time, not only you, but also all who hear me this day, might become such as I am,

except for these chains.’”

Paul never made a more forceful presentation of the Gospel than on this occasion.

In half of this chapter, Paul speaks of his former life and how he persecuted those

who believed in Jesus Christ. In the second half of the chapter, he cites his testimony

of how he himself became a follower of Jesus. Then, as he drew to a close, he asked

King Agrippa, “Do you believe the prophets?” Agrippa was well-versed in Jewish

history. Yes, he knew the prophets and that they had predicted exactly what would

occur, even the appearance of the Messiah. If he believed the prophets, he would

have to believe in Jesus! Yet, like a lot of people, he knew what to do, but resisted,

while admitting, “In a short time you will persuade me to become a Christian.”

Paul pressed his own point, saying, “I would to God, that…you (and) all who hear

me this day, might become…as I am….” ~ Everyone who has been born-again has

changed their lifestyle. Some have been rescued from unspeakable devilish practices;

others have changed, too, being filled with great love for lost people. The point is:

our current lives either testify for Jesus Christ or against Him. When our lives are

lived for Christ, others see the difference and are moved by the Holy Spirit as was

King Agrippa. It then remains for them to believe and experience His change in them.

We have no evidence in history that King Agrippa ever became a Christian. He had

an opportunity, and may have come close, but ultimately turned away. How burdened

Paul must have been. Who do you know that needs Jesus? It’s time for “show and

tell.” The Coming of the LORD Jesus draws nearer by the day. May the LORD bless you!

We love and pray for you daily,

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,

Acts 23:16-22, “But the son of Paul’s sister heard of their ambush, and he came and entered the barracks and told Paul. 17And Paul called one of the centurions to him and said, ‘Lead this young man to the commander, for he has something to report to him.’ 18 So he took him and led him to the commander and said, ‘Paul the prisoner called me to him and asked me to lead this young man to you since he has something to tell you.’ 19And the commander took him by the hand and stepping aside, began to inquire of him privately, ‘What is it that you have to report to me?’

20And he said, ‘The Jews have agreed to ask you to bring Paul down tomorrow to the Council, as though they were going to inquire somewhat more thoroughly about him. 21So do not listen to them, for more than forty of them are lying in wait for him who have bound themselves under a curse not to eat or drink until they slay him; and now they are ready and waiting for the promise from you.’ 22Therefore the commander let the young man go, instructing him, ‘Tell no one that you have notified me of these things.’”

Did you ever have the feeling that you were weren’t worth much? “He’s just a kid. She doesn’t know anything, either. Don’t listen to them.” No one is quieter than Chris. But he’s no dummy. He knows more about things that you would guess. ~ This is an interesting passage. It’s the only

place in the Bible where we learn that the Apostle Paul had a sister, and that she had a son.

Paul was being held in custody by the Roman guard. How could a kid eight or 10 get into the barracks? Don’t underestimate kids! They’re everywhere! What’s more, they know things you don’t think they know. Humm… The centurion took the boy seriously. So did the commander. I’m amused by the boy’s forthrightness with the commander: ‘So do not listen to them…’ ~ Make no mistake about it. You’re worth far more than you know. And when you know something the other person doesn’t, he will listen. You do know Jesus. Do your friends know Him? How important is it for them to know? Humm…

The LORD answers prayer! We are privileged to pray for your daily.

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.”