The Grands Letter

Dear Grands,

Colossians 3:1-2, “If then you have been raised up with Christ,

keep seeking the things above, where Christ is, seated at the

right hand of God. 2 Set your mind on the things above, not on

the things that are on Earth.”

I still remember when my dad bought a car from a neighbor.

The deal was made on Saturday and on Sunday morning, I

could hardly wait to go to church, so my cousins and friends

could see the “new” car. I was not-at-all thinking about

Sunday School or church or the Bible or Jesus, IT WAS THE

CAR that dominated my thoughts! How old was I at the time?

Oh, maybe nine or ten. I was saved at seven, before our old

church building burned. Anyway, I was old enough to have

known the difference between what was important. Still, I

was wrongly focused.

Paul was writing to more mature believers than I when he

admonished them to keep their focus on Jesus Christ. “Set

your mind on the things above,” he said, “not on the things

that are on the Earth.” Boy, that is hard! The sparkle of

trinkets, the excitement of electronics, and money! –oh,

money can buy so many things!!! I saw a BMW convertible

for sale the other day. It belonged to Steve Jobs, the brain

behind Apple products. What came to my mind was not the

car, but that Steve Jobs was dead. He left that spiffy car

behind when he died! Do you reckon he misses that car?

(I’m crazy to even say that!) What ULTIMATELY matters in

life? Only Jesus! Especially, that is true for us who believe

in Him. So, put away your smart phone, and focus on what

is of ultimate worth!

We pray daily for those we love, and you are in that group!

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,

Colossians 1:13-18, “For He delivered us from the domain of darkness, and transferred

us to the kingdom of His beloved Son, 14 in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness

of sins. 15 And He is the image of the invisible God, the first-born 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 by Him and for

Him. 17 And He is before all things, and in Him all things hold together. 18 He is also head

of the body, the church; and He is the beginning, the first-born from the dead; so that He

Himself might come to have first place in everything.”

Did you ever taste something that was so good you just couldn’t quit eating it?

That’s what Paul’s letter to the Colossians is like. This is a long passage because

I just couldn’t cut it off anywhere! First, He delivered us from sin through His

Son, Jesus Christ. Just think what that means! He has provided a way of forgiveness

for us; otherwise, we would die in sin and spend eternity in Hell. The LORD is the

Creator of all things: things we see in the sky and on Earth, all creatures, all

mankind –things that are visible and things that are not, like DNA.

I remember when scientists first split the atom. They were worried because

they had no idea what might occur. They also admitted that they had no idea

how everything held together. They called that unknown “glue” the “Colossian

Force” from verse 17, “And He is before all things, and in Him all things hold

together.” Unfortunately, many scientists today have forgotten when they

attributed everything to God. But it is our responsibility to cause them and everyone

to know that everything the LORD has done is “so that He Himself might come to

have first place in everything.” People will come to know that when they see Him

in our lives! And only then, will they know His peace for themselves. What a gigantic

responsibility we have toward those around us and to Him who provided our way of

salvation!

We continually pray for all of you, and hope you are praying for us,

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,

Philippians 4:11b-14, 17, 19, “I have learned to be content in whatever circumstances I am.

12 I know how to get along with humble means, and I also know how to live in prosperity; in

any and every circumstance I have learned the secret of being filled and going hungry, both

of having abundance and suffering need. 13 I can do all things through Him who strengthens

me. 14 Nevertheless, you have done well to share with me in my affliction…. 17 Not that I seek

the gift itself, but I seek for the profit which increases to your account…. 19 And my God

shall supply all your needs according to His riches in glory in Christ Jesus.”

There is little doubt but that Paul can say more in less space than just about anyone! His admonitions to us are not theoretical; he has experienced everything of which he speaks,

and he urges us to be content with all our circumstances. To a small extent, I have experienced some of what he speaks. I have eaten unbelievably tasty food with the wealthy, and blandly-

tasting food with the very poor. And I survived both. At times, I have lived literally both hand-to-mouth, and at other times, with more than sufficient funds. In every circumstance of life, the LORD has strengthened and provided our every need.

Paul praises the Philippians for sharing provisions with him, setting a high bar for us to share

with others. He said to the Ephesians, “It is more blessed to give than to receive” (Acts 20:35).

Yet, he wasn’t encouraging the Philippians to give because he wanted their gifts. He knew that

what they shared the LORD marked up to their account. It is so with us! I have always urged young people to start giving to believers in need: to missionaries and those who are faithfully sharing the Word of God! It’s never a loss; it’s always a gain! Yet, we are never to look to others to supply what we need. We are to look to God, who abundantly supplies every need we have.

Just try giving! –faithful, earnest giving! Don’t look to receive; but when you check your account, more than enough will always be there. It’s like a well of cool, refreshing water that never runs dry. May the LORD bless you abundantly! We love 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.”

Dear Grands,

Philippians 4:4-7, “Rejoice in the Lord always; again I will say, rejoice!

5 Let your forbearing spirit be known to all men. The Lord is near.

6 Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication

with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God.

7 And the peace of God, which surpasses all comprehension, shall

guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.”

The email in my inbox this morning was devastating. It was from a

missionary I do not know, serving in a country of which I am not aware.

After sharing the Gospel with the natives and seeing many come to

faith in Christ, an “enemy” sowed doubts in their hearts – doubts that

turned many away from Christ. His call was for prayer.

Paul’s answer to all of this tragedy is to “Rejoice in the LORD!” It’s

not that we should be pleased with evil’s increase. Never! But he

encourages us to maintain a gentle, kind, tolerant spirit –not toward

the evil itself, but toward all those who manifest evil within themselves.

Pray earnestly with an attitude of thanksgiving for what you have

requested of God. The promised result is that the LORD will give you

His peace –a supreme peace that will rise beyond any and all human

thought—and will protect and direct the content of your thinking,

keeping it focused clearly and only on Christ Jesus.

Our problem is that we don’t see beyond how tragedies affect us.

But there is an answer to such things, and it is all wound up in the

concept of rejoicing!

We love each one of you 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,

Philippians 1:2-7a, “Grace to you and peace from God our Father and

the Lord Jesus Christ. 3 I thank my God in all my remembrance of you,

4 always offering prayer with joy in my every prayer for you all, 5 in view

of your participation in the gospel from the first day until now. 6 For I am

confident of this very thing, that He who began a good work in you will

perfect it until the day of Christ Jesus. 7 For it is only right for me to feel

this way about you all, because I have you in my heart…”

Philippians is Paul’s letter of joy! Grace –the favor of the LORD—is to

your advantage; and Peace –harmony, a state of well-being—comes

only from God. It was in Philippi that Paul and Silas were beaten and jailed.

All of that is now smothered into forgetfulness and blanketed with God’s

grace and peace. He remembers only the blessings of that occasion. It is

to our advantage, too, to forget the wrongs done against us and focus on

the blessings of we have in the LORD. When our focus is on Him, we have

peace. Further, Paul notes that the good work which the LORD began in

them (and in us!) will be successfully completed when Jesus Christ returns.

We kept the first half of verse 7 in our Scripture for today because it fits with

how we feel toward each of you. You are truly in our hearts, remembered

in our prayers and embraced forever in our love.

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.”