The Grands Letter

Dear Grands,

1 Timothy 6:7-10, “For we have brought nothing into the world, so we cannot take anything out of it either.

8 And if we have food and covering, with these we shall be content. 9 But those who want to get rich fall

into temptation and a snare and many foolish and harmful desires which plunge men into ruin and destruction.

10 For the love of money is a root of all sorts of evil, and some by longing for it have wandered away from the

faith, and pierced themselves with many a pang.”

It’s funny how life works. Babies are born, but they bring nothing into the world with them. When they

grow toward the end of their lives, they become more concerned with how to dispose of the things they

have acquired throughout the years. Other people dangle things before them in the hope of exchanging

what they have for sale with the monetary acquisitions of others. More…more…more. But what is really

important? Those who gain riches then have to worry about the theft of those riches. A man once told me

that he had so many “things” scattered in so many places that they could easily be stolen without him ever knowing it.

Timothy says that food and clothing are sufficient, and those who want more are often hooked into evil

practices that lead to ruin. Have you read the news lately? People who have more money than sense get

entangled into all sorts of evil, thinking that their money can free them from whatever they trouble they encounter. If it does, they simply get into more trouble, thinking the same thing. But there are consequences

for sin (“…be sure your sin will find you out” (Num. 32:23). And, Paul adds, “…he who does wrong will receive

the consequences of the wrong which he has done, and that without partiality” (Col. 3:25).

Simply put, don’t focus on “things.” Focus on the LORD and His will for your life. There are consequences

to that, too, but they are much, much better!

Our love and prayers for you continue 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,

2 Timothy 1:12-14. “For this reason I also suffer these things, but I am not ashamed;

for I know whom I have believed and I am convinced that He is able to guard what I

have entrusted to Him until that day. 13 Retain the standard of sound words which you

have heard from me, in the faith and love which are in Christ Jesus. 14 Guard, through

the Holy Spirit who dwells in us, the treasure which has been entrusted to you.”

Whatever troubles we encounter in life, the LORD knows about them and is able to

deal with them. We just need to remember that He is there and more powerful than

any and all the difficulties we face. Our responsibility is to “retain the standard” He

has set before us. We do this by believing His Word above the troubles that we

encounter. Always remember that you are not alone. When you were saved, the

LORD gave you the Holy Spirit to live within you, and He is the One who guards

the treasure the LORD has given you.

Love the LORD! Believe His Word! Trust His power! Be assured of His love for you!

Sometime ago, I read of a remarkable rescue at sea. Storms rocked the boat and

Its occupants! The boat’s radio had quit working. Food had dwindled. Everything

looked hopeless. But the persons on board never gave up. Ultimately, they were seen

and rescued. And so it is with God. You may “feel” alone, but you never are. Do you

believe this? You had better. It is your only hope.

We love you –each and every one. Oh, and we pray for you, too,

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,

Titus 3:3-7, “…we also once were foolish ourselves, disobedient, deceived, enslaved to various

lusts and pleasures, spending our life in malice and envy, hateful, hating one another.

4 But when the kindness of God our Savior and His love for mankind appeared, 5 He saved us,

not on the basis of deeds which we have done in righteousness, but according to His mercy,

by the washing of regeneration and renewing by the Holy Spirit, 6 whom He poured out upon us

richly through Jesus Christ our Savior, 7 that being justified by His grace we might be made heirs

according to the hope of eternal life.”

I remember the incident clearly, but I cannot remember precisely where it occurred. I had just

finished preaching to a congregation in Australia, when an older woman approached me. She had

obviously been moved by something I had said. “I’m going to remember you in my will,” she

said. I was stunned. My response was that I appreciated her sentiment, but from all appearances

she looked to be in good health and would doubtlessly live for many years. She repeated her

determination, I thanked her again, and our conversation ended.

Years passed, and one day I received a letter from the lady’s lawyer in Australia. He inquired as

to whether I was still in the ministry, as his client wished to honor her promise ahead of her death.

I assured him that I was still in the ministry, and in due course I received a substantial sum from

the lady.

The LORD knows the condition of our lives from our earliest times until now. He knows the various

sins we have committed, yet He LOVES us with an undying love! As we sincerely believe that His

death and resurrection were to save us, He forgives us, cleanses us from our sins, and puts His Holy

Spirit within us to guide us in our daily lives. But why does He do this? What have we done to

deserve His love and salvation? Absolutely nothing! He wants us to be His heirs, so He heaps

upon us His abundant love and grace. Would you have turned down that lady’s offer of money?

Undoubtedly not! Why, then, would you not allow Him to make you His heir? He offers much, much

more than we can imagine. Give everything to Him! What have you go to lose?

We’re still praying for each of your every single 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,

Deuteronomy 12:32, “’Whatever I command you, you shall be careful to do; you shall not add to nor take away from it.’”

Proverbs 30:5-6, “Every word of God is tested (refined); He is a shield to those who take refuge in Him.

6 Do not add to His words Lest He reprove you, and you be proved a liar.”

Revelation 22:18-19, “I testify to everyone who hears the words of the prophecy of this book: if anyone adds to them,

God shall add to him the plagues which are written in this book; 19 and if anyone takes away from the words of the book

of this prophecy, God shall take away his part from the tree of life and from the holy city, which are written in this book.”

We often bought eggs from a home grocery a few blocks away. One day my mother sent me for bread, and said,

“And don’t forget! You tell Milo those eggs we bought from him last week tasted like they came out of Noah’s ark.”

Dutifully, I said exactly what she had told me. Milo’s reply was, “Well…, truthfully they didn’t. But they were laid

just after the ark landed.”

It’s important to relay words exactly as they have been told you. That is especially true of the Words of the LORD.

Both the Old and New Testaments warn us not to add or subtract from the Words of Scripture. In the AWANA

program, kids are trained to memorize Scripture with accuracy. Missing one word may alter the meaning of what

the LORD actually said; furthermore, it could change the meaning entirely and lead us and others astray. Even

pastors often inadvertently mis-state what the Scripture says. Some even purposely twist the Word to say what

they want it to say. That’s dangerous! Some years ago, I read a book by a prominent pastor. He changed translations

when one said more like what he wanted. That’s really dangerous!

Sometimes we encounter people who say they just cannot understand the Bible. Yet, when they continue to read

it, it reveals itself to them. God has the power to make His Word understandable to the faithful reader. He also has

the power to make it understood to the faithful listener. So, today, when you hear your pastor preach, don’t look

around, don’t play with your cell phone, LISTEN carefully! The LORD has a message for YOU today! And that message

is true, even if some of it comes from Noah’s ark!

We love you immensely, 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,

John 6:5-13, “Jesus therefore lifting up His eyes, and seeing that a great multitude was coming to Him, said to Philip, ‘Where are we to buy bread, that these may eat?’

6 And this He was saying to test him; for He Himself knew what He was intending to do.

7 Philip answered Him, ‘Two hundred denarii worth of bread is not sufficient for them, for everyone to receive a little.’

8 One of His disciples, Andrew, Simon Peter’s brother, said to Him,

9 ‘There is a lad here who has five barley loaves and two fish, but what are these for so many people?’

10 Jesus said, ‘Have the people sit down.’ Now there was much grass in the place. So the men sat down, in number about five thousand.

11 Jesus therefore took the loaves; and having given thanks, He distributed to those who were seated; likewise also of the fish as much as they wanted.

12 And when they were filled, He said to His disciples, ‘Gather up the leftover fragments that nothing may be lost.’

13 And so they gathered them up, and filled twelve baskets with fragments from the five barley loaves, which were left over by those who had eaten.”

“Clean up your plate or there’s no desert!” I can hear my dear mother saying that even to this day.

Food was never be wasted. Recently, I dropped my food on the kitchen floor. I was devastated!

Since the floor was clean, it was my intention to retrieve it and eat it. My wife shouted, “NO, you’re not!”

At the time, I was thinking of how many young kids in the world were eating whatever scraps they

could find –kids I had seen that had never had enough. The disciples reckoned that the wage-equivalent

of 200 days was not enough to feed all the people. What were they to do???

One of the disciples said, “There is a lad here who has five barley loaves and two fish…” Then, in

embarrassment, he concluded, “–but what are these for so many people?” But, Jesus took the boy’s

lunch and turned it into a banquet! Never in a million years would that young lad have thought his

meager lunch would be used to feed so many. You have a surprise waiting for you, too.

There was a garage in Florida where we lived that had a sign that read, “Little Is Much If God Is In It.” I always wondered if the boy’s lunch was what prompted that sign. Never put yourself down! Don’t be arrogant; but always remember that God loves you, regardless of how little you think you have. He can multiple your talents (and you have them!) to help and encourage others. And always remember

to clean up your plate, because He has desert for you. Boy, do you have something amazing waiting for you!

We pray for you every day; join us in praying for yourself as well,

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.”