The Grands Letter

Dear Grands,

Psalm 62:11-12, “Once God has spoken; Twice I have heard this: That power belongs to God;

12 And lovingkindness is Thine, O Lord, For Thou dost recompense a man according to his work.”

What do you do? What is your work? What a person does often tells a lot about what kind of person he is. I could not begin to tell the work of all those to whom I put that question. I have met and known people of high rank, people who were celebrated in sports, in medicine, in politics. And I have met and known people who cleaned and labored in the lowliest of jobs.

Interestingly, some of what we would term “higher rank,” were snobbish and self-sophisticated. Others of the same level of imporatance, were quite humble and down-to-Earth. Some of the “lower rank” were as diverse as those of the “higher rank”; that is, some were truly humble and others carried huge “chips” on their shoulders, complaining that they were cheated by having to work at a humble job. Yet, they were all fundamentally the same. How is that? They ranked hightly or lowly only accoring to human assessment. The power by which each was enabled to his job came from God.

Life is like that –it demands diversity. Can you imagine how society would manage if everyone had the same work responsibility? There would be no office workers, only office managers; there would be no hotel managers, only cleaning personnel. If everyone were a bus driver, who would there be to ride the

buses? This is absudity! The “power (that) belongs to God” has arranged for the diversity in human society. Furthermore, He is responsible for what compensation each person receives for his work. Most of us believe we’re worth more than we receive. Sometimes that’s true. So, if you believe that being nice to your boss is an important element in your receiving a higher wage, why would you not believe that doing the LORD’s will can accomplish the same thing?

God is not in business just to raise wages. But, when we trust in Him and seek earnestly to be spiritual in our lives and do as He directs, He will recompense us in a variety of ways, such as health, peace of mind, protection from evil –the list is infinite! Think about it! And beyond what we receive from Him in this life, there is more, so much more, reserved for us in Eternity. So, get back to work! Don’t grumble about how little you are paid for what you do. He has much greater things in store for you –far greater than you could ever possibly know! How do I know? He says so in His Word!

You are in our daily prayers,

Nana & Dado III

Gene L. Jeffries, Th.D.

Springdale, Arkansas 72764

United States of America

“We never know that God is all we need

until He becomes all that we have.”

Dear Grands,

Psalm 32:1-7, “How blessed is he whose transgression is forgiven, whose sin is covered!

2 How blessed is the man to whom the LORD does not impute iniquity, and in whose spirit there is no deceit!

3 When I kept silent about my sin, my body wasted away through my groaning all day long.

4 For day and night Thy hand was heavy upon me; My vitality was drained away as with the fever heat of summer.

5 I acknowledged my sin to Thee, and my iniquity I did not hide; I said, ‘I will confess my transgressions to the LORD’; and Thou didst forgive the guilt of my sin.

6 Therefore, let everyone who is godly pray to Thee in a time when Thou mayest be found; Surely in a flood of great waters they shall not reach him.

7 Thou art my hiding place; Thou dost preserve me from trouble; Thou dost surround me with songs of deliverance.”

There’s an old saying that the only sure way of keeping a secret is for three people to know it and two of them to be dead! It’s the same with hiding. There are only two ways to hide. One is silence; the other is confession. Silence, however, does not work. How is that? Well, we have been been made with a conscience. It’s like a silent alarm. No one hears it but you. Sound good? Well, not so fast. It has one problem: you cannot shut it off!! Day and night it pounds your mind, until you think you’re going mad!

What do you do when there are but two ways of hiding and one is more of a plague than an alarm?

The psalmist had that problem. Keeping quiet and trying to smother his sin simply did not work. Pillows over the head do not work. It’s like the reminder of sin is embedded in the pillow!

Ultimately, the psalmist said, “I give up! I give up! Just shut of that pesky alarm! Please! I acknowledge my sin, and I plead with You, LORD, forgive me.” Guess what! He was suddenly, immediately forgiven! That alarm was shut off by the loving grace of Almighty God! “Thank you, LORD!” Peace and quiet flooded his life. And the one who shouted “Forgive me!” was now shouting “Praise the LORD! You are my hiding place! You alone have preserved me from trouble! You have filled my soul with songs of deliverence!”

Does this work with everyone? Not quite; just with “everyone who is godly” –everyone who has turned his life over to the LORD, been born again, and now faithfully looks to the LORD to guide his life. Is the sin then forgotten –totally? It is, so far as the LORD is concerned. And when your mind brings it up, when Satan taunts you with what you did, just remind him that the LORD has covered that sin with His boundless grace! The LORD Himself is your “hiding place.” Put it all behind you and glorify His Name!

We lovinging remember you and pray for you daily,

Nana & Dado III

Gene L. Jeffries, Th.D.

Springdale, Arkansas 72764

United States of America

“We never know that God is all we need

until He becomes all that we have.”

Dear Grands,

Psalm 31:19-20, “How great is Thy goodness, Which Thou hast stored up for those who fear Thee, Which Thou hast wrought for those who take refuge in Thee, Before the sons of men!

20 Thou dost hide them in the secret place of Thy presence from the conspiracies of man; Thou dost keep them secretly in a shelter from the strife of tongues.”

Fear is common to all humanity. It comes to us in a variety of ways. Sometimes it is the fear of

circumstances; sometimes it is the fear of people themselves. But there is nothing of which we should be afraid!

What is there that is greater than the goodness of God? Name one thing! See there, you cannot do it.

You cannot name one simple thing that is greater than the goodness of God. The goodness of the LORD is infinte and sufficient for everyone. It is like an eternal fountain of cool, refreshing water –a fountain that nevers dries up. And it’s there ready and proportioned for everyone who trusts in Him.

The promises of the LORD to which the psalmist refers are for those who are hidden with Christ in God.

Their enemies cannot discover this hiding place of God because it is known only to those who love Him and fellowship with Him. What is even more wonderful is that these promises are revealed to us in

God’s own time. Rescue is greater when the danger has been greater; thus, He allows us to experience the danger so that we can rejoice in His deliverence! And all of it is a secret, revealed to us at the right and proper time. There’s an old hymn by Ellen Goreh that says it all,

In the secret of His presence

How my soul delights to hide!

Oh, how precious are the lessons

Which I learn at Jesus’ side!

Earthly cares can never vex me,

Neither trials lay me low;

For when Satan comes to tempt me,

To the secret place I go.

When my soul is faint and thirsty,
’Neath the shadow of His wing
There is cool and pleasant shelter,
And a fresh and crystal spring;

And my Savior rests beside me,
As we hold communion sweet;
If I tried, I could not utter
What He says when thus we meet.

Only this I know: I tell Him

All my doubts and griefs and fears;

Oh, how patiently He listens!

And my drooping soul He cheers;

Do you think He ne’er reproves me?

What a false friend He would be,

If He never, never told me

Of the sins which He must see.

Would you like to know that sweetness

Of the secret of the LORD?

Go and hide beneath His shadow;

This shall then be your reward;

And when’er you leave the silence

Of that happy meeting-place,

By the Spirit bear the image

Of the Master in your face.

You are ever in our prayers,

Nana & Dado III

Gene L. Jeffries, Th.D.

Springdale, Arkansas 72764

United States of America

“We never know that God is all we need

until He becomes all that we have.”

Dear Grands,

John 15:7, “If you abide in Me, and My words abide in you, ask whatever you wish, and it shall be done for you.”

As a very young boy, I always looked forward to going with my mother to Newman’s Department Store. Mr. Newman, the Jewish owner of the store, always took my hand and guided me through the store where we found shiny coins that were “somehow” dropped on the floor. I never suspected that he placed the coins there for me to find.

Upon our repentance of sin and belief in the LORD Jesus Christ as our Savior, the Holy Spirit comes immediately to dwell within us. It is He, the Spirit, who “whispers” the will of the LORD in our spiritual ears. To hear Him, however, we must be tuned to His frequency. The static of the world seeks to drown out His voice. We must tune out that static by concentrating on His Words.

Only when we live by faith in Him, and His Words are we controlling our conduct and affections. Only then will our prayers be heard. Be attentive to His Word! Read the Bible daily! Focus on Him and what He says! Listen carefully to the voice of His Holy Spirit! Then, be patient. He does not promise immediate discovery of those “shiny coins”; He simply promises that they will be found. I cannot be certain, but I think that even as a small boy when once I found that first “shiny coin,” I looked for more on our next visit to Newman’s Department Store. Do you see what I mean? God bless you, and good hunting!

Our prayers of loving concern for you continue daily,

Nana & Dado III

Gene L. Jeffries, Th.D.

Springdale, Arkansas 72764

United States of America

“We never know that God is all we need

until He becomes all that we have.”

Dear Grands,

Psalm 103:2-5, “Bless the LORD, O my soul, and forget none of His benefits;

3 Who pardons all your iniquities; Who heals all your diseases;

4 Who redeems your life from the pit; Who crowns you with lovingkindness and compassion;

5 Who satisfies your years with good things, so that your youth is renewed like the eagle.

6 The LORD performs righteous deeds, and judgments for all who are oppressed.”

When was the last time you took inventory of all the LORD’s blessings? To our shame, we

often pray only when we are in trouble and facing situations over which we have no control.

The psalmist instructs us to bless the LORD in the depts of our souls and to never forget

all the positive things He has done for us.

First, and perhaps foremost, He forgives our sins. Sin always drags us down. It clogs the

channel through which our prayers flow. It’s like that masala I ate in India: so delectable

to the taste, but excruciating to my stomach!

He heals, repairs, our minds and bodies from diseases and pains. He redeems, rescues,

our lives from destruction – things we’ve never considered that would devastate our lives.

He crowns, honors, us by bestowing on us His faithfulness and mercies. He satisfies,

continually supplies, our lives with happiness and joy, so that our youth, early life, is

renewed, restored; He accomplishes, brings about, vindication for all who have been

defrauded and beaten down.

When we consider all the LORD has done for us, how can we not praise and glorify Him?

Count your blessings today! “Submit (yourself) to God. Resist the devil and he will flee

from you” (Jas. 4:7). Praise the LORD for all He is and for all He has given you!

We love you and pray for you daily,

Nana & Dado III

Gene L. Jeffries, Th.D.

Springdale, Arkansas 72764

United States of America

“We never know that God is all we need

until He becomes all that we have.”