The Grands Letter

Dear Grands,

Hebrews 12:1-2, “Therefore, since we have so great a cloud of witnesses surrounding us, let us also lay aside every encumbrance, and the sin which so easily entangles us, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, 2 fixing our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of faith, who for the joy set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.”

It was a warm, sunny day –just the kind of a day for an intercollegiate track and field contest. I was

about 10 years old, so I was only an observer. But what I saw that day has stayed with me for 70 years.

It was the race that captured my attention. One runner in particular just left all the others “in his dust.”

He flashed down the track at what seemed lightning speed, his red hair flaming in the wind. My best recollection is that his name was Plummer and he came from Seneca, Missouri High School. He had already won a couple of races, and looking behind him saw a teammate from his school coming on. He slowed up and encouraged his teammate to cross the finish line ahead of him. I had never seen such an act of kindness!

Paul saw that our race is surrounded with onlookers, too. He encourages us to lay aside everything that could possibly keep us from winning, and to run with steadfast patience the race the LORD has set before each of us. There are a lot of “encumbrances.” People from the other schools in the stands will yell against us. They will call us names, make fun of the way we run, and do everything they can to hinder us from winning. What are we to do? How can we win against such odds? Fix your eyes on Jesus, he said. He is the one who trained us for this race. Remember what He said: Ignore the opposition; don’t think about anything except your Coach, what He said, and reaching the finish line well.

No one reading this letter needs more instruction about what it all means. We know Him; we read His Word; we know the drill. Just keep on keeping on. We want to finish well. We want our Coach to be proud of us. Don’t get distracted. You can win! God bless you abundantly!

Our love and prayers are with 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 121:1-8, “I Will lift up my eyes to the mountains; From whence shall my help come?

2 My help comes from the LORD, Who made heaven and earth.

3 He will not allow your foot to slip; He who keeps you will not slumber.

4 Behold, He who keeps Israel Will neither slumber nor sleep.

5 The LORD is your keeper; The LORD is your shade on your right hand.

6 The sun will not smite you by day, Nor the moon by night.

7 The LORD will protect you from all evil; He will keep your soul.

8 The LORD will guard your going out and your coming in from this time forth and forever.”

Trouble seems always our lot regardless of who we are or where we are.

And when trouble comes, we naturally look for help. But we need look no

further than the LORD. He is the creator of all things, and He will preserve

us regardless of how powerful our opposition looks. The LORD will not

allow our foot to slip. He is neither asleep nor disinterested concerning the

problems we face. He is our keeper, preserver, by day and by night. He

protects us from every form of evil. And His protection is without an end.

The soccer team that is currently trapped in the cave in Thailand has been

found alive and in good spirits. A top-notch, Thai Navy Seal Team found

them; however, severe difficulties in achieving their full release from the

cave remain. Prayers are being offered on a world-wide basis, as men

come to the limits of their abilities in the rescue.

It’s when we come to the end of ourselves and realize that we truly need

serious help, that the LORD moves in to affect our rescue. Whatever

trouble you are experiencing, He is adequate to relieve you. Trust Him in

every circumstance. He will guard and protect you!

We are praying for you,

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,

1 Thessalonians 1:1-3, “Paul and Silvanus and Timothy to the church of the Thessalonians in God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ: Grace to you and peace.

2 We give thanks to God always for all of you, making mention of you in our prayers;

3 constantly bearing in mind your work of faith and labor of love and steadfastness of hope in our Lord Jesus Christ in the presence of our God and Father…”

First Thessalonians was the first letter the Apostle Paul ever wrote. He greets the Thessalonians in the Name of the LORD Jesus Christ, adding “Grace to you and peace.” Grace is the beneficence God brings to us through His death and resurrection; it is always to our advantage. Peace is the serenity God brings to our hearts and lives. Grace always preceeds peace. Now, we can understand why the world-at-large is devoid of peace. It has not received His grace.

Notice that the Thessalonian Church was hard at work sharing the love and grace of God with others.

It doesn’t take much to encourage others. Rose Marie and I were at the clinic getting her procrit shot yesterday. A young girl across from us was receiving medication through an IV drip. Two friends were with her, and they were having a great time talking and laughing joyously, Undoubtedly, it was their intended effort to encourage the girl who was being treated. As we started to leave, I walked up to them, excused my intrution, and said, “You all are having so much fun! It reminds me of the Bible verse that says, “A merry heart does good like a medicine.” We talked for a few moments and I assured them I would be praying for them. The girl who was a patient was on the verge of tears when she said, “You have made my day.” She didn’t know it, but the LORD had made mine! He always does when we obey His voice.

It doesn’t take much to encourage others, especially if they have not received God’s grace. I didn’t preach to them. I didn’t tell them anything about myself. I simply used sentences that contained the words “Bible” and “prayer.” It was a sowing of the seed.

Now, it’s your turn. Just notice someone in need today and share what the Spirit gives you to share. You will both be blessed.

We’re praying for you; do, please, pray for us, too,

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 55:12-14, “For it is not an enemy who reproaches me, Then I could bear it;

Nor is it one who hates me who has exalted himself against me, Then I could hide myself from him.

13 But it is you, a man my equal, My companion and my familiar friend.

14 We who had sweet fellowship together, Walked in the house of God in the throng.”

Proverbs 17:17, “A friend loves at all times, and a brother is born for adversity.”

What is a “friend”? Throughout life we develop various acquaintances. Some stick with us through

thick and thin; others, are “fair-weather” friends. They are friends only so long as their relationship

with us benefits them. When read adversity strikes, they are nowhere to be found.

David describes those he thought to be friends in Pslam 55. Solomon, David’s son, who succeeded

him as king, describes a true friend in Proverbs 17. The differences between the two descriptions

is a vital instruction to us. It should cause us to evaluate and differentiate between those who are

our “friends” for our benefit and who are “friends” for their own.

It’s not that we should choose a friend because he can benefit us; but when trouble comes, how

others react tells us who is the true friend. In fact, when trouble comes, the true friend will act like

a “blood-related brother.” Adversity, then, becomes of value because it proves who is a true friend

and who is not.

Who are your friends? I mean, your true friends? Choose them carefully. They will not be many,

although many will say they are. In John 15:15, Jesus said, “No longer do I call you slaves (doulos,

servant)…I have called you friends (philos, beloved).” Jesus will always be your truest friend. He is

the one of whom Solomon spoke when he said, “…there is a friend who sticks closer than a brother.”

Always trust Him! Share with Him the deepest secrets of your heart. He will “never desert you, nor will

(He) ever forsake you” (Heb. 13:5). Jesus is and always will be your truest Friend.

Praying that you will always be safe in His Hands,

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,

Hebrews 12:5-11, “For those whom the Lord loves He disciplines, And He scourges every son whom He receives.”

7 It is for discipline that you endure; God deals with you as with sons; for what son is there whom his father does not discipline?

8 But if you are without discipline, of which all have become partakers, then you are illegitimate children and not sons.

9 Furthermore, we had earthly fathers to discipline us, and we respected them; shall we not much rather be subject to the Father of spirits, and live?

10 For they disciplined us for a short time as seemed best to them, but He disciplines us for our good, that we may share His holiness.

11 All discipline for the moment seems not to be joyful, but sorrowful; yet to those who have been trained by it, afterwards it yields the peaceful fruit of righteousness.”

In case you missed it, the key word throughout this passage is discipline. Eight times in these seven verses, Paul

emphasizes discipline. The word “discipline” comes from the word “disciple,” which means “learner.” We are taught by

our parents; and their teaching –discipline—is for our good. As we grow older, we learn to discipline ouselves. When I

was a boy, my mother would awaken me when it was time for me to get out of bed. She would set before me on the

table food for my body’s benefit. As I grew older, I had responsibilities; therefore, I awoke and got out of bed to attend

to those responsibilites. As a child, my mother laid out the clothes I was to wear that day. As I grew older, I chose my

own clothes. All of that resulted from discipline.

God disciplines us because He loves us. He is training us to be like Himself. It is to our advantage to follow His

discipline. The things for which He disciplines us are not always easy or pleasant. That is because we do not yet

understand His ultimate purpose with us. Schools require discipline, and we are in the LORD’s school. We are to be

disciplined to read and understand His Word. What we are taught from Scripture, we are to live out in our daily lives.

Learning anything requires dedicated attention. It’s often unpleasant because it interrupts what we want to do. Yet,

later we will come to understand the value of doing everything the LORD’s way.

Our nation is in trouble today because we have neglected the LORD’s discipline. Young people run in gangs because

their parents neglected to teach them how to behave in life. Eventually, even gang members will become parents, and

they will neglect their children just as their parents neglected them. Do you see where this is leading? It’s so bad now,

that even teachers are advocating giving all students the same grade. This is the LACK of discipline! And those who

slid by without rules to keep them in check will ultimate become our doctors, pastors, congressmen and Supreme

Court Justices!! What a mess!! So, get with it! Get with Him! Read and study His Word! Be disciplined, so that you

will be a competent leader and teacher. “Righteousness exalts a nation, but sin is a reproach to any people” (Pro. 14:34).

Praying for you daily is one of our disciplines,

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.”