The Grands Letter

Dear Grands,

Psalm 104:31-35, “Let the glory of the LORD endure forever; Let the LORD be glad in His works;

32 He looks at the earth, and it trembles; He touches the mountains, and they smoke.

33 I will sing to the LORD as long as I live; I will sing praise to my God while I have my being.

34 Let my meditation be pleasing to Him; As for me, I shall be glad in the LORD.

35 Let sinners be consumed from the earth, And let the wicked be no more.

Bless the LORD, O my soul. Praise the LORD!”

I have lived long enough to be convinced that nothing occurs outside of God’s purpose.

Some things are delightful and pleasant; some are hurtful and troublesome. Yet, nothing

occurs other than what He directs or allows.

Recent days have brought me into closer contact with His wonders than I would have

believed possible. I have experienced the delicate balance that lies within the human body

and simultaneously found opportunities to bring help to those to whom I have looked for

help on the physical level –all of this explaining the cry of the psalmist:

“Let the glory of the LORD endure forever.”

In words previous to the short verses above, David reveals his understanding of the LORD’s marvellous works. Everything that exists is from His hand and endures at His pleasure. What is man to do? How is

he to behave? He is to sing to the LORD; he is to sing praises to the God who has given him voice and

understanding. The closer we live to the LORD, the greater is our understanding of Him and His glorious

works! Thus, our exultance of Him is expressed in words and expressions that focus on Him alone! So

much of our “praise” is suspect today. Music is the medium that carries expressions of love and glory.

The question is whether we are singing and playing to Him or for the praise of others or the satisfaction

of ourselves?

The focus of the psalmist is clear: the focus of his meditation (away from the throngs of the people) is

ever upon the LORD! That convicts my own heart! I am forced to admit that my time away from those

things required –my meditation, my focus—is all-too-often on worldly things. It takes illness within

oursleves or within a loved one to force our focus on Him. Is He not always sufficient? What exists before our eyes that is more marvelous than our blessed LORD Jesus Christ?

So precious is Jesus, my Savior, my King,
His praise all the day long with rapture I sing;
To Him in my weakness for strength I can cling,
For He is so precious to me.

He stood at my heart’s door in sunshine and rain
And patiently waited an entrance to gain;
What shame that so long He entreated in vain,
For He is so precious to me.

I stand on the mountain of blessing at last,
No cloud in the heavens a shadow to cast;
His smile is upon me, the valley is past,
For He is so precious to me.

I praise Him because He appointed a place
Where, someday, through faith in His wonderful grace,
I know I shall see Him, shall look on His face,
For He is so precious to me.

Please pray for my sweet Rose Marie,

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.”