The Grands Letter

Dear Grands,

Psalm 1:1-2, “How blessed is the man who does not walk in the counsel of the wicked,

Nor stand in the path of sinners, Nor sit in the seat of scoffers!

2 But his delight is in the law of the LORD, And in His law he meditates day and night.”

There are always two roads which offer us the way to travel. There is the road

of ease and there is the road of challenge. There is the road of peace and the

road of conflict. There is the road of faith and the road of sight.

There are always two kinds of people who stand ready to advise us: the wicked

and self-serving and the righteous and loving. Both promise us prosperity, but only

one delivers counsel that leads to true blessing.

The one who is blessed is the one who delights in the LORD and in His teachings.

He lives in the Word of God and abides by it to the best of his ability. He does not

pretend to understand all the ways of the LORD’s leading or all that He sets forth

in His Holy Word. But his heart is for the LORD! He rejects the counsel of all who

reject the LORD’s Word. He chooses the LORD’s loving and tender counsel, knowing

that He knows what is best.

It is not always easy to walk in the ways of the LORD. The road is not always lighted

so that we can see the way clearly. But His Word gives us the confidence that His

Way leads upward to a Righteous City free from all suffering and pain. And in that

City is all that is sufficient for our every need.

We seek to live and abide in that Word and pray you will, also.

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 14-24, “And we urge you, brethren, admonish the unruly, encourage the fainthearted, help the weak, be patient with all men.

15 See that no one repays another with evil for evil, but always seek after that which is good for one another and for all men.

16 Rejoice always;

17 pray without ceasing;

18 in everything give thanks; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.

19 Do not quench the Spirit;

20 do not despise prophetic utterances.

21 But examine everything carefully; hold fast to that which is good;

22 abstain from every form of evil.

23 Now may the God of peace Himself sanctify you entirely; and may your spirit and soul and body be preserved complete, without blame at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ.

24 Faithful is He who calls you, and He also will bring it to pass.”

The bus, the airplane, the train! “It’s coming and there’s little time left. Now, remember

what I told you. When you get to grandma’s house, you be sure to…” Did you ever have an experience like that? You’re departing for a week to someone’s house and your mother is giving you last minute instructions. There’s not much time left, so she’s hurredily stuffing your head with last-minute thoughts.

Ever have something like that happen to you?

First Thessalonians is the Apostle Paul’s first letter. It’s chucked full of important instructions; but as he

nears the end, it seems he’s hurried with those “last-minute thoughts” he wants us not to forget. We are to

instruct, encourage and help those who are weak in the faith. They’ve been saved, but their like a newborn calf who is wobbly on his legs. They need help.

Don’t try to get even with people who do you wrong. It will hurt you and those you’re supposed to be helping. Always rejoice! Don’t be a gloomy gus. Look on the bright side of things! How do you do that?

Pray! You don’t always have to be on your knees to pray; you can be in a foot-race and be praying for strength to finish while your running. Understand that the LORD is in control of everything, so you can give Him thanks even when things seem turned against you.

There will be times when you will know the Holy Spirit is urging you to do or say something. Do it! Don’t put it off! And whatever else, don’t forget to read the Bible –God’s Word! It’s the spiritual food you need to give you strength to do what He wants you to do. The Word will keep you from evil things, and God will make you to be more-and-more like the LORD Jesus Christ. He is faithful! He will always be near to help and comfort you. He is faithfully working out His will in your life. Work with Him. There’s no life better than His!

We love you and pray for you,

Nana & Dado III

P. S. Rose Marie is progressing well. She is receiving superb care from her doctors and nurses.

Our whole family looks forward to her returning home soon. Please keep us all in your prayers.

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,

Colossian 4:2-6, “Devote yourselves to prayer, keeping alert in it with an attitude of thanksgiving;

3 praying at the same time for us as well, that God may open up to us a door for the word, so that we may speak forth the mystery of Christ, for which I have also been imprisoned;

4 in order that I may make it clear in the way I ought to speak.

5 Conduct yourselves with wisdom toward outsiders, making the most of the opportunity.

6 Let your speech always be with grace, seasoned, as it were, with salt, so that you may know how you should respond to each person.”

Prayer is always toward God. As we are devoted to Him, prayer should be natural to us. We should

always be thankful to Him for all He has done for us. At the same time, we should be praying for one

another. Paul was always seeking an open door to the hearts of others –a door through which he

could share the Word of the LORD.

Have you ever considered that the circumstances that surround you are ultimately for Jesus’ glory?

Paul was imprisoned in Rome when he wrote this letter to the Colossian church. He was not seeking

to be released from prison; he was seeking for ways he could share the saving grace of Christ Jesus

with those around him. Are we doing that? He admonishes us to “make the most of the opportunities”

that we have.

We are to be wise in how we share the saving grace of God. We seek for the niche in the person’s

life where we can talk about Jesus. Each person is different, but the Gospel is the same. So, we are

to look for the “opening” in our conversation with them where we can introduce them to the Gospel.

The circumstances Rose Marie and I face at this present time are difficult. Her recuperation from

surgery is not easy. It takes time and is consummed with physical pain. My routine is now all about

her, just as it ought to be. Yet, in the midst of all of this “inconvenience,” we have been able to share

Christ with so many people! –people we would never have known or even encountered had it not been

for her illness and hospitalization. We’re trying to “make the most of every opportunity.”

You can join with us in these opportunities by remembering us in your prayers. This letter goes to only

a fraction of those who are praying. We rejoice that you and they are sharing with us in these

opportunities for the Gospel. The LORD chooses the battle; we are simply His servants who “fight” on

the front lines. May He bless you as you pray. The ultimate victory is His. Praise His Holy Name!

Lovingly and prayerfully yours,

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,

Philippians 4:10-13, “But I rejoiced in the Lord greatly, that now at last you have revived your concern for me; indeed, you were concerned before, but you lacked opportunity.

11 Not that I speak from want; for 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.”

There is nothing so exciting –so fulfilling—as giving to the needs of others! Just seeing the face of one you have helped is its own reward. At the same time, there are moments when we ourselves need the help of others. Paul recognized his own needs and rejoiced that the Philippian believers had once again sent him sent him help. Paul was not begging for help. He had learned how to cope with whatever circumstances confronted him. He knew the difference between a cold hamburger and a hot, juicy steak. You do what you can with what you have, and you don’t complain.

I cannot honestly say that I cannot recall a time when I was desperately hungry. I do, however, remember times when I was treated with sumptuous meals. There is a secret to both: it lies in our yieldedness to Christ. Whatever we encounter, He is sufficient to satisfy us. The LORD Himself said to the prophet Jeremiah, “Behold, I am the LORD, the God of all flesh: is there anything too hard for me?” (Jer. 32:27). And just a few verses following our verses above, Paul wrote: “…God shall supply all your needs according to His riches in glory in Christ Jesus” (Phil. 4:19).

The fact that God is able and willing to “supply all (our) needs” does not mean that we are to neglect others who have needs. Many missionaries live under less-than-desirable conditions. They have needs some of

us have never encountered. It remains for us to hear and heed the LORD’s call to provide for them. Don’t

say, “The LORD Himself will provide for them,” when He wants to use you in the process. Jonah had to

die to himself before he was prepared to witness to the Ninevites. You have no idea what the LORD has

in store for you when you reach out to help His other servants.

“’Give, and it will be given to you; good measure, pressed down, shaken together,

running over, they will pour into your lap. For by your standard of measure it will be

measured to you in return’” (Lk. 6:38).

We love each and every one of you, and we pray the LORD’s blessing on your lives,

Nana & Dado III

P. S. Nana (Rose Marie) is progressing well and is tentatively scheduled to return home on Monday!

Join our family in praising the LORD!

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,

Philippians 1:6-11, “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, since both in my imprisonment and in the defense and confirmation of the gospel, you all are partakers of grace with me.

8 For God is my witness, how I long for you all with the affection of Christ Jesus.

9 And this I pray, that your love may abound still more and more in real knowledge and all discernment,

10 so that you may approve the things that are excellent, in order to be sincere and blameless until the day of Christ;

11 having been filled with the fruit of righteousness which comes through Jesus Christ, to the glory and praise of God.”

There are not many things in this world of which we can be confident. Take the stock market. I’m not invested, but I

do watch the ups-and-downs of the market and have learned that even those who are “experts” with money are not

absolutely certain which way things are going or why. People will assure us that they will do certain things, and then

do precisely the opposite. Who can we trust? Of what can we be confident?

Paul’s confidence was ever and always in Jesus Christ. “He who began a good work in you (your salvation), will

perfect it (complete it) until the day of Christ Jesus” –that is, until the day He returns and finishes the good work He

began in your life and mine. Of THAT we can be confident!

But until that Day comes, Paul is continuing to pray earnestly that the love of those who have been born again (that is,

born from above; born spiritually in Christ Jesus) –that they may “abound,” that is, excel in the knowledge of Christ and

His Word. And that is my goal in praying for you. I was saved at seven years of age. I was called to the ministry at

age 15. I was ordained an pastoring my first church at age 17. So now, at age 83, I’ve been in ministry for 66 years.

But, every day, as I write this Grands Letter, I learn more and more of my LORD Jesus Christ and His Word. Yes, this

letter was begun for you –to increase your faith and love for Jesus Christ—but I have gained much in producing it.

The Bible and prayer will do the same for you. For years, I commenced my witness by asking, “Where do you go to

church?” Now, I ask, “Are you a Christian? Do you know the LORD Jesus Christ as your Savior?” The word Christian means different things to different people; but, injecting the word into the conversation, cuts to the heart of what life is all about. A lot of people go to church; but that doesn’t make them Christian. I trust that you know the difference.

When it’s all said and done, the Holy Spirit is working within all born-from-Above believers that we might be blameless, controlled by His righteousness. For that is what brings glory and praise to our Heavenly Father. And HE is what it’s

all about!

Thank you for your prayers for Rose Marie (Nana), as she progresses physically. You are in our prayers,

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.”