The Grands Letter

Dear Grands,

Ephesians 4:25-32, “Therefore, laying aside falsehood, speak truth, each one of you, with his neighbor, for we are members of one another.

26 Be angry, and yet do not sin; do not let the sun go down on your anger,

27 and do not give the devil an opportunity.

28 Let him who steals steal no longer; but rather let him labor, performing with his own hands what is good, in order that he may have something to share with him who has need.

29 Let no unwholesome word proceed from your mouth, but only such a word as is good for edification according to the need of the moment, that it may give grace to those who hear.

30 And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, by whom you were sealed for the day of redemption.

31 Let all bitterness and wrath and anger and clamor and slander be put away from you, along with all malice.

32 And be kind to one another, tender-hearted, forgiving each other, just as God in Christ also has forgiven you.

One oif the problems I face in writing these letters is how much to include. This is a rather long passage,

but it is packed with so muc instruction that I hesitate to omit any of it. Paul is saying that there are some

things that a true Christian should never do. At the same time, there are things that every true Christian should do. When we think or do wrong or evil things, we are opening the door of our lives to Satan.

Some time ago, Nana and I installed an alarm system in our house. If someone forces a door or window to gain entrance, the alarm sounds and alerts the police. We can monitor who comes and goes through our cell phones, Paul says in this passage that we are to monitor our own lives, so that only things from the LORD should be allowed entry in us,

When we were saved, the Holy Spirit took up residency within us. He now monitors our lives and sounds

an alarm when we are tempted to say or do things that dishonor the LORD. The same Spirit signals an

“okay” when we follow His leadership. His purpose is to remake our lives that we might be like Christ. He

wants those we encounter in life to see that we are “different.” We are not harsh or rebellious. We are

pleasant and loving. Yes, we can be angry; but when we are, it ought to be against ourselves for giving in

to the devil instead of following the Holy Spirit.

Go back and read again the verses above. Read them s-l-o-w-l-y and thoughtfully. Examine your heart and life. Then, confess your wrongs to the LORD and ask His strength to help you to forsake wrong and do right. He will forgive you and bless you and fill your life with joy!

Pray for us, as we pray 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,

Job 29:24, “’I smiled on them when they did not believe, And the light of my face they did not cast down.’”

Although there is much in God’s Word to encourage a smile, the expression of a “smile” is first mentioned

in the verse above. Psalm 39:13 uses the word “smile,” and Proverbs 31:25 the word “smiles,” Thus, the

word itself is used in the whole Bible but three times; some versions translate the word as “laugh”; and in others, it does not appear at all.

What Job meant in its context of the above statement is variously debatable among biblical theologians. What I see are basicly two things: one, in evangelism and when witnessing to unbelieving people, it is appropriate to “smile” politely, when they offer what they believe tp be their personal hope. Only today, I was privileged to witness to a young lady who affirmed that she was a Christian. But, when I asked if she were “a born-again Christian,” one who knew Jesus personally, she did not fully understand what I meant. My smile at that time was intended and received as friendly, and with the earnest desire that she might come to know Him.

The second interpretation of the verse, in the context of evangelism, is that the smile shows love, which is the foremost quality required of the believer in his witness to the unbeliever. While I dislike the characterization of a witness for Christ as a “salesman,” the two do indeed possess characteristics alike.

A good salesman knows his product; so does a good witness. The salesman knows the benefit of his product to the one who does not possess it. The same is true of the witness. The salesman shows kindness and admiration toward the potential buyer. So does the witness, except that he is motivated by the love of Jesus Christ.

We’ve all experienced sulleness, snide remarks, and snooty responses to our words regarding Christ Jesus. Once or twice, I’ve experienced outright hatred. The secret to resplying to all unbelievers, regardless of their responses, is to smile graciously and continue to speak positively of Christ’s love and joy.

I spent last night in the hospital with Rose Marie. While I cannot commend hospitals as peaceful and restful accommodation, it is a superb arena for witnessing. Smiles demonstrate confidence in the LORD’s recovery of loved ones. Smiles clear the pathway for talking about the LORD. We have to be sensitive to the Holy Spirit and smile with everyone. Doorways for sharing Christ will open, and we will experience the value of a smile.

We love you and pray for the LORD’s open door for your witness of Him,

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,

Lamentations 3:20-25, “Surely my soul remembers And is bowed down within me.

21 This I recall to my mind, Therefore I have hope.

22 The LORD’s lovingkindnesses indeed never cease, For His compassions never fail.

23 They are new every morning; Great is Thy faithfulness.

24 “The LORD is my portion,” says my soul, “Therefore I have hope in Him.”

25 The LORD is good to those who wait for Him, To the person who seeks Him.”

Have you ever wondered if the prophets in the Bible were real people? Be honest.

Sometimes their lives were ragged and tumultuous. Jeremiah was thrown in prison;

the people to whom he sought to witness, rejected both him and his message. It is

little wonder that the latter portion of the book that bears his name simply overflows

with the message of judgment.

Jeremiah himself suffered devastation and sorrow. Yes, the prophets in the Bible

were real people. Jeremiah felt sorrow in his soul. His emotions were raw. But his

mind was refreshed when he focused on the LORD. The LORD’s lovingkindnesses

never cease! “His compassions never fail. They are new every morning, and his

soul that felt sorrow now says, “Great is Thy faithfulness!”

You and I have never suffered like Jeremiah. Had the LORD required of us what

He required of the prophet, our hope –our certainty—would doubtlessly be energized

like his. Jeremiah cries, “The LORD is good to those who wait for Him, to the person

who seeks Him.”

Waiting is hard. No doubt about it. We live in an “instant” time and in an “instant”

culture. Yet, the LORD’s faithfulness will be our rescue from uncertainty and fear.

Don’t give up! Stay rooted to the promises of His Word! He is faithful! And He will

rescue us from all uncertainty. Remember those Thai soccer players, who were

lost in that cave a few month ago? They thought they would never survive! Yet,

they did –every, single one of them. You and I will yet survive. Our tears will be

turned into laughter and joy. It will come. Prayers will be answered in His time!

We love and pray earnestly 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,

Jeremiah 42:4-7, “Then Jeremiah the prophet said to them, ‘I have heard you. Behold, I am going to pray to the LORD your God in accordance with your words; and it will come about that the whole message which the LORD will answer you I will tell you. I will not keep back a word from you.’

5 “Then they said to Jeremiah, ‘May the LORD be a true and faithful witness against us, if we do not act in accordance with the whole message with which the LORD your God will send you to us.

6 ‘Whether it is pleasant or unpleasant, we will listen to the voice of the LORD our God to whom we are sending you, in order that it may go well with us when we listen to the voice of the LORD our God.’”

7 “Now it came about at the end of ten days that the word of the LORD came to Jeremiah.”

Sometimes circumstances surround us so heavily that we find it difficult to pray. This was the condition

of the Israelites in the days of Jeremiah. In that day, of course, it was necessary that they intreat a prophet

of the LORD to pray for them. The people were faced with a serious situation: they could remain in their

land where war and death were likely, or they could journey to Egypt, where there was no war. What were

they to do?

Jeremiah agreed to pray for them, but it was ten days before the LORD answered His prayer. Time was not to the people what it is to us today. We live in a day of “instant communication.” Texts and emails are sent

and received around the world literally in seconds. Thus, when we pray, we expect the LORD to respond

as if He were answering by text or email –instantly!

Jeremiah was forced to wait 10 days for an answer to his prayer. Why was it so long? Was the LORD not able to respond more quickly? Was He trying to figure out what to say? Not at all! He even knew what

Jeremiah was going to ask before Jeremiah knew. Time is not a factor with God. I am neither competent nor privileged to know why the LORD made Jeremiah wait 10 days for an answer. If I knew, I would then know

why He doesn’t answer my own prayers more quickly.

Perhaps He is teaching us all patience. His delays in answering prayers should nevertheless not discourage us. Even in this age of “instant communication,” we do not always receive instant replies to our emails from close friends. Why, then, should we question the LORD’s “delayed” replies?

Don’t give up on praying! Maybe the LORD would like to hear us praise Him for who He is instead of always

asking, asking, asking… Maybe we’re too slow in saying “Thank You” to Him for His answers. Maybe, too, He is waiting for us to repent of sin in our lives. Sin hinders our praying just as it hinders His replying. It’s like a glob of hair in the bathroom sink. It impeds the flow of water in the drain. Think of this when you’re wondering why the LORD appears to be slow in answering your prayers. The fault is never His! So, what are you going to do?

We love you and pray for your welfare,

Nana & Dado III

P. S. Nana (Rose Marie) is pregressing nicely. She is so thankful for your prayers –and so am I.

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,

Jeremiah 32:16-18, “After I had given the deed of purchase to Baruch the son of Neriah, then I prayed to the LORD, saying,

17 ‘Ah Lord God! Behold, Thou hast made the heavens and the earth by Thy great power and by Thine outstretched arm! Nothing is too difficult for Thee,

18 who showest lovingkindness to thousands, but repayest the iniquity of fathers into the bosom of their children after them, O great and mighty God. The LORD of hosts is His name…’”

Were you ever given a task that puzzled you? –a strange order that made no sense whatever? Jeremiah

Was aware that the land in which he lived was about to be overthown. Yet the LORD had ordered him to

sell the portion of the land that he owned. Whatever could that mean? It meant obedience. There would be

more to the LORD’s order later, and Jeremiah would ultimately understand it all; but for now, it seemed utterly strange to him.

Obedience is difficult. It often lies far outside our understanding. Yet, to the One who knows more than we know, it has purpose. We’re not always allowed to know the LORD’s business. Were He to bring us in on

what He intends, we would surely ask “Why?” Servants don’t need to know why; like children, they just need to obey.

To his credit, Jeremiah went to the LORD in prayer. But he did not anything of the LORD. Most of our prayers have to do with our wants. Yet, the LORD knows our needs and desires. We need to model our praying more like Jeremiah’s. He simply praised the LORD and acknowledged His power in creation, saying, “Nothing is too difficult for Thee.” We believe that as “head knowledge”; but do we believe it fully?

Years later, the disciples of Jesus said to the LORD, “Increase our faith!” (Luke 17:5). That’s what we need:

“expanded faith.” True, absolute confidence in the LORD and what He is able to perform.

Often, when we have witnessed a work of the LORD, we believe and rejoice for a time. Then, when another

difficulty arises, we say, “Yes, He did that, but will He do this?’ Thus, our faith wavers. Remember Jeremiah’s prayer: “Nothing is too difficult for Thee!” Let those words apply to everything, but be certain that His Spirit is guiding you in your petition. The Spirit’s guidance rests heavily upon whether we are living in His will and according to His Word. Stay focused on Scripture!

We hold you in our prayers, according to His will and favor,

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.”