The Grands Letter

Dear Grands,

1 Timothy 1:5-8, “For I am mindful of the sincere faith within you, which first dwelt in your grandmother Lois, and your mother Eunice, and I am sure that it is in you as well.

6 And for this reason I remind you to kindle afresh the gift of God which is in you through the laying on of my hands.

7 For God has not given us a spirit of timidity, but of power and love and discipline.

8 Therefore do not be ashamed of the testimony of our Lord, or of me His prisoner; but join with me in suffering for the gospel according to the power of God…”

My hobby is genealogical searching. I have traced my father’s family back to 1792, and my mother’s to 1760.

The further one goes in searching, the less information exists; thus, I know more about my great-grandparents

than those further removed.

What’s most interesting and important is that my parents, grandparents and great-grandparents all possessed a true faith in our LORD Jesus Christ. Timothy had a mother and grandmother who were committed to Jesus, and they taught him of the Savior. I hope you have a heritage like Timothy’s and mine. But, sometimes those of us who are believers in Christ Jesus, need to “kindle afresh the gift” God has given us.

We believers are not to be timid in sharing our faith! We posses the power and the love of the Holy Spirit, but we must also be disciplined. Where we live in Arkansas, people are friendly. I joke a lot and people respoond in kind. That brings us closer together and opens the door for talking about Jesus. Never can we be ashamed to talk about Him!

If someone had saved you from drowning, would be be ashamed to introduce him to others? Of course not!

If a pedestrian had rescued you from being hit by a car, would you be ashamed to introduce him to others? Absolutely not! Well, Jesus Christ went to the Cross and died for our sins. Why would we then be afraid to tell others about Him?

Paul is not misleading Timothy or us. There is suffering that often accompanies the sharing of the Gospel. But, when we recognize the power of God –power He has placed in our lives through the Holy Spirit—we rise

beyond suffering. Besides, Christ suffered for us; how can we not suffer a little for Him?

Praying for you daily,

Nana & Dado III

(Rose Marie & Gene)

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.”