The Grands Letter

Dear Grands,

Matthew 21:22, “’And all things you ask in prayer, believing, you shall receive.’”

It would probably not go down well in today academic world, but I clearly recall a girl in my

Pitt State College class ask the professor, “Does prayer really work?” Being a non-Christian

school, the teachers were equally non-Christian, yet the professor quite lamely sought to

answer the question. I don’t recall the answer, but I clearly recall the question.

My family and I recently faced a serious situation when Rose Marie began to physically deteriorate. Her hemogloglin had been wobbly for some time, and blood transfusions were normal inside of

every two weeks. Sophisticated tests (to us, at least) were administered in the effort to determine

why and where she was losing blood.

A recent test prompted a visit to a vascular surgeon in the hope that he might remedy the lack of blood supply to vital areas of her body. He had seen her recent C-T scan and was updated on the problems she faced. He was pleasant, but spoke clearly that whether his work would be successful was problematic. “The arteries are calcified, stemming the flow of blood to her vital organs,” he said.

“I will perform an angiogram and see; if it’s possible, I will try to baloon the artery and insert a stent. If I cannot get past the calcification, I will simply back out of the procedure.”

It did not look promising. We told him we believed in prayer and had been praying for a resolution to this devastating situation. He is a Christian and said he prayed, too –every morning! We agreed to the angiogram and we earnestly prayed and sought the prayers of scores of persons we knew.

Some of you reading this were on our list of Prayer Warriors. Some who received our requests (there were many) were members of prayer groups themselves, giving us triple, quadruple the

number of people praying.

Rob, Teri and I visited Rose Marie prior to the procedure. She was in excellent spirits! She asked for prayer. I took her hand and Teri’s. Rob and John, another surgeon who assisted, held Rose’s other hand. The nurse who was behind me, took Rose’s hand from me and moved herself into the

prayer circle. We prayed in faith and she was moved into the caph lab for the procedure.

Today in the forenoon hours, Dr. Russell Wood undertook the procedure on weakened Rose Marie. The procedure was scheduled for about 45 minutes. If the stents worked, the time would be longer.

The procedure moved beyond the 45 minute frame to an hour, two hours, and more. Then the door

opened and Dr. Russell Wood emerged.

Not only had he been successful in ballooning the clogged arteries, he had inserted three (3) stents! Two of the arteries were 90 percent closed, and one was 70% closed. The Bible tells us that “…the life of the flesh is in the blood…” (Lev. 17:11).

With her blood now freely flowing, Rose Marie is visibly improved. She was awake throughout the procedure and watched it on the monitor. She is being overnighted in hospital before returning home tomorrow. She looks great! She is breathing well. And we Thank & Praise the LORD for answering all of our prayers!

“Yes, dear college girl, prayer really works –when we know and believe in Jesus!”

May the LORD bless you abundantly for your service to Him and to all our family!

Thankfully in Christ,

The Jeffries

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,

John 19:28-30, “After this, Jesus, knowing that all things had already been accomplished, in order that the Scripture might be fulfilled, said, “I am thirsty.”

29 A jar full of sour wine was standing there; so they put a sponge full of the sour wine upon a branch of hyssop, and brought it up to His mouth.

30 When Jesus therefore had received the sour wine, He said, ?????????? “It is finished!” And He bowed His head, and gave up His spirit.”

How many times we have completed an assignment and added, “It’s finished!” Breathing deeply, we have also added that we trust never to have such a strenuous task again. The strain is lessened, however, when someone sees our completed task and says, “That is a really good job!” A few more

acolades like that and we’re ready to face a task again.

When Adam and Eve sinned in the Garden of Eden, a sacrifice was needed to satisfy God the Father. The LORD prepared the sacrifice for them, but it was only temporary. Their children and

grandchildren –all their posterity—needed a Supreme Sacrifice to apease and satisfy the LORD.

Once again, the Father prepared a sacrifice –the Perfect Sacrifice, His unique and only one-of-kind

Sacrifice –His only Son, Jesus. The Prophet Isaiah gave what is perhaps the most enlightening

Word on that Sacrifice (Isa. 53:1ff). And that Word was fulfilled in and through Jesus Christ.

When Jesus went to the Cross, He was fully aware of what was coming. Nothing occurred of which He was unaware. The sour wine that the Roman soldiers drank was nearby and they offered Him a

drink. Remember that Jesus first miracle was turning water into wine. Now, as His Life has fulfilled its purpose, the rejecting world reverses the situation and offers Him sour wine. Arguments differ as to whether Jesus actually drank the sour wine. This text would suggest that He did.

In any event, Jesus’ last word from the cross was tetelestai, meaning “It is completed, finished.” All that the Father had intended for His Son to accomplish, was then accomplished, as His cry tells us.

Yet, as momentous a fete as Christ’s death for our salvation is, we must ask, “Is it finished?” His plan for our salvation was finished. Yet, our faith, belief, and acceptance of Him was just the beginning for us. Our tetelestai has yet to be decalred. There is much work left for us to do. We are His children and we have the pleasurable responsibility to share Him with others. Are you doing that? One day we will face Jesus in person. What we want more than anything is for Him to say,

“Well done, you good and faithful servant. Enter into the joys of the LORD” (Luke 19:17).

Our love and prayers are with you all as you labor for the Master,

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 that we need

until He becomes all that we have.”

Dear Grands,

Luke 6:31-35, “And just as you want people to treat you, treat them in the same way.

32 “And if you love those who love you, what credit is that to you? For even sinners love those who love them.

33 “And if you do good to those who do good to you, what credit is that to you? For even sinners do the same.

34 “And if you lend to those from whom you expect to receive, what credit is that to you? Even sinners lend to sinners, in order to receive back the same amount.

35 “But love your enemies, and do good, and lend, expecting nothing in return; and your reward will be great, and you will be sons of the Most High; for He Himself is kind to ungrateful and evil men.”

There may not be a harder task than this one Jesus assigns to all of us. Notice carefully that He does not say, ‘Do to others as they do to you’; or ‘Act toward your enemies like they act toward you.’ No, He specifically says, “And just as you want people to treat you, treat them in the same way.”

In verses 32-35, He says that there is no reward in loving or doing good or lending things to those who do the same to you. How does that differentiate Christians from non-Christians? It doesn’t! The lost act the same toward their lost friends. No, we have to be different. We are instructed to “love (our) enemies.” But how do we love someone who literlly hates us?

I had an experience like this some time ago. Someone, whom I believed to be a true friend, turned on me with a vengence! I could feel the anger rising within me and knew that if I didn’t remove myself from the area, I just might say something that would come back to haunt me. Oh, I wanted to blast him with some classic verbiage! My old nature (and by the way, even a Christian has an old nature) –my old nature wanted to castigate the rudeness that had come my way. But in that moment, I remembered who I really was –a servant of Jesus Christ. The Holy Spirit comes to indwell every person who repents of his sin and asks Christ Jesus to be his LORD and Savior. So, it was the Holy Spirit that enabled me to love this person.

Sometime later, I had a specific opportunity to make contact with that person again. I spoke with an attitude of true, Christian love. And his response was gracious and one of gratitude. Lost people all know how to fight verbally and physically. But, they don’t know how to contend with genuine love.

By the way, Jesus said that we are to “expect nothing in return.” Even if your momentary adversary is hostile to your expression of love, in time, he will come to realize that you had done something he could not do; namely, love someone in the midst of conflict. Don’t depend upon yourself. You cannot do it alone. Just yield to the Holy Spirit of God, and He will reward you abundantly!

We love you and pray for you daily,

Nana & Dado III

(Rose Marie & Gene)

P. S. Next Thursday, 21 March, Rose Marie will have an angiogram. To those in the medical field,

it is a normal and relatively simple process. But, when one is already ill, even a simple procedure

seems gigantic. The LORD has given her peace in some recent procedures, for which we thank Him;

but this procedure is invasive. We would both appreciate your prayers for her. God bless you!

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,

Luke 6:26-28, “Woe to you when all men speak well of you, for in the same way their fathers used to treat the false prophets.

27 “But I say to you who hear, love your enemies, do good to those who hate you,

28 bless those who curse you, pray for those who mistreat you.”

This era and culture in which we currently live is a 180-degree turn from the culture in which I

grew up. Oh, people weren’t as openly rude and crude as people are today. Now, I don’t mean

everyone, just those who seem to have nothing of value to say except to criticize everything

everyone else says or believes.

I turned off the news tonight when they seemed to be obsessed with who said what and why.

Everything anyone says is turned on its head and linked with something so far removed that it is

impossible that they could be even remotely involved. Killings rage throughout the world and in places of which we would never before have dreamed. But to even mention such a tragedy is to

become linked with it in the mindlessness of a thousand accusers.

What are we to do in the light of this melee? However unlikely is seems, if everyone were to speak

well of you, just beware! They are praising you to your face, but speaking despicably of you when

you are not present. What are we to do?

First, love your enemies. The word “love” is agape. The Holy Spirit loves them through us when

we find it impossible to love them by ourselves alone. Second, “do good to those who hate you.” Accomplish something honorable, something commendable on their behalf. Third, “bless,” speak

well, say good things about those who say evil things against you. Finally, pray, beseech the LORD

to do good for those who mistreat you. Nobody said it was easy. But, it’s only our carnal, selfish selves that want “to get even.” When the LORD handles things, He redeems the offending parties and restores a friendship we thought had been lost forever. God bless you and you forgive others!

Our love and prayers are for you on a daily basis,

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.”

Dear Grands,

1 Corinthians 3:5-7, “What then is Apollos? And what is Paul? Servants through whom you believed, even as the Lord gave opportunity to each one. 6 I planted, Apollos watered, but God was causing the growth. 7 So then neither the one who plants nor the one who waters is anything, but God who causes the growth.”

As I sat down to write this letter, an email appeared at the top of my inbox. It is not my purpose to boast of anything, as it is the LORD who produces servants as they believe upon Him. Thus, it is my trust that this following email will generate a warmth in your heart as it has mine:

“Dear Mr Gene Jeffries

Fifty three and a half years ago, way back in 1965, the 12th September, to be exact, I was saved under your ministry at Blockhouse Bay Baptist Church in Auckland, New Zealand.

I just wanted to make contact with you to encourage you that what you did way back then is still bearing fruit today.

My testimony is this – I was brought up in a very stressful, non-Christian family. I was the youngest of 3 children and had never gone to church. My older brother and sister had somewhat disappointed my parents by getting into a little bit of trouble. At 13 years of age, I so didn’t want to also disappoint my parents that I made a decision to be a ‘good girl’. I thought that good girls went to church and I knew that my school friends went to a church, so I asked them if I could go along, feeling a little embarrassed that I knew nothing of the Bible. I’m pretty sure they would have agreed that that was the easiest bit of evangelism they could be involved in! So off I went to Blockhouse Bay Baptist with them on that September morning. Wonderfully, and ‘by chance’ – NOT – the Trans Pacific Crusade was in full swing and Gene Jeffries preached the Gospel. I figured this was all part of being ‘good’ so I went forward on the altar call as they sang “Just As I am”. Although I was green and didn’t really know what I was doing, I have never looked back and I must testify that God has been so faithful these past 53 and a half years. About three weeks after this, a Christian friend at school mentioned the devil. I asked “Do you believe in the devil?” seeing as I thought he was like a pixie or a gnome! When she said she did, I figured that I should too. So my story is a little different in that I really didn’t know much about what I was doing, but I am so thankful that the Lord gave me this opportunity so long ago and has kept me ever since. In 1969/1970, I spent the summer in Sydney and I recall seeing you at Sydney Baptist Tabernacle, feeling delighted to be able to say ‘thank you’ back then.

My purpose for writing this is to thank you again and to encourage you that your labour is not in vain in the Lord, I haven’t done any outrageous exploits for God, but He faithfully cares for us and my faith is by far the most important aspect of my life. My husband is a prison chaplain – seeing wonderful results – and we are involved in world missions. I am 66 now and I look forward to seeing you again and joining you in praising and adoring our great God. Worthy is the Lamb!

The Lord continue to bless and keep you.

Barbara

Pray for Barbara and her husband, living now in Brisbane, Australia,

Nana & Dado III

(Rose Marie & Gene)

P. S. Please pray for Rose Marie, as she has multiple medical meetings

this week. She is a trooper! May the LORD bless her abundantly!

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.”