The Grands Letter

Dear Grands,

John 18:1-6, “When Jesus had spoken these words, He went forth with His disciples over the ravine of the Kidron, where there was a garden, into which He Himself entered, and His disciples.

2 Now Judas also, who was betraying Him, knew the place; for Jesus had often met there with His disciples.

3 Judas then, having received the Roman cohort, and officers from the chief priests and the Pharisees, came there with lanterns and torches and weapons.

4 Jesus therefore, knowing all the things that were coming upon Him, went forth, and said to them, ‘Whom do you seek?’

5 They answered Him, ‘Jesus the Nazarene.’ He said to them, ‘I am He.’ And Judas also who was betraying Him, was standing with them.

6 When therefore He said to them, ‘I am He,’ they drew back, and fell to the ground.”

Jesus had just finished His prayer for His disciples. Now, He is leading them across the Kidron Valley and to the Garden of Gethsemane, the place of prayer. Prayer can be offered anywhere; however, having a familiar place to pray has some decided advantages. When I was in my first two years of college, a close and dear friend, Dr. Clyde Leonard, and I used to pray in an old chemistry lab. Those are times I will never forget.

Judas Iscariot was among the prayers, but he was not there to pray as we think of prayer. He was there to prey upon the LORD Jesus Christ by betraying Him with a kiss. He brought with him Roman officers, chief priests, and the Pharisees. Not everyone who walks among believers is himself a believer.

Jesus spoke boldly, asking, “Whom do you seek?” When they said, “Jesus the Nazarene,” He replied, “I am He.” And immediately, the coalition of evildoers fell backward! The authority, the fearlessness, the innate power by which He spoke forced them back! His authority, fearlessness and power still operate through us when we stand boldly and announce that we are His!

It’s a long story and I cannot tell it all here, but I was scheduled to speak in the largest venue we could obtain in the City of Perth in Western Australia. One of the wise, old pastors said to me, “We’re bringing all kinds of people in here tonight to hear the Gospel. There could be trouble. If there is, cry aloud the Name of Jesus! He will quiet the crowd.”

Thankfully, there was no trouble and some gave their hearts to Christ at the invitation. Yet, I will never forget that pastor’s admonition. I now pass it on to you: Share Jesus Christ with

everyone! Use His authority and fearlessness. They will fall at the feet of His Cross. You will be amazed at what He can do!

We love you and pray for you! May the witness the LORD allows us bear fruit,

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,

John 12:12-13, “On the next day the great multitude who had come to the feast, when they heard that Jesus was coming to Jerusalem,

13 took the branches of the palm trees, and went out to meet Him, and began to cry out, ‘Hosanna! Blessed is He who comes in the name of the Lord, even the King of Israel.’”

Palm Sunday, as it is called, has already passed. So had the LORD’s Supper with 11 of His disciples. Read carefully the entire account and note that Judas Iscariot was not present. The LORD’s Supper was preceded by the Passover Supper, making the transition from the Old Covenant (Passover) to the New Covenant (LORD’s Supper). Judas was a part of the Old Covenant, but not the New.

Shortly thereafter, “On the next day,” Jesus mounted a young colt, such as were ridden by kings, and made His way toward Jerusalem. Word travelled quickly and people covered His pathway with palm fronds and cried out, “Hosanna!” That word –hosanna– literally means, “LORD, save us!” Is there a greater declaration we could make today than to beseach Him to deliver us from all the evil corruption that exists today in every nation and has root in our own hearts and minds?

LORD, save us from our enemies! LORD, saved us from errant friends! LORD save us from ourselves! We are responsible, for we took our ease when alcohol was presented as a wholesome “unwind” after a difficult day’s work. We are responsible, for we too our ease when the abortion of newly born babies commenced under the guize of “women’s rights.”

We are responsible for failing to inform ourselves of the true reasoning of those seeking political office and failing to vote prayerfully. Now, it is long overdue, yet still right, that we should cry aloud, “LORD, save us!” We need His salvation, and so does our Nation!

As Peter said, “LORD, to whom shall we go? You have the words of Eternal Life” (Jn. 6:68).

Have you turned to Him? Have you repented of the evil thoughts and intents of your heart?

If not, it’s long overdue, but not too late to repent of your sins and cry “Hosanna!”

We love and pray 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.”

Dear Grands,

1 Corinthians 16:8-9, “But I shall remain in Ephesus until Pentecost;

9 for a wide door for effective service has opened to me, and there are many adversaries.”

Why you will remember is one of the great philosophical questions of all time. Tennyson wrote the answer in The Charge of the Light Brigade: “Ours is not to reason why; ours is but to do or die.”

I’ve thought a lot about the set-back we’ve had recently. Rose Marie has been alarmingly close to death only to be snatched from its awesome jaws in “the nick of time.” But, why?

I won’t bore you with the scores of possible answers that have swirled through my mind. I’ll simply say, I think I know why. Paul was en route to Jerusalem and he was about to pass through Macedonia. He stated that he had considered spending the winter with the church there. Just had’t made up his mind about that. What he had determined was to remain at

Ephesus until Pentecost. But why?

“…for a wide door for effective service had opened to (him), and there are many

adversaries.”

When you a serious fisherman, you fish where the fish are. Opportunites abounded in

Ephesus! It was a lost city with lost people; and that’s what Paul was all about! He wasn’t called to merely sail the oceans and enjoy restful days aboard a ship. He was called to

preach the Word to lost people and to call them to faith in the LORD Jesus Christ. The opportunities in Ephesus were Paul’s “wide door for effective service.”

Do you get it yet? Had Rose Marie not encountered multiple health issues, we would never have had the scores of opportunities to share Jesus with a multitude of lost people! Oh, I know the adversaries! Satan’s crowd double-timed their attacks on me! Not people, angry at what she and I were saying to them about the Savior. No! It was the terribel anxieties that knotted my stomach each time I had to call 911 — and knotted it even more until the EMTs arrived. Those anxieties were the adversaries. And when the situations relented, and I thought we had escaped the storm, it all took action against us again, and again!

But the glories of sharing with the lost. The light in their eyes that said, “Someone cares for my soul!” It has been worth it all. What’s more, we have been drawn closer to Him through the process. If you’re not in the “battle,” you just don’t know the joy there is. Oh, there’s an Ephesus for you somewhere, too. You signed up; let’s reach out to people before the Final Trumpet sounds!

We love you and rejoice in our prayers,

Nana & Dado III

(Rose Marie & Gene)

P. S. Every doctor (and there are many!) for the last two or three days has been positive with

respect to Rose Marie’s physical process. The LORD has used them to help us, and us to

help them. God bless you! And may He always be praised!

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,

Psalm 116:1-5, I dearly love the LORD, because He gives earnest heed to my voice and my supplications.

2 Because He has inclined His ear to me; therefore, I shall call upon Him as long as I live.

3 The cords of death encompassed me, and the terrors of Sheol came upon me; I found distress, anguish, affliction and sorrow.

4 Then I called upon the name of the LORD: ‘O LORD, I beseech Thee, I earnestly pray, save my life!’

5 Gracious is the LORD, blameless and righteous; yes, our God is compassionate and merciful.”

Have you ever had difficulty praying? I mean, you know you ought to pray and you truly want to, but you just can’t seem to get it out. Let me tell you, nothing encourages sincere prayer like uncontrollable circumstances! Yeah, you think you’ve got a pretty good hold

on things and then –!!! It’s then, that it reality strikes you.

David commences by acknowledging his genuine love for the LORD. The LORD is a Friend and He gladly hears the petitions of His children. He is not far away. Just tonight I said to a nurse, “My wife is a truly born-again Christian. Are you a Christian?” He said, “Yes, and Jesus is here in this room with us right now.” WOW! What an open, declarative testimony!

David vows that he will forever call upon the name of the LORD. But, why would he say that? Read what he says: death was all around him and the terror of dying brought great distress and sorrow into his life. What could he do? What did he do? He called on the Name of the LORD. Good advice. It just might be good advice to start making friends with the LORD before terror and the prospect of dying presents itself to you.

While Rose Marie was still home and in distress, she kept saying, “Oh, LORD help me! Help me!” It was pitiful to hear and it literally dealt my heart and emotions a huge blow to hear it; yet, I knew she was not in fear of Hell. She was not in fear of dying. She was just encountering something she had never encountered, and it scared her mightily! Do I have to say it? Yes, it scared me terribly, too!

Yet, while we were both “out of it” for the moment, the LORD’s presence was with us; and He saw us through. He is gracious! He is righteous! And He is compassionate!

When we’re witnessing to lost persons, we encourage them to get right with God before it’s too late. Good advice, huh? Well, we need to take some of our own medicine. It’s best to be close friends with the LORD before tragedy strikes you or a close loved one. Start learning to call upon Him daily, seriously! Take your Christian faith extremely seriously! One day you will need His Friendship and there won’t be time for looking up His number.

We truly love you, and thank you for all your prayers,

Nana & Dado III

(Rose Marie & Gene)

Rose Marie is still intubated, making communication almost impossible. Tomorrow the doctors

will examine two valves in her heart to make sure they are not contaminated. Then, they can

remove the breathing tube. Bottom line: all of her doctors, including her son, believe she is

moving in the right direction. God bless you for praying for her!

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,

Proverbs 17:17, “A friend loves at all times, and a brother is born for adversity.”

A long-distance telephone call this evening prompted the verse above. It was from a friend –a long-time and very close friend; and “a brother (who understands) adversity.”

As many of you know, Rose Marie has battled some health issues for several years. We

have sought medical answers from the finest of doctors and nurses. They have labored

strenuously and lovingly, but without the ultimate success they and we sought. She has

had a mysterious blood-loss that kept her anemia her worst enemy.

Recently, she underwent an angioplasty and three arteries were fed stents that freed up blood flow that was so vitally needed.

But, tonight –after several turns in hospital for pneumonia— one of her doctors discovered and cauterized the problem! He found and shut off the leak! Immediately, her kidneys

displayed a positive note. And all of her doctors give her a thumbs-up, saying she was pointed in the right direction. (News for all doctors: She has always been pointed in the Right Direction!) That’s the Direction from which the answer came!

Yes, there are wonders in medical science. Still, the greatest miracles come not from science, but from the LORD. And that distant, long-time friend, is a “friend (who) loves at all times, and is (simultaneously) “a (true) brother, who (understands) adversity.” Thanks, Don, for your love and prayers! You have always been an encourager. May the LORD bless you

for it, as He blesses the girl for whom you prayed.

May God’s blessings be yours! We love you all.

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.”