The Grands Letter

Dear Grands,

Colossians 1:24-26, “Now I rejoice in my sufferings for your sake, and in my flesh I do my share on behalf of His body (which is the church) in filling up that which is lacking in Christ’s afflictions.

25 Of this church I was made a minister according to the stewardship from God bestowed on me for your benefit, that I might fully carry out the preaching of the word of God,

26 that is, the mystery which has been hidden from the past ages and generations; but has now been manifested to His saints…”

There’s nothing new about suffering. It’s been with us since Cain complained that his punishment was “greater than (he) could bear.”

What’s different is having someone to rejoice in suffering –his own suffering! Yet, Paul viewed his suffering as for the Church at

Colosse. It’s reliably reported in today’s news that Christians, more than any other religious people, are encountering suffering.

Minister today are themselves involved in suffering. One has but to read Christian publications to become aware of the various kinds.

Not many, however, are rejoicing in it as was the Apostle Paul. Paul viewed his suffering as beneficial to the Church. In no way was

Paul intimating that Christ was lacking in afflictions. He simply was willing to bear suffering for the Church as Christ did at the cross.

Multiple pressures fall upon pastors today. Sometimes, just listening to the problems of parishioners becomes suffering in itself. Then, there are those committed to the pastors’ care that stray from the faith and get themselves into various troubles. To be sure, they suffer. But so do all who employ the instruction of the Spirit in the effort to bring them back to the foot of the cross in surrendering in faith to the LORD Jesus Christ.

Paul seems to suggest in the last verse (v. 26) that it is time for Christians, who are not pastors, to commit themselves to the help of

believers who have strayed from the faith, as well as sharing the plan of salvation to those who are without Christ in their lives. There

is no better time than the CHRISTmas Season to share Jesus with others. CHRISTmas is a time of love and devotion. Share love with

those with whom you come into contact. There’s so little love in the world today; and there’s NO LOVE like the LOVE of JESUS!

Heartily in Christ Jesus,

(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,

Proverbs 4:1 Hear, O sons, the instruction of a father, And give attention that you may gain understanding,

2 For I give you sound teaching; Do not abandon my instruction.

3 When I was a son to my father, Tender and the only son in the sight of my mother,

4 Then he taught me and said to me, ‘Let your heart hold fast my words; Keep my commandments and live;

5 Acquire wisdom! Acquire understanding! Do not forget, nor turn away from the words of my mouth.

6 “Do not forsake her, and she will guard you; Love her, and she will watch over you.’”

I had a conversation with a friend at church today. Some troublesome problems had invaded the life of a

friend. “Parents” and “parenting” soon entered the conversation, and I suggested that either his father had

not led him in the right way or he had self-determined to “do his own thing,” which resulted in the trouble.

Solomon’s father, David, was certainly not a perfect father. He wasn’t even a perfect man. Yet, in these

verses he gave sound advice to his son. “Now, you listen to what I’m telling you! Do you hear?” Haven’t

you had your dad say that same thing to you? “Give attention,” he says, knowing that if his son doesn’t

learn to pay attention to his father, it is likely that he won’t listen to other instruction given to him in life.

It would be easy to imagine verse two as having come from the LORD Himself; ultimately, however, it is

the sound teaching the writer has received from his own father. There can be no doubt that the instruction

essentially came from the LORD. Wisdom is knowing what to do and how and when to do it. In my lifetime,

I’ve often known what to say, but not when to say it or when not say it. In other words, I lacked wisdom.

Wisdom is like understanding in that both must be acquired.

Most of these verses read and sound as if they were intended for young people. Well, they are! But they

are also instructions to parents. You can say, “Well, my kids just don’t listen to me.” But that does not

release you from the responsibility to instruct them! The LORD will hold parents accountable, just as He

does their children. May God richly and abundantly provide for you in and through His love!

Heartily in Christ Jesus,

(Dado III)

P. S. As a small CHRISTmas gift, I am attaching a digital copy of my book, Alive In The Spirit. I am excitedly thankful to be able

to tell you that has gone worldwide into 25 countries, on all continents (except for Antarctica ). It’s too cold there for the

pages to turn –even in digital.) I hope you will find it helpful.

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,

WHAT’S IN A “WORD”?

Definition: “A word is a combination of letters or symbols that helps express something” (GLJ).

Delineation:

1. Words express ideas/beliefs:

(1) Right / True:

(2) Wrong / False

2. Words express feelings:

(1) Love: Gen 37:4a, “And his brothers saw that their father loved him more than all his brothers…”

(2) Hate: Gen 37:4b, “…and so they hated him and could not speak to him on friendly terms.”

(3) Joy: I Sam 18:6-7, “And it happened as they were coming, when David returned from killing the

Philistine, that the women came out of all the cities of Israel, singing and dancing, to meet

King Saul, with tambourines, with joy and with musical instruments. And the women sang as

they played, and said, ‘Saul has slain his thousands, And David his ten thousands.’”

(4) Hurt: I Sam 18:8a, “Then Saul became very angry, for this saying displeased him…”

3. Words exhibit character –the character of the user:

(1) Good character: Joseph (throughout)

(2) Bad character: Joseph’s brothers

Gen 37:4, “And his brothers saw that their father loved him more than all his brothers;

and so they hated him and could not speak to him on friendly terms.”

Conclusion:

1. The words of some are to be avoided:

? Psa 55:21, “His speech was smoother than butter, But his heart was war; His words were softer than

oil, Yet they were drawn swords.”

2. The Words of God are to be heeded:

?Jer 1:4, “Then the LORD stretched out His hand and touched my mouth, and the LORD said to me,

‘Behold, I have put My words in your mouth.’”

?Psa 119:11, “Thy Word I have treasured in my heart, That I may not sin against Thee.”

3. Our words are to be weighed –very carefully:

?Psa 119:67, “Before I was afflicted I went astray, But now I keep Thy Word.”

?Psa 19:14, “Let the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart Be acceptable in Thy sight,

O LORD, my rock and my Redeemer.”

Incidentally, I composed this 18 years ago, and found it recently, just waiting for me on my computer. It seemed like time I started putting into place what had lingered unheeded for so long. I hope you find it helpful and beneficial to your daily life.

I know for certain that this is needed in my life. May the Good LORD help us all to watch our words this week!

Heartily in Christ Jesus,

(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,

Psalm 145:14-16. “The LORD sustains all who fall,

And raises up all who are bowed down.

15 The eyes of all look to Thee,

And Thou dost give them their food in due time.

16 Thou dost open Thy hand,

And dost satisfy the desire of every living thing.”

When trouble or anxiety move in upon our lives, we need help. David knows and reveals to us that

the LORD sustains (supports) those who fall. He also raises up those who are bowed down. “Bowed”

here is probably intended as complimentary to the word “fall,” in the initial part of the verse. Yet, it just

might be that David is not-so-subtly implying that only those who truly worship (bow before) the LORD

can rely upon Him to sustain them.

“The eyes of all look to Thee” is so contemporaneous with our times. “Oh, LORD!” and “Oh, God!”

are subliminal expressions that designate trouble –our trouble! Even those who deny the LORD a

presence in their lives, cry those words in times of trouble. It is in reality His implantation of man’s

awareness of Him, despite man’s denial.

He provides our food. My maternal grandmother told me of her discovery of two shiny new dimes

in the barn during the years of depression. Not a soul other than family had been on the place, and

she was unshakable in her belief that the LORD had Himself provided them for their needs. Doubt

her, if you will; but remember the verse that says, “Nothing will be impossible with God” (Luke 1:37).

Yes, He opens His hand, and satisfies “the desire of every living thing.” Yet, if “bowed down,” back

in verse 14, means “worship” and being “yielded to His will,” then our reception of anything and

everything hinges on how we conduct our daily lives. Is your life “right” with God? Are your thoughts

and attitudes and conduct guided by Him? If they are, you can depend on Him keeping His word.

If they are not, you may be headed for real trouble! Don’t trifle with God! He’s the bigger player in

this game of life.

Heartily in Christ Jesus,

(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,

Colossians 1:9-10, “…we have not ceased to pray for you and to ask that you may be filled with the knowledge of His will in all spiritual wisdom and understanding,

10 so that you may walk in a manner worthy of the Lord, to please Him in all respects, bearing fruit in every good work and increasing in the knowledge of God…”

When my parents died, my wife said, “We’ve just lost the finest prayer-partners we’ll ever have.” What a joy to know that there are those who, despite our unworthiness, are remembering us daily in their prayers. Paul was not praying that the Colossian believers might have better living conditions or finer food for the nourishment of their bodies. He was praying that they might be filled (made complete) with the knowledge of God’s will for their lives, and have spiritual wisdom and understanding.

As good as all of that is, there is a “so that” included. It’s like a dad buying his son some gloves and boots “so that” he can keep the yard clean, cut and trimmed. Paul’s “so that” concerns the spiritual deportment of the Colossian believers. He want them to walk in a manner that glorifies the LORD. I remember an upper classman, who lived near me and I often saw him when I was walking to school. His head was tilted to the side with his nose in an noticeable, upward turn. I thought he had a bad neck, but came to understand he only had a supercilious attitude. And that’s not an attitude that glorifies the LORD.

We’re to be warm and loving and caring of others. That’s being “worthy of the LORD.” It pleases Him to see us

behave like Jesus behaved, just as a parent is delighted to see his child behave as he has been taught. Such an attitude produces good works, and leads to an increase in the knowledge of the LORD. Now, that’s something that

would do all of us well, isn’t it? Remember that CHRISTmas time is the easiest time to inject Christ Jesus into our conversations with others. Remember, too, that it’s not religion that changes people; it’s a relationship with Jesus!

May God bless you with an even closer relationship with Him!

Heartily in Christ Jesus,

(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.”