The Grands Letter

Dear Grands,

Philippians 4:4-7, “Rejoice in the Lord always; again I will say, rejoice!

5 Let your forbearing spirit be known to all men. The Lord is near.

6 Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made

known to God.

7 And the peace of God, which surpasses all human comprehension, shall guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.”

The word “rejoice” means to be glad, to be joyful. But, how is that possible when everything that surrounds us is

gloomy and dark with insecurity? There’s an old hymn that responds well to the times in which we live.

Sometimes the day seems long,

Our trials hard to bear.
We´re tempted to complain,
To murmur and despair.
But Christ will soon appear
To catch his bride away!
All tears forever over
In God’s eternal day!

If you have a forbearing (gentle) spirit, let everyone know it! It is in just such a time as we now live that the LORD Jesus will come and call all believers to His Eternal Home! Let your thoughts be on Him, not on the gloomy, woeful surroundings we find on this sinful Earth. Focusing on our worldly surroundings simply produces anxiety. We then find ourselves worrying about things over which we have no control and we grind ourselves to dust, feeling absolutely worthless! Such negative thinking all-too-often leads to drinking, drugs, and the vile things of this world – things that destroy individuals, families, cities and nations.

What we all need is to pray and entreat the LORD for His help, simultaneously thanking Him profusely for His mercy and grace! The LORD’s promise comes through His assurance that positive, loving, consistent prayer will result in the LORD’s peace within our hearts. How does all of this happen? We don’t have to know the intracacies of “how”; we only need to trust in Him for our provisions. His peace surpasses all knowledge. We only need to believe that His divine shield guards our hearts and minds and keeps us secure in Him!

Oh, there’s a chorus to that song, too. I think you’ll like it.

It will be worth it all
When we see Jesus!
Life’s trials will seem so small
When we see Christ.
One glimpse of His dear face,
All sorrow will erase.
So, bravely run the race
Till we see Christ.

Heartily in Christ Jesus,

(Dado III)

P. S. Remember to pray for the salvation of Whitney Tilson!

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.”