The Grands Letter

Dear Grands,

Psalm 4:1-8, “Answer me when I call, O God of my righteousness! Thou hast relieved me in my distress; Be gracious to me

and hear my prayer.

2 O sons of men, how long will my honor become a reproach? How long will you love what is worthless and aim at deception?

3 But know that the LORD has set apart the godly man for Himself; The LORD hears when I call to Him.

4 Tremble, and do not sin; Meditate in your heart upon your bed, and be still. Selah.

5 Offer the sacrifices of righteousness, And trust in the LORD.

6 Many are saying, “Who will show us any good?” Lift up the light of Thy countenance upon us, O LORD!

7 Thou hast put gladness in my heart, More than when their grain and new wine abound.

8 In peace I will both lie down and sleep, For Thou alone, O LORD, dost make me to dwell in safety.

I’m certain that you’ve heard the expression, “Prayer works.” We all understand what that means to the person who says it;

however, it might be better said, “When prayer works, God works.” Moreover, when we pray more consistently, God pays

greater attention. That’s the spiritual equivalent of the saying “It’s the squeeky wheel that gets the grease.” Of course, it’s

the LORD’s right to determine what He does when we pray; yet He says He “has set apart the godly man for Himself.” I understand that to indicate which prayers truly arrest His attention.

Adverse circumstances always produce a modicum of uncertainty, yet we are advised to meditationally focus upon the LORD, and keep silent. For some of us, keeping silent is quite difficult. Silence in situations of trouble is equal to trust, when once we have prayed. We are to turn our uncertainties over to the LORD –and leave them there!

It was reported the other day that President Trump had asked all evangelical Christians to pray for him. Apparently, he was consulting with the Supreme Court on some Constitutional matters. Circumstances of such magnitude require the readiness of God’s people in prayer. There are many circumstances in life that require prayer. The question is whether we believers are truly ready for the task.

David expresses the peace he knows –peace that allows him to sleep soundly. It is the confidence that the LORD is in

control and stands instantly ready to protect and defend His own, whatever the adversity. Do you have that confidence in the LORD? Is He your first thought when adversity strikes? Are you “prayed up,” so to speak? Does the gladness the LORD provides, rest abundantly in your heart and life? Do you know that gladness and peace and safety of which David speaks? The adversities of circumstances in life cannot successfully stand against the LORD! He is our strength and shield. And when our lives rest thoroughly in Him, we then know and experience His divine peace.

Heartily in Christ Jesus,

(Dado III)

Gene L. Jeffries, Th.D.

Springdale, Arkansas 72764

United States of America

“We never know that Christ is all we need until He becomes all that we have.” – Corrie ten Boom

Dear Grands,

Psalm 3:1-8, “O Lord, how my adversaries have increased! Many are rising up against me.

2 Many are saying of my soul, “There is no deliverance for him in God.” Selah.

3 But Thou, O LORD, art a shield about me, My glory, and the One who lifts my head.

4 I was crying to the LORD with my voice, And He answered me from His holy mountain. Selah.

5 I lay down and slept; I awoke, for the LORD sustains me.

6 I will not be afraid of ten thousands of people Who have set themselves against me round about.

7 Arise, O LORD; save me, O my God! For Thou hast smitten all my enemies on the cheek; Thou hast

shattered the teeth of the wicked.

8 Salvation belongs to the LORD; Thy blessing be upon Thy people! Selah.”

Without question, the American election procedure has fueled the most enormous political rage in our lifetime! While

attorneys on both sides of the controversy seek to wiggle their ways through the legal labyrinth, many without legal

expertise are looking upward with the Psalmist and crying the words of David, “O LORD, how my adversaries have

increased!”

I am reminded of the old hymn, “Where could I go but to the LORD?” I have witnessed (as many of you have) television

personalities and their guests concluding their thoughts with “the LORD is in charge, and we look to Him for the solution.”

Perhaps, the LORD has delayed His resolution of this morass to cause us to see that He and He alone IS the solution!

The most encouraging note in this minor-keyed musical dilemma lies in verse four, where David seeks the LORD, and

says, “He answered me from His holy mountain.” God never answers prayers that are never prayed! He allows us to

“stew in our own juice,” as my mother used to say, until we come to the knowledge of Him as the only source of rescue.

Don’t miss noting that when the LORD answered David, David laid down and slept. And when he awoke, the LORD

sustained him. The LORD kept David’s mind and spirit from giving way under the stress of the situation. He does the

same for us.

All of this Letter has been couched in the curcible of a national referendum. Just don’t miss the fact that everything

in this Psalm relates to every possible situation you and I may encounter in our daily lives. A careful analysis of the

concluding verses (vv. 6-9) reveals that David envisions his battles as already victorious! The numbers of enemies is

inconsequensial. David sees the battle as the LORD’s; and it is already a victory to those who belong to Him. Do you

belong to Him? If not, you can be His by asking forgiveness for your sins and trusting Him just as David did. You will

then know the refreshment of a heart and soul –yours!—that He alone can produce.

Heartily in Christ Jesus,

(Dado III)

Gene L. Jeffries, Th.D.

Springdale, Arkansas 72764

United States of America

“We never know that Christ is all we need until He becomes all that we have.” – Corrie ten Boom

Dear Grands,

2 Peter 3:3-9, “Know this first of all, that in the last days mockers will come with their mocking, following after their own lusts,

4 and saying, ‘Where is the promise of His coming? For ever since the fathers fell asleep, all continues just as it was from the

beginning of creation.’

5 For when they maintain this, it escapes their notice that by the word of God the heavens existed long ago and the earth was

formed out of water and by water,

6 through which the world at that time was destroyed, being flooded with water.

7 But the present heavens and earth by His word are being reserved for fire, kept for the day of judgment and destruction of

ungodly men.

8 But do not let this one fact escape your notice, beloved, that with the Lord one day is as a thousand years, and a thousand

years as one day.

9 The Lord is not slow about His promise, as some count slowness, but is patient toward you, not wishing for any to perish

but for all to come to repentance.”

If you knew that your death were imminent, what words would you want to leave with your loved ones? Peter knew that his time was limited, and that those who deride and mock, and intentionally misrepresent spiritual truths were very soon to come. “Where is the promise of Christ’s coming?” they mocking request. They beg whoever will listen to consider that everything is just the same as it was from the beginning.

What these false teachers intentionally omit is how the Earth and the heavens were constructed from the beginning. They also to this very day misrepresnet Peter’s statement that “one day is with the LORD as a thousand years.” Peter is simply saying that with God there is no calculation of time, as there is with man. In fact, the LORD created time for man where the Scriptures state, “And there was evening and there was morning, one day” (Gen. 1:5).

No one can succesfully challenge the LORD’s promise or what might appear to be His slowness of fulfilliing it. What is necessary is for everyone to be spiritually ready for His Coming! Two important words appear in that ninth verse: perish and repentance. Perish relates to death and eternity in Hell. Repentance is our acknowledging our sin and earnestly saying, “LORD, forgive me!”

If you have not repented of your sin and trusted Jesus Christ as your LORD and Savior, you face eternity in Hell. Don’t put off repentance! It’s not the “good life” you live or “the particular church you attend,” or “whether or by what means you were baptized—“ It’s repentance that counts! –and faith and trust in Jesus, who died for our sins and arose from the grave—

He is Coming Again! Be certain you are ready!

Heartily in Christ Jesus,

(Dado III)

Gene L. Jeffries, Th.D.

Springdale, Arkansas 72764

United States of America

“We never know that Christ is all we need until He becomes all that we have.” – Corrie ten Boom

Dear Grands,

Hebrews 10:32-37, “But remember the former days, when, after being enlightened, you endured a great conflict of sufferings,

33 partly, by being made a public spectacle through reproaches and tribulations, and partly by becoming sharers with

those who were so treated.

34 For you showed sympathy to the prisoners, and accepted joyfully the seizure of your property, knowing that you have for

yourselves a better possession and an abiding one.

35 Therefore, do not throw away your confidence, which has a great reward.

36 For you have need of endurance, so that when you have done the will of God, you may receive what was promised.

37 For yet in a very little while, He who is coming will come, and will not delay.”

Those were indeed troublesome and difficult times. Quite honestly, most of us have never known real trouble! Have we been openly, publicly defamed? Yes, but no worse than others have encountered. Harsh wrongs have been done to and against us, but what we retain is much better than anything that’s been taken from us. We’ve continued to be joyful in the face of formidable tragedy.

Paul reasons with us, saying, “Don’t throw away your confidence!” Confidence is faith that lies deeply within us. It is the build up of true reality from the LORD –reality that has arisen despite the negative activity we have encountered. Satan is the one who causes distress and he seeks to destroy the faith that would refute it. The promise of the LORD, however, is that we will receive His reward provided we have lived and ministered according to His will. When will that time of reward be? “…in a very little while…”

There is a decided purpose in His not giving us a specific date. Those who keep a clean house, don’t have to worry about

visitors coming unexpectedly. The house is always ready for company, whoever may come and at whatever time of the day or night. Thus, there is incentive for us to live cleanly and up to our LORD’s expectation. There is also the incentive for us to accomplish the work He has assigned us to do. Spiritual work requires time, tact, prayer, love and a host of things that cannot be hurried! Thus, praying and working at a consistent pace is best. For some of us that means hurrying to the work He has allotted us, but working at faith-pace in its accomplishment.

Remember Paul’s encouragement: “Don’t throw away your confidence!” Just keep believing and praising the LORD!

Heartily in Christ Jesus,

(Dado III)

Gene L. Jeffries, Th.D.

Springdale, Arkansas 72764

United States of America

“We never know that Christ is all we need until He becomes all that we have.” – Corrie ten Boom

Dear Grands,

Hebrews 10:21-25, “…since we have a great priest over the house of God,

22 let us draw near with a sincere heart in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled clean from an evil conscience

and our bodies washed with pure water.

23 Let us hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering, for He who promised is faithful;

24 and let us consider how to stimulate one another to love and good deeds,

25 not forsaking our own assembling together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another; and all the more, as you

see the day drawing near.”

Did you ever fall off of a bike when you were a kid? You looked quickly at your skinned knee, saw some blood oozing out,

and RAN screaming to your mother! Why did you run to your mother? You did it because you knew she loved you and knew what to do. She would not turn you away or be too busy to tend to your hurt. And when she cleansed the skin and spoke to you reassuringly , you felt better. Mom bandaged the hurt, it slowly diminished, and you returned to play.

We’re adults now, but hurts often come. Where do we go when they do? Paul assures us that the LORD is always present.

First, we must draw near to Him “with a sincere heart in full assurance of faith.” Why do we have such a problem with that?

We ran to Mom; why do we not run to the LORD? We trusted Mom; surely, we can trust the LORD! The secret to fully trusting Him is living closely with Him day-by-day. Stay in His Word, the Bible. Pray to Him throughout the day. Tell Him you hurt and let Him take it from there.

Paul admonishes us “hold fast the confession of our hope,” and do it “without wavering”! Did our LORD not tell us He would deal with the issues we face? We believed Mom; why can’t we believe our LORD Jesus Christ? Don’t give up! Don’t question His ability to keep His promise! The Bible teaches us that “He cannot llie” (Titus 1:2). Once again, living closely with Him day-by-day is the secret to maintaining a strong faith.

Finally, Paul encourages us to “consider how to stimulate one another to love and good deeds.” One of the greatest means of growing in faith is to encourage others to love one another and to stay in church (Yes, that’s what he means by assembling). This is not the time to fall away from church. Other believers need you, just as you need them. We are social beings. God made us that way; and when we get together, we encourage each other, sometimes without even knowing it. Jesus is coming to Earth again! We want to be ready. Accepting Him as our LORD and Savior is the major step. Fellowship with others is the second step. Put them in the correct order (Christ first) and your faith will increase amazingly!

Heartily in Christ Jesus,

(Dado III)

Gene L. Jeffries, Th.D.

Springdale, Arkansas 72764

United States of America

“We never know that Christ is all we need until He becomes all that we have.” – Corrie ten Boom