The Grands Letter

Dear Grands,

Psalm 119:1-8, “How blessed are those whose way is blameless,

Who walk in the law of the LORD.

2 How blessed are those who observe His testimonies,

Who seek Him with all their heart.

3 They also do no unrighteousness;

They walk in His ways.

4 Thou hast ordained Thy precepts,

That we should keep them diligently.

5 Oh that my ways may be established

To keep Thy statutes!

6 Then I shall not be ashamed

When I look upon all Thy commandments.

7 I shall give thanks to Thee with uprightness of heart,

When I learn Thy righteous judgments.

8 I shall keep Thy statutes;

Do not forsake me utterly!”

Psalm 117 is the shortest psalm in the Bible. It has but two verses. Psalm 119 is the longest psalm in the Bible.

It has 176 verses. These 22 groups are divided into eight verses. Each group is represented by a letter from the Hebrew alphabet.,

The 119TH psalm is written in a poetical style. Hebrew poetry does not rhyme. Each second line is a coroberating balance to the first line. I have emboldened a few words in the verses to demonstrate how the poetic aspect utilizes balance.

What is always most important, however, is the spiritual meaning of the psalm. Knowing the poetical style is

helpful in understanding, but it is not itself the message. These verses set forth the way and law of the LORD.

Those who make the LORD’s way their own way will be blessed of the LORD. Observation of His testimonies is a learning process of the human heart. Those who avoid unrighteousness are walking in the LORD’s way.

The Hebrew word for “ordained” in verse four (tsavah) also translates as “commanded.” Thus, all of these

instructions are more than suggestions; they are marching orders for the LORD’s people.

You know how you “feel” ashamed when you know you’ve done wrong and transgressed the LORD’s commandments? To “look upon” the LORD’s commandments is to “pay attention,” to “obey” them. When we

obey the LORD’s will, we know we have His approval. It’s then that that “sinking” feeling disappears. Think

of your parents’ orders when you were a child. The moral factors they laid down for you were for your benefit.

Many (maybe even most) of the youths without morals today come from parents who failed to properly instruct

them. Don’t follow immorality! It always leads downward. Follow Jesus! His is the Upward Call and it always results in His blessings!

Heartily in Christ Jesus,

(Dado III)

P. S. Continue to pray for those who are lost, and for those in authority over us. If your church is closed and not on the

Internet, my pastor, Dr. Nick Floyd, can be seen and heard at: www.crosschurch.org/live at 09:30 & 10:55 A.M. (CST)

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 1:4-8, “I thank my God always concerning you, for the grace of God which was given you in Christ

Jesus,

5 that in everything you were enriched in Him, in all speech and all knowledge,

6 even as the testimony concerning Christ was confirmed in you,

7 so that you are not lacking in any gift, awaiting eagerly the revelation of our Lord Jesus Christ,

8 who shall also confirm you to the end, blameless in the day of our Lord Jesus Christ.”

Two young men were ogling a gorgeous purchase another young man had made.

“Hey, I sure like those snazzy wheels your cousin bought!”

“Well, it is probably is the snazziest thing he’s had in some time. I was going to get

one, but when the trouble he’s had, I decided it was best that I invest elsewhere.”

The young man was thankful he didn’t buy, and he was thankful for a cousin that warned him against it.

Paul had every reason to thank God for the Corinthian believers; moreover, he thanked the LORD for giving

them His saving grace. The Corinthians had been enriched, not in material things, not even in a sufficiency of

day-to-day necessities. But they were rich in their knowledge of Christ Jesus and the ability to speak clearly and

lovingly in His name.

Note that the testimony of Christ was first viewable in their lives; then, it was noticeable in their verbal declaration

of His grace. That’s really how it has to be. We have to demonstrate Christ in our lives before we can convince

others that they need Him in their lives. There was a Chevrolet dealer in Missouri, whose business balooned so

phenomenally that he bought a Cadillac to drive. His business then collapsed! If the Chevys he sold were not

sufficient for him, his friends felt Chevys were not sufficient for them. The dealer sold the Caddy and his business

returned. True story. We Christians have to be what we advertise or no one will be interested.

Jesus promised that He would return. When He comes, He will gather His people (all true Christian believers

from the nations of the world), and we will be transported with Him into the Heavenly afterlife, forever being with

Jesus! He confirmed (secured) us when we first trusted Him as our LORD and Savior; and Paul says that

confirmation will extend to the Day on which He returns.

I have a number of friends who are missionaries overseas. It is thrilling to note how quickly some native people

come to faith in Christ when they hear and understand the Gospel! It should be far easier for people living in this

country. Maybe…just maybe… the missionaries are living out their faith in Christ. Think about it.

Heartily in Christ Jesus,

(Dado III)

P. S. Our President today declared all Churches “open” (with caution, of course). Your church will determine what “open” means.

Still, I am thankful for a President who says we need to pray; therefore, the churches will be open. We need to pray for him.

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 100:1-5, “Shout joyfully to the LORD, all the earth.

2 Serve the LORD with gladness; Come before Him with joyful singing.

3 Know that the LORD Himself is God; It is He who has made us, and not we ourselves; We are His

people and the sheep of His pasture.

4 Enter His gates with thanksgiving, And His courts with praise. Give thanks to Him; bless His name.

5 For the LORD is good; His lovingkindness is everlasting, And His faithfulness to all generations.”

This coming 26th of November, we will all be celebrating THANKSGIVING! But, the psalmist believed

that every day was a Thanksgiving day! When we celebrate, it ought not be a prefunctory celebration. We should be happy! The first two verses indicate a genuine joy, accompanied with shouting! The Hebrew word (chesed) says, “Give a blast!” Yet, the joyful shout is directed to the LORD! Accompaying the shout is a service (abad) of gladness and singing!

Verse three instructs us to know (yada) and acknowledge that the LORD alone is God. It is He Himself

who created us. We are not the product of some slimy, self-generating protplasym of the past. We are

in His image, we are His created people, who live at His pleasure and by His provisions on this Earth.

Our every movement through the gates and courts of His creation is to be accompanied with thanks-giving and with praise. Even when the dire circumstances of life encourage us to grieve in painful sorrow, our ultimate expression is to be with thanksgiving and praise! His Name is to be celebrated with joy! Oh, the LORD is good (tob, pleasant, agreeable), and He is faithful (emunah) to every generation!

In these past months of solitude, I have witnessed the value of praise over gloom, of rejoicing over dwelling in the doldrums. Cheer up, people! We serve a Living God, who is Coming Soon to take us all Home!

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,

Only recently, I read a piece by Dr. Sean McDowell, who is Associate Professor of Christian Apologetics at Talbot School of Theology in California. He shocked his audience by entitling his message “What Happened to Truth?” In the course of his message he stated that “one of the biggest lies this generation is tempted to believe is a lie about freedom –that freedom is about doing whatever you want to do…” He supported his proposition by adding, “If God has created us, there’s a purpose for lives, how we’re supposed to live and we’re only truly free if we know that purpose and live accordingly.”

I thought it would be an interesting exercise to collect from the Scriptures words that align with “freedom” and seek to understand them in the context of our own lives. To do this, I first went to the Dictionary to find words that equalled or were close to “freedom.” Then I researched the words from the Scriptures, noting the number of instances where the words were mentioned first (or near first) in Scripture. Here are the results:

Truth – mentioned 435 times – Genesis 24:27: Abraham sends his servant to find a wife for his son, Isaac. The servant says, “Blessed be the LORD, the God of my master Abraham, who has not forsaken His lovingkindness and His truth toward my master; as for me, the LORD has guided me in the way to the house of my master’s brothers.”

Faithful – mentioned 429 times – Gen. 32:10: Jacob meets Esau after many years and says, “I am unworthy of all the lovingkindness and of all the faithfulness which Thou hast shown to Thy servant…”

Certain – 189 times – Gen. 15:13: “And God said to Abram, “Know for certain that your descendants will be strangers in a land that is not theirs, where they will be enslaved and oppressed four hundred years.”

Trust – 164 times – Exod. 22:9: The LORD’s ordinances set before Moses – “For every breach of trust, whether it is for ox, for donkey, for sheep, for clothing, or for any lost thing about which one says, ‘This is it,’ the case of both parties shall come before the judges; he whom the judges condemn shall pay double to his neighbor.”

Integrity – 27 times– Gen. 20:5: Abimelech said, “Did he not himself say to me, ‘She is my sister’? And she herself said, ‘He is my brother.’ In the integrity of my heart and the innocence of my hands I have done this.”

Fact, Sincere and Accurate were listed 19, 16, and 4 times respectfully.

Now, it only remains for you and me to examine ourselves and determine the accuracy of Dr. McDowell’s thesis. Are we always truthful? Are we always faithful? Do we determine the certainty of a thing before repeating it? Are we always trustworthy? Are we integritous? Do we always deal in facts, with sincerity and with accuracy?

Remember, that God has created you; there’s a purpose for your life, how you’re supposed to live; and you’re only truly free if you know that purpose and live accordingly. May God help each of us to live daily for His Glory!

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 90:10-12, “As for the days of our life, they contain seventy years, Or if due to strength, eighty years,

Yet their pride is but labor and sorrow; For soon it is gone and we fly away.

11 Who understands the power of Thine anger, And Thy fury, according to the fear that is due Thee?

12 So teach us to number our days, That we may present to Thee a heart of wisdom.”

Kids do some foolish things. I know, because I was a kid once and I did some foolish things. When I read

this psalm, which I’ve often done, I remember asking the LORD (whom I did not personally know at the time)

to leave me a note on my chest of drawers, indicating the time I was going to die. I only remember one

pastor whom my parents thought was truly intelligent, but they all believed the Bible and they all belileved

in Hell. My best guess is that their witness from the pulpit got hold of my heart, so I was saved at seven

years old.

Now, as I read these verses, I am beyond the age of “due to strength.” Nevertheless, it has never occurred

to me to request a note from the LORD, regarding my tenure here on Earth. I am, however, well advised to

understand the power of the LORD’s anger and to avert it by yielding daily to His unbending will. Knowing

that His fury produces fear if I should willingly transgress His will, I am learning to obey.

The climatic verse is the last one: “…teach us to number our days.” How long does each of us have?

Our purpose in this life is to know Him and to demonstrate that through Him we possess “a heart of wisdom.”

Is that your goal in this life? It’s His will that it be your goal. And if it is, it’s proof that you have wisdom.

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.”