The Grands Letter

Dear Grands,

Psalm 103:1-6, “Bless the LORD, O my soul; And all that is within me, bless His holy name.
2 Bless the LORD, O my soul, And forget none of His benefits;
3 Who pardons all your iniquities; Who heals all your diseases;
4 Who redeems your life from the pit; Who crowns you with lovingkindness and compassion;
5 Who satisfies your years with good things, So that your youth is renewed like the eagle.
6 The LORD performs righteous deeds, and judgments for all who are oppressed.”

It is granted, that we do not live in the most delightful days of our existence. It becomes easier by the day to fall into line with the critics, who preach doom and gloom. But I awoke this morning with this opening verse
on my mind: “Bless the LORD, O my soul; and all that is within me, bless His holy name!”

It so easy to “think downwardly.” Why is that? Could it be because we are fallen creatures? Do not those without hope languish in the swamps of doom and gloom? Swamps are never that deep, but how do we extracate ourselves from them? David teaches that we should think of the multiple blessings and benefits of the LORD. Focus on the good He has done for us. We who know the LORD have a sensitive conscience. But the LORD pardons those inquities that seek to pull us down.

There are a host of BIG MEN in our world. Occasionally, I encounter them in what could be a collision. I then say, quite apologetically, “Don’t worry, I never mess with guys who are bigger than I am!” It always brings a laugh. Big Men know they are big and they want you to know it, too. If we can have that attitude toward other beings like ourselves, why cannot we have such an attitudinal encounter with God?

We have been rescued from various diseases over the course of our lives. We have no fear of death because we know the LORD God resurrected His Son Jesus from death! Focus on His love and His compassion – those factors that bring blessings and produce satisfaction in life. There’s an old saying that “you’re as young as we feel.” David possessed that feeling. His youth was “renewed like th eagle.” Nothing keeps an eagle down! It soars higher and higher and then floats freely and majestically through the air without a care.

Let’s put the “doom and gloom” behind us. Let’s focus fully on the LORD! Greater days lie ahead! Bless the LORD! Praise His Holy Name! He will continue to “perform righteous deeds,” and He will properly arrange things for all who find ourselves currently oppressed.” May God bless us abundantly –and our nation!

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,

Acts 10:38-43, “You know of Jesus of Nazareth, how God anointed Him with the Holy Spirit and with power,
and how He went about doing good, and healing all who were oppressed by the devil; for God was with
Him.
39 “And we are witnesses of all the things He did both in the land of the Jews and in Jerusalem. And they also
put Him to death by hanging Him on a cross.
40 “God raised Him up on the third day, and granted that He should become visible,
41 not to all the people, but to witnesses who were chosen beforehand by God, that is, to us, who ate and
drank with Him after He arose from the dead.
42 “And He ordered us to preach to the people, and solemnly to testify that this is the One who has been
appointed by God as Judge of the living and the dead.
43 “Of Him all the prophets bear witness that through His name everyone who believes in Him receives
forgiveness of sins.”

However dark things may seem, the LORD is at work to rescue those who believe in Him! It was so of Peter. The very people that walked and fellowshipped with Jesus did not understand the full meaning of His death until they were directed to the Gentiles with the message of salvation. It was so also of Cornelius, who was believing in God and was praying to Him, but had yet to believe in Jesus and His death and resurrection. Both Peter and Cornelius were for awhile in the dark concerning the ultimate purpose of God; and they remained so until the LORD revealed His will to them.

Even now, centuries removed from the actual event of Christ’s death and resurrection, we who are believers, scramble to fully understand the entire scope of His life and ministry. Is it not possible that He is now leaving us somewhat in the dark in order that we might continue to walk by faith and not by sight?

We cannot and will not deny the findings of His love and protection we have uncovered in His Holy Word! Yet, we fully and faithfully admit our lack of understanding of these recent adversities He has allowed to fall upon us and our nation. As with those first century disciples, we must learn to walk by faith until the LORD gives us full sight. What we can know and must do is believe that “God causes all things to work together for good to those who love God…(and) are called according to His purpose” (Rom. 8:28). As with Peter, He has called us to share His Good News. Even Jesus, our LORD and Savior said, “…I must be about my Father’s business” (Lk 2:49 KJV).

Therefore, we must not despair! Let those who rage continue to do so. Our responsibility is not to extinguish rage, but to share the Good News! Tell someone about Jesus today! You’ll both be better off when you do!

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,

Daniel 2:20-23, “Daniel answered and said, “Let the name of God be blessed forever and ever, For
wisdom and power belong to Him.
21 “And it is He who changes the times and the epochs; He removes kings and establishes kings; He
gives wisdom to wise men, And knowledge to men of understanding.
22 “It is He who reveals the profound and hidden things; He knows what is in the darkness, And the
light dwells with Him.
23 “To Thee, O God of my fathers, I give thanks and praise, For Thou hast given me wisdom and
power; Even now Thou hast made known to me what we requested of Thee, For Thou hast made
known to us the king’s matter.”

Who among us has not had a dream? Sometimes our dreams are clear to us when we awaken, sometimes they are not. But don’t we all wonder what they mean or why we dreamed in the first place? Nebuchadnezzar had such a dream and he called in all of his magicians and sorcerers and demanded that they reveal to him what the dream was and also give him the meaning. We’re not told whether he
had forgotten the dream or whether he simply wanted to be sure they did not give him a meaning unrelated to the dream.

When his interpreters could not even reveal the dream, he was at a loss to ever know what it meant.
But, Daniel, who had forged a friendship with Arioch, the captain of the kings’ bodyguard, was then allowed to give the interpretation of the dream. But, before giving the interpretation, Daniel engaged in serious prayer with the LORD God. His prayer is noted in our verses above.

Daniel commenced praying by giving praise to the LORD. He acknowledge the LORD’s sovereignty in all matters. He credits the LORD with both removing and establishing kings. He notes the LORD’s divine provisions and confesses his sin, asking forgiveness. He prayed for deliverance from all evil, and concludes his prayer with overt praise to the LORD!

Nearly 20 years ago, the LORD led me to see a definite parallel between Daniel’s prayer and the Model
Prayer of Matthew 6:9-13. Serious, continueal prayer is the key to peace within ourselves and within our nation. With every notation of political leaders, we should look beyond their declarations and trust the LORD. Some are themselves true believers; some are not. Yet, this nation –the United States of America—was founded upon the principles of God’s Word.

It was Alexis de Tocqueville who said,

“I sought for the greatness and genius of America in her commodious harbors and her ample rivers—
and it was not there. . . . . in her fertile fields and boundless forests—and it was not there. . . . .in her
rich mines and her vast world commerce—and it was not there. . . . in her democratic Congress and
her matchless Constitution—and it was not there. Not until I went into the churches of America and
heard her pulpits flame with righteousness did I understand the secret of her genius and power.
America is great because she is good, and if America ever ceases to be good, she will cease to be great.”

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,

Acts 7:51-60, “You men who are stiff-necked and uncircumcised in heart and ears are always resisting
the Holy Spirit; you are doing just as your fathers did.
52 “Which one of the prophets did your fathers not persecute? And they killed those who had previously
announced the coming of the Righteous One, whose betrayers and murderers you have now
become;
53 you who received the law as ordained by angels, and yet did not keep it.”
54 Now when they heard this, they were cut to the quick, and they began gnashing their teeth at him.
55 But being full of the Holy Spirit, he gazed intently into heaven and saw the glory of God, and Jesus
standing at the right hand of God;
56 and he said, “Behold, I see the heavens opened up and the Son of Man standing at the right hand of
God.”
57 But they cried out with a loud voice, and covered their ears, and they rushed upon him with one
impulse.
58 And when they had driven him out of the city, they began stoning him, and the witnesses laid aside
their robes at the feet of a young man named Saul.”
59 And they went on stoning Stephen as he called upon the Lord and said, “Lord Jesus, receive my
spirit!”
60 And falling on his knees, he cried out with a loud voice, “Lord, do not hold this sin against them!”
And having said this, he fell asleep.”

A number of men have said it, but the meaning remains the same: “The one thing we learn from history is that we do not learn from history.” This is indeed a truism borne out of the clear historical recitation of Stephen. Anyone who wants a brief and accurate history of Israel needs to look no further than the seventh chapter of the Acts of the Apostles.

It is more than probable that those synagogue officials listening that day understood quite clearly that Stephen was right and that they were locked in disobedience against the people of Israel and against Israel’s God. Are we not just like them? We know what is right, because it is clearly set forth in Holy Scripture. Yet, we love doing what we want more than what the LORD wants of us. It’s much the same as our failure to obey our loving parents, only it’s even more serious when our instruction has come from God!

Sadly, there are those today who are suffering the fate of Stephen because they elect to follow the LORD rather than the instruction of others. Note that Stephen never pled for his life. He threw himself upon the mercy of his loving Heavenly Father and prayed for his executioners in his dying hour. He did not fear death for it was merely the opening to him of his Heavenly Home. Instead, he prayed for those whose actions opposed the LORD of history: “LORD, Jesus, receive my spirit…do not hold this sin against them.” Stephen’s dying prayer paralleled the words of his dying Savior: “Father, forgive them; for they do not know what they are doing” (Lk. 23:34).

What an example Stephen leaves for us, as he follows the teaching of our Master: “…love your enemies, and pray for those who persecute you” (Mat. 5:44). What happens to us does not matter.
How we react to persecution does! We can learn from history, if only we will.

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,

Acts 6:1-4, “Now at this time while the disciples were increasing in number, a complaint arose on the
part of the Hellenistic Jews against the native Hebrews, because their widows were being overlooked
in the daily serving of food.
2 And the twelve summoned the congregation of the disciples and said, ‘It is not desirable for us to
neglect the word of God in order to serve tables.
3 “But select from among you, brethren, seven men of good reputation, full of the Spirit and of wisdom,
whom we may put in charge of this task.
4 ‘But we will devote ourselves to prayer, and to the ministry of the word.’”

Historically, the Church has always experienced difficulty. Some comes from those outside, who are opposed to the teaching; some comes from within, because not everyone behaves as the LORD wishes It is always the same. Rectification of both issues appears to be impossible. In the instance of our Scripture, however, wisdom reigned supreme! The twelve disciples gave instruction to the congregation to select seven reputable, spiritual men to attend to the physical needs. The disciples continually devoted themselves to prayer and the ministry of the Word.

Interestingly, of the seven selected to be “deacons,” all were selected from the Hellenists (Greek-speaking Jews), the group that was complaining. Stephen, the first selected, is mentioned only seven times in the Bible. Philip is noted 19 times, but later becomes an evangelist. The remaining five are never mentioned again. Sometimes those who do the work fail to garner mention. That’s important only in that they never complained. The LORD saw their labor, and He sees ours. That’s all that matters.

The overall benefit was that the disciples (pastors, teachers) were not detered from prayer and ministry of the Word. The Church exists for the glory of God. There are many facets to ministry both inside and outside the Church. Yet, that which ministers spiritually must always viewed as of greater value. No ministry ever supersedes that of the Word of God! When ministers become encumbered with physical things that sublemate the study of the Word and prayer, it is time to assign others to those tasks.

We should be attentive to needs within our churches and always be ready to assist in practical matters.
At the same time, we should be prayerful with respect to all things and minister spritually as we go about our daily lives. Engage in a mental survey of those who need your prayers and biblical encouragement. And take no notice of whether you are mentioned. That is such that glorifies God!

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