The Grands Letter

Dear Grands,

Psalm 30:1-5, “I will extol You, O LORD, for You have lifted me up, and have not let my enemies rejoice over me.
2 O LORD my God, I cried to You for help, and You healed me.
3 O LORD, You have brought up my soul from Sheol; You have kept me alive, that I would not go down to the pit.
4 Sing praise to the LORD, you His godly ones, and give thanks to His holy name.
5 For His anger is but for a moment, His favor is for a lifetime; Weeping may last for the night, but a shout of joy comes in the morning.”

The enemies of the LORD’s people are numerous and often quite subtle. Some people can smile broadly and speak as if they are your friends while they are plotting to erase you along with the good work you do! Discovering their plot does nothing to ease the hurt. It is better that we simply praise the LORD and leave all things in His faithful hands.

When we come to understand that He is attending to our needs, we have reason to rejoice and praise His Name! When we praise Him even before we understand, His plan is revealed all the more quickly! It is then that we learn that He has preserved us from death and we can “sing praise to the LORD…and give thanks to His holy Name!”

Even the anger of the LORD is but for a moment. The loving favor He shows is for a lifetime. “Weeping may last for the night, but a shout of joy comes in the morning!” So, keep a good thought. Don’t ever give up on the LORD! He’s the only one we can ultimately trust.

Heartily in Christ Jesus,

(Dado III)

P. S. Please pray for a young couple who have migrated to the USA.
They are quality Christians with fresh new Green Cards, but have
needs like we’ve all experienced in migration to a new country.

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 28:1-2, 6-9, “To You, O LORD, I call; my Rock, do not be deaf to me, for if You are silent to me, I will become like those who go down to the pit.
2 Hear the voice of my supplications when I cry to You for help, when I lift up my hands toward Your holy sanctuary.”
———–
6 “Blessed be the LORD, because He has heard the voice of my supplication.
7 The LORD is my strength and my shield; my heart trusts in Him, and I am helped; therefore my heart exults, and with my song I shall thank Him.
8 The LORD is their strength, and He is a saving defense to His anointed.
9 Save Your people and bless Your inheritance; be their shepherd also, and carry them forever.”

Did you ever try to get your father’s attention when he was reading the paper? Such is virtually impossible! I remember trying it often. Well, have you ever prayed earnestly for something, but never received it? In such times, it seems as if the LORD simply has no interest in listening to us. My guess is that most of those who pray and hear no response, simply quit praying. Like David, they reckon they might as well be dead.

But, the psalmist soon learned that the LORD had heard his prayer. Maybe when we pray He waits to see if we are really serious about what we were asking. Maybe He wants us to rethink what we are asking. In any event, the LORD heard the psalmist’s prayer, and the psalmist praised Him for it.

We live in an “instantaneous” society. If you’ve ever visited a third-world country, you’d understand what it is to wait for an answer to anything! We must remember that all timing is the LORD’s timing. He is never rushed; He is never late in responding. We must simply trust Him when we ask. Oh, and one other thing: we must thank Him in advance. For with all that we might remember, saying “Thank You” is too often what we forget.

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 20:6-9, “Now I know that the LORD saves His anointed; He will answer him from His holy heaven with the saving strength of His right hand.
7 Some boast in chariots and some in horses, but we will boast in the name of the LORD, our God.
8 They have bowed down and fallen, but we have risen and stood upright.
9 Save, O LORD; may the King answer us in the day we call.”

Confidence and arrogance are not the same. Confidence depicts man’s absolute trust in the LORD; arrogance is man’s prideful trust in himself.

The Psalmist believes in the LORD, who rescues those who have confidence in Him. His dominant right hand possesses strength well beyond that of mere mortal man. And it is in His strength that we trust!

Mortal man, on the contrary, relies upon material possessions that his pride tells him are sufficient. Yet, those items break down, leaving him without sufficient weapons to thwart the enemy. Without God, man is doomed to failure.

Simultaneously, the LORD’s people stand upright. They cry to Him for salvation, and faithfully trust Him to answer their petitions of need. History is replete with accounts of those who were redeemed when they called upon Him. Do you have an insurmountable problem? The LORD will answer when you call upon Him in true, believing faith.

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 20:1-5, “May the LORD answer you in the day of trouble! May the name of the God of Jacob set you securely on high!
2 May He send you help from the sanctuary and support you from Zion!
3 May He remember all your meal offerings and find your burnt offering acceptable! Selah.
4 May He grant you your heart’s desire and fulfill all your counsel!
5 We will sing for joy over your victory, and in the name of our God we will set up our banners. May the LORD fulfill all your petitions.”

If anyone is in doubt with regard to national and international troubles throughout the world today, he is himself in as deep a trouble as the nations of this world. It is now personally reported by Rudy Giuliani himself that during the attack on the World Trade Center buildings, he prayed, saying, “Dear God, please make it right.”

God does hear and answer prayer. He is able to secure and protect all who are in serious trouble. He has innumerable angels and power to help in man’s time of need. At the same time, His help is reserved for those who have remembered Him and whom He numbers as His own. To those alone who have trusted Him, He offers His counsel and hears their earnest petitions.

It is noted, however, throughout the Scriptures that mankind cannot live apart from the LORD, outside of His will, and then expect to receive His blessing when things go wrong.

Some cute littles boys live on my street. Were they in need, I certainly would notice. I would, however, have no responsibility to help them. They have parents and they are responsible for the boys’ needs. So it is with God. We must belong to Him before He is responsible and can expect His answers to our prayers.

Do you belong to Him? If not, ask first His forgiveness for your sins. Trust Him as your LORD and Savior. Then trust Him to “fulfill all your petitions.” He wants you first to belong to Him.

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 19:12-14, “Who can discern his errors? Acquit me of hidden faults.
13 Also keep back Your servant from presumptuous sins; Let them not rule over me; Then I will be blameless, And I shall be acquitted of great transgression.
14 Let the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart Be acceptable in Your sight, O LORD, my rock and my Redeemer.”

How many persons hauled into court and accused of a crime, readily admit their guilt? Not many. Yet, it’s not because they don’t know what they’ve done; they simply want to be acquitted of their wrong doing.

“Hidden faults” are not concealed from the LORD. On one occasion, His representative said, “…the eyes of the LORD move to and fro throughout the earth that He may strongly support those whose heart is completely His” (2 Chronicles 16:9). Put another way, The LORD does not fend for those whose hearts are not committed to Him.

He is sympathetic, however, for those who plead for forgiveness for presumptuous sin –that’s when we know we’re doing wrong, and do it anyway. Repentance addresses both internal and external wrong-doing. It’s not just the “words of (one’s) mouth”; it’s the hidden thoughts of one’s heart. Both must be acceptable to the LORD.

And in the end, He is our rock –our stability—and with our repentance, He lovingly and powerfully snatches us from the vice-grip of sin. He is our Redeemer! Praise His Holy Name!

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