The Grands Letter

Dear Grands,

Psalm 19:7-11, “The law of the LORD is perfect, restoring the soul; the testimony of the LORD is sure, making wise the simple.
8 The precepts of the LORD are right, rejoicing the heart; the commandment of the LORD is pure, enlightening the eyes.
9 The fear of the LORD is clean, enduring forever; the judgments of the LORD are true; they are righteous altogether.
10 They are more desirable than gold, yes, than much fine gold; Sweeter also than honey and the drippings of the honeycomb.
11 Moreover, by them Your servant is warned; In keeping them there is great reward.”

The deluge of legal petitions to the courts today is demonstrative of unrest within the people. Virtually everywhere we turn there is a factious spirit prevailing against someone. The ultimate answer, of course, lies in the Word of the LORD, contained in Holy Scripture. His law is His instruction concerning our behavior.

The testimony of the LORD speaks of His supreme directive with respect to all human conduct. His precepts are His injunctions concerning our moral conduct. Yet, none of this is optional. It is the supreme mandate of Almighty God.

The “Fear of God” in Scripture bespeaks our reverential awe of the LORD; and the judgments tell of our obligation to Him and to our fellowman. If only we would value what we have in His Word, and would devote ourselves to worshipping Him with full and clean hearts! We would then commence to realize it is better to behave than to grumble.

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 16:1-11, “Preserve me, O God, for I take refuge in You.
2 I said to the LORD, “You are my Lord; I have no good besides You.”
3 As for the saints who are in the earth, they are the majestic ones in whom is all my delight.
4 The sorrows of those who have bartered for another god will be multiplied; I shall not pour out their drink offerings of blood, nor will I take their names upon my lips.
5 The LORD is the portion of my inheritance and my cup; You support my lot.
6 The lines have fallen to me in pleasant places; indeed, my heritage is beautiful to me.
7 I will bless the LORD who has counseled me; indeed, my mind instructs me in the night.
8 I have set the LORD continually before me; because He is at my right hand, I will not be shaken.
9 Therefore, my heart is glad and my glory rejoices; my flesh also will dwell securely.
10 For You will not abandon my soul to Sheol; nor will You allow Your Holy One to undergo decay.
11 You will make known to me the path of life; in Your presence is fullness of joy; in Your right hand there are pleasures forever.”

Why do we put all of our confidence in God? If He is competent to fend for us when we are in trouble, why do we not bask in His presence when trouble does not invade our presence?

David, the psalmist, declares the LORD to be his inheritance. He seeks no other. He delights also in others, who view the LORD as their inheritance and provider. David sees that some have “bartered for another god”; and he determines not to align with them. “My heritage is beautiful to me,” he says.

I remember conversing with a man who drove an old Chevrolet. He was well-to-do and I knew he could afford a new car. “Why do you drive this old car?” I impudently asked. “I know you could afford a better one.” His reply was classic! “This one gets me where I want to go and gets me back home. What could a new one that this one cannot?” This was David’s position about the LORD. Whom could he trust other than the LORD? Why would he even try?

Let your heart bless the LORD at all times! He is your Provider! He is your strength! He will not abandon you! He will make known to you the path He has for your life. In His presence is the “fullness of joy”; and “in (His) right hand there are pleasures forever.”

“There’s not a friend like the lowly Jesus;
No, not one; no not one.”

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,

Ecclesiastes 12:10-14, “The Preacher sought to find delightful words and to write words of truth correctly.
11 The words of wise men are like goads, and masters of these collections are like well-driven nails; they are given by one Shepherd.
12 But beyond this, my son, be warned: the writing of many books is endless, and excessive devotion to books is wearying to the body.
13 The conclusion, when all has been heard, is: fear God and keep His commandments, because this applies to every person.
14 For God will bring every act to judgment, everything which is hidden, whether it is good or evil.”

Have you ever wondered how many books there are in the world? It’s truly difficult to be specific. If by “book,” we mean one copy of one specific title, one source says, “…the number of unique books in existence as of halfway through 2016 is 134,021,533 total.”

The writers Solomon had in mind used delightful, colorful words that made reading a joy, as they worked to express truth through what they wrote –truth that hopefully would keep the reader true in all his endeavors. At the same time, the best of writings contained “goads” and “nails” that kept the reader mentally encouraged to be the best he could be at all times and in every situation.

Solomon’s parental warning was to avoid excessive devotion to reading, as it is a weariness of the human mind and body. His emphasis, however, regarded his son’s relationship with Almighty God. There is but “one Shepherd”; thus, the bottom line is: “fear God and keep His commandments.” For it is He, the Shepherd, who will assess all things done by all mankind. Neither they nor we can do wrong and get by. We will all be required to give account of our lives one day. As of now, it’s not too late to change.

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 12:1-8, “Help, LORD, for the godly man ceases to be, for the faithful disappear from among the sons of men.
2 They speak falsehood to one another; with flattering lips and with a double heart they speak.
3 May the LORD cut off all flattering lips, the tongue that speaks great things;
4 Who have said, ‘With our tongue we will prevail; our lips are our own; who is lord over us?’
5 “’Because of the devastation of the afflicted, because of the groaning of the needy, now I will arise,’ says the LORD; ‘I will set him in the safety for which he longs.’
6 The words of the LORD are pure words; as silver tried in a furnace on the earth, refined seven times.
7 You, O LORD, will keep them; You will preserve him from this generation forever.
8 The wicked strut about on every side When vileness is exalted among the sons of men.”

With wicked and selfish people abounding in our nation and throughout the world, do you ever find yourself doubting whether there are any good, moral, spiritually-minded Christian people left on this Earth? If you do, you’re closely aligned with the thinking of David, as he cries out for help from the LORD.

David pleads with the LORD to put an end to the self-aggrandizing words of those who haughtily claim, “Our lips are our own; who is lord over us?” The LORD hears and determines to assist the needy. ‘I will set him in the safety for which he longs,’ says the LORD, whose words “are pure words, like silver tried in a furnace.”

We must now embrace and exhibit the sure confidence of David, when he declares, that the LORD…“will preserve (us) from this vile generation forever.” It is difficult to even think well of those who “strut about on every side when putrefaction is exalted among the sons of men.” Yet, our focus must be and remain fixed on the One whose love and power is devoted to the preservation of those who call and know Him as “Savior.”

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 11:1-7, “In the LORD I take refuge; How can you say to my soul, ‘Flee as a bird to your mountain;
2 For, behold, the wicked bend the bow, They make ready their arrow upon the string To shoot in darkness at the upright in heart.
3 If the foundations are destroyed, What can the righteous do?’
4 The LORD is in His holy temple; the LORD’S throne is in heaven; His eyes behold, His eyelids test the sons of men.
5 The LORD tests the righteous and the wicked, And the one who loves violence His soul hates.
6 Upon the wicked He will rain snares; Fire and brimstone and burning wind will be the portion of their cup.
7 For the LORD is righteous, He loves righteousness; The upright will behold His face.”

With every opposition, there is a time to run, and there is a time to stand. David has enemies, but the LORD is his refuge. Apparently, the LORD had instructed David to flee as birds flee when under attack. Yet, David replies with a question: How can I run away to safety when enemies are everywhere on the attack?

David assumes that his enemies will succeed unless he is ready and willing to fight. “If the foundations are destroyed, what can the righteous do?” But the LORD is aware that He alone is capable of routing the enemies of His people. David, too, is aware of the supreme capabilities of the LORD, yet has he forgotten?

Sometimes the LORD wants us out-of-the-way so He can gain the victory for us. At other times, He wishes us to be in the battle with Him. Isn’t that just like a good father, who wants his children to observe what he is doing that they might learn to do it themselves? Yet, at other times, he wants them safely removed from any disaster that might befall them.

How is any child of God to know what his Father wants? He “beholds His face.” Keep your eyes focused on the Face of the LORD and keep your ears tuned to His frequency. He will tell you what to do when it’s your time to get into the game.

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