The Grands Letter

Dear Grands,

Psalm 32:8-11, “I will instruct you and teach you in the way which you should go; I will counsel you with My eye upon you.
9 Do not be as the horse or as the mule which have no understanding, whose trappings include bit and bridle to hold them in check, otherwise they will not come near to you.
10 Many are the sorrows of the wicked, but he who trusts in the LORD, lovingkindness shall surround him.
11 Be glad in the LORD and rejoice, you righteous ones; and shout for joy, all you who are upright in heart.”

Which way do I go? Which way shall I turn? Whom shall I trust? There are multiple voices in today’s world that purport to guide us, but which if any is the right voice? Yet, when the verse reads “I will counsel you with My eye upon you,” it is certain that the “eye” is not that of the mere human writer. Further, the instruction includes a warning that we are not to be as the animals that have no understanding within themselves. Could that Voice not be the Voice of Almighty God?

Who else knows of our sorrows? or the sorrows of the wicked that live among us? Who knows of the available trust that resides for us in the LORD? Who, other than the LORD, surrounds us with His love and mercy in our time of need?

“Be glad in the LORD,” the Scriptures say. Listen carefully to His counsel. Obey His instructions. He cares for us and has a wonderful plan for our lives!

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 Corinthians 12:2, “I know a man in Christ, who fourteen years ago— whether in the body I do not know, or out of the body I do not know, God knows– such a man was caught up to the third heaven…”

This verse demonstrates the three heavens: The clouds of Earth are the first; the Spirit realm is the second; and God’s realm is the third.

The 3rd Heaven is occupied by the Father and the Son, along with the unfallen, righteous angels (Psalm 115:3). The 2nd Heaven is occupied by Satan and demon spirits (fallen angels) (Eph. 1:21; 6:12; & Col. 1:16). The 1st Heaven, including the clouds of Earth, is occupied by mankind and intruding evil spirits (Psalm 115:16).

The purpose of this diagram is to demonstrate that every difficulty experienced by persons on Earth is a human reflection of what actually occurs in the Spirit realm (the 2nd Heaven). My thesis is that everything –ranging from personal depression, through domestic disturbance, community unrest and all-out war –everything occurs first in the Spirit realm, then is reflected in what we would call “human circumstances” on Earth.

Note well the Scriptural references embedded throughout the diagram. Daniel 10:5-20 speaks clearly of spiritual warfare. Daniel was distressed by the message he had
received and mourned over it for three entire weeks. Subsequently, he encountered an unnamed angel, who revealed that his prayers had come before the LORD
immediately upon their utterance. Resultantly, the angel was dispensed to carry the LORD’s reply to Daniel.

Why did it take so long? There was a spiritual warfare that occurred in the Spirit realm. Obviously, Satan’s overriding purpose was to hinder the work of the LORD; and according to the Angel, had it not been for the arrival of the angel Michael, the message’s reply might have been delayed even further.

How many times people do things and say things, the
rationale for which they do not know. “Why did I do that?”
they say; or, “Why did I say that? I didn’t intend to say that.”
We are not pawns on a chess board; but, there is an unseen world where battles of various dimensions rage, the results of which end up in the visible, human equation.

The key to locking up demonic powers, while simultaneously unlocking the power of God, lies in prayer –our prayer—uttered in an unadulterated faith that trusts everything to the LORD our 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

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