The Grands Letter

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

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