The Grands Letter

Dear Grands,

1 Samuel 1:19-20, “Then they arose early in the morning and worshiped before the LORD, and returned again to their house in Ramah. And Elkanah had relations with Hannah his wife, and the LORD remembered her.
20 It came about in due time, after Hannah had conceived, that she gave birth to a son; and she named him Samuel, saying, “Because I have asked him of the LORD.”

It is the purpose of the LORD that women should bear children and so populate the human race. Hannah was one of Elkanah’s two wives, but she was baren. Women are often troubled when they do not have children, and such was the way with Hannah. Every year Elkanah would go to Shiloh to worship and sacrifice to the LORD. Hannah, however, refused to go. She was in great distress and prayed fervently to the LORD that she might have a child. In due time, Hannah conceived a son and named him Samuel, because she had “asked him of the LORD.”

The lack of children is but one of the distresses familes encounter. Still, the answer to any and all of the difficulties we face lies in our relationship and fellowship with the LORD. Relationship always precedes fellowship, because there is no fellowship with the LORD until we have become a spiritual member of His family. Thereafter, we must maintain an acceptable fellowship with Him, prayer being a heavy part of that fellowship.

The LORD knew Hannah’s distress, and she sought to erase it through her fevent prayers. Untimately, in the LORD’s own timing, He answered her prayers and gave her a son. She named the son Samuel, meaning “name of God.” Hannah loved her son, but she doubtlessly loved the LORD more. For when the boy was weaned, she gave him to the prophet Eli and he trained the boy for service in the house of the LORD.

Not all family situations conclude as well as this one did; nevertheless, the principle of substantial prayer is borne out for all of us to see. Hannah’s prayers persisted. She did not give up until she had what she asked. How often we pray a pithy prayer and then seek to blame the LORD for not answering. When we follow the life of Samuel, we clearly see the value of his life and of his mother’s prayers. Don’t give up praying! Keep on keeping on. The LORD wants to know how serious we are before He replies.

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,

Ruth 1:9, “May the LORD grant that you may find rest, each in the house of her husband.” Then she kissed them, and they lifted up their voices and wept.”

One tragedy in a lifetime is quite enough. But Elimelech and Naomi suffered two. First there was a famine in Judah and they had to move to Moab to find food. Then, their two sons, Mahlon and Chilion both died, each leaving a wife behind. When the famine in Judah was over, Elimelech and Naomi determined to return to their homeland. The two daughters-in-law wanted to go with them. Orpah finally returned to her own home; but Ruth showed resolve, staying with Naomi and Elimelech and going to Judah.

In time, the Hand of the LORD showed itself in the lives of Naomi and Ruth. Ruth was responsive to do what she could to provide for herself and Naomi. At the same time, Naomi knew that Ruth showed response by gleaning grain at the edges of a field owned by Boaz, a near kinsman.

In the customs of the times, Naomi guided Ruth to be noticed by Boaz. Ultimately, love made a request that suited Boaz quite well. And love reaped its reward in the marriage of Ruth to Boaz. It was a marriage that took some time, but ultimately produced a son named Obed, who became the father of Jesse, who became the father of David, who became the King of Israel! It was a union that the LORD in Heaven had engineered and controlled each step of the way.

The LORD can and will control your life, too –but only when you trust Him as LORD and Savior of your life. Wouldn’t you say it is worth it? And wouldn’t you say He can do better controlling it than you? Just give Him the opportunity!!

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,

Judges 2:12-15, “…and they forsook the LORD, the God of their fathers, who had brought them out of the land of Egypt, and followed other gods from among the gods of the peoples who were around them, and bowed themselves down to them; thus they provoked the LORD to anger.
13 So they forsook the LORD and served Baal and the Ashtaroth.
14 And the anger of the LORD burned against Israel, and He gave them into the hands of plunderers who plundered them; and He sold them into the hands of their enemies around them, so that they could no longer stand before their enemies.
15 Wherever they went, the hand of the LORD was against them for evil, as the LORD had spoken and as the LORD had sworn to them, so that they were severely distressed.”

I love Jewish people! I truly do! Yet, I have to say that they are the stubbornest people with whom I’ve ever dealt. Stubborness is not always a bad thing, yet it was as noted in the verses above. From their earliest days, Israel had been well instructed regarding the LORD’s love and concern for His people. Still, they openly and deliberately wandered from His Divine Instructions and served the pagan gods of other nations.

If that’s how you going to be, the LORD said, I will turn you over to those nations that worship false gods. You will then understand what it is to be ruled by your enemies. From that moment onward, Israel was tormented by the people who were their natural enemies. The gods they all worshipped did nothing for them; and the LORD had turned Himself away from them, too.

As the theme of Judges is, Man wanders; God Restores. But when Israel turned away from the LORD, she had no support military or economic. She had no deliverence from her evil captivity. It works the same with us today. God the Father gave His Son, Jesus Christ to instruct us how to worship the Father. We become so distracted by the evil that engulfs us that we often join with it. Then, we’re in a supreme dilemma! We have no one to deliver us. We are captive to sin with apparently no way out!

But there is a way out! It is through confessing our sin, repudiating it completely, and begging God’s forgiveness. When we do so with complete sincerity, He lovingly forgives us and becomes the Supreme Controller of our lives. Every power within Him is then at our disposal. We are released from sin and learn to worship Him with a true heart and soul. Give Him a chance to show you what He can do with your life! You will never want to turn back to the old and evil ways.

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,

Joshua 21:44-45, “And the LORD gave them rest on every side, according to all that He had sworn to their fathers, and no one of all their enemies stood before them; the LORD gave all their enemies into their hand.
45 Not one of the good promises which the LORD had made to the house of Israel failed; all came
to pass.”

Thinking back, I can recall some promises that were made to me, but never kept. They were not from my parents or my grandparents, but from sincere friends. Looking back, they amounted virtually to nothing. And I have no reason to believe that those who made them were in any measure insincere. Still, they were promises, and they were unfulfilled.

The Bible is full of promises. Some were made by sincere people; some were made by the LORD. And those made by the LORD were always kept! Remember that Joshua and Caleb were the two of the tribe of twelve, who saw the impossibility of possessing the land, yet in faith said, “Let us go up at once, and possess it; for we are well able to overcome it” (Num. 13;30). Later, it was King Solomon, who said, “Blessed be the LORD, who has given rest to His people Israel, according to all that He promised; not one word has failed of all His good promise, which He promised through Moses His servant” (1 Ki. 8:56).

The words “I will” appear in the Bible more than 1800 times! Many are promises the LORD Himself gives to us. Are you looking for guidance in life? Turn to the Scriptures! Are you looking for promises that will not be broken? Turn to the Scriptures! Jesus promises that He will return to Earth some day. The circumstances He sites that will be present on Earth when He comes are swirling about us now. His promises include eternal life for those who believe Him! Do you believe Him? I certainly do! His Word says, “”Believe in the Lord Jesus, and you shall be saved, you and your household” (Acts 16:31).

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,

Deuteronomy 10:12-13, “And now, Israel, what does the LORD your God require from you, but to fear the LORD your God, to walk in all His ways and love Him, and to serve the LORD your God with all your heart and with all your soul,
13 and to keep the LORD’s commandments and His statutes which I am commanding you today for your good?”

“You have WON!” the notation reads. “All that is necessary is for you to show up at the designated place and receive the prize.” It’s an exciting presentation that awaits you— until you arrive and understand that there is more to the “win” than just arriving and receiving the prize.

Some people have that concept of Heaven. Indeed, it is a glorious place, and it’s there for those who have met the LORD’s requirements. But, there’s more required for residency. In fact, there’s more required to just get there than is normally believed. To be sure, it requires a “forward” look. One cannot just bounce around indiscrimately in life with a “hope” that Heaven will be one’s home. It requires meeting the LORD’s standards all the way.

What are those standards? One must fear the LORD; that is, honor Him, and show Him reverence. One must live and walk according to His commandments; one must love Him with an undying love and serve Him with a complete and honest heart and soul. Further one must keep His commandments and statutes because they are always for one’s good. Yet, above everything else, one must believe in the saving grace of Jesus Christ, who died on the Cross and arose from the dead. That’s what it takes to unlock Heaven. It’s not just belonging to a church, or just receiving baptism, or simply living an honest and humble life. It’s trusting Jesus!

I earnestly hope that you have trusted Him. If you haven’t, why not just commit your life to Him right now? Ask Him in a simple prayer to forgive your sins and accept you as one of His own. You will know it when He accepts you. Believe me, you will know it! Then, say “Thank You” with a loving and sincere heart! You’re on your way!

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