The Grands Letter

Dear Grands,

Isaiah 38:15-19, “What shall I say? For He has spoken to me, and He Himself has done it; I will wander about all my years because of the bitterness of my soul.
16 “O Lord, by these things men live, and in all these is the life of my spirit; O restore me to health and let me live!
17 “Lo, for my own welfare I had great bitterness; it is You who has kept my soul from the pit of nothingness, for You have cast all my sins behind Your back.
18 “For Sheol cannot thank You, death cannot praise You; Those who go down to the pit cannot hope for Your faithfulness.
19 “It is the living who give thanks to You, as I do today; A father tells his sons about Your faithfulness.”

I’m sure in the past that I have utilized a small part of this space to tell of a man,
whose house was on fire, whose horse was tied and could not escape, and who
himself was inside his house and, baring rescue, would certainly have died in the flames. Although rescued by his loving neighbors, he never said, “Thank you.” What he did say was, “That’s what neighbors is for.”

When was the last time you said “Thank you” to someone? Earlier today (as of this writing), I received an email from a friend. I immediately responded with a “Thank you!” It’s a two-word sentence that anyone can express. Even a child’s
sweet little “tank to” is meaningfully expressive and graciously appreciated.

Most, if not all, who are reading these lines, have friends or loved ones to whom
they failed to say “Thank you.” Sheol is the place of the dead. There is no current
communication with those in Sheol; thus, we cannot say “Thank you!” to any
whom we neglected when they were living.

There are few mentions of “thank You” in Scripture, yet even fewer than from those for whom the Scripures were written. It doesn’t take long to say two words. And whatever else might be said, those two words will be remembered without fail. Look for opportunities to say them. They will soften and sweeten the spirit
of those for whom they are intended; and they will soften and sweeten the spirit
of the doer. “Thank you for reading this Grands Letter.”

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,

Proverbs 3:5-13, “Trust in the LORD with all your heart and do not lean on your own understanding.
6 In all your ways acknowledge Him, and He will make your paths straight.
7 Do not be wise in your own eyes; fear the LORD and turn away from evil.
8 It will be healing to your body and refreshment to your bones.
9 Honor the LORD from your wealth and from the first of all your produce;
10 So your barns will be filled with plenty and your vats will overflow with new wine.
11 My son, do not reject the discipline of the LORD Or loathe His reproof,
12 For whom the LORD loves He reproves, even as a father corrects the son in whom he delights.
13 How blessed is the man who finds wisdom and the man who gains understanding.”

The key to confidence is one of the most valuable assets a person may have. It is especially valuable when that confidence rests in the LORD. Some of you, who are reading this just now. know how devistating it when trust rests on one’s self alone. It’s often the same when we look to others to provide what we need, but have discovered no confidence in them as well.

We are encouraged to place all of our trust in the LORD. It does not matter what the subject is, or how dedicated the closest of friends may be, no one will ever care for you like Jesus. That’s why the Word says, “In all your ways, acknowledge Him…”

“But, how do we know we can trust Him?” you ask. The answer is plane and simple: If you cannot trust the LORD Jesus and the Holy Spirit of God, who can you trust? It’s like being on the bottom floor with only one elevator button marked “UP.” There’s only one sure way. “Don’t be wise in your own eyes…” (v. 7). Do what He leads you to do –nothing else!

The Father has two choices for you: honor the LORD (vv.9ff) or “reject (His) discipline” (v. 11).
You know the one that is wise. Follow His leadership! Reject only what He rejects! You will
“find wisdom” and “gain understanding.”

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,

1 Corinthians 1:1-8, “Paul, a called apostle of Jesus Christ by the will of God, and Sosthenes our brother, to the church of God which is at Corinth, to those who have been sanctified in Christ Jesus, saints by calling, with all who in every place call on the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, their Lord and ours:
3 Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.
4 I thank my God always concerning you for the grace of God, which was given you in Christ Jesus,
5 that in everything you were enriched in Him, in all speech and all knowledge,
6 even as the testimony concerning Christ was confirmed in you,
7 so that you are not lacking in any gift, awaiting eagerly the revelation of our Lord Jesus Christ,
8 who will also confirm you to the end, blameless in the day of our Lord Jesus Christ.”

Have you ever wished you could just turn back the calendar and start all over again? So many things you missed… so many people you would have liked to have called
“friends.” Well, in some things, that might not be bad. In others, it would likey best be
left alone.

Do you remember Sosthenes? His name is mentioned but twice in Scripture. In
Acts 18, he is undoubtedly “the leader of the synagogue,” the one who cared nothing
for the beating that was administered to the Apostle Paul. You would not have wanted
to know Sosthenes then.

On the other hand in our passage above, Sosthenes was recognized as a brother in
Christ by none other than the Apostle Paul himself. At that point in time, Sosthenes
is called “our brother,” meaning “our spiritual brother in Christ.” What a transformation!!
The “grace” of God had ministered peace to Sosthenes. He was now a spiritual brother
to the one whose beating he had previously ignored.

Spiritual transformation made a difference! It still does! Those we once despized, we
now abundantly love! Those we once distrusted, we now trust and honestly embrace
as “brothers” in Christ Jesus.

The Apostle Paul had administered a sufficiency of punishment to the Christians. Now,
he was standing on “the other side of the fence.” He had learned to love! And love was
the missing link in his life.

Is there a “missing link” in your life? It just could be, if you are doubting that members
of Hamas can change. You did! Remember? Yes, they can, too! It takes but a moment
of time. Just say, “Yes!” to the LORD, who longs to “change” you into His likeness.
When you surrender to Him, you will experience a spiritual transformation in your life!
You won’t remain quiet; but you will surely remain changed!

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,

Matthew 7:7-14, “Ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you.
8 “For everyone who asks receives, and he who seeks finds, and to him who knocks it will be opened.
9 “Or what man is there among you who, when his son asks for a loaf, will give him a stone?
10 “Or if he asks for a fish, he will not give him a snake, will he?
11 “If you then, being evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father who is in heaven give what is good to those who ask Him!
12 “In everything, therefore, treat people the same way you want them to treat you, for this is the Law and the Prophets.
13 “Enter through the narrow gate; for the gate is wide and the way is broad that leads to destruction, and there are many who enter through it.
14 “For the gate is small and the way is narrow that leads to life, and there are few who find it.”

No writings of mankind are in any way, shape, or matter, comparable to the Holy Scriptures! And no writings of Holy Scripture, notwithstanding their inerrancy and inestimable value, are superior to the words of the LORD Jesus in the passage above. It is the sure way of salvation from the lips of the Master Himself.

The words, “ask…seek…and knock” presuppose a continuous activity of extremely heightened importance. Further, their ultimate discovery relates to spiritual salvation. Christ compares our spiritual search to a boy’s human request of his earthly father.
And our Heavenly Father wants to give us salvation even more urgently than our earthly father wants to provide for his son.

He concludes this brief passage with the encouragement to “enter through the narrow
gate…for the gate is small and the way is narrow that leads to life, and there are few
who find it.” Have you discovered the way of salvation? Are you aware of how greatly
the LORD desires you to become one of His spiritual family? Let me restate the way:

“AND IT SHALL BE THAT EVERYONE WHO CALLS ON THE
NAME OF THE LORD WILL BE SAVED” (Acts 2:21).

“WHOEVER WILL CALL ON THE NAME OF THE LORD WILL
BE SAVED” (Rom. 10:13).

Give your heart and life to Jesus Christ today! It’s life at its best –and it’s eternal!

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,

Ezra 9:5-8, “But at the evening offering I arose from my humiliation, even with my garment and my robe torn, and I fell on my knees and stretched out my hands to the LORD my God;
6 and I said, “O my God, I am ashamed and embarrassed to lift up my face to You, my God, for our iniquities have risen above our heads and our guilt has grown even to the heavens.
7 “Since the days of our fathers to this day we have been in great guilt, and on account of our iniquities we, our kings and our priests have been given into the hand of the kings of the lands, to the sword, to captivity and to plunder and to open shame, as it is this day.
8 “But now for a brief moment grace has been shown from the LORD our God, to leave us an escaped remnant and to give us a peg in His holy place, that our God may enlighten our eyes and grant us a little reviving in our bondage.”

Have you ever sinned so deeply that you hesitated to go to God in prayer? Shame that had so gripped Ezra was not his alone; however, he shamefully hid his face from the LORD. The vice-grip of sin tightly held him; prayer was his only alternative. Have you ever been there? Of course, you have! So had the song-writer who penned the words: “Where could I go, but to the LORD?”

Failing to confess sin and receive forgiveness from the LORD only exacerbates the situation. There is no rest this side of forgiveness! Conviction does not fade with the
arrival of sunlight. Guilt prevails until the one against whom we have sinned genuinely forgives us!

Yet, Ezra’s shame was not his own alone. The LORD had given them the land; yet, the kings and priests of Ezra’s day had surrendered it all to those from whom the LORD had seized it! Now, the LORD’s people, suffering from fear, surrendered the land to those from whom the LORD had taken it. Shameless! They feared man more than they
loved and feared God! Ever been there?

To his credit (if he has any), Ezra, “now for a brief moment,” receives Divine Grace
from the LORD. He has extended His grace to the “escaped remnant” and given them
“a peg, or nail,” to which they can fasten their faith in His answer to prayer. May He
“enlighten our eyes” and “grant us a little reviving in our bondage.”

Until the LORD comes again; and until we, who are committed to Him, are caught up to
meet Him in the air, we will be in bondage to sin and in need of His forgiveness. The
answer to relief from bondage to sin is being committed to bondage in the grace of our LORD! It is He, who reminds us: “…My yoke is easy and My burden is light” (Matt. 11:30).

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