The Grands Letter

Dear Grands,

Psalm 112:1-7, “Praise the LORD! How blessed is the man who
fears the LORD, who greatly delights in His commandments.
2 His descendants will be mighty on earth; the generation of the upright will be blessed.
3 Wealth and riches are in his house, and his righteousness
endures forever.
4 Light arises in the darkness for the upright; He is gracious and compassionate and righteous.
5 It is well with the man who is gracious and lends; he will maintain his cause in judgment.
6 For he will never be shaken; the righteous will be remembered forever.
7 He will not fear evil tidings; His heart is steadfast, trusting in the LORD.”

It was Mark Twain (aka, Samuel Clemens) who said to always tell
the truth! “If you tell the truth, you don’t have to remember anything.”
It’s difficult to praise Clemens much beyond this remark because he
embraced atheism. Yet, as the clock on the wall is correct twice a
day, perhaps we can give Clemens a pass with respect to this one
quotation.

The psalmist praises the man who reverences the LORD, delighting
in His commandments. True Light blesses the generation that comes
from the upright. True Light bespeaks strength and riches. The
righteousness of the spiritually and morally upright endures forever!

Intense light argues well with all sorts of darkness. Those living in
this light will be remembered for their steadfast trust in the LORD.
Throughout the Scriptures, Light is synonamus and in line with
“freedom.”

Are you free? Have you been “born again” in Christ Jesus? Are
you walking with Him? He is the Light?

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 Chr 29:11-14, “Yours, O LORD, is the greatness and the power
and the glory and the victory and the majesty, indeed everything
that is in the heavens and the earth; Yours is the dominion, O LORD, and You exalt Yourself as head over all…12Both riches and honor come from You, and You rule over all, and in Your hand is power
and might; and it lies in Your hand to make great and to strengthen everyone. 13 “Now therefore, our God, we thank You, and praise
Your glorious name. 14But who am I and who are my people that we should be able to offer as generously as this? For all things come from You, and from Your hand we have given You.”

Job 42:2, “I know that You can do all things, and that no purpose of Yours can be thwarted.”
Psalm 57:2, “I will cry to God Most High, to God who accomplishes all things for me.”
Prov. 28:5, “Evil men do not understand justice, but those who seek the LORD understand all things.”
Isa 44:24-25, “Thus says the LORD, your Redeemer, and the one who formed you from the womb, ‘I, the LORD, am the maker of all things, stretching out the heavens by Myself and spreading out the earth all alone, causing the omens of boasters to fail, making fools
out of diviners, causing wise men to draw back and turning their knowledge into foolishness…’”

The very last assessment of myself would be to say that I know
everything! I know some things. I know more than some people
I know. And I know some who know much more than I. Yet, the
very first and last thing I would say of myself is that I do not know
everything.

The somewhat random verses listed initially in this Letter tell some
of what several Biblical writers knew and dared to share with us.
We would do well to read them again and again in order that we
might increase our own knowledge of spiritual things – things that
our LORD holds in His tightly-gripped Hand.

Currently, we are living in seriously severe times. That which once could be trusted, can not be trusted today. Elected officials often openly and forcefully lie to the people who elected them. So-called “ministers,” lie when they deny the Bible from which they have supposedly learned. Who can be trusted? Who truly fears the
LORD, who made Heaven and Earth?

Permit me yet one more verse from the Scriptures:

Psalm 111:10: “The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom;
a good understanding have all those who do His commandments;
His praise endures forever.” Think on these things…

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,

Mark 7:32-37, “They brought to Him one who was deaf and spoke with difficulty, and they implored Him to lay His hand on him.
33 Jesus took him aside from the crowd, by himself, and put His fingers into his ears, and after spitting, He touched his tongue with
the saliva;
34 and looking up to heaven with a deep sigh, He said to him, “Ephphatha!” that is, “Be opened!”
35 And his ears were opened, and the impediment of his tongue
was removed, and he began speaking plainly.
36 And He gave them orders not to tell anyone; but the more He ordered them, the more widely they continued to proclaim it.
37 They were utterly astonished, saying, “He has done all things
well; He makes even the deaf to hear and the mute to speak.”

Good doctors never run out of patients. People learned that back
in the first century; that’s why, whenever they were unsuccessful,
they brought the illness or disability to Jesus.

The basic difficulty with the man in the passage above was that he
could not hear; and when you cannot hear clearly, you tend to speak
like you hear. As we know today, one malady often leads to another.
It was so with this man.

Jesus knew He could heal the man (and He did!); yet, He intentially avoided noteriety by taking the man aside. Quite different from many
preachers today, who intentially get in front of the camera in order that they might be seen.

The word ephphatha (be opened!) is an Aramaic word, possibly
signaling that the needy man was not a Gentile (Bible Knowledge Commentary, Walvoord & Zuck).

Jesus then gave orders that none of them should tell what had happened. Seeing a miracle performed would have been difficult
to keep to oneself. It’s much the same today.

Prof. Rosaria Butterfield explains a miracle in her life that everyone
should see and hear: “Five Lies of our Anti-Christian Age.” It is
available free on YouTube.

Salvation from sin is a “Must-Miracle” for everyone. We who have experienced salvation can and ought to share Him with everyone!
Do you need a miracle? Jesus is still performing them!

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,

Exodus 22:9-15, “For every breach of trust, whether it is for ox,
for donkey, for sheep, for clothing, or for any lost thing about
which one says, ‘This is it,’ the case of both parties shall come
before the judges; he whom the judges condemn shall pay double
to his neighbor.
10 “If a man gives his neighbor a donkey, an ox, a sheep, or any animal to keep for him, and it dies or is hurt or is driven away while
no one is looking,
11 an oath before the LORD shall be made by the two of them that
he has not laid hands on his neighbor’s property; and its owner shall accept it, and he shall not make restitution.
12 “But if it is actually stolen from him, he shall make restitution to its owner.
13 “If it is all torn to pieces, let him bring it as evidence; he shall not make restitution for what has been torn to pieces.
14 “If a man borrows anything from his neighbor, and it is injured or dies while its owner is not with it, he shall make full restitution.
15 “If its owner is with it, he shall not make restitution; if it is hired, it came for its hire.”

With all the criminal activity that’s taking place in our world today, these few verses should be read and re-read daily. Yet, reading itself is not sufficient; the principles set forth here must be read and followed!

Unfortunately, the day in which we live is overflowing with scams and liars. It’s not that the days prior to our’s were better. They were not! People have always sought to gain for themselves what they assess as “better,” regardless of what is right.

Gibbon’s The History of the Decline and Fall of the Roman Empire is indicative of sin throughout the times. Even what we would call “good
kings” had their nefarious moments. With some, their honest moments were few.

The honorable status of law has been besmirched by many lawyers and judges, so that one seeking legal advice has to be careful.

Many men, who purport to be “called” into ministry, are often those who question the verasity of the Scriptures themselves. They have likely not been called at all!

Many men and women in the field of medical science are more concerned for the “return” they receive from those who buy their
products than they are for the patients’ health and wellness.

And the list goes on and on. Honesty and truthfulness might seem
only to be attitudes of the past – except that they aren’t. The Bible says that “all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God” (Rom. 3:23). “Have sinned” deals with the past; “fall short” references the present.

Solomon, too, stated it clearly and concisely:

“What is desirable in a man is his kindness,
And it is better to be a poor man than a liar.
The fear of the LORD leads to life,
So that one may sleep satisfied, untouched
by evil” (Prov. 19:22-23).

The Apostle Paul said of this:

“Instruct them to do good, to be rich in good
works, to be generous and ready to share,
storing up for themselves the treasure of a
good foundation for the future, so that they
may take hold of that which is life indeed”
(1 Tim. 6:18-19).

The Apostle John writes in the Revelation:

“He who testifies to these things says, ‘Yes, I
am coming quickly.’ Amen. Come, Lord Jesus.
The grace of the Lord Jesus be with all. Amen.”
(Rev. 22:20-21).

Are we what the LORD wants us to be? Do we read and live in
His Word? What alterations do we need to make in our lives
that would make us more acceptable to Him? Remember that
He is always present to help us. Trust Him! He never fails.

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 16:13-22, “Be on the alert, stand firm in the faith, act like men, be strong.
14 Let all that you do be done in love.
15 Now I urge you, brethren (you know the household of Stephanas, that they were
the first fruits of Achaia, and that they have devoted themselves for ministry to the saints),
16 that you also be in subjection to such men and to everyone who helps in the
work and labors.
17 I rejoice over the coming of Stephanas and Fortunatus and Achaicus, because
they have supplied what was lacking on your part.
18 For they have refreshed my spirit and yours. Therefore. acknowledge such men.
19 The churches of Asia greet you. Aquila and Prisca greet you heartily in the Lord,
with the church that is in their house.
20 All the brethren greet you. Greet one another with a holy kiss.
21 The greeting is in my own hand– Paul.
22 If anyone does not love the Lord, he is to be accursed. Maranatha.”

My maternal grandmother once told me that if she failed as a child to eat the food
set before her at mealtime, her mother would put her plate with the uneaten food
on a shelf. When the next mealtime came, that cold, uneaten food was placed
before her. She thus learned to value food.

While I am certain that food was valued in centuries prior to our own, Paul valued
spiritual companions highly above food. Simultaneously, he cited the abilities of
each. The LORD has given to each of His children abilities that merge with those
of others, making His entire enterprise worthwhile.

When I was quite young, playing with my cousins took precedent over food. We
had so much fun, that food was simply not in our thinking. Paul was like that. Doing
what the LORD directed him to do was his most vital undertaking. People were important to Paul. Those who were believers needed to be encouraged in the faith. Those who had yet to trust in Jesus as their LORD and Savior needed to be
reached with the Gospel.

Think of it like this: you are the vital interest of the LORD God! If you’ve never
been saved, He is vitally interested in you! If you have been saved, He is vitally
interested in developing you as a disciple; then He will enable you out to witness
to others.

Where are you in your relationship with the LORD? Do you know Him? If you do,
He has a purpose for you. If you don’t know Him, He still loves you and wants you
to be one of His children. My prayer is that you will quickly find your place with Him.
Your only regret will be that you waited so long.

Maranatha,

(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