The Grands Letter

Dear Grands,

Psalm 122:1-9, “I was glad when they said to me, ‘Let us go to the house of the LORD.’
2 Our feet are standing within your gates, O Jerusalem,
3 Jerusalem, that is built as a city that is compact together;
4 To which the tribes go up, even the tribes of the LORD– an ordinance for Israel– to give thanks to the name of the LORD.
5 For there thrones were set for judgment, the thrones of the house of David.
6 Pray for the peace of Jerusalem: ‘May they prosper who love you.
7 “May peace be within your walls, And prosperity within your palaces.’
8 For the sake of my brothers and my friends, I will now say, ‘May peace be within you.’
9 For the sake of the house of the LORD our God, I will seek your good.’”

When things go wrong, we are encouraged to pray. When things become twisted, so that we lack encouragement as to their outcome, we are encouraged to pray.

It’s difficult to put ourselves in David’s place. Jerusalem was his city. It was the dwelling
place of his people. They gathered there to pray. They gave thanks to the LORD; they
honored His Name.

Yet, Jerusalem has experienced a history of turmoil. Scattered through the historic pages of Holy Scripture, we find turmoil and strife plaguing the Holy City. Such was true in David’s era. Even today, the people who dwell there are divided on spiritual things.

Therefore, David’s prayer must be our prayer. The people who dwell there must come together in the LORD. The final battle will be fought in the land we call “Holy.” Thus, the Scriptures cry out to us, “He will exterminate its sinners.”

The prophet Isaiah said, “For the stars of heaven and their constellations will not flash forth their light; the sun will be dark when it rises and the moon will not shed its light. Thus, I will punish the world for its evil and the wicked for their iniquity; I will also put an end to the arrogance of the proud and abase the haughtiness of the ruthless. I will make mortal man scarcer than pure gold and mankind than the gold of Ophir. Therefore, I will make the heavens tremble, and the earth will be shaken from its place at the fury of the LORD of hosts in the day of His burning anger” (Isa.13:9-13).

What we are seeing now in Israel may be the beginning of “His burning anger.” Pray for Jerusalem! Pray for the Israeli people! Despite their rejection of Jesus, He holds them
in His heart, as we hold wayward children.

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 24:3-8, “As He was sitting on the Mount of Olives, the disciples came to Him privately, saying, “Tell us, when will these things happen, and what will be the sign of Your coming, and of the end of the age?”
4 And Jesus answered and said to them, “See to it that no one misleads you.
5 “For many will come in My name, saying, ‘I am the Christ,’ and will mislead many.
6 “You will be hearing of wars and rumors of wars. See that you are not frightened, for those things must take place, but that is not yet the end.
7 “For nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom, and in various places there will be famines and earthquakes.
8 “But all these things are merely the beginning of birth pangs.”

It was always an exciting time when I learned, as a small boy, that someone was coming
to visit. “Who’s coming?” I would repeatedly ask, frustrating my mother beyond normally.
“When will she be here?” “How long will she stay?” “What time is it now?” I could ask
multiple questions before mom had the opportunity to answer the first one.

In some respects, the disciples, who lived and walked with Jesus, were much the same as you and I. In a quiet time together on the Mount of Olives, they asked Him the precise timing of His Return. His response, however, focused more on them that it did on their questions. He wanted them to know that difficult times lay ahead of the specifics of His return.

Such is the same with us. Yes, I will acknowledge that the world situation is more serious
today than it was when World War II commenced. The weapons of today’s wars are far
more dangerous than those of previous times. At the same time (viewing in retrospect),
we seemed more ready to act then than we do now!

Jesus’ response highlighted impostors, who would claim to be the Christ. Men would spread rumors intended to frighten people, whose response would repeatedly be false.
At this writing, some serious “players” are engaged in seeking to erase Israel altogether.
They cannot win, however, because Israel is living on land the LORD granted her. She
will not be displaced!

More could be said; but none is more important that Jesus’ words: “…all these things are
merely the beginning of birth pangs.” Daniel, too, prophesied, “…even to the end there will be war; desolations are determined” (Dan. 9:26).

Put you full faith in our LORD Jesus Christ! If you have already trusted Him as your Savior, you are even now under His protection. If you have not trusted Him, it is vital that you do so today!

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 24:21-27, “For then there will be a great tribulation, such as has not occurred since the beginning of the world until now, nor ever will.
22 Unless those days had been cut short, no life would have been saved; but for the sake of the elect those days will be cut short.
23 Then if anyone says to you, ‘Behold, here is the Christ,’ or ‘There He is,’ do not believe him.
24 “For false Christs and false prophets will arise and will show great signs and wonders, so as to mislead, if possible, even the elect.
25 ‘Behold, I have told you in advance.
26 ‘So if they say to you, “Behold, He is in the wilderness,” do not go out, or, “Behold, He is in the inner rooms,” do not believe them.
27 “For just as the lightning comes from the east and flashes even to the west, so will the coming of the Son of Man be.”

Although I have not yet heard it said, with all the conglomeration in the news these days,
it would come as no surprise if someone were to say (or, has already said) that Jesus is hiding in seclusion in a little-known cave somewhere in Israel. Stranger things are said
these days.

The phrase, “do not believe them” in verse 26 tells us that His Coming will not be to the
few alone. Rather, He will be revealed to mankind when and how He chooses. Anyone
who listens to the multiple “preachers” on the Internet and/or on YouTube, will soon
know how confused many preachers are about the Coming of our LORD Jesus. Of course,
they all want every viewer to assume their position as their own. Just note carefully that
it is Jesus who says, “…do not believe them.”

Have you intentionally noticed the way of lightening? The Bible says that lightening flashes from east to west. When, though, does lightening flash? It flashes when, where and as
often as the LORD desires. We have no more control over when it flashes than we do that
it flashes. It is entirely under control of the Almighty! And in the same way, we have no knowledge of when or where on Earth the LORD is coming. That’s why we must be ready!

Don’t waste time with foolish things or foolish talk about the precise time of His Coming!
The LORD alone knows when it will be. We have enough to do to be ready for when He does come!

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 122:1-9, “I was glad when they said to me, ‘Let us go to the house of the LORD.’
2 Our feet are standing within your gates, O Jerusalem,
3 Jerusalem, that is built as a city that is compact together;
4 To which the tribes go up, even the tribes of the LORD –an ordinance for Israel– to give
thanks to the name of the LORD.
5 For there thrones were set for judgment, the thrones of the house of David.
6 Pray for the peace of Jerusalem: “May they prosper who love you.
7 May peace be within your walls, and prosperity within your palaces.”
8 For the sake of my brothers and my friends, I will now say, ’May peace be within you.’
9 For the sake of the house of the LORD our God, I will seek your good.”

Have you ever wondered why so few people enter Churches to worship? When we’re
there, it often seems as if the whole city were there. Yet, a quick body count tells a different story. Perhaps so few attend because they have lost the purpose for attending.

There are undoubtedly multiple “things” that people assess to be of greater importance. Yet, notwithstanding illness of one’s self or that of another, nothing should be considered
of “greater importance” than the solemn worship of our LORD.

The verses above say that we are to “give thanks to the name of the LORD.” How often
do we pause just to give thanks? In fact, just uttering a common “thanks” to another person, for anything is often slighted.

It follows that we are also to “pray for the peace of Jerusalem.” If you have been following
Israel’s war against Hamas, you know how desperately Israel needs our prayers. May we
be faithful in praying for Israel. The land for which they are currently fighting was given
to them by the LORD in centuries past. Read again verses 6 and 7, as they encourage us to pray for our own peace. Let us join faithfully as we seek for Jerusalem’s peace, too.

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,

Isaiah 63:7-11, “I shall make mention of the lovingkindnesses of the LORD, the praises of the LORD, according to all that the LORD has granted us, and the great goodness toward the house of Israel, which He has granted them according to His compassion and according to the abundance of His lovingkindnesses.
8 For He said, ‘Surely, they are My people, Sons who will not deal falsely.’ So He became their Savior.
9 In all their affliction, He was afflicted, and the angel of His presence saved them; in His love and in His mercy, He redeemed them, and He lifted them and carried them all the days of old.
10 But they rebelled and grieved His Holy Spirit; therefore, He turned Himself to become their enemy, He fought against them.
11 Then His people remembered the days of old, of Moses. Where is He who brought them up out of the sea with the shepherds of His flock? Where is He who put His Holy Spirit in the midst of them,”

“Wanta fight?” That was the old school ground challenge when differences of opinion
could not otherwise be resolved. “Were the St. Louis Cardinals baseball team ranked
first or second in the 1946 season?” In a word, and especially now, nearly 80-some
years from the date of that “school-ground discussion,” who cares? What difference
does it make?

Isaiah’s recollection of “the lovingkindness of the LORD” (Isa 63:10-11), does matter, however. The fact that the prophet mentions the Holy Spirit, is in itself, of invaluable
importance! For it is He, the Spirit of God, the third member of the Trinity, who dwells
with the Father and the Son from before the inception of Creation. Yes, He matters!

When we pray, asking forgiveness of sin or the strength of the LORD to accomplish
a specific task, it is the Holy Spirit who impresses upon us to ask the involvement of
the Father. Further, it is the Holy Spirit who Himself carries our requests to the Father.

It is the Holy Spirit (mentioned in the Old Testament), Who is currently Masterminding
His Jewish people in their fight against Hamas. The archealogical discovery of the
Spirit, as engraved in Scripture on ancient stones, has recently inspired Israelis in their
determination to rid her enemies from land given her by the LORD God Almighty!

May we, as well, be inspired to love and depend upon the LORD in our lives, too.

“Pray for the peace of Jerusalem:
May they prosper who love you…”
(Psa. 122:6).

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