The Grands Letter

Dear Grands,

Genesis 12:1-3, “Now the LORD said to Abram, ‘Go forth from your country, and from your relatives and from your father’s house, to the land which I will show you;
2 And I will make you a great nation, and I will bless you, and make your name great; and so you shall be a blessing;
3 And I will bless those who bless you, and the one who curses you I will curse. And in you all the families of the earth will be blessed.’”

Psalm 119:57-61, “The LORD is my portion; I have promised to keep Your words.
58 I sought Your favor with all my heart; be gracious to me according to Your Word.
59 I considered my ways and turned my feet to Your testimonies.
60 I hastened and did not delay to keep Your commandments.
61 The cords of the wicked have encircled me, but I have not forgotten Your law.”

There are close to 125 verses of Scripture that utilize a form of the word “promise.” As if the inclusion of the word were not sufficient, the Psalmist, in what might well be called an
“antiphonal promise,” responds to the LORD’s directive to Israel in the Genesis verses
above.

The battle news from Israel today supports the LORD’s intervention in the current Hamas-Israeli war. While the Jews en masse are not Christians, some are; and they will do well to follow the LORD’s directive, just as we Christians should do.

Remember that our view of international differences is generally faulty at best. We are
not there; nor would we know everything about those differences if we were. Our reliance,
therefore, must rest on the Word of God. We know Israel is lodged in our LORD’s heart; therefore, we must be careful of making criticisms. Israel will make mistakes, just as we Christians do. Our current calling is to pray: “Thy will be done.”

Every day brings us a day closer to the end of human civilization. Jesus is coming again,
and we need to be ready. We must bury outselves in His Blessed Word, and prayfully trust Him to do as He wills. One day He is coming. We must always live as if that day were today, and pray earnestly: God, bless America! And God bless Israel!

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,

Ephesians 5:15-21, “Therefore be careful how you walk, not as unwise men but as wise,
16 making the most of your time, because the days are evil.
17 So then, do not be foolish, but understand what the will of the Lord is.
18 And do not get drunk with wine, for that is dissipation, but be filled with the Spirit,
19 speaking to one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody with your heart to the Lord;
20 always giving thanks for all things in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ to God, even the Father;
21 and be subject to one another in the fear of Christ.”

The passage above is comprised of happy, energetic, alert and solemn music –music that comports with the occasion. It was not merely music for music’s sake. Rather, it was music that on solemn occasions soothed the soul. It was also music that excited the soul as it
Identified with the closeness of Christ and the selfless sacrifice on the Cross for our sins.

A psalm was harp music, often associated with prayer. A hymn praises and honors the LORD. A spiritual song relates closely to the human spirit, the seat of the moral or spiritual nature. It is always there for the spiritual benefit of the entire congregation.

Music within the Church should always be spiritual, appropriate, and inclusive of the entire
congregation. It is never there for the sole benefit of the lead singers or those who play accompaniment for them. Rather, it should lift the moral spirit within those who comprise
the worshipping congregation.

Endeavor to remember these notations when you next engage in congregational singing.
What we sing should always praise the LORD Whom we serve. And the manner of our
singing should always and only endeavor to praise Christ Jesus. The Father is glorified when His Son is exalted; and when His Son is exalted, we have acknowledged and praised the Father. Both Father and Son are deserving; so, Praise each of 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,

Revelation 12:7-11, “And there was war in heaven, Michael and his angels waging war with the dragon. The dragon and his angels waged war,
8 and they were not strong enough, and there was no longer a place found for them in heaven.
9 And the great dragon was thrown down, the serpent of old who is called the devil and Satan, who deceives the whole world; he was thrown down to the earth, and his angels were thrown down with him.
10 Then I heard a loud voice in heaven, saying, ‘Now the salvation, and the power, and
the kingdom of our God and the authority of His Christ have come, for the accuser of our brethren has been thrown down, he who accuses them before our God day and night.
11And they overcame him because of the blood of the Lamb and because of the word of their testimony, and they did not love their life even when faced with death.’”

After studying the Scriptures for the better part of a century, these five verses provide a
cogent synopsis of what was occurring well beyond the realm of earth. Currently, we
see a vibrant war occurring between Israel and Hamas. What we don’t see, however,
is the rage of evil well beyond the heavens – every movement of which has been scheduled by Satan and his angels. We see only what is occuring in the human realm.

In almost any physical contest there is one who announces the winner. It is that vibrant
Voice from the heavens that cries out, “Now the salvation, and the power…of the kingdom
of God…” has won the victory! This is the Voice of Almighty God, the Divine Coach, who
has overcome evil through “the blood of the Lamb,” Jesus Christ and the testimonies of those who have trusted Him.

Often, it appears that there is no victory in sight. It appears that the Church has usurped
the Voice of the LORD and declared that the LORD and His people have lost! Yet, no
one has jumped the voice of the starting pistol. It might look as if the LORD Jesus is
failing –but He has not failed! It would appear His delay is costing Him the victory—but
it has not. Those who know and understand His power, know that He will win.

Importantly, too, those who are linked to Him through eternal Salvation are winners, too!
Remember, it’s not how “nice” you are; it’s not even that you attend church regularly, or
where you attend church, or what the pastor believes. It’s all about Jesus! It was not the
church that paid the price for your sins –and mine! It was Jesus! Jesus alone went to
the Cross and shed His blood for our sins. Jesus won the race; He shed His blood for
our sins! When you believe and pray thanking Him for dying for you, He will make salvation real to you! Eternity awaits us all. There’s a Heaven and a Hell. Your choice.

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 14:11-14, “Then they said to Moses, ‘Is it because there were no graves
in Egypt that you have taken us away to die in the wilderness? Why have you dealt
with us in this way, bringing us out of Egypt?
12 ‘Is this not the word that we spoke to you in Egypt, saying, “Leave us alone that
we may serve the Egyptians “? For it would have been better for us to serve the
Egyptians than to die in the wilderness.’
13 But Moses said to the people, ‘Do not fear! Stand by and see the salvation of the
LORD which He will accomplish for you today; for the Egyptians whom you have
seen today, you will never see them again forever.
14 ‘The LORD will fight for you while you keep silent.’”

Crowds can be a scarry thing –especially, if they are seeking reprisal against you!
Israel was en route from Egypt to –well, we know it as the Promised Land. At the
moment of this exodus, however, most (if not all) of the Israelites saw “promise”
as another word for “death!”

Do you not recall a time when one of your parents called you away from danger
to what they believed to be a safer position? You were young; you had never been in
a dangerous position; therefore, you had no idea of the serious of your situation.

It was much like that with Israel. The LORD’s call upon Moses to lead them out of
Egypt made the LORD responsible for the people’s safe deliverence. Their objection,
however, was not merely against Moses; it was against the LORD! That’s precisely
why we need to live according to the Bible.

God has given us instructions in the Bible. Well, where in the Bible do we look for His
instructions? Just start reading. He will tell when you get there! What’s more, “The
LORD will fight for you while you keep silent.” Just obey Him and keep on reading…

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 71:1-8, “In You, O LORD, I have taken refuge; let me never be ashamed.
2 In Your righteousness deliver me and rescue me; incline Your ear to me and
save me.
3 Be to me a rock of habitation to which I may continually come; You have given commandment to save me, for You are my rock and my fortress.
4 Rescue me, O my God, out of the hand of the wicked, out of the grasp of the
wrongdoer and ruthless man,
5 For You are my hope; O Lord GOD, You are my confidence from my youth.
6 By You I have been sustained from my birth; You are He who took me from
my mother’s womb; My praise is continually of You.”
7 I have become a marvel to many, for You are my strong refuge.
8 My mouth is filled with Your praise and with Your glory all day long.”

This particular psalm speaks of the conscientiousness of a man who has “taken
refuge” within the LORD Himself. There might well have been a time when he
had reason to be ashamed, but not now! He clearly looks to the LORD God for
his deliverence.

Have you even been in such a situation? Others had looked only to themselves
and had come forth virtually unscathed. Yet, this was far too difficult for you. It
was “now or never!” The need for assistance beyond moral man was clearly
required. Thus, you calculated being Divinely rescued and suffer the humiliation
of your companians or risk not being rescued at all.

The ring of redemption is in your ears: “Trust the LORD! Call upon Him!” Such
has been my teaching from my youth. Now, the time is present for trusting
Him!

“I have become a marvel to many,” you say; “the LORD is my strong refuge.
It is He who has delivered me from death. I shall always praise and glorify Him!”

Will you not also comply with the Psalmist’s declaration and always praise and
glorify Him? I pray you will.

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