The Grands Letter

Dear Grands,

II Samuel 22:48-51, “The God who executes vengeance for me, and brings down peoples under me,
49 Who also brings me out from my enemies; You even lift me above those who rise up against me; You rescue me from the violent man.
50 “Therefore I will give thanks to You, O LORD, among the nations, and I will sing praises to Your name.
51 “He is a tower of deliverance to His king, and shows lovingkindness to His anointed, to David and his descendants forever.”

It is not often that we encounter one who will praise the LORD for His deliverance! I was thoroughly pleased, however, to hear the Republican Candidate, Donald Trump, give praise to the LORD for the preservation of his life from the assassin’s bullet. Christians everywhere acknowledge such miracles as “from the LORD.”

Many months ago, I phoned a well-known, conservative biblical scholar, who is a close friend of Donald Trump. If anyone could assure me that Trump were a truly born-again believer, this pastor could do it. He did. I don’t at all hold with the use of swearing or foul language of any sort; but we must be careful in seeking to wean people off of their old habits. The LORD will do it. We must be prayerfully patient and allow Him to work.

Some of you will remember when Harry Truman was President. He said and did some things that many (I hope many) Christians would not condone. Yet, the LORD used him in endorsing use of the Atomic bomb which ended the war with Japan. We’re all under the Supreme Authority of the LORD Jesus Christ. We simply don’t know the answers to the many questions that surround us. Yet, we will when we see Jesus! And that may not be very far off.

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,

Genesis 15:1-6, “After these things the word of the LORD came to Abram in a vision, saying, ‘Do not fear, Abram, I am a shield to you; Your reward shall be very great.’
2 Abram said, ‘O Lord GOD, what will You give me, since I am childless, and the heir of my house is Eliezer of Damascus?’
3 And Abram said, ‘Since You have given no offspring to me, one born in my house is my heir.’
4 Then behold, the word of the LORD came to him, saying, ‘This man will not be your heir; but one who will come forth from your own body, he shall be your heir.’
5 And He took him outside and said, ‘Now look toward the heavens, and count the stars, if you are able to count them.’ And He said to him, ‘So shall your descendants be.’
6 Then he believed in the LORD; and He reckoned it to him as righteousness.”

Every time I encounter this passage, I am in memory of a pastor I once heard describing this encounter of Abram with the LORD. It was hilarious! If laughter reigns in Heaven beyond this life, the angels and all believers now in Glory are howling with laughter!

More to the spiritual point is this: the LORD is more than capable of producing what to man is beyond belief. First, the LORD knows what He wants, even when the faith of man is out of his own reach. Abram was stymied when he heard the LORD say, “Your reward shall be very great.”

It just seemed impossible to Abram. Yet, with the LORD, all thing are possible. Abram would never live to hear Jesus say, “With people this is impossible, but with God all things are possible” (Matt. 19:26). Yet, we will live long enough to experience its truth in whatever category He wills it.

I hope you and I live long enough to experience the “hopes and dreams” the LORD has in store for us. Of course, the length of our lives is in His determination. Our lives just might be lengthened, if we yield ourselves to His will for us. With the recent escape from death that President Trump experienced, I am convinced all the more that the LORD “rules in the affairs of man” and will preserve our lives until we’ve accomplished His purposes with us on this Earth. May you also be convinced of this truth.

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 1:1-5, “Now it came about after the death of Moses the servant of the LORD, that the LORD spoke to Joshua the son of Nun, Moses’ servant, saying,
2 ‘Moses My servant is dead; now therefore arise, cross this Jordan, you and all this people, to the land which I am giving to them, to the sons of Israel.
3 ‘Every place on which the sole of your foot treads, I have given it to you, just as I spoke to Moses.
4 ‘From the wilderness and this Lebanon, even as far as the great river, the river Euphrates, all the land of the Hittites, and as far as the Great Sea toward the setting of the sun will be your territory.
5 ‘No man will be able to stand before you all the days of your life. Just as I have been with Moses, I will be with you; I will not fail you or forsake you.’”

The life and ministry of Moses had come to an end. Yet, it was Moses who had died, not God. The promises that the LORD had made to Moses would be fulfilled to the letter! It is only that they would be fulfilled under the leadership of another.

Without question, Moses had faithfully served the LORD! Yet, the things that Moses expected to be fulfilled under his leadership, will now be the responsibility of Joshua. And the Land that has been promised will forever belong to Israel.

The challenge that Israel is experiencing today is but a continuation of the LORD’s promise. Her adversaries have different names; yet, through the ages foreign nations have continually challenged Israel’s right to possess the Land that God promised her! Still, Israel prevails.

What the LORD promises to us will be equally fulfilled. Our chief need is to be faithful in believing Him. His promises are rarely, if ever, fulfilled on our schedule. Yet they will be fulfilled!

“Trust in the LORD with all your heart and do not lean on
your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge
Him, and He will make your paths straight” (Prov. 3:5-6).

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

Dear Grands,

Joshua 1:1-5, “Now it came about after the death of Moses the servant of the LORD, that the LORD spoke to Joshua the son of Nun, Moses’ servant, saying,
2 ‘Moses My servant is dead; now therefore arise, cross this Jordan, you and all this people, to the land which I am giving to them, to the sons of Israel.
3 ‘Every place on which the sole of your foot treads, I have given it to you, just as I spoke to Moses.
4 ‘From the wilderness and this Lebanon, even as far as the great river, the river Euphrates, all the land of the Hittites, and as far as the Great Sea toward the setting of the sun will be your territory.
5 ‘No man will be able to stand before you all the days of your life. Just as I have been with Moses, I will be with you; I will not fail you or forsake you.’”

The life and ministry of Moses had come to an end. Yet, it was Moses who had died, not God. The promises that the LORD had made to Moses would be fulfilled to the letter! It is only that they would be fulfilled under the leadership of another.

Without question, Moses had faithfully served the LORD! Yet, the things that Moses expected to be fulfilled under his leadership, will now be the responsibility of Joshua. And the Land that has been promised will forever belong to Israel.

The challenge that Israel is experiencing today is but a continuation of the LORD’s promise. Her adversaries have different names; yet, through the ages foreign nations have continually challenged Israel’s right to possess the Land that God promised her! Still, Israel prevails.

What the LORD promises to us will be equally fulfilled. Our chief need is to be faithful in believing Him. His promises are rarely, if ever, fulfilled on our schedule. Yet they will be fulfilled!

“Trust in the LORD with all your heart and do not lean on
your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge
Him, and He will make your paths straight” (Prov. 3:5-6).

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

Dear Grands,

Psalm 119:162-174, “I rejoice at Your Word, as one who finds great spoil.
163 I hate and despise falsehood, but I love Your law.
164 Seven times a day I praise You, because of Your righteous ordinances.
165 Those who love Your law have great peace, and nothing causes them to stumble.
166 I hope for Your salvation, O LORD, and do Your commandments.
167 My soul keeps Your testimonies, and I love them exceedingly.
168 I keep Your precepts and Your testimonies, for all my ways are before You. Tav.
169 Let my cry come before You, O LORD; give me understanding according to Your Word.
170 Let my supplication come before You; deliver me according to Your Word.
171 Let my lips utter praise, for You teach me Your statutes.
172 Let my tongue sing of Your Word, for all Your commandments are righteousness.
173 Let Your hand be ready to help me, for I have chosen Your precepts.
174 I long for Your salvation, O LORD, and Your law is my delight.”

If you’ve ever encountered someone who was so deliriously happy that they just couldn’t stop talking about how wonderful something or someone is, you have then experienced something of the psalmist’s excitement over the LORD and His Word!

I lay no claim to having experienced the heights of the psalmist’s exhilaration, but each of us can doubtlessly recall times when we have been deliriously excited about something spiritual! Peace, the Word, salvation, righteousness –all combine to thrill our souls!

The LORD has spoken –spoken to us! His Word has become more than just a book of historical reference. Its words touch our hearts; our spirits are renewed! “Oh, how I love Your law,” the psalmist says, “It is my meditation all the day” (Psa. 119:97).

Our hearts, too, can express such praise daily, provided we absorb His Word as the psalmist has. Submerge yourself in the timeless wonder of His Word! Let it bring spiritual refreshment to your heart and soul. Then share it with a close friend.

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