The Grands Letter

Dear Grands,

Philippians 1:21-26, “For to me, to live is Christ and to die is gain.
22 But if I am to live on in the flesh, this will mean fruitful labor for me; and I do not know which to choose.
23 But I am hard-pressed from both directions, having the desire to depart and be with Christ, for that is very much better;
24 yet to remain on in the flesh is more necessary for your sake.
25 Convinced of this, I know that I will remain and continue with you all for your progress and joy in the faith,
26 so that your proud confidence in me may abound in Christ Jesus through my coming to you again.”

This short passage from the pen of the Apostle Paul, gives us insight on some of the struggles he faced. Having been personally selected by the LORD Jesus Himself (see Acts 9), Paul recognized the value of living. And in that sense, he thoughtfully said, “…to live on in the flesh…will mean fruitful labor for me…”

At the same time, Paul genuinely desired to leave the earth and be at home with Jesus Christ in heaven. It was a genuine dilemma. Paul saw both sides of the situation and was genuinely unsure what he should do. Part of us wants to be available to help others; yet, the other part of us is tired and just wants to go Home.

While we contemplate both situations, our lives are in His Hands. If every player on the team was on the field all the time, it would be more than he could physically handle. That’s why players have coaches! Coaches assess the whole situation and do what’s best overall for winning the game.

In the end, all glory and praise is intended for the Son and for the Father!
Just be faithful while you’re here, and be prepared when He calls you off of the field.

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 103:2-7, “Bless the LORD, O my soul, and forget none of His benefits;
3 Who pardons all your iniquities, Who heals all your diseases;
4 Who redeems your life from the pit, Who crowns you with lovingkindness and compassion;
5 Who satisfies your years with good things, So that your youth is renewed like the eagle.
6 The LORD performs righteous deeds and judgments for all who are oppressed.
7 He made known His ways to Moses, His acts to the sons of Israel.”

When we are in need –or when we think we’re in need—we almost automatically
think of God! Those who rarely think of God almost always cry, “O God!” when an unexpected situation falls across their path. In not every case, but in many, there are cries for His assistance where the one calling upon Him rarely ever thinks of Him until a disaster occurs.

There are a dozen or so situations named in the verses above that beg for our attention when we are in trouble. Yet, how many come to mind when we encounter those things we assess as impossible! “Not many” is my guess. What, then, lives in the deep recesses of our being?

Our sins against the LORD receive “pardons,” when we but ask. Yet, when we live “on the edge,” as it were, how can we successfully argue against the LORD when He ignores our pleas?

Still, the LORD “pardons…our iniquities, heals our diseases, redeems our lives, and crowns us with lovingkindness and compassion”!

“Oh, but I didn’t know He did all of this,” you say. He does much more! Go back and read the Scripture. He is infinitely careful to address our needs. He is more concerned with our needs than we are! Were He not interested in our needs, He would not have addressed them in what He has written.

Yes, His Eternal Word is there to forgive, to substantiate, and to inspire! Fill your life with His Word and see where It will lead you, and what it will do for you –and for others!

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 103:8-12, “The LORD is compassionate and gracious, slow to anger and abounding in lovingkindness.
9 He will not always strive with us, nor will He keep His anger forever.
10 He has not dealt with us according to our sins, nor rewarded us according to our iniquities.
11 For as high as the heavens are above the earth, so great is His lovingkindness toward those who fear Him.
12 As far as the east is from the west, So far has He removed our transgressions from us.”

How often we fear the LORD? Yet, we discover Him to be “compassionate and gracious.” Yes, He strives with us, but He does not hold His anger against us forever. We discover Him to be like our parents. They are angry at us when we do wrong; yet not forever.

Have I not previously shared with you about that “weeping willow tree” that graced
the backyard of my boyhood home? My transgressions often felt the wrath of those
thin, stout limbs, as they sought to drive wrong from me, accompanied by the crying
promise that I would never do it again.

Experiences such as those were intended to drive from me those the wrongs that I had done. So it is with the LORD. He punishes us not from meanness or hatred, but to enlighten us that we might become more and more like Him.

Oh, how I hated and despised what seemed like anger from those weeping willow limbs. Yet, as I grew, I learned to love what they had done for me. And so it is with the discipline of the LORD. Oh, what we all might have been had it not been for loving parents, whom the LORD used to discipline our youthful wrongs! What we once despised, we now view with thanksgiving. Praise the LORD!

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 44:1-8, ” But now listen, O Jacob, My servant, And Israel, whom I have chosen:
2 Thus says the LORD who made you and formed you from the womb, who will help you, ‘Do not fear, O Jacob My servant; And you, Jeshurun, whom I have chosen.
3 ‘For I will pour out water on the thirsty land and streams on the dry ground; I will pour out My Spirit on your offspring And My blessing on your descendants;
4 And they will spring up among the grass like poplars by streams of water.’
5 “This one will say, ‘I am the LORD’S’; And that one will call on the name of Jacob; And another will write on his hand, ‘Belonging to the LORD,’ And will name Israel’s name with honor
6 Thus says the LORD, the King of Israel and his Redeemer, the LORD of hosts: ‘I am the first and I am the last, And there is no God besides Me.
7 ‘Who is like Me? Let him proclaim and declare it; Yes, let him recount it to Me in order, from the time that I established the ancient nation. And let them declare to them the things that are coming and the events that are going to take place.
8 ‘Do not tremble and do not be afraid; have I not long since announced it to you and declared it? And you are My witnesses. Is there any God besides Me, or is there any other Rock? I know of none.'”

The circumstances surrounding the verses above are a solid confirmation that the LORD is God, and that He will accomplish His desires. We mortals (like those to whom these words were originally given) can choose to believe and receive the blessings of the LORD, or continue in our human skepticism and miss the blessings altogether. His Truths will always become what He intends. They will also always occur on the specific hour which He intends.

It can be illustrated this way: Customers wait anxiously for their train. They are told that it will be “on time,” and that the would-be passengers need to be watching for its arrival. Awaiting passengers have previously encountered late trains. “There will be time for lunch,” some say. “I really need to do some shopping,” another says. “I’ll be back in time to meet the train.”

Those that were hungry, lingered over conversation with others. Shoppers that examined clothing, neglected the anticipated train. All of those so occupied, lost total track of time and missed the train altogether!

The delimma that attended some parallels with that of others. Jesus is coming! Are our eyes on Him, or on much lesser things? No, He has not yet come; but the question is: are we ready for Him to come? Ready or not, Christ Jesus is coming! Don’t be too busy—Eternity is at stake!

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,

Acts 16:25-34, “But about midnight Paul and Silas were praying and singing hymns of praise to God, and the prisoners were listening to them;
26 and suddenly there came a great earthquake, so that the foundations of the prison house were shaken; and immediately all the doors were opened and everyone’s chains were unfastened.
27 When the jailer awoke and saw the prison doors opened, he drew his sword and was about to kill himself, supposing that the prisoners had escaped.
28 But Paul cried out with a loud voice, saying, “Do not harm yourself, for we are all here!”
29 And he called for lights and rushed in, and trembling with fear he fell down before Paul and Silas,
30 and after he brought them out, he said, “Sirs, what must I do to be saved?”
31 They said, “Believe in the Lord Jesus, and you will be saved, you and your household.”
32 And they spoke the word of the Lord to him together with all who were in his house.
33 And he took them that very hour of the night and washed their wounds, and immediately he was baptized, he and all his household.
34 And he brought them into his house and set food before them, and rejoiced greatly, having believed in God with his whole household.”

In a way, it was Paul’s fault. He had just shared Christ with a woman named Lydia, when a slave girl, possessed of a demon spirit, cried out, “These men are bond-servants of the Most High God, who are proclaiming to you the way of salvation.” This cry from the girl prevailed day after day, annoying Paul and his companion, Silas. Paul cried out and said to the spirit, “I command you in the name of Jesus Christ to come out of her!” And the demon exited Lydia at that very moment. This led to Paul and Silas’ imprisonment.

Later, the two believers shared Jesus Christ with the prisoners; and the jailor and his entire household came to know Christ. It’s vitally important that we share Christ with those around us. If you’re in jail, share Christ with others who are there. Further, it’s important that the new converts understand what has occurred within them, too. That may take some time, but it’s worth it, don’t you think?

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