The Grands Letter

Dear Grands,

Proverbs 3:5-8, “Trust in the LORD with all your heart and do not lean on your own understanding.
6 In all your ways acknowledge Him, and He will make your paths straight.
7 Do not be wise in your own eyes; fear the LORD and turn away from evil.
8 It will be healing to your body and refreshment to your bones.”

What Solomon encourages us to do is not always easy. There are
thousands of things that lie well outside our ability to achieve. Learning
what we do not know and what we cannot achieve is a good first step.
That’s why our verses above counsel us to “Trust in the LORD.”

We live in a day where we’re led to believe we can do anything! In a
sense, such belief guards us from sheer laziness. Yet, the clear truth is
that there are hundreds of things we simply cannot do, no matter how
gifted we think we are or how many degrees we have attached to our
name! Solomon’s directive is: “Trust in the LORD…”

Sometimes the desires of our hearts excite us so that we tend to
believe that “all things belong to you” (1 Cor. 3:21). Still, a careful
examination of the entirety of that passage reads: “So then let no one
boast in men. For all things belong to you, whether Paul or Apollos or
Cephas or the world or life or death or things present or things to come;
all things belong to you, and you belong to Christ; and Christ belongs to
God.” Thus, we become but a small peg in the entire enterprise.

Timing, too, is involved. “Things to come” is promised, but not always an exact time. All things are in God’s timing. Solomon said, “There is an appointed time for everything. And there is a time for every event under heaven– a time to give birth and a time to die; a time to plant and a
time to uproot what is planted” (Eccl. 3:1-2).

The personal application, “I have patience; and I want it now!” always rules out the will of the LORD. If it involves other individuals, it may
rule them out as well. “Let patience have her perfect work…” In time,
we may learn that what the LORD gives is always superior to what we
we wanted. “He has done all things well…” (Mk. 7:37).

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 1:7-8, “BEHOLD, HE IS COMING WITH THE CLOUDS,
and every eye will see Him, even those who pierced Him; and all
the tribes of the earth will mourn over Him. So it is to be. Amen.
8 “I am the Alpha and the Omega,” says the Lord God, “who is
and who was and who is to come, the Almighty.”

I am usually at my computer quite early. Today was different.
There were situations that hindered the timing of my usual events
– places I needed to go, people I needed to meet –things I needed
to do! You know how it is: “Things” just need your attention; and
there’s no one to stop you, so you just “go and do” what seems
unavoidable and the right thing to do.

It will be just that way when Jesus comes! No radio, no television
announcements, no telephone calls, no emails, no Grands Letter
will be issued. He will suddenly JUST COME! Surrounded by
myriads and myriads of angels, the Trumpet of God will sound,
announcing the visibility of His Son, the LORD Jesus Christ!

Nations everywhere will be stirred to their depths! Thousands of
people will be aroused from sleep. Early morning drivers will
collide, being distracted by the riviting sights and vibrations
emanating from the heavens!

Then, thousands of people—those who have trusted Him—will
miraculously be lifted into the heavens accompanied by angels
as they surrounded the LORD Jesus Christ Himself! Joy will
fill the lives of those being lifted up. They will see and meet
Jesus in His physical, resurrected body.

Whether Jesus’ Coming occurs in the dawn or in daylight, the
importance is that He has come! Important, too, is that you know
Him. The Scripture says,

“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 will never know that Christ is all we need
until He becomes all that we have.”
– Corrie ten Boom

Dear Grands,

I Samuel 2:7-10, “The LORD makes poor and rich; He brings low, He also
exalts.
8 “He raises the poor from the dust, He lifts the needy from the ash heap to
make them sit with nobles, and inherit a seat of honor; for the pillars of the
earth are the LORD’S, and He set the world on them.
9 “He keeps the feet of His godly ones, but the wicked ones are silenced in
darkness; for not by might shall a man prevail.
10 “Those who contend with the LORD will be shattered; against them He will
thunder in the heavens, The LORD will judge the ends of the earth; and He
will give strength to His king, and will exalt the horn of His anointed.”

Various beliefs were acknowledged with respect to the Solar Eclipse that
occurred yesterday in the heavens. Roadways were jammed as people vied
for the best place to view the Eclipse. Everyone that desired to know and or
view the moon mask the sun positioned themselves according to the best
place for observation.

More exciting, however, will be the day when the LORD Jesus Christ returns
in the air, hovering, perhaps momentarily, while those who were committed to
Him, are raised up from the earth into the heavens to meet their LORD! And
thus shall they be forever with the LORD!

People, who longed to see the Eclipse, were warned to guard their eyes with
protective glasses that shield them from the enormous light. In the day of the LORD’s return, however, the eyes of the believers will not need protection, for
the LORD is simultaneously their Protector and Protection. The Scripture says
“every eye will see Him, even those who pierced Him…” (Rev. 1:7).

The Coming of the LORD will be much more celebratory than the Solar
Eclipse. It will not, however, be announced to the world until it occurs. It is possible that many people worldwide missed the Solar Eclipse. No saved ones, however, will miss the LORD’s Call when He comes!

If you have repented of your sins and have committed your life to the LORD
Jesus Christ, you are ready! If, however, you have not committed your life to
Him, you will be left behind to face the horrors of the Antichrist! You will then
obey directives from the lost and ungodly, who will be left on the earth.

Time is running out! It is time to prepare! Jesus could come at any time! The
only warning the lost will then have will be that it is too late to accept Him!
Time will have run out! Trust Him today! Put your life in the nail-scared Hands
of the Savior! Do it 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,

Galatians 6:1-6, “Brethren, even if anyone is caught in any trespass, you
who are spiritual, restore such a one in a spirit of gentleness; each one
looking to yourself, so that you too will not be tempted.
2 Bear one another’s burdens, and thereby fulfill the law of Christ.
3 For if anyone thinks he is something when he is nothing, he deceives himself.
4 But each one must examine his own work, and then he will have reason
for boasting in regard to himself alone, and not in regard to another.
5 For each one will bear his own load.
6 The one who is taught the word is to share all good things with the one
who teaches him.”

Were you ever caught doing something you ought not to have been doing?
Need I even ask? How would you assess the spiritual attitude of the one who “caught” you? Were you thankful or not?

The Scripture passage above tells us that the one who catches another doing
wrong, should treat the wrongdoer gently. After all, he might get caught doing
something wrong himself! How would he want to be treated?

Self-deception is quite common. Toying with a situation just might lead the
discoverer into sin himself! That would be a quagmire, wouldn’t it? No, the
one who caught the other sinning ought to avoid sin himself. All too often, its the other way around: the one caught sinning squeals on the other person instead of helping him to overcome the temptation to sin.

The primary method of avoiding sin is to live and obey the Word of God.
Then, share that Word with others, helping them to trust the LORD Jesus.
That’s the biblical way; there is no other tried and true avoidence to sinning. By the way, have you trusted Jesus? Be sure to read your Bible daily!

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,

Colossians 3:8-11, “But now you also, put them all aside: anger, wrath, malice, slander, and abusive speech from your mouth.
9 Do not lie to one another, since you laid aside the old self with its evil practices,
10 and have put on the new self who is being renewed to a true knowledge according to the image of the One who created him–
11 a renewal in which there is no distinction between Greek and Jew, circumcised and uncircumcised, barbarian, Scythian, slave and freeman, but Christ is all, and in all.
12 So, as those who have been chosen of God, holy and beloved, put on a heart of compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience;
13 bearing with one another, and forgiving each other, whoever has a complaint against anyone; just as the Lord forgave you, so also should you.
14 Beyond all these things put on love, which is the perfect bond of unity.

Were your parents the kind that really “laid it on you” when you did wrong? They would give you instructions that you needed, but then would repeat and repeat those instructions, adding a bit more with each “repetition”? Don’t ever think they were laying it on a bit too hard. They loved you and simply wanted you to be the best you could possibly be.

It was the same with the Apostle Paul. He knew the Colossian Christians better than they knew themselves. That’s why he spelled out all of the “wrongs” in these verses. Only he “spanked” them with words –and he did it
ahead of time.

“Anger” means “impulsive meanness”; “wrath” means “passion”; “malice” means “downright wickedness.” Not only did Paul not mince words, he poured
it on!! Just like my mother, Paul means business! If my mother had let me get
by with things, the other kids in my neighborhood would “beg off” from wrong by saying, “Gene’s mother let him do it.” So, Paul poured it on the Colossians.

How are we Christians going to lead non-Christians to faith in Jesus, if we engage in the same sinful activities as the non-Christians? Satan himself gets
a real boost when we act like he wants. Who is supposed to do what’s right?
You and I are! Yes, sometimes we slip. Paul knew that. That’s exactly why
he so forthrightly laid it on the Colossians! Isn’t the Biblical instruction exactly
what we all need? I’ll admit to that. How about you?

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