The Grands Letter

Dear Grands,

Mark 11:20-26, “As they were passing by in the morning, they saw the fig tree withered from the roots up.

21 Being reminded, Peter said to Him, ‘Rabbi, look, the fig tree which You cursed has withered.’”

22 And Jesus answered saying to them, “Have faith in God.”

23 “Truly I say to you, whoever says to this mountain, ‘Be taken up and cast into the sea,’ and does not doubt in his heart, but believes that what he says is going to happen, it will be granted him.

24 “Therefore, I say to you, all things for which you pray and ask, believe that you have received them, and they will be granted you.

25 “Whenever you stand praying, forgive, if you have anything against anyone, so that your Father who is in heaven will also forgive you your transgressions.

26 “But if you do not forgive, neither will your Father who is in heaven forgive your transgressions.”

I’m not sure exactly where the disciples themselves stood when they asked Jesus about prayer. In all probability, they had not thought through what they were asking. It would be like you and me asking about “giving,” when neither of us had given anything substantial for some time. It just makes good sense to think about how things might turn out before we ask questions about it.

I have friends (and some acquaintances) throughout the world for whom I pray. Some are ill, some are lost, and some simply have problems that no one except the LORD can handle. Still, we ought not to lay only the more difficult problems before Him. All problems too difficult for us to handle ought to be laid before Him in sincere, conscientious prayer. And the truth is they’re all beyond our personal help.

Prayer seeks help that is beyond us. Truthfully, even skilled men and women in the medical field occasionally come up against difficulties that require prayer. It is not at all unusual for a skilled surgeon to pray silently in the midst of an operation. Pilots have been known to pray when the airplane is not functioning correctly. Mothers pray for their children when they drop them off at school.

Yet, the LORD is more than competent in answering our prayers. We must first be right with Him and then remember to forgive those who have offended us. Only then will the LORD hear and answer our prayers.

Heartily in Christ,

Gene L. Jeffries, Th.D.

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,

Ecclesiastes 3:1-11, “There is an appointed time for everything. And there is a time for every event under heaven–

2 A time to give birth and a time to die; A time to plant and a time to uproot what is planted.

3 A time to kill and a time to heal; A time to tear down and a time to build up.

4 A time to weep and a time to laugh; A time to mourn and a time to dance.

5 A time to throw stones and a time to gather stones; A time to embrace and a time to shun embracing.

6 A time to search and a time to give up as lost; A time to keep and a time to throw away.

7 A time to tear apart and a time to sew together; A time to be silent and a time to speak.

8 A time to love and a time to hate; A time for war and a time for peace.

9 What profit is there to the worker from that in which he toils?

10 I have seen the task which God has given the sons of men with which to occupy themselves.

11 He has made everything appropriate in its time. He has also set eternity in their heart, yet so that man will not find out the work which God has done from the beginning even to the end.”

When I was a boy, my playtime was often monitored by the clock. My cousins had a pony and a host of the most interesting things with which to play. My aunt was so nice, too. I will always remember her sweet smile. The only thing she ever did that I did not appreciate was to announce that my time was “up.” It was time to leave my cousins and those interesting things with which we had to play – and go home!

There is still “an appointed time for everything.” Furthermore, everything is that “which God has given” us all – tasks that match the time and circumstances He has aligned for our lives. Those “I-don’t-have-time” cries are simply not true. We always have adequate time; the LORD has seen to that. Our problem lies in the fact that we don’t recognize and utilize time to its best advantage.

Just pause for a moment and assess your usage of today’s time. What is on your agenda? What absolutely must be completed today? Now, pause for a moment and ask the LORD to lead and help you to accomplish your agenda. Oh, but I just had a phone call from a friend! I must hurry to help her! She’s in a terrible situation! Do you not think the LORD knew that? He knew your friend’s situation long before even she knew it. No, He didn’t tell you; but it was always there in that agenda He had for you today. And by the end of the day (if not before) you will say, “He has made everything appropriate in its time.”

Heartily in Christ,

Gene L. Jeffries, Th.D.

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,

John 14:1-6, “Do not let your heart be troubled; believe in God, believe also in Me.

2 “In My Father’s house are many dwelling places; if it were not so, I would have told you; for I go to prepare a place for you.

3 “If I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and receive you to Myself, that where I am, there you may be also.

4 “And you know the way where I am going.”

5 Thomas said to Him, “Lord, we do not know where You are going; how do we know the way?”

6 Jesus said to him, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life; no one comes to the Father but through Me.”

Meredith Wilson characterized the concept of trouble when he wrote The Music Man. His line was “You got trouble, trouble, trouble here in River City.” It was just a musical, yet it somewhat characterizes our own time with what Jesus described of Biblical times. One definition says, “Trouble” refers to a state of difficulty or distress that causes one or more persons to worry or be greatly disturbed.”

There are multitudes of troubles in today’s world, troubles that seek to rob us of peace. Worry itself is a trouble unless you adopt the attitude of one man who said, “Nothing I ever worried about ever happened.” Still, an earnest belief is much stronger than any worry.

Jesus taught us not to let our hearts be troubled. We are to believe in God and in His Son, Jesus, Who went to the cross for our sins. For those who know Him and are committed to Him, all sin has been forgiven, and the forgiven will reside peacefully with Him while here on earth and in Heaven throughout all eternity.

For those who have never heard of Jesus (and there are millions who have either not heard or have not responded to His salvation), life is both hapless and hopeless. Still, Christ Jesus died on the cross, shedding His blood for the sins of mankind. Yet, His death and resurrection avail only for those who will believe. Trust Him yourself; then pray for your family and friends.

Jesus is the only way, the only truth, and the only life; no one comes to the Father but through Him. Trust Him today; and share Him with others! Time is running out!

Heartily in Christ,

Gene L. Jeffries, Th.D.

United States of America

“We will never know that Christ is all we need

Until He becomes all that we have.”

— Corrie ten Boom