The Grands Letter

Dear Grands,

Romans 15:4-5, “For whatever was written in earlier times was written for our instruction, that through perseverance and the encouragement of the Scriptures we might have hope.

5 Now may the God who gives perseverance and encouragement grant you to be of the same mind with one another according to Christ Jesus.”

Have you ever just felt like quitting? The things you do, don’t work out; the things for which you pray, don’t come to pass.

You try and try, but nothing works! Nothing comes to pass –at least, not like you want it?

Well, the key is the 15TH word in verse four above: perseverance! Now that you’ve persevered with me this far, let me mention that the same word appears in seventh place in verse five above. Winston Churchill once gave a speech that contained the very same words repeated a number of times: “Never give up! Never give up! Never! Never! Never!”

Today, I received the following encouragement from the New Life, a Christian paper in Australia. Read and think about this:

“THE PHILIPPINES: Patience Bears Fruit A pastor who spent five months living in a canoe off islands in the Philppines is now seeing a thriving Christian community. Pastor Veds Subiaga felt a burden to share the Gospel with the people on a group of small, isolated islands. He set out for the islands in a canoe, a trip that takes 40 minutes in a motorised boat. But when he got there, the villagers wouldn’t let him land. Rather than go home, Pastor Veds, who can’t swim, lived on his canoe offshore for five months and built relationships. Eventually, he got to know one of the village leaders who became curious about the God he served. The leader responded to the Gospel and today there is a thriving Christian community on several islands in the region.– Mission Network News”

Our encouragement comes from the same Source: the Scriptures. They give us hope! Further, God the Holy Spirit encourages us beyond all else! I’ve asked some friends to pray for two specific things without their knowing what either of them is. Neither has yet to come to pass, but nothing for which I’m praying is close to the needs of Pastor Subiaga! He did not give up! I will not give up! And you must not give up, either! The LORD doesn’t neglect us; we must not neglect His Word or neglect to pray in faith. Believe and be patient! He will answer our prayers when they are offered in true faith!

Heartily in Christ Jesus,

(Dado III)

Gene L. Jeffries, Th.D.

Springdale, Arkansas 72764

United States of America

“We never know that God is all we need

until He becomes all that we have.”