The Grands Letter

Dear Grands,

Ephesians 3:13-16, “Therefore I ask you not to lose heart at my tribulations on your behalf, for they are your glory.

14 For this reason, I bow my knees before the Father,

15 from whom every family in Heaven and on Earth derives its name,

16 that He would grant you, according to the riches of His glory, to be strengthened with

power through His Spirit in the inner man…”

I went to the Walmart pharmacy today with two specifics in mind: one was to make a purchase, but the primary was to inform an employee of Rose Marie’s death and ascension into Heaven. This dear lady always greeted us by name, and she had become such a good and faithful friend that I wanted her to hear the news directly from me. She came from behind the counter and hugged me, while tears flowed from her eyes. She is not a Christian, but she emanates the warmth and love of a Christian. She said several times to me, “She is in a better place.” And that lady is like a member of our family.

Yes, I needed the love that she had to give. And love flowed from others around the world in emails that fill my in-box almost to overflowing. Paul said that we should not lose heart at the tribulations of another because tribulations are glorious. How can that be? In my case, I have been drawn closer to the LORD through my tribulation. The LORD is what it’s all about. It’s not about us. It’s about Him! And all trouble, great or small, draws us closer to Him in prayer.

Paul’s prayer adorns the prayers of all believers, when he says, “…that He would grant you, according to the riches of His glory, to be strengthened with power – dunamis, dynamite power– through His Spirit in the inner man.” A lady Chaplain in the hospital said to me, “I don’t know how those without faith can make it.” I don’t either; but I know how those with faith can! It’s all in the power and strength of the LORD.

So when you encounter trouble, difficulties, tribulations, just turn to the LORD Jesus Christ. In the late 1800s, Cyrus Nusbaum wrote:

His pow’r can make you what you ought to be;
His blood can cleanse your heart and make you free;
His love can fill your soul, and you will see
’Twas best for Him to have His way with thee.

I don’t understand all of the LORD’s ways, but the longer I live and trust Him, the more I’m convinced of His love, His strength, and His power. Give Him an opportunity with your life.

Heartily in Christ,

Gene ( Dado III )

P. S. Let me say a sincere “Thank You” to all of you have responded to our family in the Heavenly

Home-Going of our sweet wife, mother, and grandmother, Rose Marie. She is gone from us,

but she is with her LORD and Savior, just as she wanted to be. Farewell, sweet Rose! we’ll see

you soon!

P. S. S. If you receive this particular email more than once, please let me know and correct it. It is

never my intention to “load” your inbox or to send something you don’t want to receive.

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.”