The Grands Letter

Dear Grands,

Ezra 1:1-4, “Now in the first year of Cyrus king of Persia, in order to fulfill the word of the LORD by the mouth of Jeremiah, the LORD stirred up the spirit of Cyrus king of Persia, so that he sent a proclamation throughout all his kingdom, and also put it in writing, saying,

2 “Thus says Cyrus king of Persia, ‘The LORD, the God of heaven, has given me all the kingdoms of the earth, and He has appointed me to build Him a house in Jerusalem, which is in Judah.

3 ‘Whoever there is among you of all His people, may his God be with him! Let him go up to Jerusalem which is in Judah, and rebuild the house of the LORD, the God of Israel; He is the God who is in Jerusalem.

4 ‘And every survivor, at whatever place he may live, let the men of that place support him with silver and gold, with goods and cattle, together with a freewill offering for the house of God which is in Jerusalem.'”

The prophet’s proclamation in the first two verses above demonstrates the LORD’s plan and purpose. God never engages man to comply with His plan, but that He has a spiritual purpose in mind.

At the same time, the LORD’s purposes are not always fully disclosed. We discovered that as we endeavor to follow what we assess to be His divine purpose with and for our lives. Without fully revealing His purpose, the LORD moves upon His own, complying insofar as we mortals can understand.

My late wife and our three young children were often led to places we had only known by name. We were not told beforehand what we were to do or say. Yet, in the right place and at the right time, He used us for His glory and often to our utter amazement!

We were just people, following a new procedure in a new land, until the LORD Himself more fully revealed His will and purpose to us. Things we thought at the time were intrusions to ministry, He then revealed precisely why we had been “stationed” where we were.

Yes, there were times when our needs looked impossible. Yet, He always came through, often providing more than we needed, perhaps just to show that His Hand was never empty and always outstretched and timely, always meeting our necessities.

“Trust in the LORD, and do good; dwell in the land and cultivate faithfulness” (Psalm 37:3). The LORD is incapable of failure. We can always trust Him!

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