The Grands Letter

Dear Grands,

Matthew 28:1-7. “Now after the Sabbath, as it began to dawn toward the first
day of the week, Mary Magdalene and the other Mary came to look at the grave.
2 And behold, a severe earthquake had occurred, for an angel of the Lord
descended from heaven and came and rolled away the stone and sat upon it.
3 And his appearance was like lightning, and his clothing as white as snow.
4 The guards shook for fear of him and became like dead men.
5 The angel said to the women, “Do not be afraid; for I know that you are looking
for Jesus who has been crucified.
6 “He is not here, for He has risen, just as He said. Come, see the place where
He was lying.
7 “Go quickly and tell His disciples that He has risen from the dead; and behold,
He is going ahead of you into Galilee, there you will see Him, behold, I have told
you.”

This passage of Scripture always brings to mind my first solo visit to Israel. I had
visited the Garden Tomb and returned to my living quarters, when I encountered
a Canadian Military Officer, who told me he visited Israel every year. He insisted
on showing me the Garden Tomb, despite my having already been there.

Subsequently, I yet again visited the Garden Tomb –this time alone. It was quiet;
no one else was there. I entered the Tomb, sat quietly and allowed my mind to
recall the Scriptures that placed the LORD Jesus right there, centuries past. I
tried to pray, but my emotions resisted even prayer. Yet, what I envisiioned that
day was related only to that glorious time when Jesus arose. Then and there,
He was not there. He had risen!

Now, I am awaiting another glorious time! He is returning home to this Earth—not
to the Tomb He once briefly occupied, but in the air! –coming from His glorious
Heavenly Home, where we, who have trusted Him as LORD and Savior of our
lives, will be caught up to meet Him. ”…and so we shall always be with the LORD”
(2 Cor. 12:2, 4; 1 Thes. 4:17). What a glorious, breath-taking experience that will
be!

Like the Garden Tomb I visited, this glorious rising to meet Him in the air is more
glorious still. Besides, it’s free! Jesus Himself paid the price at the Cross many
years ago. He has given us the opportunity to meet Him in the air when He comes
again. The only “cost” to us lies in our confessing our sin and accepting Him by faith
as our LORD and Savior. You can do that, if you haven’t already! It’s important to
be ready, because we do not and cannot know the precise time of His Coming.
That’s why the Scriptures say, “Today is the Day of Salvation.”

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,

1 Samuel 16; 17-21, “So Saul said to his servants, ‘Provide for me now a man
who can play well and bring him to me.’
18 Then one of the young men said, ‘Behold, I have seen a son of Jesse the Bethlehemite who is a skillful musician, a mighty man of valor, a warrior, one
prudent in speech, and a handsome man; and the LORD is with him.’
19 So Saul sent messengers to Jesse and said, ‘Send me your son David who
is with the flock.’
20 Jesse took a donkey loaded with bread and a jug of wine and a young goat,
and sent them to Saul by David his son.
21 Then David came to Saul and attended him; and Saul loved him greatly,
and he became his armor bearer.”

It’s extremely interesting how some people come to be what they are and to
know the people they know. Perhaps, that’s one of the reasons why these do
so well with the LORD’s assignments here. The young man who mentioned David
is not himself mentioned by name. Certainly, that does not make him of any
lesser value; it simply demonstrates his desire to help.

Often in situations comparable to this one, people who help are often hoping
above all that they might be elected to the position instead of the one who is
ultimately chosen. In such cases, it’s then quite easy to see through the motives.

We must be honest in our evaluation of others and especially of ourselves!
The LORD knows us quite thoroughly. He wants those who are “available,
but not pushy.” He and others are quite capable of tooting their own horns.
We must always prayerfully focus on the spiritual task at hand.

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,

James 5:17-20, “Elijah was a man with a nature like ours, and he prayed earnestly
that it would not rain, and it did not rain on the earth for three years and six months.
18 Then he prayed again, and the sky poured rain and the earth produced its fruit.
19 My brethren, if any among you strays from the truth and one turns him back,
20 let him know that he who turns a sinner from the error of his way will save his soul
from death and will cover a multitude of sins.”

Reading the short passage above several times, I could not clear my mind of the
phrase, “Elijah…with a nature like ours…” That means that Elijah was human. That
is all. He was not super-human, just human, no more, no less than you and I.

Have you ever thought of yourself as possessing a nature like the prophet Elijah?
That’s heavy stuff! But James is saying that we have the same abilities as Elijah!
He prayed specifically for rain to come and cease — and the rain occurred and
ceased –right on time! How did he do it? Is it possible for us to do the same?

First of all, Elijah was sold out to the LORD! We have to be something before the
LORD can do anything through us. Too often we just mosey along through life
not thinking about prayer until something catastrophic occurs; then we get all
excited and urge everyone to pray!

That’s like a small boy who ignores the coach’s order to practice until a few
moments before the game! Then, who’s surprised that he strikes out! Let’s be
honest: most of us don’t really pray until something gargantuan comes along;
then we find ourselves behind the curve.

James’ advice is that we not stray from the truth, and that we endeavor to turn a
sinner from his errors and lead him to faith in the LORD Jesus Christ. Think of
this as GOOD NEWS for yourself as well as for the one you’ve led to Christ.

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,

James 5:14-16, “Is anyone among you sick? Then he must call for the elders of the church and they are to pray over him, anointing him with oil in the name of the Lord;
15 and the prayer offered in faith will restore the one who is sick, and the Lord will raise him up, and if he has committed sins, they will be forgiven him.
16 Therefore, confess your sins to one another, and pray for one another so that you
may be healed. The effective prayer of a righteous man can accomplish much.”

It is indeed unfortunate that in a day of such enormous gains in the field of medical science, we have lost sight of many spiritual things, especially that of prayer.

Sickness is often, but not always, the result of sin. Sometimes sickness exists that the LORD may assess where and how often we seek out only a remedy ministered by a physical doctor. Don’t get me wrong! I am not prejudiced in any way, shape or form against what medical science has produced for humanity’s mutual benefit. My late wife experienced an extention of physical life through the able assistance of the medical community. Nevertheless, her trust in the medical realm was exceeded by her trust in the LORD God Almighty!

Why does it so often take physical illness to bring us to the brink of serious, spiritual prayer? Perhaps it is to draw us closer to the Great Physician Himself. It is often disapointing to hear a doctor say, “We’ve done everything we can…” Perhaps it’s even more disapointing for us to say, “We’ll just have to pray.” We must remember that it is “the prayer offered in faith” that “will restore the one who is sick.” It is the LORD Himself, who can resurrect the sick. One day, too, He will resurrect from the grave all those who have believed in Him!

Reading the Scriptures gives us the hope of the Resurrection! Jesus Himself
arose from the dead! And one day (perhaps, not so far in the future), He will visibly Return and we will understand how “faith” makes us free indeed!

As I pen this Grands Letter, my sweet sister, Carol, is tottering under illness,
with her husband seriously ill in hospital. Our entire family would sincerely
appreciate your prayers for Garrett and Carol Conner, who through spirtual, Christian music have have brought joy and hope to thousands. Thank you for
your faithfulness.

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,

2 Chronicles 20:14-17, “Then in the midst of the assembly the Spirit of the LORD came upon Jahaziel the son of Zechariah, the son of Benaiah, the son of Jeiel, the son of Mattaniah, the Levite of the sons of Asaph;
15 and he said, “Listen, all Judah and the inhabitants of Jerusalem and King Jehoshaphat: thus says the LORD to you, ‘Do not fear or be dismayed because of this great multitude, for the battle is not yours but God’s.
16 ‘Tomorrow go down against them. Behold, they will come up by the ascent of Ziz, and you will find them at the end of the valley in front of the wilderness of Jeruel.
17 ‘You need not fight in this battle; station yourselves, stand and see the salvation of the LORD on your behalf, O Judah and Jerusalem.’ Do not fear or be dismayed; tomorrow go out to face them, for the LORD is with you.”

Multiple are the battles we face in life. It has always been so, and will likely be so in the future.
At the same time, we are to put our faith and trust in the LORD. Notice that the “Spirit of the
LORD” came upon “all Judah and the inhabitants of Jerusalem.” The battle was the LORD’s, if
only they would believe it.

We are so much like the ancients before us. We have multiple battles to face, and we fear
rather than trust in the LORD. The battles we face are truly not ours. If we would only learn to
believe and trust in Him! We are to show faith in Him! We are to believe in His power and leave
everything in His Hands!

Is it not possible that the LORD allows us to face opposition we cannot overcome in order to
prove to us that He alone is able to deliver us? There’s an old song we used to sing,

“Trust and obey, for there’s no other way
To be happy in Jesus, but to trust and obey.”

Face the battles that lie before you with full trust in the LORD! He alone gives the victory!

Heartily in Christ Jesus,

(Dado III)

Gene L. Jeffries, Th.D.
Springdale, Arkansas 72764
United States of America

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