The Grands Letter

Dear Grands,

Revelation 19:1-7, “After these things I heard, as it were, a loud voice of
a great multitude in heaven, saying, ‘Hallelujah! Salvation and glory and
power belong to our God;

2 because His judgments are true and righteous; for He has judged the great
harlot who was corrupting the earth with her immorality, and He has avenged
the blood of His bond-servants on her.’

3And a second time they said, “Hallelujah! Her smoke rises up forever and
ever.” 4And the twenty-four elders and the four living creatures fell down
and worshiped God who sits on the throne saying, ‘Amen. Hallelujah!’

5And a voice came from the throne, saying, ‘Give praise to our God, all you
His bond-servants, you who fear Him, the small and the great.’

6And I heard, as it were, the voice of a great multitude and as the sound of
many waters and as the sound of mighty peals of thunder, saying,
“Hallelujah! For the Lord our God, the Almighty, reigns.

7″Let us rejoice and be glad and give the glory to Him, for the marriage of
the Lamb has come and His bride has made herself ready.”

A mysterious experience occurred in Israel recently, when a descendent of
Aaron, the brother of Moses, ascended the Temple Mount in full Old Testament
dress and recited aloud Scripture from the Old Testament. Normally, there
would have been strenuous opposition from Moslems to such a bold Jewish
display on the Temple Mount, yet no opposition was voiced. Israelis view
that as a miracle within itself.

My family and I were in Australia when the 6-Day War occurred, and Israel

experienced a break-through to the Wall. Today, hundreds of Israelis gather
there without opposition. I was, at the time, acquainted with an Australian
who was Jewish. He greeted the victory with exuberant praise! I recall
reading that someone in Israel asked a Rabbi how they could tear down the
Moslem structure on the Temple Mount. His reply was: “Who knows? Maybe there
will be an earthquake!” That was the year 1967-57 years ago!

I have at numerous times argued with Jewish people about their place in
history, and their need to accept salvation from the LORD Jesus Christ.
Sometimes I even “feel” Jewish! Our incoming President has appointed Mike
Huckabee, former Governor of Arkansas, as the U.S. Ambassador to Israel.
Mike Huckabee is an ordained Southern Baptist Minister! What an open-ended,
spiritual calling he has! I know he would appreciate our prayers.

Let me urge you to be encouraged! Keep your eyes on the happenings in
Israel. “Pray for the peace of Jerusalem” (Psa. 122:6). With the LORD’s
blessing, we may live to see Him come and even be caught up to meet Him in
the air!

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,

Psalm 25:11-18, “For Your name’s sake, O LORD, pardon my iniquity, for it is great.

12 Who is the man who fears the LORD? He will instruct him in the way he should choose.

13 His soul will abide in prosperity, and his descendants will inherit the land.

14 The secret of the LORD is for those who fear Him, and He will make them know His covenant.

15 My eyes are continually toward the LORD, for He will pluck my feet out of the net.

16 Turn to me and be gracious to me, for I am lonely and afflicted.

17 The troubles of my heart are enlarged; bring me out of my distresses.

18 Look upon my affliction and my trouble, and forgive all my sins.”

It’s difficult to read these verses without believing that the writer was seeking

genuine forgiveness for some committed sin. We must be careful, however, not to condemn this writer because you and I often have need to confess sin.

This is written neither to condemn you for your sin, nor to admit my own; still both conclusions would doubtlessly be accurate. The passage assures us that our honesty in admitting sin, also assures us that the LORD will forgive it. Whatever the situation, He is present to deliver His own. He understands the way of our heart, and that way is troublesome and distressing.

“Bring me out of my distresses” is the call of the human heart. “Look upon my affliction and my trouble, and forgive all my sins.” And when we meet His conditions, He forgives our sins. I will pray for you; you, please pray for me.

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,

Psalm 25:11-18, “For Your name’s sake, O LORD, pardon my iniquity, for it is great.

12 Who is the man who fears the LORD? He will instruct him in the way he should choose.

13 His soul will abide in prosperity, and his descendants will inherit the land.

14 The secret of the LORD is for those who fear Him, and He will make them know His covenant.

15 My eyes are continually toward the LORD, for He will pluck my feet out of the net.

16 Turn to me and be gracious to me, for I am lonely and afflicted.

17 The troubles of my heart are enlarged; bring me out of my distresses.

18 Look upon my affliction and my trouble, and forgive all my sins.”

It’s difficult to read these verses without believing that the writer was seeking

genuine forgiveness for some committed sin. We must be careful, however, not to condemn this writer because you and I often have need to confess sin.

This is written neither to condemn you for your sin, nor to admit my own; still both conclusions would doubtlessly be accurate. The passage assures us that our honesty in admitting sin, also assures us that the LORD will forgive it.

Further, whatever the situation, He is present to deliver His own. He understands the way of our hearts, and that way is troublesome and distressing.

“Bring me out of my distresses” is the call of the human heart. “Look upon my affliction and my trouble, and forgive all my sins.” And when we meet His conditions, He forgives our sins. I will pray for you; you, please pray for me.

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,

Daniel 4:28-34, “All this happened to Nebuchadnezzar the king.

29 Twelve months later he was walking on the roof of the royal palace of Babylon.

30 “The king reflected and said, ‘Is this not Babylon the great, which I myself have built as a royal residence by the might of my power and for the glory of my majesty?’

31 While the word was in the king’s mouth, a voice came from heaven, saying, “King Nebuchadnezzar, to you it is declared: sovereignty has been removed from you,

32 and you will be driven away from mankind, and your dwelling place will be with the beasts of the field. You will be given grass to eat like cattle, and seven periods of time will pass over you until you recognize that the Most High is ruler over the realm of mankind and bestows it on whomever He wishes.”

33Immediately the word concerning Nebuchadnezzar was fulfilled; and he was driven away from mankind and began eating grass like cattle, and his body was drenched with the dew of heaven until his hair had grown like eagles’ feathers and his nails like birds’ claws.

34 “But at the end of that period, I, Nebuchadnezzar, raised my eyes toward heaven and my reason returned to me, and I blessed the Most High and praised and honored Him who lives forever; For His dominion is an everlasting dominion, And His kingdom endures from generation to generation.”

Did you ever hear the expression: “He’s too big for his britches”? It’s a quasi-attribution for someone whose speech and/or actions are out of character for someone. It’s like a third-grader talking and acting like a high school student!

Well, this is precisely what occurred to King Nebuchadnezzar He had been chastised by the LORD earlier for misbehavior. He had suffered rather severely; yet, now he was talking and acting as if he were responsible for all that surrounded him. So, in the end, he was made to suffer additionally for his arrogance.

We all need to be careful that our behavior doesn’t mislead others.

We may think we’re better in some ways, but there are always others, who know more than we. Besides, arrogance is not-at-all

becoming to those who claim to be followers of Jesus. If we simply

focus on being like Him, others will notice and will be encouraged.

Heartily in Christ,

(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,

Psalm 127:1-5, “Unless the LORD builds the house, they labor in vain who build it; unless the LORD guards the city, the watchman keeps awake in vain.

2 It is vain for you to rise up early, to retire late, to eat the bread of painful labors; For He gives to His beloved even in his sleep.

3 Behold, children are a gift of the LORD, the fruit of the womb is a reward.

4 Like arrows in the hand of a warrior, so are the children of one’s youth.

5 How blessed is the man whose quiver is full of them; they will not be ashamed when they speak with their enemies in the gate.”

Solomon, the author of the verses above, was also the author of many verses that are discoverable throughout the Scriptures. The Apostle Paul contributed numerous spiritual truths in the New Testament, as well as references from Old Testament Scriptures, as well.

In one place, the Apostle Paul said, “For this reason I am writing these things while absent, so that when present I need not use severity, in accordance with the authority which the Lord gave me for building up and not for tearing down” (2 Cor. 13:10). We could all use the value of these words from the apostle.

With Thanksgiving now behind us, thoughts of the coming Christmas will doubtlessly be on our minds. We would do well to think deeply of the Scripture passage above. Children (and grandchildren and great-grandchildren) are all gifts from the LORD. Pictures that we take of them, surely depict the love they have for us. Further, we would do well to remember that every contact we have with them is making a life-long impression. We will be remembered as they see us today. May our lives always reflect the LORD Jesus Christ.

Heartily in Christ Jesus,

Gene L. Jeffries, Th.D.

Springdale, Arkansas

United States of America

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