The Grands Letter

Dear Grands,

Joshua 1:1-5, “Now it came about after the death of Moses the servant of the LORD, that the LORD spoke to Joshua the son of Nun, Moses’ servant, saying,
2 ‘Moses My servant is dead; now therefore arise, cross this Jordan, you and all this people, to the land which I am giving to them, to the sons of Israel.
3 ‘Every place on which the sole of your foot treads, I have given it to you, just as I spoke to Moses.
4 ‘From the wilderness and this Lebanon, even as far as the great river, the river Euphrates, all the land of the Hittites, and as far as the Great Sea toward the setting of the sun will be your territory.
5 ‘No man will be able to stand before you all the days of your life. Just as I have been with Moses, I will be with you; I will not fail you or forsake you.’”

The life and ministry of Moses had come to an end. Yet, it was Moses who had died, not God. The promises that the LORD had made to Moses would be fulfilled to the letter! It is only that they would be fulfilled under the leadership of another.

Without question, Moses had faithfully served the LORD! Yet, the things that Moses expected to be fulfilled under his leadership, will now be the responsibility of Joshua. And the Land that has been promised will forever belong to Israel.

The challenge that Israel is experiencing today is but a continuation of the LORD’s promise. Her adversaries have different names; yet, through the ages foreign nations have continually challenged Israel’s right to possess the Land that God promised her! Still, Israel prevails.

What the LORD promises to us will be equally fulfilled. Our chief need is to be faithful in believing Him. His promises are rarely, if ever, fulfilled on our schedule. Yet they will be fulfilled!

“Trust in the LORD with all your heart and do not lean on
your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge
Him, and He will make your paths straight” (Prov. 3:5-6).

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,

Joshua 1:1-5, “Now it came about after the death of Moses the servant of the LORD, that the LORD spoke to Joshua the son of Nun, Moses’ servant, saying,
2 ‘Moses My servant is dead; now therefore arise, cross this Jordan, you and all this people, to the land which I am giving to them, to the sons of Israel.
3 ‘Every place on which the sole of your foot treads, I have given it to you, just as I spoke to Moses.
4 ‘From the wilderness and this Lebanon, even as far as the great river, the river Euphrates, all the land of the Hittites, and as far as the Great Sea toward the setting of the sun will be your territory.
5 ‘No man will be able to stand before you all the days of your life. Just as I have been with Moses, I will be with you; I will not fail you or forsake you.’”

The life and ministry of Moses had come to an end. Yet, it was Moses who had died, not God. The promises that the LORD had made to Moses would be fulfilled to the letter! It is only that they would be fulfilled under the leadership of another.

Without question, Moses had faithfully served the LORD! Yet, the things that Moses expected to be fulfilled under his leadership, will now be the responsibility of Joshua. And the Land that has been promised will forever belong to Israel.

The challenge that Israel is experiencing today is but a continuation of the LORD’s promise. Her adversaries have different names; yet, through the ages foreign nations have continually challenged Israel’s right to possess the Land that God promised her! Still, Israel prevails.

What the LORD promises to us will be equally fulfilled. Our chief need is to be faithful in believing Him. His promises are rarely, if ever, fulfilled on our schedule. Yet they will be fulfilled!

“Trust in the LORD with all your heart and do not lean on
your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge
Him, and He will make your paths straight” (Prov. 3:5-6).

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 119:162-174, “I rejoice at Your Word, as one who finds great spoil.
163 I hate and despise falsehood, but I love Your law.
164 Seven times a day I praise You, because of Your righteous ordinances.
165 Those who love Your law have great peace, and nothing causes them to stumble.
166 I hope for Your salvation, O LORD, and do Your commandments.
167 My soul keeps Your testimonies, and I love them exceedingly.
168 I keep Your precepts and Your testimonies, for all my ways are before You. Tav.
169 Let my cry come before You, O LORD; give me understanding according to Your Word.
170 Let my supplication come before You; deliver me according to Your Word.
171 Let my lips utter praise, for You teach me Your statutes.
172 Let my tongue sing of Your Word, for all Your commandments are righteousness.
173 Let Your hand be ready to help me, for I have chosen Your precepts.
174 I long for Your salvation, O LORD, and Your law is my delight.”

If you’ve ever encountered someone who was so deliriously happy that they just couldn’t stop talking about how wonderful something or someone is, you have then experienced something of the psalmist’s excitement over the LORD and His Word!

I lay no claim to having experienced the heights of the psalmist’s exhilaration, but each of us can doubtlessly recall times when we have been deliriously excited about something spiritual! Peace, the Word, salvation, righteousness –all combine to thrill our souls!

The LORD has spoken –spoken to us! His Word has become more than just a book of historical reference. Its words touch our hearts; our spirits are renewed! “Oh, how I love Your law,” the psalmist says, “It is my meditation all the day” (Psa. 119:97).

Our hearts, too, can express such praise daily, provided we absorb His Word as the psalmist has. Submerge yourself in the timeless wonder of His Word! Let it bring spiritual refreshment to your heart and soul. Then share it with a close friend.

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,

Isaiah 54:17, “’No weapon that is formed against you will prosper; and every tongue that accuses you in judgment you will condemn. This is the heritage of the servants of the LORD, and their vindication is from Me,” declares the LORD.”

In an interesting corollary to the attempted assassination of presidential candidate, Donald J. Trump, Senator Tim Scott of South Carolina revealed that he and a prayer partner had just concluded praying when word was received of the shooting in Butler, Pennsylvania. Senator Scott then quoted the above Scripture, that so appropriately fit the situation.

Those who read the Bible regularly are bound to discover how relevant the Word of God is! The immediately preceeding verses say,

“If anyone fiercely assails you it will not be from Me.
Whoever assails you will fall because of you. Behold,
I Myself have created the smith who blows the fire of
coals and brings out a weapon for its work; and I
have created the destroyer to ruin.”

All people alive on Earth, who live in freedom-loving countries, despise
violence and create laws that prohibit such where they live. Mankind
was created to live in peace and to live under the Authority of the LORD.

“Those who love Your law have great peace,
And nothing causes them to stumble” (Psa. 119:165).

Past and present leaders in our American Government can currently
be heard and viewed voluntarily and unapologetically expressing
need of intervention from the LORD.

Yes, we are allowed to differ in our choices of political candidates for
office; however, we will undoubtedly be held accountable for all
dispicable rhetoric –especially that which leads to physical disaster.

Pray for our nation and our nation’s leadership. Moreover, pray that
those who guide our nation will be willingly guided by our LORD.

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,

Mark 1:1-8, “The beginning of the gospel of Jesus Christ, the Son of God.
2 As it is written in Isaiah the prophet: “BEHOLD, I SEND MY MESSENGER AHEAD OF YOU, WHO WILL PREPARE YOUR WAY;
3 THE VOICE OF ONE CRYING IN THE WILDERNESS, ‘MAKE READY THE WAY OF THE LORD, MAKE HIS PATHS STRAIGHT.'”
4 John the Baptist appeared in the wilderness preaching a baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins.
5 And all the country of Judea was going out to him, and all the people of Jerusalem; and they were being baptized by him in the Jordan River, confessing their sins.
6 John was clothed with camel’s hair and wore a leather belt around his waist, and his diet was locusts and wild honey.
7 And he was preaching, and saying, “After me One is coming who is mightier than I, and I am not fit to stoop down and untie the thong of His sandals.
8 “I baptized you with water; but He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit.”

Evangelists do a lot of silly things! My close and loyal Australian friend, the late George Galieh, used to say,

“John the Baptist was a preacher;
John the Baptist was a Jew;
Some folks say he was a Christian;
But he was a Baptist, too.”

Yet, as silly as that little verse might sound to you as a reader, it is packed with genuine truth! For it speaks clearly of John the Baptist, the preacher-
proclaimer of the LORD Jesus Christ, as He entered humanity’s scene as the proclaimer of mankind’s Savior-Redeemer.

John was hardly what the Nation of Israel could have expected. Clothed in camel’s hair and wearing a leather belt around his waist, John was hardly what the religious Jews were expecting. Further, John ate locusts and wild honey! If John were not the Redeemer (and he was not!), what on Earth
would the Redeemer Himself look like?

The LORD possesses a lot of surprises for those who trust Him! Have you noticed that? Have you ever met someone whose presence impressed you
negatively? Yet, when you truly got to know the person, your whole attitude changed!

There were many serious-minded Jewish people who were looking for the Messiah. He was coming; but they have to deal first with John! No one, desiring to take out a loan from a bank, rushes into the building and right into the Bank President’s Office! No, there are “stages” of registration that are first required. So it was with John and Jesus.

John the Baptist was proclaiming the coming of the Savior; still, he was
admitting that he was totally unworthy to even introduce Jesus. Moreover,
he was unworthy of being the lowliest slave, who untied the sandles of the
visitor to a household. Knowing he was nothing was what made him who he was.

By the way, the water in which John immersed Jewish believers was simply symbolic of the Holy Spirit with Whom Jesus immersed the
believing Jews. So it is today. Baptism is merely a sign of one’s having
trusted Jesus as his LORD and Savior. Baptism is not saving! Yet the key is: have you trusted Christ Jesus as your Savior and Lord?

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