The Grands Letter

Dear Grands,

Matthew 6:25-34, “”For this reason I say to you, do not be worried about your life, as to what you will eat or what you will drink; nor for your body, as to what you will put on. Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothing?
26 “Look at the birds of the air, that they do not sow, nor reap nor gather into barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not worth much more than they?
27 “And who of you by being worried can add a single hour to his life?
28 “And why are you worried about clothing? Observe how the lilies of the field grow;
they do not toil nor do they spin,
29 yet I say to you that not even Solomon in all his glory clothed himself like one of
these.
30 “But if God so clothes the grass of the field, which is alive today and tomorrow is
thrown into the furnace, will He not much more clothe you? You of little faith!
31 “Do not worry then, saying, ‘What will we eat?’ or ‘What will we drink?’ or ‘What
will we wear for clothing?’
32 “For the Gentiles eagerly seek all these things; for your heavenly Father knows
that you need all these things.
33 “But seek first His kingdom and His righteousness, and all these things will be
added to you.
34 “So do not worry about tomorrow; for tomorrow will care for itself. Each day has
enough trouble of its own.”

There’s an old adage that says that opposites attract. My parents were both devout Christians. At the same time, they were quite opposite in many ways! My Dad never worried about anything! My Mother, on the other hand, worried about everything!
We lived next door to a couple who were “addicted” in the same way, only she never worried about anything, while he worried about everything.

I remember him saying to my mother: “Velma, don’t let anyone tell you that it doesn’t
pay to worry! Nothing I ever worried about ever happened!” Both of them had a problem.

“Worry” (????????, merimnao) means to be anxious about something — anything. It
constitutes doubt on our part and, simultaneously, challenges the LORD’s ability to
provide what is right and needed. Imagine challenging the LORD –saying that He
was wrong…that He could not provide something we thought we needed, when all
along He was keeping us from something that would have been to our detriment.

Good parents do the same thing. It’s just that parents are human, and humanity leads
us all into a lot of mistakes! Still, don’t hesitate to engage in something out of fear
that you will fail or cause someone else to fail. Be prayerful! Trust in the LORD! He
is the Good Parent and free from the encumbrances that befall all mortal beings.

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,

Matthew 21:18-22, “Now in the morning, when He was returning to the city, He became hungry.
19 Seeing a lone fig tree by the road, He came to it and found nothing on it except leaves only; and He said to it, ‘No longer shall there ever be any fruit from you.’ And at once the fig tree withered.
20 Seeing this, the disciples were amazed and asked, ‘How did the fig tree wither all at once?’ 21 And Jesus answered and said to them, ‘Truly I say to you, if you have faith and do not doubt, you will not only do what was done to the fig tree, but even if you say to this mountain, “Be taken up and cast into the sea,” it will happen.
22 And all things you ask in prayer, believing, you will receive.”

Remember how things went when you were a “kid”? You mother needed to shop, but she
couldn’t leave you at home by yourself, so she took you with her. Shopping always meant passing by the candy store! Shopping, therefore, was never a dull experience.

I won’t mingle a candy store experience with Jesus and His disciples, except to say that they all got hungry, too. The only other strange occurrence was that when the
tree was found to be fruitless, Jesus condemned the tree completely; and instantly the
tree withered.

It was a lesson on faith. Jesus was teaching His disciples that simply speaking to an
inanimate object required trust that what was requested would come true. Fig trees are
supposed to bear figs; and figs were there for the hungry to eat. Jesus continued with the lesson on faith, saying, “If you have faith and do not doubt, you…can say to ths mountain,
‘Be taken up and cast into the sea,’ it will happen.“

No, I’ve never spoken to a fig tree –nor to any tree, as far as I can remember. But, I have sought to live by faith in Him and have found Him to be more than reliable. No, it’s more than just asking; it’s being yielded to Him and living daily in His will. Then, “…all things you ask in prayer, believing, you will receive.” There’s really nothing like it! And it’s there for you when you trust Him all the way. Does He have your life in His hands? He wants it..

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 6:9, “the LORD has heard my supplication. The LORD receives my prayer.”

Sometimes in our desperation, we search for a Scripture verse that “fits” with our immediate dilemma. When Scripture verses are used in situations different from their
original meaning, we call it “proof texting.” Certainly, that does not mean that we are
to forego praying or cease searching for a biblical answer.

Somewhere I recall reading of a man who found and used this lethal combination in
the Bible:

And Judas “went away and hanged himself” (Matthew 27:5).
“What you have seen me do, hurry and do thou likewise” (Judges 9:43).
“Go in haste, or he will overtake us…” (2 Samuel 15:14).

Please note that there is no unity in such foolishness.

Recently, however, I received an email from a lady who was having great difficulty
constructing something on a rather complicated divice. Things were just not going
well. After finding no answer to her dilemma, this Christian lady decided to pray. She
then revisited the difficult situation and it was immediately resolved!

There’s an old song that Christians use to sing. We would do well to take it off of the
shelf and sing it again:

“What a friend we have in Jesus,
All our sins and griefs to bear;
What a privilege to carry
Everything to God in prayer.”

What makes old hymns invaluable is that they were often borne out of life situations
that were impossible to bear without the LORD. We call on our pastors to pray for us;
how often do we pray for them? They face the same crises we all face. Pray today
for your pastor. You’ll both be glad you did!

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,

Job 37:19-24, “Teach us what we shall say to Him; we cannot arrange our case because of darkness.
20 “Shall it be told Him that I would speak? Or should a man say that he would be swallowed up?
21 “Now men do not see the light which is bright in the skies; but the wind has passed and cleared them.
22 “Out of the north comes golden splendor; around God is awesome majesty.
23 “The Almighty– we cannot find Him; He is exalted in power and He will not do violence to justice and abundant righteousness.
24 “Therefore men fear Him; He does not regard any who are wise of heart.”

As you would expect, it is impossible to read with understanding the Holy Scriptures
without knowing their meaning. Further, it is impossible to know the meaning of the
Scriptures without the LORD’s spiritual light. This is precisely why Job says, “Teach
us what we shall say to Him…” Simultaneously, he admits that he “cannot arrange our
case” with sin in our lives. Sin is always synonymous with darkness.

Without light, we cannot see. Yet, it is not merely physical light; it is spiritual light that
we need. It is the spectacular, Spiritual Light that comes from the LORD alone. It’s a
golden splendor that encircles the LORD in “awesome majesty.”

The LORD is encompassed with a powerful Light that arises from Him alone! Yet, the same “encompassing Light” locates us and reveals our works to Him. What are we to
do when His Light reveals our true selves? Will He not also require that we give account
of all that we have done and not done? His power can forgive us; yet, He will surely also hold us to account!

As if our awareness in that Hour of Confession were not sufficient, the LORD’s
personal presence will itself undoubtedly be sufficient to frighten us beyond words! To
lessen our condemnation in that hour, does it not seem best that we commence to do
right today? Teach us, O LORD, that we may be prepared to stand before You!

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,

Genesis 6:5-8, “Then the LORD saw that the wickedness of man was great on the earth, and that every intent of the thoughts of his heart was only evil continually. The LORD was sorry that He had made man on the earth, and He was grieved in His heart.
7 The LORD said, ‘I will blot out man whom I have created from the face of the land, from man to animals to creeping things and to birds of the sky; for I am sorry that I have made them.’
8 But Noah found favor in the eyes of the LORD.”

Have you ever suffered from sorrow? When was the last time? How long did your sorrow
last? Did you know that God Himself experiences sorrow? The New Testament tells us
of the sorrows of the LORD Jesus; but this is a passage from the Old Testament. Thus,
it was many, many years prior to the LORD Jesus’ time here on earth.

The dictionary defines “sorrow” as “the characteristic feeling of sadness, grief or
regret associated with loss, bereavement, or sympathy for another’s suffering…”

Now, everything was going well until Jesus revealed to His disciples that He was preparing
to return to His Father in Heaven. They were then filled with sorrow. It was the news of His
intention that produced sorrow in their hearts. I’m certain that we’ve all experienced
sorrow at loosing somone dear to us –even if only for a brief time.

Death is severe separation! Especially, is that true with loved ones. Yet, in the true measure of time, it is but a brief moment. For when we know that He promised to return,
each moment of each day makes it all the shorter. But, are you ready? Are you ready for
the LORD Jesus’ return? Are you prepared, if He should come today? He will come, you
know? What’s more, He has given us directions for preparing for Jesus’ return.

As the world grows more cruel by the day, we have hope in the Return of our LORD!
Do you have that hope? You can have it by confessing your sins to Him and asking His
forgiveness. You will then know immediately that your sins are forgiven. You will then
look eagerly for His Return! I’m praying for you!

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