The Grands Letter

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.
6 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.”

One of the most difficult things in life is to say, “I am sorry.” Yet, knowing that the first
use of the worry “sorry” came from our LORD Himself makes saying it no less difficult.

Yes, the LORD made man to dwell on the earth. But, when the LORD saw that the
“wickedness of man was great,” He was sorry that He had made created him at all.

Sorrow often emerges from things we don’t like in others (“She/he’s a sorry mess…”).
Yet, to be fully truthful, sorrow hits us in the face like a steel pipe when we do or say
something that hurts others. And those are sometime things of which we have no
knowledge until they are said or done.

Notice closely the Scripture passage above. The LORD first said He would blot out
man (vs. 6); then He vowed to blot out all created creatures (vs. 7). Yet, in the end,
“Noah found favor in the eyes of the LORD.”

Are we here to believe that man’s conduct was the cause of the LORD’s displeasure?
Yes, but ultimately, “Noah found favor in the eyes of the LORD.” I view this as saying
that we should never give up seeking forgiveness for things we’ve done in haste –things
that lead to disfavor in the mind and heart of our LORD Jesus Christ.

Our motive should always be: “Think clearly first”; then, don’t say or do it –whatever it is!
I once heard a man say, “I’m going to give him a piece of my mind.” Someone nearby
heard him and replied, “Are you sure you’ve got enough of it to share?”

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

Dear Grands,

Proverbs 1:20-29, “Wisdom shouts in the street, she lifts her voice in the square;
21 At the head of the noisy streets she cries out; at the entrance of the gates in the
city she utters her sayings:
22 “How long, O naive ones, will you love being simple-minded? And scoffers delight
themselves in scoffing and fools hate knowledge?
23 “Turn to my reproof, behold, I will pour out my spirit on you; I will make my words
known to you.
24 “Because I called and you refused, I stretched out my hand and no one paid attention;
25 And you neglected all my counsel and did not want my reproof;
26 I will also laugh at your calamity; I will mock when your dread comes,
27 When your dread comes like a storm and your calamity comes like a whirlwind,
when distress and anguish come upon you.
28 “Then they will call on me, but I will not answer; they will seek me diligently but
they will not find me,
29 Because they hated knowledge and did not choose the fear of the LORD.”

That is a long passage, but it needs to be read slowly and taken very seriously.
Everything our LORD has said is true, whether it be of Himself or of us. When He
accuses us of wrong-doing, we are clearly adjudicated “Guilty!”

A good part of our problem is 1) we do not like to be told that we are what we are!
2) We don’t listen clearly to what the LORD says, whether about us or about any-
thing! We look too often at ourselves and want Him to see us as we see ourselves.

On the human scale, we may want the doctor to tell us that we’re in good health;
however, what we need to hear is the truth, whether it’s good or bad. We may not
want to take the meds the doctor prescribes, but we must if we want to survive!

So it is with the LORD –only far, far more seriously! The doctor may not know
whether we’re taking the meds he prescribed; but the LORD knows whether we’re
behaving as He has directed.

Thus, we need to read and absorb His Word daily! This should be at the top of
our “to do” list. Then, we need to meditate on what we’ve learned from His Word.
We also need to pray. Our communication with the LORD is of highest importance!
Only then, can we depend upon His love and power.

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 5:14-16, “You are the light of the world. A city set on a hill cannot be hidden;
15 nor does anyone light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on the lampstand, and
it gives light to all who are in the house.
16 “Let your light shine before men in such a way that they may see your good works,
and glorify your Father who is in heaven.”

John 9:1-5, “As He passed by, He saw a man blind from birth.
2 And His disciples asked Him, ‘Rabbi, who sinned, this man or his parents, that he
would be born blind?’
3 Jesus answered, “It was neither that this man sinned, nor his parents; but it was
so that the works of God might be displayed in him.
4 “We must work the works of Him who sent Me as long as it is day; night is coming
when no one can work.
5 “While I am in the world, I am the Light of the world.”

When Jesus came to earth, He came with His Father’s shared Light to make all living
persons aware of their sin and of the Father’s ability to forgive it and replace it with
His own glorious Light. When we repent of our sin and accept the LORD Jesus as our
LORD and Savior, we become responsible to share the LORD’s Light with others.

In the Scripture above, Jesus notes that human maladies are not always the cause
of human sin; nor are they always caused by human sin. Sometimes, as in His words
above, sin is present that it might be removed by the LORD, whereby He demonstrate
His power and His purpose. Jesus is that Light!

Both Scriptural passages above (Matthew & John) reveal the LORD’s purpose in
sharing His Light with us. In sharing, He gives us the opportunity to bring good news
to those whose lives are mired in sin. Such opportunities may, in the beginning, seem
futile; yet, there is power in the LORD’s Word just as there is power in the LORD
Himself. He can and will transfer His power into our witnessing, enabling the lost to
come to know Him in the free pardon from sin.

If you’re one who is mired in sin, just look to Jesus and cry “Help! Forgive me!” You
will be amazed at His work in your life!

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 11:28-30, “Come to Me, all who are weary and heavy-laden, and I will give you rest.
29 “Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and YOU
WILL FIND REST FOR YOUR SOULS.
30 “For My yoke is easy and My burden is light.”

Everyone has doubtlessly witnessed a hurt child running to his mother for comfort. As readers
of this Letter, you have doubtlessly experienced such things as one of the normal vicissitudes
of life. We all suffer the wearinesses of burdens that life deals us from time-to-time. Yet, more
comforting than the tenderest mother’s love is the “rest” that Jesus promises to those who come
to Him.

When Jesus spoke of His yoke, we are reminded of that curved piece of wood that was “fitted
on the neck of oxen for the purpose of binding to them the traces by which they might draw the
plough” (Easton’s Dictionary of the Bible). Here, Jesus references the “yoke” to assure us of
His unity with us in all that we encounter.

Experiences often test us and our abilities, while simultaneously teaching us of our LORD’s
gentle endurance in laboring with us. His “yoking” with us produces a restfulness on our part; and
we then think of our difficulties as being “easy” and our burdens as being “light.”

Let that current experience that seems so difficult fall upon Him. You will be amazed how His
presence refreshes your spirit and lightens that load. Then, as we taught our children, “Don’t
forget to tell Him ‘Thanks!’”

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 10:1-4, “Jesus summoned His twelve disciples and gave them authority over
unclean spirits, to cast them out, and to heal every kind of disease and every kind of sickness.
2 Now the names of the twelve apostles are these: The first, Simon, who is called Peter, and
Andrew his brother; and James the son of Zebedee, and John his brother;
3 Philip and Bartholomew; Thomas and Matthew the tax collector; James the son of Alphaeus,
and Thaddaeus;
4 Simon the Zealot, and Judas Iscariot, the one who betrayed Him.”

These verses may not immediately strike you as exciting. Still, note in verse one what
Jesus gave his disciples! He gave them “authority!” Isn’t that what everyone wants
today? Politically, that’s true. Yet, Jesus’ gift of authority was greater than political
authority. He gave them authority over “disease and every kind of sickness.”

Think of what that would be like!! Diseases, virtually beclouding our world –some of
which have yet even to be identified— and you have power and authority over them! You
could travel the world and heal diseases that threaten to wipe out entire groups of people!
What a blessing their healing would be! What an opening for the Gospel of Jesus!

In verse two, Jesus gave the world the names of those to whom he gave this authority over
diseases! Yes, Matthew is physically writing this Gospel, and is including the name of the traitor,
Judas Iscariot, with the names of Jesus’ true and trusted disciples. Would you want your name
to be listed with that of Judas Iscariot? a traitor!?

Jesus’ love excels all human love! I have four great-grandkids. I love them and am exceedingly
proud of each of them! Yet, the love that Jesus has for Judas Iscariot excels my love for my
great-grands! There’s no way any of us can ever love like Jesus loves! And with all the wrong
we’ve done in our lives, He still loves us and died on the cross for our sins!

William Runyan and Wendell Loveless wrote the song, O, What Love!

Wonderful it is that Jesus cares for me;
Coming from His home on high;
Into pain and sorrow, poverty and woe,
On Calvary’s cruel cross for me to die.

Oh, what love, that He should die for me!
Saving grace thus to supply for me;
Oh, what love! Oh, what love!
Evermore I’ll sing it—Oh, what love!

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