The Grands Letter

Dear Grands,

WHAT’S IN A “WORD”?

Definition: “A word is a combination of letters or symbols that helps express something” (GLJ).

Delineation:

1. Words express ideas/beliefs:

(1) Right / True:

(2) Wrong / False

2. Words express feelings:

(1) Love: Gen 37:4a, “And his brothers saw that their father loved him more than all his brothers…”

(2) Hate: Gen 37:4b, “…and so they hated him and could not speak to him on friendly terms.”

(3) Joy: I Sam 18:6-7, “And it happened as they were coming, when David returned from killing the

Philistine, that the women came out of all the cities of Israel, singing and dancing, to meet

King Saul, with tambourines, with joy and with musical instruments. And the women sang as

they played, and said, ‘Saul has slain his thousands, And David his ten thousands.’”

(4) Hurt: I Sam 18:8a, “Then Saul became very angry, for this saying displeased him…”

3. Words exhibit character –the character of the user:

(1) Good character: Joseph (throughout)

(2) Bad character: Joseph’s brothers

Gen 37:4, “And his brothers saw that their father loved him more than all his brothers;

and so they hated him and could not speak to him on friendly terms.”

Conclusion:

1. The words of some are to be avoided:

? Psa 55:21, “His speech was smoother than butter, But his heart was war; His words were softer than

oil, Yet they were drawn swords.”

2. The Words of God are to be heeded:

?Jer 1:4, “Then the LORD stretched out His hand and touched my mouth, and the LORD said to me,

‘Behold, I have put My words in your mouth.’”

?Psa 119:11, “Thy Word I have treasured in my heart, That I may not sin against Thee.”

3. Our words are to be weighed –very carefully:

?Psa 119:67, “Before I was afflicted I went astray, But now I keep Thy Word.”

?Psa 19:14, “Let the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart Be acceptable in Thy sight,

O LORD, my rock and my Redeemer.”

Incidentally, I composed this 18 years ago, and found it recently, just waiting for me on my computer. It seemed like time I started putting into place what had lingered unheeded for so long. I hope you find it helpful and beneficial to your daily life.

I know for certain that this is needed in my life. May the Good LORD help us all to watch our words this week!

Heartily in Christ Jesus,

(Dado III)

Gene L. Jeffries, Th.D.

Springdale, Arkansas 72764

United States of America

“We never know that God is all we need

until He becomes all that we have.”

Dear Grands,

Psalm 145:14-16. “The LORD sustains all who fall,

And raises up all who are bowed down.

15 The eyes of all look to Thee,

And Thou dost give them their food in due time.

16 Thou dost open Thy hand,

And dost satisfy the desire of every living thing.”

When trouble or anxiety move in upon our lives, we need help. David knows and reveals to us that

the LORD sustains (supports) those who fall. He also raises up those who are bowed down. “Bowed”

here is probably intended as complimentary to the word “fall,” in the initial part of the verse. Yet, it just

might be that David is not-so-subtly implying that only those who truly worship (bow before) the LORD

can rely upon Him to sustain them.

“The eyes of all look to Thee” is so contemporaneous with our times. “Oh, LORD!” and “Oh, God!”

are subliminal expressions that designate trouble –our trouble! Even those who deny the LORD a

presence in their lives, cry those words in times of trouble. It is in reality His implantation of man’s

awareness of Him, despite man’s denial.

He provides our food. My maternal grandmother told me of her discovery of two shiny new dimes

in the barn during the years of depression. Not a soul other than family had been on the place, and

she was unshakable in her belief that the LORD had Himself provided them for their needs. Doubt

her, if you will; but remember the verse that says, “Nothing will be impossible with God” (Luke 1:37).

Yes, He opens His hand, and satisfies “the desire of every living thing.” Yet, if “bowed down,” back

in verse 14, means “worship” and being “yielded to His will,” then our reception of anything and

everything hinges on how we conduct our daily lives. Is your life “right” with God? Are your thoughts

and attitudes and conduct guided by Him? If they are, you can depend on Him keeping His word.

If they are not, you may be headed for real trouble! Don’t trifle with God! He’s the bigger player in

this game of life.

Heartily in Christ Jesus,

(Dado III)

Gene L. Jeffries, Th.D.

Springdale, Arkansas 72764

United States of America

“We never know that God is all we need

until He becomes all that we have.”

Dear Grands,

Colossians 1:9-10, “…we have not ceased to pray for you and to ask that you may be filled with the knowledge of His will in all spiritual wisdom and understanding,

10 so that you may walk in a manner worthy of the Lord, to please Him in all respects, bearing fruit in every good work and increasing in the knowledge of God…”

When my parents died, my wife said, “We’ve just lost the finest prayer-partners we’ll ever have.” What a joy to know that there are those who, despite our unworthiness, are remembering us daily in their prayers. Paul was not praying that the Colossian believers might have better living conditions or finer food for the nourishment of their bodies. He was praying that they might be filled (made complete) with the knowledge of God’s will for their lives, and have spiritual wisdom and understanding.

As good as all of that is, there is a “so that” included. It’s like a dad buying his son some gloves and boots “so that” he can keep the yard clean, cut and trimmed. Paul’s “so that” concerns the spiritual deportment of the Colossian believers. He want them to walk in a manner that glorifies the LORD. I remember an upper classman, who lived near me and I often saw him when I was walking to school. His head was tilted to the side with his nose in an noticeable, upward turn. I thought he had a bad neck, but came to understand he only had a supercilious attitude. And that’s not an attitude that glorifies the LORD.

We’re to be warm and loving and caring of others. That’s being “worthy of the LORD.” It pleases Him to see us

behave like Jesus behaved, just as a parent is delighted to see his child behave as he has been taught. Such an attitude produces good works, and leads to an increase in the knowledge of the LORD. Now, that’s something that

would do all of us well, isn’t it? Remember that CHRISTmas time is the easiest time to inject Christ Jesus into our conversations with others. Remember, too, that it’s not religion that changes people; it’s a relationship with Jesus!

May God bless you with an even closer relationship with Him!

Heartily in Christ Jesus,

(Dado III)

Gene L. Jeffries, Th.D.

Springdale, Arkansas 72764

United States of America

“We never know that God is all we need

until He becomes all that we have.”

Dear Grands,

Colossians 1:1-4, “Paul, an apostle of Jesus Christ by the will of God, and Timothy our brother,

2 to the saints and faithful brethren in Christ who are at Colossae: Grace to you and peace from God our Father.

3 We give thanks to God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, praying always for you,

4 since we heard of your faith in Christ Jesus and the love which you have for all the saints…”

Who are you, and why are you what you are? Have you ever thought about that? Paul knew who he was, and he knew why.

Paul was an “apostle.” An apostle is a messenger. Paul was a messenger of Jesus Christ. He carried the message of Jesus

wherever he went. Why? because sharing the message is according to the will of God. The LORD wills that none should perish,

but that “all should come to repentance” (II Pet. 3:9).

The LORD Himself gives grace to all His people, including His messengers. It is to our advantage that He gives us grace. He

also give us peace. In turn, we are to give thanks to God, who is the Father of our LORD Jesus Christ. Jesus is the One who

gives CHRISTmas its meaning. Far too much emphasis is laid upon material gifts. Far too little emphasis is given to Christ.

Paul highlighted the giving of thanks to God –something we do too little of, as well. Paul also prayed almost incessantly for

the Colossians. We could understand his prayer for the lost, but why would he emphasize prayers for the Colossians? Could

it be that he recognized that prayer for the Colossian Christians’ faith and love would increase to the glory of God? And the

basic requirement for the lost to be saved is for believers to share their faith.

Think all of this through. Maybe you need to re-read the verses above. Assess your position with the LORD and with His

will for your life. How long has it been since you prayed for others? your parents? your children? your Church? your pastor?

missionaries? Christian radio and television? the President? the Presidential Cabinet? Congress? your friends? those who are

committed to protect you: your police? your first-responders? Push your prayers to a higher level. No more “for all those for

whom it is my duty to pray.” That’s puerile, childish. Grow in your prayer life, and you will grow in your witnessing, and in your

love for your fellow-believers.

Heartily in Christ Jesus,

(Dado III)

Gene L. Jeffries, Th.D.

Springdale, Arkansas 72764

United States of America

“We never know that God is all we need

until He becomes all that we have.”

Dear Grands,

Philippians 4:11b-13, 18-19, “…I have learned to be content in whatever circumstances I am.

12 I know how to get along with humble means, and I also know how to live in prosperity; in any and every

circumstance I have learned the secret of being filled and going hungry, both of having abundance and suffering need.

13 I can do all things through Him who strengthens me.

18 But I have received everything in full, and have an abundance; I am amply supplied, having received from Epaphroditus what you have sent, a fragrant aroma, an acceptable sacrifice, well-pleasing to God.

19 And my God shall supply all your needs according to His riches in glory in Christ.”

In his first letter to Timothy, in AD 67, Paul wrote, “…godliness actually is a means of great gain, when accompanied by contentment.”

This allows us to see that Paul continues to believe the same as when he told the Philippians back in in AD 63, to “be content in whatever circumstances” you find youself. It’s a tough order. Things change, people change, we change! But, the LORD has not changed! He knows our circumstances, and if we are in need, He owns “the cattle on a thousand hills” (Psa. 50:10) and can sell or butcher them as He sees fit.

Two verses Mrs. Kane (we called her “Sugar Kane”) taught us in Vacation Bible School many decades ago – verses that have stayed with me for all my life. They are verses 13 and 19:

“I can do all things through Him who strengthens me” (v. 13);

“And my God shall supply all your needs according ot His riches in glory in Christ” (v. 19).

That 13TH verse says that the LORD enables us from within ourselves to be and do all that He wills.

Verse 19 says that things not normally resident within ourselves are in ready supply from Him.

Faith, comfort, provisions, perservation, help of all kinds, are ours if we believe. There is no such thing as the Father withholding from

His children their needs –unless unforgiven sin has robbed them of the love and trust He desires from them. True human parents don’t require much from their children other than love, trust, and obedience. It is the same, only more so, with our Heavenly Father.

Mark those two verses (vv. 13 & 19) in your Bible. More importantly, mark them in your heart! They will warm you in life’s winters, and refresh you in life’s spring. May our Blessed LORD strengthen, comfort, and energize you for His glory!

Heartily in Christ Jesus,

(Dado III)

Gene L. Jeffries, Th.D.

Springdale, Arkansas 72764

United States of America

“We never know that God is all we need

until He becomes all that we have.”