The Grands Letter

Dear Grands,

Psalm 51:1-4, “Be gracious to me, O God, according to Thy lovingkindness; According to the greatness of Thy compassion blot out my transgressions.

2 Wash me thoroughly from my iniquity, And cleanse me from my sin.

3 For I know my transgressions, And my sin is ever before me.

4 Against Thee, Thee only, I have sinned, And done what is evil in Thy sight, So that Thou art justified when Thou dost speak, And blameless when Thou dost judge.”

When a man who is guilty of a crime goes before a judge, it is in his best interest to plead for mercy.

David was King of Israel, but he found himself before the Supreme Judge, the LORD God Almighty!

David had committed adultery with another man’s wife and she became pregnant. In order to cover his sin, David committed another sin: he ordered her husband to be killed. Then he married the woman. But what David had done was abhorent in the sight of the LORD!

All David could do was plead for mercy. He sought to honor the LORD by noting “the greatness of His compassion.” Further, he cried out for the LORD to “blot out (his) trangressions,” to “wash (him) thoroughly from (his) iniquity, and cleanse (him) from (his) sin.” Nothing David could do apart from begging the Supreme Judge for forgiveness. He could not forgive himself; he could not wipe the thought of his sin from his own mind, saying “…my sin is ever before me.”

Then David added something strange to his prayer. He said, “Against Thee, Thee only, I have sinned, and done what is evil in Thy sight.” David knew from the very start that what he had thought when he looked at the woman was sinful. He knew his thought of having her husband killed was evil, too. Yet he said, “Against Thee, Thee only, I have sinned.” Think about that. Whatever we do that is wrong, sinful, evil against someone else, we have first sinned against the LORD because He is our LORD! Yes, the sin we say or do is against that person, too. But the doing of that act was first conceived in the mind. And there it was committed against God!

In the end, David admitted that whatever the LORD determined to do to him was justified. He was guilty. Here on Earth, men are often brought before unjust judges. But unconfessed sin will one day

require the LORD’s own judgment. We will stand before Him and give an account. Better get forgiveness from Him today. It will ease your mind so that you may be at peace.

Our prayers are for you and for ourselves, as well,

Nana & Dado III

(Rose Marie & Gene)

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 49:10-12, “For he sees that even wise men die; The stupid and the senseless alike perish, And leave their wealth to others.

11 Their inner thought is, that their houses are forever, And their dwelling places to all generations; They have called their lands after their own names.

12 But man in his pomp will not endure; He is like the beasts that perish.”

Anyone who has spent any time researching YouTube has come across countless old abandoned houses. There are people, who seem to spend a lot of time filming the interior of these houses, along with the hoarded “treasures” that have been abandoned. Some of these places were once quite spectacular, with wide, impressive grand staircases like one sees in the film “Gone With The Wind.” It’s difficult to believe that such mansions were built only to house those who originally built them. Surely, they intended them to be passed on to their children or even to their grandchildren.

David wanted with all his heart to build the Temple that would house and glorify his LORD. But David was a man of war, quite the opposite of the love and peace that was identified with the LORD’s earthly dwelling. His son, Solomon, was selected by the LORD to be the builder. Solomon was both wise and wealthy. But, as David said, “…even wise men die.” And the “stupid and the senseless” die just like the wise. Both have one pointed thing in common: the “leave their wealth to others.” Their houses, their lands, their cash wealth –all are left behind. There’s even a television program that’s entitled, “You Can’t Take It With You.”

Think about that. You can’t take it with you. Scores of organizations –many of them Christian—encourage those with enormous wealth to will it to them for the continuation of spiritual work even after they have died. Children learn the basics from their parents. If the parents have an eye to wealth, the children will, too. But if the parents are generous in helping others, their children will be steered in that direction, as well. Yet, all of that notwithstanding, it is possible for those who inherit houses or wealth to use what they inherit to further the witness of the LORD Jesus Christ, even beyond what their parents had done. The KEY is spiritual focus. What is your goal: leaving life with your name on huge buildings or quietly supporting the causes of Christ as set forth in Holy Scripture? Remember, “Man in his pomp will not endure…”

We love you in the joys of Jesus Christ,

Nana & Dado III

(Rose Marie & Gene)

P. S. Rose Marie had yet another blood transfusion today, and is feeling and looking much better.

We are not “over the hump” yet, but as her Christian nurse said today, “Look at how the LORD

has preserved your life thus far.” We are greatly encouraged, and are praying for others, whose

lives are in His nail-pierced hands, too.

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 44:17-21, “All this has come upon us, but we have not forgotten Thee, And we have not dealt falsely with Thy covenant.

18 Our heart has not turned back, And our steps have not deviated from Thy way,

19 Yet Thou hast crushed us in a place of jackals, And covered us with the shadow of death.

20 If we had forgotten the name of our God, Or extended our hands to a strange god;

21 Would not God find this out? For He knows the secrets of the heart.

When people are charged with crimes they did not commit, they plead their case before a judge.

When he has heard all the evidence, he makes the decision as to how to dispose of the case.

David in the verses above is pleading his case before the LORD. He notes to the Judge that some

devastating things have fallen upon him, yet he has not forgotten the LORD his God. We have things that seek to undo us as well; we just must not forget God, and we must not forget His Word that serves to guide us in His way.

Sometimes –perhaps, always—when we seek to call upon the LORD, the circumstances that occasion that prayer continue to supress us instead of going away. We’re still abandoned in a lonely place, as David cries, and we’re “covered with the shadow of death.” Where is the LORD? seems to

be David’s cry.

He then reasons within himself, “If we had forgotten the name of our God – neglected God in any way — or had we extended our hands to a strange god –served a foreign god, — wouldn’t God find this out?” Certainly, He would. Why then, do these adverse circumstances still prevail? David may not fully understand the “why” in all of his trials, but he concludes on a positive note when he says,

God “knows the secret of the heart.”

So, remember that whatever befalls you, the LORD knows whether it is because of what you have

thought or said or done, or whether the circumstance that has befallen you is not your fault. In either case, He knows your heart; and He knows whether your heart is aligned with His. Is it?

Our prayers are with you, and our LORD’s love and power will see you through,

Nana & Dado III

(Rose Marie & Gene)

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 44:4-8, “Thou art my King, O God; Command victories for Jacob.

5 Through Thee we will push back our adversaries; Through Thy name we will trample down those who rise up against us.

6 For I will not trust in my bow, Nor will my sword save me.

7 But Thou hast saved us from our adversaries, And Thou hast put to shame those who hate us.

8 In God we have boasted all day long, And we will give thanks to Thy name forever. Selah.”

Most of you who are reading this know what is meant of “the wave.” It occurs during football season when a group of people rise to their feet and then sit down. The next section of the stands does the same until the whole stadium of people have done a “rise and sit.” How does that happen? Who starts “the wave.” Apparently, no one; yet everyone participates.

Recent news reveals that Prime Minister Netanyahu of Israel is under attack and only six weeks from the time of Israel’s national election. Does that sound familiar? It does to Americans. It’s very much like “the wave,” only it’s political in nature. The opposition against President Trump in the USA has now moved to opposition against P.M. Netanyahu in Israel. It’s a political “wave.”

David experienced some “waves” in his day, too. There were people who violently opposed him; but David said, I won’t trust in my bow or my sword. They cannot save me. You, LORD, have saved me from my advesaries in the past. I will trust in You to save me from these. In the past I have boasted in You, O LORD. I will continue to give thanks to Your Name forever.

When we encounter opposition, we want to rise up and fight! That’s “the wave of the natural man.”

The “wave” of the believer is to simply praise the LORD and let Him fight the battle. It’s a difficult task to let the LORD fight for us. But, do we really want to win? If so, He has strength and power beyond what we know. Besides, whoever wins gets the glory. Right? Okay, do we want the glory for ourselves; or do we want Him to receive the glory?

The word Selah says: “Stop and really think about that.” Let’s try it His way and see.

We love and pray for you daily,

Nana & Dado III

(Rose Marie & Gene)

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,

Pslam 37:23-24, “The steps of a man are established by the LORD; And He delights in his way.

24 When he falls, he shall not be hurled headlong; Because the LORD is the One who holds his hand.”

A few days ago, I had the opportunity of a conversation with a nice, Christian man. I learned quickly that he was a pastor and a conservative on almost all things that our convesation allowed. When the President of the United States entered our discussion, I was amazed that he took a very dim view of what has been accomplished under his administration. I sought to smooth the way by saying that there were a few things I wished the President would do and not do, yet I rejoice in what he has done to energize our nation.

I shared that my investigation had given me confidence that President Trump is a truly born-again man, although I could wish he would omit unnecessary vulgarities from his speech. My friend would have none of it; yet his conversation allowed that believers in Christ do need to experience growth. In other words, he allowed the need for growth in the average Christian, but not in the President.

The Psalmist exorts us all to be patient and trusting with others. Believing men’s steps are ordained by the LORD. He delights in man’s spiritual growth. At the same time, when His children stumble, He tightly grasps their hands, so that they do not fall. Even after we’ve committed ourselves to Him, we are subject to falling back into sin. What keeps us from going headlong into the muck of evil, is His protection.

Our little grandson is only four months old. He cannot walk, although grasping his hands and walking patiently with him, we find that he tries. Were he to fall, none of us would laugh and walk away leaving him alone, abandoned, fallen and crying. He needs us, and we will not fail him. How much more do we need the LORD to hold and balance us. Yes, our feet do wobble from time-to-time; still, He is there to sustain us as we grow in His grace.

Whatever hurt, whatever maladies overtake us, He is there! He will not let us fall; He will not let us fail. Our steps (our lives) are established (appointed, confirmed, directed, positioned) by the LORD.

But we must be warned not to presume upon Him. Never say, “It doesn’t matter what I do, the LORD will keep me from falling.” He may let you know that He is in command. We cannot depend upon Him to order our own steps and hold our hands, if we continue to walk in sinful ways.

May the LORD bless each of you as you grow in His grace and love,

Nana & Dado III

(Rose Marie & Gene)

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.”