The Grands Letter

Dear Grands,

Philippians 1:6-11, “For I am confident of this very thing, that He who began a good work in you will perfect it until the day of Christ Jesus.

7 For it is only right for me to feel this way about you all, because I have you in my heart, since both in my imprisonment and in the defense and confirmation of the gospel, you all are partakers of grace with me.

8 For God is my witness, how I long for you all with the affection of Christ Jesus.

9 And this I pray, that your love may abound still more and more in real knowledge and all discernment,

10 so that you may approve the things that are excellent, in order to be sincere and blameless until the day of Christ;

11 having been filled with the fruit of righteousness which comes through Jesus Christ, to the glory and praise of God.”

There are not many things in this world of which we can be confident. Take the stock market. I’m not invested, but I

do watch the ups-and-downs of the market and have learned that even those who are “experts” with money are not

absolutely certain which way things are going or why. People will assure us that they will do certain things, and then

do precisely the opposite. Who can we trust? Of what can we be confident?

Paul’s confidence was ever and always in Jesus Christ. “He who began a good work in you (your salvation), will

perfect it (complete it) until the day of Christ Jesus” –that is, until the day He returns and finishes the good work He

began in your life and mine. Of THAT we can be confident!

But until that Day comes, Paul is continuing to pray earnestly that the love of those who have been born again (that is,

born from above; born spiritually in Christ Jesus) –that they may “abound,” that is, excel in the knowledge of Christ and

His Word. And that is my goal in praying for you. I was saved at seven years of age. I was called to the ministry at

age 15. I was ordained an pastoring my first church at age 17. So now, at age 83, I’ve been in ministry for 66 years.

But, every day, as I write this Grands Letter, I learn more and more of my LORD Jesus Christ and His Word. Yes, this

letter was begun for you –to increase your faith and love for Jesus Christ—but I have gained much in producing it.

The Bible and prayer will do the same for you. For years, I commenced my witness by asking, “Where do you go to

church?” Now, I ask, “Are you a Christian? Do you know the LORD Jesus Christ as your Savior?” The word Christian means different things to different people; but, injecting the word into the conversation, cuts to the heart of what life is all about. A lot of people go to church; but that doesn’t make them Christian. I trust that you know the difference.

When it’s all said and done, the Holy Spirit is working within all born-from-Above believers that we might be blameless, controlled by His righteousness. For that is what brings glory and praise to our Heavenly Father. And HE is what it’s

all about!

Thank you for your prayers for Rose Marie (Nana), as she progresses physically. You are in our prayers,

too.

Nana & 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,

Ephesians 4:25-32, “Therefore, laying aside falsehood, speak truth, each one of you, with his neighbor, for we are members of one another.

26 Be angry, and yet do not sin; do not let the sun go down on your anger,

27 and do not give the devil an opportunity.

28 Let him who steals steal no longer; but rather let him labor, performing with his own hands what is good, in order that he may have something to share with him who has need.

29 Let no unwholesome word proceed from your mouth, but only such a word as is good for edification according to the need of the moment, that it may give grace to those who hear.

30 And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, by whom you were sealed for the day of redemption.

31 Let all bitterness and wrath and anger and clamor and slander be put away from you, along with all malice.

32 And be kind to one another, tender-hearted, forgiving each other, just as God in Christ also has forgiven you.

One oif the problems I face in writing these letters is how much to include. This is a rather long passage,

but it is packed with so muc instruction that I hesitate to omit any of it. Paul is saying that there are some

things that a true Christian should never do. At the same time, there are things that every true Christian should do. When we think or do wrong or evil things, we are opening the door of our lives to Satan.

Some time ago, Nana and I installed an alarm system in our house. If someone forces a door or window to gain entrance, the alarm sounds and alerts the police. We can monitor who comes and goes through our cell phones, Paul says in this passage that we are to monitor our own lives, so that only things from the LORD should be allowed entry in us,

When we were saved, the Holy Spirit took up residency within us. He now monitors our lives and sounds

an alarm when we are tempted to say or do things that dishonor the LORD. The same Spirit signals an

“okay” when we follow His leadership. His purpose is to remake our lives that we might be like Christ. He

wants those we encounter in life to see that we are “different.” We are not harsh or rebellious. We are

pleasant and loving. Yes, we can be angry; but when we are, it ought to be against ourselves for giving in

to the devil instead of following the Holy Spirit.

Go back and read again the verses above. Read them s-l-o-w-l-y and thoughtfully. Examine your heart and life. Then, confess your wrongs to the LORD and ask His strength to help you to forsake wrong and do right. He will forgive you and bless you and fill your life with joy!

Pray for us, as we pray for you,

Nana & 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,

Job 29:24, “’I smiled on them when they did not believe, And the light of my face they did not cast down.’”

Although there is much in God’s Word to encourage a smile, the expression of a “smile” is first mentioned

in the verse above. Psalm 39:13 uses the word “smile,” and Proverbs 31:25 the word “smiles,” Thus, the

word itself is used in the whole Bible but three times; some versions translate the word as “laugh”; and in others, it does not appear at all.

What Job meant in its context of the above statement is variously debatable among biblical theologians. What I see are basicly two things: one, in evangelism and when witnessing to unbelieving people, it is appropriate to “smile” politely, when they offer what they believe tp be their personal hope. Only today, I was privileged to witness to a young lady who affirmed that she was a Christian. But, when I asked if she were “a born-again Christian,” one who knew Jesus personally, she did not fully understand what I meant. My smile at that time was intended and received as friendly, and with the earnest desire that she might come to know Him.

The second interpretation of the verse, in the context of evangelism, is that the smile shows love, which is the foremost quality required of the believer in his witness to the unbeliever. While I dislike the characterization of a witness for Christ as a “salesman,” the two do indeed possess characteristics alike.

A good salesman knows his product; so does a good witness. The salesman knows the benefit of his product to the one who does not possess it. The same is true of the witness. The salesman shows kindness and admiration toward the potential buyer. So does the witness, except that he is motivated by the love of Jesus Christ.

We’ve all experienced sulleness, snide remarks, and snooty responses to our words regarding Christ Jesus. Once or twice, I’ve experienced outright hatred. The secret to resplying to all unbelievers, regardless of their responses, is to smile graciously and continue to speak positively of Christ’s love and joy.

I spent last night in the hospital with Rose Marie. While I cannot commend hospitals as peaceful and restful accommodation, it is a superb arena for witnessing. Smiles demonstrate confidence in the LORD’s recovery of loved ones. Smiles clear the pathway for talking about the LORD. We have to be sensitive to the Holy Spirit and smile with everyone. Doorways for sharing Christ will open, and we will experience the value of a smile.

We love you and pray for the LORD’s open door for your witness of Him,

Nana & 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,

Lamentations 3:20-25, “Surely my soul remembers And is bowed down within me.

21 This I recall to my mind, Therefore I have hope.

22 The LORD’s lovingkindnesses indeed never cease, For His compassions never fail.

23 They are new every morning; Great is Thy faithfulness.

24 “The LORD is my portion,” says my soul, “Therefore I have hope in Him.”

25 The LORD is good to those who wait for Him, To the person who seeks Him.”

Have you ever wondered if the prophets in the Bible were real people? Be honest.

Sometimes their lives were ragged and tumultuous. Jeremiah was thrown in prison;

the people to whom he sought to witness, rejected both him and his message. It is

little wonder that the latter portion of the book that bears his name simply overflows

with the message of judgment.

Jeremiah himself suffered devastation and sorrow. Yes, the prophets in the Bible

were real people. Jeremiah felt sorrow in his soul. His emotions were raw. But his

mind was refreshed when he focused on the LORD. The LORD’s lovingkindnesses

never cease! “His compassions never fail. They are new every morning, and his

soul that felt sorrow now says, “Great is Thy faithfulness!”

You and I have never suffered like Jeremiah. Had the LORD required of us what

He required of the prophet, our hope –our certainty—would doubtlessly be energized

like his. Jeremiah cries, “The LORD is good to those who wait for Him, to the person

who seeks Him.”

Waiting is hard. No doubt about it. We live in an “instant” time and in an “instant”

culture. Yet, the LORD’s faithfulness will be our rescue from uncertainty and fear.

Don’t give up! Stay rooted to the promises of His Word! He is faithful! And He will

rescue us from all uncertainty. Remember those Thai soccer players, who were

lost in that cave a few month ago? They thought they would never survive! Yet,

they did –every, single one of them. You and I will yet survive. Our tears will be

turned into laughter and joy. It will come. Prayers will be answered in His time!

We love and pray earnestly for you,

Nana & 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,

Jeremiah 42:4-7, “Then Jeremiah the prophet said to them, ‘I have heard you. Behold, I am going to pray to the LORD your God in accordance with your words; and it will come about that the whole message which the LORD will answer you I will tell you. I will not keep back a word from you.’

5 “Then they said to Jeremiah, ‘May the LORD be a true and faithful witness against us, if we do not act in accordance with the whole message with which the LORD your God will send you to us.

6 ‘Whether it is pleasant or unpleasant, we will listen to the voice of the LORD our God to whom we are sending you, in order that it may go well with us when we listen to the voice of the LORD our God.’”

7 “Now it came about at the end of ten days that the word of the LORD came to Jeremiah.”

Sometimes circumstances surround us so heavily that we find it difficult to pray. This was the condition

of the Israelites in the days of Jeremiah. In that day, of course, it was necessary that they intreat a prophet

of the LORD to pray for them. The people were faced with a serious situation: they could remain in their

land where war and death were likely, or they could journey to Egypt, where there was no war. What were

they to do?

Jeremiah agreed to pray for them, but it was ten days before the LORD answered His prayer. Time was not to the people what it is to us today. We live in a day of “instant communication.” Texts and emails are sent

and received around the world literally in seconds. Thus, when we pray, we expect the LORD to respond

as if He were answering by text or email –instantly!

Jeremiah was forced to wait 10 days for an answer to his prayer. Why was it so long? Was the LORD not able to respond more quickly? Was He trying to figure out what to say? Not at all! He even knew what

Jeremiah was going to ask before Jeremiah knew. Time is not a factor with God. I am neither competent nor privileged to know why the LORD made Jeremiah wait 10 days for an answer. If I knew, I would then know

why He doesn’t answer my own prayers more quickly.

Perhaps He is teaching us all patience. His delays in answering prayers should nevertheless not discourage us. Even in this age of “instant communication,” we do not always receive instant replies to our emails from close friends. Why, then, should we question the LORD’s “delayed” replies?

Don’t give up on praying! Maybe the LORD would like to hear us praise Him for who He is instead of always

asking, asking, asking… Maybe we’re too slow in saying “Thank You” to Him for His answers. Maybe, too, He is waiting for us to repent of sin in our lives. Sin hinders our praying just as it hinders His replying. It’s like a glob of hair in the bathroom sink. It impeds the flow of water in the drain. Think of this when you’re wondering why the LORD appears to be slow in answering your prayers. The fault is never His! So, what are you going to do?

We love you and pray for your welfare,

Nana & Dado III

P. S. Nana (Rose Marie) is pregressing nicely. She is so thankful for your prayers –and so am I.

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.”