The Grands Letter

Dear Grands,

Colossians 2:8-10, “See to it that no one takes you captive through philosophy and empty deception,

according to the tradition of men, according to the elementary principles of the world, rather than according

to Christ. 9 For in Him all the fulness of Deity dwells in bodily form, 10 and in Him you have been made

complete, and He is the head over all rule and authority,,,.”

Today is Memorial Day here in the United States. It is a national holiday set aside for remembering

military personnel, who have died in wars of the past. It is also a good day to pray for those who are

currently dedicated to defending our country.

The Apostle Paul reminds us in the verses above that there are wars of many kinds, and the one,

vital thing to remember is never to be captured. The greatest battle of all times and with every person

is the battle for the mind. Philosophy, admittedly, is interesting. Men of the distant past have developed

thoughts and ideas that have affected the thinking of others. Problem is, those thoughts have largely

led to nowhere. Worse yet, they have stolen time and energy that could have been invested in following

the way of the LORD.

The Bible says, “in Him you have been made complete…” Don’t waste time following the thoughts and

traditions of men. Follow the LORD Jesus Christ and His Words in Holy Scripture! He alone is the

Supreme Ruler of all mankind! He alone is the Supreme Authority! Everything we need to know is

contained in His Holy Word, the Bible!

Yes, we are at war. If our minds are captured, we are worth than useless. Simon Peter says, “…fear

God. honor the King” (1 Pet. 2:17). Let’s make this Memorial Day a day of escape from all things

ungodly. “Set your mind on the things above, not on the things that are on earth” (Col. 3:2).

Let’s pray together for each other and for the families whose loved ones made the ultimate sacrifice,

Nana & Dado III

Gene L. Jeffries, Th.D.

Springdale, Arkansas

“We never know that God is all we need

until He becomes all that we have.”

Dear Grands,

Philippians 4:18, “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.”

Prisons are a dismal place. Over the years, I have preached in numerous prisons.

By and large, they are lacking in the clean and pleasant comforts which we have

in our homes. Just about anything of a pleasant appearance or a pleasing odor

would be welcome to the prisoners.

At the time of Paul’s letter to the Philippians, he was a prisoner in Rome. He was

writing to thank those who had sent him money for food and the needs he had.

Among those things he had received was “a fragrant aroma.” Most of the commentators

view this figuratively, as if we were to say, “They are so sweet” with respect to something

that has no odor at all. But, I see no reason to understand Paul other than meaning this

quite literally. Sweet odors bring remembrances from the past. They take our minds off

of dismal situations, as well as giving relief from unpleasant odors. Bathing was not as

prevalent in those days as it is today –certainly not in prisons. History also reveals people

carrying sweet odors in handkerchiefs, so that they could “escape” unpleasant odors from

others. Remember the old saying, “Cleanliness is next to godliness.” It’s not scriptural, but

the truth is if you’re not clean, you won’t be next to anything very long!

In any event, the “sweet fragrance” that had been sent to Paul was viewed as “an acceptable

sacrifice, well-pleasing to God.” Whatever we are able to do for the LORD is a “well-pleasing
sacrifice” to Him. In prison, a pleasant smile from a prisoner was “a sweet odor.” One young

prisoner in Poland composed a song that depicted his acceptance of Jesus Christ as his

Savior. That was a sweet odor and sacrifice well pleasing to us and to God.

Our sincere and loving prayers are offered for you daily,

Nana & Dado III

Gene L. Jeffries, Th.D.

Springdale, Arkansas

“We never know that God is all we need

until He becomes all that we have.”

Dear Grands,

Philippians 4:13-17, “I can do all things through Him who strengthens me.

14 Nevertheless, you have done well to share with me in my affliction.

15 And you yourselves also know, Philippians, that at the first preaching of the gospel,

after I departed from Macedonia, no church shared with me in the matter of giving and

receiving but you alone; 16 for even in Thessalonica you sent a gift more than once for my needs.

17 Not that I seek the gift itself, but I seek for the profit which increases to your account.”

There are different reasons for asking for help. Most of the time we ask (or people ask us) is

because of a specific need. With Paul that was different. He had already said that Christ was

his supreme provider (v.13); yet, he commended the Philippians for helping him.

Interestingly, our experience in going to Australia parallels quite closely what Paul experienced.

We sold or gave away just about everything we had. Large items like a refrigerator and household

furniture obviously could not be taken with us. We gave our house to the church we were leaving.

Others encouraged us to procure monthly help from American churches, as we had no assured

income from Australians. One church – an independent Baptist church in Tulsa, Oklahoma (a

church where I had conducted a series of meetings) – gave us $25.00 each month for the duration

of our five years overseas. They indeed did “well to share with us…”

But the question remains: Why did Paul commend the Philippians for giving when he said that

the LORD was His provider? He was not seeking the provisions the Philippians had; he was

seeking “the profit that would increase to (their) account.” Paul knew that the LORD would

minister the Gospel through him. He knew that people would be drawn to the LORD and be saved.

He also knew that those who helped him along the way would profit spiritually from his ministry.

So, he wanted them to be blessed of the LORD through their giving.

It’s not rocket science. People put money into other peoples’ businesses to profit from what they

do. When we give to missionaries, we partner with them in their work, although we are not there.

The difference is the motive. If we give to be noticed, there is no spiritual reward. But, if we give

to genuinely help, we share in the blessing. Prayer does the same thing. Combine the two and

you’re really in business for blessing!

We share with you daily through our love and prayers,

Nana & Dado III

Gene L. Jeffries, Th.D.

Springdale, Arkansas

“We never know that God is all we need

until He becomes all that we have.”

Dear Grands,

Philippians 4:13, 19, “I can do all things through Him who strengthens me….

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

There’s nothing like an encourager. Fans in all spectator sports yell encouragement to team members.

Teachers encourage students to learn and solve problems they think are impossible. Parents encourage

their children by both showing them how to do things and then urging them to do things for themselves.

The world is filled with encouragers!

Sometimes the simple boasting of what one can do encourages another to think, “I can do that.” The

Apostle Paul falls into this category when he says, “I can do all things through him who strengthens me.”

“All things” covers a lot of territory. This may look like an opening for a challenge to Paul, but he quickly

adds, “through Him who strengthens me.” Maybe we need to go back and read the verse that precedes

his bold remark.

“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” (Phil. 4:12).

Okay, Paul, we all know how to live when we have everything we need; but what about when we don’t?

Paul’s answer is: God supplies all your needs. You’ll always have enough to get by, enough strength to

accomplish the task before you. Don’t cry about what you don’t have; rejoice over what you do have!

Trust the LORD for everything! His riches, His abilities, will always be there for you. They may come

“packaged” differently than you thought; but what you need will always be sufficiently supplied.

Stay in the Word –the Bible! Pray for guidance –and for others! Trust –believe—He will supply every need!

Then, be thankful and willing to share with others. You may be His channel for their blessing.

You are always in our love and prayers,

Nana & Dado III

Gene L. Jeffries, Th.D.

Springdale, Arkansas

“We never know that God is all we need

until He becomes all that we have.”

Dear Grands,

Philippians 3:10-14, “… that I may know Him, and the power of His resurrection and the fellowship of His sufferings, being conformed to His death;

11 in order that I may attain to the resurrection from the dead.

12 Not that I have already obtained it, or have already become perfect, but I press on in order that I may lay hold of that for which also I was laid hold of by Christ Jesus.

13 Brethren, I do not regard myself as having laid hold of it yet; but one thing I do: forgetting what lies behind and reaching forward to what lies ahead,

14 I press on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus.”

It’s one thing to know what you desperately want; it’s quite another thing to know how to get it. Years had passed since Saul of Tarsus (later, Paul the Apostle) had met Jesus Christ on the Road to Damascus. The well-educated, enthusiastic young man who thought he was doing the LORD’s will, had his life changed 180 degrees on that day! Now, years later, Paul still hungers to know more about Christ, more about the power of His resurrection, to experience the “fellowship of His sufferings,” and even be so identified with Him that he would die to the evil motives and attitudes for which Christ had died.

Paul knew what he wanted – and needed! He just had not yet achieved his goal. How is he to do it? How are you and I to do it? First, by forgetting things of the past. All of us have things in our past that we regret. We confess them to Christ and He forgives them. But we don’t forget them and often don’t forgive ourselves. We also have some good things in our past – things we need to forget as well. Remembering too often the good we’ve done leads to pride. That good in our past is the product of Christ’s love and power in our lives. We need to give Him the glory!

Second, we need to energetically reach (literally, “extend the neck”) for the goal that brings the prize. And what is that prize?

It’s the supreme call of God the Father that we should become like His Son, Jesus Christ! Wow! That’s a prize worth the effort! When runners in Roman times won a race, they were given a wreath to wear. It was glorious, but only for a short time. The prize that Paul sought –and the one we should be seeking – is eternal. It never fades, and it lasts throughout Eternity.

That is something we should desperately want because we will one day lay that crown at Jesus’ feet in acknowledging that He alone is worthy.

We pray for you and for ourselves as we stretch for that supreme goal,

Nana & Dado III

Gene L. Jeffries, Th.D.

Springdale, Arkansas

“We never know that God is all we need

until He becomes all that we have.”