The Grands Letter

Dear Grands,

Psalm 31:7-8, “I will rejoice and be glad in Thy lovingkindness,

Because Thou hast seen my affliction; Thou hast known the troubles

of my soul, 8 And Thou hast not given me over into the hand of the

enemy; Thou hast set my feet in a large place.”

Have you ever encountered trouble and just saw no way out?

You couldn’t move because it surrounded you on all sides?

I know that feeling. I’ve been there. The only way out seemed

to be up. I’m thinking of a situation of many years ago. I turned

to the Scriptures for an answer. I began to look upward. And in

the end, the LORD delivered me. But He did more than that!

He removed me from the midst of the trouble and set my feet

in a much larger field of service. Previous to the trouble, I would

have argued that where I was could hardly have been better, but

the trouble shook me loose from the comfort I was enjoying, and

gave me an enormous place of service to Him! Would I go back?

Not on your life!

The psalmist was praying for deliverance from his enemies. Yet,

instead of moaning about his circumstances, he rejoiced in the

LORD’s love toward him in the midst of the trying circumstances.

The LORD had something bigger, something better, for him. Had

He merely complained and griped and grumbled, the LORD

would have left him in the midst of his trouble. But he rejoiced!

The LORD then saw that he had learned the lesson, and He freed

him for greater service “in a large(r) place.”

You know what our problem is? It’s that we’ve not learned the

rules of the LORD’s “game.” When we do, we’re set to experience

enormous blessing!

We pray for you every day and trust you are praying for us, too.

Nana & Dado III

Update: Nana’s gaining strength every day. Praise the LORD!

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,

Psalm 121:1-8, “I Will lift up my eyes to the mountains;

From whence shall my help come?

2 My help comes from the LORD, Who made heaven and earth.

3 He will not allow your foot to slip; He who keeps you will not slumber.

4 Behold, He who keeps Israel Will neither slumber nor sleep.

5 The LORD is your keeper; The LORD is your shade on your right hand.

6 The sun will not smite you by day, Nor the moon by night.

7 The LORD will protect you from all evil; He will keep your soul.

8 The LORD will guard your going out and your coming in From this time

forth and forever.”

Some years ago, when Rick was attending LeTourneau University, he

and Rob decided to fly home to Arkansas from Texas. They were in

the air when trouble with the throttle developed and they had to

turn back. I remember Rob saying that Rick was “cool and collected”

and never showed the slightest inclination of panic. I then said to Rob,

“Son, while you were up there, did you do any praying?” His answer

was swift and emphatic. “Dad, that’s the first thing you do!”

If those in Heaven have the ability to view what’s going on here on

Earth, the psalmist must have been glad to know that my boys were

walking according to his direction. Theologians and Biblicists differ

as to whether there is a question mark in the Hebrew at this point.

But all agree that true and dependable help always comes from the

LORD!

The LORD is never drowsy; He never sleeps. He keeps our feet on

sure and solid ground and does not allow us to slip spiritually. He

protects us both physically and spiritually. When we are His, nothing

is allowed to penetrate his protection. He thwarts all evil by guarding

us completely from the time we first trust Him into eternity.

Yes, the LORD has established trained workers (doctors, policemen,

firemen, etc.) to assist us in times of need; but it is He and He alone

in whom we place our ultimate trust. Our “help comes from the LORD.”

Praise Him for His constant love and protection!

We love you and pray for His protection over you every day,

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,

Ephesians 4:29-32, “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.”

My maternal grandmother had some biblical sayings that she often

repeated. One was “You’ll give an account for every idle word” (Mat. 12:36).

Despite the Apostle Paul’s spiritual depth of understanding Scripture,

he is exceedingly practical and organized. First, we are instructed to

never speak an “unwholesome” (rotten, worthless) word.” We are to

reserve our comments for “edification” (that which builds up) and only

then for the need of the moment, that we may “give grace” (kindness,

blessing, gratitude) to those who hear.

Admittedly, Paul’s instruction is sometimes tough to do. But to speak

contrary to biblical instruction, is to “grieve” (distress, hurt) the Holy Spirit

of God. Have you not had someone you greatly admired say, “I’m very

disappointed in you.” Simple, clean words like that stab us in the heart!

And that’s what the Spirit feels and says when we ignore Him and use

filthy, hurtful words that destroy instead of building up. Words that

please the Holy Spirit also help people who hear them. After all, the

Holy Spirit is the Father’s “seal” (spiritual mark) that shows we are His!

Fleshly words and actions hurt Him deeply. Why would we do that?

In verse 31, Paul lists things in which we should not engage –bitterness

(a hostile attitude); wrath (rage, intense anger); anger (offensive behavior);

clamor (shouting); and slander (abusive speech, blasphemy) – all be

put away from you, along with all malice (moral offensiveness).

Rather, be helpful, tenderhearted, compassionate, forgiving, just as

Christ Jesus has been toward you. WOW! Tough order, huh? My paternal

grandfather was a blacksmith; and when I left home my Dad said to me,

“Son, remember that a man’s like steel. He’s got to have temper to be

any good, but he never any good when he loses it.” What a challenge!

Love and prayers for you all,

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,

Ephesians 4:7-12, “But to each one of us grace was given according to the measure of Christ’s gift. 8 Therefore it says, ‘When He ascended on high, He led captive a host of captives, And He gave gifts to men.’

9 (Now this expression, ‘He ascended,’ what does it mean except that He also had descended into the lower parts of the earth? 10 He who descended is Himself also He who ascended far above all the heavens, that He might fill all things.)

11 And He gave some as apostles, and some as prophets, and some as evangelists, and some as pastors and teachers, 12 for the equipping of the saints for the work of service, to the building up of the body of Christ…”

Have you ever wondered just why you were born? Oh, you were doubtlessly

the delight of your parents; but why, from the perspective of the LORD, were

you placed on this Earth? To each believer in Christ, the LORD gave a measure

of grace. We’re not all alike, so He calls us to do what He gives us to do.

It works like this: before Jesus died on the Cross for our sins, there were both Old and New Testament people who believed He would come. But many of them died before He came. They went to a place called Paradise. When Jesus arose from the dead, He went back to Heaven and took with Him the righteous people, who were in Paradise. At the same time, He gave “gifts” (responsibilities, with the power to

achieve them) to various believers still living on Earth. (See the attachment and the chart at the end.)

What are the gifts? Apostles (messengers) refers to the Twelve He chose (excluding Judas Iscariot). Prophets (interpreters) are those gifted with the understanding and interpretation of what Scripture teaches. Evangelists (bearers of good news) are itinerant preachers and missionaries. Pastors (shepherds) are those who take care of believers, feeding and helping them to grow spiritually. Teachers are instructors. Some believe they are pastor-teachers, the same person, as they are so closely related in what they do. They all are for “the equipping of the saints for the work of service,” building up the Church, the body of Christ.

Note that the “the saints” (all believers) are to engage in the service of the LORD –not just the prophets, evangelists, pastors and teachers! Find your gift (calling) and get to work! This is how the LORD is glorified, and we are all responsible to do that

for which He placed us on this Earth.

We will always love you, and we continue to hold your before the LORD in prayer,

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,

Ephesians 3:20-4:2, “Now to Him who is able to do exceeding abundantly

beyond all that we ask or think, according to the power that works within

us, 21 to Him be the glory in the church and in Christ Jesus to all generations

forever and ever. Amen. I, therefore, the prisoner of the Lord, entreat you

to walk in a manner worthy of the calling with which you have been called,

2 with all humility and gentleness, with patience, showing forbearance to

one another in love…”

I knew a young man in Australia, whose car overturned on its side with

his wife inside. In an instant, he grasp hold of the car and turned it right-

side up! He was a husky fellow, but the car was far too heavy for him

under normal conditions. He allowed that the LORD had given him strength

he did not know he had. The LORD has strength of His own that is beyond

our comprehension, and He is able to do well beyond all that we imagine.

Thus, we are to glorify Him in all accomplishments because we are “prisoners

of the LORD.”

The Apostle Paul encourages us to “walk” (live) worthily of the LORD’s

calling. Humility (lowliness of mind regarding ourselves), gentleness

(consideration of others; accepting God’s dealings with us without resistance),

patience (long-suffering of the injuries done to us by others), forbearance (endurance, being alert) and in love (agape), the love that extends to others

without a thought of whether they return love to us. All of this produces

peace in every situation.

The young man of whom I spoke earlier was humble. He was not boastful

about his accomplishment in up-righting his car. Gentleness takes others

into consideration of how what we say or do will affect them. It’s not all

about us. Patience is being calm and tolerant when others don’t do things

as quickly or as considerately as we would like. We must remember that

the LORD often works through others of different temperament. We must

allow Him to work in us and others toward the fulfillment of His purpose.

May the LORD bless and use you “to the praise of His glory,”

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.”