The Grands Letter

Dear Grands,

1 Thessalonians 4:13-18,”But we do not want you to be uninformed, brethren,
about those who are asleep, so that you will not grieve as do the rest who
have no hope.

14 For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so God will bring
with Him those who have fallen asleep in Jesus.

15 For this we say to you by the word of the Lord, that we who are alive and
remain until the coming of the Lord, will not precede those who have fallen
asleep.

16 For the Lord Himself will descend from heaven with a shout, with the
voice of the archangel and with the trumpet of God, and the dead in Christ
will rise first.

17 Then we who are alive and remain will be caught up together with them in
the clouds to meet the Lord in the air, and so we shall always be with the
Lord.

18 Therefore comfort one another with these words.”

Many New Jersey residents are currently concerned about the drones that are

flying in the sky at night above their homes. Officials in government have
been contacted, but to date have feigned ignorance of the whereabouts of the
drones’ origin. Were such occurrences sighted in the air above your house or
mine, we would be concerned, too!

What is of much greater concern, however, is the above Scripture that alerts
us of the LORD’s Coming in the sky to receive His people into Heaven itself.

Sadly enough, there are those on earth today who have absolutely no
know-ledge of who Jesus is, much less of why He will be coming in the sky.

The Apostle Paul declared the truth of Christ’s coming in the passage above.
Quite specifically, Paul notes that 1) Jesus died and arose again; 2) that
He will be coming to gather together His own (i.e., those who have been
spiritually born again by trusting Him as their LORD and Savior.) Believers
will then be taken to Heaven where they will ever and always be with the
LORD.

Let me encourage you to read again the verses at the beginning of this
Letter.

Jesus will soon be coming for those who have trusted Him. Being “saved” is
not a matter of baptism or membership in a particular church. It is totally
a matter of faith, a matter of trust in the LORD Jesus Christ.

“”But when these things begin to take place, straighten up and lift up your
heads, because your redemption is drawing near” (Lk. 21:28). Are you
trusting Him? Are you sharing Him with others? Time is quickly running out..

Heartily in Christ,

(Dado III)

Gene L. Jeffries, Th.D.

Springdale, Arkansas 72764

United States of America

“We never know that Christ is all we need until He becomes all that we have.” – Corrie ten Boom

Dear Grands,

I Chronicles 16:30-35, “Tremble before Him, all the earth; Indeed, the world
is firmly established, it will not be moved.

31 Let the heavens be glad, and let the earth rejoice; and let them say
among the nations, “The LORD reigns.”

32 Let the sea roar, and all it contains; let the field exult, and all that
is in it.

33 Then the trees of the forest will sing for joy before the LORD; for He is
coming to judge the earth.

34 O give thanks to the LORD, for He is good; for His lovingkindness is
everlasting.

35 Then say, “Save us, O God of our salvation, and gather us and deliver us
from the nations, To give thanks to Your holy name, and glory in Your
praise.”

It is exceedingly doubtful that by the time this Letter goes to press, our
government will have learned who is flying those drones over the State of
New Jersey. Whoever is responsible and for whatever reason, there are
numerous people who are trembling over the situation.

While it is not our purpose to tease or revile anyone for what may be a far
more serious situation that anyone knows, there is a far greater reason for
trembling. Our world’s population should and will one day tremble
exceedingly before the LORD! He is coming to judge the world!

While judgment is generally greeted with fear and trembling, those who are
“born again” and are ready to meet Him will “sing for joy before the LORD.”
They will sing, “O give thanks to the LORD, for He is good; for His
lovingkindness is everlasting!”

The Question of the Hour is: “Are You Ready for His Coming?” Have you
confessed your sins and humbly asked His forgiveness? This is the most vital
aspect of life. It is precisely why He came to Bethlehem and went ultimately
to the Cross. He is worshipped because He alone is able to save us. Words
above say, “Save us, O God of our salvation.”

He is the ultimate One against whom we have sinned; thus, He is the only One
who can forgive sin and receive us into His heavenly home.

Let me know if I can help you. I came to know Him when I was just a lad. Age
is not a factor; knowing Him is what truly counts!

Heartily in Christ,

(Dado III)

Gene L. Jeffries, Th.D.

Springdale, Arkansas 72764

United States of America

“We never know that Christ is all we need until He becomes all that we have.” – Corrie ten Boom

Dear Grands,

Psalm 91:1 He who dwells in the shelter of the Most High will abide in the
shadow of the Almighty.

2 I will say to the LORD, “My refuge and my fortress, My God, in whom I
trust!”

3 For it is He who delivers you from the snare of the trapper and from the
deadly pestilence.

4 He will cover you with His pinions, and under His wings you may seek
refuge; His faithfulness is a shield and bulwark.

5 You will not be afraid of the terror by night, Or of the arrow that flies
by day;

6 Of the pestilence that stalks in darkness, or of the destruction that lays
waste at noon.

7 A thousand may fall at your side and ten thousand at your right hand, but
it shall not approach you.

8 You will only look on with your eyes and see the recompense of the wicked.

9 For you have made the LORD, my refuge, even the Most High, your dwelling
place.

Whatever difficulties we might encounter (and there are plenty of
difficulties in life!), the LORD is our only hope of divesting them! The
Psalmist views Him as a shelter, a refuge, a fortress, a shield. We are to
view Him as our shelter and refuge, too.

Terror, destruction, pestilence, darkness – all take aim at us for their
ignominious purposes. Yet, the LORD is our shelter! Our faith rests ever and
only in Him.

So, when the waters are rough and the winds blow against us, we can know
that He is our “refuge and strength – a very present help in time of
trouble” (Psa. 46:1). So, always be of good cheer!

Heartily in Christ Jesus,

(Dado III)

Gene L. Jeffries, Th.D.

Springdale, Arkansas 72764

United States of America

“We will never know that Christ is all we need

until He becomes all that we have.”

– Corrie ten Boom

Dear Grands,

John 14:1-7, “Do not let your heart be troubled; believe in God, believe
also in Me.

2 “In My Father’s house are many dwelling places; if it were not so, I would
have told you; for I go to prepare a place for you.

3 “If I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and receive you to
Myself, that where I am, there you may be also.

4 “And you know the way where I am going.”

5 Thomas said to Him, “Lord, we do not know where You are going, how do we
know the way?”

6 Jesus said to him, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life; no one
comes to the Father but through Me.

7 “If you had known Me, you would have known My Father also; from now on you
know Him, and have seen Him.”

While troubles abound throughout the world, peace is available to reign in
our hearts. Many have been rescued from impending disasters through the
sheer will that would not surrender to defeat.

Here the apostle John advocates the one aspect that will deliver us from
fear: don’t give in to trouble! Trouble will reign in our hearts and minds
only if we permit it. Solomon admonished us correctly when he said,

“Trust in the LORD with all your heart

And do not lean on your own understanding.

In all your ways acknowledge Him, and He

will make your paths straight.

Do not be wise in your own eyes; Fear the

LORD and turn away from evil.

It will be healing to your body And refreshment

to your bones” (Prov. 3:5-8).

Isaiah encourages us when he says,

“Trust in the LORD forever,

For in GOD the LORD, we have

an everlasting Rock” (Isa. 26:4).

What more do we need than He has already promised?

Heartily in Christ,

(Dado III)

Gene L. Jeffries, Th.D.

Springdale, Arkansas 72764

United States of America

“We never know that Christ is all we need until He becomes all that we have.” – Corrie ten Boom

Dear Grands,

James 1:13-17, “Let no one say when he is tempted, “I am being tempted by
God”; for God cannot be tempted by evil, and He Himself does not tempt
anyone.

14 But each one is tempted when he is carried away and enticed by his own
lust.

15 Then when lust has conceived, it gives birth to sin; and when sin is
accomplished, it brings forth death.

16 Do not be deceived, my beloved brethren.

17 Every good thing given and every perfect gift is from above, coming down
from the Father of lights, with whom there is no variation or shifting
shadow.”

“Temptation” is the encouragement to do what is wrong, and we engage in it
long before we know the definition of the word. When we’re old enough to
know it is wrong, we find the “escape” in blaming someone else for what we
do. Such a transfer of blame comes immediately on the heels of the action.
Sometimes, we even seek to transfer the blame to God by saying, “I am being
tempted by God.”

James is clear, however, saying, “God cannot be tempted by evil, and He
Himself

does not tempt anyone.” Rather, it is the enticement to do wrong that is
evil, and God has no connection with that. Some years ago, it became popular
to jest of wrong doing by saying, “The devil made me do it.” Interestingly
enough, however, James puts the blame on “lust”; and lust is blamed on
mankind.

Shifting from evil to good, James informs us that every good and perfect
thing is “from above, coming down from the Father of lights.” James will not
permit us to place the blame for sin anywhere but upon ourselves; nor will
he permit us to take credit for any good that occurs. Good is ever and
always from the LORD.

We must give close attention to all that occurs; and our concentration on
God will endeavor us to be more and more like Him.

Heartily in Christ,

(Dado III)

Gene L. Jeffries, Th.D.

Springdale, Arkansas 72764

United States of America

“We never know that Christ is all we need until He becomes all that we have.” – Corrie ten Boom