The Grands Letter

Dear Grands,

Genesis 11:1-9, “Now the whole earth used the same language and the same words.
2 It came about as they journeyed east, that they found a plain in the land of Shinar and settled there.
3 They said to one another, ‘Come, let us make bricks and burn them thoroughly.’ And they used brick for stone, and they used tar for mortar.
4 They said, ‘Come, let us build for ourselves a city, and a tower whose top will reach into heaven, and let us make for ourselves a name, otherwise we will be scattered abroad over the face of the whole earth.’
5 The LORD came down to see the city and the tower which the sons of men had built.
6 The LORD said, “Behold, they are one people, and they all have the same language. And this is what they began to do, and now nothing which they purpose to do will be impossible for them.
7 ‘Come, let Us go down and there confuse their language, so that they will not understand one another’s speech.’
8 So the LORD scattered them abroad from there over the face of the whole earth; and they stopped building the city.
9 Therefore its name was called Babel, because there the LORD confused the language of the whole earth; and from there the LORD scattered them abroad over the face of the whole earth.”

Mankind, in the early days of human history, possessed the advantage of a singular language. Inasmuch as everything originally came from God, He alone must be credited with having given mankind this linguistic ability. If you’ve ever travelled very far, you have realized the difficulty of communication with people of other languages.

(Previously, I’ve told you the humorous difficulty I had in Mexico before I learned the standard pronunciational difference between papa’s and pa’pas. In a sense of intentional, international humor, I often say that despacio with demasiado are two vital words to know when visiting any Latin American country.)

All humor aside, it was the LORD God Himself, who gave language to mankind; and man determined to utilize it selfishly. Therefore, the LORD intentionally confused mankind’s original language, forcing the people to spread out and inhabit the whole earth.

We all need to take care of how and when and how often we use words. We also need to take care that the LORD is always honored with and how we use the language He gave us. Not taking care how we use language can often find our communication lying a wee bit outside what is acceptable to the LORD Jesus Christ. Humor itself can often be a slipery-slope in conversation.

When I was a “kid,” our little Children’t Choir used to sing:

“Be careful little words what you say;
Be careful little words what you say;
For the Father up above is looking down in love;
So, be careful little words what you say.”

Heartily in Christ Jesus,

(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,

2 Chronicles 32:1-8, “After these acts of faithfulness Sennacherib,
king of Assyria came and invaded Judah and besieged the fortified
cities, and thought to break into them for himself.
2 Now when Hezekiah saw that Sennacherib had come and that
he intended to make war on Jerusalem,
3 he decided with his officers and his warriors to cut off the supply
of water from the springs which were outside the city, and they helped
him.
4 So many people assembled and stopped up all the springs and the
stream which flowed through the region, saying, “Why should the kings
of Assyria come and find abundant water?”
5 And he took courage and rebuilt all the wall that had been broken
down and erected towers on it, and built another outside wall and
strengthened the Millo in the city of David, and made weapons and
shields in great number.
6 He appointed military officers over the people and gathered them to
him in the square at the city gate, and spoke encouragingly to them,
saying,
7 “Be strong and courageous, do not fear or be dismayed because of
the king of Assyria nor because of all the horde that is with him; for the
One with us is greater than the one with him.
8 “With him is only an arm of flesh, but with us is the LORD our God
to help us and to fight our battles.” And the people relied on the words
of Hezekiah king of Judah.”

It well may be that the days of Hezekiah have returned to the people
of the LORD. Hezekiah was a practical man, and upon hearing that
Sennacherib was intending war against Israel, he ordered the con-
struction of a tunnel that the city might not be deprived of its abundant
water supply. Construction of the tunnel began at both ends with the
workmen meeting in the middle. It was a strike of genius; commanded,
no doubt, by the LORD Himself.

As I write, Israel is in a vicious battle with her mortal enemy! Israel is
is our ally, needing and deserving our able assistance. The Psalmist
wrote:
“Pray for the peace of Jerusalem: “May they prosper
who love you.
7 “May peace be within your walls, and prosperity within
your palaces.”
8 For the sake of my brothers and my friends, I will now say,
“May peace be within you.”
9 For the sake of the house of the LORD our God, I will seek
your good” (Psa. 122:6-9).

Please pause and say a prayer for Israel. She needs God’s help!

Heartily in Christ Jesus,

(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,

Philippians 1:21-26, “For to me, to live is Christ and to die is gain.
22 But if I am to live on in the flesh, this will mean fruitful labor for me; and I do not know which to choose.
23 But I am hard-pressed from both directions, having the desire to depart and be with Christ, for that is very much better;
24 yet to remain on in the flesh is more necessary for your sake.
25 Convinced of this, I know that I will remain and continue with you all for your progress and joy in the faith,
26 so that your proud confidence in me may abound in Christ Jesus through my coming to you again.”

This short passage from the pen of the Apostle Paul, gives us insight on some of the struggles he faced. Having been personally selected by the LORD Jesus Himself (see Acts 9), Paul recognized the value of living. And in that sense, he thoughtfully said, “…to live on in the flesh…will mean fruitful labor for me…”

At the same time, Paul genuinely desired to leave the earth and be at home with Jesus Christ in heaven. It was a genuine dilemma. Paul saw both sides of the situation and was genuinely unsure what he should do. Part of us wants to be available to help others; yet, the other part of us is tired and just wants to go Home.

While we contemplate both situations, our lives are in His Hands. If every player on the team was on the field all the time, it would be more than he could physically handle. That’s why players have coaches! Coaches assess the whole situation and do what’s best overall for winning the game.

In the end, all glory and praise is intended for the Son and for the Father!
Just be faithful while you’re here, and be prepared when He calls you off of the field.

Heartily in Christ Jesus,

(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 103:2-7, “Bless the LORD, O my soul, and forget none of His benefits;
3 Who pardons all your iniquities, Who heals all your diseases;
4 Who redeems your life from the pit, Who crowns you with lovingkindness and compassion;
5 Who satisfies your years with good things, So that your youth is renewed like the eagle.
6 The LORD performs righteous deeds and judgments for all who are oppressed.
7 He made known His ways to Moses, His acts to the sons of Israel.”

When we are in need –or when we think we’re in need—we almost automatically
think of God! Those who rarely think of God almost always cry, “O God!” when an unexpected situation falls across their path. In not every case, but in many, there are cries for His assistance where the one calling upon Him rarely ever thinks of Him until a disaster occurs.

There are a dozen or so situations named in the verses above that beg for our attention when we are in trouble. Yet, how many come to mind when we encounter those things we assess as impossible! “Not many” is my guess. What, then, lives in the deep recesses of our being?

Our sins against the LORD receive “pardons,” when we but ask. Yet, when we live “on the edge,” as it were, how can we successfully argue against the LORD when He ignores our pleas?

Still, the LORD “pardons…our iniquities, heals our diseases, redeems our lives, and crowns us with lovingkindness and compassion”!

“Oh, but I didn’t know He did all of this,” you say. He does much more! Go back and read the Scripture. He is infinitely careful to address our needs. He is more concerned with our needs than we are! Were He not interested in our needs, He would not have addressed them in what He has written.

Yes, His Eternal Word is there to forgive, to substantiate, and to inspire! Fill your life with His Word and see where It will lead you, and what it will do for you –and for others!

Heartily in Christ Jesus,

(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 103:8-12, “The LORD is compassionate and gracious, slow to anger and abounding in lovingkindness.
9 He will not always strive with us, nor will He keep His anger forever.
10 He has not dealt with us according to our sins, nor rewarded us according to our iniquities.
11 For as high as the heavens are above the earth, so great is His lovingkindness toward those who fear Him.
12 As far as the east is from the west, So far has He removed our transgressions from us.”

How often we fear the LORD? Yet, we discover Him to be “compassionate and gracious.” Yes, He strives with us, but He does not hold His anger against us forever. We discover Him to be like our parents. They are angry at us when we do wrong; yet not forever.

Have I not previously shared with you about that “weeping willow tree” that graced
the backyard of my boyhood home? My transgressions often felt the wrath of those
thin, stout limbs, as they sought to drive wrong from me, accompanied by the crying
promise that I would never do it again.

Experiences such as those were intended to drive from me those the wrongs that I had done. So it is with the LORD. He punishes us not from meanness or hatred, but to enlighten us that we might become more and more like Him.

Oh, how I hated and despised what seemed like anger from those weeping willow limbs. Yet, as I grew, I learned to love what they had done for me. And so it is with the discipline of the LORD. Oh, what we all might have been had it not been for loving parents, whom the LORD used to discipline our youthful wrongs! What we once despised, we now view with thanksgiving. Praise the LORD!

Heartily in Christ Jesus,

(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