The Grands Letter

Dear Grands,

Ephesians 1:13-14, “In Him, you also, after listening to the message of truth,

the gospel of your salvation– having also believed, you were sealed in Him

with the Holy Spirit of promise, 14 who is given as a pledge of our inheritance,

with a view to the redemption of God’s own possession, to the praise of His glory.”

Everyone who has read the writings of the Apostle Paul, has to admit

that they are rich and full-to-the-brim with knowledge. Every word is

weighed, and arranged logically so as to provide all that we need for

understanding the LORD’s truth. First, we listened to (understood) the

LORD’s Gospel. Second, we believed (trusted) what we heard. Then,

the LORD put His seal (the Holy Spirit) within us as His pledge (promise,

down payment) toward the full redemption (release) we will know with

Him in Heaven!

All of this is to say that when we heard the Gospel and believed, the

LORD saved and secured us fully and completely. Then, He put the

Holy Spirit within us, not only as a Guide in this life, but as His down-

payment against all the glories we will one day enjoy with Him. No

one can defraud us of the Holy Spirit, which means that our salvation

cannot ever be revoked. “Once saved, always saved.” Still, the fulness

of our future enjoyment surely hinges on our yielding to the Spirit’s

control of our lives now. Is He fully in control of you?

I had correspondence with a Liberty colleague recently who signed

his email, “Yours, but mostly His.” Our love is toward you daily, but

mostly toward the LORD who saved us.

Nana & Dado III

Gene L. Jeffries, Th.D.

Springdale, Arkansas

Dear Grands,

Proverbs 22:19-21, “So that your trust may be in the LORD,

I have taught you today, even you.

20 Have I not written to you excellent things

Of counsels and knowledge,

21 To make you know the certainty of the words of truth

That you may correctly answer him who sent you?”

In the midst of his many writings, Solomon shares why

he has written them: “So that your trust (confidence)

may be in the LORD.” There are those who believe that

money or fame or education are what brings confidence;

but Solomon says, “No!” Trust must be in the LORD

alone! Further, Solomon’s counsel and knowledge are

given that we might know “the certainty of the words

of truth,” which He gives. He desires that we might be

able to correctly (faithfully) respond to the persons who

ask because they do not know. In other words, don’t

take your eyes off of the LORD! Always focus on Him.

His Word is truth. Yet, when we allow our eyes and our

minds to drift toward material things, we begin to doubt

what the LORD has said. Always keep your focus on HIM!

We love you and pray for you every day,

Nana & Dado III

Gene L. Jeffries, Th.D.

Springdale, Arkansas

Dear Grands,

Proverbs 16:20, “He who gives attention to the word

shall find good,

And blessed is he who trusts in the LORD.”

There are so many gems of truth in the Bible! And

nowhere are they more plentiful that in the proverbs

of Solomon. The more I read and study the Word of

God, the more relaxed and assured I am of His power

and love for me. I truly had trouble determining what

to write to you today; but when I read verse one of

Proverbs 16, I realized that the LORD was Himself in

control of even what I would say.

There is nothing so valuable as the Word of God.

The problems and troubles we face literally melt

away as we trust the LORD’s authority over our

lives. The more we read, the more we realize that

HE is everything! He is superior to everything we

we know and desire. Give attention to all He says

and trust Him in everything! Nothing is too hard

for the LORD. He wants the best for your life! And

He will give it to you if you live for Him and do His

will.

We love you all immeasurably,

Nana & Dado III

Gene L. Jeffries, Th.D.

Springdale, Arkansas

Dear Grands,

This is a special edition of this Letter.

Sandy Bauer, a student in one of my EVAN 525 classes,

sent this video link! I want each of you to see it.

Go to: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cMu5F2icsT8

When you’ve seen it, you just might want your parents

and friends to see it. It shows a young man, who thought

he had everything, and thought he knew everything, and

how he changed when he met Christ. 10 minute video

Love,

Dado

Gene L. Jeffries, Th.D.

Springdale, Arkansas

Dear Grands,

Proverbs 9:10-11, “The fear of the LORD is the beginning

of wisdom,

And the knowledge of the Holy One is understanding.

11 For by me your days will be multiplied,

And years of life will be added to you.”

Solomon is known for his wisdom. Wisdom is always linked

with knowledge. Knowledge is the mental awareness of

something or someone; wisdom is the ability to apply that

knowledge to a given situation.

For example, each one of you has a knowledge of computer

technology or mathematics or medicine or law; but would

you give that knowledge to Finn, the two-year-old boy who

lives across the street from us? That would be a waste of

time, because he is not able to understand. Wisdom, on

the other hand, is the practical application of knowledge.

Finn’s father, Nate, uses wisdom when he calls him back

from wandering too close to the street.

Fear is derived from the awareness of one who is more

powerful than we. Respect is the other side of fear.

When we fear the LORD, we acknowledge His superiority

and His love, and at the same time, we know that He can

punish us when we do wrong in His sight.

Do you fear the LORD? You had better! He loves us;

but in His wisdom, He punishes us when we do wrong

in order to conform us to His image and likeness. He

has given us His Word that we may know. Now, it is

for us to be wise and follow His instruction.

We love and pray for each of you daily,

Nana & Dado III

Gene L. Jeffries, Th.D.

Springdale, Arkansas