The Grands Letter

Dear Grands,

Proverbs 15:1-8, “A gentle answer turns away wrath, but a harsh word stirs up anger.
2 The tongue of the wise makes knowledge acceptable, but the mouth of fools spouts folly.
3 The eyes of the LORD are in every place, watching the evil and the good.
4 A soothing tongue is a tree of life, but perversion in it crushes the spirit.
5 A fool rejects his father’s discipline, but he who regards reproof is prudent.
6 Much wealth is in the house of the righteous, but trouble is in the income of the wicked.
7 The lips of the wise spread knowledge, but the hearts of fools are not so.
8 The sacrifice of the wicked is an abomination to the LORD, but the prayer of the upright is His delight.”

“Practical advice” literally amounts to thoughts and actions that make sense when practiced in daily life. Furthermore, it amounts to Divine instruction that produces peaceful living among people of various ethnic and religious beliefs.

In the few verses cited above, Solomon sets forth some sound advice that will, when it is obeyed, stand firmly in every situation. Verses one and two above relate
to a conversation that boasts of two sides. One side is wise; the other is foolish.

Furthermore, the LORD observes and evaluates everything: the evil and the good.
Recognizing who is taking notice of our words and deeds should surely control us.
The LORD has given to children the parents they need to guide them in their
formative years. Only fools ignore that instruction.

Wealth itself is neither righteous nor sinful. How it is obtained and how it is utilized
are what determines its importance. If wealth is not controlled, trouble will arise from its possession.

Wicked individuals can offer sacrifices; however, owing to their wickedness, their sacrifice is deemed unacceptable by the LORD. What delights the LORD is the
confessional prayer of an upright people.

Review all of this carefully. May we all be spiritually and morally upright because that is what produces delight in the LORD we all love and serve.

Heartily in Christ Jesus,

(Dado III)

P. S. My grandson, who is a computer genius, has removed the “bugs” that were
interfering recently with The Grands transmission. It has now all been corrected.
Thanks, Ricky!

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,
Revelation 21:1-7, “And I saw a new heaven and a new earth; for the first heaven and the first earth passed away, and there is no longer any sea.
2 And I saw the holy city, new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, made ready as a bride adorned for her husband.
3 And I heard a loud voice from the throne, saying, ‘Behold, the tabernacle of God is among men, and He shall dwell among them, and they shall be His people, and God Himself shall be among them,
4 and He shall wipe away every tear from their eyes; and there shall no longer be any death; there shall no longer be any mourning, or crying, or pain; the first things have passed away.’
5 And He who sits on the throne said, ‘Behold, I am making all things new.’ And He said, ‘Write, for these words are faithful and true.’
6 And He said to me, ‘It is done. I am the Alpha and the Omega, the beginning and the end. I will give to the one who thirsts from the spring of the water of life without cost.
7 ‘He who overcomes shall inherit these things, and I will be his God and he will be My son.’”

Today, 01 January 2023, is the first day of a new year. While there is no possible way we could know, it is probable that thousands of persons have made resolutions they intend to honor and keep throughout this New Year. Those of us who have been blessed to live through numerous “new years,” can testify that intentions differ significantly from keeping.

Our verses above, however, speak clearly the LORD’s promise: “Behold, I am making all things new,” to which He added, “Write, for these words are faithful and true.” This specific promise, however, speaks of a future time, when the LORD will renovate the worlds and all that He has made. At the same time, He is both able and willing to fulfill now the promises He lists for us in the Bible.

Notice that He says He will give to the one who thirsts “the water of life without cost,” and says, “I will be his God and he will be My son.” Most of us, just like small children, have needs we cannot satisfy through our own efforts. Physically, we look to our parents for help. It is much the same spiritually. We must look to our Heavenly Father for help.

May this new year, A.D. 2023, find us all depending increasingly on the LORD. It is His delight to help us, just as a parent delights in helping a young child. Read the Scriptures daily! Spend serious time daily with the LORD in prayer! Trust Him for help in every situation! He will make “all things new.”

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,

Revelation 21:1-7, “And I saw a new heaven and a new earth; for the first heaven and the first earth passed away, and there is no longer any sea.
2 And I saw the holy city, new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, made ready as a bride adorned for her husband.
3 And I heard a loud voice from the throne, saying, ‘Behold, the tabernacle of God is among men, and He shall dwell among them, and they shall be His people, and God Himself shall be among them,
4 and He shall wipe away every tear from their eyes; and there shall no longer be any death; there shall no longer be any mourning, or crying, or pain; the first things have passed away.’
5 And He who sits on the throne said, ‘Behold, I am making all things new.’ And He said, ‘Write, for these words are faithful and true.’
6 And He said to me, ‘It is done. I am the Alpha and the Omega, the beginning and the end. I will give to the one who thirsts from the spring of the water of life without cost.
7 ‘He who overcomes shall inherit these things, and I will be his God and he will be My son.’”

Today, 01 January 2023, is the first day of a new year. While there is no possible way we could know, it is probable that thousands of persons have made resolutions they intend to honor and keep throughout this New Year. Those of us who have been blessed to live through numerous “new years,” can testify that intentions differ significantly from keeping them.

Our verses above, however, speak clearly the LORD’s promise: “Behold, I am making all things new,” to which He added, “Write, for these words are faithful and true.” This specific promise, however, speaks of a future time, when the LORD will renovate the worlds and all that He has made. At the same time, He is both able and willing to fulfill now the promises He lists for us in the Bible.

Notice that He says He will give to the one who thirsts “the water of life without cost,” and says, “I will be his God and he will be My son.” Most of us, just like small children, have needs we cannot satisfy through our own efforts. Physically, we look to our parents for help. It is much the same spiritually. We must look to our Heavenly Father for help.

May this new year, A.D. 2023, find us all depending increasingly on the LORD. It is His delight to help us, just as a parent delights in helping a young child. Read the Scriptures daily! Spend serious time daily with the LORD in prayer! Trust Him for help in every situation! He will make “all things new.”

Heartily in Christ Jesus,

(Dado III)

correct this, as we continue to publish daily. Your prayers are deeply appreciated.

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,

Proverbs 15:1-8, “A gentle answer turns away wrath, but a harsh word stirs up anger.
2 The tongue of the wise makes knowledge acceptable, but the mouth of fools spouts folly.
3 The eyes of the LORD are in every place, watching the evil and the good.
4 A soothing tongue is a tree of life, but perversion in it crushes the spirit.
5 A fool rejects his father’s discipline, but he who regards reproof is prudent.
6 Much wealth is in the house of the righteous, but trouble is in the income of the wicked.
7 The lips of the wise spread knowledge, but the hearts of fools are not so.
8 The sacrifice of the wicked is an abomination to the LORD, but the prayer of the upright is His delight.”

“Practical advice” literally amounts to thoughts and actions that make sense when practiced in daily life. Furthermore, it amounts to Divine instruction that produces peaceful living among people of various ethnic and religious beliefs.

In the few verses cited above, Solomon sets forth some sound advice that will, when it is obeyed, stand firmly in every situation. Verses one and two above relate
to a conversation that boasts of two sides. One side is wise; the other is foolish.

Furthermore, the LORD observes and evaluates everything: the evil and the good.
Recognizing who is taking notice of our words and deeds should surely control us.
The LORD has given to children the parents they need to guide them in their
formative years. Only fools ignore that instruction.

Wealth itself is neither righteous nor sinful. How it is obtained and how it is utilized
are what determines its importance. If wealth is not controlled, trouble will arise from its possession.

Wicked individuals can offer sacrifices; however, owing to their wickedness, their sacrifice is deemed unacceptable by the LORD. What delights the LORD is the
confessional prayer of an upright people.

Review all of this carefully. May we all be spiritually and morally upright because that is what produces delight in the LORD we all love and serve.

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,

1 Samuel 9:3-8, “Now the donkeys of Kish, Saul’s father, were lost. So Kish said to his son Saul, ‘Take now with you one of the servants, and arise, go search for the donkeys.’
4 And he passed through the hill country of Ephraim and passed through the land of Shalishah, but they did not find them. Then they passed through the land of Shaalim, but they were not there. Then he passed through the land of the Benjamites, but they did not find them.
5 When they came to the land of Zuph, Saul said to his servant who was with him, ‘Come, and let us return, lest my father cease to be concerned about the donkeys and become anxious for us.’
6 And he (the servant) said to him, ‘Behold now, there is a man of God in this city, and the man is held in honor; all that he says surely comes true. Now let us go there, perhaps he can tell us about our journey on which we have set out.’
7 Then Saul said to his servant, ‘But behold, if we go, what shall we bring the man? For the bread is gone from our sack and there is no present to bring to the man of God. What do we have?’
8 And the servant answered Saul again and said, ‘Behold, I have in my hand a fourth of a shekel of silver; I will give it to the man of God and he will tell us our way.’”

There are a number of things that seem never to change. One is losing something. Another thing that never changes is our searching for the item that is lost, but without success. Finally, there is sound reasoning that ultimately brings success.

Still, the bigger question is: Why does it take us so long to come to the correct conclusion? Saul and his servant searched for the lost donkeys in five separate areas owned by neighbors, but without success. Then, they were reminded to check with the seer, the servant of God, who lived nearby.

Before we come down too hard on Saul and his servant, it would do us well to think of how we handle tough situations. Do we personally search for what has been lost? Do we not often waste considerable time consulting others before we pray and seek the LORD’s capable assistance? “We’ve done everything we can; I guess we’d better pray.” How weak is that?

Ultimately, Saul and his servant found the lost donkeys. More importantly, however, the seer, whom they learned was Samuel, had himself heard the LORD’s Voice saying, “Behold, the man of whom I spoke to you! This one shall rule over My people” (1 Sam. 9:17).

The LORD always possesses the answers we seek! Why do we seek answers elsewhere? How long has it been since you relied totally upon the LORD? You may just discover that He has been waiting upon you to seek Him out in prayer.

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