The Grands Letter

Dear Grands,

Proverbs 21:2-3, “Every man’s way is right in his own eyes,

But the LORD weighs the hearts.

3 To do righteousness and justice Is desired by the LORD

rather than sacrifice.”

Everyday I read the Word and seek to glean from it some

salient verses that have application to your hearts as well.

Reading through the Proverbs is like a continual “right v.

wrong,” “do v. don’t,” “good v. evil,” “life v. death.”

Each of us is different in numerous ways, but Solomon

touches us all when he says that what we do is always

right in our own thinking. The problem is: we are not

the ultimate judge of what we do and don’t do. The

LORD measures and evaluates our hearts. He desires

us to be righteous, honest, and pure in both our

thoughts and deeds. One may have wealth and give

abundantly to good and noble causes, but the LORD

would rather that he possess right motives and give

himself to the LORD. The big question for each of us

is: 1) Are we truly pure and righteous in our motives

and in the works we do? And 2) are we free from

injustice that brings discredit on the LORD’s Name?

Deep down within our hearts, we know what we are

and whether our motives and our doings are pleasing

to Him. If they are, we will praise Him for producing

such within us. If we are not, we need to repent and

become righteous, which is pleasing in His sight.

We pray earnestly for each of 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,

Proverbs 5:21-23, “For the ways of a man are before the eyes of the LORD,

And He watches all his paths. 22 His own iniquities will capture the wicked,

And he will be held with the cords of his sin. 23 He will die for lack of instruction,

And in the greatness of his folly he will go astray.”

The news has been replete recently with indecencies and immoralities

coming forth from the lives of prominent personalities. The consequences

of many of these indiscretions stretch backward over the years and extend

from California to the Capital in Washington, DC. Lives and careers have

been effectively destroyed, yet the full extent of the consequences are yet

to be determined.

These shameful acts have for years escaped the eyes of the American public,

but they have never escaped the eyes of the LORD! Nor will any sinful acts

in our lives escape His notice! The Bible says, “…be sure your sin will find you out”

(Num. 32:23). We cannot do wrong and get by. Look at the verses above:

Man’s “own iniquities will capture him, and he will be held with the cords

of his sin…” The “enjoyment” we receive from sinning calls for more. We are

captivated –imprisoned!— by the very sin that eventually brings us down.

How many times have people said to me, “Oh, I can quit at any time.” But the

fact that they don’t says that they can’t! The only One who can free us from

sin is the LORD Jesus Christ. Listen to His Word: Man “will die for lack of instruction.”

I’m giving you that instruction right now! Listen! Obey! Don’t ruin your life!!

We love you and pray for you every, single 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,

Proverbs 4:1-6, “Hear, O sons, the instruction of a father,

And give attention that you may gain understanding,

2 For I give you sound teaching; Do not abandon my instruction.

3 When I was a son to my father, Tender and the only son in the sight of my mother,

4 Then he taught me and said to me, ‘Let your heart hold fast my words;

Keep my commandments and live; 5 Acquire wisdom! Acquire understanding!

Do not forget, nor turn away from the words of my mouth.

6 Do not forsake her, and she will guard you; Love her, and she will watch over you.’”

It is obvious to all who will think, that a child is given to parents,

just as parents are given to a child. The parents love the child,

and the child learns to love the parents. Parents that behave

as the LORD intends, are by their very behavior training the

child, who will someday become a parent.

I understand how Solomon looks back on his childhood. He

draws wisdom from the sound teaching and instruction he

received from his father. I find myself doing the same. As you

get older, you will more and more look back on what you learned

from your parents –even more, what you learned from the LORD

and His Word. Solomon in his own wisdom urges us to pay close

attention to the wisdom of the LORD. Pay attention! The only

protection and love you will ever have comes from the LORD.

On my grandfather’s gravestone are these words:

“I have taught you in the way of wisdom;

I have led you in right paths.”

I loved him dearly, just as we love you.

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,

I Chronicles 16:34-36, “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 Thy holy name, And glory in Thy praise.’

36 Blessed be the LORD, the God of Israel,

From everlasting even to everlasting.

Then all the people said, ‘Amen,’ and praised the LORD.”

“O give thanks to the LORD…”

I awoke this morning with that phrase on my mind. There are nine

other verses (all in the Psalms) that say virtually the same thing.

The words “Thank you” are slowly slipping out of our culture.

Selfishness causes us to believe we are “owed” what someone

gives us; hence, “Thank you” is an unnecessary reply. But that

is fundamentally wrong. What does it cost to say “Thank you”?

We thank God first because of who He is: “He is good.” Who He

is has no dependency upon whether He gives us anything. He is

simply good because He is. And we are to love and thank Him

for that. “His lovingkindness” speaks of what He does. It never

runs out; therefore, we are to continually thank Him for that.

When we have sufficiently and genuinely thanked Him, we can

then say, “Save us, O God of our salvation…and deliver us

from the nations…(that we might further) give thanks to Thy

holy name, and glory in Thy praise.”

Years ago, I noticed a comparison of Daniel’s prayers with the

Model Prayer. I put the two in a graph that I am attaching, and

hope it will benefit you and increase your prayer life. Notice

that everything emphasizes the LORD’s greatness and power;

nothing points to us. HAPPY THANKSGIVING!

We love and give thanks for you every, single 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,

Proverbs 3:13-15, “How blessed is the man who finds wisdom,

And the man who gains understanding.

14 For its profit is better than the profit of silver,

And its gain than fine gold.

15 She is more precious than jewels;

And nothing you desire compares with her.”

Solomon is the author of the Proverbs. He is known as the

“wisest man who ever lived,” with the exception, of course,

of our LORD Jesus Christ. Solomon was arguably the wealthiest

man of his day. But what he treasured most was wisdom. Do

you want to be happy? Find wisdom. And alongside wisdom

find understanding.

I can recall a number of people over the years, who have

come to me for counsel. I gave them the best counsel I could,

but they summarily rejected it and continued to endure the

situations that had made them uncomfortable. Some people

are just not wise; they elect to believe the wrong counsel.

Genuine wisdom is more profitable that silver or gold. Solomon

says true wisdom is even more precious than fine jewels.

Nothing in this world that you or I desire is comparable to

godly wisdom.

A lady died, and I saw huge diamonds worth thousands of

dollars on her fingers, as she lay in her coffin. But they were

useless and worthless to her then. How much more valuable

wisdom would have been to her! It might have lengthened

the days of her life. Choose carefully the things of true value.

We pray for you daily, and that you may know His wisdom,

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.”