The Grands Letter

Dear Grands,

2 Chronicles 21:20, Jehoram “was thirty-two years old when he became king,

and he reigned in Jerusalem eight years; and he departed with no one’s regret,

and they buried him in the city of David, but not in the tombs of the kings.”

The only time I think about dying is when someone I know dies. I’m

aware that, barring the delay of the Rapture, I, too, will die someday.

I have no idea what king Jehoram thought about death; but having

been stricken with an excruciating illness, I can only imagine that he

longed for death. What is most interesting in this verse is that Jehoram

died “with no one’s regret.” I learned in Australia that a moderately

wealthy man died penniless and no one attended his funeral. Even

for an evil man, it’s sad to think that no one cared that he died.

How do you want to be remembered? When my grandfather died

(Dado I), I witnessed grown men weeping as they looked into his

casket. I distinctly remember one man saying, “He bought me gym

shoes, so I could play basketball.” Dr. Don Ralston officiated at the

grave of our dear friend, Jack Conner, recalled Jack having

witnessed to a woman, speaking to her in French –despite the fact

that neither of us ever knew Jack spoke French! What will people

say about you? about me? Will anyone care that we are gone??

The Israelites were careful about burials. Kings were buried in the

Jerusalem, the City of David; so, Jehoram was buried there, but

because he was evil, he was not buried in the tombs of the kings.

“He lived that kind of life; he died that kind of death; he will spend

that kind of eternity.”

We love you! Live for the LORD! Influence people for good!

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,

2 Chronicles 15:1-2, “Now the Spirit of God came on Azariah the son of Oded,

2 and he went out to meet Asa and said to him, ‘Listen to me, Asa, and all Judah

and Benjamin: the LORD is with you when you are with Him. And if you seek

Him, He will let you find Him; but if you forsake Him, He will forsake you.’”

Anyone who reads the Chronicles can see the triumphs and failures of nation

after nation. There was never an opulent king like Solomon. But, despite his

wisdom and knowledge and all that he wrote in Ecclesiastes, he began to admire

what he possessed more than the One who had given him the possessions.

When Solomon died, Rehoboam, his son, ascended to the throne, but he lacked

the wisdom of his father and led Israel back into sin. From then onward, Israel

went up and down. She would serve the LORD; then she would forsake the

LORD. Ultimately, a priest of the LORD –Azariah—said to Asa, who was then

king, “…the LORD is with you when you are with Him.”

While Azariah’s words were for Israel and her king, they have a serious

application to our lives as well. Everything we have or ever will have is

from the LORD. But, when we become enamored with what He has

given, we displace the LORD and He disciplines us until we make Him

first in our lives again! We have no idea what poverty really is. We have

SO MUCH! Yet, He is more! And all His provisions can be taken away

as quickly as they have been given. Yes, we are to enjoy what the LORD

has given us. But, we must NEVER forget HIM from whom they have

come! Always put Him first in your life!

You are the LORD’s most precious gift to us! Our love and prayers will

never cease for you; and we will never forget from Whom you have

come!

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,

2 Chronicles 1:7, “In that night God appeared to Solomon

and said to him, ‘Ask what I shall give you.’”

Have you ever had anyone as you a question like that?

That kind of question could only be asked by someone

with the capacity to give you whatever you might ask.

Just think about what you’d like. Anything! No limit!

Well, that’s what the LORD said to Solomon; and

Solomon must already have had some wisdom, because

he asked for wisdom and understanding. He was young

and the one thing he knew was that he didn’t know

everything! Would you ask for what Solomon asked?

Look now at what the LORD said in reply:

“And God said to Solomon, ‘Because you had this in mind,

and did not ask for riches, wealth, or honor, or the life of

those who hate you, nor have you even asked for long life,

but you have asked for yourself wisdom and knowledge,

that you may rule My people, over whom I have made you king,

12 wisdom and knowledge have been granted to you.

And I will give you riches and wealth and honor, such as

none of the kings who were before you has possessed, nor

those who will come after you’” (vv. 11-12).

Solomon later wrote, “Wisdom is the principal thing; therefore

get wisdom: and with all thy getting get understanding” (Prov. 4:7).

May you possess the wisdom that only God can give. This is

our earnest prayer for you. We love you each and every one,

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,

1 Chronicles 22:7-10, “And David said to Solomon, ‘My son, I had intended

to build a house to the name of the LORD my God. 8 But the word of the LORD

came to me, saying, “You have shed much blood, and have waged great wars;

you shall not build a house to My name, because you have shed so much blood

on the Earth before Me. 9 Behold, a son shall be born to you, who shall be a man

of rest; and I will give him rest from all his enemies on every side; for his name

shall be Solomon, and I will give peace and quiet to Israel in his days. 10 He shall

build a house for My name, and he shall be My son, and I will be his Father; and I

will establish the throne of his kingdom over Israel forever.’”

I must admit that reading through the Chronicles is not easy. Yet, every time

I think I will skip over something, a precious gem of truth shines out of the

rudimentary things and excites me toward reading more. Every one of you

know that David was denied the building of the LORD’s Temple and that his

son Solomon was chosen to build it. But do you see the parallel with the

angel, who came to the Virgin Mary. Nowhere else in Scripture do we find

that the LORD revealed to David that a son would be born to him whose

name would be called Solomon (meaning peace) and that he would build

the Temple of the LORD. Would it surprise you to know that before you

were born the LORD had a purpose for your life? He may not have revealed

His purpose to your parents, but He had one for you –and He still does!

My mother was told by doctors that she would never have a child. But the

LORD had His plan and Carol and I were born!

Now the big question is: Do you know what the LORD’s plan for your life is?

Are you searching through Scripture and prayer to find out? What comes

to mind as I write are two little sayings…

To find the will of God is the greatest discovery.

To know the will of God is the greatest knowledge.

To do the will of God is the greatest achievement.

Only one life; it will soon be past;

Only what’s done for Christ will last.

May the LORD continue to bless and use you for His glory!

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,

1 Chronicles 21:1-2, “Then Satan stood up against Israel and moved David to number Israel.

2 So David said to Joab and to the princes of the people, ‘Go, number Israel from Beersheba even to Dan, and bring me word that I may know their number.’”

Some things in Scripture are difficult to understand. David’s numbering of the people in First Chronicles 21 is one of great difficulty. Every temptation that comes our way is from Satan. God temps no one! But everything is ultimately under God’s control, so we must conclude that every temptation that comes to us is one that God has allowed Satan to do.

David’s numbering of the people was either due to his pride or due to something he had in mind for the entire nation, like a system of taxation. In any event, it was something the LORD had not ordered –just something David himself decided to do.

Counting our resources for anything rather than being dependent on the LORD amounts to sin in God’s eyes. A preacher who fails to study, thinking that he can say what is necessary without the LORD’s guidance through Scripture, is bound to fail. A witness who attempts to share the LORD with an unsaved person without being prayerful and seeking the LORD’s guidance will find himself lacking answers to questions he is asked.

Think about this as you go about your daily activates. Is what you are about to do what HE wants? Is HE directing your thoughts and plans? David repents of his sin; nevertheless, the LORD punishes him. Repentance clears the slate with God, but there are always consequences!

You are in our daily thoughts and prayer,

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.”