The Grands Letter

Dear Grands,

1 Kings 3:4, “In Gibeon the LORD appeared to Solomon

in a dream at night; and God said, ‘Ask what you wish Me

to give you.’”

Some choices are easy to make. Some are near impossible.

What would you say if a man capable of giving you anything

you want were to ask you such a question? You might ask

for whatever you needed or wanted at that very time. But

would that be best? Solomon showed intelligence in his choice.

He asked for “an understanding heart”– literally, a listening,

comprehensive mind, what we call wisdom. A lot of people

are intelligent –smart, but they lack wisdom. Knowing what

to say or do and whether or when to say or do it are quite

different. Solomon made the right choice and the LORD

saw that a man with wisdom could be trusted with other

things, too; thus, Solomon’s humility (“I am but a little child,

I do not know how to go out or come in.”) was pleasing to

the LORD. Is it any wonder, therefore, that Solomon went

on to say, “Wisdom is the principal thing; therefore get wisdom:

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

Take time to pray about everything. As the LORD to lead you

in what you should or should not do. Take nothing for granted!

Don’t fool yourself by thinking that you know it all. You don’t!

Only the LORD can direct your life so that it is pleasing and

profitable. Solomon had it right –at least, in the beginning of

his life. Thus, there’s no such thing as being able to rely on

yourself somewhere down the line. Every day is a new world.

“Do not be wise in your own eyes; Fear the LORD and turn away

from evil.” (Prov. 3:7).

Our prayers always include each one of 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,

1 Kings 2:12, “And Solomon sat on the throne of David his father,

and his kingdom was firmly established.”

From the time that David sinned with Bathsheba, his house was

Troubled. Indeed, he had “inherit(ed) the wind.” Absalom was

dead, and now Adonijah, another son, decided to make himself

king. Will this madness never end? David was very old, and

nearing death. And even when he declared Solomon to succeed

him as king, trouble persisted. The verse above has to be

understood as from the mind of the LORD, because there was

still more trouble facing Solomon. It may seem a bit extreme, but

the only way Solomon could secure the kingdom was to rid Israel

of those who were still around –those who had opposed David.

In a spiritual sense, this can teach us that being saved, being

born-again, does not immediately erase the problems we face.

It secures us to the LORD, just as Solomon secured the throne;

but trouble still lingers. Some things have to be put to death!

They are not easy to erase from our lives, but they must be

dealt with. Adonijah was Solomon’s older brother, but Solomon

had to put him to death. It was the LORD’s way of firmly

establishing the kingdom. When we put to death those things

that offend the LORD, He commences to bless and use us to

His glory.

May the LORD bless you each and every one! 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,

2 Samuel 22:19-22, “They confronted me in the day of my calamity,

But the LORD was my support. 20 “He also brought me forth into a

broad place; He rescued me, because He delighted in me. 21 The

LORD has rewarded me according to my righteousness; According

to the cleanness of my hands He has recompensed me. 22 “For I have

kept the ways of the LORD, And have not acted wickedly against my God.”

This entire 22nd chapter is David’s praise to the LORD. Calamity is

always before us! Satan seeks to unravel our spiritual lives and

cause us to disregard the LORD. Yet, the LORD is always our support.

Why does he support us? He delights in us because we are His people.

He rescues us; then He rewards us; He gives us what we deserve

because we hold firmly to His ways and turn away from evil that seeks

to bring us down. But what about that “broad place?” It is a place of

rest, relaxation and a place of opportunities to honor and glorify Him!

The more spiritually-minded we are, the greater is His use of us. And

to be His and do His work is why we were saved. May He ever and

always rescue us from evil and reward us to His glory!

Love and prayers always,

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 Samuel 18:9, “Now Absalom happened to meet the servants of David.

For Absalom was riding on his mule, and the mule went under the thick

branches of a great oak. And his head caught fast in the oak, so he was

left hanging between heaven and earth, while the mule that was under

him kept going.”

Exactly where Absalom went wrong, we may never know. But wrong

he went! He and all Israel were well aware that the LORD had anointed

David to be King; still, he was determined to wrest the kingdom from his

father and be king himself. He had succeeded to divide the Israelites,

so that many followed him in his quest. David, on the other hand, had

determined to maintain his position as King. The LORD had also

determined to retain David. But the battle raged!

In the course of events, Absalom came in contact with David’s forces.

He was alone and riding on his mule, and he scurried away quickly

riding under a huge oak tree’s thick branches. His head caught in the

branches; his mule went out from under him; and he was left hanging

helplessly by his head. Ultimately, Joab (from David’s forces) killed

him, as he hanged there in the oak branches.

The moral of this true and accurate account is: NEVER GO AGAINST

THE LORD’S DIRECTIVE or HIS CHOSEN PERSONS! David himself

made some serious mistakes that led to the death of his son, Absalom.

But we are never to choose anything or side with anyone whom the LORD

Himself has not chosen! Doing anything that is against the LORD’s will

is certain destruction.

Our prayers and concern include you all 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,

2 Samuel 17:18, “But a lad did see them, and told Absalom.”

It was the worst of times! Absalom, David’s son, was seeking

to wrest the kingdom from his father. Every day, Absalom

stood at the city gate and appealed to people, saying that if

he were king, things would go better for everyone. Ahithophel

was David’s counselor, but he had joined forces with Absalom,

prompting David to pray, “O LORD, I pray, make the counsel

of Ahithophel foolishness.” Strategy and intrigue attended both

sides. Hushai became David’s “plant” in Absalom’s camp. He

gave advice to Absalom that was contrary to that of Ahithophel.

Absalom took the bait, but along the way a lad saw a girl enter

the city where David was, and reported it to Absalom.

There are a number of instances in Scripture where young boys,

who saw things they didn’t completely understand, reported them

to officials. While such things were often quite valuable, they were

also often wrong. Be careful what you report and to whom. The

situation between Absalom and David was far more complicated

than that lad understood. Better that he should have stayed

out of it altogether. And so it is often with us. Yet, the LORD

overruled in this situation, as David had prayed that He would.

We are all valuable to the LORD; we just want to be careful not

to interfere in things we don’t fully understand.

May the LORD bless you abundantly today,

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.”