The Grands Letter

Dear Grands,

Luke 2:6-7, “While they were there, the days were completed for her to give birth.

And she gave birth to her firstborn son; and she wrapped Him in cloths,

and laid Him in a manger, because there was no room for them in the inn.”

After the discomforting 70 to 80-mile journey from Nazareth to Bethlehem,

there is no wonder that Mary was ready to give birth to her Son, Jesus. It is

doubtful that either she or Joseph had calculated the date, but the LORD

had. Every tiny detail was divinely intended and attended. Jesus was Mary’s

“firstborn Son.” Jesus was His Father’s “only begotten Son” (John 3:16).

“…and she wrapped Him in cloths.” The King James Version says, “swaddling

clothes,” which some have mistakenly considered to be some spiritually

significant cloths. Yet, the dictionary describes it “to wrap, bind, or swaddle

with bands of some material.” The cloth was not significant; the Child who

was wrapped with it was! Then, she “laid Him in a manger,” the trough from

which animals ate. How lowly can one get? I was present when each of

you were born (JD might be the exception); and each of you were born in

the sterile environment of a comfortable hospital and attended by an

experienced competent physician. Jesus had none of that. He was born

in a cattle stall “because there was no room for them in the inn.” This

may have been in His mind when later He said, ‘The foxes have holes and

the birds of the air have nests, but the Son of Man has nowhere to lay His head’

(Lk 9:58). How blessed we are! Not only were our births sanitary, but now, so

are our homes. Thank the LORD today for His multiple blessings!

We thank the LORD for each one of you,

Nana & Dado III

Gene L. Jeffries, Th.D.

Springdale, Arkansas

Dear Grands,

Luke 2:1-5, “Now in those days a decree went out from Caesar Augustus,

that a census be taken of all the inhabited Earth. 2 This was the first census

taken while Quirinius was governor of Syria. 3 And everyone was on his way

to register for the census, each to his own city. 4 Joseph also went up from

Galilee, from the city of Nazareth, to Judea, to the city of David which is called

Bethlehem, because he was of the house and family of David, 5 in order to register

along with Mary, who was engaged to him, and was with child.”

Have you ever noticed how the political directives of human governments

turn out to be the directives of Almighty God? Is it likely that Joseph or Mary

would have viewed this journey as being from the LORD? Whether they did

would have depended on whether they knew the prophecy in Micah 5:2.

The distance from Nazareth in Galilee to Bethlehem in Judea was between

70 and 80 miles. They walked, Mary surely riding on a donkey. It was

probably not something they had anticipated other than knowing the

prophecy (if they knew or remembered it). But, they did what was politically

required of them, and it turned out to be just what the LORD required.

We’re given a host of directives in life, many of which we view as wrong or

Irresponsible. Yet, when we obey them, we later see they were indeed the

directives of God. Just follow what your told to do. God is always in charge!

We love you and pray for you every day,

Nana & Dado III

Gene L. Jeffries, Th.D.

Springdale, Arkansas

Dear Grands,

Luke 1:28-30, “And coming in, (the angel Gabriel) said to her, ‘Greetings, favored one! The Lord is with you.’

29 But she was very perplexed at this statement, and kept pondering what kind of salutation this was.

30 The angel said to her, ‘Do not be afraid, Mary; for you have found favor with God.’”

The LORD has always had His messengers. On this occasion, the messenger was the

angel Gabriel. He just suddenly appeared to the teenaged Mary, who was engaged and

awaiting marriage. To say she was startled by Gabriel’s appearance is beyond question.

He called her by her name, Mary, and told her not to be afraid because she had “found

favor with God.” Mary was a pure girl, perhaps the purest girl in all Israel at that time.

I was preaching a meeting in St. Louis when a young girl sang. The pastor told me she

was “the purest girl he had ever known.” Mary was like that, only more so. Pure people

always find favor with God. There is so much evil in the world that those who are pure

really stand out! God notices our purity –or the lack of it. But, what is more valuable

than to know that we have “found favor with God”? There are good things in store for

Mary; and there are good things from God in store for you. Just stay pure and wait!

We love each of you, and you have found favor with us!

Nana & Dado III

Gene L. Jeffries, Th.D.

Springdale, Arkansas

Dear Grands,

2 Corinthians 4:17-18, “For momentary, light affliction is producing for us

an eternal weight of glory far beyond all comparison,

18 while we look not at the things which are seen, but at the things which

are not seen; for the things which are seen are temporal, but the things

which are not seen are eternal.”

Everyone has troubles. We all do. Paul was no exception. He had

troubles, too. But, he had learned how to handle trouble; and he

passes what he learned to us for our benefit. The troubles we have

are just for the moment and easy to bear. Moreover, they are

producing a glory that is eternal and superior to anything we know.

We always look at what we can see, but there are things we cannot

see that are vastly superior. And all that is taking place in our lives

is ultimately for His glory and for our benefit. It all concerns the

matter of faith, believing and trusting in God. So, don’t worry. Everything will turn out well.

We love you all and pray for you daily,

Nana & Dado III

Gene L. Jeffries, Th.D.

Springdale, Arkansas

Dear Grands,

Philippians 1:9-10, “And this I pray, that your love may abound

still more and more in real knowledge and all discernment,

10 so that you may approve the things that are excellent, in order to be

sincere and blameless until the day of Christ…”

Philippians is considered by Bible scholars to be a “love letter.”

Paul prays in love for the Philippians that their love might be over and

above all real knowledge and perception. He wants them to be able

to test and approve every essential and valuable thing in life so that

they themselves might be able to be judged by sunlight and not stumble

until the day Jesus Christ returns. Even if you encounter someone

who appears to know more than you, your love will excel and overwhelm

them. There is no power greater than God’s Love, and it resides in you!

We love you!

Nana & Dado III

Gene L. Jeffries, Th.D.

Springdale, Arkansas