The Grands Letter

Dear Grands,

Luke 18:16, “Jesus called them unto him, and said, ‘Suffer little children to come unto me, and forbid them not:

for of such is the kingdom of God.’

17 “Verily I say unto you, ‘Whosoever shall not receive the kingdom of God as a little child shall in no wise enter therein.’”

Millions of young children (and some even older) will awaken early this morning to see what presents

Santa Claus has left them under the Christmas tree. Despite the fun and frivolity that accompanies this day, the entire season has been hijacked! It is and ought to be the day we celebrate the birth of Jesus Christ.

Yet, some 280 years ago, a legend overtook the true meaning.

Satan is as subtle as he is cruel. Slipping poison into someone’s milk is as deadly as a gunshot. Both achieve the same nefarious end. So, instead of trampling on a display representing the Christchild’s birth, Satan simply pushes the display of fun and frolic and undermines Christmas’ true meaning.

Jesus call was for “little children to come unto (Him).” The “forbid them not” surely covers the idea of Santa.

Children are “programmed” to believe. Whatever standards their parents display before them become their standards for life. Even the Salvation Army, originally called the Christian Mission and founded in 1865 by William Booth, a British evangelist, who preached the Gospel and and helped the poor, has now for many years attired their bell-ringers in Santa Claus garb.

There is only one hope for the world, and it lies in leading children to accept Jesus Christ as their LORD and Savior. Every opportunity we have with children should carry an emphasis on Jesus Christ. We may never stamp out the Santa Claus sherade, but we can steer some childrens’ minds toward Him. This will produce in them the Merriest CHRISTmas of all –one that leads them to Eternal Life in Glory!

Lovingly and prayerfully yours,

Nana & Dado III

(Rose Marie & Gene)

Gene L. Jeffries, Th.D.

Springdale, Arkansas 72764

United States of America

“We never know that God is all we need

until He becomes all that we have.”

Dear Grands,

Zechariah 2:10-11, “’Sing for joy and be glad, O daughter of Zion; for behold I am coming and I will dwell in your midst,’ declares the LORD.

11 “’And many nations will join themselves to the LORD in that day and will become My people. Then I will dwell in your midst, and you will know that the LORD of hosts has sent Me to you.’”

Prophecies are often difficult to understand, and I make no claim to understanding all of what is intended in these verses above. What is understandable, however, is that the prophet Zecharian is compelling us all to “sing for joy and be glad,” for the LORD is coming to dwell in our midst.

With all the uncertainty that surrounds nations of the world today, it is difficult to see how this prophecy will be fulfilled. Yet, the promise is that many nations will come to the LORD and will be called the people of the LORD. He Himself will live in the midst these nations and we will then look back to such prophecies as this and understand it full meaning.

What is outstanding to me is that a prophecy that dates from about 520 B.C. can have implications and teachings that have meaning to us in the 21ST Century A.D.! We know from the New Testament that Christ is Coming Again. What is amazing is that a prophet some 26 centuries ago foretold it!

All of that being said, the big question is: Are you ready for the LORD’s Coming? First, do you know Him as your Savior? Have you truly been “born from Above”? Have you trusted Him and are you continuing to trust Him as Lord of your life? Is your life clean before Him? Have you earnestly turned from the sins that keep on pestering you? or, do you secretly delight in things you know are not from Him and are displeasing to Him?

Look earnestly for His Return! He is Coming, although we do not know when. He has told us that He is preparing a place for us (John 14:2-3), where we will live with Him forever! Nothing in this life should sparkle so delightfully as to divert our attention from Him and His Coming Glory! Keep living in the Word! Keep your mind and heart on His promised Return! Be ready to greet Him when He Returns!

We love and pray for you,

Nana & Dado III

(Rose Marie & Gene)

Gene L. Jeffries, Th.D.

Springdale, Arkansas 72764

United States of America

“We never know that God is all we need

until He becomes all that we have.”

Dear Grands,

Revelation 2:5, “Remember therefore from where you have fallen, and repent and do the deeds you did at first; or else I am coming to you and will remove your lampstand out of its place– unless you repent.”

Revelation 2:16, “Repent therefore; or else I am coming to you quickly, and I will make war against them with the sword of My mouth.”

Revelation 3:11, “’I am coming quickly; hold fast what you have, in order that no one take your crown.”

Revelation 16:15, “Behold, I am coming like a thief. Blessed is the one who stays awake and keeps his garments, lest he walk about naked and men see his shame.”

Revelation 22:7, “And behold, I am coming quickly. Blessed is he who heeds the words of the prophecy of this book.”

Revelation 22:12, “Behold, I am coming quickly, and My reward is with Me, to render to every man according to what he has done.”

Revelation 22:20, “He who testifies to these things says, ‘Yes, I am coming quickly.’ Amen. Come, Lord Jesus.”

As the story goes, a local pastor had for some time sought to reach the soul of a man he knew. The man always had an excuse. He was thinking about it; he wasn’t quite ready; and such excuses. One day the

pastor manouvered himself into the business place of the man and shouted aloud: “ARE YOU READY?”

The man heard the voice, and llooked up. But no one was there. He wondered about it, but was soon busy again at his work.

Later that week, the man and the pastor met. This time the pastor asked if the man remembered him coming to his shop. He did; but he was puzzled, he said, that the pastor would simply shout out a question and leave before he could reply. “What was that all about?” he asked. The pastor responded asking, “Well, were you ready?” The man thought and said, “No, I was not.” To which the pastor then asked, “What if I had been God?”

Seven times in the Revelation, Jesus clearly warns, “I am coming!” Five times He adds the word “quickly.”

Three times He warns us to repent of our sin. And twice He says for us to “hold on” to the good things we have. All of this should be sobering to us. We should not be complacent and let what we know slip away from us. We should be “about our Father’s business,” as young Jesus was when Joseph and Mary found Him in the Temple. Put first things first!

I have a routine that commences with the prayerful writing of this letter each morning. There are other things to do as well, but this is my priority. What is yours? What do you do that is all-important? What is first and foremost to you? Does it have to do with prayer and Bible reading? That is what the Bible means when it says, “hold on to what you have…don’t let them slip.”

As a small boy, I can remember my mother saying, “There you are dirty and your aunt Dene will be here any minute. Get yourself clean! There’s not much time. She’ll be here soon.” Does something like that resonate with you on the spiritual level? It should. Jesus could come at any moment. Our lives must be clean and ready. Nothing else matters. Are you ready?

We love and pray for you earnestly,

Nana & Dado III

(Rose Marie & Gene)

Gene L. Jeffries, Th.D.

Springdale, Arkansas 72764

United States of America

“We never know that God is all we need

until He becomes all that we have.”

Dear Grands,

Luke 2:48-52, “And when they saw Him, they were astonished; and His mother said to Him, ‘Son, why have You treated us this way? Behold, Your father and I have been anxiously looking for You.’

49 And He said to them, ‘Why is it that you were looking for Me? Did you not know that I had to be in My Father’s house?’

50 And they did not understand the statement which He had made to them.

51 And He went down with them, and came to Nazareth; and He continued in subjection to them; and His mother treasured all these things in her heart.

52 And Jesus kept increasing in wisdom and stature, and in favor with God and men.”

This is a very human experience for both the mother and the Child. Why Mary and Joseph should have neglected searching for Him for a full day, and then finding Him, talk about having being anxious for His whereabouts, is interesting, to say the least.

Does it seem strange to you that Mary is doing the talking here? It is Mary who has from before Jesus’ birth “pondered all these things in her heart.” But it would seem that she has forgotten that the Heavenly Father was ever caring for His Son. Mary includes Joseph in the anxiety over the Boy’s absence from the family group. She speaks of Joseph as being Jesus’ father, which, of course, he was not –not the physical, birth-father. Yet, it was within the culture for her to speak in this way. Joseph, for all intents-and-purposes was Jesus’ guiding formative father, as the LORD had intended.

Jesus’ reply to His mother was both respectful and informative. At the age of 12, He was keenly aware of His purpose on Earth. “Did you not know that I had to be (involved) in My Father’s work?” Sometimes parents overlook how intelligent their children really are. They look and wonder at what their children will ultimately become in life, but are astonished when they discover the children are already on course for what they are to do in life. Still, Mary is not to be scolded for her words to her Son. She had merely, momentarily forgotten His ultimate purpose on Earth.

In the end, Jesus returned with them to Nazareth and continued to obey them. Doubtlessly, Mary often shook her head in wonder and amazement, as she surveyed her own life from the time of the angel’s visit telling her that the Christ –the Messiah of Almighty God—would be born of her.

As for Jesus, He kept “increasing in wisdom and stature,” and was the shining Light of His Heavenly Father and a favorite of all who knew Him. Isn’t that what the Father wants of us? Doesn’t He want us to be like His “only begotten Son”? Yet, how far removed we are from what our Father desires. Why is wisdom so removed from us? Could it be that our focus is too worldly? Could it be that what is transpiring in the world-at-large commands our attention more than what God has given us in His Word?

At dinner the other night, I heard a woman at an adjoining table say, “I think the LORD is coming soon.” Is that not the focus that should obsess and drive our daily lives? I think it is. May the Holy Spirit help us to realign our thinking that we may be ready for His Coming!

Lovingly and prayerfully yours,

Nana & Dado III

(Rose Marie & Gene)

Gene L. Jeffries, Th.D.

Springdale, Arkansas 72764

United States of America

“We never know that God is all we need

until He becomes all that we have.”

Dear Grands,

Luke 2:40-47, “And the Child continued to grow and become strong, increasing in wisdom; and the grace of God was upon Him.

41 And His parents used to go to Jerusalem every year at the Feast of the Passover.

42 And when He became twelve, they went up there according to the custom of the Feast;

43 and as they were returning, after spending the full number of days, the boy Jesus stayed behind in Jerusalem. And His parents were unaware of it,

44 but supposed Him to be in the caravan, and went a day’s journey; and they began looking for Him among their relatives and acquaintances.

45 And when they did not find Him, they returned to Jerusalem, looking for Him.

46 And it came about that after three days they found Him in the temple, sitting in the midst of the teachers, both listening to them, and asking them questions.

47 And all who heard Him were amazed at His understanding and His answers.”

As a child, were you ever lost? Maybe in a grocery or department store? Oh, you knew where you were, but your mother didn’t! You weren’t really lost; you were just lost from her. I get it.

The young child Jesus was continuing to grow. He was also getting stronger, and He was becoming wiser by the day. When the grace of God is working in your life, strength and wisdom demonstrate themselves within you. Others may notice your growth more than you do.

There were great feasts for the Jews: 1. The Passover. 2. The Feast of Pentecost, or of weeks. 3. The Feast of Tabernacles, or of ingathering. Passover was kept just before the harvest commenced. Pentecost was observed at the conclusion of the corn harvest and before the vintage. Tabernacles was celebrated after all the fruits of the ground had been gathered. These and other festivals, were spiritual in nature and kept the people apprised of their nationality.

Boys will be boys, and apparently the young Jesus was like other boys of his age, something of a free spirit. Thus, as Joseph and Mary were returning from the festival, they thought nothing of Jesus not being with them. But, after journeying a full day –about 24 miles– and His whereabouts were still not known, they returned to Jerusalem in an effort to find Him.

Ultimately, the 12-year-old Jesus was found in the Temple, surrounded by teachers of the law, both asking and answering questions. They were all amazed at how much He knew and truly understood. Sometimes we sell our young people short. Just the other day, a high school orchestra played for the residence of the rehabilitation facility where Rose Marie currently resides. The young first-chair cellist was amazing! I met him after the performance, and found him to be a pleasant, unassuming and polite young man. He played fawllessly, like a master; yet, he was but a teenager.

The key to all greatness lies squarely in “the grace of God.” Yes, there is natural talent in the lives of those who do not know Christ as their Savior, but true greatness is reserved for those who are fully committed to Him. Is your life focused on Jesus? Are you completely committed to Him? We pray that you are.

Lovingly yours, we pray for you daily,

Nana & Dado III

(Rose Marie & Gene)

Gene L. Jeffries, Th.D.

Springdale, Arkansas 72764

United States of America

“We never know that God is all we need

until He becomes all that we have.”