The Grands Letter

Dear Grands,

Luke 1:24-33, “After these days Elizabeth, (Zacharias’) wife, became pregnant, and she kept herself in seclusion for five months, saying,
25 “This is the way the Lord has dealt with me in the days when He looked with favor upon me, to take away my disgrace among men.”
26 Now in the sixth month the angel Gabriel was sent from God to a city in Galilee called Nazareth,
27 to a virgin engaged to a man whose name was Joseph, of the descendants of David; and the virgin’s name was Mary.
28 And coming in, he 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.
31 “And behold, you will conceive in your womb and bear a son, and you shall name Him Jesus.
32 “He will be great and will be called the Son of the Most High; and the Lord God will give Him the throne of His father David;
33 and He will reign over the house of Jacob forever, and His kingdom will have no end.”

It may not be unusual today for two women, who were both friends and relatives, to have children about the same time. Elizabeth was the wife of Zacharias, who was the LORD’s priest in those days. Mary, was the wife (to be) of Joseph, whom we will ultimately discover to be a carpenter. Elizabeth’s child was named “John” by the LORD. Mary’s child was named “Jesus,” also by the LORD.

Both women and each of their husbands were dedicated to the LORD. God doesn’t bless women with godly husbands, unless they are of the LORD, too. Nor does He bless either, who have failed to yield themselves to the LORD and His values. Elizabeth and Mary were both dedicated to the LORD.

The fruit of their wombs were John the Baptist (via Elizabeth) and the LORD Jesus Christ (via Mary). It was John the Baptist (literally, John the baptizing one) whom the LORD moved to introduce John the Baptist. Subsequently, it was Jesus, whom John introduced to the world as the Savior!

The entirety of this fascinating account will not be told outside of Heaven! Sufficient to say, if women want their children to be godly, they must lead others to faith in Jesus Christ, they must marry godly, Christian partners. Yet, that being said, there is no substitute for the purity of either. Each may be pure and clean; yet, they have no rights beyond what the Father will allow.

Read the passage quoted above; then read the entire passage from the Bible
Itself. Read it slowly; read it meaningfully. Now, trust in Him completely! He will
bring blessing to your heart and life. Just think: This could be your best
CHRISTmas ever!

Heartily in Christ Jesus,

(Dado III)

Gene L. Jeffries, Th.D.
Springdale, Arkansas 72764
United States of America

“We never know that Christ is all we need until He becomes all that we have.” – Corrie ten Boom

Dear Grands,

Proverbs 3:5-13, “Trust in the LORD with all your heart and do not lean on your own understanding.
6 In all your ways acknowledge Him, and He will make your paths straight.
7 Do not be wise in your own eyes; fear the LORD and turn away from evil.
8 It will be healing to your body and refreshment to your bones.
9 Honor the LORD from your wealth and from the first of all your produce;
10 So your barns will be filled with plenty and your vats will overflow with new wine.
11 My son, do not reject the discipline of the LORD or loathe His reproof,
12 For whom the LORD loves He reproves, even as a father corrects the son in whom he delights.
13 How blessed is the man who finds wisdom and the man who gains understanding.”

Looking back at the multifaceted instruction I received in life brings mixed emotions. Education is primarily the responsibility of the parents, who have elected to bring children into the world. When the normal circumstances of life prohibit additional instruction, children are required to sit under the tutelage of those, who have prepared themselves for that venture.

The biblical passage cited above reminds us that the LORD is our primary
Teacher, and we are ever and always to acknowledge Him as such. We are not to “lean” upon our own understanding, or to simply consider ourselves to be “wise” (perhaps because in some area we are more well-versed than
others). Our first and foremost responsibility is to acknowledge the LORD as our Supreme Teacher.

We are clearly instructed in the verses above that our acknowledgement of the LORD as Primary in our lives will result in blessings “a plenty.” Failure,
to acknowledge Him as Primary, however, will result in Divine discipline.

Parents who physically discipline their children for disobedience or doing wrong are acutally correcting them in love. Such parents are desirous that their children to live correctly and obediently toward God and toward human society.

Children who learn to live by the LORD’s standard ultimately become good
citizens and good parents themselves. They have lived as the LORD has intended; now their instruction for life is passed on to their children! Such is the LORD’s instruction for life. We will do well to acknowledge and follow His pattern.

Heartily in Christ Jesus,

(Dado III)

Gene L. Jeffries, Th.D.
Springdale, Arkansas 72764
United States of America

“We never know that Christ is all we need until He becomes all that we have.” – Corrie ten Boom

Dear Grands,

Matthew 1:20-25, “…behold, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream, saying, ‘Joseph, son of David, do not be afraid to take Mary as your wife; for the Child who has been conceived in her is of the Holy Spirit.
21 She will bear a Son; and you shall call His name Jesus, for He will save His people from their sins.’
22 Now all this took place to fulfill what was spoken by the Lord through the prophet:
23 ‘BEHOLD, THE VIRGIN SHALL BE WITH CHILD AND SHALL BEAR A SON, AND THEY SHALL CALL HIS NAME IMMANUEL,’ which translated means, “GOD WITH US.”
24 And Joseph awoke from his sleep and did as the angel of the Lord commanded him, and took Mary as his wife,
25 but kept her a virgin until she gave birth to a Son; and he called His name Jesus.”

Isn’t it good to have children that behave? I’m thinking of Joseph, to whom the angel of the LORD appeared in the dream, giving him instructions regarding his wife, Mary, and the Child who would soon be known as “Jesus.”

Surely, the LORD is intentionally schooling parents in the manner that they should utilize in teach the Child He is putting under their parental care. In any event, Jesus was to have the best parents His Father in Heaven could give Him.

With the Heavenly instructions having been delivered to Joseph while he was sleeping, he then “awoke from his sleep and did as the angel of the LORD commanded him.” Since we have the Bible, the Word of God, we hardly need “sleep instructions” regarding anything. It’s all in His Word! Yet, we will surely be held accountable one day for not having conducted things as He has said in His Word.

How marvelous the LORD is to allow us to know ahead of time some of the things He is doing! Our responsibility is simply “to believe and obey.” His Word further says, “Trust in the LORD with all your heart and do not lean on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge Him, and He will make your paths straight” (Prov. 3:5-6). Thank you, LORD, for putting “Merry”
Into “Christmas!”

Heartily in Christ Jesus,

(Dado III)

Gene L. Jeffries, Th.D.
Springdale, Arkansas 72764
United States of America

“We never know that Christ is all we need until He becomes all that we have.” – Corrie ten Boom

Dear Grands,

Matthew 1:18-21, “Now the birth of Jesus Christ was as follows: when His mother Mary had been betrothed to Joseph, before they came together she was found to be with child by the Holy Spirit.
19 And Joseph her husband, being a righteous man and not wanting to disgrace her, planned to send her away secretly.
20 But when he had considered this, behold, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream, saying, “Joseph, son of David, do not be afraid to take Mary as your wife; for the Child who has been conceived in her is of the Holy Spirit.
21 “She will bear a Son; and you shall call His name Jesus, for He will save His people from their sins.”

Marriage was quite different in biblical times. Young people, of marriageable age and attracted to each other, needed parental consent, which included sufficient money to insure that they had substantial means to commence a life together.

The first stage of marriage in Jewish culture (what we today would call “engagement”) generally lasted for a year before the
couple were legally married and began living together as “man
and wife.” In Mary’s case, she discovered she was pregnant
prior to their physical union.

Joseph, a pure and righteous man, now faced a serious decision. Were he not to marry her prior to the Child’s birth, Mary would bear the Child without being legally married, and would cause everyone to believe that the Child had been born
in sin, outside of the bonds of a pure marriage.

Joseph had a tough decision. Were he not to marry the Child’s
mother, she would bear shame for the remainder of her life. On the other hand, he would have to put her away quietly and she would be forced to live the rest of her life alone with the Child.

Wisely, Joseph seriously considered what he should do. He did
not act hastily. And while he was considering the matter, “an
angel of the LORD appeared to him in a dream,” informing him that this whole matter was the plan and purpose of the LORD. In fact, Mary’s pregnancy was the work of the LORD. It was His plan that she was to bear a Son and His Name would be called “Jesus.” What’s more, the Child would ultimately be the means of saving His people from their sin.”

The Christmas story, as it is called, was all in the Hands of the
LORD! We often face decisions that seem impossible! What are we to do? We are best to wait on the LORD. Joseph could have made a mess of things by making a decision on his own. Instead, he simply “considered” the matter-at-hand, and the LORD interceded and ultimately provided salvation for all who would believe on Him.

Have you been saved? Have you truly trusted the LORD to forgive your sins and straighten all things out in your life? Simply repent; ask forgiveness for your sins and trust the LORD Jesus to forgive them. That’s why He came to earth! He came to rescue you and me from sin and make us His children. This could be your best CHRISTmas ever!

Heartily in Christ Jesus,

(Dado III)

Gene L. Jeffries, Th.D.
Springdale, Arkansas 72764
United States of America

“We never know that Christ is all we need until He becomes all that we have.” – Corrie ten Boom

Dear Grands,

Psalm 33:11-22, “The counsel of the LORD stands forever, the plans of His heart from generation to generation.
12 Blessed is the nation whose God is the LORD, the people whom He has chosen for His own inheritance.
13 The LORD looks from heaven; He sees all the sons of men;
14 From His dwelling place He looks out on all the inhabitants of the earth,
15 He who fashions the hearts of them all, He who understands all their works.
16 The king is not saved by a mighty army; a warrior is not delivered by great strength.
17 A horse is a false hope for victory; nor does it deliver anyone by its great strength.
18 Behold, the eye of the LORD is on those who fear Him, on those who hope for His lovingkindness,
19 To deliver their soul from death and to keep them alive in famine.
20 Our soul waits for the LORD; He is our help and our shield.
21 For our heart rejoices in Him, because we trust in His holy name.
22 Let Your lovingkindness, O LORD, be upon us, according as we have hoped in You.”

There is always a tendency for people to worry –for most people, that is. My father was phlegmatic. Nothing ever worried him –at least, nothing any of us could ever figure out. Mom was the worrier. Dad used to tease her, by saying, “Don’t tell me it doesn’t pay to worry. Nothing I ever worried about ever happened.”

The world in which we live today is a world that encourages worry. Wars and rumors of wars encourages concern; yet the
Psalmist says that everything lies in the Hands of Almighty God, even from generation to generation. Illnesses, financial difficulties, multitudes of concerns continually play heavily upon our minds and hearts.

Yet, the psalmist tells us not to worry because everything is cared for in the mighty Hands of our Heavenly Father. So, we
encounter illness. Is it wrong or a lack of faith in God to visit a
doctor? Certainly not! He has put many of the answers to our illnesses into the minds and training of doctors. Yet, with all of their training and skill, they have what they have because of the LORD!

Everything of which we have need lies in the power of the LORD! We need only to commit ourselves to Him and trust that
He will care for us as He promised. There is absolutely nothing that He cannot do for those who trust Him. “Our soul waits for the LORD; He is our help and our shield” (v. 20). So learn to lean
on Jesus. “Your heart will rejoice in Him!” God bless you!

Heartily in Christ Jesus,

(Dado III)

Gene L. Jeffries, Th.D.
Springdale, Arkansas 72764
United States of America

“We never know that Christ is all we need until He becomes all that we have.” – Corrie ten Boom