The Grands Letter

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

Dear Grands,

Psalm 122:1-9, “I was glad when they said to me, ‘Let us go to the house of the LORD.’
2 Our feet are standing within your gates, O Jerusalem,
3 Jerusalem, that is built as a city that is compact together;
4 To which the tribes go up, even the tribes of the LORD– an ordinance for Israel– to give thanks to the name of the LORD.
5 For their thrones were set for judgment, the thrones of the house of David.
6 Pray for the peace of Jerusalem: ‘May they prosper who love you.
7 ‘May peace be within your walls, and prosperity within your palaces.’
8 For the sake of my brothers and my friends, I will now say, “May peace be within you.”
9 For the sake of the house of the LORD our God, I will seek your good.”

If there is anything exciting about visiting another country, it is visiting Jerusalem! I remember well my first visit. I spent the night in an area so filled with history that I thought I’d never go to sleep. Truly, my “feet were…within the gates of Jerusalem.”

Yet, if there were ever a time we needed to “pray for the peace of Jerusalem,” it is today. The psalmist was “on target” when he wrote, “May they prosper who love you. May peace be within your walls, and prosperity within your palaces.” It was and is a solemn prayer that is as relevant for today as it was for Old and New Testament times.

The Land currently occupied by the Israeli people belongs to Israel. All land is the LORD’s land, and it is His to give as He wishes. The Land that is today disputed was conveyed to Israel thousands of years ago; and He has never rescinded it!

The multiple atrocities that have been perpetrated by Hamas against Israel are so utterly egregious that the very Heart of our LORD Himself must be painfully broken! The Israelis need and deserve our prayerful attention and help.

“Pray for the peace of Jerusalem:
‘May they prosper who love 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

Dear Grands,

Genesis 25:21-28, “Isaac prayed to the LORD on behalf of his wife, because she was barren; and the LORD answered him and Rebekah his wife conceived.
22 But the children struggled together within her; and she said, “If it is so, why then am I this way?” So she went to inquire of the LORD.
23 The LORD said to her, “Two nations are in your womb; and two peoples will be separated from your body; and one people shall be stronger than the other; and the older shall serve the younger.”
24 When her days to be delivered were fulfilled, behold, there were twins in her womb.
25 Now the first came forth red, all over like a hairy garment; and they named him Esau.
26 Afterward his brother came forth with his hand holding on to Esau’s heel, so his name was called Jacob; and Isaac was sixty years old when she gave birth to them.
27 When the boys grew up, Esau became a skillful hunter, a man of the field, but Jacob was a peaceful man, living in tents.”

It’s an account you have doubtlessly read numerous times. Strangely
enough, the twin boys were always known as “Jacob and Esau,” despite the fact that Esau was the elder of the two. Nor did they get along, as it is with other twins we often know.

Rebekah, the mother, favoring Jacob, urged him to deceive Esau with regard to the family birthright. Time passes and Jacob learns that Esau is coming his way. Understandably, Jacob fears a confrontation with Esau and decides to share his wealth in lieu of engaging in a brotherly battle.

It’s unfortunate, but many families over the years have experienced
similar disfunctions. Some overcome negative experiences in their pasts; others, unfortunately, do not. Israel itself struggles today against her adversaries, despite the fact that the LORD has historically deeded land specifically to Israel.

The very best dissertation I have ever encountered on Israel’s right to
possess the land she currently occupies –including Gaza—is the
timely message by Dr. David Jeremiah, entitled, “When America Would Turn Her Back On Israel.” It is on YouTube, and I urgently
encourage you to view it!

“Pray for the peace of Jerusalem: ‘May they
prosper who love you’” (Psalm 122:6).

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