The Grands Letter

Dear Grands,

Luke 2:36-40, “And there was a prophetess, Anna the daughter of Phanuel, of the tribe of Asher. She was advanced in years, having lived with a husband seven years after her marriage,

37 and then as a widow to the age of eighty-four. And she never left the temple, serving night and day with fastings and prayers.

38 And at that very moment she came up and began giving thanks to God, and continued to speak of Him to all those who were looking for the redemption of Jerusalem.

39 And when they had performed everything according to the Law of the Lord, they returned to Galilee, to their own city of Nazareth.

40 And the Child continued to grow and become strong, increasing in wisdom; and the grace of God was upon Him.”

There are indeed difficulties that come with old age. Thoughts don’t always come as quickly, and bodies tire more easily. Still, such disadvantages are compensated by the knowledge of what to do in tyring circumstances and the uplifting memories of joyful things of the past. Anna is mentioned only once in the Scriptures, but she serves well as a model for both men and women in the days that followed her.

She had been married for seven years, and then lived as a widow for 84 years. Allowing that she was married at age 13 (not an unusual marriagable age for a girl in biblical times), she would have been 104 at the time she saw the Christ-Child. Yet, with the years of age upon her, she had not ceased to be active in the service of the LORD. It’s vital for all of us to remain active in the things of the LORD. We cannot do all of the things we once did, but we can pray and love and laugh and witness to the praise of His glory! We have knowledge and wisdom that younger people often lack.

The problems of youth today are staggering! Of course, we had problems in our younger days. There have always been crimes and evil deeds in the minds and hearts of young people. But the advancement of media and electronics seem to have exacerbated the opportunities for crime. Youth today have slipped the reigns of purity, as each generation has increasingly lacked the parental training needed for a clean, productive and fruitful life.

Where are the Annas today? Where are those who live constructively and pray earnestly for children, and grandchildren? They are sorely needed for the rescue of youth from the slippery slopes of life. Where are the mothers and fathers –yes, and grand-parents—who pave the way with spiritual values from their own lives? Such is left for those of us who faithfully await the Coming of our LORD Jesus Christ!

Anna laid out the pattern for Joseph and Mary when she continued to praise the LORD and witness to those around her. Jesus’ parents continued to serve the LORD in the proper rearing of the Child. And He, in turn, grew physically strong and increased in spiritual wisdom, as the grace of the LORD infused His young life.

Isn’t that what all parents should want for their children? “As the twig is bent, so is the tree inclined.” Come on, you Annas! It’s not too late. But time is swiftly running out.

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 2:25-39, “And behold, there was a man in Jerusalem whose name was Simeon; and this man was righteous and devout, looking for the consolation of Israel; and the Holy Spirit was upon him.

26 And it had been revealed to him by the Holy Spirit that he would not see death before he had seen the Lord’s Christ.

27 And he came in the Spirit into the temple; and when the parents brought in the child Jesus, to carry out for Him the custom of the Law,

28 then he took Him into his arms, and blessed God, and said,

29 ‘Now Lord, Thou dost let Thy bond-servant depart In peace, according to Thy word;

30 For my eyes have seen Thy salvation,

31 Which Thou hast prepared in the presence of all peoples,

32 A light of revelation to the Gentiles, And the glory of Thy people Israel.’

33 And His father and mother were amazed at the things which were being said about Him.

34 And Simeon blessed them, and said to Mary His mother, ‘Behold, this Child is appointed for the fall and rise of many in Israel, and for a sign to be opposed–

35 and a sword will pierce even your own soul– to the end that thoughts from many hearts may be revealed.’”

Most of us have looked into the face of a newly born child and wondered what he would become, what would be the characteristics he would reveal –characteristics of his parents, his grandparents. With Simeon,

it was far more. The LORD had revealed to him that he would not die until he had seen the LORD’s Christ.

I knew a man, a preacher, who was so infirmed that he could not stand as he preached. He sat on a stool in the face of his congregation as he declared the Word of the LORD whom he served. I heard him say that he had been assured of the LORD that he would live to see his children’s children. He cited Psalm 128:6, “Indeed, may you see your children’s children…” And he did live to see them.

Simon stood, as it were, on the precipice of history, as he announced the presence of the Savior that the Father had prepared for all people. The Child was destined to be the light of the Gentiles and the glory of Israel. Yet, His ministry would be met with defiance, just as it continues to be in our own day. He is the rock over which many fall. Still, He is also the rock on which many will rise. He is the Light that has come to show salvation to all mankind.

Yet, in the midst of His invaluable ministry, His own life will suffer and the heart of His mother will be pierced. What anguish troubles a mother’s heart can only be known by mothers. As one writer says, “In such a world as this there can be no victory without conflict, no achieivement without strenuous effort, no joy without pain, no perfection except through suffering.” Yet, He prevailed to the very end. And so must we! For those who followed closely with Him, “…rejoiced that they had been considered worthy to suffer shame (dishonor, ridicule) for His name” (Acts 5:41). And so must we! For “…the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall (one day) be revealed in us” (Rom. 8:18).

Prayerfully and lovingly 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 2:21-24, “And when eight days were completed before His circumcision, His name was then called Jesus, the name given by the angel before He was conceived in the womb.

22 And when the days for their purification according to the law of Moses were completed, they brought Him up to Jerusalem to present Him to the Lord

23 (as it is written in the Law of the Lord, ‘Every first-born male that opens the womb shall be called holy to the Lord ‘),

24 and to offer a sacrifice according to what was said in the Law of the Lord, ‘A pair of turtledoves, or two young pigeons.’”

Being born male and Jewish in ancient times required three ceremonies: Circumcision, the Redemption of the First-born, and Purification after childbirth. A lot could be said here about these factors, but it is important not to overlook that behind all of these requirements is the conviction that every child is a gift from God. The Stoic philosophers used to say that “a child is not given to the parents, only loaned’; and of all the

gifts one might receive from God, none is so precious as the gift of a child.

In offering the required sacrifice, Mary and Joseph revealed their poverty. Had they been wealthy, they would have brought a lamb; but being poor, they were only required to bring either two turtledoves, or two young pidgeons. Jesus was born under the Law, and met all the legal requirements. The Father provided

for impoverished parents. Jesus Himself later said, “The poor you always have with you…” (Mark 14:7). Those without wealth are as much the concern of the LORD as are those with wealth. The LORD places all of us where we are best fitted for His service and His glory. We should never despair of being poor. Instead, we should rejoice that we are His and are ever and always under His protective care.

Parents today should recognize their children as gifts from the LORD, and should school them well in His Word. Parents should live a godly example before their children. I spoke recently with a woman, who has a wayward son. While she recognizes that her son has strayed from the things of the LORD, she is not fully aware that her own misgivings have allowed, if not encouraged, her son’s waywardness. Not all children with wayward parents turn out to be wayward themselves. Yet, as Alexander Pope once said, “As the twig is bent, so is the tree inclined.” Parents must accept their failures in parenting and should repent before the LORD.

In the final analysis, no child can blame his parents for his own evil involvements. The most evil of men can come to know the LORD by simply trusting Him to forgive their own sin. Blaming one’s parents for trials and temptations will not stand before God. Peter tells us that the LORD keeps “…the unrighteous under punishment for the day of judgment, and especially those who indulge the flesh in its corrupt desires and despise authority” (2 Pet. 2:9-10). No, none of us can do wrong and get by. So, if you have sins or even an inclination toward doing wrong, you had best clean up your act. God will not forget, but He will forgive.

You are ever in our thoughts and prayers,

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 2:15-20, “And it came about when the angels had gone away from them into heaven, that the shepherds began saying to one another, ‘Let us go straight to Bethlehem then, and see this thing that has happened which the Lord has made known to us.’

16 And they came in haste and found their way to Mary and Joseph, and the Baby as He lay in the manger.

17 And when they had seen this, they made known the statement which had been told them about this Child.

18 And all who heard it wondered at the things which were told them by the shepherds.

19 But Mary treasured up all these things, pondering them in her heart.

20 And the shepherds went back, glorifying and praising God for all that they had heard and seen, just as had been told them.”

What would you do if angels suddenly physically appeared to you and scared you out of your wits? The tendency might be to run and hide somewhere. But shepherds in New Testament times were used to preditors coming after their sheep, so they had developed courage to stand and protect what they were guarding. The more battles we face in life, the stronger we become in facing and defending them.

What is strange here is that the angelic message so superseded everything, that the shepherds all left the sheep they were tending and rushed into Bethlehem to find the Baby of whom the angels spoke. Some things are more important than others, and it’s imperative that we assess what is truly important and seel it.

Every day we face decisions. We have only so much time that we have to decide what things are more important and attend to them. How do you spend your time? What do you read? and how much? Are you more concerned for truth or frivolous things? What you seek is what is most important to you. Think about it.

The old addage, “Seeing is believing” relates well to those shepherds. What the angel had said was indeed true; so the shepherds told everyone they saw about all that had happened –especially, about the Child — who He was and how He had miraculously been born without and earthly father! Never before in human history had such a phenomenal event occurred! The shepherds established a pattern for all who have heard of this Child. We are responsible to share Him and His message with everyone!

Important in this passage is the use of the word “baby” –brephos! I will remind you of this when we come to the Magi (wise men) and their discovery of the Child.

Mothers –true mothers—think deeply about events in their lives. They notice and retain thoughts about their children that fathers often miss. Mary was no different. She pondered and mulled over everything that had happened, and no doubt speculated about the future of her Child and what He would eventually become.

Mothers are the key to their childrens’ learning and guidance –factors that will influence their ultimate behavior.

The shepherds spread the word about this newborn Child, but they returned to their responsibilities with their sheep. Not everyone who comes to experience Jesus needs to become a preacher or a missionary. He simply needs to share the story of salvation with others. The LORD has placed each of us in workplaces where we touch the lives that pastors and full-time Christian workers could never reach. Thus, we become His spokesmen in those areas of life. Our lives, our conversation, our humor display love and concern for others, and they attract others as “different.” That’s the first step in witnessing, just being Christ-like! Examine your life, your interests, your time, your conversations, your concerns. Just remember: “Missions is a word. It can mean across the oceans of the world or across the street from where you live.”

We love and pray for you daily,

Nana & Dado III

P. S. Rose Marie has received another unit of blood and is recovering nicely. We would deeply appreciate

your remembrance of her in your prayers. Her hospital rooms have become her places of witness.

And while we pray earnestly for her recovery, we rejoice in the opportunities He has given us to share

Jesus with doctors, nurses, cleaning women, and all who enter her space. Amen!

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 2:6-14, “And it came about that while they were there, the days were completed for her to give birth.

7 And she gave birth to her first-born son; and she wrapped Him in cloths, and laid Him in a manger, because there was no room for them in the inn.

8 And in the same region there were some shepherds staying out in the fields, and keeping watch over their flock by night.

9 And an angel of the Lord suddenly stood before them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them; and they were terribly frightened.

10 And the angel said to them, ‘Do not be afraid; for behold, I bring you good news of a great joy which shall be for all the people;

11 for today in the city of David there has been born for you a Savior, who is Christ the Lord.

12 ‘And this will be a sign for you: you will find a baby wrapped in cloths, and lying in a manger.’

13 And suddenly there appeared with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God, and saying,

14 ‘Glory to God in the highest, And on earth peace among men with whom He is pleased.’”

It’s a terrible experience to travel far, been worn out, and then find that every place of rest had been taken. You have to settle for whatever you can get. That’s exactly what happened to Joseph and Mary. Only, with them it was worse because she was about to give birth to her first-born Son. A cattle stall was where they were quartered and the new-born Child was wrapped in strips of cloth and laid in the feeding trough. As there was no proper room for them, there is no room for Him in the hearts of many people today.

Interesting, too, is the fact that shepherds were keeping watch over sheep –sheep that were destined to be sacrifices in the Temple, a foreshadowing of the Child’s destiny as His Father’s own sacrifice for man’s sin.

The Angel of the LORD suddenly appeared and the shepherds were scared out of their wits! Yet, they were

calmed by the Angel, who brought them historic Good News of the Savior’s birth. The Angel gave them all the information they needed to find the Savior. So it is today. The Scriptures provide all the information one needs to come to know Him. That’s why Bible reading and study are so important.

Then a multitude of heavenly host appeared, praising God and declaring glory to Him! What all that heavenly host knew, we do not know. It was sufficient that they were praising the LORD for what they did know. We don’t have to know the reason for everything that transpires in our lives; we just need to keep praising the LORD, knowing that it is His will that the Earth He created might know peace –“peace, through the blood of His Cross” (Col. 1:20). So, don’t despair, whatever comes your way. Just trust that your Heavenly Faither knows, and that He is always doing what is best for you.

We love and pray for you all,

Nana & Dado III

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.”