Do you know that Pilate, the man who was going to give the order to put Jesus to death, marveled at Jesus’ reactions to his upcoming death. (Mark 15:5) The centurion, the man whose job it is to stand at the foot of the cross, said, “Truly this man was the Son of God?”. (Mark 15:39) As we read through the Jesus’ death and resurrection story in all four Gospels last night, it was interesting to see which details are talked about by each writer. Even the Pharisees remembered that Jesus said that he would arise after three days, so they had a plan to secure the tomb and thought of a story to tell just in case their disciples came to take away the body…. to make it seem like Jesus was the true Messiah. (Matthew 27:63,64) It is interesting that Jesus’ disciples had a hard time believing that He would die and rise again in 3 days, yet those who didn’t have as much contact with Him had no trouble observing Jesus and understanding His plan. It seems like the followers of Jesus were just expecting Him to rule, as a King, over the world and there wasn’t anything else that could come close to this perfect plan.
This all makes us wonder why it is we get so stuck thinking that God is going to work something out in a certain way. We go about life expecting certain things from God. Yet He has something completely different in mind that is even more amazing. It is hard sometimes, but we can enjoy life and what God has for us more if we just pray and watch and see how God works it out. His timing and His plan are always the best and usually they are way outside our understanding and comprehension. Because of Jesus death on the cross for our sins, He sent the Holy Spirit to live inside each one of us. But if He had just become King then we wouldn’t have the privilege of such an intimate relationship with our Savior. And we also have the privilege of being a part of the work God is doing around the world, to bring Glory to Himself. As we walk with God each day and allow the Holy Spirit to direct and guide us, God is using us to accomplish His greater purpose. Many times we have no idea what the Big Picture is as God puts together all the details of years. But it is wonderful to be a part of this and get to watch and see God work as He allows us to witness and understand just a small part of what He is doing.
Please pray for Jacob this week as he takes his final evaluation for Language and Culture study. It has been a great opportunity to have time to study Pidgin English and get to know the Bena people in the village and some of what their culture involves. And now he is excited to join Pete and our German Interns in the workshop as they get the campus ready for our May/June Interface team to arrive! Beth is busy making menus, ordering food and figuring out portions for the summer programs. She has also been having a lot of fun as she tries to track down all our Alumni, via Facebook, and find out what they are up to these days. There are 1561 people that have come through Interface and it is incredible and so encouraging to hear stories from them about how God has used Interface to direct their lives to bring Glory to Him.
Praises!
– A restful long Easter weekend to focus on our Amazing God!
– Our catering event for the NTM Center’s conference went very well! Beth was so happy to have a walk-in cooler again!!!
– Wisdom, strength and energy that God continues to give as we go about each day here in PNG… you never know what will come up…
– Completion of Jacob’s language and culture study this week.
– Opportunity to hear from some of our Interface Alumni and be encouraged by how God has used Interface in their lives!
– Jack and Janie will arrive soon – new addition to our staff!!
– Jason and Shannon and family will join our teaching staff for the May/June Interface program!
– Great team of co-workers!
– God’s faithfulness and perfect plan for His children! God’s provision for our needs moment by moment. God’s amazing blessings!
– Wonderful friends and family who are always praying and supporting us.
– Hanging out together every day as a couple!
Prayer:
– That God would grow us closer together and closer to Him each day.
– Interface students, that God give safety in the 2 days of travel, prepare them for what He has to teach them.
– Wisdom, guidance and strength for us as a staff as we prepare for the summer teams arrival and walk with God each day as He prompts us in our ministries with each other and the students.
-Jack and Janie’s visas will be approved quickly!
-Pray for Jacob this week as he takes his final Language and Culture evaluation.
– Jacob as he starts work again in the shop and all that that entails.
– Wisdom and guidance for Beth as she thinks through the next 4 months of menus, food orders, food portions and work schedules for the nationals and everyone else who comes to help in the kitchen.
– God to raise up more students for our July/August Interface team. July – August
– Continued Team unity as the Rich & Dawn and family leave for Home Assignment, Jack & Janie arrive and jason & Shannon and family come to help out.
– Continued peace among the villages.
– New Staff to join our team.
– Increase in monthly financial support. We only need 16 people to give $50 a month OR 32 people to give $25 a month to reach our recommended monthly support level.
– Rich and Dawn and family as they leave for their home assignment and adjust to life at home. The Bena believers to continue to walk with God while the Fosters are away.
– Heti, a Bena believer, as he teaches through the Bible to present the Gospel soon.
– Bena believers – desire to know God more!
– God would enable us to live for Him moment by moment by doing ALL things through Him and nothing at all in own strength.
“When I think of the wisdom and scope of God’s plan, I fall to my knees and pray to the Father, the Creator of everything in heaven and on earth. I pray that from his glorious unlimited resources he will give you mighty inner strength through his Holy Spirit. And I pray that Christ will be more and more at home in your hearts as you trust in him. May your roots go down deep into the soil of God’s marvelous love. And may you have the power to understand, as all God’s people should, how wide, how long, how high and how deep his love really is. May you experience the love of Christ, through it is so great you will never fully understand it. Then you will be filled with the fullness of life and power that comes from God. Now glory be to God! By his mighty power at work within us, he is able to accomplish infinitely more than we would ever dare to ask or hope. May he be given glory in the church and in Christ Jesus forever and ever through endless ages. Amen.” Ephesians 4:14-21
Because of His Love and Grace,
Jacob and Beth Devine
“The inter-workings of the heart are both as complicated and simple as the sunrise, so of these I cannot explain, I only know that the most difficult and most treasured days of my life were spent on our side trip from Interface. I am forever grateful.”
Summer 2006 Interface team member
(Headed to South Africa with another ITF teammate to work with SIM)
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