by John Carpenter | Sep 16, 2023 | Devotional
“For Jacob, my servant’s sake – and Israel, mine elect – I have even called thee by thy name. I have surnamed thee – though thou hast not known me. (5) I am the Lord – and there is none else – there is no God beside me! I girded thee – though thou hast not known me. (6) That they may know from the rising of the sun – and from the west – that there is none beside me! I am the Lord – and there is none else. (7) I form the light – and create darkness. I make peace – and create evil. I the Lord do all these things!” [Is.45:4-7]
“Then Jesus sent the multitude away and went into the house: and His disciples came unto Him saying, Declare unto us the parable of the tares of the field. (37) He answered and said unto them – He that soweth the good seed is the Son of man. (38) The field is the world. The good seed are the children of the Kingdom – but the tares are the children of the wicked one. (39) The enemy that sowed them is the devil. The harvest is the end of the world – and the reapers are the angels. (40) As therefore the tares are gathered and burned in the fire – so shall it be in the end of the world. (41) The Son of man shall send forth His angels and they shall gather out of His Kingdom all things that offend and them which do iniquity (42) and shall cast them into a furnace of fire – there shall be wailing and gnashing of teeth. (43) Then shall the righteous shine forth as the sun in the Kingdom of their Father. Who hath ears to hear – let him hear.” [Mt.13:36-43]
The Lord God, Himself, declares His absolute sovereign control over all things without exception! And this is especially true where His elect-to-eternal salvation is concerned. The Isaiah passage is a true and powerfully profound portion of holy scripture! Our omniscient God has known – and loved – His elect before they have ever come – via the Word of the Truth of the gospel of His glory only — to know and love Him as being their Savior. When He says, “I girded thee, though thou hast not known me” – the Hebrew word used for “girded” is referring specifically of having our loins girt about with a belt. This points us directly to the Truth of the Word of God concerning our Lord Jesus Christ (see: Eph.6:14). When the quickening and awakening of our regeneration occurs and we – by the Holy Spirit of grace – “come unto the knowledge of the Truth”, then we know without a shadow of a doubt – from the rising to the setting of the sun – that He, and He alone is our Lord God! And, literally everything – even in and throughout our whole lives – is under His total control! Through every adversity and trial that this fallen-in-sin world may send into our lives – the Spirit of the Lord of our life continues to communicate unto us that our soul’s eternal salvation is being safely kept and secured under His almighty and sovereign care.
Why? Even because we are the – “Seed” – “the children” of His eternal Kingdom! And, through His Word and His Spirit – He continually communicates with us – i.e. bears witness with our spirit – that this is indeed true! He planted us in this world for Him to be sent here to rescue us from the hopeless captivity to our sin – which He has done! Praise His all glorious Name!
The truth concerning Jacob being God’s elect from the womb (see: Rom.9:10-13) – is the truth concerning all of God’s elect-unto-eternal salvation. God in His grace has known us – and loved us (see: Jer.31:3) – and girded us in this Truth (which is Christ Jesus) before we have ever even come to know and realize it. For it is in the communication (by the Holy Spirit through the Holy Word of Truth of the report of the pure gospel message) that comes the creation of the event of finally hearing with saving understanding this gospel report and personal announcement. Rom.10:17> “So then – faith cometh by hearing – and hearing by the Word of God.”
For Christ’s Glory Only!
John Carpenter
by John Carpenter | Sep 16, 2023 | Camp News
Well once again we enter into autumn – a most pleasant season of the year! The time of the turning of the colors of the leaves of the trees. The cooling down of the daily temperatures from the hot torrid summer nights and days. The campground looks just beautiful! What a wonderful artist our sovereign Lord, the Creator, truly is!
Dear ones, the Lord has been – and is — unfolding before us historical truths concerning the mystery of iniquity that has been going on behind the scenes – out of our sight – for centuries! The world of the Wicked One (see: 2 Co.4:4) filled with his horrible deeds is being exposed for what it truly is by the holy Light of our Lord God. The appalling evil hatred of Satan towards children has been throughout the whole history of fallen-in-sin humanity always active and present in every generation! This truth has become obvious! We need to be in earnest prayer for the boys and girls of our present day and time! Please continue to be faithful to – not forget – to pray for Del-Haven. Pray for our sovereign Lord God to lead us – to be our “Great Shepherd” – and protect us (and all the children He has sent – or will send – through our camp program) from “the wiles of the devil” – as only He can do! Praise His Wonderful Name!
In these perilous days — cell phones, computers, and Artificial Intelligence – have been weaponized to bombard everyone – adults and children — with mind controlling – thought shaping – and character developing sinful affectations! Our children are more than ever in need of a safe environment that is saturated with the love of God and the gracious influence of His Holy Spirit and hearing the proclamation of the pure truth of the Gospel of the Glory, only, of the Lord Jesus Christ! Please prayerfully seek – with us – from the Lord – for this to come to pass! Praise His Name – He has written from Ps.37:4-5> “Delight thyself also in the Lord – and He shall give thee the desires of thine heart. (5) Commit thy way unto the Lord – Trust also in Him – and He shall bring it to pass.”
May God richly bless you for your faithful, prayerful support! We love and pray for you.
“But God be thanked, that ye were the servants of sin,
but ye obeyed from the heart that form of doctrine
unto which ye were delivered.
Being then made free from sin —
ye became the servants of righteousness.”
— Romans 6:17-18
by John Carpenter | Aug 14, 2023 | Devotional
“Another parable put He forth unto them, saying: The Kingdom of heaven is likened unto a man which sowed good seed in His field (25) but while men slept – His enemy came and sowed tares among the wheat – and went his way. (26) But when the blade was sprung up and brought forth fruit – then appeared the tares also. (27) So the servants of the householder came and said unto Him Sir. Didst not thou sow good seed in thy field(?) – from whence then hath it tares? (28) But He said unto them: An enemy hath done this! The servants said unto Him: Wilt thou then that we go and gather them up? (29) but He said: Nay, lest while ye gather up the tares – ye root up also the wheat with them. (30) Let both grow together until the harvest – and in the time of harvest I will say to the reapers – gather ye together first the tares – bind them in bundles to burn them – but gather the wheat into my barn.” [Mt.13:24-30; see also Mt.13:37-40]
“And I will put enmity between thee and the woman, and between thy seed and her seed; He shall bruise thy head, and thou shalt bruise His heel.” [Ge.3:15]
“For the children – being not yet born – neither having done any good or evil – that the purpose of God according to election might stand – not of works – but of Him that calleth – (12) it was said unto her: ‘The elder shall serve the younger.’ (13) As it is written: ‘Jacob have I loved, but Esau I hated’. [Ro.9:11-13]
Our absolutely sovereign God’s pure gospel doctrinal truth concerning His eternal election unto salvation – and in regards to who among all of fallen humanity will be His eternally saved ones – all boils down to being one of 2 seeds. And, it is ultimately and totally dependent upon God – and God alone — as to who His “Elect Seed” truly are!
From the parable of Jesus referred to in the Mt.13 passage – all of us are either the one or the other. We are either “wheat” or “tares” — seed sown by the Savior – or, seed sown by the Serpent. From the Ge.3 passage we learn the Truth that we are either the direct progeny of the Serpent or the predestined progeny [see: Eph.1:5] of the Savior (who happens to be Jesus – the “Seed” – being referred to as “the Seed of the woman”). This same Pure-gospel-of-God’s-grace-Truth is being directly alluded from the Ro.9 text. For it refers to the two different origins of the seeds specifically related to the twin boys – Jacob (the Loved by God) and Esau (the hated by God) – when it descriptively declares the phrase: “that the purpose of God according to election might stand, not of works, but of Him that calleth”! All of this is very conclusive. From God’s perfect perspective – these three portions of the Word of God relate all of fallen mankind down to being either one of the seeds of the Savior – or, one of the seeds of the Serpent.
The apostle Peter also alludes to this truth when he descriptively declares from 1Pe.1:18-22 concerning all of God’s eternally redeemed ones. For, based upon the fact of our foreordained experience – in our coming to true faith in the Lord Jesus Christ – he undauntingly states of God’s redeemed ones from 1Pe.1:23-25 that they have been “…born again – not of corruptible seed, but of incorruptible – by the Word of God – which liveth and abideth for ever. (24) For all flesh is as grass – and all the glory of man – as the flower of grass. The grass withereth and the flower thereof falleth away (25) But the Word of the Lord endureth forever. And this it the Word – which by the gospel is (lit.) being preached unto you.” Praise the Holy Name of our Lord! Hence, God’s elect all have a true testimony of personal regeneration rooted firmly in the Holy Word of God.
For Christ’s Glory Only! — John Carpenter
by John Carpenter | Aug 14, 2023 | Camp News
Well dear ones, we have concluded our 2023 out–of–school camp season – having been blessed in doing a ministry of Family Camp days. The response from the families has been wonderful! They have expressed genuine hopefulness that we continue to include this alternate method of ministry on our summer schedule. Please be in prayer with us as we seek the Lord’s will in this matter.
Also, please be in prayer for the Lord’s choice in providing an adequate staff — so that we may be able to resume regular camp sessions. A real obstacle is the reality of the economic and cultural impact that our present times are experiencing. Especially since we all are volunteers. This means, therefore, no one earns a worldly living from Del-Haven. Please pray with us that our Lord will draw to us – or lead us to – 5 male and 5 female staff leaders. Please pray that they be truly awakened and quickened by the Truth of God’s gospel of His grace – so that they may be able to serve Him in staffing our respective summer camps for 2024.
Our schedule of camps typically follow according to the age of the campers. We have 2 weeks of camps for 6-8 yr. olds – 2 weeks of camps for 9-12 yr. old boys – and 2 weeks of camps for 9-12 yr. old girls. Our camp week begins on Monday and ends on Thursday. We would naturally need some male and female staff during the 6-8 yr. old weeks of camp with both boys and girls.
If you know of any prospective staff helpers – we encourage you to go to our website from where you can print out an application to fill out and get to us for review. We will provide complete training in regards to our entire camp program – which needs to be done in advance – which we can then schedule accordingly. The website will also provide information about Del-Haven as to where we stand Biblically – and our complete history. If you know of any potential candidates please have them to pray and seek the Lord concerning the possibility of their service – for Him – with us. We thank and praise the Lord for all your assistance in this much needed matter.
We thank all of you – that have provided for us your email address, or signed up on our website – to receive our monthly prayer/newsletter via email – rather than by regular postal delivery. That will go a long way to helping us to cut our monthly expenses to a more manageable amount. However, as we have said before – if you wish to continue to receive a newsletter through the mail – we will continue to send one to you as you request. Please remember to pray with us in this ongoing worldly reality. We truly do thank our Savior for your faithful – prayerful and financial – support!
“Having made known unto us the mystery ot His will,
according to His good pleasure which He hath
purposed in Himself.
That in the dispensation of the fulness of times He might gather together
in One – all things in Christ – both which are in
heaven,
and which are on earth;
even in Him – in whom also we have obtained an
inheritance –
being predestined according to the purpose of Him
who worketh all things after the counsel –
of His own will…” [Eph.1:9-11]
(Image by wirestock on Freepik)
by John Carpenter | Jul 19, 2023 | Camp News
Well, dear ones, our 2023 camp season has been filled up with family camp days — which means that our ministry has reflected a little different complexion than just our foundational camp weeks with the children. We have experienced some very positive results and feedback from the families that have participated this year. Everyone seems delighted with what we are doing and what they are experiencing. Please continue to be in prayer that the Lord would be glorified in this additional ministry opportunity as we rebuild our summer camp program for the children.
PRAYING TO FILL OUR STAFFING NEEDS
Please continue to be in prayer for our staff needs. We are seeking from the Lord five male and five female staff workers — truly motivated by the Holy Spirit — with a desire to declare what “great things the Lord hath done” in their own personal lives. We want those whom God has groomed to serve Him — in touching the lives of the children that He sends to Del-Haven.
Here on our Del-Haven website, you can submit an online application for these crucial volunteer staff positions, and also submit information on camper candidates. It is our prayer that the Lord will lead some to us through this means. Maybe He will use some of you to help us in this way. Please pray with us about this urgent need.
We also want to remind everyone that we plan to stop sending out our monthly newsletter by mail and start sending them out by email to help defray our mailing costs. If you want to continue to receive our latest camp news and devotional, please go to our Homepage to sign up for email delivery. Also, if you have time, please reacquaint yourself with our content and specifically our mission statement and the scriptural foundation that reflects the Word of the personal testimony of this ministry which God has sustained for over seven decades.
Lastly, we want to thank all of you who have been led to send your financial support. You would be surprised to see how we continually witness the faithfulness of the Lord in His allowing us to meet each month’s expenses and bills. It is miraculous! We give Him all the thanks, praise and glory — for all of you!
