by John Carpenter | May 22, 2023 | Devotional
“But our God is in the heavens: He hath done whatsoever He hath pleased!” [Ps,115:3] “Whatsoever the Lord pleased, that did He in heaven and in earth – in the seas, and all the deep places.” [Ps.135:6] “For in Him we live and move and have our being…” [Ac.17:28] “Jesus answered and said unto them: This is the work of God – that ye believe on Him whom He hath sent.” [Jn.6:29] “And when the Gentiles heard this – they were glad and glorified the Word of the Lord – and as many as were ordained to eternal life – believed!” [Ac.13:48] “For of Him – and through Him – and to Him — are all things – to whom be glory forever. Amen.” [Ro.11:36] “The Spirit itself beareth witness with our spirit – that we are (the) children of God…” [Ro.8:16]
Each of these texts declare the absolute and total Sovereignty of God over absolutely all things throughout absolutely all of our lives! From the Old Testament it is written from Is.46:9-10 that God tells us: “Remember the former things of old – for I am God and there is none else I am God and there is none like me! (10) Declaring the end from the beginning – and from ancient times the things that are not yet done – saying – my counsel shall stand and I will do all my pleasure!”
Then in the New Testament from Rev.22:13 Jesus – the eternal Son of God incarnated into being the eternal Son of man descriptively declares of Himself: “I am Alpha and Omega – the beginning and the end – the first and the last!” In fact, the Ro.11:36 text above is referring specifically of Him as well — when it speaks of all things in this fallen world of fallen men – and, He is the one who gets all the glory if any of them are saved from their sins! Once again – it’s all Christ in regards to absolutely all that pertains to our eternal salvation.
The Holy Spirit inspired apostle wrote in 1Co.2:12-13 these words: “Now we (have) received – not the spirit of the world – but the Spirit which is of God – that we might know the things that are freely given to us of God. (13) Which things we speak – not in words which man’s wisdom teacheth – but (in) which the Holy Spirit teacheth – comparing spiritual things with spiritual.”
All of this alludes directly to what Jesus teaches us from Jn.16:12-13> “I have yet many things to say unto you, but ye cannot bear them now. (13) Howbeit when He – the Spirit of the Truth is come, He shall not speak of Himself – but whatever He shall hear (that) shall He speak: and He will show [or, more lit. “announce to”] you things to come. (14) He shall glorify me – for He shall receive of mine – and shall show [or, more lit. “announce it”] unto you. (15) All things that the Father hath are mine – therefore said I that He [the Holy Spirit] shall take of mine, and shall show it [or, more lit. “shall announce it”] unto you!”
In other words, dear ones, our absolutely Sovereign-over-all-things Triune God has purposed and decreed – from His vantage point (which is eternity) – everything that pertains to our eternal Salvation! And, it is the mighty work of the Spirit of God to bear testimony unto us – to unfold to us – we, who are truly His children – all the pertinent things within our capacity to understand — while we are still in this world – that pertain to our having been eternally saved! And, Praise His Name, He unfolds it for us – from and through His wonderful magnanimous Word! Ro.10:17 tells us that true and saving “Faith – cometh by hearing – and hearing by the Word of God!” Amen.
For Christ’s Glory Only! – John Carpenter
by John Carpenter | Apr 15, 2023 | Camp News
As we draw nearer and nearer to the kick off of our camping season we are ever mindful of all that needs to done. The upkeep of the campground and the different jobs of preparation must be dealt with. Please pray that we accomplish the burden of the necessary tasks right on top of us. The reality of our inflated costs of normal living expenses brings upon us a greater burden as well. Your much needed prayers for these matters – are much appreciated.
As the weather begins to warm up – if any of you have some time to spare when you can help in any way – please feel free to let us know and we will make some plans to accommodate you.
As just a reminder, please do not forget to pray for our ongoing need of staff help. We need both male and female helpers to guide and direct the children throughout the camp program and schedule. Pray for the manifestation of the God’s presence and moving in just the right way to send us what we need in order to minister the gospel of the glory only of the Lord Jesus Christ unto 6 to 12 yr. old boys and girls.
And, speaking of which – please be in prayer with us that the Lord will be preparing the hearts and souls of the children that both: Want to come to Camp Del-Haven for the first time – and all those boys and girls that want to come back to camp. The Spiritual War that rages all around us makes it necessary for God’s people to become Prayer Warriors for the sake of Christ our God!
Let’s make a united effort to lift up our supplications before the Lord.
Jeff is working on some landscaping in front of the dining hall during one of our Saturday work days. Please contact us if you have a group looking for a ministry project this Spring.
Also, we have opened up our camp registration and are beginning to receive camp applications. If you or someone you know is looking for an opportunity to volunteer and serve with our summer camp programs, please contact Sheri at 816-425-0460 or Sheri@campdelhaven.org.
“But now is Christ risen from the dead, and become
the firstfruits of them that slept. (21) For since
by man came death, by man came also the
resurrection of the dead. (22) For as in Adam
all die – even so in Christ shall all be made alive.
(23) But every man in his own order:
Christ the firstfruits; afterward they that are
Christ’s – at His coming.
(24) Then cometh the end, when He shall have
delivered up the Kingdom to God, even the Father;
when He shall have put down all rule and all
authority and power.”
[1Co.15:20-24]
by John Carpenter | Apr 15, 2023 | Devotional
“My beloved spake, and said unto me, Rise up, my love, my fair one – and come away. (11) For, lo, the winter is past – the rain is over and gone. (12) The flowers appear on the earth. The time of the singing of birds is come, and the voice of the turtledove is heard in our land.(13) The fig tree putteth forth her green figs, and the vines with the tender grape give a good smell. (14) O my dove, that art in the clefts of the Rock – in the secret places of the stairs. Let me hear thy voice – for sweet is thy voice – and thy countenance is comely.” [Song.2:10-14]
This wonderful text of scripture is a representation of a special communication that comes from the heavenly Bridegroom unto His Bride – awakening her from her sleep. This contextually seems to reflect the way that our Savior comes and rouses each one of His eternally saved ones who have finished their course of life in this world and finally fallen to sleep in their physical death. We will close our eyes here – and open them in our Lord’s glorious presence – where we will abide forever and ever. And, it will be like getting through a season of the death of winter (by God’s grace of course) and entering into an eternal-life-season of springtime…in the loving presence of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ! Praise His Name!
That this revelatory experience – of divine communication — includes each and every one of those particularly given by God the Father unto God the Son is evidenced by what Jesus says from Jn.6:37-40> “All that the Father giveth me shall come to me and him that cometh to me I will in no wise cast out. (38) For I came down from heaven – not to do mine own will – but the will of Him that sent me. (39) And this is the Father’s will which hath sent me – that of all which He hath given me I should lose nothing – but should raise it up again at the last day. (40) And this is the will of Him that sent me – that every one which seeth the Son and believeth on Him – may have everlasting life – and I will raise him up at the last day!”
When it says from vs.39 “but should raise IT up again at the last day” it’s talking about the whole great congregation of all those whom the Father has given to the Son from out of the whole history of fallen-in-sin humanity! This whole company of particular persons is precisely what the Holy Scriptures mean by “the Bride of Christ”! And, just as the Lord God made Eve out of Adam and brought her unto him (see: Ge.2:22-24) even so are all the saved-by-grace of fallen-in-sin humanity created in Christ Jesus and ultimately by the Father drawn unto Him. Jesus said, “No man can come unto me – except the Father which hath sent me – draw him – and I will raise him upat the last day.”[Jn.6:44] Hence, all the Father gives to the Son to save – are all the Father draws to Him. And, these are all the ones that Jesus will raise up at the last day.
Plus, this resurrection of us by the Lord Jesus is according to God the Father — who has given us to Christ – and drawn us to Christ – He has also eternally saved us by Christ! Even at the very moment the Spirit of God makes His saved one to know that their eternal salvation has happened – He does so by speaking – testifying unto us — that we have been saved! Ro.8:16-17 confirms this true spiritual experience. It says: “The Spirit itself beareth witness with our spirit that we are the children of God (17) and if children – then heirs – heirs of God and joint heirs with Christ…”. This happens at our regeneration – our new birth! And, it is this same “still small voice” that effectually awakens us (see: Eph.5:14: “Wherefore He saith, Awake thou that sleepest and arise from the dead – and Christ shall give thee Light.”) This makes Christ’s Resurrection Day a real celebration!! Christ’s Resurrection takes us from Regeneration to Glorification! Hallelujah!!
For Christ’s Glory Only! – John Carpenter
by John Carpenter | Mar 13, 2023 | Camp News
As we once again must March toward the front of the battlefield for the Lord – it is only appropriate that we spend much time before Him in prayer – seeking and pursuing His leading and His provision and His protection from the Enemy and all of his evil plans and devices. We must endeavor – by His grace — to “be strong in the Lord and the power of His Might” [Eph.6:10]. We do earnestly covet your prayers with us and for us in this our resolve.
Please continue to pray for all the children that our Elohim has willed and ordained to be at camp this year. Pray that He prepares their hearts to receive and believe the gospel of the glory only of the Lord Jesus Christ. And, pray for our staff members that will be on the front line with the children – that they be given by the Spirit of our God the words from His Word that will in turn quicken the hearts and souls of the children. Pray for these right now to be shielded from all the machinations of the devil and all of his seed that do tirelessly work to prevent them from hearing and seeing the truth. Call on He who is the Head of all principality and power – to hold them back from effectually working their evil plans to disrupt and destroy.
And, in your praying for us – please do not forget to pray that our Lord blesses our April & May tradition of having work days – especially on the weekends. This means that there will be nine Saturdays beginning with April 1 and then extending throughout the month of May. Perhaps you or your church group could plan on helping us out on one or more of those days – to prepare the campgrounds. We would greatly appreciate any and all that come out to help. Just give Sheri or myself a call or text and let us know your plans: 816-425-0460 or 816-277-7071.
Summer 2023 Schedule
Staff Training: June 5-7
Session 1: 6 to 9 Boys and Girls: June 12-15
Session 2: 9 to 12 Girls: June 19-22
Session 3: 9 to 12 Boys: June 26-29
Session 4: 9 to 12 Girls: July 10-13
Session 5: 6 to 9 Boys and Girls: July 17-20
Session 6: 9 to 12 Boys: July 31-Aug. 3
by John Carpenter | Mar 13, 2023 | Devotional
[Jer.31:3] [Eph.3:17-19] [2Co.5:14-15]
(11) “For I know the thoughts that I think toward you saith the Lord, thoughts of Peace and not of evil, to give you an expected end. (12) Then shall ye call upon me – and ye shall go and pray unto me – and I will hearken unto you.(13) And ye shall seek me — and find me – when ye shall search for me with all your heart. And I will be found of you, saith the Lord – and I will turn away your captivity…” [Jer.29:11-14]
The scripture references above the Jer.29 text — are what last month’s devotional touched upon. They are all obviously scriptures that describe and explain something of God’s great love for each of those whom He has determined and decreed to be eternally chosen, redeemed and saved by His great grace. In regards to the great works and ways of the gracious reality of our Lord God’s infinite and eternal love in our personal and individual salvation experience – we are now ready to address the last scriptural reference from Jer.29:11. We will have to include vs.12-14 for contextual purposes. For there is in this text described a real Cause and Effect reality – on an individual and personal level – that is being pictured! And, in the picture that is being drawn from Jer.29:11-14 — it is the none other than the loving longing of our Lord that is the real Cause. In other words, the “Expectation” of vs.11 is – God’s “expected end”. Which in itself works out in becoming that which fulfills in each one of His eternally saved-by-grace children – their prayerful seeking after Him! Hence, this text – in it’s entirety – becomes one of the eternal foundations of a true believer’s real assurance of their eternal standing in Christ.
All that is said in vs.11-14 is sourced in the Omniscience of our eternally loving and saving God. It is His thoughts and His ways – which are not at all our thoughts and our ways [see: Is.55:8-9] – that make up the expectation of our Almighty God who has loved us and done all that is both necessary and required to save us. Which includes all that He, in turn, Causes us to become as being His true children! Because He fulfills His loving longing for us – we, in turn, become all that through Him we (as a result) pray for — hope for – and strive for – even while we are still here in these earthly bodies and circumstances enduring all that is a part of this age of sin and death! We have the Spirit of God – whom – both God the Father and God the Son has sent unto us; and through whom the Triune God– eternally abides in us(!) [see: Jn.14:16-17,23,26; 15:26].
This is what Phil.1:6 alludes to when it says: “Being confident of theis very thing, that He (our Lord God) which hath begun a good work in you – will perform it (or, perfect it) until the day of Jesus Christ.” Likewise, everything in Jer.29:12-14 is the Effect of what the Lord God declares to be true of Himself being the gracious Cause in vs.11. The Spirit of God bears witness unto the spirit of each one of His children that His divine and holy thoughts toward him are all His thoughts of Peace and not of evil. And, that sinner/child receives that gospel of grace message and then cries out “upon the Name of the Lord” to prove that they’re one of His saved ones! [see: Rom.10:13] Then a change of behavior takes over His sinner/child. He begins to seek the Lord in prayer like never before. This is a behavior that takes hold on him and does not let him go. No; instead this behavior becomes even more and more intense. It becomes an unbreakable and holy habit! He longs for the Lord to be in his daily life and walk throughout the struggles of this fallen-in-sin world. He is bound to praying and seeking the Lord until he finds Him and gets ahold of Him and will not let Him go. And why is this victory so certainly to be realized? Even because all of God’s thoughts, intentions and motives are “of Peace – and not of evil” – Forever!
