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!
by John Carpenter | Feb 20, 2023 | Camp News
Well, winter is officially here – in all it’s consequential splendor – heavy coats, gloves, scarves – and these with shoes that won’t be so apt to slip out from under us. Then there’s – at least where living at Del-Haven is concerned – cutting down trees for cutting up and splitting up and stacking up and then feeding into the wood stove. It’s all a part of the routine out here, but God is good to through it all and in it all to manifest His presence and His leading through even times like these. We just keep prayerfully pressing onward for His great glory and honor without ceasing.
Even though this time of the year, as far as the camp program activities – we are idle – we are nonetheless even more diligent in our praying and seeking guidance from our Lord for His faithful leadership. This is when we concentrate on supplicating Him for both the campers and the staff that we will be needing once again in June, July and August of this new year. Please be in continual prayer with us in this regard! Jesus said from Lk.11:9: “And I say unto you, ASK, and it shall be given you; SEEK, and ye shall find; KNOCK, and it shall be opened unto you.” This is the prayerful activity that we are constantly being led to do for this ministry in order for it to be effectual – by the Holy Spirit of our Lord Jesus. And, this activity definitely includes all of you!
Dear ones, the prayerful support of God’s family members has been – and while we are still in this world, it will always be – exactly what God has ordained to truly sustain His ministry here at Camp Del-Haven. Jesus said from Jn.15:16-17: “Ye have not chosen me, but I have chosen you, and ordained you, that ye should go and bring forth fruit, and that your fruit should remain – that whatsoever ye shall ASK of the Father in my Name – He may give it you! (17) These things I command you – that ye love one another.” Isn’t it wonderful to know that whatever Christ our Savior – who is our Lord and God – lovingly and personally commands of us – He has chosen to bring to pass in and through us! [see: Phil.1:6 and 2:13] So, if God has opened your hearts of love – by His grace – unto what you hear (or, read – or, see) concerning what has been and is being reported to you about – God’s ministry — through Camp Del-Haven – that has also prompted from you – your prayerful support of this, His work in this world – then do we give our praise and thanks to Him for all of you. And, we pray that He continues to bless you (as only He can do) even as He continues to sustain us – all for His glory and honor! Praise His Name! Make no mistake about it – there is eternal fruit being harvested in the lives and souls of both the children whom He sends through our camp program — and the lives and souls of those that He grooms for the ministerial service that transpires in order to fulfill His will.
This is how the apostle Paul viewed his personal support – delivered by God’s grace from the church at Phillipi. He was inspired by the Holy Spirit to bring out from the end of his epistle to them from Phil.4:16-20 these words: “For even in Thessalonica ye sent – once and again – unto my necessity. (17) Not because I desire a gift – but I desire fruit that may abound to your account! (18) But I have all, and abound! I am full – having received of Epaphroditus the things which were sent from you – and odor of a sweet smell – a sacrifice acceptable, well-pleasing unto God. (19) But, my God shall supply ALL YOUR NEED according to His riches in glory by Christ Jesus. (20) Now unto God and our Father be glory for ever and ever. Amen.” This, beloved, is how we feel about you all and the prayerful/support that you faithfully give unto us. We love you and thank God for you.
by John Carpenter | Feb 20, 2023 | Devotional
“The Lord hath appeared of old unto me, saying: Yea, I have loved thee with an everlasting love! Therefore with lovingkindness have I drawn thee.” [Jer.31:3]
“that Christ may dwell in your hearts by faith; that ye, being rooted and grounded in love, (18) may be able to comprehend with all saints what is the breadth, and length, and depth, and height; (19) and to know the love of Christ, which passeth knowledge, that ye might be filled with all the fullness of God..” [Eph.3:17-19]
“For the love of Christ constraineth us; because we thus judge, that if one died for all – then were all dead: (15) and that He died for all, that they which live should not henceforth live unto themselves, but unto Him which died for them and rose again.” [2Co.5:14-15]
“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.” [Jer.29:11]
Three out of four of the above texts obviously have to do with God’s Love toward His sinner-saved-by-grace-children – while they are yet in this fallen-in-sin world. That being said – actually all four of these texts speak specifically of the Love of Christ our God!
The first text out of Jeremiah declares that all those who have been saved – are being, or have been — drawn by God’s lovingkindness into the reality of knowing and understanding that He has loved them from eternity – with His eternal love – and has ultimately provided an eternal atonement for all of their sins! How so very wonderful is that?!
Then, from here we jump over into the New Testament where the apostle Paul – inspired by the Holy Spirit – tells us that the “whole family of God” (Eph.3:15) by the power of the Holy Spirit will be made able to understand the great eternal love of our great eternal Savior! A love that has brought to pass and wrought for us every aspect of God’s eternal salvation from all of our sins.
And, why is this true? How does this happen to us? Even because Christ’s love for us literally blows our fallen minds! The Spirit of God causes us to receive and understand the glory of God’s great grace that He has exercised unto us – and in us – in His saving us from our sins. The knowledge of this surpasses anything and everything that has ever happened to us – and it’s all because of the Lord Jesus Christ! Praise His all glorious Name!
In fact, as the next text from 2Co.5 conveys unto us: “…the love of Christ constraineth us” [or, more lit.> “the love to us – from out of Christ – controls us”] so that we rightly do judge – that Christ as our Sovereign Savior Substitute has satisfied all of God’s perfect Justice upon our sins in His dying for us at Calvary! And, His having been raised from the dead for us – we have through Him — a perfect atonement for all of our sins! Because of this – we absolutely want to live only for Him and His glory throughout the rest of our lives in this fallen world!
The last text from Jer.29 further reveals something special concerning God’s love for us. It tells of the very specific loving longing that our God has for each of His saved sinner children. Whatever God thinks – comes to pass (see Is.14:24). And, He says that He knows the thoughts that He thinks toward us – “thoughts of Peace and not of evil” in order to give to us His “expected end”.
We will discuss deeper and further this text in next month’s prayer/newsletter.
For Christ’s Glory Only! – John Carpenter
