by John Carpenter | Jul 19, 2023 | Devotional
“Be merciful unto me, O God, be merciful unto me — for my soul trusteth in thee — yea, in the shadow of thy wings will I make my refuge, until these calamities be overpast. (2) I will cry unto God most high — unto God that performeth all things for me!” [Ps.57:1-2]
“Lord, thou wilt ordain peace for us — for thou also hast wrought all our works in us. (13) O Lord our God — other lords have had dominion over us — but by thee only will we make mention of thy Name.” [Is.26:12-13]
“For it is God that worketh in you — both to will and to do of His good pleasure.” [Phil.2:13]
“I am the vine – ye are the branches; he that abideth in me and I in him — the same bringeth forth much fruit — for without me ye can do nothing!” [Jn.15:5]
The reason we say: “If it’s not all Christ — it’s all wrong” — is because it’s true! God — who cannot lie — affirms this as being eternal Truth. Jesus, the incarnated God/man — was sent into this fallen world in the likeness of our sinful flesh — and being the eternal Son of God — He came to tell us the action-quickening Truth of Jn.6:37> “All that the Father gives to me – shall come to me – and him that cometh to me – I will in no wise cast him out!” Praise His Holy Name!! This — is what is divinely designed to motivate us — so that without hesitation — we do completely come to Him! And, to completely come unto Jesus means that we have been awakened and quickened to — first of all — fulfill that which is written from verse 2 of Ps.57 shown above — which says: “I will cry unto God most high — unto God — that performeth all things for me!” And, when we act — we don’t even think about the “calamities” that we face — that seem to surround us on every side. We just trust in our God, Jesus our Savior — and act! This will prove the reality of our having been truly quickened by the Holy Spirit and the Word of God!
Then this, in turn, leads us right into truly — living out the activity of understanding the reality of Is.26:12-13 which declares for us what the Lord, our God has ordained for each one of His true sinner/children to be and to do — who are still here — travelling through all the calamities — of this world — “the valley of the shadow of death”. He has ordained “Peace” for us — by His having com-pletely worked out “all our works in us!” For He — and He alone — is our Lord and Savior! We can’t even mention His Name — without Him! By His doing we “cry” unto Him — and He hears and answers our cries!
Phil.2:13 descriptively declares — with bold assurance — that it is “God that actively and efficiently works in and through us — both to will and to do — of all His good pleasure!” Praise His Name!
And, all of this is completely culminated in the Pure Gospel Truth Words of Jesus, Himself, from Jn.15:5> “I am the Vine — ye are the branches; he that abideth in me and I in him — the same bringeth forth much fruit — for without me ye can do nothing!” He is the source of all our action — all our strength — and all our results. Hence, He gets all the Glory! Ro.11:16 tells us: “If the Firstfruit be holy — the lump is also holy — and if the Root be holy — so are the branches!” Christ Jesus is the “Root” and the “Firstfruit” — we who are “in Him” are “His branches”. He fills us up with Himself — and we bring forth the fruit of His eternally abiding presence in our lives. Hence, we are clothed with His comeliness — His fruit – His obedience and — praise God — His righteousness.
For Christ’s Glory Only! — John Carpenter
by John Carpenter | Jun 26, 2023 | Camp News
Well, dear ones, we are definitely in the midst of spiritual warfare – in our world today! Our whole land is under an horrific attack of the devil! We need to be in earnest prayer for our government and against the enemies that have been allowed to infiltrate our schools – our churches – and our homes. Let us call on the King of kings and Lord of lords and the Head of all principality and powers – that He deliver us from the snares and destruction of the Evil One. After all – he is already a defeated foe — by the person and work of our sovereign Savior!
In addition, we have developed a real immediate crisis where our staff for camps is concerned. Our staff training week (June 5-7) uncovered that our staff members were totally unprepared to be able to minister the Word of the Truth of the gospel to the campers. This means that we have been thrust back to shifting our whole approach to scheduling family camp days as a way to minister the gospel – until we can replace our staff with well taught and thoroughly trained male and female cabin and camp program leaders. Please be in prayer that our Lord God will lead us to – or draw unto us the quickened, awakened believers that we need in order to recover from this setback.
We have already contacted and scheduled five families that are now on the calendar to come out to Del-Haven for a block of time to experience what goes on all week in camp. Pray with us that these folks will come having ears to hear and eyes to see and hearts to receive and believe the gospel of the glory, only – of our Lord Jesus Christ.
This situation has never ever exactly happened before in our history. But, we know that the Lord is still on the throne and He is still completely in control! From Ps.50:15 He still says: “Call upon me in the day of trouble – I will deliver thee and thou shalt glorify me.” Praise His holy and faithful Name!
Also, due to the fact that we need to cut back on the rising expenses of life in this present world – we are planning to transition from sending our monthly newsletter by mail and sending it instead by email. If you want to keep receiving our newsletter, please send your name and email address to: jeff@campdelhaven.org or go to www.campdelhaven.org/newsletter-signup to subscribe online. If you don’t have an email account or you rely on receiving our return addressed envelopes to facilitate your faithful, regular financial support, then please contact us about making other arrangements. Hopefully, this change will eliminate the rising printing costs and postal fees – which will really help us out.
We are saddened to report that Sheri DeSchepper felt like she had to resign from Del-Haven. She has for almost a decade now been involved with – and settled into – an active part of the ministry of Sycamore Hills Baptist Church. Please pray for her that she be led of the Lord in her continued service according to His perfect will and good pleasure.
We want you all to know how much we appreciate your support of us – along with all your prayers. We thank our Lord God for you — and we pray for you as well.
“But sanctify the Lord God in your hearts
and be ready always to give an answer to every
man that asketh you a reason [or, a Word]
concerning the Hope that is in you
with meekness and fear.” [1Pe.3:15]
by John Carpenter | Jun 26, 2023 | Devotional
“And I heard a loud voice saying in heaven – Now is come salvation and strength and the Kingdom of our God – and the power of His Christ – for the accuser of our brethren is cast down – which accused them before our God day and night. (11) And they overcame him by the Blood of the Lamb – and the Word of their Testimony – and loved not their lives unto the death.” [Rev.12:10-11]
“Of His own will – begat He us – with the Word of Truth – that we should be a kind of first fruits of His creatures.” [Jas.1:18]
These two texts reveal to us grace-quickened and awakened sinner/children – eight realities while we are still here in this fallen-in-sin world. First of all – right now in the present, it says – we have God’s eternal salvation, strength and a place in His Kingdom! This is a wonderful thing!
Second, all of this is ruled over and strictly maintained by the sovereign authority and power of Christ Jesus our Savior. Third, Satan – the accuser is defeated and cast down. Even though he is in a rage against God — and us – he is absolutely subservient to the will of Christ, our God! Our spiritual warfare goes on all around us – day and night – non-stop – but, by grace we stand and see the salvation of our Lord!
In fact, Fourth, we have overcome all his evil endeavors against us – by the “Blood of the Lamb” – having been shed for all of our sins at Calvary! Praise the Name of the Lord!
And, Fifth, we have overcome the devil by – it says – the “Word of our Testimony”! That’s the Word (the logos) of God that was instrumentally used by the Holy Spirit of God to awaken us unto the reality that we truly are one of His chosen-sinner-saved-by-grace-children! This refers to our genuine born again (or, more lit., born from above) experience. Just like Ro.8:16-17a says: “The Spirit 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 brings us to the Sixth reality that also descriptively declares the fact of our spiritual birth from Jas.1:18> “Of His own will (not our will) – begat He us…”; or, He caused us to be begotten of Him.
The Seventh reality serves to substantiate the all important role that God’s Word plays in providing us with a true testimony from God unto us personally that we are one of His children – He communicates it to us “with the Word of Truth…”!
In fact, all three persons in the Godhead participate in an ongoing communication with each of His elect throughout their entire earthly walk – all the way to glory land! Jesus says that none of us can come to Him for His abundant life – except they be drawn by God the Father! [Jn.6:44]
And, He describes how that drawing process is worked out when He says from Jn.6:45> “It is written in the prophets – And they shall be all taught of God (or, more lit. taught by God the Father). Every man therefore that hath heard and learned (lit.) from the Father – cometh unto me.”
And, finally, Eighth, our Lord Jesus is not left out of this scenario: Eph.4:20-21 plainly says, “But you have not so learned Christ; (21) if so be that ye have heard Him, and have been taught by Him, as the Truth is in Jesus.” Indeed, Christ Jesus – is – the Truth!
For Christ’s Glory Only! — John Carpenter
by John Carpenter | May 22, 2023 | Camp News
We are still busy in all that needs to get done so that we are ready for another blessed season of Del-Haven Camps. The lake has been treated to clear it up of all the lake weeds and moss that every year builds up in it. The ongoing mowing process has already begun – which takes up a lot our time to stay on top of the campgrounds upkeep. Dead trees are being ear marked for cutting down and cutting up. This means brush piles on top of brush piles are being formed to burn up. I relate all this in hopes that you remember to pray for us to get all of this done without injury or any major mishaps along the way. All of this requires the use of equipment and supplies that right now in our economy is much more expensive to operate. But, our Sovereign God is still on the throne – and His coffers are always full! Praise His Name!
We would be remiss to not request from you all that prayers be made for all the children that have already requested a place in the camp schedule. And, this means that we need prayers for our Lord to send to us the helpers (male and female) that want to serve Him by filling a place on our Del-Haven Staff. The Lord has always provided – and we expectantly look for Him to do so again this year. This is where your support is most vital(!) – your Prayer Support – for which we wholeheartedly love and thank you!
Thank you to Sycamore Hills Baptist Church and the Rusher family for adding a Gaga Ball pit to our recreation area. This game has become popular in recent years, and the campers will surely enjoy this new addition.
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
