by John Carpenter | Feb 22, 2021 | Devotional
“And He opened His mouth and taught them, saying:
3.“Blessed — the poor in spirit – for theirs is the Kingdom of Heaven.
- Blessed — they that mourn – for they shall be comforted.
- Blessed — the meek – for they shall inherit the earth.
- Blessed — they that hunger and thirst after righteousness – for they shall be filled.
- Blessed — the merciful – for they shall obtain mercy.
- Blessed — the pure in heart – for they shall see God.
- Blessed — the peacemakers – for they shall be called the children of God.” [Mt.5:2-9]
“Blessed is the man whom thou choosest and causest to approach unto thee – that he may dwell in thy courts. We shall be satisfied with the goodness of thy house – even of thy Holy Temple.” [Ps.65:4]
All those that are “poor in spirit” – are all those that been blessed with God’s grace of Repentance. And a true Repentance occurs in a chosen sinner’s life when God’s Holy Spirit of grace reveals unto them – the pure and plain truth about themselves as being sinners! It is He – and He, alone – that can convince them that they are indeed a condemned sinner before God and have nothing in themselves, or even that they can make up their minds to call forth to exercise from themselves that will equal what God requires in order for Him to eternally save them. The sad reality of Is.64:6-7 is revealed unto them: “But we are all as an unclean thing, and all our righteousnesses are as filthy rags – and we all do fade as a leaf – and our iniquities, like the wind, have taken us away, (7) and there is none that calleth upon thy Name – that stirreth up himself – to take hold of thee – for thou hast hid thy face from us because of our iniquities!”
This despicable reality is why the Savior describes the next blessing bestowed upon His saved ones. He says: “Blessed are they that mourn”. Living life is this fallen-in-sin world produces many sad reasons for us to mourn – but what our Lord is teaching us here is a most particular reason. The real reason the blessed sinner-saved-by-grace-children truly mourn – is the same reason why they are considered to be “poor in spirit”. It is because they are totally bankrupt of the perfect righteousness that they need in order to be eternally saved! And, they “mourn” because the righteousness that they need – can in no way be attained by them – from themselves! And, it is the Holy Spirit of Christ, alone, that gives them an understanding of this reality about themselves. Nevertheless, the message of the Gospel of the glory, only, of the Lord Jesus is: “Blessed are they that mourn – for they shall be comforted! Praise the Savior! So, from where does the Spirit of God deliver unto us eternal comfort from the foreboding reality of our not being able under any circumstances to manufacture and maintain a righteousness that could possibly be approved and accepted by holy, holy, holy God?
He delivers to us everlasting comfort through the person and work of our Substitute/Savior – the Lord Jesus Christ! He points us to the Gospel of His Glory! He gets us deep into the scriptures where it has been recorded! Ro.15:4 tells us: “For whatsoever things were written aforetime – were written for our learning – that we through patience and comfort of the scriptures might have hope.” We are “poor” – because we have no righteousness that we need to get into heaven! We, therefore, “mourn” – because we are nothing in ourselves before our God – nothing but condemned sinners! But, we are blessed because through Christ – and Him alone — we have been given the Kingdom of heaven…and this is what completely comforts us!
For Christ’s Glory Only! – John Carpenter
by John Carpenter | Jan 18, 2021 | Miscellaneous
Donation/Gift receipts will be mailed out before the end of January 2021. Please let us know if you did not receive yours or if you have any questions.
by John Carpenter | Jan 18, 2021 | Camp News
Dear ones, by God’s gracious sustenance and all governing rule over His ministry here at Del-Haven – we are embarking on our 69th year of service unto the glory of the Lord Jesus Christ! And, His sustenance and all governing rule has included all your prayers that have undergirded this work all along the journey that we have come — so far. We continually thank our Savior for all of you – each and every one! We love you – and we pray for you as well.
Please do not forget to keep in your prayers the children whom the Lord has graciously sent to go through the Del-Haven Camp program. Everyday that they are in camp – they continuously hear God’s Word of truth – in song and in general conversation. Pray that the pure and incorruptible Seed of the Word be blessed to bring forth “the fruit” of eternal life in Christ Jesus. And, please remember to pray for our staff of young adults that give of their time and effort to work out all the daily supervisory tasks of Del-Haven Camp life. They, too, need the encouragement and strength of the Holy Spirit to persevere through this fallen-in-sin world – for Christ!
Pray that we be able to once again be allowed to even have camp this year. If the wrong people get into the leadership of our nation – ungodliness in our whole society will run even more amuck than it already is. But, dear friends and family in Christ, whatever our Sovereign God has in store for this year – we here at Del-Haven will press on in whatever way we can do to minister the truth of the Gospel of the glory, only, of the Lord Jesus Christ – the only Sovereign Savior Substitute that there ever was – is – or, ever will be! All praise and glory unto His Wonderful Name! As the first two phrases of the Del-Haven theme song declares: “We will fight for the right at Del–Haven – Reaching Youth for the Truth is our goal”!
In your prayers – we also have some special requests. Please remember Pastor Larry Tennant of Pleasant Grove Bible Church who has recently suffered (but, praise God, has survived) a stroke. He – and his wife, Mary Ann — needs all our prayers in this trying circumstance. He, and the whole church, have been a faithful source of prayer and support for Del-Haven right from the beginning of the Lord’s ministry here – over 68 years! Lord willing – our prayers for Larry will be instrumental in the raising our brother back to complete recovery.
Also, we want to issue an urgent call to prayer for Jeff’s parents: Jerry and Marsha Hall. They are both in the hospital – having tested positive for the coronavirus. We dearly love them very much. Jerry and Marsha served faithfully on the board of directors of Camp Del-Haven for over three decades! Please lift them up in your prayers for their complete recovery as well. There’s no god, but our God – and He doeth all things well! Again, Praise His Name!
by John Carpenter | Jan 18, 2021 | Devotional
“And He opened His mouth and taught them, saying:
3.“Blessed — the poor in spirit – for theirs is the Kingdom of Heaven.
4.Blessed — they that mourn – for they shall be comforted.
5.Blessed — the meek – for they shall inherit the earth.
6.Blessed — they that hunger and thirst after righteousness – for they shall be filled.
7.Blessed — the merciful – for they shall obtain mercy.
8.Blessed — the pure in heart – for they shall see God
9. Blessed — the peacemakers – for they shall be called the children of God.” [Mt.5:2-9]
“Blessed is the man whom thou choosest and causest to approach unto thee – that he may dwell in thy courts. We shall be satisfied with the goodness of thy house – even of thy Holy Temple.” [Ps.65:4]
Predominantly, when a New Year comes to pass, this is when people often make personal resolutions to improve themselves. They resolve to better the image of themselves by endeavoring to do something – or to stop doing something. In this way, they hope that they will exude a better personal and individual image of themselves. But, when our Savior opened His mouth and taught these verses from Mt.5 — He descriptively declared what the pure truth of the gospel of God’s grace bestows upon His true disciples. He taught them concerning how they – as sinners – still in this sinful world — can recognize – in themselves (and, for that matter, in each other) truly being one of God’s blessed children — while they are still passing through — this fallen world!
First of all, according to God’s Word, to be a blessed by God sinner – in this world — is to truly be one of His chosen sinner/ children — whom He has chosen and placed in Christ before the foundation of this world [see Eph.1:3-5].“Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ – who hath blessed us with all spiritual blessings – in heavenly places – in Christ – (4) according as He hath chosen us in Him – before the foundation of the world – that we should be holy and without blame before Him – in love (5) having predestinated us — unto the adoption of children by Jesus Christ to Himself – according to the good pleasure of His will…”
Oh the unfathomable wonders of God’s eternally saving will and grace! That He has been pleased to purpose — and even to predestinate — poor, undeserving, unlovely – even enemy/sinners – to be blessed by almighty God and chosen in Christ – and even to being adopted by Jesus Christ into becoming a part of God’s holy heavenly family! Praise His Wonderful Name!
How can this be true! How can it be possible that any “poor” sinner who does not possess one iota of ability to do even one thing to merit or earn a place and standing in God’s holy family! How can they even believe that: “theirs is the Kingdom of Heaven”?! But, this is exactly what the incarnated eternal and holy Son of God – who cannot lie – right up front announced!
Everyone of these descriptive “Blessings” become descriptions of everyone that the Father has given His Savior/Son – to save. Jesus said, “All that the Father giveth to 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!”[Jn.6:37-39] We will look further into this grand context in the future. Praise the Lord!
For Christ’s Glory Only! – John Carpenter
by John Carpenter | Dec 20, 2020 | Camp News
Regardless what this sinful world mistakenly makes of the meaning of this time of the year, it still remains a favorite of ours! Especially the Christmas carol/hymns that are most often heard and sung – many of which are very glorifying to the Lord. And, by the way, the above passages of holy scripture we will be reflecting upon through the New Year – as well as reminding you of them at this time. They speak well enough for themselves – so that you can get the clear and plain message just by reading them. And, in the context of them – as stated in their particular order – we want to say to all of you (our loved ones) –
!! MERRY CHRISTMAS !!
Once again, dear ones, please do not forget to lift up in your prayers our staff helpers and campers (even the ones that know about Del-Haven – but have not yet even been to camp). This time of year is not so joyous for many that see all around them – so many others – having a great time that they cannot. It is easy for them to become despondent and on the brink of despair. Pray that the Holy Spirit of the God of all comfort will – in His sovereignty – encourage and strengthen them – as only He can do. Lord willing this very restricted 2020 – will rebound into a very prosperous and abundant 2021! Let’s pray that the Lord will do just that – for the furtherance of His Kingdom and His Glory. Amen? Amen.
We still have many repair and renovation projects that need much attention. Please pray with us that these things will get accomplished according to God’s good pleasure, provision and will. We thank all of you who have been faithful to continue to prayerfully support us through this whole fiasco! Remember to pray for our country. We thank the Lord for you – and we pray for God’s blessing upon each of you – and we love you for being there, and being used by His leading on our behalf.
“And whatsoever we ask, we receive of Him, because we keep His commandments, and do those things that are pleasing in His sight. (23) And this is His commandment, that we should believe on the Name of His Son, Jesus Christ, and love one another, as He gave us commandment. (24) And he that keepeth His commandments dwelleth in Him, and He in him. And hereby we know that He abideth in us –by the Spirit – which He hath given us.” [1Jn.3:22-24]
