by John Carpenter | Nov 23, 2020 | Camp News
God’s Word tells us: “In everything give thanks – for this is the will of God concerning you!” So, therefore, once again, for another year – 2020 – all of us here at Camp Del-Haven wish all of you, our loved ones, a great big – !!Happy Thanksgiving!!
We do give God much thanks for all of you – and we pray for His continual blessings upon each of you – whom He has chosen to prayerfully support us — as we endeavor to present the gospel of the glory – only – of our Lord Jesus Christ – unto 6 to 12 year old children. We thank Him for the Del-Haven camp platform that He has raised up and sustained and maintained now for 68 years! Praise His Great Name! May He continue to lead you all in praying for us like you have been so faithful to do. Prayer is how Del-Haven started – and prayer is how Del-Haven is still here! Thank you for your faithful Prayers!
Del-Haven’s very existence – being dependent so much on our prayers – is exactly why we need to be constantly lifting up all our loved and blessed children before our Lord and Savior! So, please continue to be faithful to remember in your prayers — all of them – and – as well, our whole staff (many of which the Lord has caused to have come right from our list of campers).
This evil and passing away world is no playground – it is definitely a hot and dangerous battleground! This is why we need to always be praying for our young people. They need the omnipresent protection of the ever overruling Lord Jesus Christ! It is He who is our Shield and Protector – and our Exceeding Great Reward! All praise, glory and thanksgiving belongs unto Him. He promises to be – personally and individually– right there with each one of His children. All our prayers for one another and for our boys and girls go toward the sure accomplishment of His holy and heaven-bound will for our lives. This is why Satan is so offended at our praying to the Lord against him. Holy Spirit led prayer is the best offense that we have in the full accomplishment of our Victory. A victory that both we and our children will have — only in Jesus.
We love you all and hope and pray that you have a most blessed time around the meal table with your loved ones this: “All — Thanksgiving Be Unto God Day!”
by John Carpenter | Nov 23, 2020 | Devotional, Miscellaneous
(14) But continue thou – in the things which thou hast learned (15) …the holy scriptures, which are able to make thee wise unto salvation – through faith which is in Christ Jesus. (17) that the man of God – may be perfect – thoroughly furnished unto all good works.” [2Tim.3:14,15 & 17]
“That ye would walk worthy of God – who hath called you unto His Kingdom and Glory. (13) For this cause also thank we God without ceasing, because when ye received the Word of God which ye heard of us – ye received it not as the word of men – but as it is in truth, the Word of God – which effectually worketh also in you that believe.” [1Thes.2:12-13]
“Now the God of peace – that brought again from the dead our Lord Jesus – that Great Shepherd of the sheep – through the blood of the Everlasting Covenant (21) make you perfect in every good work – to do His will – working in you that which is well-pleasing in His sight – through Jesus Christ – to whom be glory for ever and ever. Amen!” [Heb.13:20-21]
If the divine purpose of a sinner/child of God – still alive in this worldly flesh – and still traversing through this fallen-in-sin world – is to have a vital and ongoing – or, shall we say, on–growing – relationship with the Word of God so that he “may be perfect, thoroughly furnished unto all good works” – one might ask: How is this even possible?! Everyone knows that no sinner (and “all have sinned and come short of the glory of God”) while in this world is “perfect”. So, how exactly do we possibly fulfill – or, how in the world can we fulfill – this descriptively declared statement that comprises all of 2Tim.3:17?
There’s only one way, dear one – and that’s — “through faith (the faith) which is in Christ Jesus”!
And, that’s precisely what the last two scripture references from 1Thess. and Heb. point out to us. And, it may be summed up in this way: Only by, “Believing”, in the Lord Jesus Christ! Let’s take a brief look at these two references one at a time.
- 1Thess.2:12-13> Right up front vs.12 begins with the commanding exhortation that we – as being true and genuine children of God – who have – by God’s sovereign grace — received God’s Holy Scriptures by the sovereignty and the personal teaching of the Holy Spirit — “would walk worthy of God – who hath called you unto His Kingdom and Glory. This “worthy walk” is a walk only by faith in the person and being – of the perfect walk of the Lord Jesus Christ! And for us who are His “Believing” in Him – is “Believing” – in the overall reality that He truly is our sovereign Savior/Substitute! His eternally accomplished and totally successful “worthy walk” – was done on behalf of us for whom He was sent into this world to save! Therefore – in, by and through Him – we are viewed by all of Holy Heaven as He, Himself, is viewed! Hence, through His work – we have been perfected – and “thoroughly furnished unto all good works” just as described in 2Tim.3:17.
- He.13:20-21> These two verses list for us nine descriptive declarations concerning God’s all-glorious work in His saving, keeping — instructing and preserving — all of His saved and quickened ones as they live and sojourn through this fallen world. This text makes it clear and plain that if – your soul’s eternal salvation – is not dependent all on Christ – then it’s all wrong! And, right in the middle of the 9 statements is: “make you perfect in every good work”. It’s all by His doing – and it’s all being done according to His will – “through Jesus Christ”! All Praise and Glory unto the Name of the Savior!
For Christ’s Glory Only! -John Carpenter
by John Carpenter | Oct 22, 2020 | Camp News
Dear ones, once again, we want to express, from our hearts, a hardy “Praise the Lord” – for your faithful prayerful support of Del-Haven throughout this whole circumstantial hardship that has disrupted our normal camp operation. Our Lord God is truly in sovereign control of all things! His leading and His great love is seen in all of you sticking with us – and believe me when I say that we love you for it! We thank our Lord for you all – and we pray that He will continue to enrich each of your lives with His presence – His blessings – and His power.
Please continue to lift up in prayer the young men and women who have – by God’s grace – been our regular (much needed) staff members. Pray that we don’t lose them due to our having been shut down from being able to hold our regular camp sessions this year. Or, if we have lost some – please pray that the Lord will fill their vacancies! We always want exactly what He wants in this regard. This is so important! And then, of course, please lift up all our campers in your prayers. These boys and girls need us to earnestly pray for them – that God our Savior will watch over them and keep them safe from the Evil One! We need to continue to pray this for each other as well. Our God has both ordered and ordained for us to always love and pray for one another.
Dear Camp Del-Haven, Even though I haven’t been to an actual camp week, I went to the family day. My favorite part of the family day at camp was swimming and crafts. I am so excited to have a normal camp week next year, since it will be my first camp week ever. My sister and my aunts have been telling me about how much fun camp is. So, I can’t wait to go to chapel and fishing. – Ashlyn
Dear Camp Del-Haven, I miss you so much. My grandma said sometime come up for supper. We will all like that. I can swim because we took swimming lessons. I don’t know if the twins will send a letter. Hopefully we will see each other. We all miss you so so so so much! Tell the counselors Hi.— Miley, Becky, and Bella
by John Carpenter | Oct 22, 2020 | Devotional
“Yea, and all that will live Godly in Christ Jesus – shall suffer persecution. (13) But evil men and seducers – shall wax worse and worse – deceiving and being deceived. (14) But continue thou in the things which thou hast learned – and hast been assured of – knowing of whom thou hast learned them. (15) And that from a child thou hast known the holy scriptures, which are able to make thee wise unto salvation – through faith which is in Christ Jesus. (16) All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness (17) that the man of God – may be perfect – thoroughly furnished unto all good works.” [2Tim.3:14-17]
“That ye would walk worthy of God – who hath called you unto His Kingdom and Glory. (13) For this cause also thank we God without ceasing, because when ye received the Word of God which ye heard of us – ye received it not as the word of men – but as it is in truth, the Word of God – which effectually worketh also in you that believe.” [1Thes.2:12-13]
“Now the God of peace – that brought again from the dead our Lord Jesus – that Great Shepherd of the sheep – through the blood of the Everlasting Covenant (21) make you perfect in every good work to do His will – working in you that which is well-pleasing in His sight – through Jesus Christ; to whom be glory for ever and ever. Amen!” [Heb.13:20-21]
The Word of God has a definite, all-important place in a true believer’s life and walk through this fallen-in-sin world. In fact, the presence of the gospel truth of God’s Word is really what sets a true sinner/child of God apart from this world’s evil environment. And, it is an environment that is so evil – that it is fraught with “so-called ministers” – who literally, as the Word of God from 2Pe.2:3 says, “…through covetousness shall they with feigned [i.e. molded, artificial and false] words – make merchandise of you…”. Which means that they will not only mislead you spiritually but they will do it for the sake of getting your money – your admiration – your time. Nevertheless if we, through the Holy Spirit, prayerfully follow both the admonitions and the exhortations of God’s Word – He will lead us safely through this deceitful and spiritually dangerous world.
Christ is our perfect protective sanctuary – He is our refuge – He is our Light – as we walk through this age of the Valley of the shadow of death. Remember what Jesus says from Jn.8:31-32: “If ye continue in my Word – then are ye my disciples indeed (32) And ye shall know the Truth – and the Truth shall make you free!” And, dear ones, the Lord Jesus is the Truth! That is why from vs.36 our Lord goes on to declare: “If the Son therefore shall make you free – ye shall be free indeed!” May our Lord God ever bless us in fulfilling His own Word’s description of being His true disciples by causing us to continue in our learning – from Him – about Him – in His immut-able and infallible Word! Amen? Amen.
Ps.40:7 has the Holy Spirit of Christ saying: “I, Lo, I come – in the volume of the Book it is written of me!” And, 2Ti.3:16-17 dogmatically declares that: “All scripture is given by inspiration of God.” This means that “All scripture” – is all about Christ! It goes on to say of the instrumentality of the written Word of God in the lives of all of God’s sinner/children, that it is all – “profitable – for doctrine – for reproof – for correction” – and then it says: “for instruction in righteousness”. There is much that will be said about this verse — and this list of functions that are given — but we want to be sure to tie vs.16 all together contextually with vs.17 – which says: “That the man of God may be – perfect – thoroughly furnished unto all good works.” This is, indeed, a beautiful thing.
For Christ’s Glory Only! – John Carpenter
by John Carpenter | Aug 18, 2020 | Camp News
Dear ones, let us keep one another in our fervent prayers as this “virus thing” continues to un-fold. It, too, is of this fallen and cursed world – so it, too — is also only temporary! This world is the last semblance of the wicked empire of Satan. It is here and now that he is allowed to exercise and execute his murderous and lying authority. But, our Sovereign Lord and Savior is supreme in authority! He reigns over all! He is in complete control even over the devil! He is in complete loving control over us! Praise His Name! Let us pray that we – by His great grace – will continue to put all our trust in Him! The Word of God says from Jer.17:5: “Cursed be the man that trusteth in man – and maketh flesh his arm – and whose heart departeth from the Lord.” Whereas Vs.7 of this same context boldly declares: “Blessed is the man that trusteth in the Lord – and whose hope – the Lord is!”
We have had some really good response to our invitations to families that have come out to experience the activities that are included in a day of camp. It has been wonderful to be able to declare the gospel unto parent and child alike. We had a wonderful time discoursing with one of the fathers! He has had a rough past life, but now he also demonstrates a marvelous testimony for Christ! Please be in prayer for this man. His name is Jason.
Please continue to pray for our staff of young helpers — and, of course, for all of the children.
We had only one family that had to back out of coming due to illness – please lift them up to the Lord with us.
We love you for continuing to prayerfully support us through this time. Let us persevere in loving God and trusting in Him who works all things out for our good – according to His eternal purpose and grace.
This month we wanted to share with you some of the letters we have received from campers in response to our summer newsletters. We definitely have missed them and treasure the little notes they have written to us.
Dear Camp Del-Haven, My favorite thing to do out at camp was swimming and eating the good breakfast. Also, I liked to clean the cabin. – Darionna
Dear Camp Del-Haven, I was looking forward to attending camp for the first time this year, but since Covid-19 I can’t. I hope next summer I can. – Darielle
Dear Camp Del-Haven, I miss you Camp Del-Haven. I really want to come back, but I can’t because of the virus. – Norah
Dear Camp Del-Haven, What I like about camp is swimming, fishing, singing, breakfast, dinner, and most of all, you guys, and everything. Love you guys. I really, really do miss you. – Lillian
As summer ends, these children will be heading back to school. Whether they will be returning to school in person or virtually, there will be challenges for them and their families. Please be in prayer with us for the dear children to whom we minister. Our camper newsletters have focused on the presence and power of God. May they be more and more aware of a Heavenly Father who loves and cares for them in every situation.
