by John Carpenter | Jul 22, 2018 | Camp News, Miscellaneous
Praises and Prayer Requests – July
Well, dear friends, we continue to rejoice and give thanks unto our Lord for His continual answers to our prayers. We just wrapped up an older boys camp – that we didn’t even think would take place just a little over a week ago! You see we had come up shy of enough male staff to accommodate having any of the campers that we had on our list that wanted to come to camp! But, the Lord provided – and we were able to fill two cabins full of boys and have a fun and spiritually beneficial week after all. It was another wonderful time! They learned their verses. They sang the gospel songs (all the way back to the city). They were – by God’s grace – providentially delivered into the proclamation of the gospel! Praise the Name of the Lord! It is such a grand thing to witness the testimony of God’s presence and provision. Please continue to pray for us as we continue to press on for the glory of Christ!
Please do not forget to pray for the staff and children that are scheduled for the rest of this camp season. These hot blistering days can be tough to endure! Your prayers are a source of strength and comfort so we can get through it.
A double wide mobile home has been delivered to Del-Haven for the family of Jeff Hall. Please pray with us for Jeff – and the men that are busy working — to get his new home completely ready for him and his family to move in. This is yet another new chapter in the history of Del-Haven! A lot has been done – and is getting done — but there is still a whole lot that needs to be done. Nothing is too hard – or, too wonderful – for our great Savior. Jeff definitely needs your prayers – and whatever help you can give him. He will be a wonderful asset to have on the camp premises!
by John Carpenter | Jul 22, 2018 | Devotional
“God is able to make all grace abound toward you; that ye, always having all sufficiency in all things – may abound to every good work. (9) As it is written, He hath dispersed abroad – He hath given to the poor! His righteousness remaineth forever.” [2Cor.9:8-9]
“…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 forever and ever!” [Phil.4:19-20]
These precious words of gospel truth are comparable with one another. They point out the ever abiding presence and fellowship of an all-governing – all-gracious — eternally loving, guiding and providing Savior. These verses substantiate the words of our Lord Jesus from Jn.16:33 from where He tells us, “These things I have spoken unto you – that in me ye might have peace. In the world ye shall have tribulation, but be of good cheer – I have overcome the world.” Praise His Name!
Only the God of all grace is able to do this for us! Especially, while we are in this weak and ever vulnerable – fallen-in-sin worldly condition. We are so completely dependent upon our Lord and Savior at all times, for all things – and all that we need, in this adverse and affliction-filled world! Yet — He is so completely dependable unto us no matter what we have to face – no matter what we have to go through in this world in order to enter the all-glorious reality of the “Kingdom of God”. We are ever reminded of Ac.14:22, which says: “…confirming the souls of the disciples, and exhorting them to continue in the faith – and that – we must through much tribulation – enter into the Kingdom of God.” While “much tribulation” is a fact of life in this world – it is also an eternal gospel truth that our faithful God is able to make all grace to abound into the time of our trials so that nothing can detour nor delay our being able to enter into the eternal safety of His eternal Kingdom and glory! What good work that He has ordained for us to fulfill – His all sufficient enabling grace will see that it gets accomplished!
In order for any true believer to successfully and safely get through this fallen and cursed world, the sovereign grace of God is absolutely necessary! In order for us to even be able to repent for our sins – we need God’s enabling grace. In Ac.5:30-31, the scripture says that God raised up Jesus and exalted Him with His right hand to be a Prince and a Savior, “for to give repentance to Israel, and forgiveness of sins.” In 2Ti.2:24-25, the scripture once again tells us that, “the servant of the Lord must not strive – but be gentle unto all men, apt to teach, patient, (25) in meekness instructing those that oppose themselves – if God peradventure – will give them repentance to the acknowledging of the truth…”. True saving repentance is a grace that only God can – and does – give – bestow — upon each of His eternally loved, chosen and saved children!
In fact, true saving faith is also obviously a grace! Eph.2:8-9 clearly states: “For by grace are ye saved through faith – and that not of yourselves! It is the gift of God. (9) Not of works – lest any man should boast.” Jesus, Himself, explicitly declared from Jn.6:29 “This is the work of God – that ye believe on Him whom He hath sent.” All who truly and savingly believe on the Lord Jesus Christ are each one descriptively declared from Ac.13:48 in this manner: “…and as many as were ordained to eternal life – believed.”
The Lord Jesus is full of grace and truth. It is He who hath dispersed abroad and given His righteousness to the destitute. His righteousness endureth forever. His righteousness eternally justifies us!
For Christ’s Glory Only!
– John Carpenter
by John Carpenter | Jun 25, 2018 | Camp News
Praises and Prayer Requests
Oh, dear friends, June 2018 has been – maybe – the busiest June ever in our over six decade history! It seems to be true that if God’s timing (along with His work and His way) is perfect – and it is – then why wouldn’t it come done to the last second. And, we must confess – that just drives our fallen natures absolutely crazy! Nevertheless, we thank Him and we praise Him for His faithfulness to bear unto us testimony after testimony of both His presence and His power. In a very real way, His faithfulness to us is definitely being demonstrated in all of your prayers and gifts. We constantly thank and praise Him for all of you.
Our new kitchen is just beautiful! The shower house and rest rooms look wonderful as well. Wow! We really don’t have words to adequately express how grateful we are to the Lord for everyone that has had an active role in everything that has been done for Del-Haven thus far this year. May God richly bless you all! And, special recognition definitely goes to all the men of the First Baptist Church of Oak Grove for all that they have done! And what a joy it has been to be around them when they were working. Please earnestly pray with us for the Lord’s richest blessings upon them and their families!
Our first camp went just great! The work of the Lord was noticeably present during the course of the week. We are, at this moment, getting geared up for our first older girls camp week. Please remember to season our staff and their efforts for the Lord with your prayers as well. We always stand by the grace of faith upon the truth of Jn.15:7!
One final matter needs our earnest urgent prayer! We need some mature, level headed young men (16yr. old, or older) that are willing to serve on our staff for our two 9 to 12 year old boys camps. That would be for the dates of July 9 through 12 – and July 30 through August 2. They just need to patiently supervise at least four to five campers through our camp program. Otherwise we will have to turn away some little boys from being able to come to camp – and we don’t want to do that! Please pray with us regarding this urgent matter.
by John Carpenter | Jun 25, 2018 | Devotional
(11) “Now the parable is this: The seed is the Word of God. (12) Those by the way side are they that hear – then cometh the devil and taketh away the Word out of their hearts – lest they should believe and be saved. (13) They on the rock are they which when they hear – receive the Word with joy – and these have no root – which for a while believe – and in time of temptation fall away. (14) And that which fell among thorns are they which when they have heard – go forth and are choked with cares and riches and pleasures of this life – and bring no fruit to perfection. (15) But that on the good ground are they which in an honest and good heart – having heard the Word – keep it – and bring forth fruit with patience.” [Lk.8:11-15]
(105) “Thy Word is a lamp unto my feet – and a light unto my path.” [Ps.119:105]
Here is an accurate gauge by which we may determine if we have truly been born from above by what Paul referred to in Col.1:5 as the “Word of the truth of the gospel”. Peter speaks of the same thing in 1Pe.1:23 when he literally says: “Having been born again – not of corruptible seed, but of incorruptible – by the Word of God which liveth and abideth forever!” And, then he goes further on and explicitly declares from vs.25: “And this is the Word which by the gospel is preached unto you”.
The apostle James was Holy Spirit inspired to write of our regeneration from Jas.1:17-18 of his epistle: “Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above and cometh down from the Father of lights – with whom there is no variableness neither shadow of turning. (18) Of His own will – begat He us with the Word of truth….” Now this verse is more literally rendered – “Having willed – He begat us” Or, in other words, He brought us forth to new life in our Lord Jesus Christ! And then he urges us from vs.21: “Wherefore…(or, consequently) lay apart (or, put away) all filthiness and superfluity of naughtiness (or, all moral dirtiness and surplusage of depravity) and receive with meekness the engrafted (or, the implanted) Word – which is able to save your souls!”
The Spirit of Christ – the living Word of God – who is the incarnated eternal Son of God – according to the eternal purpose of God the Father – causes us to receive a regenerating revelatory experience that we are, indeed, His eternally loved and chosen sinner-saved-by-grace-children. We come by grace to understand that we – and He – have been personally united with Him – in His beloved and only-begotten Son! Ro.8:16-17 plainly tells us that: “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…” Before the magnitude of the majesty of our all holy – all-glorious sovereign God – we are all — nothing but little children. But, we are His little children! And, especially, while we are here in this fallen-in-sin world – we “grow in the grace and in the knowledge of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ…”
How do we grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior?
By constantly feeding on His wonderful Word! We ever abide in the words of our Savior. Jesus said in Jn.15:3 – “Now ye are clean through the Word which I have spoken unto you.” Then He went on and said from vs.7 “If ye abide in me and my words abide in you – ye shall ask what ye will and it shall be done unto you.” It is no wonder that the Psalmist was inspired to descriptively declare: “Thy Word is a lamp unto my feet – and a light unto my path!” Everything wonderful about being in Christ – is descriptively declared in the treasures of His wonderful Word! Amen.
For Christ’s Glory Only!
John Carpenter
by John Carpenter | May 24, 2018 | Camp News
Praises and Prayer Requests
Well, dear friends, we are coming right up to the beginning of the 2018 Del-Haven Camp season!
The Kitchen and Shower house/restrooms project still need some finishing touches to be totally ready. Please be in earnest prayer with us that these very much needed tasks are completed.
With all the attention having to be given to getting our wiring updated and our Kitchen and Shower house/restrooms finished – we have at the same time a crisis situation where our staff is concerned. Many of our young people have reached the time when they need to seek gainful employment for themselves. This sort of thing happens. Therefore, we need your prayers that the Lord will provide ample replacements of young men and women who have a real desire to serve the Lord with us in proclaiming the gospel to the children that He sends to us. Everything about this ministry is supplied through faithful fervent prayer! Phil.4:6-7 encourages us in that it says: “Be careful for nothing – but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving – let your requests be made known unto God. (7) And the peace of God – which passeth all understanding – shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.” What a wonderful promise! Thank you, Lord for giving that unto us!
In all your praying for us, we would be remiss not to seek your prayers for the children themselves. Pray that the Holy Spirit go before us in preparing and paving the way for their hearts to receive the Word of the truth of the gospel.
The apostle Paul, who never went to Colossae, wrote to them – seeking from them in Col.4:2-4 – that they “Continue in prayer, and watch in the same with thanksgiving; (3) withal [or, lit., at the same time] praying also for us that God would open unto us a door of utterance to speak the mystery of Christ…as I [or, we] ought to speak.” This is what it’s all about! May God our Savior grant us this earnest petition. The eternal salvation of souls is — wholly, wholly, wholly of the Lord!
