by John Carpenter | Jan 17, 2018 | Devotional
“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 not done. Saying, My counsel shall stand – and I will do all my pleasure (11)…yea, I have spoken it – I will also bring it to pass – I have purposed it – I will also do it!” [Is.46:9-11]
“Not unto us, O Lord, not unto us – but unto thy Name give glory, for thy mercy, and for thy truth’s sake! (2)Wherefore should the heathen say: Where is now their God? (3) But, our God is in the heavens – He hath done whatsoever He hath pleased.” [Ps.115:1-3]
Isn’t it wonderful to realize that our sovereign God has all our lives and times in His sovereign, almighty hand? In addition, isn’t it especially grand to understand that all the glory for all that’s needed for our eternal salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ has been completely and totally accomplished? Indeed, God is pleased because His eternal Son — our sovereign Savior and vicarious substitute has done it! That is what these texts of scripture are declaring unto us.
From the Isaiah passage – Holy God, Himself, heralds out to us that from eternity – in eternity — and for eternity, He has decreed and purposed everything that’s necessary where our eternal salvation is concerned. He tells us that His counsel – His plan — shall stand – or, (lit.) shall be accomplished. He does all according to His will and good pleasure! Nothing shall frustrate or hinder His plan. Why(?) – even because He, Himself, shall bring it all to pass. He, Himself, shall be the one that carries it out!
In fact, this is exactly what Ps.115:1-3 substantiates. All those, in this fallen-in-sin world that do not have ears to hear – nor eyes to see and who scoffingly declare: “Where is now their God?!” – will all too soon discover that our God — who rules from the heavens all things after the counsel of His own will – has already done it! He has “saved us and called us with a holy calling – not according to our works – but according to His own purpose and grace, which was given us in Christ Jesus before the world [or, lit., before time] began.” [2Ti.1:9]
These are the pure truths of the gospel of the glory, only, of our Lord Jesus Christ! And, every new year – or, even every new day – of our journey through the maze of this fallen-in-sin world we should prayerfully remind ourselves of these wonderful things. This is a part of what the Word says from Phil.4:8 from where it exhorts us, saying: “…whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report – if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise – think on these things.”
May the Holy Spirit lead us all through every new day of the new year being ever mindful of who He is as being our great God and Savior. Who, Himself, is ever faithful to us – His true children – ever guiding and providing – protecting and preserving – for His Name’s sake and for His glory!
May we fit the description of Col.3:1-4 which says: “If ye then be risen with Christ, seek those things which are above, where Christ sitteth on the right hand of God. (2) Set your affection [or, lit., your mind] on things above, not on things on the earth. (3)For ye are dead, and your life is hid with Christ in God. (4)When Christ, who is our life, shall appear, then shall ye also appear with Him in glory!” Let us praise His wonderful eternal Name for all His wonderful eternal works. May the Lord bless you and keep you throughout this whole year.
-For Christ’s Glory Only!
John Carpenter
by John Carpenter | Dec 17, 2017 | Camp News
We hope and pray for all of you, dear ones, that this special time of year will be filled with a worshipful celebration of our most wonderful Savior and Lord. I hope you all receive this prayer letter better than what happened with our Thanksgiving letter. It was mailed in more than enough time to reach you all before Thanksgiving, but ended up just sitting in the Kansas City post office – completely ignored and unprocessed. I am so sorry that turned out the way that it did. Please pray with us that this doesn’t happen again. Nevertheless, we can rejoice that our sovereign God’s timing is, also, always perfect. It’s things like this that are just another reminder of where we are in this fallen world.
The work on our showerhouse and rest rooms is going to be delayed until the weather once again warms back up. That particular building is not heated. Still, things are going very well on the project. In the mean time, the men can put their concentration on the kitchen where we do have heat year round. Lord willing, we will be getting the rest of the cabinets for the kitchen before the end of this month. So we will have something to report on the work in regards to that project in our next newsletter. Please continue to pray that these much needed projects will reach their completion just the way that our Lord has purposed and willed. Thank you so much for being there – praying us through all these matters.
Don’t forget to remember all the children and staff that have been so much a part of the ministry here at Del-Haven. We need to nurture the good seed of the Word of God that has been sown in their hearts with our prayers. Remember – it is prayer that accomplishes what God intends to get done. Prayer paves the path of the Truth of God’s Word to perfect and perform the will of the Savior. Prayer is a wonderful way to demonstrate our love for God – and for each other. We sincerely love you all and thank our Lord for you and seek from Him to continue to provide, protect and guide you. May God richly bless you.
by John Carpenter | Dec 17, 2017 | Devotional
“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.” “For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in Him should not perish, but have everlasting life.” [Jas.1:17; Jn.3:16]
These two texts are a descriptive declaration of what God has wondrously given unto us! He gave to us His own beloved, begotten and eternal Son. He gave His Son to be the greatest love-gift that there ever was given, or that there ever could be given! He sent His precious Son to be a part of the very history of the population and progeny of this fallen-in-sin, law-cursed and wicked world. God sent Him to miraculously become the prophesied born-of-a-virgin-woman-Seed that would be manifested as the eternally redeeming Savior from all His people’s sins [Mt.1:21]! God’s eternal, only-begotten Son – became, and is — our Lord Jesus Christ! Praise His all-glorious Name!
The announcement of the angel(s) of the Lord unto the shepherds on the very night that He was born in this dreadful world was “Fear not – for, behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people. (11) For unto you is born this day in the city of David – a Savior – which is Christ the Lord!(12) And this shall be a sign unto you: Ye shall find the babe wrapped in swaddling clothes, lying in a manger. (13) And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God and saying: (14) Glory to God in the highest – and on earth – peace, good will toward men.” [Lk.2:10-14]
The glad tidings that were announced that night unto the shepherds was the news of the arrival of the good and perfect gift of God’s eternal beloved Son — having become born and manifested in the “likeness of sinful flesh” [Rom.8:3]. This was the arrival of God’s fulfillment of His promise to provide the good and perfect Substitute and Surety for all His eternally loved and chosen ones in this lost world.
Make no mistake about it! It is a good and perfect need – that needs a good and perfect gift to meet it! And, the good news – the glad tidings – the gospel evangelistically declared unto the shepherds (and unto us) on that night was an even grander announcement that we could ever comprehend! It was the announcement of the arrival of the Christ of God – the Son of man who would also be the Son of God! Hallelujah!!
Our great Savior is also a “good” Savior. We need to see this. Remember when the rich young ruler addressed Him as “good master”? Jesus asked him why he called Him “good”. He told him there is none “good” – but God. And, that’s true isn’t it? Concerning ourselves – the scripture says: “There is none that doeth good – no not one” [Rom.3:12]. Because we’re all hopeless sinners – we, therefore, need a “good” and “perfect” Savior/Substitute like we have in God’s heaven-sent gift of His only-begotten Son. We need the God/man to do “good” for us, in us and through us – in spite of us. And, Christ Jesus is exactly that Savior!
He is also the “perfect” gift of God. He is the “perfect” “Lamb of God”! This means that He was sent into this world to be the “perfect” sacrifice for our sins. He was (and always will be) holy. This means it was impossible for Him to sin! Dear friends, it is impossible for us not to sin. Jesus taught: “Be ye perfect for your Father in heaven is perfect”. Everything that we need – He is.
For Christ’s Glory Only!
– John Carpenter
by John Carpenter | Nov 14, 2017 | Camp News
Well, dear ones, it is once again Thanksgiving time! And, all of us here at Del-Haven pray that you have blessed experience in your celebration with your friends and family. This truly is a favorite time of year. Let us thank our Lord abundantly for it.
The work in progress on the shower house and restrooms is going just great! We thank and praise our wonderful Savior for the skillful labors of the men from First Baptist Church of Oak Grove. They are doing a splendid job! God is so good!
It is still unfolding what the Lord is doing where the much needed renovation of our kitchen is concerned. It is literally awesome to see what is coming together in regards to the provision of that project. Please remember to pray with us for the Lord’s continual testimony of His leading and supplying.
Please remember in your prayers all the children unto whom Camp Del-Haven – by the grace of God – has ministered. Thanksgiving season can be a time of added adversity in a broken home. Pray that the Holy Spirit of grace and truth be unto them all – a Spirit of comfort and joy in Him. Also remember those that are a part of our staff. Satan is especially the enemy of anyone who is called to labor for the Lord. They need our continual prayerful intercession before the throne of grace.
We continually give unto the Lord God all the glory and praise and thankfulness — for all of your faithfulness to prayerfully support this ministry the way that you do! We love you and we pray for you. Thank you for being there.
by John Carpenter | Nov 14, 2017 | Devotional
“Praise ye the Lord. O give thanks unto the Lord; for He is good: for His mercy endureth for ever. (2) Who can utter the mighty acts of the Lord? Who can show forth all His praise? (3) Blessed are they that keep judgment, and he that doeth righteousness at all times. (4) Remember me, O Lord, with the favour that thou bearest unto thy people. O visit me with thy salvation; (5) that I may see the good of thy chosen – that I may rejoice in the gladness of thy nation – that I may glory with thine inheritance.” [Ps.106:1-5]
This Psalm – which declares the foreboding reality of historical Israel’s sinfulness and yet also God’s manifold mercies bestowed upon them — is a demonstration of that which is taught us from Ro.5:20-21> “Moreover, the law entered that the offence might abound, but where sin abounded – grace did much more abound: (21) that as sin hath reigned unto death – even so might grace reign through righteousness unto eternal life by Jesus Christ our Lord.” Consequently, therefore, this Psalm begins and ends with – “Praise the Lord!”. This is the first of the Psalms that are called the “Hallelujah Psalms”. And, as vs.1 goes on to say: We are to (lit.) give praise and thanks unto the Lord for His goodness…and His mercy…forever!
Next is a declaration of pure truth: “Who can utter the mighty acts (or, works) of the Lord?” How can fallen mortals adequately articulate all the wonderful miracles of the Lord? Especially those that describe the eternal redemption of His people by Christ. The conversion and perseverance of them displays the mighty power of God’s great grace! Only He is worthy of all our praise for the eternal salvation of our souls. [See Ps.40:5]
Vs.3 pertains to God’s righteous judgments when it describes: “Blessed are they that keep (or, observe) judgment…” Regeneration – which is only obtained by a work of the Holy Spirit and the Word of God – quickens the eyes of our understanding to reveal to us that God’s judgment and will in all of our providences — is as Ps.19:9 says: “true and righteous altogether”. God’s righteous judgment on all our sins we understand and see by the grace of faith was executed upon our Savior,. He bore our sins in His own body on the tree. Hence, in and through Him – and Him alone — do we fulfill the description of the last phrase of vs.3: “…and He that doeth righteousness at all times.” I think it’s interesting that the first phrase describes all the blessed ones that observe God’s judgment, whereas the second phrase describes He that doeth righteousness at all times. The first may be us – but the last must be Christ our Savior and substitute!
Then comes the request of vs.4: “Remember me, O Lord, with the favor that thou bearest unto thy people – oh visit me with thy salvation.” This is not unlike the request of the thief on the cross to the immediate right of Jesus at Calvary. All of the true people of God can identify with the verbal exchange of that thief and Jesus. The Lord said unto him – “Today thou shalt be with me in paradise!” How wonderful is that!
Finally, vs.5 delivers the rest of the request that is started in vs.4. There are a total of four parts of the request to be remembered by the Lord. The first is seen in the last phrase of vs.4: “O visit me with thy salvation”. The next three are all found in vs.5: “that I may see the good of thy chosen” – “that I may rejoice in the gladness of thy nation” – “that I may glory with thine inheritance.” This echoes 1Pe.2:9> “But ye are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, an holy nation, a peculiar people – that ye should show forth the praises of Him who hath called you…” into the light of life!
– For Christ’s Glory Only
John Carpenter
