by John Carpenter | Dec 18, 2015 | Devotional
“For ye know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that, though He was rich — yet for your sakes — He became poor — that ye through His poverty might be rich.” [2Co.8:9]
From this short, terse text of holy scripture there is delivered a most profound statement of description of what is referred to as the Biblical doctrine of eternal atonement by substitution. In it there is declared and made to be prominent the real reason for there being a celebration of Christmas, viz., the incarnation of the eternal Son of God where the history of fallen and sinful humanity is concerned. There is also referenced the high cost of what Christ had to pay in order to accomplish and acquire that which He came to provide for all those that God eternally loved, chose, decreed and designed to be the true recipients of so rich a gift as their personal eternal salvation through the person and work of His Son. What a great verse this truly is when one considers all that it touches where the gospel of God’s free grace is concerned!
How sad to realize that in today’s society and world Christmas time has become a time for focusing on all that distracts and literally denounces the true sacred message and meaning of it. Jesus has, by this world, become completely circumvented by Santa Claus! Christmas candy and gifts are things that are more relished than the fact that this time marks the coming of Christ, the God/man, into this cursed world as the Savior!
The Word of God from Phil.2:5-8 aptly exhorts all who have been graciously granted spiritual ears to hear and spiritual eyes to see, to, as it says: “Let this mind be in you — which was also in Christ Jesus — who being in the form of God, thought it not robbery to be equal with God; but made Himself of no reputation and took on Him the form of a bond-servant: and being found in fashion as a man — He humbled Himself and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross. Wherefore God also hath highly exalted Him, and granted Him a Name which is above every name: that at the Name of Jesus — every knee should bow — of things in heaven, and things on earth and things under the earth — and that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord — to the glory of God the Father.”
That which Christmas time in this world marks is the historical fulfillment of the eternal covenant between God the Father, God the Son and God the Holy Spirit to eternally save each and every one of His eternally loved and chosen fallen children. It is the Son of God whom the Triumvirate God sent into this world to be the Sovereign Savior Substitute for them. He, Himself, being equal with God, willingly submitted to all the mandates of that covenant which includes all that He said and all that He did (which requirements involved everything 2Co.8:9 and Phil.2:5-8 declare and describe and more). The incarnation of the eternal Son of God is manifested in the perfect person and work of the Lord Jesus Christ who was born in Bethlehem according to the scriptures. Praise and glory unto His holy Name!
by John Carpenter | Nov 9, 2015 | Ministry News
As promised — here is another entry from our 2015 camp journal:
06/25/2015 — “Hot week of boys andgirls camp! Loved working with the wonderful staff and loved the kids even more! Our theme song this year is “It’s Been Mercy All The Way”; And, our memory verses are Eph.2:8, 2Co.5:21 and Jas.4:7. There are always distractions here: It’s hot; Just play with the kids and don’t talk about God; Staff communications misfiring; Bad weather; Staff feeling sick, or things breaking. As it says in our song, “Lord, I thank you for your faithful mercy — All of my steps have been grounded by grace.” By his mercy He gives us kids with hearing ears; questions about God to answer; times of disobedience so we can teach discipline and reconciliation; and eyes lighting up with thankfulness of grace as the Word is read. The more I come here, after almost 9 years of being a “staffer” — the more I care less about the distractions and want more to focus on these precious children. Trials always abound, but children always need to hear of Christ as well. Lord, keep our focus on you; being bold with telling these kids about you; and bless your next week of camp.” Kendle
Kendle is a college student and one of our staff members who has been faithfully serving the Lord with us at Del-Haven for almost 10 years. She has a great passion for sharing the Gospel with young children.
This entry really delves into the day to day life in a camp with these children. Please continue to pray for the staff of laborers that the Lord raises up to minister for His glory at Camp Del-Haven.
by John Carpenter | Nov 9, 2015 | Ministry News
On November 1st we had a wonderful time participating in the missionary program at Pleasant Grove Bible Church. There truly is an eternal bond that exists within the body of Christ. We thank our Lord God for everyone in that precious assembly. To have been among them — and to experience the real presence of being spiritually sealed to them — only serves to enhance our true love for them. It is an earthly taste of heaven. The preservation of Del-Haven is realized through their lifting us up before the throne of grace — and we know it! Praise to our God for the evidence of His love and grace through every bit of this kind of support.
Please continue to pray for our brother, Dan McElwain, who has recently undergone a heart treatment. He has — by our Lord’s divine intervention — come through it quite well. However, he still needs our prayers for his complete recovery. Also, pray that he will be able to adopt a lifestyle that is conducive to his continual good health. Pray that Lord leads Dan into a less stress filled occupation.
by John Carpenter | Nov 9, 2015 | Devotional
“But God be thanked, that ye were the servants of sin, but ye have obeyed from the heart — that form of doctrine which was delivered you.” “Now thanks be unto God, which always causeth us to triumph in Christ…” [Ro.6:17; 2Co.2:14]
There is never a time of year the true child of God should not be filled to the brim with thankfulness unto their God! Thanksgiving as a state of being and as a constant activity becomes a character trait of the eternally redeemed. Everything that the Lord God reveals to His loved and chosen ones gives unto them another reason for them to thank Him.
The scripture says that it is through God the Father that we are taught the life transforming truth of God the Son. In fact, it is the Father’s love that sent His eternal Son into our world [Jn.3:16-17; Ga.4:4-5]. This is what Ro.1:16 calls the “gospel of Christ”. And, this gospel is said to be the “power of God”! This is that which Ro.6:17 refers to as “that particular form of doctrine which was delivered you”. From the original, that phrase is more literally rendered: “that form of teaching — to which you were delivered”. This emphasizes God’s sovereign power over providence and the individual circumstances in which each of His eternally loved and chosen, by His grace, came into the hearing of the pure truth of the “gospel of Christ”. “All that the Father giveth me”, Jesus said, “shall come to me…” [Jn.6:37].
The scripture tells us that God the Son is to be thanked for willingly taking on the all important task of being incarnated into becoming one of us — in order to save us! 1Ti.3:16 tells us that this truly is the great mystery of godliness — that “God was manifested in the flesh”. We needed a sovereign Savior substitute and the eternal Son of God having become incarnated into the manifestation of being the Lord Jesus Christ — perfectly and eternally filled that need! Eph.1:3-4 declares that God the Father has blessed us with all spiritual soul saving heavenly blessings in Christ — just has He has chosen us in Him from before the foundation of the world! He is well pleased with His Son — who is to be thanked for causing us to triumph in Him!
The word of God also informs us that God the Holy Spirit indeed deserves all of our thanks. For it is He who leads us to Christ and then closes on our hearts by bringing to pass the revelations of all the things our glorious Savior has eternally done on our behalf. Jesus said from Jn.16:14-15 concerning the Holy Spirit: “He shall glorify me,
for He shall receive of mine and shall show it unto you.” He goes on to say of the Spirit: “All things that the Father hath are mine — therefore said I — that He shall take of mine, and shall show it unto you.” It is the saving work of the Holy Spirit to lead us in the way everlasting and reveal unto us that Christ is indeed our all and in all. “As many as are led by the Spirit of God — these are the sons of God.” [Ro.8:14]
For Christ’s Glory Only
-John Carpenter
“But thanks be unto God, who giveth us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ” [1Co.15:57]
by John Carpenter | Oct 26, 2015 | Ministry News
Dear friends, this is absolutely a favorite time of the year! The weather as of late has been just wonderful. The campground is lovely beyond words! We have scheduled a cookout for our staff along with the members of our board as a show of appreciation for their service for the glory of Christ this last summer. Please be in prayer for us and them as we have them out here once again for a relaxing time in the Lord. Lord willing, we hope and pray that they can be with us again next year.
We received word that a dear friend and faithful supporter, Florine McClain, has been diagnosed with stage 4 colon cancer. She needs all of our prayers. The Lord has used this dear prayer warrior to support and sustain Del-Haven from the beginning of its existence. She is a precious member of our prayer family, and we love her very much! Please remember to lift her up before the Lord. Also, please be in urgent prayer – once again – for our board member, Dan McElwain. He has suffered yet another stroke and needs our prayers. Tests are still being given that will determine exactly the right course of medical procedure. Dan is an important asset to the leadership of Del-Haven. We pray that our Lord will afford him a quick and complete recovery.
Please do not forget to pray for the meeting of our every month operational expenses. The last couple of months have been especially hard for us in that department. Our Lord sustains us by His grace, but not without stretching our faith and trust in Him. We need your continual prayerful support.
During this last summer’s first older boys camp, after the first morning Bible class, it was unusual to see 4 boys just lingering around — and a couple of them even remaining in their seats. One of the seated boys — named, Jacob — emerged as the leader and spokesman for the group. He informed me that he really liked it that I taught the Bible so thoroughly. He said that when he went to church — all his pastor said was: “…blah, blah, blah — Jesus loves you” and that’s it! Now of the 4 boys there was, Jacob – his brother, Lucas – and his friend, Cody. Then there was another camper named, Amaury. Each camp day Jacob and Amaury had questions that needed additional explanation with deeper understanding. Jacob claimed that by the gospel he had been changed; and Amaury stayed up till 3 AM reading his mother’s Spanish Bible. He was elated to be given an English version of the Bible. The other boys, Lucas and Cody, more or less just followed Jacob into the further hearing of the truth. Please remember to be praying for these lads that the Holy Spirit will – by grace — seal the gospel to their hearts and lives for His glory!
