by John Carpenter | Feb 17, 2016 | Ministry News
Here are appropriate entries from last year’s journal:
08/03/15 “I am sitting in the kitchen waiting for the campers to arrive. This week there are 12 boys scheduled to be here for this session. I have been praying for each one of them as they have been preparing to come here this week. I just found out that Mr. Carpenter accidentally locked his keys in the van, so I’ll have to wait a while longer to meet these kids [whoops!]. I am praying that God opens their ears to listen and their hearts to receive His word.” Isaac R.
08/05/15 “There is an old song titled “God Speaks To Little Boys While They Are Fishing”. We used that song in part of our program when we were trying to raise money to redo the lake. This evening we took the boys fishing. Nathan wanted to catch a fish so bad! Mr. Carpenter was helping him for a while and he prayed “Lord, help this boy catch a fish.” About 10 minutes later he finally caught one. John was getting ready to leave, but he called back to Nathan: “Thank the Lord for letting you catch a fish!” Nathan was overwhelmed…and overjoyed about catching his fish, but I did hear him mumble very lowly: “Thank you”. Nathan is 13 this year and will be allowed to back next year as an LTS (Learning To Serve) helper. Lord, I thank you for continuing to send Nathan to camp for so many years. I pray that you will use this time as an opportunity to draw him to yourself, by your grace and through the power of your word and for your glory alone!”
08/06/15 “I just watched the campers leave on the bus. Nine boys were able to attend and I am so glad that they did. I pray that the spiritual seeds that were planted will grow and mature in the Lord. This has been another great camp season and I hope to come back for another one.” Isaac R.
We hope you do, too, Isaac! Please pray for Isaac as he has been a real God sent asset to our staff. He is a real talented and mature young man. God is using him.
Pray for us, dear ones, and we will pray for all of you. Prayer is the best support that we can possibly give to one another. Pray that our Lord continues to sustain and support Camp Del-Haven – for His glory to the furtherance of His Kingdom.
by John Carpenter | Feb 17, 2016 | Devotional
“Thus saith the Lord God: I will yet be inquired of by the house of Israel — to do it for them. …And they shall know that I am the Lord!” [Ez.36:37-38]
This text describes and articulates a definite immutable divine principle of saving grace that proves just exactly who are the true praying children of God in this fallen and sinful world. Here is a spiritual principle that declares the truth that true Holy Spirit led prayer always accomplishes God’s will, but never changes it. There is a foreboding misconception that has been propagated that prayer changes things — and it doesn’t. It accomplishes things! Jas.5:16 states it plain and clear, that: “The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man — availeth [or, accomplishes] much.”
When God moves His eternally loved and chosen ones to seek Him in prayer, He summons them by His Holy Spirit into His holy presence. They come before His sovereign overruling throne of grace where He allows them to take part in His fulfilling what He has eternally purposed to do and perform by His children’s prayers. If indeed anything is notably changed by their prayers — it is the child of God, himself, through whom the Holy Spirit causes the prayer to be uttered. The immediate providential things that make up our circumstances are going play out exactly as they are supposed to — all in accordance with the sovereign plan of God. It is our immediate circumstances that make up the unfolding reality of almighty God’s immutable (unchangeable) will. Praise His all glorious and mighty Name!
The main thing we should remember in the light of this principle of grace is that it is all important in the life and walk of a true child of God through this fallen world to do as the Word of God commands to do when it says to: “Pray without ceasing!” For to do (and be) what the will of God wants cannot be accomplished without Holy Spirit led prayer. Lk.18:1 says: “Men ought always to pray and not to faint!” A life and walk through this sinful, fallen world that is saturated with prayer, is saturated with life converting and transforming enabling grace.
After Saul of Tarsus had his life transforming Damascus road encounter and divine reckoning with the Lord Jesus Christ, Ananias was commissioned by the Holy Spirit to go to him. The Lord assured him that it was safe for him to go because He told him: “For behold he prayeth!” It is spiritually born from above into the very fabric of the regenerated character of the true believing sinner to know themselves to be so hopelessly helpless in themselves that they naturally become – in and through this world – ardent, earnest prayer warriors before Christ’s throne of sovereign over-ruling grace. This is what the Holy Spirit makes them to be to the glory, only, of almighty God! The child of God continually comes up against impossible opposition in this age of sin and Satan and death and they prayerfully, through Christ, prevail as champions and victors! And, they gladly give all the glory unto Him who called them out of this world’s darkness into His marvelous light. Praise His holy Name!
-For Christ’s Glory Only!
John Carpenter
by John Carpenter | Feb 9, 2016 | Ministry News
The 2016 Volunteer Applications and Camper Applications can be found by selecting the [Camp] tab at the top of the page.
by John Carpenter | Jan 18, 2016 | Ministry News
Here is yet another very touching journal entry from last summer by Kendle:
2nd Boys and Girls week 2015
Jason, Amelia, Kenny, Hylee, Aiden, Royal, Amelia A., Ava, Montae…names of a few kids here this week. I love seeing kids like Jason come back year after year, growing in maturity, learning to love Jesus and His Word; excited for Bible Study, ready to memorize God’s Word. The kids — needing instruction in loving each other the right way and turning from sin. That’s all important. Some have never known their parents since they’ve been in jail — since the kid was born; or, others feel the loss of a parent by murder. All need to see Christ’s mercy and grace in their own lives so they can be saved and practice mercy towards others. Guide them to your Word with understanding. Teach them to pray to you as their greatest need and friend. Show them life eternal, and “who are His”. Keep them safe and grow them in their relationship with you. Thank you, Lord, for Camp Del-Haven! It is near the most dearest place on earth to me. So many wonderful years out here and I will never forget all I’ve learned and all I’ve loved here. Bless Del-Haven, Lord. Kendle
by John Carpenter | Jan 18, 2016 | Ministry News
Well, dear ones, 2016 is now under way and we already sense and see that this carnal world is poised to be much more oppressively against us as we press on in the ministry of the gospel of the glory, only, of God’s grace through our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. Please be in earnest prayer with us that He continue to lead us according to His perfect will and wisdom in protecting, providing and preserving us.
By His amazing and enabling grace we will persevere in fighting the good fight of faith out here at Camp Del-Haven. It can, at times, seem to be overwhelming, but by Christ’s strength — and your faithful, prayerful support — we can with confidence continue to bravely face the foe — and this — all for Christ’s glory only.
Oh yes, while you’re praying for us — be in earnest prayer for our country as well! We desperately need a quickening from God the Holy Spirit upon our whole land!
I recently received word that on the evening of Oct.15 — our dear friend and faithful supporter, Florine McClain, was welcomed and received into the loving presence of our Lord. Her family informed me that her final moments came with family at her bed side. They told me that she was in a “comfort sleep” when — as they put it: “Mom took her last breath with a slight giggle, smiled, and lifted her arms toward heaven. All of her children and several grandchildren were at her bedside to witness this incredible moment. It was bittersweet; but none of us will ever forget that experience as she left us to join her heavenly Father and be reunited with Dad in heaven.” Dear friends, Florine’s final testimony proves how grand it is to know the Lord Jesus — and to be known by Him throughout this life! I can’t imagine traversing through this sinful fallen world without Christ being with me — keeping me — encouraging me — ever drawing me into His presence! Praise His Name!
