by John Carpenter | Jun 16, 2013 | Ministry News
Through your prayers for us — we have been amply provided for with food and paper goods. We appreciate so much — pastor John Jones, along with his wife, Donna — of Faith In Christ Fellowship Church in Oak Grove, MO. They have been a wonderful source — of truly bountiful supply for us. Their display of genuine Biblical love — in deed and in truth — has launched us leaps and bounds in being prepared for meeting head on — this year’s boys and girls — whom the Lord will send to camp.
We had a real need for redoing our kitchen floor and repairing our kitchen attic fan. Theresa Carpenter contacted the good people at Con-Carpet in Blue Springs, MO — and the Lord obviously went before her — for she was well received. We were able to get brand new linoleum for the floor — for just $200! This was a real blessing! And, the attic fan has been down for at least a couple of years. We thought we were going to have to get a brand new one — until the Lord sent to us some folks from another church in Oak Grove, MO — Paradise Outfitters Ministries. They were able to fix it — so it runs like new! They also repaired our broken down riding mower! There truly is no god — like our sovereign almighty Lord God! We thank and praise — His matchless Name!
by John Carpenter | Jun 16, 2013 | Ministry News
Well, dear ones, the 2013 Camp Del-Haven season — is right upon us! And, we are — right now — in the midst of a desperate tribulation. We have an irreparable tear in our pool liner. It must be replaced! We were able to find a new liner for $2,000! Please make this a prayer priority. We simply cannot have camp without a swimming pool! If just 20 of you could supply $100 more than you regularly give — this immediate need would be met. Or, if just 40 of you could provide an extra $50 — this would do it! Please help!
We need to replace the swimming pool liner.
by John Carpenter | Jun 16, 2013 | Devotional
“These things I have spoken unto you — that in me you might have peace. In the world — you shall have tribulation — but be of good cheer — I have overcome the world!” Jn.16:33
Jesus spoke this wonderful word of encouragement shortly before He went to Calvary. When He suffered the affliction of the cross He endured the worst of conditions — for those He came to save.
Although His outward physical condition was about to become one of unbelievable agony, yet His inner-spiritual position was one of unshakable security. Earlier from Jn.14:10-11 — He told the disciples that He was “in the Father” and that the things He said and did were not of His own authority, but of the authority of the Father. Even so are we in a like relationship with Christ — having been eternally positioned in Him. For in Jesus (who is our peace) we have peace — whereas in the world we have tribulation. But, praise His name — the Lord Jesus has overcome the world.
The grace of faith readily receives this word from God. What an understatement it truly is that in this world we will have tribulation. Everyday proves the veracity of this declaration, and it is certain that our Lord knew this to be true when He said it. What He means to convey unto us — for the strengthening of our faith — is that even though we must endure the tribulation that fills up the conditions of this world, we who are positioned in Him will have peace…because He has overcome the world of tribulation.
“Tribulation” connotes the pressures that we are under on virtually every level of our life. Whereas the word for “peace” communicates the thought of our being in union with our Lord. We are, therefore, by grace united with the only one who has indeed “overcome” the world. That is to say that He has subdued it and brought it completely under His reigning control…Hallelujah! It is no wonder, then, that He also encourages us to “be of good cheer” — which literally means that we are to, in Him, be brave and courageous in the presence of all the world’s trials and pressures.
Is.48:10 declares that the Lord has literally chosen and tried His people “in the furnace of affliction”. We are reminded from this passage of the experience of the three Hebrew boys in the midst of the fiery furnace…with the Son of God. They came out without even the odor of smoke on their clothes.
And finally, Acts 14:22 relates to us how Paul and Barnabus went back through Lystra, Iconium and Antioch “strengthening the souls of the disciples, exhorting them to continue in the faith, and saying, ‘We must through much tribulation enter the Kingdom of God’.” And, positioned in Christ — we cannot fail.
– For Christ’s Glory Only!
John Carpenter
“Rejoicing in hope; patient in tribulation; continuing instant in prayer”
by John Carpenter | May 20, 2013 | Ministry News
My dear friends — we do have an urgent prayer request! We have come to a very typical — yet difficult time — in regards to the ongoing ministry unto the children. Our ever so faithful — male staff help — whom God has sent to us — have grown unto the age where — in order for them to be able to continue furthering their education — they must go out into the world and find gainful employment. Therefore, once again, we have entered into a season where we are in dire need of — especially — some good, mature and responsible — young (or, even older) men — who can help us during the four camp sessions in which we minister to young boys. Please be in earnest prayer for us about this matter! If you know of any young (or, older) males — that have a desire to serve the Lord — here is an opportunity to take advantage of — even if it is for only one of the four camp sessions that we the help! This is crucial — to the number of boys that we can accept for a given camp session. The more good mature help that we have — then the more campers — we can accept — to minister the gospel. We have been in this situation before — more than once — and our great Savior God has always come through — in sending us laborers “into His harvest”. Glory, only — unto His Name! For details about this — do not hesitate to call us.
As always — we are ever so thankful to the Lord — for each one you — for being there to listen — and be of whatever prayerful help and encouragement that you can — in this so vital a ministry. Our wonderful Lord uses you — to prayerfully — and to financially — keep us afloat upon the ever raging sea of this present world! It seems that the efforts of the evil one — have really been ratcheted up to another notch — where his taking over the minds and lives of our children are concerned. God’s grace will prevail — that’s why we must be more vigilant than ever — to seek Him — and to serve Him — in the spreading of the purity of His gospel truth in any — and every — way that we can. This is what the gospel ministry of Del-Haven is all about. Thank you all — for being such an important part of it!
by John Carpenter | May 20, 2013 | Devotional
“He“Praise ye the Lord! O give thanks unto the Lord — for He is good! For His mercy endureth forever.” Ps.106:1
“Bless the Lord God of Israel — from everlasting — to everlasting! And, let all the people say — Amen! Praise ye the Lord!” Ps.106:48
This text comes to us as the first and last verses of this very revealing Psalm. For in it is declared a whole litany — of both — the perpetual defeat of the sinful rebellion of man’s fallen condition — and the continual victory — of almighty God’s faithfulness and grace. And, as it was with the weak and feeble fallen people of Israel of old — even so is it the same with us today. For — their prayer of verses 4 and 5 — needs to become our prayer also: “Remember me, O Lord, with the favor that thou bearest unto thy people! O visit me — with thy salvation — that I may see the good of thy chosen — that I may rejoice in the goodness of thy nation — that I may glory with thine inheritance!”
How often it is — that we, too, forget God — as vs.7 relates concerning the Israelites: “They remembered not the multitude of thy mercies — but provoked Him…”. And yet, we, too, earnestly plead — that He remember — us! You see, it was their affliction — brought upon themselves — by their forgetting Him and provoking Him — that, in turn, provoked them to pray and urgently cry out unto Him — for their deliverance. Then comes the wonderful and gracious words of verses 8 and 12: “Nevertheless [or, in other words, in spite of themselves] He saved them — for His Name’s sake — that He might make His mighty power — to be known!” [or, so that He might reveal unto them — His mighty sin-delivering power] Their sinful fallen affliction — provided the perfect backdrop for God’s gracious and mighty deliverance! Which, in turn, set the stage for the evidence and expression — of how our Lord’s grace of faith always appears: vs.12> “Then — believed they His words. They sang His praise.”
Verse 43 seems to be a mirror that reflects our lives in this world — for it says: “Many times — did He deliver them — but they provoked Him with their counsel — and were brought low for their iniquity.” Over and over — it seems — that even the true child of God — find themselves following the counsel of their own fallen fleshly understanding — which cannot ever be trusted! That’s a sure course — right into grievous affliction!
But, praise the Lord — He is in control — and ever so quick to forgive us — and respond so perfectly to our cry! They experience the grace and lovingkindness of verses 44 and 45: “Nevertheless — He regarded their affliction — when He heard their cry. (45) And He remembered for them — His Covenant — and repented [or, pitied and consoled them] according to the multitude of His mercies.” For all of God’s children — in every generation — even though we seem to fight an unending and an up hill battle with our yet fallen condition — He remembers us in accordance with — the gospel of His eternal New Covenant — and receives us in His mercy — and His way of truth!
“Save us, O Lord our God — and gather us from among the heathen, to give thanks unto thy holy Name — and to triumph — in thy praise!” Ps.106:4
-For Christ’s Glory Only!
John Carpenter
