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
by John Carpenter | Apr 3, 2013 | Ministry News
Well, here we are once again, dear friends — at that time of year where we must knuckle down and get done all the things that go into preparing the camp for another summer of ministering the gospel unto needy children. Each Saturday of — actually — the next two months — please be in prayer for us as we plan designated days — to get the work done. On these Saturdays, we generally meet around 8:00 AM — have some breakfast — along with a short devotional and time of prayer — and then spend the next few hours getting the place all “spiffed” up to have camp. We will have put together a list of tasks that need to be done. This has become a regular Del-Haven tradition. Come — join in with us — and give unto the Lord — of some of your precious time. You’ll be glad that you did!
by John Carpenter | Apr 3, 2013 | Devotional
“He that believeth in me — though he were dead — yet shall he live!” Jn.11:25
With these words — our Lord utters something of a mystery. For how can any one who is dead — believe? Obviously this is a gospel truth — or, Jesus would not have said it. But, what does He really mean by this?
He already taught from Jn.6:63 — that it is the Holy Spirit who quickens unto life. So, the answer must in some way include Him — the Holy Spirit — in the working out of this matter. Indeed — a regenerated sinner — is a true believing sinner. And, a living soul who has been quickened by the Spirit of Christ — in essence — is a living
“dead man”! You may say, how can this be? There is a mysterious mysticism about this. We can be quickened by the Holy Spirit — where all we once were — was dead in our sins! According to the “law of Moses”– we are — in these bodies of dust — still on a course to keep an appointment with death — even though we have been blessed with God’s grace of saving faith. Now, we are just true believing sinners — saved by grace! “For by grace — are ye saved through faith — and that not of yourselves.”
Jesus tells us that it is the work of God — that we believe in Him — whom the Father sent. And, it is because of this grace of faith — that we call upon the Name of the Lord — and seek the Lord daily, in our living out our lives while still in this world. It is by faith — that we hunger and thirst after His righteousness — and experience being filled. It is by faith we look — not at the things which are seen — for they are temporal — but, at the eternal things which are not seen. We focus our thoughts and our perspective opinions on the blessed things of the person and work of the eternal Son of God!! And, dwelling upon these wonderful things — we are content — even though we still traverse — through the darkest of trials.
In doing this — we become fixed on our risen Savior — who is our very life…even though we are very dead. Col.3:1-3 puts it this way: “If ye then be risen with Christ -seek those things which are above — where Christ sitteth at the right hand of God. (2) Set your affection on things above — not on things on the earth. (3) For ye are dead — and your life — is hid with Christ — in God!”
This is knowing Christ — and the power of His resurrection — as described from Phil.3:10. Which occurs by being blessed with a regenerating revelatory realization that is spoken of from Eph.2:6. Quickened to believe that you have been raised up together with Christ — and made to sit together in heavenly places in Him. Indeed, our resurrected Lord — is made to be unto us a life quickening spirit. [1Co.15:45]
In this way, therefore, we — by the grace of faith — see the connection between the resurrection from the dead of our Lord Jesus Christ — and our experience — in Him — of putting away the dross — of our dead, worthless flesh!
by John Carpenter | Mar 14, 2013 | Ministry News
Wow! What a February we have just survived! We had more snow than ever before in our history. We got 10 to 12 inches from the first snow — and then another 12 to 15 inches the second time! Needless to say — we were “snowed in”. I prayed that the Lord would keep us in electricity — that our pipes would not freeze up — and that our roofs would not cave in — and in all those things — He heard and answered. But, I neglected to mention our telephones and/or email sources of communication. And, wouldn’t you know — we ended up with no means of communicating at all — with the outside world. Not even the mail man was making it out here! This persisted for three days — and then we cried unto our Lord — that if He was willing to do so — to restore our ability to communicate. And, He did. Finally — we seem to be getting completely free from this recent bout of severe weather. What we need now — is rock on the roads. This record snow is going to, in turn — produce a muddy mess to have to travel through in order to get in and out of here. But, in due time — the Lord will provide even in this predicament.
Praise and thanks unto the Lord — our need for mattresses in the dorm has been wonderfully met! Once again — God proves faithful to His Word: “He will be very gracious unto thee — at the voice of thy cry — when He shall hear it — He will answer thee.” Is.30:19
As we continue, dear ones, to move closer to camp time — please continue to pray for our staff and camper response — as always. This world — and “the god of this world” — constantly show that they are the enemy of the person and work of the “Captain of our salvation”. But — Praise His Name — He continually shows just how much the effectual fervent prayer of His people — does truly prevail in performing the accomplishment of His will — unto His glory! What a privilege we have — to be an active participant — in true Spirit led prayer — and God’s eternal achievements.
